Sometimes we need more in a smartwatch than just simply notifying us of a text or providing us with attractive customisable dials; some of us need a high performing instrument that is going to track our every move and position and deliver an in-depth analysis of our health and fitness to improve our conditioning. One brand we have always been able to rely on is Garmin and their stunning GPS smartwatches.
No matter what budget you are working with or what features are a must-have, we have done the hard work for you and narrowed down the top 5 best Garmin GPS smartwatches on the market today.
Garmin Forerunner 645 Smartwatch
The best Garmin GPS watch for running and cycling, the Garmin Forerunner 645 has everything you need to keep yourself on track. It provides incredible advanced running dynamics including ground contact time balance, stride length and vertical ratio combined with a wrist heart rate monitor to assist you in evaluating your fitness. It also boasts an innovative Training Status function which allows you to monitor your exercise history and performance while the new anaerobic training effect metric gives you insight into a critical dimension of training, telling you how your training is improving your ability to push the limits.
Key Features:
- GPS and GLONASS sensors
- Garmin Pay enabled
- Advanced running dynamics
- Wrist based heart rate monitor
- Battery life up to 7 days in smartwatch mode, 14 hours in GPS mode
Garmin Approach S60 Smartwatch
The best Garmin GPS watch for golfing, the Garmin Approach S60 has a library of over 40,000 golf courses around the world allowing you feel equipped wherever you go. This sleek golfing smartwatch also has an incredible AutoShot game tracking feature which automatically tracks shots along the fairway and records shot distances for post-game analysis. Its precise GPS sensor provides yardages to greens and hazards and doglegs on full-colour course maps on a stunning 1.2inch sunlight readable colour touchscreen. The Green View function also gives you true shape of the green from wherever you are on the course and allows you to manually drag-and-drop the pin into the correct location for greater accuracy.
Key Features:
- GPS sensor
- More than 40,000 preloaded courses
- Enhanced AutoShot game tracking
- Digital scorecard
- Yardage to F/M/B and yardage to layups/doglegs
Garmin Fenix 5 Plus Smartwatch
The best Garmin GPS smartwatch for outdoor recreation, the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus is fully equipped to take on the elements and accompany you on adventures around the world. It’s fantastic colour TopoActive Europe maps feature Trendline popularity routing to help you choose the best paths for your mission while the rugged and scratch resistant design can handle anything thrown at it. It’s built in GPS, GLONASS and Galileo sensors are accompanied by a three-axis compass, gyroscope and barometric altimeter to help track your route in even the most challenging of environments. We also love its music streaming feature which lets you sync with services like Spotify and store and play your favourite songs right from your wrist.
Key Features:
- GPS, GLONASS and Galileo sensors
- Wrist heart rate technology
- TopoActive Europe maps
- Garmin Pay enabled
- Battery lasts up to 12 days in smartwatch mode, 8 hours in GPS mode with music
The best Garmin GPS smartwatch for diving, the Garmin Descent MK1 keeps you company no matter what style of underwater swimming you enjoy. Whether you dive with or without oxygen tanks, in salt or freshwater, this stunning diving smartwatch features GPS sensors with full-colour onscreen mapping and location reference so you can easily mark your dive entry and exit points. It’s incredible single and multiple gas dive modes monitor your gauge, apnoea and closed circuit rebreather (CCR) so you can plan your dives directly from your wrist and the dive log also lets you track and review data for up to 200 dives. When you’re back on land, the Garmin Descent Mk1 also makes for a robust training watch with multisport programmes already programmed within.
Key Features:
- GPS and GLONASS sensors
- Choose modes for single and multiple gas dives
- Dive log
- Wrist heart rate technology
- Battery life up to 10 days in smartwatch mode, 40 hours in dive mode, 20 hours in GPS mode
The best Garmin GPS smartwatch for pilots, the Garmin D2 Delta PX comes with advanced aviation functions including dynamic colour mapping, NEXRAD weather reports, airport data, automatic flight logging and connectivity with select avionics. You can take to the skies with confidence with its built in worldwide airport data base which lets you access Direct-to and Nearest routing functions so you can fly safely to the location or waypoint of choice or find the nearest airport if you need to land quickly. The Garmin D2 Delta smartwatch collection is also the first range of pilot smartwatches to include wrist based Pulse OX sensors which track blood oxygen saturation levels, breathing rate and overall fitness levels.
Key Features:
- GPS, GLONASS and Galileo sensors
- Pulse Ox sensor
- Dynamic colour mapping, NEXRAD weather reports and airport data
- Garmin Pay
- Music storage for up to 500 songs
- Battery performance lasts up to 20 days in smartwatch mode and 18 hours in GPS and Pulse Ox mode
