Best Garmin Fitness Trackers (2024): Tracking Our Fitness Experts’ Favorite Picks

Few of the best fitness trackers are as capable of tracking all things sports and outdoors as Garmin trackers and watches. For a long time, Garmin has been known for fitness tracking, particularly for multi-sport athletes tracking all things while on a hike or cycling through town.

With so many Garmin watches available, it’s hard to know what’s best for you, and which watch tracks what. Fortunately, our team of certified personal trainers, coaches, and athletes have tried out top Garmin watches to help ease your search. With collective decades of experience in the fitness field, our testers were able to try out these watches, see their durability, and test their accuracy with metrics and GPS tracking.

Without further ado, here are our top picks for the best Garmin fitness trackers on the market—for runners, outdoor athletes, and more.

The 5 Best Garmin Fitness Trackers

• Best Garmin Fitness Tracker Overall: Garmin vivoactive 5
• Best Garmin for Runners: Garmin Forerunner 265
• Best Budget Garmin: Garmin Venu Sq 2
• Best Garmin for Outdoors: Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire
• Best Garmin Smartwatch: Garmin Forerunner 965

Best Garmin Fitness Tracker Overall: Garmin vivoactive 5

Good for: Fitness enthusiasts wanting a robust, quality fitness tracker with great value

Best overall

Garmin Vivoactive 5

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

* Fitness tracker with up to 11 days of battery life * Available in 4 colors * Over 30 sports apps and workouts * Tracks pushes and built-in workouts for wheelchair users

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Available in 4 colors
• Over 30 sports apps and workouts
• Tracks pushes and built-in workouts for wheelchair users
• 11 days of battery life

Cons

• Affordable, but more expensive than other fitness trackers
• Can have a learning curve to new users

Bottom Line

Available in four different colors, the Garmin vivoactive 5 is one of their more affordable fitness trackers, costing just under $300. With a variety of sports apps and workouts available, the vivoactive 5 sets itself apart with built-in workouts and a push tracker for wheelchair users.

We like the Garmin vivoactive 5 for most people mostly due to its fairly high value. At $299, it’s one of the less expensive Garmin watches, and still has pretty robust functionality. It’s able to track a variety of health metrics and modes of training and sport. 

“It’s still a bit pricier than a Fitbit, and it is a similar price as a base Apple Watch—but you do get a lot with it,” says our product tester, GGR senior editor Erin Chancer, CNC, CPT. She rates the value a 4 out of 5.

In use, the smartwatch doubles as a heart rate monitor and activity tracker, capable of tracking activities in a variety of strength and cardio training disciplines, along with team sports. Garmin adds accessibility with both a step counter and a push tracker to detect pushes from wheelchair-bound fitness enthusiasts. Erin was able to sync the watch to her iPhone easily, and was impressed with all the metrics that could be tracked on the wearable device. 

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Erin rates the tech capabilities a 5 out of 5. She does warn about the learning curve though, saying, “It can be a bit intimidating if you’re new to fitness trackers, or just aren’t tech-savvy. I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of what this watch can do, but I’ve had to be patient learning and navigating the controls.”

The design is sleek and simple, and you can choose from four colorways. Erin gives the design and wear a 4.5 out of 5, adding that she’s forgotten she was wearing it at times—it’s been that comfortable. For a touchscreen watch with tons of capabilities and value, this is our favorite pick.

Best Garmin for Runners: Garmin Forerunner 265

Good for: Runners needing a health tracking device for their cardio workouts

Best for Runners

Garmin Forerunner 265

GGR Score: 4.3

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Product Highlights

• Fitness tracking watch designed for runners
• Up to 15 days of battery in smartwatch mode
• Comes in 2 sizes
• Tracks heart rate, sleep, stress levels, hydration, and more
• Morning report feature presents readiness levels

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Long battery life
• Multiple sizes
• Available in 6 colors
• Morning report feature presents readiness levels

Cons

• Pricier fitness tracker
• No wireless charging option

Bottom Line

The Forerunner 265 is one of Garmin’s latest fitness trackers for runners, available in six colors and two different sizes. It has a few more features than the Forerunner 165, but not as many as the 965, which gives it a middle-of-the-road price. Along with heart rate monitoring and sleep insights, the morning report presents readiness levels, each day.

If you’re wanting a smart watch for running and other activity tracking features, I’d suggest our favorite Garmin tracker for runners—the Garmin Forerunner 265. This GPS smartwatch is a beefed-up version of the Garmin Forerunner 165, capable of measuring an expansive number of running and cardio activities for runners, cyclists, and even triathletes.

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GGR senior staff writer Lauren Strong, CPT, tested out the Forerunner 265 with her husband Matt after buying the larger of the two sizes offered: a 42-millimeter or 46-millimeter watch. The larger display also fits a larger wrist—up to 205 millimeters in circumference—so Lauren let her husband test it out mostly. 

Even then, it was a bit small on him, leading Lauren to rate the adjustability a 3.5 out of 5. She adds, “The band itself has quite a few adjustments, but my husband is already on the last few holes. It’s a bit small to be honest, and I wish it came with an optional longer band.”

As far as technological capabilities go, it earns a solid 4 out of 5. “This can do a ton of stuff,” Lauren says. “I don’t think my husband or I could ever use all the features. My husband uses it mostly for steps, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, measuring stress levels, and blood oxygen levels.” 

The GPS watch works accurately, although our testers have used it mostly for neighborhood walks. Matt hasn’t tried any additional features, like music storage or Garmin Pay—although he does get notifications if his iPhone is nearby.

The Forerunner 265 is a bit on the pricey side, costing nearly $450 and earning a 3.5 out of 5 for value from Lauren. If you’re new to running, the cheaper but less feature-filled Forerunner 165 might be a better option. However, if you’ve been tracking your running progress already and want a more robust running watch, the 265 is a great choice.

Best Budget Garmin: Garmin Venu Sq 2

Good for: Those on a budget looking for a durable health and wellness tracker

Best Budget

Garmin Venu Sq 2

GGR Score: 4.44

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Product Highlights

• Square-faced fitness tracker
• Up to 11 days battery life
• Indoor and GPS sports apps
• Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity

Pros & Cons

Pros

• More budget-friendly
• Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity
• Up to 11 days of battery life

Cons

• Only comes in 2 colors
• More basic metrics and functions

Bottom Line

The Venu Sq 2 is a budget-friendly fitness tracker and watch from Garmin. This watch still tracks a variety of metrics and has up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, although it has more basic functions when compared to other Garmin watches.

While the latest round-faced Venu is the Garmin Venu 3, the Venu Sq 2 has a square design. Plus, it’s a more affordable sports watch, as long as you’re OK with skipping on some premium features like voice functionality.

The Venu Sq 2 is available in black or mint. GGR performance editor Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, CNC, went with the mint, “since it was the only color available when I ordered,” he says. Although the mint wasn’t his favorite colorway, he still likes the appearance and design, adding, “I prefer the square design over a round watchface, and the graphics are very nice.” He rates the design a 4 out of 5.

While this is a cheaper option for Garmin watches, the Venu Sq 2 still provides a good number of metrics, although some are less robust. For example, other watches provide sleep scores as well as a sleep coach and even nap detection. The Venu Sq 2 will give a basic sleep score and insights, but won’t have the additional features.

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Anthony notes, “Unlike some Garmins—like the Venu 2 Plus, the Garmin Instinct 2, or the Garmin Epix Pro—the Sq 2 doesn’t have built-in workouts, since this is a more budget-friendly option.” Nevertheless, the smartwatch syncs to your phone easily, tracks your activities, and has a stopwatch function and a heart rate sensor. Anthony still rates the tech capabilities a 4 out of 5.

Even at under $250, the Venu Sq 2 is still like most classic Garmin watches—durable, customizable, and adjustable with a long battery life. It earns a 4 out of 5 for its value since it still brings a lot to the table.

Best Garmin for Outdoors: Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar

Good for: Fitness lovers who spend a lot of their workouts outdoors

Best for Outdoors

Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar

GGR Score: 4.51

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Product Highlights

• Fitness tracker designed for outdoor activities and sports
• Solar charging can increase battery life up to 37 days
• Multi-band GPS
• Provides wellness tracking and suggested workouts

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Tracks for many outdoor sports
• Multiple colors and sizes available
• Water resistant up to 100 m
• GPS tracking

Cons

• Expensive
• Somewhat bulky appearance

Bottom Line

The Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar is a rugged smartwatch that can track a variety of outdoor sports, including golf, swimming, and horseback riding. The watch boasts a 28-day battery life that can boost up to 37 days with solar charging. It’s a pricey smartwatch, but it’s also durable, with water resistance that can withstand pressures up to 100 meters.

For hikers, trail runners, rowers, golfers, and more, the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar is our pick for the best outdoor fitness tracker from Garmin. This is an extremely durable smartwatch, with a water resistance able to withstand pressures equivalent to a depth of 100 meters. 

The metrics and activities measured are abundant, which may be an understatement. The Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar has a battery life of up to 28 days while in smartwatch mode. Meanwhile, the solar charging mode allows for extended battery life while on the go, boasting a 37-day lifespan for one charge (in smartwatch mode).

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GGR head of content Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, says on the metrics, “There’s so many things you can do with this watch with tracking, monitoring, and functionality. You can even download Spotify for music. It’s pretty wild.” She rates the technological capabilities a 5 out of 5.

Nicole’s husband Rob tested out the Fenix 7X, and rates the design a 4 out of 5. “It’s a bit large and rugged-looking, but still manages to be pretty minimal,” he says. If a 51-millimeter diameter seems a bit bulky, you can opt for the Garmin Fenix 7 or 7S, which both have smaller displays.

There are options for wrist bands as well, which Rob has purchased from Amazon to switch up the smartwatch’s style. “It’s very easy to swap bands out,” he says, rating the adjustability a 5 out of 5.

The biggest drawback is the price. At $899, it’s one of the most expensive Garmin watches we’ve tested, and it cost even more when Rob purchased it. However, he’s definitely gotten his money’s worth just from wear alone, leading him to rate the value a 4 out of 5. Rob does warn, however, that, “This watch is not for the everyday person; it’s for people who take their training more seriously.” He does add, though, “The GPS accuracy alone is worth it to me.”

Best Garmin Smartwatch: Garmin Forerunner 965

Good for: People wanting tons of functionality in their fitness tracker

Best Smartwatch

Garmin Forerunner 965

GGR Score: 4.4

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Product Highlights

• Garmin running watch
• Color AMOLED display
• Features multi-band GPS and built-in maps
• Provides suggested workouts and training readiness
• Shows on-wrist running dynamics and training status
• Includes USB C cable and manual

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Available in 3 colors
• Both touchscreen and button control
• Live location tracking and incident alerts with location data
• Built-in maps and multiband maps
• Tracks sleep data and provides a readiness score in the morning

Cons

• Short 1-year warranty
• Expensive at almost $600 dollars
• No ECG heart rate tracking
• No wireless charging capabilities
• Very mixed reviews on the Garmin Connect App

Bottom Line

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is a running watch with multi-sport functionality. It features an AMOLED display, multi-band GPS, and built-in maps and tracks your activity, recovery, and sleep. Customer reviews for that watch are mostly positive. However, multiple customers dislike the Garmin Connect interface.

For the runner or athlete wanting their fitness tracker to operate a little more like a smartwatch, we recommend the Garmin Forerunner 965. This more advanced version of the 165 and 265 has more activities to measure, including climbing, cycling, and motorsports. 

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Amanda Dvorak, GGR senior editor and certified personal trainer, also mentions its connectivity to apps and your smartphone. “There are tons of apps you can download on the Forerunner, including music apps like Spotify or Amazon music. I tried out Spotify and it worked great.” She rates the tech capabilities a 5 out of 5.

You can also sync with the Garmin Connect app, which connects you with the Garmin community. Plus, you can use Garmin Pay, a payment method similar to Apple or Google Pay.

Amanda has used Garmin watches for a while now, and rates their durability a 5 out of 5. She says, “While I haven’t had the Forerunner 965 for long, I used the original Venu for years, and it works just as well as it did on day one.” At one point, she bought a new band, but otherwise, the watch is in top shape.

If you know you want basic features, you may want to consider going with the Forerunner 265 or 165 to save yourself a couple hundred dollars. For the best durability and functionality, you won’t go wrong with the 965. You can read more in our in-depth Garmin Forerunner 965 review.

How We Picked and Tested Garmin Fitness Trackers

To make our list of the best Garmin fitness trackers, we did the best thing we could do—we tried out some of the most popular models. Our expert testers used these watches to track their workouts, measuring metrics like training load and inputting activities like strength training, cardio, and more. 

We gave each Garmin a score of 1 to 5 in the following categories:

• Aesthetics and design: This was a subjective score, but we looked at the colorways available and the overall look of each watch. Did these watches look like fitness apparel, or could they be used as everyday wear?
• Adjustability: Whether it’s by replacing the included band with a larger one, or adjusting notches, how easily does the watch make adjustments? Is it able to fit larger or smaller wrist sizes alike?
• Technological capabilities: There’s a lot that these fitness trackers can do, such as real-time heart rate monitoring and counting steps. Does it have the option to add apps from your phone, and does it track other metrics and activities?
• Durability: This is a look at both the durability of the materials used, as well as the electronics used. We looked at the watches’ longevity, as well as the materials used for the straps, faces, and bezels.
• Community: Garmin uses the Garmin Connect app to connect you to the Garmin community. Features include challenges in which you compete against other users, as well as joining groups within the app.
• Value: Does the price make sense for the fitness tracker? Prices will vary, but so will functionality, so the price just needs to match the worth of the smartwatch.

Additionally, we looked at customer reviews. Typically, we look at policies like warranties, returns, and financing, as well as customer service—but these policies are all the same for Garmin products (1-year warranties and 30-day returns).

After rating these Garmin products, we picked our favorites and built this list of the best trackers Garmin has to offer.

Benefits of Garmin Fitness Trackers

What sets Garmin apart from other fitness trackers? All fitness trackers have the benefit of visualizing and tracking your fitness goals, as well as helping you recover smarter, with metrics based on sleep, hydration, and overall stress levels. Many also have compatibility with Apple and Android devices, like Garmin.

Still, a couple things do stand out with Garmin watches.

Garmin Connect

People looking for motivation and accountability can find that in the Garmin Connect app. This app gives you access to challenges and fitness-related achievements, where you can see how you stack up with other Garmin users. Also, you can join groups within the app for support from other fitness enthusiasts.

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Improved Battery Life

Garmin has a reputation for extended battery life, and many of the watches we tested can last over a week or more on a single charge.

It’s important to remember that these times are given in smartwatch mode, which uses a minimal amount of the display. In use, the battery is still impressive, just not quite as powerful. 

Amanda Dvorak, ISSA-CPT, mentions when testing her Forerunner 965, that, “It claims to have a 23-day battery life, but when I first charged it and tracked six workouts, I got about 9 days out of the single charge. Afterwards, I got 10.” Nine or 10 days is still an impressive battery life, but just know that different functions and tracking modes will alter the battery consumption.

Good Durability

Along with an extended battery life, Garmin is known for increased durability. Using titanium and stainless steel for the bezel and a durable silicone strap, these watches are made to last. The internal workings are also durable. Quite a few members on our testing team have used Garmin over the years, and they’ve held up far longer than the 1-year warranty that Garmin has on the watch.

What to Look For in Garmin Fitness Trackers

If you’re interested in a Garmin watch, but aren’t sure which is right for you, here’s a few things to look at.

Aesthetics

You’re going to want a fitness tracker and watch that you’ll enjoy wearing. There are plenty of designs from Garmin, ranging from minimal watch faces and slick designs, to more rugged-looking products that have a more traditional look for watches. Colors vary too, from neutral to bright and sporty. Regardless of your preferences, you should be able to find a colorway that suits your wants and needs.

Wrist Size

Garmin clearly labels the size wrist that each fitness tracker can fit and gives a range, due to the adjustment notches on each wrist band. If you have a particularly large or small wrist, make sure to take a look at the specs chart to confirm the watch you want will fit your wrist. Some watches are built for smaller or larger athletes, so keep this in mind!

Metrics and Activities

How much do you want your fitness tracker to actually track? Some may only want GPS navigation or heart rate monitoring. Other athletes may want more in-depth measurements and metrics, such as sleep insights, recovery and stress management, or even calories burned for specific sports and activities.

Garmin records a variety of activities, from running to horseback riding. If you have a specific sport in mind, make sure the Garmin watch you’re looking at has the ability to measure and track that activity or sport.

Cost

Of course, you’ll need to account for your budget. Garmin offers a wide range of watches and prices, from a couple hundred dollars to nearly $1,000. Added features and functionality is great, but it also hikes the price up. Fortunately, Garmin has different variations of certain watches—like the Forerunner—where you can find a price and features that match your specific needs.

Best Garmin Fitness Trackers: FAQs

Caine Wilkes, OLY, CNC, USAW-L1

Caine Wilkes is an Olympian, placing 9th in weightlifting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A former gym owner, he also has more than 15 years of experience coaching other athletes in weightlifting, CrossFit, and functional fitness.

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