What Is the Best Garmin Watch Right Now? (2026)
Last year, Garmin introduced a Pro version that incorporated inReach’s satellite communications knowledge. Not only does it cost at least $400 more than the Apple Watch Ultra and $200 more than the regular Fenix 8, but you also have to pay for the inReach subscription plan, which has multiple tiers and ranges from $8/month to $50/month depending on whether you want features like unlimited texting or sending picture messages.
What you get for this mind-boggling price is a sports watch that can do anything and everything. It offers best-in-class battery life (each Fenix can last weeks on a single charge, and up to a month on a solar charge) and features like Garmin’s Descent line depth sensor, meaning this watch works as a complete dive computer for scuba and free diving. It has a microphone and speaker for basic voice commands (although there’s no built-in cellular connectivity), a surprisingly useful built-in LED flashlight and Garmin’s signature built-in topographic maps, 24/7 health monitoring, and tracking for over a hundred different activities.
I’ve used the 51mm version for almost every outdoor sport: snowboarding, trail running, mountain biking, and climbing. Every time I use it, its capabilities far surpass mine. I have irritated many fellow climbers by trying to track route difficulty, duration, and drops while incorporating my Body Battery measurements, etc. The danger is always that you spend more time fiddling with your Garmin Fenix 8 than your actual sport. I have the version with the sapphire crystal dial and titanium bezel, and I’ve smashed it into rock faces without a scratch. If you’re willing to pay the price and want a nice watch that will last forever (I have friends who still wear their Fenix 5 and 6, and honestly, they’re fine), this is the one for you.
Best running watch
The Garmin Forerunner series was launched in the early 2000s and has become the ultimate running watch. Like all Garmins, the Forerunner comes in a range of prices, each offering different features. Last year, Garmin launched the Forerunner 570 ($550), a mid-range model without an LED flashlight or built-in maps, and the Forerunner 970 ($750), which is the premium version. Before I go into detail about why the Forerunner 970 is the better option, I should also say that I have tested many previous Garmin Forerunners at different price points. If you’re not a triathlete, older Forerunners are still worth considering, and the $200 entry-level Forerunner 165 is aimed explicitly at runners, instead of including triathletes like the more expensive models do.
