Garmin has built a solid reputation as a go-to brand for high quality GPS watches. From premium, multi-purpose devices like the Fenix to its runner-centric Forerunner series, Garmin has earned its place as one of the first choices for outdoor enthusiasts seeking accuracy, quality and reliability.
With such an extensive range to choose from, there's a model to suit every kind of runner, adventurer, wild swimmer or climber. But if you're worried you can't afford one, don't assume the worst - there's a massive difference in price between Garmin's entry-level products and its premium devices, which are among some of the best GPS watches around today. So you can start with a more basic model and upgrade if and when you think you need more functionality.
We test watches for at least two weeks to allow each device to build up a reliable picture of our health and fitness. And we don't just take them out and about when we're trail-running, climbing, hiking and wild swimming. We keep them wrapped around our wrists 24/7 so that they can track both sleep and recovery tools, and then compare the findings against those from a Withings Sleep Analyzer sleep tracker. You can find more detail about our testing process below.
Recent updates
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The quick list
This list lets you compare all the watches in this guide at a glance, and lets you easily jump down the page for a full review of each one.
The Forerunner 955 offers all of Garmin's best training tools in a neat package that's compact and lighter than the Fenix 7, with a more affordable price tag. It gives you a lot for your money, and is our pick for the best Garmin watch of 2024.
A feature-packed watch for new and intermediate level athletes, with super accurate GPS, tools to help you train more effectively, and solid battery life. It's a superb all-rounder and is the watch we recommend to anyone starting to take their sport seriously.
If you want to take your running to the next level, the Fenix 7 Pro's new heart rate monitor and cutting edge training tools make it the watch for you. It has all Garmin's latest training tools, and boasts impressive battery life as well.
Exceptional GPS accuracy, advanced training tools, and incredible battery life for multi-day races, plus hiking and camping trips. We also appreciate the LED flashlight, which comes in extremely handy in all sorts of situations.
An extra large, extra rugged Garmin watch with dual-band GPS that really proves its worth in dense woodland, plus a handy flashlight. We found the GPS accuracy second to none during our tests, and the case proved extremely resilient.
A Garmin watch to help you train smarter indoors and out, with animated workouts, advanced fitness tools, and great maps. Battery life isn't quite as long as that of the Fenix 7, but the payoff is a dazzling AMOLED display,
A near-perfect blend of everyday smartwatch features and sports tracking in a neat, slim package. The microphone for taking calls and using your phone's voice assistant is a very handy addition.
Despite its low price, the Forerunner 55 is a superb GPS watch for beginner and intermediate level runners alike. It supports Garmin's adaptive training plans, offers daily workout suggestions and lets you monitor your recovery.
Designed specifically with women in mind, the Lily 2 is compact, light and unobtrusive. There's no on-board GPS so it requires a phone connection for tracking your speed and route on runs and walks, but has pretty impressive fitness tracking features.
The best Garmin watches we recommend in 2024
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The best Garmin watch overall
It might look unassuming with its plain resin case, but the Forerunner 955 is our pick for the best Garmin watch of 2024. It offers all of the company's best training tools in a neat package that's surprisingly compact and lightweight to wear.
It offers the best GPS tracking of any watch we've tested to date (and there have been a lot), and its advanced training tools are very impressive. It was the first watch to include heart rate variability (HRV) and training readiness scores to help you understand how your body is responding to life and training, and it also delivers a daily morning report to help you prepare for the day ahead.
Navigation is excellent, and whichever type of workout you choose to track, we think you'll be impressed by the sheer depth of data available afterwards. If you're purely a runner then the Forerunner 55 is a much cheaper alternative, and the Forerunner 255 will suit entry-level triathletes well, but if you enjoy getting stuck into a wide range of sports then the 955 is the one for you.
Our only real criticism is that the battery life wasn't as long as we'd expected, but opting for the solar edition stretches it out further between charges.
Read our full Garmin Forerunner 955 review
The best Garmin watch for new runners
The Forerunner 265 is a great choice for beginner and intermediate level runners and triathletes thanks to its super accurate GPS, great looking screen, and accessible design that makes even the more advanced training tools easy to understand and use. It's very similar to the Forerunner 255 that launched in 2022, but with a new AMOLED touchscreen that makes it brighter, bolder, and easier to use.
Despite its modest price, the Forerunner 265 has an impressive set of sensors under the hood, and its GPS outshone most other sports watches I've tested this year. On our tester's pre-measured 5km course, it plotted the route to within five meters, which is remarkable considering it's on roads rather than a track. It also gives you wrist-based running metrics, such as ground contact time, vertical oscillation, and cadence so you can see how your form changes as you fatigue, plus heart rate, speed, and elevation. Everything is presented neatly and clearly, with the upgraded screen making graphs easy to interpret at a glance.
The only real downside is that the Forerunner 265 doesn't support full maps, which seems like a shame. There are basic navigation tools, but for really exploring new areas you'll be better off upgrading to the Forerunner 955 or 965.
Read our full Garmin Forerunner 265 review
The best Garmin watch for advanced runners
If you're interested in taking your running, cycling, swimming or hiking to the next level, the Fenix 7 Pro is the ideal training tool for you. It's very similar to the original Fenix 7, but with an upgraded heart rate sensor, an incredibly handy flashlight, and a handful of extra tools to help you train more effectively.
There are all the training tools a runner could wish for, including the ability to easily import workout plans from services like TrainingPeaks, wrist-based running dynamics, and a variety of tools that put your biometric data into a context that's easier to understand. For example, the new Endurance Score features uses various sources of long and short-term data to assess your ability to sustain long efforts, and see your progress over time
GPS proved particularly accurate, and during an intense indoor cycling interval session, we found that changes in heart rate were detected by the Fenix 7 Pro's updated sensor almost as swiftly as a chest strap heart rate monitor.
On test we found that the watch's blue backlight tended to make colors look a little muddy, particularly when navigating using the watch's on-board maps and GPS, but that's a fairly minor complaint. if you'd prefer to have a watch with an OLED display, take a look at the Garmin Epix Pro, which is otherwise nearly identical.
Read our full Garmin Fenix 7 Pro review
The best Garmin watch for ultra runners
The Garmin Enduro gives you the training tools of the Fenix 7 with the battery life of the Instinct 2, and it's a joy to use. This is a watch that makes no compromises. It's big and bold (which is necessary to accommodate its large solar cell). with a titanium bezel, sapphire crystal lens, and an enormous 1.4in screen for displaying stats and maps. It's even packing a bright LED flashlight that's incredibly handy for early morning and late evening runs, or around a campsite.
GPS accuracy is exceptional (with Garmin's SatIQ automatically switching between satellite tracking modes to maximize battery life), and although the display isn't as bright as that of the Epix (Gen 2), it's still bright and detailed enough to make navigation a breeze.
The only question is, are you really going to be off-grid enough to justify it? The Enduro 2 can run for weeks between charges even with regular GPS use, but if you're not planning any ultra runs or long backpacking expeditions, a Fenix or Forerunner might be a better option.
Read our full Garmin Enduro 2 review
The best Garmin watch for hikers
The Garmin Instinct 2X takes one of the most likeable and more unique watches in Garmin’s range and brings it up to date with a bigger screen, a bright flashlight, multi-band GPS powers and a battery life that goes for weeks. If you like the idea of having a bigger, more rugged Instinct 2 then you’ll have a lot of time for what the Instinct 2X is packing.
In our tests, the newly added multi-frequency GPS really did deliver the improved accuracy you need in places like tall, wooded areas. We used the Instinct 2X alongside the Forerunner 965 and found data by large was very consistent, and the metrics attached to that improved positioning data. It uses more power, but is worth it when you're out exploring, and battery life is still excellent with it enabled.
The new flashlight, accessed via the top left button, is more than just a gimmick, offering a surprisingly bright light to work by. We only wish the Instinct 2X had a higher screen resolution for more detail and proper support for mapping to help us navigate in the wild.
Read our full Garmin Instinct 2X Solar review
The best Garmin watch for the gym
The Garmin Epix (Gen 2) is essentially the same as the Fenix 7, but with an AMOLED display rather than memory-in-pixel, making it easier to read in all lighting conditions, including the dark realms of the spin studio or Crossfit box. It offers a huge range of activity tracking options for indoor and outdoor sports, and has all the training tools you'd expect from a premium Garmin watch including daily workout suggestions tailored to your fitness, hill score, endurance score, and training readiness.
If that sounds overwhelming, don't worry; everything is clearly laid out, and that super crisp display means graphs, charts and figures are extremely easy to read and interpret. On-screen muscle maps help you balance your strength training, along with animated yoga and pilates workouts, which offer clear illustrations and time you through each movement.
There's no solar charging (Garmin is still working on a way to make this happen for AMOLED watches), but that doesn't matter if most of your workouts are happening indoors, and in our tests we found that the Epix (Gen 2) will still go a week between charges in ordinary use.
If you do decide to venture outdoors, you'll benefit from fantastic maps and navigation. If you want to explore a new area, the Epix (Gen 2) is one of the best watches for the task, showing roads, trails and paths in excellent detail.
Bear in mind that this particular variant of the Epix is only available in one size (47mm). If you want a smaller or larger watch, you should check out the recently released Garmin Epix (Gen 2) Pro, which also has an updated heart rate monitor and built in flashlight.
The best Garmin watch for everyday wear
Torn between a smartwatch and a dedicated sports watch? The Venu 3 strikes a great balance, offering excellent GPS and fitness features, plus everyday smartwatch tools like quick access to your phone's voice assistant, and the ability to take calls from your wrist via the built-in microphone. It's hard to overstate just how useful that is; during testing our tester found themselves using Google Assistant far more often than normal, as it was easy to answer those little questions that come up during the day right on their wrist.
It's a step up from the Venu 2 Plus (released in 2022) with a new heart rate sensor for more accurate biometrics, and a choice of two sizes rather than just one. It was the first watch to feature Garmin's new Sleep Coaching and if you're in the US you can use it to check for an irregular heartbeat using the ECG app.
The biggest drawback is the lack of mapping. Despite its bright, high resolution screen, which seems ideally suited to navigation, you can't download maps or GPX routes to the Venu 3. If that's something you really need, and you want an AMOLED display, you should take a look at the Garmin Epix (Gen 2) instead.
Read our full Garmin Venu 3 review
The best Garmin watch for value
The Forerunner 55 is Garmin's entry-level running watch, and very reasonably priced, but we'd happily recommend it to intermediate level runners as well. You're getting a huge amount for your money here – despite its modest price tag, it's a very accurate GPS watch with impressive heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, recovery stats, and training tools including workout suggestions and recommended recovery periods.
OK, its color memory-in-pixel screen isn't as vivid as the AMOLED display of the Venu 2 Plus or Epix, but it's still clearly visible in most lighting conditions, with a backlight for when things get gloomy, and all your stats are clearly presented with graphs and charts to illustrate trends over time.
It was released in 2021 so you can snag it for much less than its list price, making it a particularly great deal. If you're not sure which Garmin watch to choose and you're on a budget, this one should tick the most important boxes.
The best Garmin watch for small wrists
The Lily 2 is the smallest Garmin watch, and the best option if you find regular sports watches overwhelming. It's targeted at women, but its subtle design means it's a device anyone could wear if they have slim wrists.
The Lily 2 is even lighter than the original Lily thanks to the switch from stainless steel to aluminum, and our tester Lucy Miller appreciated its slim profile. "Not only does it slide easily under your cuffs but under bedclothes too," she said. "If you want to make the most of the sleep monitoring, that's quite a big deal."
You get Garmin's daily health features, such as body battery and sleep tracking. Period and pregnancy tracking are positioned prominently in the menus, making it easy to log symptoms for more accurate predictions of your cycle.
The biggest downside is that it doesn't have its own GPS transceiver, which means you'll need to carry your phone in order to track your location, speed and distance during outdoor workouts. It's a shame, but likely due to the sheer size of the watch; radio aerials need a certain amount of space to avoid interfering with one another and the Lily 2 might be just too petite.
Read our full Garmin Lily 2 review
The best Garmin watches comparison table
| Watch | RRP | Weight | Display type | Battery life: GPS / Standby |
| Forerunner 955 | $499.99 (US) / £439.99 (UK) | 52g / 1.8oz | Memory-in-pixel | 42 hours / 15 days |
| Forerunner 265 | $449.99 (US) / £429.99 (UK) | 39g or 47g / 1.4 or 1.7oz | AMOLED | 24 or 20 hours / 15 or 13 days |
| Fenix 7 Pro | From $699.99 (US) / £599.99 (UK) | 63 or 79 g / 2.2 or 2.8oz | Memory-in-pixel | Up to 122 hours / up to 1+ year |
| Enduro 2 | $1,099.99 (US) / £929.99 (UK) | 70g / 2.5oz | Memory-in-pixel | Up to 714 hours / up to 550 days |
| Instict 2X Solar | $450 (US) / £399.99 (UK) | 67g / 2.4oz | Transflective display | 145 hours / unlimited |
| Epix (Gen 2) | From $799.99 (US) / £739.99 (UK) | 63 or 78 or 98g / 2.2 or 2.8 or 3.5oz | AMOLED | 42 hours / 16 days |
| Venu 3 | $449.99 (US) / £449.99 (UK) | 40 or 47g / 1.4 or 1.7oz | AMOLED | Up to 26 hours / up to 14 days |
| Forerunner 55 | $199.99 (US) / £179.99 (UK) | 37g / 1.3 | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel | Up to 20 hours / up to 14 days |
| Lily 2 | from $249.99 (US) / £249.99 (UK) | 24g / 0.8oz | LCD | N/A / 5 days |
Meet the tester
Our former Editor-in-chief Cat is passionate about both tech and running. Nowhere do these two loves collide in quite the same way as in GPS watches. She's tested and reviewed countless sports watches in her time and is an expert on all things Garmin.
How we tested these Garmin watches
We test each Garmin watch for at least two weeks so the watch and its companion app have time to build up a full picture of our health and fitness. We wear each watch day and night so we can assess its sleep and recovery tools, and compare its results against those from a Withings Sleep Analyzer sleep tracker.
To test each watch's GPS, we take it for several runs and walks in a variety of locations, including built-up areas, open fields, and wooded areas that present a challenge of satellite navigation. We also take each watch on a pre-measured route to see how accurately it records distance.
To test the accuracy of each Garmin watch's heart rate monitor, we put it to the test in a series of intense interval training sessions and compare its results to those from a chest strap heart rate monitor, which serves as a benchmark.
For more details see how Advnture tests products.
