What Garmin watch do I need next?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I've got the Instinct and the Instinct 2 Solar Tactical (what a mouthful).

I want:

- robust
- colour screen
- Very good off road mapping
- Great battery life
- The new ECG function? Although the above is preferable as a first.

I'm not a runner.

[Chilly for June]

-robust
- colour screen
- Very good off road mapping
- Great battery life
- The new ECG function? Although the above is preferable as a first.

I have a Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar

It is pretty robust. I wear it nearly ever day and the titanium bezel has held up really well. Sapphire glass is also fairing well although it does have small scratch which shows under certain lights/angles. I thought it needed a diamond to scratch it but I'm not aware of it hitting any.

Battery I never think about. Charge it for 90 mins ever 12 days. That includes GPS tracking, 24/7 HR and pulse ox overnight.

Off road mapping seems excellent but I haven't tried this out too much.

No ECG function as you have to go to the new pro for that.

Screen is great in sunlight but can look it's age when the backlight is on.

[ukwill]

I recently bought an Epix 2.

I play golf a fair bit and enjoy the gym, so it made sense. What made me pull the trigger was H Samuel are currently offering it for £375. Which is a ridiculous bargain. (Especially as the S70 is still over £600).

The daily report is new to me - has actually made me keep it on overnight, which is something I’ve never previously done.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

It's gone back up overnight sadly

[Hugo Stiglitz]

ukwill said:

I recently bought an Epix 2.

I play golf a fair bit and enjoy the gym, so it made sense. What made me pull the trigger was H Samuel are currently offering it for £375. Which is a ridiculous bargain. (Especially as the S70 is still over £600).

The daily report is new to me - has actually made me keep it on overnight, which is something I’ve never previously done.

It's back on half price with a code so I've ordered it

[Takemeaway]

Rather than start a new thread,

I’m after a Garmin (mainly due to battery life)

I’d like it to be a really good health tracker with a little bit of fitness thrown in.

I’ve got skinny wrists which isn’t ideal so no whopping screens!

I’m leaning towards the Venu 3 but not sure if I’m over egging my needs?

Help!

[James6112]

Hi
The Epix is half price again :-
https://www.hsamuel.co.uk/garmin-epix-gen-2-black-...

[Takemeaway]

James6112 said:

Hi
The Epix is half price again :-
https://www.hsamuel.co.uk/garmin-epix-gen-2-black-...

47mm watch face is probable a bit large for skinny wrists!

[borrowdale]

I’ve always wondered why these are still a thing now that Apple Watches exist?

[bigandclever]

borrowdale said:

I’ve always wondered why these are still a thing now that Apple Watches exist?

Horses for courses, innit. Garmins are running watches that have some smart capabilities; Apple watches are smartwatches that have some running capabilities

Garmin as a running watch is much more integrated and functionally rich with less need for 3rd party apps to be purchased/subscribed to; even aspects like navigation are more streamlined on the Garmins.

If you don't need or want the detailed stuff then the Apple watches (but realistically the expensive ones) are probably more than enough.

And then there'll be plenty of anything-but-Apple people. And people who like physical buttons when they're a sweaty mess.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

borrowdale said:

I’ve always wondered why these are still a thing now that Apple Watches exist?

Stifles a giggle. It's not really robust for robust sports though.

My Instinct has been Stella for grinding against stuff and shocks.

[esuuv]

As stated above - an apple watch is a smart watch with some fitness functionality. A Garmin is a fitness / sports watch with some smart functionality.

Battery life on the watches is the main thing for longer events - apple just doesn’t have enough.

[interstellar]

I wasn’t in the market for one but is that deal good to pass up.

I have an Apple Watch - never wear it, crap battery.

I wear a Vivoactive 3 music but it looks like it was a fiver.

These look good value?

[interstellar]

oh well, no one answered so I have bought it anyway,

[james6546]

The epix?

I know someone with one and they absolutely love it.

I’ve got the instinct 2x and wish I’d have gone for an epix as mine seems to have an issue where I can’t use it for navigation over a certain distance as it keeps crashing. I assume it runs out of memory.

Garmin have sent me a new one and their support was fab, but I don’t think it was a watch specific problem as this one is slow too. I’ll see when I do a run later this week.

[interstellar]

james6546 said:

The epix?

I know someone with one and they absolutely love it.

I’ve got the instinct 2x and wish I’d have gone for an epix as mine seems to have an issue where I can’t use it for navigation over a certain distance as it keeps crashing. I assume it runs out of memory.

Garmin have sent me a new one and their support was fab, but I don’t think it was a watch specific problem as this one is slow too. I’ll see when I do a run later this week.

Yes an epix, at £375 it was worth it. I would not have spent £750 on it but it looks very good.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

My thinking is sell your Instinct to soften any blow.

I'm selling my Instinct Solar Tactic 2 as there's no way I'd wear it again once it's off so it'd make the 375 a smaller price..

[james6546]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

My thinking is sell your Instinct to soften any blow.

I'm selling my Instinct Solar Tactic 2 as there's no way I'd wear it again once it's off so it'd make the 375 a smaller price..

That’s fair, my problem is I really like the instinct, it just doesn’t work as well as my original instinct 1 solar (I had to replace it as the battery died).

I should have just sold the instinct when Garmin sent me a brand new one last week

[interstellar]

If it’s still as new you could still do it and get the Epix

[james6546]

interstellar said:

If it’s still as new you could still do it and get the Epix

I might do that, I have a run planned for the next few days so I’ll try it again and if this one crashes too it’s going.

I’ve got a big race this summer and I need it to reliably navigate for me or I’m screwed!