Which Garmin Are You?

We tested out all our favourite Garmin watches here at Jura Watches to provide you with this guide to discovering which model best suits you.

Whether you’re taking part in a marathon or spectating at one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events, there is one brand of smartwatch you will likely see an abundance of – Garmin watches. They are worn by professionally ranked athletes, famous sportsmen and those who just love to train and improve their fitness with one. The sophisticated software, health metrics, and bevvy of sensors all rank Garmin is one of the best (if not, the best) smartwatch manufacturers on the market. The materials and technology in a Garmin watch are superior to so many alternatives on the market. They come equipped with all the features you need to keep a disciplined health and fitness routine, plus they look ultra cool as well. So, whether you’re exploring Garmin’s budget end of smartwatches or looking to spend a little more on one, this guide will help you decide which is best for you.

Instinct 2 Solar – For Battery Power and Affordability

Price: £250-£350

There are a few key features to mention about the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, aside from its appealing piece tag and its solar-powered technology, of course. Garmin experts equip this watch with dedicated buttons that follow commands really well and operate easily under the fingertips. In tandem with the button design, the menu of the Instinct 2 smartwatch is also easy to navigate, giving you great configuration options. Once you get a grasp of how the menu system operates, working with the watch is effortless and becomes like second nature. You can add and remove tools and widgets whenever you want so that tailoring your watch becomes both easy and enjoyable.

There are a host of health metrics to appreciate in the Instinct 2 watch. These enable you to analyse your training and performance so that you can easily identify your strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvement. Of course, being a solar-powered smartwatch, the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar has an immense battery-extending feature, but you can also access preloaded routes when out and about, thanks to its turn-by-turn navigation feature. As far as smartphone application features are concerned, you can enjoy notifications on the go, as well as all your favourite music, not to mention health metrics like your heart rate and sleep rate in real-time. For its price point, the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar smartwatch is an exceptional choice, especially when you look at the market and compare what rival smartwatch manufacturers are offering for this same price point.

Venu 3 – A Better Alternative to the Apple Watch

Price: £425-£450

If you’re looking for the closest alternative to an Apple watch, your search should start and end with the Garmin Venu 3 smartwatch. Its battery life in days rather than hours is a sure giveaway that this watch is a great long-term investment and will be with you on your health and fitness journey in the long run. Its excellent sports tracking features, combined with a bright OLED screen make it a much better alternative to so many other smartwatches on the market. The surface features of the Garmin Venu 3 watch include call and voice assistance, as well as the ability to ping your phone whenever you lose it. Compared to the Venu 2, there is a considerable bump in features. These include a Sleep Coach feature, nap detection, morning and daily summary reports, recovery time for sports, a Workout Benefit feature, and Jetlag Adviser support. Its GPS battery life is 26 hours and you can also choose between a 41 and 45mm size. For this mid-range Garmin watch option, you get a lot for your money, plus it also features an upgraded heart rate sensor and a nice large screen for added legibility and ease of use.

Fenix 7 Pro – For Superior Mapping and Endurance Activities

Price: £680-£720

If you’re a marathon runner, backpacker or just love outdoor activities, the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro should be a serious consideration. The watch was released just last year and is among Garmin’s most popular offerings. While one of the more expensive in the brand’s catalogue, its superior features are well-justified. In terms of newness, Garmin releases the Endurance Score, Weather Glace, and Mapping Split Screens as additional features. This model is solar charging and available in three different sizes, while it also offers the most comprehensive suite of features for outdoor-goers who like to hike, explore, run and mountaineer.

Just some of its activity profiles include; Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Surfing, Hunting, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Snowshoeing, Fishing, Horseback Riding, Jumpmaster, Tennis, and Pickleball. The top features of the Fenix 7 Pro watch are its battery power, with the ability to use GPS tracking for 12 or more days. Also, its superior mapping feature, which notifies you when you’re off course, allows you to create your own course whenever you want to. Lastly, the ClimbPro feature enables you as the wearer to split your climbs and descents to show distance, as well as show the details for your next climb once you’ve completed your last one.

MARQ II Athlete – The High-End Sporty

Price: £1599-£1999

The Garmin MARQ Gen 2 watch is part of the brand’s high-end sports-related smartwatch offerings. The Garmin MARQ II promises luxurious styling and day-to-day training metrics specific to its themes (Aviator, Athlete and Adventurer, for example). Its domed sapphire crystal front promises a high-end resolution and a high-end feel, while its lightweight titanium or carbon cases are perfect for sports. Of course, Garmin's multi-band GPS guarantees super accurate tracking, while a battery of 16 days is more than ample for all your most daring outdoor pursuits. The Garmin MARQ II Athlete watch also features Spotify, which can be linked directly to your Bluetooth headphones, Jetlag Adviser, and a superior AMOLED display. The GPS technology built into the Garmin MARQ II Athlete watch, for example, is the brand’s most expensive to date. It’s also the most innovative, ensuring that all the features it offers are fine-tuned and more than capable of assisting with every kind of outdoor pursuit. Even the case of the MARQ II is composed of 130 individual layers, guaranteeing the toughness and durability you need in any sport-focussed smartwatch.

If you’d like more information on any of the Garmin watches we’ve featured in this article, you can call and speak to a member of our sales team here at Jura Watches on 01335 453453