New heart rate monitors & sports watches are being released every year and technology is advancing by leaps and bounds. These new models have more and more functionalities, features and technical specifications. And we're not going to kid you, it's a real headache to choose the ideal watch for your type of daily activity. Do you need a watch with integrated maps? Or maybe one with advanced performance metrics? Or maybe you're looking for something more geared towards monitoring your health? To help you clear up these unknowns, at RUNNEA we are going to focus on the Garmin brand, arguably the world's best-selling brand for heart rate monitors & sports watches.
According to data from 2022, Garmin sold more than 3 million devices that year alone, consolidating its position as a leader in the heart rate monitors & sports watches market. But beyond sales figures, what really stands out about Garmin is the reliability of its devices. These watches are known for their durability, accuracy and a wide range of features that make them ideal for all types of athletes, from beginners to professionals.
With this guide, we want to make it easy for you to choose the Garmin watch that best suits your needs and training goals, depending on the type of runner you are.
Runner starting to run 1 or 2 days a week: Garmin Forerunner 55
If you're just starting out in the running world and only run one or two days a week, you don't need a sports watch with endless features that you probably won't use. In this case, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is an excellent choice for you. This device is an evolution of the popular Forerunner 45 and offers a perfect combination of simplicity and essential functionality for the novice runner.
Technical features and technology highlights:
- Battery life: up to 2 weeks in watch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode. Ideal for those who do not want to be constantly charging the device.
- Integrated GPS: This watch has built-in GPS that allows you to track your speed, distance and location with great accuracy, without the need to carry your cell phone.
- Performance metrics: It provides basic metrics such as pace, distance and time, as well as calorie consumption, helping you keep track of your fitness goals.
- Safety features: It includes features such as LiveTrack and emergency assistance, allowing you to share your real-time location with emergency contacts.
- Training programmes: Through the Garmin Connect app, you can download training plans to help you prepare for 5k races, 10k races or even a half marathon.
Who is it ideal for?
This watch is perfect for those who are taking their first steps in the world of running and are looking for a simple but effective device to monitor their workouts. Its ease of use and affordable price make it an excellent choice for beginners.
Occasional runner, who runs to clear their head and stay fit 2 days a week: Garmin Venu 3
If you're an occasional runner, running or jogging maybe 2 days a week, and your main goal is to clear your head and stay fit, the Garmin Venu 3 is right up your ally. Not only is this watch an excellent fitness tracker, but it also places a strong emphasis on wellness and overall health.
Technical features and technology highlights:
- AMOLED display: It offers a high-resolution AMOLED display that makes it easy to read your metrics and notifications even in direct sunlight.
- 24/7 health monitoring: This watch continuously tracks your heart rate, blood oxygen levels and sleep quality, providing a complete picture of your well-being.
- Battery life: I'm sure you hate having to charge your phone battery every day too. With up to 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 22 hours in GPS mode, you won't have to worry about charging this device frequently.
- Stress management and recovery features: The Garmin Venu 3 has features to measure your stress levels throughout the day and suggested breathing exercises to help you relax.
- Over 25 preloaded sports apps: From running to yoga to swimming, this watch comes with a wide range of preloaded sports apps that allow you to customise your workouts.
Who is it ideal for?
This watch is ideal for casual runners who also value health and wellness metrics. Its versatility and focus on health make it an excellent choice for those seeking a balance between sports performance and self-care.
Runner preparing for races (10k to marathon): Garmin Forerunner 265
If you're in the race preparation phase, whether it's a 10k or marathon, accurate and reliable data is crucial to adjusting your training and reaching your goals. A good display, maps to help you with your training and why not, a coach integrated into the watch will also help you. In this sense, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is presented as the best option of the American brand.
Technical features and technology highlights:
- High-precision GPS: This device features a high-precision GPS that provides accurate data on distance, pace and location, which is vital for fine-tuning your workouts.
- Advanced performance monitoring: It provides advanced metrics such as VO2 max, training status and recovery time, allowing you to have a more precise control of your fitness.
- Battery life: With up to 24 hours in GPS mode and up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, this watch guarantees you more than enough battery life for your longest workouts.
- Pulse oximeter and wrist heart rate: These features give you a more complete view of your health and performance, allowing you to adjust your training based on your fitness level.
- Enhanced connectivity: The Forerunner 265 allows synchronisation with multiple external sensors via ANT+ and Bluetooth, making it a versatile tool for the most demanding runners.
- AMOLED display: The high-resolution AMOLED display not only offers a crisp and clear display of your metrics, but also improves power efficiency, contributing to longer battery life.
- Garmin Coach: This watch includes the Garmin Coach feature, which allows you to access personalised training plans directly from the device. It's like having a personal trainer on your wrist, helping you prepare for 5k, 10k, half marathon or even a full marathon.
Who is it ideal for?
This watch is perfect for runners who are serious about their race preparation and need reliable data to fine-tune their training. Its wide range of advanced metrics and high reliability make the Garmin Forerunner 955 an exceptional choice for athletes committed to their performance.
Triathletes: Garmin Forerunner 965
For triathletes, versatility and accuracy in data collection are key aspects. The Garmin Forerunner 965 stands as a high-end option that meets these demands, especially with its new display that makes it visible also underwater, which is crucial for the swimming stage.
Technical features and technology highlights:
- AMOLED display visible in the water: One of the most outstanding innovations of this model is its high-resolution display that allows optimal visibility even during swimming, which is vital for triathletes.
- Multisport GPS: This watch features pre-installed modes for triathlon, as well as cycling, swimming and running separately, allowing precise tracking of each discipline on a single device.
- Advanced performance monitoring: Like other high-end Garmin models, the Forerunner 965 offers advanced metrics such as VO2 max, training status and recovery time.
- Battery life: With up to 21 hours of battery life in GPS mode and up to 2 weeks in watch mode, this device is designed to withstand even the longest competitions.
- Enhanced connectivity: The ability to sync with multiple external sensors via ANT+ and Bluetooth makes it a complete tool for the most demanding triathletes.
Who is it ideal for?
This watch is the perfect choice for triathletes looking for a device that provides reliable and accurate data across all triathlon disciplines. Its new water-visible display and rugged construction make the Garmin Forerunner 965 an indispensable ally for athletes looking to optimise their performance in this all-round sport.
Trail runners: Garmin Fenix 7
For trail running enthusiasts, endurance and navigation accuracy are key aspects. The Garmin Fenix 7 is presented as a comprehensive solution for trail runners, standing out especially in battery life, map quality and robustness of the device.
Technical features and technology highlights:
- Topographic maps: This device comes with pre-installed topographic maps and the ability to download more, which is crucial for navigation in rough terrain.
- Battery life: With a battery life of up to 130 hours in UltraTrac mode and up to 50 hours in GPS mode, this watch is designed to withstand the longest and most demanding tests.
- Rugged construction: Made from high-quality materials such as titanium and sapphire crystal, the Fenix 7 is designed to withstand the rigors of trail running.
- Performance metrics: It offers advanced metrics such as altitude-adjusted VO2 max, training status and recovery time, especially useful in trail running where altitude and terrain constantly vary.
- Safety features: It includes features such as LiveTrack and emergency assistance, allowing you to share your location in real time with emergency contacts.
- Touch screen and built-in flashlight
Who is it ideal for?
The Garmin Fenix 7 is ideal for trail runners looking for a rugged device with a long battery life and high-quality topographic maps. Its ruggedness and accuracy make it an indispensable companion to meet the challenges of trail running.
Ultra trail runners: Garmin Enduro 2
For ultra trail runners, who face events of more than 42 km, the choice of sports watch is crucial. The Garmin Enduro 2 presents itself as the ideal choice, standing out especially in aspects such as battery life, map quality, robustness of the device and screen visibility.
Technical features and technology highlights:
- Exceptional battery life: With a battery life of up to 300 hours in UltraTrac mode and 80 hours in GPS mode, this watch is designed to withstand the most demanding ultra-distance tests.
- High-quality topo maps: The Enduro 2 comes with pre-installed topo maps and the ability to download more, which is essential for navigation in difficult terrain.
- Rugged and durable: Made with high-strength materials such as stainless steel and sapphire crystal, this watch is designed to withstand the rigors of ultra trail running.
- High-visibility display: The 1.4-inch display is 14% larger than previous models and offers exceptional visibility even in low light or underwater conditions.
- Advanced performance metrics: Provides metrics such as VO2 max, training status and recovery time, which are vital for fine-tuning your training and race strategies.
- Climpro: It allows you to view real-time information about the current and upcoming climbs, including data on gradient, distance and altitude gain, as well as descents and flats.
- SATIQ technology: Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology ensures optimal positioning accuracy in any environment while optimising device battery life.
- Built-in flashlight
Who is it ideal for?
The Garmin Enduro 2 is the perfect choice for ultra trail runners looking for a device with long battery life, detailed topo maps and rugged construction. Its high-visibility display and advanced performance metrics make it an indispensable ally for long-distance events.
Garmin offers a wide range of watches designed to meet the needs of every type of runner. With this guide, we hope you will find the Garmin watch that best suits your training needs and goals.
Thank you for trusting us. Remember that you can compare prices at RUNNEA.
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