Which Garmin Running Watch is Right For You?

For many runners, it’s hard to remember exactly what it felt like to run with a basic analog or digital watch. You either guessed at the distance, or you calculated your route by driving it, mapping it online or even walking it with a wheel. While some purists still argue that those were the good ol’ days, we’re thankful for the advent of the GPS running watch.

Modern GPS running watches make it easy to track everything from miles to steps, heart rate to sleep, and some can even pay for our groceries or that post-run beer.

Garmin running watches are some of the most popular smart timepieces on the market because they pack a huge number of features into a premium piece of equipment. From the vivoactive 3 to the fenix 5 Plus, Garmin's offerings come loaded with software to help you train smarter.

In this guide, you'll find a rundown of Garmin's GPS running watches and get a feel for which one is right for you and your training.

Fleet Feet testers loved the streamlined operation of the Forerunner 45. In our Garmin Forerunner 45 review, our tester says the watch was perfect for him because it tracks pace, distance and time—the only things he really needs to run better.

The 45 has a new round watch face, a departure from the square face on the Forerunner 35. Garmin also added improved safety and tracking features, including automatic incident detection, and included access to its Garmin Coach training plans.

Overall, the Garmin Forerunner 45 is an easy going GPS running watch that will do everything most runners will ever need and then some.

Ease of Use
We love the easy-to-use touch screen, swipe function and bright backlight for nighttime running. In fact, the display is easy to see no matter the time of day or weather. We wore it on nighttime runs, pre-dawn runs, blisteringly sunny days and even one run in a torrential downpour.

Functionality
In addition to accurate GPS tracking, there are several key functions we found extra useful when it comes to training. Among them are the ability to monitor daily stress and how we handle it; heart rate monitoring (measured down to the second!) to better understand training and recovery; sleep patterns to monitor restful sleep, restless sleep and how many hours you were awake each night; and activity analytics like steps taken and floors climbed.

Outside of training, Garmin Pay makes pre- or post-run shopping easy while smart phone pairing keeps us connected and, on more than one occasion, helped us find our phone.

Garmin also made the vivoactive 3 waterproof. Rated to 5 ATM—it can withstand water pressure up to 50 meters deep—the vivoactive is great for swimming and can make it through the shower unscathed.

Battery

Garmin gave the vivoactive 3 enough juice to get you through your runs. The watch lasts up to a week in smartwatch mode, and it gets 13 hours in GPS mode.

With the same quick-swapping silicone band as the more expensive Forerunner 645 Music, the 245 is lightweight and comfortable. Our tester says, “This is hands down the most comfortable watch I have ever worn. I’ve run in it, showered in it and slept in it every day for the past two weeks."

But even with other added features, like more advanced running metrics, Garmin training plans and tracking for swimming laps in a pool, the overall functionality remains the same as other Garmin watches. Three buttons on the left side of the face and two on the right control the screen, backlight and GPS functions. Plus, you can customize which details you want to see on the home screen—steps, miles, battery, time, date and plenty more.

At only $300 for the base model and $350 for the added music and Wi-Fi capabilities, the Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245 Music are affordable GPS running watches that do everything most runners will need.

Durability
It’s a watch for adventure. The fenix 5 is built with chemically strengthened glass (or sapphire crystal in the upgraded model), a rugged stainless steel bezel and a fiber-reinforced polymer case.

Garmin's industrial design withstands the kind of beating that comes with long days in the wilderness whether we’re running, trekking, skiing, paddle boarding or playing golf.

Plus, the Garmin fenix 5 is waterproof. Garmin rates the watch at 10 ATM, which means it can withstand water pressures equivalent to a depth of 100 meters. So, it's suitable for swimming, showering and the worst rain Mother Nature can throw at you.

Battery Life
While we didn’t go on any extended treks, we love this watch would let us. The extended battery life should last 24 hours in GPS mode, 60 hours in “UltraTrac battery saver mode,” and two weeks in smartwatch mode.

Garmin makes the Fenix 6 in three different sizes, and each comes with a choice of lens materials. The Fenix 6S has the smallest diameter of the three models; the Fenix 6 sits in the middle of the three watches; and the Fenix 6X tops the lineup. Each watch has a Pro and Sapphire model, which gives you a choice between a durable Corning Gorilla Glass 3 or sapphire crystal lens.

The major difference in the three sizes is the battery life. In GPS mode alone, the watches get up to:

• Fenix 6S: 25 hours
• Fenix 6: 36 hours
• Fenix 6X: 60 hours

But each watch has different modes that can extend the battery life. The most efficient mode in the 6S can get up to 34 days, and the 6X can run up to 80 days, according to Garmin.

In our Garmin Fenix 6 review, our tester squeezed nearly three weeks of regular training and use out of a single charge. Obviously, battery life will be short if you ramp up your training or use more features, but we're confident the Fenix 6 has enough battery life for just about any adventure you can dream up.

Durability

Both the Fenix 6 Pro and Fenix 6 Sapphire models give you durability for your wildest adventures.

A rugged stainless steel or Diamond-Like Carbon-coated steel bezel paired with either of the lens options will stand up to the stress that comes with unexpected weather and wilderness treks. Plus, the 10 ATM water rating means it can withstand water pressures of up to 100m—so it'll easily handle any surprise storm or swan dive you can throw at it.