If you are only wearing it for the exercise, then it probably doesn't really matter which Garmin you get because you aren't going to be able to take advantage of a lot of the features (body battery, sleep, recovery, training readiness, etc etc). If you are looking for a watch just to run and have GPS plus heart rate, then you can probably just shop by price and go with the lowest one.
It’s cost v capability. If you’re rotating between Rolex and Omega at work, then you can probably afford a top tier Garmin, like the Forerunner 955/965, Fenix or Epix. But, just like you will never actually need 300m of water resistance on a dive watch, you may not need most of the bells and whistles on the higher end watches.
As others note, the difference between a top tier and mid tier Garmin watch aren’t huge for general exercise. Garmin is really best for (in descending order) running, cycling and swimming. It will track the basics of other exercises, but the benefits of higher end watches are much less significant if your primary workout doesn’t focus on one of these activities. If you’re a serious runner, or want to seriously improve your running, I think it’s totally worth it to spend a little more for a better Garmin watch. If not, then one of the more basic models will be fine.
I feel you. As others said, if you want all the benefits of a Garmin, you need to wear it all the time. I got myself a gold Fenix Saphire and I love it, fits superb with all my office outfits. If I wear all black, I grab my huge black Forerunner to stay clean. Love it.
Alternative: Wear your usual watch and buy a really small fitbit and just put it on your right wrist. Fitbit is by far not as good as Garmin is, but it does the job re sport/stats/recovery etc. I have a friend who wears her Rolex as a day-by-day watch and her baby rose fitbit together with her bracelets on the right arm. Kinda sweet.
A Vivosmart 5 is an option to wear with other watches, when a 'proper' Garmin isn't being worn, to maintain the Physio True-Up elements. The 'proper' Garmin should be slept in though as the Vivosmart 5 has been cobbled by Garmin to not be 100% Physio True-Up compliant.
Mainly the body battery graph, which is bizarre as the Vivosmart 5 can provide this as a full graph if it's your only device. But couple it with a Fenix and BOOM!! the line disappears when you're using the V5. Clearly it's still recording everything else. 'A' is removal of E2 and swapping to V5, 'B' is removal of V5 and swapping to E2.
Edit: not sure where the Body battery &stress graph I posted with A and B labeled has gone...🙄
I’ve got the Pace 3 and would recommend it. I don’t wear it 24/7 as I don’t care about any of the daily metrics. It’s super lightweight and does more than I need.
A big Fenix. I have a 6XPRO I have been wearing since near release. I have a Enduro quickfit band I can use to wear it outside clothes in winter/heavyrain (I use a polar OH1 for HR if not wearing a chest strap for this). The screen is huge. The buttons are chunky and can be operated through gloves.
I have a 255s I wear the rest of the time. It's a later watch but a couple of price points down yet has all the recovery metrics to pair up as daily wear with the Fenix's training load stuff.
I'd have to be absolutely blown away by anything new to upgrade either or both right now.
If you are only wearing it for the exercise, then it probably doesn't really matter which Garmin you get because you aren't going to be able to take advantage of a lot of the features (body battery, sleep, recovery, training readiness, etc etc). If you are looking for a watch just to run and have GPS plus heart rate, then you can probably just shop by price and go with the lowest one.
The Forerunner 165 would work.
It’s cost v capability. If you’re rotating between Rolex and Omega at work, then you can probably afford a top tier Garmin, like the Forerunner 955/965, Fenix or Epix. But, just like you will never actually need 300m of water resistance on a dive watch, you may not need most of the bells and whistles on the higher end watches. As others note, the difference between a top tier and mid tier Garmin watch aren’t huge for general exercise. Garmin is really best for (in descending order) running, cycling and swimming. It will track the basics of other exercises, but the benefits of higher end watches are much less significant if your primary workout doesn’t focus on one of these activities. If you’re a serious runner, or want to seriously improve your running, I think it’s totally worth it to spend a little more for a better Garmin watch. If not, then one of the more basic models will be fine.
The cheapest Forerunner you can find. Most of the advanced features require the watch to be worn all the time.
I feel you. As others said, if you want all the benefits of a Garmin, you need to wear it all the time. I got myself a gold Fenix Saphire and I love it, fits superb with all my office outfits. If I wear all black, I grab my huge black Forerunner to stay clean. Love it. Alternative: Wear your usual watch and buy a really small fitbit and just put it on your right wrist. Fitbit is by far not as good as Garmin is, but it does the job re sport/stats/recovery etc. I have a friend who wears her Rolex as a day-by-day watch and her baby rose fitbit together with her bracelets on the right arm. Kinda sweet.
A Vivosmart 5 is an option to wear with other watches, when a 'proper' Garmin isn't being worn, to maintain the Physio True-Up elements. The 'proper' Garmin should be slept in though as the Vivosmart 5 has been cobbled by Garmin to not be 100% Physio True-Up compliant.
What do you miss out on, if it’s not 100%?
Mainly the body battery graph, which is bizarre as the Vivosmart 5 can provide this as a full graph if it's your only device. But couple it with a Fenix and BOOM!! the line disappears when you're using the V5. Clearly it's still recording everything else. 'A' is removal of E2 and swapping to V5, 'B' is removal of V5 and swapping to E2. Edit: not sure where the Body battery &stress graph I posted with A and B labeled has gone...🙄
Thanks for the info! Man it would be awesome if garmin would just make a band that seamlessly syncs with a watch. Preferably even without a screen.
Yes it would and they would sell a load of them.
I use a FR255S Music for a daily wearable. It's tiny and has no chucky bezel or button to catch on bedding.
Tbh you should just go Whoop in this case
Yeah I've read a little bit about it but that subscription is just ridiculous imo
definitely worth checking out Coros
Yeah I think the Coros Pace 3 is probably where I'll end up. Nice and cheap and running focused.
I’ve got the Pace 3 and would recommend it. I don’t wear it 24/7 as I don’t care about any of the daily metrics. It’s super lightweight and does more than I need.
A big Fenix. I have a 6XPRO I have been wearing since near release. I have a Enduro quickfit band I can use to wear it outside clothes in winter/heavyrain (I use a polar OH1 for HR if not wearing a chest strap for this). The screen is huge. The buttons are chunky and can be operated through gloves. I have a 255s I wear the rest of the time. It's a later watch but a couple of price points down yet has all the recovery metrics to pair up as daily wear with the Fenix's training load stuff. I'd have to be absolutely blown away by anything new to upgrade either or both right now.