If there’s one name that’s become shorthand for rugged, reliable sports watches, it’s Garmin. A brand that started out fitting GPS units to marine vessels now makes some of the best fitness watches you can slap on your wrist – whether you’re running your first 5K, prepping for another Ironman, or just trying to remember how many steps you’ve taken this week. So, which is the best Garmin watch for you?
The current Garmin range covers road runners, mountaineers, triathletes, ultramarathon nutters, golfers, gym-goers, yoga mums and more. So say the lineup as a tad confusing is a bit of an understatement. Thankfully, this guide breaks down the entire Garmin watch fleet for 2025. From the new Forerunner and Fenix models to the Venu, Vivoactive and Approach series – so you can find the right one for your training goals, daily life, and budget.
What makes a Garmin watch special?
If you’ve ever wondered why people rave and get all culty about their Garmin, it’s not just brand loyalty. Garmin watches are robust, battery life is genuinely impressive, and GPS tracking is about as accurate as it gets in a wrist–mounted device – just ask the airplane pilots and ship captains who use their navigation systems every day.
You get heaps of data – think pace, distance, heart rate, sleep, recovery, the lot – and it’s all laid out in a way that’s genuinely useful, not just data for the sake of it. Then there’s the extra touches: things like Garmin Coach, which builds you a training plan for your next race. Mapping and navigation on certain models. Safety features like live location tracking and incident detection. And if you like your watch to do double duty, most models handle music storage, contactless payments, and notifications from your phone.
So yes, they’re good. But only if you pick the right one for the job.
Which Garmin watch is right for me?
Best Garmin watch for running: The Forerunner series
If you run, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of the Forerunner. This is Garmin’s flagship line for runners of all levels – from couch–to–5K hopefuls to people who call marathon distance a “Sunday long run” on Strava. The 2025 line-up is stacked.
Start with the Forerunner 165. It’s an entry–level GPS watch for beginners who want to see pace, distance, heart rate and maybe follow an adaptive training plan to get race–ready. Bright AMOLED display, easy to use, and doesn’t overwhelm you with numbers you’ll never look at. It’s perfect for runners who don’t want the bells and whistles... yet.
Next step up is the Forerunner 265. Here you’re getting more training insights: daily suggested workouts, recovery time, race–day readiness, plus built–in music storage if you don’t fancy taking your phone on every run. It’s for the person who’s getting serious – half marathons, marathons, new PBs.
Then there’s the Forerunner 570. A serious bit of kit for runners who think about running when they’re not running. It has multi–band GPS for accuracy, training status and readiness, race predictions and a built–in mic and speaker for calls on the go. Great if you’re juggling family life or work calls with long runs.
Finally, the Forerunner 970 is the most advanced yet. It’s basically a triathlete’s dream: daily suggested workouts for swimming, cycling and running, multi–sport auto transition, running economy and step speed loss metrics. The stuff you didn’t know you needed – but once you see it, you’ll wonder how you managed before.
Key takeaway: If you’re a road runner, the best Garmin watch is almost certainly a Forerunner – just pick the level that matches your seriousness (and budget).
Best Garmin watch for trail runners & endurance athletes: Enduro Series
If your idea of a weekend run includes mud, hills and maybe a bivvy bag, look to the Enduro series. Rugged design, robust mapping, long battery life. The kind of watch that looks equally at home on a trail run, an ultramarathon, or clipped to the side of your climbing harness.
If battery life is your religion, the Enduro 3 is about as good as it gets. Solar charging, ultra–light design, up to 320 hours of GPS tracking – yes, you read that right. This is the best Garmin watch if you’re the sort of person who does multi–day ultraruns or wants the longest battery in the business.
Key takeaway: If you’re a hard-as-nails endurane athlete, the Enduro has your back and won’t give up before you do.
Best Garmin watch for hiking and outdoor activities: Fenix, Epix & Epix Pro
Want a rugged GPS watch that looks more like a stylish smartwatch than a hardcore adventure tool? The Epix range is your best bet.
The Fenix 8 is your all-rounder for road and trail, running and cycling, the gym and the ski slope. You get multi–band GPS, advanced mapping, on–wrist navigation tools, all–day health monitoring, training readiness and strength training insights. There’s even a built–in LED flashlight for the inevitable moment your headtorch dies on the final few miles.
The Epix Gen 2 brings all the mapping features you’d expect – TopoActive maps, SatIQ satellite tracking, built–in ABC sensors – wrapped in a sleek design with a bright AMOLED display. Great for weekend hikes, ski trips, or just wanting to know exactly where you are when your phone signal dies.
The Epix Pro G2 Sapphire takes it up a notch: upgraded navigation tools, a built–in LED flashlight, ClimbPro and hill score for trail runners, plus fancy extras like music storage, Garmin Pay, stocks and a jet lag adviser. It’s a best Garmin watch contender for the person who wants performance and style, with no compromises.
Key takeaway: Epix is for the hiker or explorer who wants a good–looking watch with the brains to match the scenery.
Best Garmin watch for everyday fitness & lifestyle: Venu series
Not everyone wants to train for a triathlon. And that’s fine. The Venu series is Garmin’s answer for the everyday active person who still wants serious health tracking in a smartwatch that won’t look out of place at brunch.
Bright AMOLED touchscreen? Check. All–day health tracking? Yep. Built–in GPS, smart notifications, music, Garmin Pay? Of course. It even has animated on–screen workouts if you’re clueless in the gym. Think of it as a best Garmin watch pick for anyone who wants to balance weekend runs with weekday meetings, without needing to look like they’re off on an Everest expedition.
For Garmin watch for everyday use: Vivoactive series
If you want Garmin’s sports smarts without paying for features you’ll never touch, the Vivoactive series hits the sweet spot. It’s the easy all–rounder: run tracking, gym workouts, golf, swimming, yoga, sleep – you name it.
It doesn’t have all the advanced training readiness features of a Forerunner or Fenix, but you get great battery life, built–in sports apps, music, Garmin Pay, and a screen that looks crisp indoors and out. It’s the best Garmin watch for people who like variety without going too deep into the data rabbit hole.
Best Garmin watch for golf: Approach series
Got a few handicaps you’d like to shave down? Garmin makes an entire line just for you. The Approach series is designed for golf obsessives – accurate course maps, swing metrics, club suggestions, and scoring. And when you’re done, it still does daily fitness tracking, steps, and heart rate.
If you spend more time on the green than the track, the Approach might well be your best Garmin watch pick.
How to choose the best Garmin watch for you
It’s tempting to go straight for the shiniest, most expensive Garmin, but that’s not always the best fit. Ask yourself:
– What sports do you actually do – regularly?
– Do you need advanced training metrics, or just the basics?
– Will you use mapping features, or will your phone do?
– How much does battery life matter?
– Do you want a rugged, outdoorsy look or something sleek for everyday wear?
Be honest with yourself and pick the watch that matches your reality, not your best–case scenario.
A few tips before you buy
Pick the right size
Garmin watches come in multiple sizes – a 47 mm beast might look great in the box, but not everyone wants a dinner plate on their wrist. Try before you buy if you can.
Think about the extras
Do you want on–watch music storage, Garmin Pay, safety tracking or a built–in flashlight? Some features are life–savers for the right user – pointless for others.
Check the display
AMOLED screens are bright and beautiful but can drain battery faster than standard displays. Solar charging options are brilliant if you spend long days outdoors.
Plan to use it
A watch is only worth it if you use its features. The best Garmin watch is the one you’ll wear every day – not the one that ends up at the bottom of your gym bag.
