The number of Garmin running watches continues to grow, making the task of choosing the best one for you all the more difficult. With watches aimed at everyone from beginner runners to performance triathletes, it's all too easy to overspend for features you don't really need or will probably never use.
Choosing the perfect running watch is all about zeroing in on your own personal fitness goals and matching a watch to those needs. We already have an in-depth guide to the best running watches that examines all top brands, but if you're trying to make sense of Garmin's selection – we're here to help.
Read this: Understanding your running watch stats
Read on for a run-down of the best Garmin sports watches for every type of user available to buy right now.
Best Garmin watches for beginners
Garmin's entry level watches are aimed at people who want to step up from phone-based app tracking and have a few more stats on their wrist where they can see them. Ideal for new runners on a budget, they're the cheapest of the lot and they're also a little more accessible when it comes to your running stats.
Garmin Forerunner 35
It might not be quite as cheap as the Forerunner 25 is right now, but the Forerunner 35 is aimed at the lower end of the runner's market. Ideal for new runners, couch to 5k-ers and those who want a little more info on their regular runs without being overwhelmed by data, it also has activity tracking, bridging the divide between an inexpensive activity tracker and a serious sports watch.
It packs in all the bare essentials for runners: distance, pace, time, calories, splits and an optical heart rate monitor. Plus it also delivers smartphone notifications to your wrist. Everything you need if you're a recreational runner who just wants to keep tabs on how far and fast they've gone.
Buy it for: GPS distance, pace, calories, activity tracking
In-depth: Read our full Garmin Forerunner 35 review
From $139.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Get a fitness band hybrid
Garmin Vivosmart HR+
The Vivosmart HR+ is a great alternative to the company's line up of watches. The thinner form factor still houses an optical HR sensor and has GPS to track running and gym work, as well as delivering notifications and keeping tabs on your resting heart rate.
If you're looking for a Garmin device that you can wear all day, yet still act as a powerful sport tracker, the Vivosmart HR+ is a great option. Alternatively, if you don't want GPS, you can pick up the original Vivosmart HR for a decent discount.
There's also the Vivosmart 3, the successor to the Vivosmart HR+ that's out now, adding VO2 Max and a focus on wellness, including stress tracking, guided breathing and sleep monitoring. The one thing that doesn't make it over from the HR+, however, is GPS.
Buy it for: GPS, good battery life, decent activity tracking
In-depth: Our full Garmin Vivosmart HR+ review
$179.99, garmin.com | Amazon
The PB-chaser's choice
If you've gone from recreational running and you're now eyeing up your first marathon or a faster 10km time then this next set of Garmins are likely to be more your thing. These mid-range, mid-price trackers start to offer more detailed stats, more coaching and more control over your own training. They're all about running and perfect for PB chasers and those who are starting to get a little more serious about their running.
Garmin Forerunner 630
The Forerunner 630 is the daddy of the Garmin running watches and it's going big on the range of running metrics you can view during and after your running session.
There's stride length, lactate threshold ratings and performance condition scores to help aid recovery. You can even monitor vertical ratio, which is useful for boosting your running efficiency.
Add in the strong smartwatch notification features and great music player controls and if you are a hardcore runner, this is the Garmin watch for you.
Buy it for: Advanced running metrics, GPS distance, heart rate monitor-based data, smartwatch notification support, Connect IQ app support, great battery life.
In-depth: Check out our full Garmin Forerunner 630 review
$399.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 235
The Forerunner 235 is the successor to the Forerunner 225, one of our running watch favourites.
Much like the Forerunner 630, the 235 comes with a sleeker, new look and 24/7 activity tracking. But it's the running features we care about here. You still get all the great running stats and with the built-in heart rate monitor, you can now see VO2 Max stats to give you a better idea about recovery between runs.
While the heart rate monitor might not be quite up to the task for high intensity sessions, you can still pair it with an ANT+ strap for more reliable heart rate zone-based training.
Buy it for: GPS distance, comfortable design, activity tracking, advanced running metrics, Garmin IQ app support.
In-depth: Read our full Garmin Forerunner 235 review
$329.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 230
Almost identical to the Forerunner 235, the 230 dispenses with the built-in optical heart rate monitor. It's still compatible with ANT+ chest straps to gain the same workout data. Of course, the lack of built-in HRM saves a little money too, but it still boasts great notifications and all-day health tracking.
In-depth: Check out our full Garmin Forerunner 230 review
$249.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Best Garmin watch for triathletes
The 935 and the 735XT are the watches you want to go for if you love being on two-wheels and in a wetsuit as much as you do pounding out the miles on the road. The best Garmin tool for triathletes, wannabe Ironman and everyone who splits their time between the water, wheels and feet.
Garmin Forerunner 935
Natural successor to the Forerunner 735XT, the Forerunner 935 is essentially the Fenix 5 but with all the same tech packed into smaller body.
So on the running front, it'll cover all forms from treadmill to trail running and provide plenty of metrics to pore over post training session. It's also compatible with Garmin's new Running Pod that adds additional data including vertical oscillation, ground contact time, stride length and lactate threshold.
Add in stellar battery life, built-in heart rate monitoring that has vastly improved from previous wrist HR tracking efforts from Garmin and great training effect features to make sure you're not over exerting yourself and it's another top notch multisport GPS watch that makes a fine running companion for serious athletes.
Buy it for: Advanced running metrics, training effect data, GPS distance, heart rate monitor-based data, smartwatch notification support, Connect IQ app support, great battery life.
In-depth: Read our full Garmin Forerunner 935 review
$499.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 735XT
The Garmin Forerunner 735XT, misses out on some of the new sensors included in the Forerunner 930, but is still a solid option for triathletes.
It features many of the same advanced running, cycling and swimming metrics and is capable of automatically detecting the type of stroke and distance in the pool. Cyclists will need to pair it up with Garmin's Vector cycling sensors.
It still packs in plenty of battery life, activity tracking, Connect IQ support and training metrics aplenty into a small, compact body that means you can get away with wearing it as your everyday watch as well.
In-depth: Read our full Garmin Forerunner 735XT review
$399.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 920XT
It's getting a bit on the old side but the Forerunner 920XT will appeal to those where big battery life is essential. Like the 735XT and the 930, it'll track swimming, cycling along with running serving up a whole host of metrics to analyse performance.
It also includes smartphone notification support to give you a buzz on the watch when someone is trying to get in touch. If that's not enough, it'll track your general movement just like a Garmin Vivosmart 3 and the Vivosmart HR+.
Buy it for: Advanced running dynamics: cadence, ground contact time, vertical oscillation and VO2 Max. Swimming and cycle tracking including pairing with external sensors. Great battery life.
In-depth: Read our full Garmin Forerunner 920XT review
From $449.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Best Garmin watches for work/sport types
Garmin Vivoactive HR
The Vivoactive HR take a lot of the capabilities of Garmin's huge range of dedicated sports wearables and rolls them all into one.
While it doesn't offer the running depth of the Forerunner 630 or the adventure skills of the Fenix 5 but does attempt to offer a 'serious enough' sports watch that's also a good everyday wearable. In terms of running smarts, there are enough of the essentials to keep a lot of people happy, including the optical heart rate monitor on the rear.
What marks it out from the other devices on this list is the fact that the Vivoactive pairs with your smartphone to hoover up texts, calls, WhatsApp, tweets and Uber alerts – basically anything from your smartphone goes to the wrist. It has as much in common with and Android Wear device as it does your standard sport specific GPS watch.
Buy it for: GPS tracking with pace, distance, time. Heart rate monitoring, cadence and VO2 Max. Sleep tracking, step counting and smartphone notifications.
In-depth: Check out our full Garmin Vivoactive HR review
$249.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Best Garmin for golfers
Garmin X40
Like a mash-up between the Vivosmart, a Garmin running watch and a smartwatch, the X40 is built firmly with golfers in mind.
Essentially the ultimate fitness tracker for golfers, it blends GPS course data with a heart rate monitor. There's a 1-inch display to view progress and support for 35,000 courses, pin position details, shot detection, hazards, shot measuring, fitness tracking and 24/7 heart rate.
It also uses an AutoShot feature to register the location of your hacks around the course, which will be fed back to Garmin Connect after your round. There's also smart notification support to ping you when someone's trying to get in touch while you're out on the course.
Buy it for: Complete golf modes, plenty of course data, sports and activity tracking modes
In-depth: Check out our in-depth Garmin Approach X40 review
$249.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Best Garmin for multisport
Garmin Fenix 5
The Garmin Fenix 5 is one of the most powerful multisport watches available. If you're the type that loves to head on the trail for some rock climbing one day, then taking your talents to the golf course the next day, then top it all off with a nice afternoon at the links, this is the smartwatch for you.
Hiking, climbing, cross country skiing, regular skiing, cycling, swimming, open water swimming, running, train running, indoor workouts, triathlon, golf and more. If there's something you want to track, the Fenix 5 likely can. Bear Grylls might be advertising the Gear S3 right now, but we reckon this is the watch he slips on when the cameras stop rolling.
While the Fenix 5 is a good for a lot of that hardcore tracking, it comes apart a little as a running watch, largely because it just doesn't track heart rate all that accurately when you're really going for it.
Compared to the old Fenix 3, the Fenix 5 doesn't have too many more bells and whistles (no, there wasn't a Fenix 4). The biggest area of improvement over the 3 is how much smaller it is. The Fenix 5 is still big at 47mm, but it's much more manageable and easy to wear compared to its bigger, older brother. It also does come with some additional metric support, like anaerobic activity.
If you're after the same tech in a slimmer body, you can also check out the Fenix 5S, which features a 42mm watch body as opposed to the Fenix 5's 47mm design. If you've got money to burn, there's also the Fenix 5X, which offers full colour maps to help you navigate your outdoor terrain.
Buy it for: Multi-Sport, long battery life, compass, VO2 Max, recovery, as well as cadence and vertical oscillation.
In-depth: Read our full Garmin Fenix 5 review
From: $599.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Or ditch it all for a dose of style
Garmin Vivomove
The Garmin Vivomove enables you to count steps, estimate calorie burn and monitor sleep patterns using the built-in accelerometer, all in the package of an analogue watch. There's no sign of a heart rate sensor, which is a slight disappointment but with a year of battery life from the coin cell inside, you can't complain too much. It's available in Sport, Classic and Premium versions to cover the bases on the looks front.
Buy it for: Great design, long battery life, good indoor workout tracking
In-depth: Check out our full Garmin Vivomove review
Starting at $149.99, garmin.com | Amazon
M_Rcus_Atb says:
thank you i finally can stop here looking around for reviews to find out what suits my needs
thesandman says:
This is a great site, I have spent the last few hours researching smartwatches and fitness trackers. I'm trying my best to find my son a great all around wearable piece of tech. I would have to say, I'm having a hard time trying to find the perfect fit. Although it would be nice if there was that perfect watch/fitness tracker in a reasonable price range.
One of the things that I'm trying to research is which watch other than the Garmin Fenix 3 is going to be durable enough for him. I worry about paying a lot of money for a watch that might break during one of his competitions. He is in the JROTC Raider program at his school. Just to give you an overview of what a normal Saturday might look like for him, here is a little summary of the activities that he might be putting a watch or fitness tracker through.
Starting a 6 in the morning: Army physical fitness test (2min timed sit-ups, push-ups, 1 or 2 mile timed run), 30min break then right into a team 10k, that is then followed by 4 or 5 obstacle course activities. These could be anything from: 1 mile ruck run, gauntlet (1/2 to 1 mile run through low crawls, 8' wall, balance beams, rope swings, 25' rope climb, the list goes on), 1/2 to 1 mile biathlon. They will also make a one rope bridge as a team, this could be over dry land but it usually isn't. This is just a taste of some of the things he might be putting this piece of tech through.
If anyone could help with ideas on a really rugged build, that would do everything a normal runners watch would do. He really likes the thought of being able to track his pace and whether he is running faster or slower on his run. He also likes the idea of being able to track the course he just ran.
Again, this is a great site!
Thank you for putting in the hard work, time and dedication for this site.
Danny
jjjegrt2 says:
Perhaps wait out for the casio smart watch. It is durable (to military standards) but doesn't have heart rate (which isn't too accurate on the wrist at present) and the worst part: no GPS. Nothing kills the Fenix 3 but you sure are paying for it. I don't know of any other watches with GPS that could withstand submersion in mud and water other than the Fenix 3 or Suunto equivalent
Mferen says:
Hi jjegrt2,
Polar M400 survived with me many OCR races where mud, water, electricity was all involved. I believe most of watches could do the same which has decent waterproof qualification.
Maria_Suzeth says:
Very Informative. Now I know what suits my need. I have decided already.
I finally have a peace of mind buying and not waste my money.
THANKS A LOT! More power to the team.
ChrisSheppard says:
I am looking for a watch for my 88 year old father who sometimes wonders off.
Do you have a watch that would link to my watch and would say beep when the distance between the two watches is greater than say 1/4 mile?
I would be very interested in a tracking type device that would help me keep track of him even if I had to use my computer to locate him.
His watch would have to be very simple and long battery life or very easily charged (induction or magnetic say) but must have a large display with just the time on it.
The more complicated it is to use the less he will want to use it.
Any recommendations welcome.
Thanks Chris
Isaline says:
What about THE new Garmin vivoactive Hr. It looks so great .
I wonder why to have a gram in 235 with all features on this one?
techfree says:
Quote:"In the same bracket as the Suunto Ambit 3, it's capable of tracking hiking, climbing, cross country skiing, train running, running, cycling, swimming, open water swimming, skiing, indoor workouts and triathlon."
I didn't know there was such a sport as "train running". Sounds like a limb-loser.
Shobhit says:
Can you suggest a watch which gives calories burnt while doing exercise at one place like yoga suryanamasskars etc or dips free standing exercise
fb90 says:
Hi , great post. i have a question. Between vivoactive and Forerunner 230 ( both with separatley puchased chest heart rate monitors), which one is better ? I am looking for running + cycling ? the price difference is only a few dollars but looks like fore runner doesnt have cycling but does have advanced running metrics where as vivoactive is the other way around... whats your opinion ? thanks in advance
lsbarton says:
Help! I am an RN who must have an analog watch with sweep second hand for vitals. I also want an activity tracker built in. Any suggestions for a watch for a WOMAN? I like the Timex Metropolitan but it is really masculine and HUGE!
TugofWar84 says:
Is there a Garmin/TomTom/Fitbit watch that is waterproof, has built in heart rate monitor, will accurately measure output/calories etc during cycling, battle ropes and has GPS???
Kayzee says:
I wish there were a watch that can do what my 12 year old Garmin Forerunner can do. Set up interval training, put down breadcrumbs, pace alerts, like real stuff? I don't care about the silly bells and whistles. I'd just like a little better satellite tracking which is my only complaint with my ancient trusty 201. We've done a lot of miles together.
Na3 says:
I am looking to buy a fitness tracker for my boyfriend. He is training for a half marathon and is also a serious biker. I am wondering whether to get him the vivoactive HR or forerunner 235. He would want to track his heart rate. He uses Strava to track his running activity so also wanted to check if these are compatible with Strava.
Thanks!
Kimmy says:
I need help! I've been looking at reviews for different trackers for two weeks and I'm so confused. This is what I'm looking for.
Must tell the time
Must count steps
Must be waterproof as swimming is the only sport my bad back will allow me to do
Must have a heart rate monitor
Must be able to sink to my iPad
Must be able to tell me the distance I've swam and time it
Must be able to tell me the cals I've burned.
Must not be huge as I have small wrists and a huge watch face would just look wrong.
Please please can someone help me.
Thankyou
PhoebeBee says:
Hi, good day. I need help.
i would like to know what is the difference between a Garmin Forerunner and a Garmin Foreathlete? I am currently in Japan, and it seems that Garmin watches here are "Foreathlete". Please can someone enlighten me? Thank you.
PhoebeBee says:
Hi, Good day!
Please help. i want to know if there is any difference between a Garmin Forerunner and a Garmin Foreathlete? I'm currently in Japan and Garmin watches here are "fForeathlete". Can someone enlighten me? Thank you.
martha45 says:
which watch is most suitable for a golf user
mf65 says:
What would be best option for my son who does gym work, some running and general sports
wokkawokka1 says:
I think Polar is the most reliable when it comes to HR sensors. They are the pioneers of "smart fitness watches" and are more about reliability than looks. I have been reviewing these fitness watches for over a month and keep coming back to the Polar M200.... Everyone cant deny how accurate it is.
Lesley7 says:
hi
I am planning to do the coast to coast walk from st bees on the west coast to robin hoods bay on the east coast a distance of 190 miles, which of the garmin watches would be most suitable to use, I am planning to train to improve my walking times over the next year before doing the walk in August 2018
Lkng4ultrawtch says:
great battery life - WTF does that even mean? I thought this was a legit review. The way the battery life comment is laid out there makes me realize this is paid review.
c.allison says:
Hi Lkng4ultrawtch,
We've tested all of the devices on this list and detailed the battery life in each review - this is something we stand by.