Amazfit T-Rex 3: first impressions 

When the Amazfit T-Rex 3 dropped last fall it was billed as the ultimate outdoor GPS watch by the Chinese brand, while onlookers hailed it as a rival to the Garmin Fenix 8. Given that the Fenix 8 is a premium watch from the world's biggest brand, and given that the T-Rex 3 comes in at about a quarter of the price, that claim was optimistic. However, this is still a great watch for adventurers heading into the backcountry – especially if you have a more limited tech budget.

The T-Rex 3 promises a rugged build, weeks of battery life, endless activity modes, smartwatch functionality and proper maps on its big, bright AMOLED screen. All for $279.99 (£249.99). Could it deliver? Mostly, but there are some wrinkles.

We had already given its predecessor, the Amazfit T-Rex 2, nearly perfect marks for its tough build, battery life and navigation features, so our hopes were high for this watch. Plus, the corresponding Zepp app has seen almost continuous improvements over the last couple of years, making it considerably easier to use.

The watch comes in a robust build that some might say is too big and bulky for all but the burliest of users. On the upside, I wouldn't be afraid to drop it on a rocky trail, thanks to its stainless steel bezel, polymer middle frame and gorilla glass screen. It's rated for free diving, so a bit of wet weather isn't going to pose a problem either.

It's powered by a battery that the brand claims gives you up to 42 hours of support in accurate GPS mode, or up to 27 days with typical use. In our field tests, we found it didn't quite live up to that incredibly high standard, but it does rival the lifespan of Coros watches, which gives it an edge over its Garmin competition. It is, however, a little on the slow side to charge.

As an outdoor adventure junkie, I was excited about the prospect of free, downloadable maps, which I thought would display well given the 1.5in (38mm) AMOLED display. In reality, I found the process of downloading maps a little fiddly, and they didn't display as well as on other watches. However, the GPS was accurate. The screen is easy to view in all light conditions, but it's not super responsive in gesture mode, which can be annoying.

Heart rate tracking was also accurate when compared with other watches, though it was sometimes a little slow to catch up when I went from slow to fast or flat to steep. Health tracking is all done by the Zepp app, which has really improved and allows you to access everything from training readiness to sleep scores. While most of us probably wouldn’t choose to sleep with a watch this size, it has a surprisingly comfortable fit – despite the brutish build.

The T-Rex 3 boasts lots of smartwatch capabilities, which means you can respond to texts and control your music playback, but you can't make or take calls like you can with the Fenix 8, and you can't install Spotify. There's also no LED flashlight for nocturnal escapades.

But enough about what's not there. This is a tough, capable sports watch that's easy to use and has a responsive touchscreen and voice commands. It doesn't seem fair or helpful to compare it to the Fenix 8, largely because you're either in the market for a thousand-dollar watch or a budget-friendly watch. We can't say it's as good, but it does share important DNA with its pricier rival and boasts plenty of perks for adventurers.

Amazfit T-Rex 3: in the field 

I've been testing the T-Rex 3 for the past three weeks of summer activities. Usually when I'm testing a sports watch, I try it out hiking, trail running, pool swimming and for yoga. However, I quickly realized this particular watch is too big to reasonably wear for lap swimming or for yoga. That's fine, because it's billed as an adventure watch rather than a general fitness watch, such as the Amazfit Active 2.

I've been wearing it on my right wrist on the trails in Scotland, including up one Munro, and using my Coros Pace 3 on my left wrist as a comparison.

Design

The T-Rex 3 comes in just one size, and it's ginormous. I don't have a birdlike bone structure, but I'm on the small side, and this beefy piece absolutely dominates my wrist.

That said, whereas the Fenix 8 bruised my wrist for the first few days of wearing it, this watch is surprisingly comfortable. Yes, it gets in the way when I'm putting on my backpack, and no, I couldn't possibly sleep with it on, but for everything in between, it's fine. However, if a smaller version were available, I'd snap it up.

Part of the reason I haven't found this watch too annoying is that I've been testing it in warm weather. It's no problem to wear with a short-sleeved shirt and even a rain jacket or windbreaker, but come winter, I can imagine it being difficult to team with multiple layers, given its high-rise profile.

It's operated by four buttons: top-right takes you into activities, while bottom-right is a back button that takes you into apps such as the Zepp Coach, your workout history and current heart rate. On the left side, there's an up and down button to navigate menus. If you press on the bottom left from the home screen, you get a snapshot of the day where you can see the weather forecast, your most recent workout, training load and recovery time. If you press the top left from the home screen, you get into settings where you can activate a 'do not disturb' setting, adjust screen brightness, check your battery level and more.

All of these screens can also be accessed by swiping in various directions – it's all pretty intuitive.

Features

This watch is absolutely packed with features. Not satisfied with just being an adventure watch, it's also got tons of smartwatch capability and training recommendations provided via the Zepp app.

Maps are free to download for offline use (see more below in 'Performance') and combined with a big, bright screen, they are a definite perk for navigating in the wild. The GPS uses six satellite positioning systems and can be disabled, along with tracking, which you might want to do for safety reasons.

The BioTracker 6.0 PPG biometric sensor is the primary health monitor, tracking key metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation and stress levels. It also analyzes your workouts to give you training readiness and recovery scores.

The dive function is a huge bonus and I almost couldn't believe the number of sports modes (nearly 180), which include ultra marathon training, pickleball, wingsuit flying, hula hooping, artistic swimming and Hyrox. The latter seems to be the one the brand is most excited about, which is understandable given the meteoric rise of the circuit training trend, but I admit I haven't tested it in a Hyrox capacity and almost certainly never will.

You can’t install music streaming apps, but you can control playback from your phone and pair headphones. There’s no built-in LED flashlight – a feature that’s becoming increasingly expected on adventure watches, especially with Garmin’s latest Fenix and Enduro models setting the standard.

Performance

A bit like when a restaurant has a 10-page menu, having lots of features in this case means that not all of them function perfectly.

To use maps, you first need to download the area you want via the app. Once that’s done, sending a route to your watch should display it as a proper map, not just line-and-pointer navigation. In my excitement, I jumped on a train, connected to the WiFi, and was pleased by how straightforward the process was. I selected all of Scotland and downloaded it in just a few minutes. But out on the trail, I still only had line-and-pointer navigation – no full map display.

When I got home, I tried downloading the map again, but kept getting a message saying I needed to enable it in ‘map settings'. At first, I couldn’t find that option – until I realized it was referring to the settings on the watch itself, not within the app. The prompt could have been clearer.

On my next outing up Ben Lomond I managed to activate the map, but I can't say it's the best map I've ever used. There were some topographical features – I could see a river when I crossed it – but it lacked detail. The bigger issue is that the route is shown from a fixed top-down view, rather than aligning with your direction of travel. As with Google Maps, I expect the pointer to face forward so it’s clear which way to turn – but on the T-Rex 3, it can point in any direction, which I found disorienting. At one junction, I even had to take a wrong turn in order to figure out which was the right way. It’s manageable for hiking, but could be frustrating if you’re trail running and need to keep stopping.

Another odd thing was that the display showed how much of the hike was remaining in kilometers. That's great, but knowing the hike, I quickly realized this was way off and soon determined that it meant to say distance elapsed, which is a big difference.

On a more positive note, the display is excellent and easy to read. I especially like that I can easily see when sunset is while I'm hiking or running, so I can make sure I'm back before dark.

As for my heartbeat, accuracy was generally within one beat. I did, however, notice that it was a little slow to catch up when I accelerated or slowed down, so I'm not sure how good the acceleration sensor is, and as I've mentioned, it was too big to wear for sleep, so I wasn't able to take advantage of that data.

I don't think the battery quite lives up to claims, but it is excellent. Using it for four hours in GPS mode drained about 20 percent, which, by my estimation, means you'd get more like 20 hours out of it, rather than 42. That said, it is one of the better batteries out there. In a normal week for me, which includes a long hike plus a couple of trail runs, I can get around 12 to 13 days from a single charge, and when out of GPS mode, it barely drains at all.

You charge the watch via Amazfit's charging cradle (included) with a USB-C cord. The cradle snaps right into place and is secure, but I did notice that charging takes quite a long time.

Finally, although I think the Zepp app has improved since I've been using it, it sometimes gives me recommendations that don't seem at all grounded in my actual activity. It still needs tweaking.

The T-Rex 3 isn't a perfect watch, but it's intuitive, has fantastic battery life, and the screen is great. I'll also add here that the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro – set to launch in October 2025 and currently on my desk – promises to address many of the issues I’ve mentioned. It features an LED flashlight and auto-rerouting maps for when you stray off course.

Value

It might seem as though I've focused heavily on flaws in this article, but to be clear, this watch is outstanding value. I'm not quite sure how Amazfit manages to pack so much into its devices and keep the prices so low. The materials aren't on par with the quality offered by premium watches from big-name brands, but they are totally in line with other mid-range watches.

The only thing I can think of is that, instead of spending years in research, the brand is happy to release watches that aren't quite perfect, then update them as they go, helping keep costs down. If I'm right, that means you might get a few quirks, but in this case, for a fair price you can buy a rugged GPS watch with maps and smartwatch capabilities that will support you on your gnarliest adventures.

Also consider

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• How Advnture tests products

Could your next smartwatch be an Amazfit? The Chinese watch brand has unveiled its latest high-tech wearable, and it's got loads of new features to get excited about.

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro watch is the latest in Amazfit's T-Rex range of watches designed for sports enthusiasts who want to track their performance in immense detail. It comes with plenty of health trackers, advanced mapping, and an impressive battery life, and will set you back a lot less than a top-of-the-range Garmin.

The T-Rex 3 Pro comes in two sizes, 48mm and 44mm. The former features a 1.5in AMOLED display while the latter has a 1.32in display. Both are protected by sturdy sapphire glass and tough titanium bezels.

Price

At $399.99 (£399.90), the Amazfit T-Rex Pro is comparable to upper mid-range sports watches like the Garmin Forerunner 965 and older models like the Fenix 7.

It will set you back a lot less than the latest top-end Garmin models, but costs noticeably more than the previous T-Rex 3, which comes in at $279.99 (£279).

Sports and fitness features

The T-Rex 3 Pro was designed with athletes, particularly runners, in mind, and features more than 180 different sports modes to help you train. The sports included range from trail running to watersports, and there are even specialist HYDROX modes.

While you work out, the T-Rex 3 Pro tracks your well-being with an extensive array of health monitors that keep tabs on everything from your heart rate to breathing. Afterwards, the watch monitors your recovery and updates its Bioscore Energy fatigue indicator, which is meant to inform when you can hit the trails next.

GPS and mapping

The T-Rex 3 Pro features tens of thousands of detailed topographic maps, which you can access for free and check on while you work out. You can also pinpoint key locations and generate new routes in a few simple steps.

Once you're on the trails, it uses a circular polarization antenna to receive accurate GPS signals and track your position with precision.

Battery life

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the T-Rex 3 Pro is its extensive battery life. This brand-new watch can last for up to three weeks on a single charge, depending on what you're using it for.

With GPS and always-on display modes on, your battery will deplete a lot faster, but it can still survive for a while. The 48mm watch lasts for up to 19 hours, while the smaller 44m watch boasts 13 hours of battery life.

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Garmin's latest high-tech smartwatch is here, with loads of new features and functions to help you hit the trails and explore the wilderness with confidence.

The Fenix 8 Pro is an upgraded version of the super-smart Fenix 8, which launched in 2024 and combined a tough, rugged design with state-of-the-art GPS and sports features.

The Pro adds to all the bells and whistles of its predecessor with several new features, including ground breaking access to Garmin's InReach tech, designed to help you stay connected anywhere that normal phone signals can't reach.

Design-wise, it's pretty similar to Fenix 8, featuring a sapphire crystal lens, encased in a titanium bezel and fiber-reinforced polymer case with a titanium rear cover.

It's also got the same wide array of health and fitness trackers, designed to monitor your progress and help you improve your performance in the wilderness.

Price

The Fenix 8 Pro looks to be one of Garmin's most impressive models, but it will also likely be one of its most expensive. The costly MicroLED version costs $1,999.99 (£1,729.99), while the AMOLED version costs $1,199.99 (£1,119.99).

In comparison, the standard Fenix 8, which remains one of Garmin's flagship models, remains priced at $1,099.99 (£899.99).

GPS and InReach technology

The Fenix 8 Pro is Garmin's first watch to use InReach technology for satellite and LTE connectivity. This tech is usually used in Garmin's handheld GPS devices, and allows you to stay connected regardless of your whereabouts in the wilderness.

With an active InReach subscription, you can send and receive messages from remote, off-grid locations and make calls without needing to connect to your phone. LiveTrack location sharing is also handy, allowing loved ones to monitor your progress as you negotiate wild trails.

In an emergency, you can trigger an SOS alert. This signal will be received by Garmin's 24/7 international coordination center, which will pass your information on to local search and rescue agencies.

Navigation has also been improved with the introduction of Garmin's TopoActive maps feature. These maps paint a detailed picture of your route and pinpoint potential points of interest, like upcoming summits and viewpoints.

MicroLED display

The Fenix 8 Pro is the first Garmin device to feature a brand new MicroLED touchscreen display.

It's comprised of 400,000 LED lights, which create a "revolutionary display that produces rich colors and high pixel densities with wide viewing angles and superior readability - even in direct sunlight," according to Garmin.

This display is only available in the large 51mm size. If you've got smaller wrists or prefer a standard AMOLED display, the Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED version is available in both 47mm and 51mm sizes.

Battery life

Despite several new features, the Fenix 8 Pro has suffered slightly in the battery department.

The MicroLED version can survive for up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and 14 days in battery saver watch mode, while the AMOLED Fenix 8 Pro boasts up to 27 days in smartwatch mode and 34 days in battery saver mode.

In comparison, the standard Fenix 8 can keep on kicking for up to 29 days in smartwatch mode and 41 days in battery saver mode.

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Hikers and climbers have two new options to help them head into the wilderness with confidence, as Garmin has released a duo of super smart handheld GPS devices.

The new GPSMAP H1 and GPSMAP H1i Plus utilize Garmin's GPS technology to track your whereabouts and keep you in touch with the outside world when you lose signal.

Both devices feature 3.5-inch color touchscreen displays and physical buttons, which you can use to access preloaded topographic maps and satellite imagery and track your progress as you hike.

They both boast up to 145 hours of battery life in GPS mode and come with an array of high-tech safety features to keep you safe in the wilderness. Livetrack sharing, for example, allows you to share your location with loved ones back at home, while a live weather feature provides up-to-date information and warnings about local weather conditions.

If you're in danger, you can trigger an SOS alert. This signal will be received by Garmin's 24/7 international coordination center, which will pass your information on to local search and rescue agencies.

The H1i Plus is the premium device and comes with a few more bells and whistles to streamline your outdoor experience.

With an active InReach subscription, you can share photos, voice messages, and texts regardless of your position in the wilderness. There are built-in front and back cameras so you can snap a selfie or a landscape shot, and your device will also respond to voice commands.

"When your journey takes you off the grid, the new GPSMAP H1i Plus lets you connect with loved ones through a photo, a text message or a voice memo where mobile phones do not work," says Garmin's Vice President of Consumer Sales & Marketing, Susan Lyman.

"Now, you can share your adventures in real-time, sending photos when you’re at the mountain summit or communicate with friends and family from the trail."

Although they're impressive, these extra features will cost a pretty penny. The GPSMAP H1i Plus will set you back $999.99 (£849.99) while the standard H1 is priced at $699.99 (£549.99).

These devices are the latest in Garmin's range of handheld GPS devices. We've tested and been very impressed with previous models, including the InReach Mini 2, which received a rare five-star rating in our review.

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In what looks like the latest move to secure its place among the top GPS watch brands, Amazfit has signed trail running star Ruth Croft to its roster of athletes.

The New Zealand runner is heading back to the UTMB finals next week for her second attempt at the legendary 100-mile race after coming second in her 2024 debut, and she'll have an Amazfit watch strapped to her wrist when she arrives in Chamonix.

Croft took first place at Western States in 2022 and has already won the Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB 100k race this year. Among her many achievements, she also ran the length of Greenland's 125-mile Arctic Circle Trail in 2022.

The 36-year-old previously worked for Garmin, and Amazfit says she will be working with its Research and Development team to contribute to the creation of new products and the refinement of existing ones "to help deliver the most advanced, athlete-focused sports watches on the market."

“I’m equally excited about representing Amazfit on the global stage and getting hands-on with the product development process,” says the ultra runner, who's also training to be a naturopath.

“I’ve spent years understanding what athletes truly need from their sports watches, and I look forward to bringing that knowledge to help Amazfit establish itself as the reference point for innovation and quality in the category.”

The announcement is a strong indication that Amazfit intends to stake out a place in the world of elite athletes, and follows news that American trail runner Rod Farvard has also joined the Chinese wearables brand.

Both runners will be competing at the 100-mile distance in next week's UTMB finals. Find out who else is running, and how to watch this iconic event in our article on the 2025 starting list.

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Garmin Forerunner 570: first impressions 

In 2024, Strava's Year in Sport review revealed one clear winner when it comes to GPS watches: the Garmin Forerunner. While this Garmin range has earned its reputation as one of the brand's most dependable, there's always room for improvement, and ever since the 570 was announced as the official successor to the 265, we've been excited to see what's next.

The 265 was already an excellent entry-level triathlon watch with an AMOLED screen and was the first smaller Forerunner to feature touchscreen functionality. The 570 has taken that winning formula and added an even crisper screen, smartwatch functions similar to what you'll find in the Venu 3, so you can take and make calls from your wrist, and a new heart rate monitor, the Elevate v5, which provides really excellent tracking.

There are two sizes available, with the choice of a 42mm or 47mm case size and several fun colorways of silicone strap including Raspberry, Cloud Blue and Lemon Yellow, in addition to the bog standard black and grey. The aluminum bezel is a welcome upgrade that both looks and feels more robust, and the watch manages not to be too heavy despite it, weighing only 1.76oz (50g) for the larger size.

The design has no surprises: there's a Start/Stop and Back/Lap button on one side and Up, Down, and Light on the other, and Garmin has even been so kind as to label them, which is fantastically helpful. It's a high-profile watch, and by that we mean pretty bulky – enough that you'll find it annoying to wear with long sleeves – but really quite comfortable on the wrist.

Almost no matter what you're doing and how cold your hands are, it's easy to operate between the responsive touchscreen and voice commands, and the interface is really intuitive for a watch that has many options.

For features, there's not nothing here that we haven't seen before on another Garmin watch, but that doesn't mean it isn't feature-packed and everything works brilliantly. The new heart monitor is pristine, as is the GPS tracking, and it supports a ton of different activity modes, with a few intriguing additions like gravel biking and skate skiing. Though it's not a dive watch, you can take in the water for swimming and kayaking.

It's probably more helpful to talk about what's missing than what's included. For starters, the Forerunner 570 still lacks proper maps, and while the line-and-pointer navigation does work, we think that with such a great screen and such a high price, it would be a great time to have added that function for outdoor adventurers.

There is no LED flashlight (Garmin saves that for the newer Fenix and Enduro models), but there is the possibility of a white and red light screen for late-night rooting around.

It also still doesn't have ECG functionality, which again seems like it could have been an easy win, what with the updated HR monitor and price tag. Outside of that, you can expect all the metrics and tracking you've probably come to expect from Garmin, including Training Readiness Score, Training Status (which Garmin says is improved), Body Battery and Sleep Tracking.

The official battery life is up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and up to 18 hours in GPS mode. We turned off the Always On display, and even when using it in GPS mode for nearly 10 hours we got about a week out of a single charge.

All in, this is an improvement on its already-celebrated predecessor, and if you've been running with an old Garmin watch, you'll be thrilled with this watch's performance. That said, it is $200 / £150 more expensive than the 265, so it's starting to inch into the premium pricing zone. At that price, you might expect one or two extra bells and whistles, and if you already own a newer Garmin, we probably can't make the case for an upgrade.

Garmin Forerunner 570: in the field 

I've been testing the Garmin Forerunner 570 on the trails (and in the pool a couple of times) for the past three weeks, clocking up a fair amount of miles between hiking and trail running in Scotland and in the Ashdown Forest of England. I've been wearing it on my right wrist and my Coros Pace 3 on my left wrist to see how the two compare in terms of metrics.

Here’s how it performed:

Design

I tested the 47mm case, which really does look massive on my wrist, and it's almost as high profile as the big and bulky Fenix 8 at 12.9mm thick. If I were to choose, I'd certainly opt for the smaller case, but I think the watch will look big on just about every wrist.

That did mean I couldn't comfortably sleep with it on my wrist, which meant I missed out on some data. However, I really am surprised at how comfortable this watch is to wear. I don't usually get on with silicone straps all that well, but this one manages to fit properly and feel quite light and friendly on my wrist.

I've been testing it during summer, so I haven't had to struggle to wear it with long sleeves, but it is still annoying when I'm trying to pull my backpack or running vest on, and I'm sure winter would be a different story.

The flip side of that is that with the new aluminum case, it has a really robust build and feels like the high-quality watch that it is. I accidentally whacked it against the sharp edge of a metal trash can in London a few weeks ago while I was walking down a busy street, and, thankfully, it didn't leave a scratch.

Features

This watch is packed with features, having kept everything from the Forerunner 265 and added more. When compared to other watches I've been testing, the new Elevate v5 heart rate monitor really is super precise.

You can scroll up from the home screen and quickly check Glance Folders like Training Readiness and Status, and the weather, and of course, this information is also delivered in a friendly morning and evening report, which I quite like.

Though I really wish it had proper maps, I used the line-and-pointer navigation on downloaded maps several times and found the GPS to be excellent. Other functions I used regularly on the trail are the Back to Start function, which gives you the option of retracing your steps, or going in a direct line, which could be risky in the wilderness, but elsewhere is a nice option if you need to get home fast. I also really appreciated that when I'm out on the trail, I can easily see how many hours I've got left until sunset.

Rather than the LED flashlight which I loved on the Fenix 8, it's just got a white and red light screen, which is somewhat useful for finding things in the dark when I'm getting ready for an early run, but not something that would provide much assistance on the trail.

The voice command works great and means that I can just double-press the Start button and say "start trail running" which works every time and means I never have to scroll to find the activity I want to do, and the touchscreen is really responsive.

I'm not so interested in the smartwatch functions, but I did test out the taking of a phone call, which is weird, but works, and there's music playback if you like to run to tunes.

Performance

Once again, the 570 manages to have a really intuitive interface and I think the labelling of the buttons is just genius, so I didn't have to spend any time at all getting to know this watch. The big bright screen really is a joy to use no matter whether I'm running in blinding sunshine with polarized sunglasses or through the Scottish mist and rain.

I primarily use sports watches to navigate on the trail and to track my adventures, so I downloaded a few maps from AllTrails to test this functionality. It was all very straightforward except that on my first run in the Ashdown Forest, I had foolishly downloaded two possible routes the night before. The morning of, I hit start on the trail I intended to run on my watch, but then pulled up the other, longer route on my phone, and pretty quickly was wondering why the two devices were giving me different information. I was worried the GPS was off on the watch, but in fact it was entirely user error, and I was really pleased with how quickly the watch buzzed to let me know I was off route, and got me back to where I intended to be.

The next time, I got it right and tested it out on a trail I knew and confirmed that it is very precise. I used the Back to Start function several times on new routes through the trees and really love that function. For trail running, when I get ready to start the activity, I like that it gives me the option to select the day's suggested workout (e.g. Base Run or Tempo Run).

Because the watch has a brighter screen, the battery life is a little less than the 265, but compared to some other watches I've tested lately (ahem, Suunto Run) I was quite satisfied. After a full charge, I was able to wear it for a week that included nearly 10 hours on the trail and two pool swims before I needed to charge it again.

Value

While this is an undeniably brilliant Garmin watch, the real crux of the 570 is its hefty price tag. While it's not in the same realm as the Fenix 8 or Enduro 3, it's really creeping up there in terms of price, and even though it delivers a lot, I think it's reasonable to wonder why it doesn't have some features like proper maps.

Also consider

Comparison table

• How Advnture tests products

When Garmin released the Fenix 8 last summer and the Amazfit T-Rex 3 came along a few months later, Coros clearly identified a glaring omission in its GPS watch lineup: a rugged adventure watch. According to Coros, that ends today, with the release of the Nomad, a watch that's purpose-built for your outdoor expeditions.

The Irvine, CA-based brand came to life with the Coros Pace watch back in 2018, entering the market with a lightweight, budget-friendly but reliable multi-sports watch. The first Coros Apex came along the same year with a higher quality build but similar performance, and in 2019 the brand launched its premium sports watch in the Coros Vertix, intended primarily for elite athletes.

Now, the Coros Nomad is here to carve out a new vertical in the Coros watch ecosystem that's specifically built for those who hike, trail run and fish in wild spaces. Keep reading for everything we know about this new release.

Starting with the nuts and bolts, the Nomad promises a higher quality bezel than the Pace or the Apex, with a dual-layer aluminum and polymer bezel. It comes with a hardened mineral glass screen rather than sapphire, which isn't quite as scratch-resistant, but is far less likely to shatter, arguably making it a better choice for outdoor environments, and we've found the mineral glass screen on the Pace 3 to be pretty bulletproof.

While most new releases lately, from the Amazfit Active 2 to the Garmin Forerunner 570, are focusing on bigger and brighter AMOLED screens than ever before, Coros has gone with a new high-contrast 1.3in Memory-In-Pixel display, which the company says improves color saturation and ensures clear visibility in both bright and low light conditions. The real benefit of this is of course is an incredible battery life – up to 50 hours in All-Systems GPS mode and up to 22 days in standard use according to the specs, which is key if you're on a multi-day mission.

For navigating in the backcountry, there's, of course, dual-frequency GPS as well as global maps with street names, waypoints, and save locations powered by a new, faster Gen 3 processor.

The most intriguing new feature is what Coros calls Adventure Journal, which allows you to record voice notes, upload photos and videos to your activities, which sounds great for reliving your adventure or for outdoor bloggers and influencers.

“We built NOMAD to help adventurers have a new way to capture memories and experiences, without compromising the high-performance hardware COROS users expect," says Coros CEO Lewis Wu.

"It can't replace being outdoors, but it can help you remember what it felt like to be there."

If your adventures tend to take you into deep or shallow waters, there's great news. The Nomad features eight dedicated fishing modes, including fly, lure and boat, and if you're an angler, environmental insights like Moon/Tide phases, air pressure can help you fish smarter. You can also log your catches and document species. Like most watches these days, it's rated 5 ATM water-resistant, which is more than enough for swimming and water sports.

As with other Coros watches, you have your choice of nylon and silicone bands, and the lightest option is a reasonable 49g. The Coros Nomad is available for $349 / £319 in three colorways: Green, Brown, and Dark Grey via Coros.

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The Suunto Run: first impressions 

The Suunto Run is the Finnish brand's first GPS watch aimed exclusively at runners, and its first watch priced at under $250. In a nutshell, that means it's largely stripped away features that aren't necessary for runners, and focused on a watch that's lightweight, low profile, has music storage and provides great metrics and tracking across different types of running, such as trail, track, and treadmill plus a dedicated marathon mode. It also has plenty of other activity modes that runners might use as cross training, such as yoga, swimming and cycling, and even a few unrelated ones, like climbing and orienteering.

Despite its more budget-friendly price tag, the Run boasts a bright AMOLED display that you can view easily in any conditions, though it has simple line and pointer navigation rather than proper maps, which may be a downside for trail runners. It's got a super accurate GPS and heart rate monitor, with the Suunto app providing you with more data than you could ever need.

With a 1.8in (46mm) case, it's around the same size as the Suunto Race S with a low profile design, and it's lighter than many other watches we've tested. The nylon strap secures with hook-and-loop fastenings, and it's one of the most comfortable and secure designs we've tried.

The Run is operated with three buttons: a digital crown that takes you straight into the different sports modes if you press it, and can also be used to scroll through what Suunto calls your Widgets: control panel, heart rate, step count, sleep tracking and more. There's a Back button and a button that takes you directly into your most recent sports mode if pressed from the home screen. It's all slightly less confusing than the Race, where we always felt like no matter what we pressed, we ended up in the same place, and the buttons all work well.

You can also control the Run via the touchscreen, swiping up or down to access the Control Panel, and left to get right into sports modes, and it's all very responsive, though a bit surprising that you can't turn the touchscreen off.

On the features front, the Run is packed with all the cutting-edge training tools you'd expect, and it almost seems redundant to mention anymore, but just in case we need to, you'll find heart rate monitoring and GPS, a pulse oximeter, barometric altimeter, sleep tracking and recovery predictions. The homescreen can be tailored to show your current altitude, heart rate, calories burned, or whatever it is you want to keep an eye on.

Once you get out on the trail, the GPS is truly pristine, as is the heart rate tracking, and if you're running, you can train by duration, distance, calories burned or ascent. Interestingly, the Run advertises Sunnto's Ghost Runner mode, where a virtual pacer runs just ahead of you, but the watch we were sent to test seemed to be missing this feature, with no obvious way to download it.

When you get home from a run, one of the most glorious things about the Suunto app is that you'll be able to watch a digital flyover of your route on the 3D topo map so you can force the details of your run upon your friends and family endlessly.

The battery life definitely didn't seem to hold up to claims. With regular usage, meaning used most days for a run, hike or swim, we found we didn't even get a week out of a single charge (more like five days), and while that will sound like a lot to some Garmin users, it's nothing compared models like the Coros Pace 3 which lasts for weeks. As the battery drains, the watch becomes less responsive, which makes it difficult (or at least annoying) to get real-time data when you're out on the trail.

Because it's designed to be light and running-focused, it's not a full smartwatch, but you can read messages and receive call alerts, and even control music playback.

In total, the Run has 34 different sports modes, including water sports, and while it's not a dive watch, it is waterproof for swimmers. There's no LED flashlight, which at this price point should be obvious, but there is a bright white screen, which does provide a little illumination, if not enough to ditch your headlamp in winter.

Like every GPS watch on the planet, to access the entirety of metrics available, you need to wear this watch night and day so it can gather as much data as possible, and this one was fairly comfortable to wear for a few nights of testing. We especially appreciated how easy it is to turn on sleep mode so it doesn't wake everyone up with an unnecessary flashing green heart rate monitor.

The Run has accomplished some of its goals in that it's light, comfortable, affordable, and has some good running tools, and the AMOLED screen certainly ranks it higher than some budget watches, but it also falls short on battery life, maps and some promised features that seem to be missing. It's a good start and a good price, but if you're not too tied to the bright screen, you can probably find a better watch in the same price range.

Suunto Run: in the field 

I've been testing the Suunto Run for most of the summer, which means I've had it out here on the trails of Scotland, in the Lake District and in Verbier in the Swiss Alps. I've used it for hikes, yoga, and pool swimming as well as trail running, but here I'll mostly focus on how it performed for running.

I've been wearing it on my right wrist and my Coros Pace 3 on my left wrist to see how the two compare in terms of metrics.

Here’s how it performed:

Design

Being a lower-priced and lighter model, the Run is mostly made of plastic, but it does have a stainless steel bezel, and in general, it seems to be of good quality and robust build.

I tested the bright and fun Sonic Lime colorway, which came with two different-sized wrist straps (S/M and ML). The straps were a bit fiddly to put on, but the smaller size is perfect for my wrist, and I was really pleased with how comfortable and secure it feels.

It's secured by hook-and-loop fastenings, and it never budges once it's on. It's a little bigger than my Coros, and even the Suunto Race S, but it's relatively low profile, which means it's not annoying and doesn't make it difficult to get my clothes or backpack on when I'm wearing it. It also meant I could wear it overnight for a few nights, which I sometimes find impossible with bulkier watches.

The AMOLED screen does what it says on the tin and is easy to see whether I'm running in brilliant sunshine, overcast conditions or a downpour.

The Run looks like most watches I've tested, with three buttons on the right side of the case, and Suunto has simplified the buttons presumably after so much feedback about them being complicated in models like the Race, so it all became pretty instinctive pretty quickly. The placement of the digital crown button does mean that sometimes my wrist accidentally presses it when I'm doing a plank (an occupational hazard as a yoga teacher), but if you don't love plank as much as I do, this won't present much of an issue.

Features

Suunto bills this watch as being geared towards runners, and in a sense that's true, since it's the first to have a track running mode, but I think the sports tracking features and metrics are largely the ones we've all come to expect from a sports watch, like heart rate, sleep, and blood oxygen. I found the heart rate tracking to be extremely precise and especially during pool swimming.

In addition to the new track running mode, there's a marathon mode and interval training, which I think is fairly standard, but useful. One feature I was excited to test out was Ghost Runner, or a virtual pacer, but I couldn't find it anywhere on the watch, even after reading online guides. In the end, I asked my contact at Suunto and received a video showing me where to find out, and it turns out I'm not technologically challenged; it just isn't there. As I'm writing, they're looking into it to see what might have gone wrong, and I'll update this if there turns out to be a solution, but my investigations have at least revealed that SuuntoPlus doesn't work on the Run, so it may be that's why.

Several times, I've downloaded a GPX file from AllTrails and sent it to my Run, which was a painless procedure. This watch doesn't have proper maps like the Race, but it means I can use breadcrumb navigation. I'm really pleased with the accuracy of it, but I can't help but think that trail runners seeking a run-specific watch would probably prefer maps.

The Suunto Run is the first watch from the brand to offer music storage, I guess because they assume most runners want to listen to music. I don't listen to music on the trail, so I didn't use this function, though it seems as though you drag the mp3 files over onto your computer, which somehow seems outlandishly outdated since most people stream music rather than download it these days. In theory, it would mean a road runner could ditch the phone and download a playlist or podcast and control music from the watch, but for those of us heading out on the trails, it seems prudent to bring the phone along for safety.

This is a training watch, so don't expect lots of smartwatch features, but you can read text messages, which I find handy on the trail, and check the weather forecast.

Performance

This watch is much more intuitive than the Race S and I had no problem just getting out on the trail with it from day one. It's easy to navigate and on the trail, I find the GPS to be brilliantly accurate.

It's super responsive until it's not, which means that as the battery starts to drain, nothing happens when I lift my wrist, and I find that annoying on the trail if I want to see how far I've gone or how long I've been out for.

As for the battery, that's probably my biggest gripe about this watch, since I don't think it's nearly as good as advertised. I took it with me on a trip to the Alps and wore it for a trail run on the first day followed by two days of hiking. It died on day three, which is under the 20 hours of GPS mode, and I had to charge it again for my final day of running. In normal use, meaning that most days I do a run, hike, swim or yoga class, I get maybe five days of use out of it. Compared to some watches, that's quite good, but it doesn't even touch my Coros Pace 3, and means for active trips you'll need to bring the charger.

The Run is charged by a charging cradle, and that's another area that needs refinement, as it's a bit fiddly to get the watch on the cradle and easy for it to slip off. Once it's on, it does charge quickly.

While the GPS and heart rate monitor are really precise, I did find some flaws with sleep tracking and step count. I wore this for the requisite three nights of sleep, and on one night I definitely got up to go to the toilet and my watch showed no signs of having noticed, which is a bit alarming. I've also had the experience where I've been sitting for a while and got up to do something, then 10 minutes after I've sat back down, I get an alert telling me I've been sitting too long. I don't pay much attention to step count generally, but it's clear to me that it's missing some motion.

Value

At $249 / £199 the Suunto Run is definitely friendlier on the wallet than previous efforts from the brand, and that's a good price for the AMOLED screen and access to Suunto's amazing training data. However, it's noticeably lacking in some features you can get for $100 more in the Race S and even if it doesn't look as fancy, I think the Coros Pace 3 is overall a better watch for a cheaper price.

Also consider

Comparison table

• How Advnture tests products

Trailforks has finally released its long-awaited Apple Watch app, and you can now access and navigate trails offline, track your activities and monitor your performance all from your wrist. The move means you can access Trailforks' growing network of nearly 800,000 trails across the globe and seamlessly integrate your health and performance data across other apps.

Most of us run, hike or ride with a GPS watch these days, which allows us to do all of these things, but a recent survey by Strava reveals that the majority of people still prefer to use a third-party app, so it's no surprise that Trailforks has decided to get in on the action.

"Bringing our maps to Apple Watch is another way we’re meeting users where they are – with a unique app that puts the entire Trailforks trail network on an offline map, right on your wrist, making every adventure safer, smarter, and more fun,” says Trailforks founder Trevor May.

Just like AllTrails, there's both a free and a paid (Trailforks Pro) version, which offer different levels of access. Trailforks Pro users will have access to offline maps and navigation, the ability to add waypoints and Traildar directly from the map screen while you're on the go, plus you can view your current location on a Trailforks map, complete with nearby trails. If you have a trail you run or hike often, you'll also be able to quickly select it the next time you hit the trail.

Free users will have access to the following perks:

• Start and stop your recordings with a single tap.
• Record multiple activity types, including trail running, hiking, skiing and mountain biking.
• Auto-pause functionality when you want to take a break.
• Monitor your total time, distance, average speed, elevation gain, and heart rate in real-time.
• Post-run analysis seamlessly integrated with your Trailforks account.
• Visualize your ride or run with breadcrumb trails and location history.
• Sync your health data directly into Apple’s Health app.

Trailforks is a user-generated trail management system. Check out our comparison of Trailforks vs AllTrails and learn more about the new Apple Watch app here.

• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings
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Runners, hikers, and other athletes from all over the world rely on their Garmin sports watch to track their movements and monitor fitness in the wilderness.

The best Garmin devices combine a sturdy, durable exterior with a sleek design and plenty of built-in sports features.

Garmin models from up and down the price range include loads of handy workout modes to help you up your game and multiple health monitors to keep score of your fitness. Top-end models like the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 955 cover everything from jet lag to water skiing, while budget options like the Forerunner 55 offer a basic but dependable set of metrics for workout tracking.

With so many different options, using your Garmin to track workouts might seem a little daunting. Don't worry, Garmin makes it simple enough, and you can start tracking your workouts by following a few simple steps.

Read on for our guide to tracking your workouts with a Garmin device, including advice on how to find workouts and view them on your phone or computer.

How to select an activity

Garmin devices come with basic sports monitoring modes, known as activities, for individual sports.

These modes collect different fitness data relevant to said sport. For example, if you select the running activity, your device will measure your cadence and running dynamics in addition to basic info like your time, speed, and heart rate.

If you select hiking, it will monitor different metrics like your elevation gain and altitude.

Activities will also track your position in the wilderness with your device's GPS tracking. Garmin watches have a stellar reputation for accurate and dependable GPS, so you can stick to the trails wherever you are in the wilderness.

Finding and selecting an activity is quick and easy. Just follow these simple steps:

• Press the Start/Stop button
• Scroll through the Activities list and select one
• Select Start to begin your workout

How to select a workout

Activities track your health with precision, but don't guide you through a workout. If you want to follow a step-by-step training plan, you can use Garmin's workouts mode to find pre-made or custom workouts that you can edit and change to suit your preferences.

Like Activities, Workout modes also track your position via GPS.

You can select a workout by following a few basic steps:

• Press the Start/Stop button
• Select the Workouts app
• Select an activity type
• Select a workout from the available list
• Select Do Workout
• Press the Start/Stop button to begin

How to create a workout

If you're feeling a little creative, you might want to make your own workout, which you can customize to suit your preferences on the trails. This might sound a touch daunting, but it's easy enough once you get the hang of things.

You can create a workout on the Garmin Connect app or Garmin Express website:

Via the Garmin Connect app

• Open the Garmin Connect app
• Select More in the bottom right
• Select Training and Planning
• Select Workouts
• Select Create a Workout
• Select a workout type from the activities listed (Run, Bike, Swim etc)
• Create your workout by choosing from the options available, including your distances, rest times, target pace, target calories burned, and more
• Select save
• Your workout will now be available under My Workouts

Via the Garmin Express website

• Sign in to the Garmin Express website on a web browser
• Select Training and Planning
• Select a workout type
• Create your workout by choosing from the options available, including your distances, rest times, target pace, target calories burned, and more
• Select Save Workout
• Select Send to Device to access your workout under My Workouts on your Garmin watch

How to view your progress

Once you've completed your hike, run, or other workout, it's time to check your stats and see how you got on.

You can see data from your individual workouts on your Garmin device, via the Garmin Connect app, or on the Garmin Express website.

You'll then be able to view a detailed analysis of your performance and a round-up of all the metrics that your watch tracked while you moved. You can also find detailed breakdowns of specific measurements, like your heart rate and lap data.

If you want a broader vision of your progress, you can access detailed charts and graphs that display your stats over time, to show how you've improved with each workout.

Accessing your activity data is an easy job, whether you're using a mobile device, laptop, or your Garmin watch itself.

Via the Garmin Connect app

• Open the Garmin Connect app
• Select More
• Select Activities
• Select the specific activity you want to view
• Select Charts to view your data

Via the Garmin Express website

• Sign in to Garmin Connect via a web browser
• Select Activities
• Select the activity you want to view, and your stats will appear

Via your Garmin device

• Hold the Menu button
• Select History
• Select Activities
• Select the activity you want to see
• Select All Stats to see your data

You can also track your health and fitness stats on the Strava app by syncing your Garmin device with the workout-specific social media. To find out more, check out our expert guide to syncing your sports watch with Strava.

If you want additional coaching, the Garmin Coach feature will provide a personalized workout regimen based on your individual targets and progress on the trails. Find out how to use it here.

• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings
• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course

If you're into trail running, chances are you've considered getting yourself a high-tech sports watch from Garmin. The American brand has been creating top-notch fitness wearables since the release of the Forerunner 201 in 2003 and has developed a stellar reputation for quality.

These days, Garmin is the biggest name in the sports watch market, selling upwards of 10 million devices every year. The best Garmin watches combine sleek and dependable design with super-accurate GPS and plenty of health trackers to help you monitor your progress on the trails.

If you've just got your hands on a brand new Garmin, there's plenty to get used to.

Along with their vast range of health and fitness features, Garmin watches have plenty of options for customization. Whether you're using a top-end device like the Fenix 8 or a cheaper alternative like the Forerunner 55, several aspects of your watch can be adapted to suit your preferences.

One of the best ways to add a little personality to your Garmin watch is by changing its watch face. This is the initial visual display on your device, where the clock hands would be on an analog clock.

How to change your watch face

Garmin offers three different ways to personalize your watch face:

• Personalize a pre-existing watch face on your device
• Choose a new watch face in the Connect IQ store
• Use your favorite photos to create a unique watch face using Garmin's Face It app.

All three methods can be completed in a few simple steps.

How to personalize a pre-existing watch face

Garmin watches come with an eye-catching handful of pre-existing watch faces, which you can customize to suit your individual preferences. There are loads of different parts of the watch face to personalize, including the layout, style of hands, style of numbers, and much more.

You can personalize a pre-existing watch face by following these simple steps on your Garmin device.

• Select Settings
• Select Watch Face
• Swipe up and down to choose your watch face
• Select Add New if you want a minimal watch face
• Once you've chosen a watch face, you can scroll through the available customization options
• Select Apply to save your new watch face

How to a choose new watch face in the Connect IQ store

The Connect IQ store is a platform where you can access additional apps and functions for your Garmin watch. Along with compatible apps and widgets, there are thousands of unique watch faces to choose from.

You can access the Connect IQ store through its app and see available watch faces in a few simple steps.

• Open the Connect IQ Store app on your mobile device
• Select My Device
• Select My Watch Faces

• Scroll through the options to find your chosen watch face
• Select settings
• Adjust the available options to customize your watch face
• Select Save

How to use your photos to create a unique watch face

Face It is an app, available on the Connect IQ store, which turns your favorite photos into watch faces. It's free to access and easy to use.

• Open the Connect IQ app on your mobile device
• Select Face It from the bottom menu
• Select Add
• Select Photos (to bring up your camera roll), Camera (to take a photo), or Preset Backgrounds (to choose from pre-installed options)

• Select Allow Access
• Select or take a photo, or choose a pre-installed option
• Choose display options
• Select Done or Save (depending on your device)
• Select Install to add the watch face to your Garmin device

• The best GPS watches: smart timepieces to keep every adventure on track
• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings

Are you in the market for a super-smart Garmin watch to help you up your game on the trails and smash that elusive PB? Then check out this awesome deal on one of our favorite Garmin watches, now over $230 off!

Garmin devices don't usually come cheap, but we've managed to find the high-tech Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar Edition smartwatch for just $684.95 at Walmart.

This reliable fitness tracker serves as a durable companion for runners and other outdoor enthusiasts who want to take their performance to the next level. It's 1.3in (3.3cm) solar-charging sapphire display is protected by a fiber-reinforced polymer case and sturdy titanium bezel, tested to US military standards for thermal, shock, and water-resistance.

Once you've strapped your hiking boots or running shoes on, you can measure your progress with a detailed array of fitness trackers.

"Fenix 7 Pro can track stats including running power, cadence, vertical oscillation, and ground contact time without the need for any external sensors," explained running expert Cat Ellis in her review for Advnture.

"It's interesting to see how these vary as you change your pace, and it's a very useful tool if you're working on increasing your cadence and running more efficiently," she added, giving the Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar Edition a rare four-and-a-half-star rating.

The other feature worth mentioning is the solar-charging. Just three hours of sunlight per day gets you up to 22 days of charge in smartwatch mode, making this watch a great option for long-distance runs or multi-day hiking trips.

If you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Garmin Fenix 7 deals where you are:

• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course
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Looking for a powerful sports watch that won't bog you down with too many extras? Right now, you can pick up the awesome Garmin Venu 2S watch for just $149.99 at the Amazon Renewed store. That's a massive saving of 44% off the list price for this smart watch, and the cheapest we've ever seen it on Amazon.

The Venu 2S is compact, light and offers a great blend of everyday smartwatch and fitness tracking features. It looks great, with a crisp OLED display that's easy to read in any light and a minimalist design that's much more sleek than popular-but-chunky Fenix and Forerunner models.

Don't let that fool you, though – this is a serious fitness watch with excellent location tracking, on-screen workout guidance, and muscle maps to help you balance your training.

If you're not in the US, scroll down to the bottom of this article for the best deals on the Garmin Venu 2 near you.

If you're comparing this watch to the original Venu, there's not a ton of difference if we're being honest, but compared to the newer Venu 3 it doesn't have advanced sleep tracking or the ability to take calls. Learn more in our article on the Garmin Venu 3 vs 2.

If you're not in the US, here are the best deals on the Garmin Venu 2 near you:

• Best Garmin watches: all the latest models tested and rated
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Got a high-tech Garmin sports watch on your wishlist? Now's the time to buy, as retailers across the web have slashed their prices to compete with Amazon Prime Day, and one of the best offers we've noticed is on Best Buy.

Right now, Canadian Garmin lovers can save 50% and snag the adventure-ready Garmin Instinct 2 sports watch for just $199.99 at Best Buy.

The Instinct 2 is one of Garmin's toughest sports watches, built for heavy use in the unforgiving conditions you're likely to encounter in the wilderness. Its clear memory-in-pixel (MIP) display is protected by scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass and encased in fiber-reinforced polymer. This rough and ready model is tested to US military standards for water, shock, and thermal resistance, so it's more than ready to take on harsh weather on the trails.

It's also got great fitness tracking credentials, monitoring everything from your pulse oxygen levels to your heart rate. There's even a handy array of sleep tracking and coaching modes to help you recover well and get a good night's kip after a long day outdoors.

Garmin deals aren't rare, but they're seldom as good as this one, so act now and save yourself $200 while you still can.

If you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Garmin Instinct 2 deals where you are:

• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course
• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings

Along with Apple, Amazfit, and plenty of other big brands, you can find massive savings in the Amazon Prime Day sale on some of our favorite Garmin sports watches, like this high-tech solar-charging model, which is now $300 off.

Right now, you can get your hands on the Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Solar Sapphire Edition smartwatch for just $599.99 at Amazon.

This super-smart device boasts an extra-long battery life thanks to its smart solar glass display, which turns the sun's rays into additional charge for your Garmin watch. In total, this top-end wearable can last for up to 37 days on a single charge, more than enough for lengthy hiking, camping, and ultra running adventures in the wilderness.

With all that battery life, you can head out and put your device to the test with confidence. It's got loads of detailed health trackers and sports modes to try out, and monitors everything from your heart rate to jet lag levels. A new hill score level is particularly handy for runners who want to gauge their endurance during ascents.

If you've got an extreme adventure in mind, this watch could be the one for you, thanks to its super-accurate GPS tracking, which monitors your position wherever you are in the wilderness. The vibrant display is encased in durable, scratch-resistant sapphire glass that's ready for action in the wilderness.

If you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Garmin Fenix 7 deals where you are:

• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course
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Prime Day is officially over, but it looks like someone at Amazon didn't get the memo, as there are still tonnes of great Garmin deals for you to sink your teeth into.

Among loads of epic deals, you can save over $400 on high-tech Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2), and take advantage of great reductions on super-smart models like the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 955.

If you're unsure which wearable is best for you, our roundup of the best Garmin watches has all the information you need. It features expert opinion and rankings from the testers here at Advnture, so you can be sure that you're getting the best advice possible.

If your budget is a little tighter, our guide to the best cheap GPS watches includes plenty of budget-friendly Garmin watches, along with other well-rated devices from other big-name brands.

For free delivery and other handy perks, you can sign up to be an Amazon Prime member. You can join Amazon Prime on a free, month-long trial, and then pay $14.99 per month in the US, or £8.99 per month in the UK.

Quick links

Here are the best Garmin deals after Amazon Prime Day.

US links

• Amazon: today's savings on Garmin tech
• Best Buy: hundreds of dollars off Garmin watches
• Garmin: the big summer sale
• REI: sale ending July 18

US Deals

UK links

• Amazon: Garmin offers updated daily
• Garmin: clearance deals to grab now
• Very: up to date offers on Garmin watches
• H.Samuel: loads of Garmin deals available

UK Deals

More deals

If you're shopping for a Garmin watch, here are today's best prices for a wide range of gear, updated daily. We're always adding products to our price checker, so check back often to see what's new.

When is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is a four-day sales bonanza, offering great deals on all sorts of products across the Amazon website. Along with great Garmin watches, you can find trail running shoes, hiking gear, tents, and all manner of outdoor gear at reduced prices.

How long does Amazon Prime Day last?

This Amazon Prime Day runs from July 8 to July 11. There are usually great deals available after the sale, but the best are live during.

We're not sure if someone at Amazon hit the wrong button, but a bunch of Garmin watches just saw huge markdowns even though Prime Day doesn't kick off till next week.

Right now, you can pick up the super smart Garmin Forerunner 255 for a mere $199.99 at Amazon. That's a massive 43% off the regular list price for this highly-rated watch and the lowest price we've ever seen it at.

The Forerunner 255 represents a big step up from the 245, and is a fully fledged triathlon watch. Its dual-band GPS tracking is particularly impressive, and its battery life is superb as well.

The Race Day widget is also a real winner, helping you prepare for event days, and really builds on Garmin's excellent training suggestions. In short, this is an excellent watch if you want to take your training to the next level, but top-tier watches like the Fenix 7 or Forerunner 955 offer more tools than you're going to need, and this is an excellent price.

Amazon Prime Day kicks off on July 8, and we'll be keeping you updated on all the best Garmin deals.

If you're not in the US, scroll to the bottom of this page for today's best deals on the Forerunner 255.

And if you'd rather browse the sale for yourself, you can check out all the Garmin deals at Amazon right now here.

The Forerunner 255 has the same five-button layout as most Garmin watches, but unlike many of the company’s latest devices (including the Forerunner 955), it doesn’t have a touchscreen, so you’ll be using these controls for all its everyday functions.

Like all Forerunner watches, it has a color memory-in-pixel display, which uses less power than the OLED displays of watches like the Garmin Epix and Venu 2, but is less striking. It’s to be expected for a watch in this price band, though.

Not in the US? Here are today's best deals on the Forerunner 255:

• The best Garmin watches: the latest models tested and ranked

With features that place it in line with the very best GPS watches on the market, the Suunto Vertical is a great choice for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking trips, but this premium sports watch comes at a premium price – until now.

Amazon Prime Day doesn't kick off till next week, but right now, you can pick up the Suunto Vertical for just $499 at Amazon. That's a healthy 21% off the regular asking price for this GPS watch and the cheapest we've ever seen it on Amazon.

The Suunto Vertical is a big, rugged GPS watch that's just begging to be taken on adventures. It's designed as a rival to the Garmin Enduro 2 and Apple Watch Ultra – and if you're a keen hiker or trail runner, it's highly recommended.

When former Advnture editor Cat Ellis took it out on the trails, she noted its brilliant battery life, excellent maps and great in-app route planner.

"The Suunto Vertical is a joy to use on the roads, but it really comes into its own when you're heading off the beaten path. Maps and navigation are fantastic, with the watch and mobile app working beautifully together to guide you in the right direction," says Cat.

If you're not in the US, you'll find the best deals on the Suunto Vertical near you at the bottom of this article.

The display is a color memory-in-pixel (MiP) panel with a bright backlight. It's less striking than the OLED display of the Apple Watch Ultra or Garmin Epix, but it's easily readable even in bright sunlight, and opting for a less striking screen really pays off in terms of battery life.

Not in the US? Here are today's best deals on the Suunto Vertical near you.

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A GPS watch isn’t essential for trekking and thru-hiking, but it can provide some great benefits, from providing navigational assistance and showing how far you still have to walk each day to understanding the impact of the trek on your body.

As an outdoor journalist, I get to test the best GPS watches on the trail, so when I was offered the opportunity to trek to Everest Base Camp, it wasn’t so much a question of whether I was going to wear a watch, as which watch I was going to bring.

Fairly quickly, I settled on the Garmin Fenix 8, which came out in 2024. I had already given it a thorough test over a three-week period earlier this year, so I knew it was a showstopper, brilliantly built and fantastically featured. But because I’d only used it for day-long adventures, I was curious to see how it would perform on an 80-mile, 11-day trek.

For the Fenix 8, Garmin took the winning formula of the near-perfect Fenix 7 and added extra navigation tools plus the option of a crystal clear AMOLED display, voice commands, and more smartwatch functions like the ability to take and make phone calls. On the trails of Scotland, I found it to be rugged, responsive, accurate and easy to use, but how would it perform in the remote Himalayas?

On the morning that we flew from Kathmandu to Lukla to begin the trek, I strapped the Fenix 8 onto my right wrist and, for control purposes, kept my considerably more humble (but very much beloved) Coros Pace 3 on my left wrist. This way I’d be able to compare metrics like heart rate and distance.

En route to one of the highest points on the planet, I found four standout features I really loved about the Garmin Fenix 8.

Altimeter

For a long-distance mountain trek, it’s helpful to know what altitude you’re at for navigation purposes and to understand why you might be feeling out of sorts. On the trek to Everest Base Camp, you start at about the elevation of Breckenridge ski resort in Colorado and keep climbing until you reach 17,598ft (5,354m), so altitude plays a really crucial role in your experience.

Thanks to its built-in barometric altimeter, whether the Fenix 8 is in activity mode or daily use, it automatically shows what altitude you’re at on the main screen, which I used more than any other feature.

While this is generally true for adventure watches, it’s not the case for all Garmins. In fact, another trekker in my group had a Garmin intended primarily for playing golf, which didn’t display what height we were at, and fitness-based models like the Vivoactive 5 have left it out to keep costs down.

As a result, I ended up assuming the unofficial but very useful role of Chief Altitude Information Officer for the trek, keeping my companions informed about our height.

LED flashlight

Lots of watches I’ve tested (for example the Suunto Race S) claim to have a flashlight, but what they actually have is a white screen. It’s marginally useful if you just want to find something on your bedside table at night without waking your partner, but you wouldn’t use it to navigate on the trail.

The Fenix 8, on the other hand, has an actual LED flashlight, which was one of my favorite features during my initial testing period. This proved invaluable on the trek, from finding my way to the shared bathrooms in the teahouses at night without having to strap on a headlamp, to getting organized for early alpine starts.

At the time of year we were trekking, the days were long and we typically started in daylight, but one of the most special days of the trip – the hike up Kala Patthar to watch the sun rise over Everest – had us setting off in the pitch darkness at 3am.

I started out wearing my headlamp, but it was so overly bright that I quickly realized my watch was a better choice. I switched off my Petzl, double-pressed the top left button on my Fenix 8 to turn on the flashlight, then turned it down to red light mode. Thanks to the clear skies, this provided enough illumination for me to walk safely, not blind my companions, and still let my eyes adjust to the stars above, so I could really appreciate the stunning views.

Visibility

The biggest difference between the Garmin Fenix 8 and its predecessor is the option of that bright, AMOLED display, which makes it easy to view in just about any weather conditions you might encounter. The Coros Pace 3, on the other hand, features a Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) display, which can be harder to read in low light conditions.

For the trek to Base Camp, we were mostly treated to bright skies, but that meant I was always wearing a brimmed sunhat and my SunGod FORTY2s sunglasses to protect my face and eyes. Though SunGod uses what it calls its 8KO Iris photochromic lenses, these are essentially polarized lenses that can make it hard to see certain watch faces. This proved no problem at all for the Fenix, but if I’d been hiking with only my Coros, I’d have been removing my shades every time I wanted to find out what altitude I was at.

Accuracy

Because I was trekking with two watches on, I was able to get two different reports of each day’s activities, and it quickly became clear there was a discrepancy between the two watches in terms of distance data.

This isn’t uncommon; in fact, hike with anyone also wearing a watch and you’ll almost always notice a slight difference due to variances like GPS signal limitations, environmental interference, watch settings and the improbability that you both start your watches at exactly the same time.

I noticed that my Coros consistently showed my distance every day to be about 0.2 miles less than the Garmin. That doesn’t sound like a huge difference, but in metrics it’s close to half a kilometer, or one lap of a high school track, and I hadn’t noticed this discrepancy when I’d previously tested the two watches together, so it was enough to make me investigate.

Without a yard stick, it would be impossible to say for sure which watch was more accurate, but by speaking to my local guides, comparing distances with other people in my group and looking up the trek distances on route reports online, I became as certain as I can be that my Garmin was giving me the most accurate reflection of distance.

This isn’t a make-or-break feature, but for long treks in remote places, it is nice to feel confident that you’re getting the most accurate readings possible.

Battery life

I had a lot of fun testing the Fenix 8 in the Himalayas, but it wasn’t perfect, and there were some features that would make me pause and consider a different watch next time. For starters, battery life.

In general, the Fenix 8 model has a better battery life compared to the 7, but since there are different sizes and models, it's hard to compare them accurately and it turns out that the 43mm model I was testing is a bit of a downgrade compared to the similarly-sized 7. It claims up to 28 hours of battery life when you’re using it in GPS mode with gesture (meaning it only lights up when you lift your wrist). Obviously this is plenty when you’re using it for day hikes and regular runs.

For this trek, I had it on GPS mode (with gesture) for at least six hours a day, and I didn’t activate any of the settings to save battery life. In real terms it meant that I had to charge it every third day, and it died during one of the hikes. In comparison, I charged my Coros just once during the whole trek.

Charging my watch wasn’t a huge deal, as I was carrying three portable power banks, but it was more than I’d have liked. This is an issue that could theoretically be solved (or at least improved upon) by going with a solar option, but honestly the jury is really out as to how much of a difference a solar Garmin really makes.

Weight and size

The Fenix 8 is currently available in 43mm, 47mm and 51mm sizes, and there’s no getting around the fact that it’s a big, bulky watch. This is the trade-off for having every feature imaginable, a better battery and a brighter screen. But it did mean I found it annoying.

The profile of the watch is just big enough that it got caught on the strap of my backpack every time I put it back on, which was multiple times a day. It also meant that as we got higher, and the weather got cooler, it was a hassle to pull my multiple sleeves up to view the screen.

Now the bigger you are, the less huge the watch looks – one of my trekking companions wore the same watch, but he’s much taller than I am, and perhaps it was less unwieldy for him. But there’s no getting around the fact that it’s a brute of a watch, and heavy enough to really hurt when you drop it on your toe, as I have discovered the hard way.

Is the Garmin Fenix 8 right for your trek?

If you’re a Garmin junkie, you’ll have noticed that most of the features of the Fenix 8 that I loved – altimeter, flashlight and razor sharp GPS – are available in the Fenix 7, while the Enduro 3 has the same features and boasts better battery life. So if you’re not too fussed about the AMOLED screen, there are other Garmin models that will perform similarly (or even better) for a lower price.

Despite my battery charging woes, I still thought the Fenix 8 was a super fun tool for my trek, and if I happened to have a lot of cash lying around, I’d certainly consider buying it. That said, one feature that I think would really send premium Garmin watches over the edge would be the option to review my routes in 3D video animation.

This comes free with the Suunto app and I’ve really loved having it while testing the Suunto Run lately, but it looks like it’s only available using third-party apps with Garmin watches. Now that Base Camp is becoming a distance memory, I’d love to be able to look back at each day of trekking and watch the terrain I crossed in a miniature movie.

You can read our full Garmin Fenix 8 review here.

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Looking for a top-notch health tracker that doesn't carry the price tag and bulk of the equivalent of a personal sports coach on your wrist? We've found the deal for you.

Right now, you can pick up the bright Garmin Vivoactive 5 for just $197.84 at Amazon. That's a hefty savings of 34% off the regular list price for this watch, which some fitness fans say they ditched their Apple Watch for.

"Compared to the Apple Watch, the first major thing I noticed was this is nowhere close in terms of smarts," writes one reviewer.

"After a few days I can confidently say that I don't need them. I would argue that Garmin knows what this is and what it is not - it's a fitness device first and foremost, and everything else comes second. And on that basis they nailed it - the fitness tracking has been excellent and noticeably better than the Apple Watch especially in sleep tracking."

The Vivoactive 5, like earlier watches in the series, is designed to help you strike a better balance of activity and rest, and includes features like Sleep Coaching and nap tracking to help you along the way.

The Vivoactive 5 has the same round face as its predecessors, but the device now sports a bright AMOLED display, which makes text and graphics look much crisper.

The Vivoactive 5 measures 42.2mm diameter (a moderate size that sits in between the two options for the Vivoactive 4) and comes in four colorways: orchid, slate, cream gold/ivory, and navy.

Not in the US? Check out the best deals on the Garmin Vivoactive 5 where you are:

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Choosing your next smartwatch can be a tricky job. Big-name brands like Garmin, Polar, and Apple have loads of models available across a varying price range. With so many options on offer, a great deal can really stand out, so take a look at this awesome bargain on one of Apple's best watches to date.

Right now, you can snag the Apple Watch Series 10 for just $329 on Amazon, as the retail giant slashes tech prices ahead of the highly anticipated Amazon Prime Day next week.

The Series 10 is a big and shiny smartwatch, designed to be just as suitable for the office as it is racing through the wilderness. Its 46mm wide-angle OLED screen delivers a crisp and colorful picture, built to be visible in even the brightest sunshine. It's encased in a tough combination of 100% recycled aluminium and 95% recycled titanium, so you can hit the trails without worrying about serious damage.

This adventure-ready GPS watch has plenty of sports modes and fitness trackers to help you up your game on the trails. The workout app offers training modes for everything from kickboxing to core strength, and advanced health metrics track your progress as you move.

The Series 10 watch also boasts high-tech GPS tracking, so you can monitor your location and navigate with a handy maps app.

Not in the US? Don't worry, plenty of retailers are holding big sales and slashing the prices of top-quality tech before Amazon Prime Day. Look below for today's best Apple Watch Series 10 deals where you are.

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When Garmin released the Forerunner 970 in May, followed by the Venu X1 earlier this month, owners of the Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 might have had a little buyer's remorse to see so many new features.

Not to worry, though, Garmin has just rolled out a massive update for Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 owners that ensures your Garmin watch is still the absolute best in class.

The update, which includes 28 new features plus 30 fixes, is available now as part of Garmin's public beta testing program. I've been trail running with the Fenix 8 for the past three months, and in this article, I outline the four updates I'm most excited about.

Running Tolerance

Let's face it, most of us have a weekly mileage goal in mind, and that's what we run, almost regardless of how we're feeling. But not every mile you run is created equally, and Running Tolerance uses an algorithm to determine the impact of a run on your body, taking into account factors like speed, terrain, your weight, cadence, and ground time to assess the impact of each run on your body.

The Garmin Connect app then assesses the load of your recent runs beyond just distance to give you tailored advice for your next run and more accurate recovery suggestions to help you reduce load and hopefully prevent injuries.

Running economy

Running Economy is a measurement of your running efficiency, specifically measuring how much oxygen you use to maintain a certain pace. It's expressed in milliliters of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight, and if it's not obvious, a lower number is better since that implies you can get more miles out of less fuel.

Your Garmin Fenix 8 or Enduro 3 can now measure your aerobic performance (think zone 2 and 3 runs) using metrics like heart rate, speed, stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation (the up-and-down movement of your torso while you're running).

This is a great tool to have if you're training for a long-distance run and aiming for a Personal Best, but you will need to use a Garmin Heart Rate Monitor to access it. You'll start to receive this data after at least four runs.

Step Speed Loss Support

Even when it feels as though you are sprinting through the forest like a gazelle, if you were able to watch yourself run in slow motion, you'd see that you are essentially braking every time your foot strikes the ground, then accelerating again. The more you brake, the slower you go and the more energy you use.

Step Speed Loss Support is another feature that requires a Garmin heart rate monitor, and it measures just how much braking you do in centimeters per second. A higher number means you're braking more and working harder to speed back up, and it's often the result of running with a lower cadence or a long stride.

If you're a mountain runner like me, you should expect to brake more on the downhills and less on the uphills, and so this is measurement more helpful for flatter or rolling terrain, but the feedback from your Garmin watch could help you pick up the speed on those flat sections of a race.

Evening report

If you own a Fenix 8 or Enduro 3, you'll be used to receiving your morning report when you wake up, but now you'll get an evening report too, and I think that could be more helpful. After all, often when we wake up, we just get right into autopilot and have the day we planned, regardless of the weather and how we feel.

The evening report takes the impact of your day's stress levels and activities to give you a more tailored sleep suggestion, so you can set yourself up for success tomorrow by getting more or less sleep as you need it.

You'll also see things like tomorrow's weather, what you have in your calendar, and your workout suggestion from Garmin, which means you can tweak your calendar and lay out your running gear in preparation.

You can view the full suite of updates and fixes at Garmin.

How to get the updates

To join the beta program, log into your Garmin account at connect.garmin.com and click the small watch icon at the top right (devices and sync status).

Select the device that you want to connect from the list that appears (you should be able to see all the watches, cycle computers, and other devices that are linked to your Garmin Connect account) and click Device Settings.

Provided your device is one that's supported, you'll see a link to Join Software Beta Program along with the current software version.

Select this, and read through the terms and conditions. If you're happy to go ahead, click Agree. Now, open the Garmin Connect app on your phone, select the device you've just added, select System and choose Software Update. Make sure that you have auto updates enabled, and you should get the latest beta releases as soon as they're available.

You can learn more in our in-depth article on Garmin's beta testing program.

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Amazfit just dropped two new wearables that offer a complete training and recovery system and it looks enough to put major brands like Garmin, Polar and Coros on watch.

The new bundle features a premium GPS watch plus a screen-free wearable that the brand says increases versatility during use as well as the accuracy of your performance data.

Amazfit Balance 2 smartwatch

The Amazfit Balance 2 is a premium sports watch from the Chinese brand, which has the goods for all your outdoor activities, from hiking and trail running to wild swimming and diving.

With a scratch-resistant 1.5-inch Sapphire glass screen, this watch is designed to hold up against rugged pursuits, and the AMOLED display means you can keep an idea on your pace, distance or heart rate even in the brightest conditions. But it's the free downloadable maps that we've got our eye on, helping you navigate on your next trail run or hike without draining your battery.

Speaking of, the 21-day battery life looks good for backpacking trips, although obviously that shrinks when you're using it for long periods in GPS Mode.

If you're a data geek, the brand says the Balance 2 has improved its accuracy of all the key biometrics, and added an all-new BioCharge Score that sounds a lot like Garmin's Body Battery and continuously analyzes your energy levels in real time using data from your sleep, exertion and stress tracking to help you balance activity and recovery.

And finally, if water sports are your thing, the 100-meter water resistance means it supports both freediving and scuba diving up to 45 meters, enabling accurate tracking and enhanced safety for underwater performance.

But what makes this release most exciting is that it can be paired with the screen-free Helio Strap for increased accuracy.

Amazfit Helio strap

What is the Helio Strap, you ask? Meet Amazfit’s first screen-free tracker that you can strap around your bicep or wrist, making it better for outdoor adventures than a ring, for data without the distractions. This isn't a new idea of course – Polar and Coros both have arm bands that pair with their watches – but it brings Amazfit into the high-performance wearable conversation.

Amazfit says the Helio Strap can capture advanced metrics with no subscription required and most importantly, it pairs seamlessly with Amazfit smartwatches, including Balance 2 and Helio Ring through the the Zepp App.

“Each one complements and fills in the gaps of the other, enabling more accurate, cross-referenced data. This means more precise insights for the user, all within one simple, unified system,” says Wayne Huang, CEO of Zepp Health.

Although these two wearables can be purchased and used separately, Amazfit says when used together, you'll get even more accurate heart rate monitoring, fatigue assessment, and recovery analysis.

The Helio Strap also has the new BioCharge Score and features a 10-day battery life, continuous heart rate monitoring and 27 sports modes including running, hiking and yoga.

“With no subscriptions, advanced tracking, and effortless syncing, this duo redefines what wearables can do – whether you’re a competitive athlete or simply striving to be your best," says Huang.

Pricing and availability

The Amazfit Balance 2 smartwatch is available now for $299.99 / £299.99 / €299.9 euro on Amazon, and the Amazfit Helio Strap retails for $99.99 / £99.99 / €99.99.

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Millions of people worldwide rely on their Garmin sports watch to track their fitness and help them progress on the trails. Since its founding in 1989, the American brand has sold over 280 million products and developed a stellar reputation for crafting high-performance GPS watches.

Along with their insightful health monitors, accurate GPS tracking, and sleek design, Garmin watches are well-known for their durability. Everything from premium models like the Fenix 8 to budget options like the Forerunner 55 can last for years with the right care and attention.

So, how do you properly care for a Garmin watch? After heavy use, these super-smart wearables can become dirty, scratched, and damaged on the inside and out, so it's important to know how to properly clean and look after your device without causing any additional damage.

Read on for our guide on how to care for and maintain your Garmin sports watch.

When to clean your Garmin watch

The best Garmin watches are built for constant use in tough environments, so whether you're racing through sandy desert trails or negotiating rocky mountain pathways, your device is bound to get dirty.

Your watch strap can also take on sweat and may begin to smell after a little while.

To keep your watch clean and odor-free, Garmin advises that you perform a short rinse and dry wash after every exposure to sweat, debris, and dirt.

How to clean your Garmin watch

You can clean your Garmin's watch face and body in just a few simple steps.

First, use water to rinse your watch or wipe it with a damp, lint-free cloth. Then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove dirt and debris from the charging points on your device. Make sure to scrub gently and keep the toothbrush away from holes in your device, like in the speakers and microphone.

Avoid using sharp or dirty objects and don't prod any openings.

If it's really dirty, Garmin recommends using a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe to gently remove dirt. You can also use disinfectant wipes, but must rinse the watch under water after washing, to avoid skin irritation.

Metal bands are similarly easy to clean using a damp, lint-free cloth. Make sure the cloth is clean before application.

Leather or suede bands may need a little more regular TLC. These bands are designed for casual wear rather than repeated sporting activity, and will deteriorate faster if used on the trails.

They can also be cleaned using a damp, lint-free cloth. Make sure to avoid leather cleaners and polishes as they can discolor your strap.

Whether you've got a metal, leather, or suede watch strap, it's important to wait for it to dry before you put it on again

Substances to avoid

There are several substances that can damage your Garmin device. Here is the full list Garmin recommends you steer clear of.

• Moisturising cream
• Hair dye
• Insect spray
• Perfume
• SanitiserSoap
• Solvent
• Detergent
• Sunscreen
• Oil

Keep your Garmin running smoothly

You can make sure the tech inside your Garmin watch is in tip-top condition and keep your device up to date using the Garmin Connect app or Garmin Express website.

Software updates will download automatically with the Connect app. You can check for more and download them manually on the Garmin Express website.

If you encounter a serious issue, like failing GPS, you can reset your Garmin by following our expert guide.

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After releasing its first Forerunner smartwatch in 2003, American brand Garmin has earned a stellar reputation for producing super-smart fitness wearables to track your fitness and help you up your game on the trails.

The best Garmin watches combine a tough and durable exterior with reliable GPS tracking and plenty of handy sports and fitness features.

Great Garmin devices are available at multiple price points. The latest and greatest models, like the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 955, offer hundreds of high-tech features but will make a noticeable dent in your wallet. Budget options like the Forerunner 55 can still track your health and position in the wilderness, but come without the expensive bells and whistles of their top-end counterparts.

Whatever you're wearing, you can probably use Garmin Pay, a handy smartwatch feature used to make contactless payments. Instead of reaching for a wallet or smartphone, you can simply pay with your Garmin watch.

While you're unlikely to get much use out of it on the trails, Garmin Pay, which is available on most modern models, can come in handy when paying for that post-run coffee or slice of cake.

So, what is Garmin Pay? And how can you access it? Read on for our expert guide to this handy payment feature.

What is Garmin Pay?

Garmin Pay is a contactless payment system used to make purchases without the need for a credit card or cash. It works like a digital wallet and stores your credit and debit cards.

Once set up, you can make payments by simply tapping your device against a card machine or other payment terminal.

How to download Garmin Pay

Most modern Garmin watches and multiple major banks are now compatible with Garmin Pay.

Want to try it out for yourself? You can get started by following a few simple steps, which are as follows:

• Download and open the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone.
• Log in or create a Garmin account.
• If you've just created an account, sync your smartphone with your Garmin watch by following the on-screen prompts.
• Select 'More' on your Garmin watch to access the Menu.
• Select 'Garmin Pay'.
• Select 'Get Started'.
• Select the watch you want to use with Garmin Pay.

• Create a four-number password you'll use to access Garmin Pay.
• Select the card you want to use.
• Read the first set of terms and conditions and select 'Continue'.
• Enter your card details and select 'Next'.
• Fill out your address information and select 'Next'.
• Read the second set of terms and conditions and select 'Continue'.
• Your bank may require you to confirm you're selection with a phone call or text. Follow the on-screen prompts to do so.

You can add more cards by repeating the above steps.

If you want to get rid of an old card, select it in the Garmin Pay section and press 'Delete'.

How to use Garmin Pay

With Garmin Pay downloaded, you can access it and start making transactions with just a few simple steps.

• Press and hold the light button.
• Select the wallet icon.
• Enter the passcode you created when downloading Garmin Pay.
• Hold your watch near a card reader to pay for purchases.

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Heads up, Garmin fans, the sports watch is here with a huge new screen and loads of features to help you race through the wilderness.

The brand-new Garmin Venu X1 is designed to be the ultimate all-rounder, combining a stylish, square design with plenty of exterior protection (built for use on the trails) and hundreds of health and fitness features.

"Venu X1 is the perfect blend of form, function and style," says Susan Lyman, Garmin's Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing.

"Not only does it pack all of Garmin’s most popular features into a slim profile, but the large display makes it easy to see everything from preloaded maps and workout stats to health insights and smart notifications with stunning clarity".

Price

Garmin's latest high-tech watch retails for $799.99 (£679.99) on the Garmin website, putting it among Garmin's premium top-end watches.

It's comparable in price to one of Garmin's other recent launches, the Forerunner 970, which you can get for $749.99 (£629.99) on the site.

This list price may come as something of a surprise to those awaiting the arrival of the new sports watch, considering the previous model, the Venu 3, cost $499 (£449) on release.

The X1 looks drastically different from the Venu 3, and Garmin has promised plenty of changes, but the sudden price hike could be enough to give some potential purchasers serious pause for thought.

Garmin has recently hinted at upping the prices of its watches after the American brand took a beating from President Trump's controversial tariff policy, which they say will cost them $100 million in the coming months.

Design

The Venu X1 features a rectangular Apple Watch-like design with Garmin's largest ever AMOLED display. The 2in (5.08cm) screen is protected by sturdy, scratch-resistant sapphire glass and a lightweight titanium case.

There are two standard buttons on the right side and a built-in LED flashlight to illuminate your surroundings.

The Venu X1 straps to your arm with a 24mm quick-release ComfortFit nylon band, and is available in the Black and Moss colorways.

Health and fitness

As with every top-end Garmin watch, the Venu X1 comes with myriad high-tech features to help you navigate the wilderness, plus multiple handy tools for negotiating everyday life.

Health trackers monitor everything from sleep cycle disturbances to jet lag, and provide useful round-ups via the Morning Report and Wellness Snapshot features.

When you're ready to hit the trails, you can track your progress with over 100 different activity profiles and training tools. The running dynamics, running power, and pacing strategies tools are designed to help you take your running game to the next level, with in-depth trackers and coaching advice.

Climbers will be particularly keen on the ClimbPro tool, which provides real-time data about your previous and upcoming ascents to help you climb with confidence.

Navigation

Navigation-wise, the X1 features full-color GPS mapping, dynamic round-trip routes, and plenty of sensors to keep you on the right track.

You can also subscribe to Garmin's new Outdoor Maps+ feature for $49 (£49) annually, or $4.99 (£4.99) monthly to access ultra-detailed, downloadable topographic maps.

Garmin has been experimenting with controversial paid subscription models in recent months, following the release of its AI coaching tool Garmin Connect+.

Smartwatch features

The Venu X1 isn't just for athletes, and it aims to be just as at home in the office as it is on the trails. You can make and take calls using the built-in speaker and microphone, and use a paired smartphone's voice assistant to dictate text messages.

It also boasts up to eight days of battery in Smartwatch Mode, and up to 11 days in Battery Save Smartwatch Mode.

The new Garmin Venu X1 is available to purchase on the Garmin website from June 18.

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Not all Garmin watches are created equally, and for long adventures in the backcountry, you'll want something rugged, weather-resistant, and with a long battery life. Enter the new Garmin Instinct 3 Solar, which you can currently pick up for only $349.99 at Amazon. That's a healthy savings of $50 off the regular list price for this tough watch, which only came out in January and has already earned itself a 4.2-star rating from customers.

The Garmin Instinct 3 was built with the wilderness in mind and is built with a super tough metal-reinforced bezel for expeditions that take you up against ice and rock, plus it's got that all-important built-in flashlight for navigating on the trails after dark.

Speaking of navigation, a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, and multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology deliver superior positioning when you're trying to find your way in the wild. These features also optimize battery life, which is one of the big stories with the Instinct 3 Solar. Thanks to solar charging, this watch can go three weeks without needing to be plugged into an outlet, making it ideal for thru-hiking and travel.

This deal applies to the Solar edition with 45mm case, but stocks are flying off the shelves, so don't delay.

Not in the US? Scroll down to the bottom of this article for today's best deals on the Garmin Instinct 3 where you are.

Whether your adventures take you underwater or just into weat weather, you won't need to worry about your watch thanks to 10 ATM water rating, plus the Instinct 3 is designed to MIL-STD-810 for thermal and shock resistance

If you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Garmin Instinct 3 deals where you are:

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Strava has been forced to drop a controversial trial after widespread criticism for publishing the private data of runners, hikers, and other athletes who use the app.

Bewildered users were stunned to realise that workout data from synced Garmin sports watches and workout apps Runna and TrainingPeaks was suddenly being made public on the app.

They took to the internet to complain that detailed information, including pacing notes, custom workout names, and coaching comments, appeared in place of previously generic activity titles like 'afternoon run'.

"Making previously private data public should always be accompanied by a notification beforehand," complained Reddit user alexanderhumbolt.

"There are many people (including me) who may not want to share their workout names."

After widespread criticism, Strava said the changes had been part of a two-day test, and it had now ended.

In a statement to Advnture, Strava said: "This past Monday, June 2 we ran a short-lived test to surface workout titles and descriptions. After listening to our community, we ended the test on Wednesday, June 4. We appreciate the feedback and have no plans to revisit this."

Syncing accounts means that Strava will automatically post workout data from your Garmin sports watch, although this information is usually limited to basic stats like your time, distance, and pace, and labelled with a generic moniker.

Further information from the Runna and TrainingPeaks apps was also made public. Both provide personalized workout plans to help you up your game on the trails, and can be synced with Strava.

What was published?

During the test, users reported wide ranging formerly private data appearing on their Strava feeds. The full list is as follows:

• Coach notes
• Custom workout titles
• Pacing guidance
• Personal targets
• Training descriptions

Past controversy

Strava is no stranger to information controversies. In 2018, it prompted security concerns after publishing a heatmap that inadvertently revealed the movements of military personnel in bases around the world.

• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course
• The best Garmin watches: the latest models tested and ranked

Runners and hikers have a new option for tracking their fitness on the trails, as sports wearables brand Polar has launched its latest high-tech watch.

The all-new Polar Grit X2 aims to be the perfect companion for tough treks and speedy runs through the wilderness, boasting a sturdy exterior, GPS capabilities, and plenty of handy sports and fitness modes.

Price

This model retails for £399 in the UK, a price that puts it in competition with upper-end Garmin watches, like the Forerunner 955. This high-tech Garmin received heavy praise in our review, meaning the Grit X2 has a lot to live up to on the trails.

The new Polar Grit X2 is now available to users in the UK and Europe via the Polar website. A US launch is planned for the coming months.

Exterior

This rugged new sports watch is designed for heavy use in all conditions. Its colorful 1.28In (35.5mm) AMOLED display is protected by a stainless steel bezel and sapphire crystal glass, which remains visible in "sunlight, on the move, or in harsh outdoor conditions," according to its creator.

The Grit X2 is tested to the latest 810H standards for extreme temperatures, altitude, shock, and water immersion.

This watch aims to fit in at the office before you head onto the trails, and retains a sleek, minimalist look despite its tough exterior.

"Too often, designs are bulky or lack essential features," said Polar CEO Sam Werring.

"With the launch of Grit X2, we address this long-standing gap, delivering premium functionality in a streamlined design, built to move with a new generation of adventurers."

It's available in two colorways: Night Black and Brown Copper. Both come with a standard 0.9in (22mm) rubber wristband.

Features

The Polar Grit X2 features a range of handy health trackers to monitor your fitness and help you up your game on the trails.

A wrist-based ECG, blood oxygen saturation tracker, and skin temperature sensor are just a few of the health monitors Polar says are used to deliver insight into your performance, recovery, and overall health.

Data from these trackers is used in the Grit X2's training tools, which are designed to help you make informed decisions about your training, rest, and recovery.

Navigation is another key feature. The Grit X2 is built to keep you on track with full-color offline topographic maps, which are pre-loaded and ready to use regardless of your position in the wilderness.

GPS navigation is generally reliable on Polar watches. In her review of the recent Vantage M3 Polar watch, former editor Cat Ellis described its trustworthy GPS as "extremely impressive, even in difficult conditions."

The Grit X2 watch boasts up to 90 hours of use in Eco training mode, 30 in Performance mode, and around a week in Smartwatch mode.

• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings
• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course

Can't get enough Garmin gear? You're in luck, as the American brand's latest high-tech fitness monitor looks to be just around the corner.

After months of rumours, a new report from the usually reliable Fitness Tracker Test website has revealed loads of new details about Garmin's upcoming sleep tracker, including its name: the Index Sleep Monitor.

The report suggests that the new Whoop-style device attaches to your upper arm with an adjustable Velcro strap and uses an optical sensor to measure your sleep. Next to the sensor is an LED light and an 'integrated vibration module', which can be used to gently wake you from a long sleep.

According to the report, the new Sleep Index Monitor will feature an array of different health monitors, including a blood oxygen saturation monitor and sleep score tracker.

The rechargeable device is rumoured to boast around a week of battery life, and is expected to hit the market in the coming months for roughly $170.

Expected features for the new Garmin sleep monitor

• Sleep score
• Sleep stages
• Sleep duration
• Heart rate

• Blood oxygen saturation
• Respiration tracking
• Skin temperature
• Women's health trackers
• Body battery

Wearable fitness bands strap onto your upper arm and provide 24/7 information about your health and fitness. Popular models like the Whoop 4.0 paint a vivid picture of your sleep and recovery by measuring various health metrics.

You can also log activities, food, and alcohol consumption in the Whoop app to access a more in-depth analysis. The latest Garmin device will likely link to the Garmin Connect app, so you can see your sleep stats from your phone.

Unlike Garmin watches, Whoop uses a subscription model. You pay an annual subscription of $239 (£229), or a monthly fee of $30 (£27) to access its health tracking services.

Garmin has been experimenting with paywalls in recent months, and currently charges $6.99 (£6.99) monthly or $69 (£69.99) annually for access to its Active Intelligence AI, which sends personalised health insights and suggestions to your Garmin watch.

• The best Garmin watches: make the right choice for the sport you love
• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course

If you're into trail running, chances are you've heard of Strava. The fitness tracking app launched 15 years ago to immediate success in the US and abroad, giving users a quick and simple way to record their runs and share stats with their friends.

Today, more than 120 million users use Strava to monitor their runs and other fitness activities. Along with tracking your progress on your phone, the popular app is now available on smartwatches, including all the best Garmin watches.

Like Strava, Garmin boasts a long history of reliable health monitoring, with more than two decades of experience crafting high-tech wearables that monitor your exercise.

It's also got a stellar reputation for GPS tracking, boasting super-smart models like the Garmin Fenix 8, that can accurately monitor your progress wherever you are in the wilderness.

By syncing the two, all data recorded on your Garmin watch will be immediately available on your Strava account.

Interested? Read on for our guide to using Strava with your Garmin watch.

What is Strava?

The Strava app is an exercise tracker and social platform that allows you to record your workouts and share them with your friends. It collects GPS and health data from your smartphone or wearable to paint an accurate picture of your performance and wellbeing after an activity.

Although it's primarily used for running and cycling, Strava has plenty of modes for other sports like swimming, basketball, and tennis.

After exercise, Strava provides a handy round-up of your activity, which includes stats like your distance, moving time, and average pace. It also compares your workout to previous exercises, so you can track your improvements and find out when you achieve a PB.

There are plenty of in-depth health trackers on the Strava app, but you'll need to fork out for a subscription for a really detailed analysis. Scroll to the bottom of this article for more details.

Perhaps the best thing about Strava is its community feel. Via the app, you can share your workout info, statistics, and pictures with friends and groups. Others can share 'kudos' and comment on your posts to congratulate you on a job well done.

How to access Strava on your Garmin watch

Plenty of Garmin watches support Strava, which you can download to your device in a few simple steps.

You can connect the two using the Garmin Connect app or website.

Connecting via the app

• Open the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone
• Select More at the bottom right of the screen
• Select Settings
• Select Connected apps
• Select Strava
• Select Agree
• Select Organize

Connecting via the website

• Sign in to the Garmin Connect website
• Select the option to add a widget at the bottom of the main page
• Select Segments from the Add to Dashboard menu
• Select the settings icon
• Select Use Strava Options
• Select Connect with Strava
• Select Agree and follow any further prompts

It will take a few minutes for your Garmin watch to sync with Strava. Once it's done, your past 90 days of recorded Garmin activity and all future workouts will be visible on your Strava account.

How to use Strava

Once you've connected your Garmin device to your Strava account, it's time to hit the trails.

If you're just getting started on your Strava journey, its wide range of features and modes might seem a little overwhelming. But don't worry, each function has its purpose, and Strava's intuitive interface is easy to use once you get the hang of things.

First things first, you'll need to create a profile and follow some fellow fitness enthusiasts. These can be friends and loved ones, but you can also take the opportunity to follow some of the world's best athletes, like trail running superstar Killian Jornet.

You can also follow brands like Nike and Hoka to see what their high-level athletes are up to.

You'll see posts from whoever you follow on your feed. And they'll be able to see yours if you follow them back.

Once you're onboard and following a few people, it's time to expand your community by joining a club. This can be a local or international sports club, where you can see what fellow members are up to.

With over 5 million members, Strava's own Strava Club is the largest club on the app. Along with the standard stats, it posts coaching and inspirational content that you can access to up your game on the trails.

As you use Strava more, you'll unlock achievements and 'silverware' to commend you on your progress. Achievements can be community-based, like the fastest run of a local route, or they can be personal, like a new PB or record distance covered. You can share these achievements with your followers, so everyone can see your progress on the trails.

Is a premium subscription worth it?

Strava is free to download and use, but you'll have to fork out $11.99 (£8.99) per month, or $79.99 (£54.99) annually for the premium subscription. This isn't essential, but it does include a few handy features if you want to map your runs with pinpoint accuracy.

With the premium subscription, you can plot a route to follow ahead of time, access offline maps while you run, and benefit from advanced analytics after your workout.

These analytics include Strava's Perceived Exertion tool to see how much energy you've used and custom heart rate zones, for an in-depth look at your ticker.

There's also a range of additional coaching tools, which you can use to set personalized goals and access training plans.

These features can be fun and helpful, and are worth considering if you're serious about fitness tracking, but they're certainly not essential.

If you have a Garmin watch, you likely already access many of them on the Garmin Connect app. Connect has plenty of training plans and in-depth health analysis, so there's no need to fork out the extra money.

• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings
• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course

In the market for a super-smart new sports watch for all your adventures? This well-rated Garmin model features a tough exterior, great GPS, and plenty of health trackers, and it's now over $100 off at REI.

The Garmin Venu 3 was built with the wilderness in mind and is currently available for just $349.99. Its super-bright AMOLED display is encased in scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass and surrounded by a tough and durable stainless steel bezel to minimize damage in the wilderness.

Once you're on the trails, the Venu 3 tracks you're whereabouts and fitness with precision. It features a reliable GPS receiver, which former editor Cat Ellis tested in her review for Advnture.

"The Venu 3 never took more than five seconds to establish a lock, and was only 20m short when tracking my pre-measured 5km route," explained Cat.

Its wide variety of health trackers measures everything from hydration to jet lag, to help you get the most out of your workouts. The Venu 3 also features handy recovery tools like sleep coaching, so you can rest well after a lengthy run or hike.

"Sleep Coach doesn't just tell you how well you slept, it also gives you personalized advice on how long you should aim to sleep tonight, helping you decide whether you need to hit the hay early," said Cat, who gave the Venu 3 a coveted four-and-a-half-star rating.

This deal is officially available until June 16, while stocks last.

If you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Garmin Venu 3 deals where you are:

• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course
• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings

The best GPS watches combine handy smartwatch features with plenty of health trackers and a rugged exterior to help you explore the wilderness. This high-tech Apple model aims to do all that and more, and it's 23% off in Amazon's Memorial Day sales.

Right now, you can bag the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and all its handy features for just $614.97 on Amazon.

This super-smart sports watch features a bright AMOLED display, protected by a sturdy titanium case designed to withstand damage in the wilderness. It's also water-rated down to 328ft (100m), so you can track your open water swimming stats without worry.

Like all great sports watches, the Ultra 2 excels in the field, thanks to an impressive range of handy sports modes and health trackers.

"It offers an ever-expanding range of fitness tracking features to rival the biggest names in sports watches, such as running power from the wrist, running dynamics like cadence and stride length, and cycling stats," said former editor Cat Ellis in her review for Advnture.

"You can even set different heart rate zones for running and cycling, which is something many sports watches don't offer."

Cat gave the Ultra 2 a coveted four-and-a-half-star rating and was particularly keen on its accurate GPS, which she described as 'superb'.

"The watch always established a GPS lock within a couple of seconds, and showed no signs of GPS drift, regardless of tree cover, nearby high-rise buildings, and even tunnels," explained Cat.

If you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals where you are.

• The best Garmin watches: incredible smartwatches to track your movement and metrics
• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings

Wedded to your Garmin ? We've got good news for you, as the smartwatch specialist has just dropped a huge new update for some of the best Garmin watches on the market, including the high-tech Fenix E, Fenix 8, Enduro 3, and Tactix 8.

After months of development, the latest update includes loads of new fitness features to test out in the wilderness. A new rucking activity allows you to stock your backpack with weight and head out for a tracked trek, while an added rep-counting feature means you can work out with clarity.

New breathing variations are another standout improvement. Garmin's respiration and breathwork features help you take control of your breathing and improve your overall health with handy breathwork exercises.

Along with the new features, Garmin's latest update aims to improve your smartwatch experience with scores of new updates, which tackle everything from dodgy music connections to malfunctioning workout pages.

New features and fixes

Look below for all the new features from the latest update.

Due to the huge amount of bug fixes available, we've opted to list some of our favorites, rather than every single one.

New features

• New breathing variations support
• New Rucking activity
• New option to add weights to a workout
• Rep-counting improvements
• New stage timer app
• New tips app
• Floors Climbed and Pulse Ox apps are now available on Morning Report
• New aerial navigation alerts

• New auto-pause setting in Motorsport activities
• New Golf notifications
• New Multisport category activity
• New sunrise and sunset data
• New Sail Expedition details
• New notification vibrations
• New 'View Run' option in Wake Sports
• New voice command for Applied Ballistics and Flying apps
• New voice command options
• New password support

Our favorite bug fixes

• Fixed activities missing from the History app
• Fixed issues with the Cardio workout page
• Fixed inaccessibility issues with maps
• Fixed crashes in the Navigation app
• Fixed crash when finishing a timer

• Fixed syncing issues with the Garmin Connect app
• Fixed Bluetooth connectivity and music issues
• Fixed incorrect data in the Bouldering and Indoor Climbing activities
• Fixed issue where calls could not be answered
• Fixed a bug that created an infinite side menu

How to get the update

You can download the latest update and access all the latest features with a few simple steps.

Just head to the menu on your Garmin device, select System, then Software Updates, and tap 'Check for Updates'.

• The best Garmin watches: make the right choice for the sport you love
• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course

The Suunto Race S: first impressions 

The Suunto Race S takes everything that makes the Suunto Race great and packs it down to a smaller size. This technical GPS watch delivers the same bright AMOLED display, tactical training tools including proper maps and brilliant battery life as its larger predecessor, but makes it more versatile and comfortable to wear for those with smaller wrists.

For this review, I tested out the Suunto S Titanium Courtney edition, designed by the Finnish brand with ultra runner Courtney Dauwalter. It comes with a special glow-in-the-dark silicone strap in energetic turquoise and yellow, which embodies Dauwalter's upbeat spirit, but is also available with a stainless steel bezel in more subtle colorways.

With a 1.77in (45mm) case and a fairly high profile design, it's not exactly tiny, but it means there's a lighter and smaller option out there for those who want the benefits of the Race with less weight. However, the heart rate monitor is more prominent than many I've seen, which does make it a little annoying to wear with long sleeves. It's got a silicone strap that's comfortable against the skin and secures with a really handy clip that I'd like to see more brands utilize (if Suunto hasn't patented the idea).

The Race S is operated with three buttons: a digital crown (which is a little fiddly) that takes you into the Control Panel with a click (where you'll find quick access to functions like alarm clock and flight mode), a Back button and a Start/Stop button that toggles you right into the different sports modes from the home screen.

You can also control it via the touchscreen, swiping right to left to access the Control Panel, and down to get right into sports modes. If you swipe up, you'll arrive in what Suunto calls widgets, which is where you can find data like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and weather forecasts, plus a shortcut to the Control Panel. The result is a slightly confusing interface where it feels like you keep ending up in the same place no matter what you're doing, though with the recent release of the Suunto Run, the brand says it's simplified things.

On the features front, the Race S is packed with all the cutting-edge training tools you'd expect, including super accurate heart rate monitoring and GPS, a pulse oximeter, barometric altimeter, sleep tracking, HRV and recovery predictions. The homescreen displays your Training Stress Score at all times, which weighs the stress the past week's workouts have placed on your body, and your Training Stress Balance, which measures your current form, based on both chronic (long terms) and acute (recent) training loads.

For the real downlow on your training status it's best to use the Suunto app, where you'll find your recent workouts on the home page, then your training calendar, metrics and maps on other tabs. Again, it's slightly less intuitive than it sounds, certainly at first.

The Race S has proper maps, which is an excellent feature for anyone whose adventures take them off piste, but to access them, you first need to download an area to your phone – this could be an entire country or a smaller region. Once you've done this, you'll be able to easily send GPX files to your watch to follow, but without it, you'll only have line and pointer navigation.

Once you get out on the trail, the GPS is truly pristine, and if you're running, there are all kinds of AI training tools to help you with pace and heart rate zones. When you get home, one of the most glorious things about the Suunto app is that you'll be able to watch a digital flyover of your route on the 3D topo map.

With up to 30 hours of battery life in GPS mode, you can expect this watch to hold up during longer adventures, and it will last up to 11 days if you're using it in GPS mode for just an hour or two each day. Its excellent battery life is no doubt bolstered by the fact that this model doesn't have all the smart watch features that you'll find on something like the Garmin Fenix 8. You can read messages and receive call alerts, and even control music playback, but this is a training watch and not an extension of your smartphone.

It's got 95 different sports modes, including water sports, and while it's not a dive watch, it is waterproof and we found the heart rate monitoring in the water during pool swims to be much more accurate than the Coros Pace 3.

For nocturnal adventures (or just rummaging around looking for your socks for a pre-dawn run without waking your partner), it does claim to have a flashlight, but it's really just a bright white screen which does provide a little illumination, but not enough to leave your headlamp at home.

Like every GPS watch on the planet, Suunto wants you to wear it night and day for comprehensive metrics, but we found it a bit bulky to wear in bed. Making matters worse, a glow-in-the-dark strap really doesn't induce REM sleep, and the green light on the heart rate monitor tends to light up throughout the night, so I ended up leaving it in another room after the first three nights.

It isn't a perfect watch, but techy runners who take their training seriously will love it, and given all it has to offer, I think $349 is pretty reasonable (though it's $449 if you want the titanium bezel).

Suunto Race S: in the field 

I've been testing the Suunto Race S for the past three weeks, and during that time I've used it for six hikes (including an adventure up Ben Nevis in an exoskeleton), four trail runs, a few gentle walks, a pool swim and eight yoga classes to get a feel for how it performs across multiple activities.

I've been wearing it on my right wrist and my Coros Pace 3 on my left wrist to see how the two compare in terms of metrics.

Here’s how it performed:

Design

I tested the Courtney edition of this watch, which has a fabulous-looking silicone strap and high-quality titanium bezel. It looks great right out of the box, and I found the strap comfortable against my skin, though I was surprised by how big it is for a small edition. Securing it is helped by a unique fastening system, where you insert a pin into a hole, which I think is genius, and I'd like to see on more watches.

I love the look of the glow-in-the-dark strap, but I found this proved a problem when I was trying to wear the watch at night for HRV tracking, since it kept me awake. I can see why a glow-in-the-dark band is great when you're running the length of Gran Canaria overnight in a storm, but it's a bit of a design flaw if you want to wear your watch 24/7. Luckily for me, I really don't, and after the requisite three nights to ensure HRV tracking worked, I left it in the hall while I slept.

The Race S looks like most watches I've tested, with three buttons on the right side of the case. However, I never quite got the hang of what all the buttons do. Usually, once I've worn a watch for a few days (or hours), it becomes instinctive, but to this day, I basically have to try every button on this model before I get what I'm looking for.

Also, I'm not sure why, but I found the digital crown a little fiddly at times. It just seems to be placed in the wrong location for easy operation.

So in short, the watch looks great and is really high quality, but it could use some refinement.

Features

The Suunto Race S is extremely well-featured for athletes, and has limited smartwatch capabilities; I think this is an intentional decision on the part of the brand, to keep users focused on training.

For training, it's got all the features I want and expect from a top-tier training watch these days – measuring metrics such as heart rate, HRV, sleep, and blood oxygen – and I tested them all out during and after my adventures. Compared to other watches, I found the heart rate tracking to be extremely precise and especially so during pool swimming, where my Coros Pace 3 seems to consistently think I'm barely exerting myself but my body tells me differently.

Suunto takes all of your data and gives you a snapshot of your performance on the home screen of the app, and then there are practically endless opportunities to dive deeper. In general, I found it interesting, if a little unintuitive and confusing. There are quite a few terms like CTL and ATL that I had to Google to find out what they meant (Chronic Training Load and Acute Training Load). I found a Reddit thread discussing these very questions, so I'm guessing I'm not the only one.

In the app, there's the option to compare certain metrics – such as heart rate against altitude or speed against temperature – which is not only fascinating, but could be enormously useful if you're training for a race.

On the top left of the home screen, the Race S provides your training status, which it calls Progress; something I found fascinating was that, no matter how much I trained, it always said I was losing fitness. I don't know if this was a quirk with the watch I was testing, but after hiking and running nearly 55 miles in three weeks, this just seems highly unlikely. Do they assume that everyone wearing the watch is Courtney Dauwalter? The best answer I can come up with is that, whereas my Coros watch might say I'm 'performance ready' after a few days of rest or low activity, Suunto thinks I'm losing fitness. I can see how this could be discouraging for certain athletes, so I'd love to see Suunto rethink this and come up with something at the very least more neutral. Maintaining, perhaps?

The feature I was most excited about was the mapping. The Suunto Race S has proper maps, although I had several false starts activating them. I first wore the watch on a two-day hiking trip in Glencoe, and I wrongly assumed I'd just be able to access maps like I could on the Garmin Fenix 8. I didn't have routes planned, and when I started walking I was surprised to see it was just line and pointer navigation.

Assuming I needed to send specific GPX files to my watch in order to benefit from topo maps, when I went on another two-day hiking trip, I made sure to download the routes I planned and send them to my watch (this was all straightforward). When I got going, I again saw that it was just line and pointer.

Finally, I did my research and realized that in order to use proper maps on the Race S, I needed to download the entire map of Scotland to my Suunto app. I started this process before my next hike, but realized it was going to take a long time and had to pull the plug. I returned to the project when I got home, which took nearly an hour, and finally, on my fourth attempt, I was able to access proper maps on my Suunto.

The maps feature works brilliantly once you get it on your watch, and my favorite part is that after a hike, you can watch a 3D video showing your route. I recently wore the watch on a hike up a mountain called Ben Venue. I took a less-used path that I'd never hiked before, seeing no one at all along the way, and thanks to low-lying cloud and drizzle, I couldn't see a whole lot. So it was brilliant to get home and be able to review what I'd done.

I really like the in-app maps, where I can filter routes in my area by surface (paved, smooth unpaved, rough unpaved) and apply heatmaps to find new routes in my area.

The flashlight isn't an actual flashlight, but instead a white screen which I only really find helpful for finding my yoga clothes at 6am without waking my boyfriend. I understand that a proper flashlight (like you'll find on some of the best Garmin watches) must be a battery drain, but I think it's appropriate for an adventure-ready watch such as this.

The Suunto Race S does allow you to control music (but not download it) if you like to run with tunes, but since I prefer the sound of the birds this isn't something I spent much time on.

Finally, as I mentioned, this watch doesn't have a huge amount of smartwatch features, beyond the ability to receive messages and call alerts. Personally, I like this. It means I don't have to pick up my phone as often and I'm not really looking to be more connected.

Performance

As I've mentioned, I found the operation of this watch a little confusing at first, often seeming to find myself in the same menu almost no matter what button I pressed or which way I swiped, and this never totally went away even with practice.

However, once I found the activity I wanted to do and set out on the trail, I found the watch intuitive to use. It's simple to get started and the information that displays on the screen when I'm on the trail is clear. It's also very responsive, whether I'm lifting my wrist to check in, pressing buttons, or using the touchscreen.

I've already mentioned the issues I had getting proper maps, but there is one more piece to the puzzle: the first time I was certain I'd managed to get a map on my watch, I was surprised once I started hiking that I couldn't see it. Several times I went into the Hike mode, scrolled down to navigation and selected the map, but when I hit Start, I couldn't see it, and scrolling using the digital crown didn't do anything. I gave up and hiked the old-fashioned way, but when I got home, I realized I needed to press the digital crown to change screens and get to my map, and not try to scroll. It may sound silly to you, but using a scrolling button to scroll through screens seems obvious to me, and it's another slightly unintuitive aspect to this watch.

Something that works brilliantly whether or not I'm following the map is the GPS, which I found to be extremely accurate. When I'm tracing a downloaded route, it gives me a little buzz when a turn is coming up and prepares me to expect it, and likewise it makes it easy to correct when I miss a turn.

I think the battery life is excellent. This watch comes with a little charging cradle and USB cable. I didn't charge it when it arrived, so I didn't start out on a full charge and got four days of use out of it before juicing it up. From then, I got another 11 straight days out of it, during which I had five big days in the hills as well as several smaller workouts.

Value

At $349 for the stainless steel bezel and $449 for the titanium model, the Suunto Race S is pricier than a more basic training watch, like the Coros Pace 3, and much cheaper than the Garmin Fenix 7. It's comparable to the Coros Pace Pro and overall, I think it's a better watch.

That's a bargain price for an AMOLED screen and the materials and build are on par with a more expensive watch, plus it doesn't look cheap. If you're seeking a training watch, this one provides you with everything you'd want for a fair price, and as far as I can tell it's only missing smartwatch functions.

Also consider

Comparison table

• How Advnture tests products

The big REI Anniversary sale is here, offering hundreds of dollars off great outdoor gear from trustworthy big-name brands like Merrell and Black Diamond.

Among a great selection of camping, climbing, and running deals, you can save plenty off some of the best Garmin sports watches, like the Forerunner 965 or Instinct 3, which are both down to just $499.

Our favorite Garmin deal takes $200 off one of its latest and greatest smartwatches, the exceptional Fenix 8, which is currently available for $899.99 at REI.

This high-tech smartwatch is built for tough adventures in the wilderness, with pinpoint health tracking. Its vibrant AMOLED sapphire display is encased in a fiber-reinforced polymer case and rugged titanium bezel to stop scratching and damage.

Once you're in the wilderness, its super-accurate GPS tracks your position with extreme precision, which thoroughly impressed our outdoors expert Julia Clarke in her review for Advnture.

"GPS was spot-on, giving me an alert if I veered off route, which I did once or twice to avoid boggy areas," she said.

Julia was also keen on the huge range of health monitors available on the Fenix 8. These trackers are designed to paint a vivid picture of your fitness, and measure everything from your heart rate to jet lag.

"As for training tools, there's practically an infinite suite now," said Julia, who was particularly keen on the VO2 Max, Hill Score, and Running Lactate Threshold features.

Got another Garmin on your mind? There are tons of great deals available right now in the REI Anniversary sale.

Not in the US? Look below for today's best Garmin Fenix 8 deals where you are:

• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course
• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings

Fitness fanatics have three new super-smart fitness wearables to choose from after Chinese brand Huawei launched its latest high-tech models.

According to their creators, the Huawei Watch 5, Huawei Fit 4, and Huawei Fit 4 Pro herald a "new future of health monitoring", featuring plenty of sports modes and fitness trackers to help you smash your PBs.

The Huawei Watch 5 tracks your fitness with its X-TAP sensor technology, which aims to provide accurate, fast, and comprehensive health data at your fingertips. It's made from spherical sapphire glass, encased in a tough stainless steel and 'aerospace-grade' titanium outer.

Along with its fitness-tracking credentials, Huawei's premium smartwatch is designed for everyday use, incorporating a streamlined, smooth-edge look that wouldn't look out of place in the office or on the trails.

You can get your hands on the Huawei Watch 5 in 42mm or 46mm sizes, starting from £399.99 on the Huawei website, a price comparable to popular Garmin models like the Forerunner 955 or Instinct 2.

The Huawei Fit 4 series was built with the wilderness in mind. The Fit 4 Pro features an 'aviation-grade' aluminium outer and titanium alloy bezel to protect a sturdy sapphire glass display from scratches and damage on the trails.

Its tough exterior boasts a diving depth of down to 131ft (40m), and there are lots of underwater trackers, including a new air pressure monitor.

There are also plenty of sports modes for other athletes. Fit 4 and Fit 4 Pro users can use Huawei's TruSense health system to access 'Professional Trail Running', 'Pro-level Golf', and lots more.

The Huawei Fit 4 and Fit 4 Pro are available for £149.99 and £249.99 on the Huawei website.

For that price, the latest Fit 4 watches will be looking to compete with budget Garmin options like the Forerunner 55, which packs plenty of health features into an affordable fitness wearable.

• The best Garmin watches: make the right choice for the sport you love
• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course

If you've been holding out for a new Garmin watch, we've got good news for you. The smartwatch behemoth has just launched two new models in the popular Forerunner series: the Forerunner 570 and the Forerunner 970.

Designed for "performance-driven athletes", the new models boast new training tools, recovery insights and Garmin's brightest AMOLED displays to date.

Alongside these dedicated running and triathlon smartwatches, Garmin also announced the launch of the HRM 600, a new an advanced heart rate monitor.

The new Forerunners feature a built-in-speaker and microphone, Garmin's Triathlon Coach training plans, as well as other health and wellness features. In smartwatch mode, the Forerunner 570 will provide 11 days of battery life, while the Forerunner 970 goes even further, offering 15 days.

The advanced Forerunner 970 also benefits from in-built, full-color maps, with dynamic round-trip routing, a built-in LED flashlight and brand new performance features, such as running tolerance and, when paired with the HRM 600, step speed loss and running economy. These handy new tools are backed by Garmin's data scientists and sports psychologists.

The Garmin Forerunner 570, which is available with either a 42mm or 47mm screen, is now on sale for $549.99 (£459.99), while the Forerunner 970 costs $749.99 (£629.99), while the HRM 600, available in two sizes, retails at $169.99 (£149.99).

Forerunner 570 and 970 features

Garmin's brightest display yet: Both the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 posses a super sharp and vivid AMOLED display.

Speaker and microphone: You can now access many features using voice commands, make and receive calls and respond to notifications.

Personalized adaptive training plans: Garmin Coach training provides advanced insights for goal-focused runners and triathletes.

Evening report: A handy report that reminds you how much sleep you need, plus a preview of the next day's weather, events and planned workouts.

Forerunner 970-only features

The advanced Forerunner 970 contains a raft of exclusive features:

Premium materials: A robust and scratch-resistant sapphire lens with titanium bezel equals a unit built for tough environments.

Built in maps: Never get lost. The Forerunner 970 boasts full-color, built-in maps with turn-by-turn navigation, off-course re-routing and multi-band Global Navigation Satellite System. You can seamlessly sync routes from the Garmin Connect app and navigate with your watch.

Built-in LED flashlight: Find your way through the dark with a built-in LED flashlight that can be adjusted from the touchscreen.

Running tolerance: A feature that allows athletes insights into the impact of their training load, including recommendations on weekly maximum mileage to keep training on track and avoid injury.

Running economy and step speed loss: When paired with the HRM 600, the running economy feature measures your overall energy efficiency after several runs. Meanwhile, the step speed loss feature, which also requires the HRM 600, enables athletes to study how much they slow down when their foot hits the ground.

HRM 600 features

The HRM 600 is Garmin's new, premium heart rate monitor, built for data-driven performance athletes. It provides accurate heat rate and HRV (heart rate variability) data, as well as running dynamics when paired with a compatible smartwatch.

Available in two sizes with a new, comfortable and machine washable strap, the HRM 600 will accomodate a wide range of athletes. Meanwhile, the new rechargeable battery gives you two months worth of juice.

Susan Lyman, Garmin's Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing said that the new Forerunners were "created for every athlete who is out there chasing goals and passionate about their data, the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 include innovative training tools, recovery metrics and connected features to help them perform at their best.

"Whether you’re an elite athlete striving for your fastest time yet or a runner upping mileage to prepare for that next big race, these premium smartwatches are here for every step of your running journey".

If you're keen to get your hands on a high-quality smartwatch, the best Garmin watches are probably at the forefront of your mind, but there are plenty of other brands to choose from.

Alongside big names like Apple and Fitbit, Samsung's range of high-tech smartwatches aims to rival Garmin with plenty of sleek features and sports compatibility.

Both brands have a long history of crafting fitness wearables. Garmin GPS watches have been on the market since 1989, while Samsung released its first 'watch phone' a decade later.

Samsung watches are typically built for everyday use, while Garmin excels in sports performance and fitness tracking.

If you just can't choose between a Garmin or Samsung smartwatch, look below for all the key information to help you make the right decision.

The Verdict

Garmin and Samsung both produce high-tech smartwatch ranges, capable of tracking your health and performance in the wilderness. The model that's right for you depends on what you're going to be using your watch for.

Top-end Garmin devices are hard-core health trackers that monitor every aspect of your fitness to paint a vivid portrait of your overall health. If you're after a super-detailed tracker, which measures everything from your skin temperature to heart rate, then a well-rated Garmin watch like the Fenix 8 is the one for you.

Samsung, on the other hand, excels in handy everyday smartwatch features, like call, text, and email compatibility. Super-smart Samsung devices like the Galaxy Watch Ultra are still great fitness trackers, but don't offer the same in-depth analysis as the best Garmins.

Garmin devices are also generally extremely reliable in the field, whereas Samsung users have reported a few issues with key tracking features like GPS.

Price is another key area, and Samsung watches are generally cheaper. You can find the latest Ultra watch for $649.99 (£599.99) online, while a top-end Garmin is likely to cost $300 (£224) to $350 (£261) more.

Pros and cons

Both brands have strengths and weaknesses, which set them apart in different areas.

Garmin Pros

• Typically rugged and durable
• Long-lasting battery lives
• Reliable GPS tracking
• A wide variety of accurate fitness trackers
• Multiple training modes
• Some models can make and receive calls

Samsung Watch Pros

• Bright OLED and AMOLED displays
• Compatible with iPhone
• Competitive pricing
• Plenty of handy fitness features
• Long battery life

Garmin Cons

• High-end options are very pricey
• Susceptible to bugs and can occasionally crash
• Complex user interface

Samsung Watch Cons

• Some models are big and bulky
• Some models have GPS accuracy issues
• Some heart-rate tracking issues

Price

• Garmin is more expensive throughout the price range
• Samsung Galaxy has very cheap budget options

Top-of-the-range Garmin sports watches are far more expensive than their Samsung counterparts. The brand new Fenix 8 watch will set you back roughly $999 (£949.99) while Samsung's flagship model, the Galaxy Watch Ultra, costs $649.99 (£599.99).

While the $350 (£350) price discrepancy is certainly sizable, it seems about right considering the many more sports modes and health trackers available to Fenix 8 users.

Samsung's lifestyle-oriented model, the Galaxy Watch 7, is comparable in price to Garmin models like the Venu 3 and Venu 3S, which place a greater emphasis on everyday use rather than sports compatibility. You can find most of these watches for around $300 (£224) to $350 (£261).

At the bottom of the price range, budget Samsung devices like the Fit3 are far cheaper than the least expensive Garmin watches.

You can find a new Fit 3 watch on Amazon for about $50 (£37.28) while Garmin's dependable budget option, the Forerunner 55 is triple the price at around $150 (£118).

Like the top-end models, the Forerunner 55 has far more to offer than the Fit 3, but Samsung's ultra-budget wearable still has a great selection of sports modes and features for its generous price.

GPS

• Garmin wearables have accurate and dependable GPS
• Some Samsung models have GPS accuracy issues

Garmin watches are renowned for their excellent GPS tracking, offering an accurate, easily understandable picture of your whereabouts at all times. Most Garmin watches have GPS, and accuracy issues are rare, especially with top-end and mid-range models.

The latest Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra also has super-dependable GPS tracking, which our sister site T3 found to be just as reliable as the Garmin Forerunner 965 - a model designed for wilderness exploration.

There are, however, a few accuracy issues with other Samsung models like the Galaxy Watch 6 and 7, which have reportedly overestimated running distances in testing.

Health trackers and sports modes

• Garmin watches tend to have more advanced health trackers
• The Samsung Galaxy Ultra has a decent selection of functions for measuring wellbeing

Garmin's high-tech range of smartwatches leads the market in health tracking. Up and down the price range, Garmin devices measure a handy range of health metrics to paint a vivid portrait of your health and performance in the wilderness.

Top-of-the-range models like the Garmin Epix (Gen 2) track all manner of metrics from your hydration levels to jet lag, while budget options like the Forerunner 55 measure the essentials with accuracy and insight.

They also feature a diverse range of sports modes to help you train for myriad athletic pursuits.

Samsung watches don't boast the same pedigree, but still include useful health trackers and fitness insights.

The Samsung Galaxy Ultra watch is built for fitness fanatics and covers the basics well. Along with essential measurements like your heart rate and blood oxygen levels, there are a few unique trackers like the FDA-approved sleep apnea detector and ECG (Electrocardiogram) feature, which checks for heart rate and rhythm issues.

There's also an insightful energy score, akin to Garmin's body battery feature, which measures your tiredness and estimates when you can get back in action.

These health monitors are generally accurate and dependable.

Like Garmin models, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is great for training thanks to its diverse range of sports modes, which measure your performance with precision.

Ultimately, Samsung's top-end fitness-focused watch is a competitive health monitor, with a little less variety than the best Garmins and plenty of handy sports modes.

Other Samsung models, like the Galaxy Watch 7 and Fit 3, are less suited to exercise and include fewer fitness features than the Ultra.

As the Fit 3 is a basic, budget model, it only measures a few fitness metrics, like your daily activities, sleep, and heart rate.

Both brands boast useful smartwatch apps that show your fitness information and workout data. These easy-to-use apps can be downloaded to most smartphones.

Display and design

• Both Garmin and Samsung devices use AMOLED and OLED displays
• Both brands use the same sturdy glass
• Not all Garmin watches are touchscreen

Both Garmin and Samsung use bright and easily visible OLED and AMOLED displays. These screens offer a vivid, clear image that you can make out in pitch black or bright sunlight.

A few budget Garmin watches use MIP screen displays, which are still clear and visible but a little less shiny and high-tech. In comparison, the budget Samsung Fit3 uses an AMOLED display.

Not all Garmin devices are touchscreen, whereas all modern Samsung watches, even the budget Fit 3, are.

You can still access a wide range of features on non-touchscreen Garmin models, such as the Instinct 2 or Forerunner 255, but you'll need to use the buttons on the side.

The Samsung Galaxy 7, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Fit 3 all feature the same Corning Gorilla Glass used in Garmin devices. This sturdy, scratch-resistant glass is designed to survive heavy wear and tear in tough environments.

Smartwatch features

• Both brands offer plenty of everyday features
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is built for everyday use

As they're designed for everyday use, watches from Samsung's Galaxy watch series, including the Galaxy Watch Ultra, feature a greater variety of smartwatch features than some fitness-focused Garmin models.

You can use the latest Galaxy Watch 7 to make and take phone calls, send and receive text messages, and access your emails. You can also control your watch using Samsung's voice assistant, Bixby, or download the Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa from the Google Play Store.

Garmin devices have a few similar smartwatch features, but generally prioritize health modes. Top-end models like the Venu 3 and Fenix 8 can make and receive phone calls, but only when paired with a compatible nearby phone, while text messages are chosen from a pre-determined selection.

Garmin devices throughout the price range can also connect to Bixby and other voice assistants like Google Assistant or Apple's Siri, depending on the phone your device is connected to.

Top-end and mid-range models from both brands can download and store music. They're also Bluetooth compatible, so you can connect your watch to a pair of headphones and listen on the go.

Battery life

• Some Garmin and Samsung devices have comparable battery lives
• The Galaxy Watch 7 falls well short of its Garmin counterparts

Adventure-oriented Samsung and Garmin devices like the Galaxy Watch Ultra or the Fenix 8 can last for days on end, especially when battery-consuming modes like GPS tracking are turned off.

Some Garmin devices can even run indefinitely due to a handy solar-charging feature. The Instinct 2 Solar edition, for example, needs just three hours of sunlight per day to achieve its 'unlimited' battery life.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra doesn't have solar-charging but will still last a long time, with up to 100 hours of battery life in smartwatch mode and 48 hours of working GPS tracking.

Samsung's budget Fit 3 device also has a decent battery life. Without the bells and whistles of its high-tech counterparts, this affordable fitness tracker usually lasts around 6 days, depending on its usage.

The battery life of Samsung's everyday smartwatch models isn't as dependable. The latest Galaxy Watch 7 lasts between 22 and 28 hours on one charge, which pales in comparison to similar devices.

Garmin's budget Forerunner 55, for example, has up to 20 hours of battery in GPS mode and can otherwise last for up to two weeks.

• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course
• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings

Amazfit has rolled out a significant upgrade to its rugged adventure watch, the T-Rex 3, that should make the model even more appealing to outdoor adventurers.

When the AmazfitT-Rex 3 dropped last fall, it was billed as "the ultimate outdoor GPS smartwatch" by the Chinese brand. With a 25-day battery life, 100 hours of continuous support in GPS mode and a bright AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass, it was hard not to view it as a cheaper alternative to some of the best Garmin watches.

We had already given its predecessor, the Amazfit T-Rex 2, nearly perfect marks for its tough build, battery life and navigation features, so our hopes were high, especially since the corresponding Zepp app has seen almost continuous improvements over the last couple of years.

Now, the brand has rolled out Zepp OS 4.5, and tells us that means the T-Rex 3 has been updated with more than 60 new or improved features.

The updates we're most excited about as outdoor enthusiasts lies in the optimization of maps. Thanks to the latest software update, you can now download free topographical contour maps to help you navigate during backcountry trail runs and hikes.

Amazfit says map detail has been improved to include more geographical detail, so you'll be able to see the height of mountain peaks you're thinking of summitting, and identify wetland, glacier and shrubland areas to help you plan your routes. There's also back-to-start navigation to help you get back to the trailhead safely.

This feature also reportedly applies to ski resort maps if you're hitting a new hill next winter.

Another huge update for trail runners and hikers is more accurate GPS performance in areas with dense forestation and while you're in battery-saving mode, which could be a lifesaver on multi-day adventures in complex terrain.

If you're a trail runner in training, you can now track your real-time performance on mountain routes. Monitor your pace and exertion levels on the go and adjust as necessary.

If you use the smartwatch functions of the T-Rex 3, they've also improved thanks to an upgrade to Zepp Flow, the AI-powered voice assistant. You can now send SMS messages on Android devices and reply to WhatsApp notifications using iOS, keeping in touch with loved ones from the trail.

And finally, gesture controls have improved, so you can now simply twist your wrist to expand on-screen notifications without breaking your stride.

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 smartwatch is available on Amazon for $279.99 in Haze Grey, Onyx Black and Lava.

• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings

If you're a runner looking for a high-performing watch from a premium brand but not interested in extras like dive-specific functions or archery mode, Suunto has some good news for you. The Finnish watch brand has just launched a new training watch tailored specifically towards runners.

The new Suunto Run watch boasts a bright AMOLED display, and the brand says it's intended to support runners on every step of their journey, from solo morning jogs to the finish line on race day.

In a pre-launch presentation last week, Suunto's Head of Product Portfolio, Markus Kemetter, said the watch was designed in response to increased interest in running, citing figures from Strava that reveal a 59% increase in running clubs in 2024, with race participation growing globally.

At first glance, the Suunto Run eliminates some features that have become common in more general sports watches – think proper maps and hundreds of sports modes – and emphasizes those which are intended for runners, like music, Strava integration, and runner-centric training tools.

"You can really get super extensive tools to see how you are evolving as an athlete," says Kemetter, who adds that the user interface – something we found a little complicated in the Suunto Race S – has been tweaked to be more user-friendly and intuitive.

"Everybody loves easy-to-use watches," says Kemetter.

We're looking forward to getting the Run out on the trails this summer and giving you our full report, but in the meantime, here's what we're most excited about:

Size and weight

Unless your runs last for weeks and entail carrying your overnight gear, you probably want a running watch that's light and slim, so it doesn't detract from your run or make it difficult to pull up the sleeve of your running jacket

With a 46mm screen, it's not the tiniest watch on the market by any means, but at a mere 36g, it barely weighs more than the featherlight Coros Pace 3 and at 0.45in (11.5mm) thick and with a nylon strap, it's designed to sit neatly on your wrist, out of the way until you want to look at it.

Run specific training tools

Rather than go all in on every sport you could possibly imagine, the Suunto Run is mostly focused on helping you train for running, using metrics like your Training Stress Score in combination with chronic and acute load to provide recovery suggestions and help you with injury-free training.

With just 34 sports modes, there are all the different running modes you might need, including trail, track (where you can adjust the track length), and marathon mode, which estimates your finish time to help you pace yourself.

Then there are features such as "ghost runner," where a virtual pacer runs just ahead of you, and if you're out in rural areas, it has breadcrumb navigation, a back-to-start feature, and the brand assures us the GPS is pristine.

For cross training, you'll still find more sports modes than you'll ever need including cycling and swimming (its waterproof rating is 5ATM).

Battery life

No one wants to charge their watch every day, but if, like us, you enjoy hitting the trails for hours at a time, you'll be relieved to hear the Run has a nice, long battery life. With 20 hours in GPS mode, this watch will suffice for most ultra runners, and if you're just using it for an hour or two a few days a week, you can expect up to 12 days out of it before you have to juice it up.

Price tag

Finally, we like the price of this watch. With a scaled-back approach, we'd expect the price tag to be a little lighter than something like the Garmin Enduro 2, and while this might not technically qualify for our list of the best budget GPS watches, it's definitely wallet-friendly at $249 / £199.

That's just a little more expensive than the Coros Pace 3, and with an AMOLED screen, we think it's potentially a better option for those seeking a solid training watch without too many frills.

The Suunto Run watch is available now in the US from Suunto for $249 in Lime, Frost Gray, All Black, Coral Orange. It will be available for £199 in the UK starting June 3.

• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course
• The best running watches: tech to help you outpace your PB

Garmin Instinct 3 and Instinct E users can benefit from loads of new changes and fixes after the popular Instinct range got a fresh beta update.

Among multiple improvements, Instinct 3 and Instinct E users can access increased breathwork support, a new rucking activity, and improved GPS tracking.

Garmin's Instinct range is designed for outdoor adventure and constant use in the wilderness. Instinct models are well known for their super-accurate GPS tracking, long-lasting battery life, and rugged exterior.

We've been seriously impressed by Instinct models like the Garmin Instinct 2X, which running expert Michael Sawh described as "one of the most likeable and more unique watches in Garmin’s range", in his review for Advnture.

Updates for each model

There are a few different updates available for the solar, AMOLED, and MIP versions of the Instinct 3 and Instinct E. Below is a full list of all the changes for each.

All Instinct 3 and Instinct E models

• Support for the new Garmin Connect+ feature
• Passcode support
• Improved breathing variations
• Location support in weather
• Fixed daily summary freeze

Instinct Solar and Instinct E models only

• New daily workout suggestions in the workout app
• Fixed GPS tracking crash
• HR glance and history glance modes now accesible
• Fixed battery incorrectly showing as 'low'
• Fixed crashes when connecting and disconnecting to a computer
• Fixed calendar issue

Solar and AMOLED models only

• Added a new rucking workout activity
• Support for pack weight
• Improved and added to gaming modes
• Fixed race course issues
• Fixed jump rope activity issues
• Fixed PC connectivity issue
• Fixed golf distance issue

AMOLED models only

• New morning report animations
• Fixed water barometer inaccuracies
• Improved battery saver watch face
• Fixed flashlight controls issue
• Fixed pool swimming activity crashing
• Fixed body battery widget crash

How to get beta updates

To access these updates, you'll need to be enrolled in Garmin's public beta program, which allows users to access new features and updates before they're available to everyone.

To sign up, log in to your Garmin Connect account and install the beta software to your device. From then on, you'll receive Garmin's beta updates whenever they become available.

• The best Garmin watches: make the right choice for the sport you love
• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces to keep you on course

After wearing the Coros Pace 3 sports watch for the past 18 months, I recently got the chance to test out the newer Coros Pace Pro. For a side-by-side comparison, I spent three weeks wearing one watch on each wrist during every hike, trail run, pool swim and yoga session I did to see how the two measure up.

Compared to Coros’ Apex watches, which are specifically for mountain athletes, the Pace series from the Orange County-based brand comprises watches for multi-sport users. While neither watch could exactly be described as “budget”, both are a lot more budget-friendly than watches from competitors like Garmin, but still make really great training companions.

The Coros Pace 3 launched in August 2023 and is Coros’ entry-level watch. The Pace Pro launched in October 2024, boasting a bright AMOLED screen and offline maps, and the brand says its for those seeking precision in performance.

So the Pace Pro is more high tech and featured, but does that automatically make it the better choice? In this article, I’ll guide you through the key similarities and differences between these two sports watches to help you decide which one is right for you.

The Verdict

First and foremost, both of these watches are built to be training tools and probably won’t satisfy a thirst for smartwatch functionality.

They’re lighter than many of their competitors and, though made from cheaper materials, they're both robust enough to handle outdoor adventures. Using the Coros app, you’ll be able to access a large suite of training tools, from training plans to recovery estimates and sleep tracking.

The main difference between the two watches is that where the Pace 3 is low profile and simple, the Pace Pro is big and bulky, with a bright AMOLED screen and proper maps. Though those functions are definite upgrades, they do make for a more burdensome watch and in my tests, I found the heart rate sensor wasn’t always the most accurate.

If you seek a bright screen that you can view in all conditions and you want to use your watch to navigate, the Pace Pro is the better option, but if you don’t really need those things I’d suggest the Pace 3, which packs a lot of punch for a more pleasing price and is a great training tool.

Pros and cons

These watches are probably more similar than they are different, but they each have their strengths and weaknesses depending on how you plan to use them.

Pace Pro pros

• Bright AMOLED display
• Reliably accurate GPS
• Great battery life
• Proper maps with turn-by-turn navigation
• Easy-to-use
• Responsive touchscreen
• Lightweight
• 5 ATM water resistance

Pace 3 pros

• Impressive battery life
• Straightforward to use
• Great metrics
• Lightweight and comfortable
• Stays put when you’re on the go
• Low profile design
• 5 ATM water resistance

Pace Pro cons

• Heart rate monitor can be unreliable with silicone band
• Bulk and button placement means you can accidentally press Start/Stop button during workout
• Only one size available
• Plastic case looks a little cheap
• Mineral glass not as rugged
• Strap is fiddly and uncomfortable
• Limited smartwatch functions

Pace 3 cons

• Limited smartwatch functions
• Looks a little cheap
• Screen can be hard to read on sunny days

Price

• The Pace Pro is more expensive, and has more features
• The Pace 3 is very budget-friendly and great value

Both of these watches fall into the “affordable” category when compared to major competitors.

The Pace Pro is the more expensive of the two watches, costing $349 / £349. At $229 / £219, the Pace 3 is cheap enough to have made our list of the best cheap GPS watches.

Of course, the Pace Pro gives you the AMOLED screen and offline maps, but that’s only of value if you need them. Otherwise, you’ll get almost everything else with a smaller price tag in the Pace 3.

Design

• The Pace Pro is bigger than the Pace 3
• Both watches use mineral glass in the screens, which isn’t as tough as sapphire glass
• The watches share an identical design, with touchscreen capability

If you already own the Pace 3 and are considering upgrading to the Pace Pro, the good news is that the two watches have an identical design with two buttons to operate: a rotating Start/Stop button to scroll through options and select features, and a Back button that can cycle through data like sunrise and sunset times and heart rate or access system settings and additional features like alarm and stopwatch. The watches are intuitive and easy to get your head around quickly.

Both watches have optional touchscreen which can be turned on and off and works well. The big difference in design of course is that at 46mm, the Pace Pro is significantly bigger than the 41.9mm Pace 3. It’s also much bulkier in design and it is more difficult to wear with long sleeves.

As for build, both of these watches use mineral glass, which is easier to scratch than the sapphire glass preferred by brands like Garmin, and a fiber-reinforced polymer bezel, which looks and feels cheaper than stainless steel, but is also considerably lighter and arguably just as functional.

My Pace Pro came with a silicone strap that’s a bit uncomfortable and fiddly, while my Pace 3 has a nylon strap that’s both comfortable and easy to adjust to the perfect fit. You can select either a nylon or silicone strap at checkout, and I strongly recommend you go with nylon. It might look cheaper, but you’ll be more comfortable and potentially get better readings.

GPS

• Both models feature reliably accurate GPS

Both watches take only a few seconds to pick up my location and lock in on GPS coordinates when I get to the trailhead. They’ve proven themselves reliable in terms of tracking my movements and recording my overall distance, always within only a few feet of readings from other watches.

The Coros Pace Pro has color maps, so it’s reasonable to assume that you may want to use it for navigation, and I’ve found it to be accurate when following a GPX map that I’ve downloaded from AllTrails and sent to the watch. On a long, six-hour hike over four Munros, I was able to follow the map the entire way. I did find that the Pro quite frequently chirped at me to say I was a few feet off course when I wasn’t, but I really mean just a few feet, and it’s only in comparison to something really high-end like the Garmin Fenix 8 that I’d even bother mentioning this.

The Pace 3 only has line and pointer breadcrumb navigation, so while it’s not impossible to send a GPX file to it, it wouldn’t be as useful for navigating in the backcountry, and you’d want a backup device or a good old-fashioned map. That said, I’ve worn it on one wrist while testing the Garmin Fenix 8, Amazfit Active 2 and Suunto Race S, and it always records my adventures perfectly.

Health trackers and sports modes

• The main benefit of the Coros Pace Pro over the Pace 3 is the addition of an Electrocardiogram Sensor

Both watches will track your heart rate of course, using an Optical Heart Rate Monitor. Coros says this has been improved for the Pace Pro but in my tests, I’ve actually found the Pace 3 to be more accurate (except during swim workouts, where it’s consistently off). However, after some trial and error I believe this may be down to the awkward strap on the Pace Pro which means the watch might not fit correctly on some wrists, mine included.

In addition to common metrics like active calories and sleep tracking, both watches also give you insights into stress levels, recovery estimates, and overnight HRV as well as your weekly Training Load and Training Status (which is either decreasing, performance-ready, maintaining, optimized or excessive). As you can see, the health trackers are entirely focused on training and not the overall wellness trackers you might find on a smartwatch like the Amazfit Active 2.

Both watches have an Optical Pulse Oximeter to measure the saturation of oxygen in your blood, which could be useful when you're at altitude, training hard or have certain health conditions. The Pace Pro is also equipped with an Electrocardiogram Sensor, which it says helps provide a more accurate HRV reading. Personally, I’m not sure this is a metric I need, but if you’re really focused on improving your performance or setting a PB, it could prove useful.

Like any watch today, both Coros models have more sports modes than you could ever need. These two watches feature the same sports modes, with various disciplines in running, cardio, biking, winter sports and water sports including open water and pool swimming and rowing. Both have triathlon and multi sport features, but neither has a climbing mode, which you can find on the Coros Apex 2 Pro. Neither has a yoga function, but I got around that by creating my own as a Custom Sport.

Display

• The Pace Pro is the first watch from Coros to feature an AMOLED display

The biggest difference between these two watches is that the Pace Pro is the first watch from Coros to feature an AMOLED screen. That means it's bright, sharp, and easy to see in all conditions, including bright sunlight, which becomes very important when you’re using the watch to navigate.

In comparison, the Pace 3 has an LCD screen which looks a little dark, and can be difficult to see in sunny conditions. With more and more cheaper smartwatches using AMOLED displays, including the Amazfit Bip 6, it does look a little dated, but it does the job.

Smartwatch features

• Both watches have limited smartwatch functionality

If you’re looking for a smartwatch that lets you answer phone calls and chirps at you to stand up when you’ve been sitting too long, the honest truth is that you should probably look elsewhere. The Coros Pace watches are true training watches, and while they have tons of great features like pacing and running form tests, they’re both seriously lacking in smartwatch functionality – and to be clear, I’m not saying that’s a bad thing.

What these watches will do is give you a preview of a text or other message, and alert you to an incoming call, but you won’t be able to read a long text in its entirety, reply or answer a call. You can play offline music if you pair either watch with a supported Bluetooth headset, which is a bit of a hassle, but a good option if you want to run with tunes and without your phone.

Other than that, you can expect basic functions like an alarm clock, timer and stopwatch plus find my phone and a weather report, but don’t expect either watch to be a replacement for your phone.

Battery life

• Both watches boast phenomenal battery life

I’ve been wearing Coros watches for the past year and a half and the battery life is envy of my Apple Watch and Garmin-wearing friends. On paper, the Pace Pro advertises 20 days in Daily Use and 38 hours in GPS mode. In practice, I used it in GPS mode every day for three weeks and only charged it twice, with the first charge lasting me 12 days.

The Pace 3 claims 15 days in Daily Use and up to 38 hours in GPS and even though I use it for every activity, I probably only charge it twice a month at most.

So, the price to pay for limited smartwatch functionality is that you can expect really impressive battery life from both watches, which is nearly on par with solar watches.

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Want to pay even more for Garmin's latest and greatest app features? We didn't think so, but you might soon be left without a choice as the smartwatch specialist confirmed it's considering additional paywalls, following the introduction of its AI Connect+ paid subscription service.

In a recent earnings call, CEO Cliff Pemble let slip that the company may reserve certain existing features "for premium offerings".

Pemble didn't specify which features were being targeted, but his latest comment is the clearest indication yet that Garmin intends to continue down the paywall path.

Garmin's Connect+ service launched in March to a mixed reception. For a monthly fee of $6.99 (£6.99) or an annual subscription of $69 (£69.99), subscribers can access Garmin's Active Intelligence AI, which sends personalised health insights and suggestions to their Garmin watch based on that day's fitness data.

While some welcomed the latest innovation, others were quick to point out the issues with an additional charge.

"We need to take a firm stand to stop this totally detrimental trend of subscriptions everywhere," said one user in a post with more than 11,000 upvotes on the Garmin Reddit page.

"We are already paying hundreds for watches that only last a few years because batteries are not replaceable."

The latest and greatest Garmin watches already leave a substantial hole in users' pockets. The new Fenix 8 model, for example, costs up to $1,099.99 (£949.99) on the Garmin website.

Despite the backlash, Pemble was mostly positive when asked about the Connect+ launch.

"I think we've been saying for a while that we are evaluating opportunities to have a premium offering on Garmin Connect," he said.

"The developments of AI and particularly around AI-based insights for our users was one of those things that we felt was important to recognize the value for the investment that it takes to do."

Alongside AI coaching, the Connect+ service entitles users to additional exercise videos and social perks on the Garmin Connect app.

The latest indication of extra fees comes as Garmin looks to bounce back from the impact of the Trump administration's tariffs policy, which Pemble expects will hit the brand to the tune of $100 million.

Garmin watches are primarily assembled in Taiwan, which currently faces a 10% tariff on imported goods, meaning that Garmin has to pay more in manufacturing costs.

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Your next Garmin sports watch could cost a lot more after the best-selling brand took a beating from President Trump's tariff policy.

In a recent call with shareholders, CEO Clifton Pemble revealed that Trump's controversial economic strategy will cost Garmin an estimated $100 million in 2025, a sum it aims to recoup with 'mitigations'.

He didn't specify exactly what mitigations these would be, but it's possible they could include a price hike for Garmin's upcoming smartwatches.

"We are not ruling anything out, and we intend to be strategic and selective with these actions," said Pemble.

Any intention to raise prices is likely to become clear in the coming weeks with the impending release of the Forerunner 970.

Last week, we reported the leak of what appears to be Garmin's latest sports watch when eagle-eyed fanatics at Garmin Rumours spotted the Forerunner 970 listed in an Extended Warranty Campaign Application page on Garmin’s Taiwanese website.

This latest high-tech wearable is expected to debut Garmin's latest fitness tech, along with all the bells and whistles of current models.

The previous Forerunner model, the 965, cost $600 (£600) on release, 10% more than the Forerunner 955, which came before it.

What are tariffs?

Tariffs are taxes placed on imported goods, which increase their price and aim to make domestically-sourced products more appealing.

On April 2, President Trump announced a 10% tariff on all US goods, along with additional, and in some cases, substantially higher, tariffs on products from 57 countries. One week later, after a drastic stock market reaction, he announced a 90-day pause on most additional tariffs, but kept the 10% blanket rate.

Garmin watches are primarily assembled in Taiwan, which initially faced a 32% tariff that's now at 10%.

The current $100 million cost estimate depends on Taiwan's tariffs staying as they are. Garmin will face even greater financial difficulty should they return to 32%.

“It's important to note that approximately 25% of our revenue is generated in the U.S. market from products manufactured outside of the US, primarily in Taiwan,” explained Pemble.

“Our assumptions include a 10% baseline tariff on all products manufactured outside of the U.S. including those manufactured in Taiwan.”

The effects of tariffs on the outdoors industry

Garmin isn't the outdoor brand affected by Trump's tariffs. Big names like Black Diamond and Columbia outsource manufacturing to Asian countries, including China, which is still suffering from a 145% tariff.

Facing massive charges, brands are often left with little choice but to raise their prices.

"These tariffs will raise costs for American manufacturers, retailers and families,” explains Kent Ebersole, president of America's Outdoor Industry Association (OIA).

“That’s going to slow growth, put pressure on small and mid-sized outdoor companies and could force some to close their doors. These tariffs also make it more difficult for global outdoor brands to operate in the US and maintain their American workforce."

Logistics expert Will Kogan told Advnture recently: "For US consumers, the effects of these price hikes are becoming increasingly apparent.

"For high-end brands like Yeti, this could impact demand, as consumers might start to opt for more affordable alternatives, especially in a time of economic uncertainty."

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It's no longer news that the Garmin Forerunner is the most popular GPS watch on the planet – the only question that remains is which one will you choose? Today, you can pick up two of our favorite Forerunner models at their lowest price ever on Amazon.

The biggest discount is on the Garmin Forerunner 265, which is down to just $349.99 at Amazon. That's a healthy savings of 22% off the list price for this entry-level triathlon watch, and we haven't seen it this cheap in nearly six months.

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is an excellent mid-range sports watch that's very similar to the 255, but with a couple of big upgrades. The most obvious is the bright and crisp AMOLED display, but it's also touch-sensitive. It lacks full maps, but does have excellent GPS. This deals applies to the 46mm watch face, as well as the 42mm solar model.

If it's full color mapping you want from your sports watch, the more advanced Garmin Forerunner 965 is down to just $499.99 on Amazon. That's 17% off this top-tier sports watch and the cheapest it's been since December.

The 965 is a premium GPS watch, with a stunning AMOLED display, advanced metrics and a long battery life.

Not in the US? Scroll down to the bottom of this article for today's best deals on the Garmin Forerunner 265 and 965.

These two Forerunners are extremely similar to their predecessors, with the same training tools and everyday fitness tracking chops, but boast bright screens you can view in all conditions.

Both offer the extremely handy morning report, which helps prepare you for the day ahead, a race widget that helps you get ready for upcoming events, daily suggested workouts, and a training readiness score that lets you know what to expect from your body before you hit the pavement or trails.

If you're not in the US, here are today's best deals on the Garmin Forerunner 265 and 965 where you are:

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Want to stay off-grid? The latest Garmin watch has stealth modes fit for James Bond and an option to wipe your data at a moment's notice.

After months of anticipation, the Garmin Instinct 3 - Tactical Edition is finally here, along with multiple tactical enhancements.

Among them is a discreet Stealth mode, which disables all wireless communication and makes you invisible to GPS tracking. Your health and distance-traveled data will still be recorded, but any location information will not. The Kill Switch mode is also handy for security purposes, wiping all your user data at a moment's notice.

While new to the Instinct 3 line, these modes are available on previous Tactical editions, including those in the discontinued Tactix range.

If you're out after dark, the Night Vision Goggles mode dims the display to a level that the primary user can see (even while wearing night vision devices), but is barely visible to anyone else. There's also a green-light flashlight option to help you see with discretion once the sun sets.

For an additional fee, hunting users can unlock the Applied Ballistics solver, which provides elevation and wind information to calculate bullet trajectory and manage a firearm's profile.

It's not just hunters and military personnel who'll get something out of this new survival watch.

The Instinct 3 - Tactical Edition also has multiple modes and functions built for heavy-duty use and multi-day treks .

The new Rucking activity mode allows you to input pack weight so your watch can better understand your physical exertion while carrying a heavy load.

The Jumpman navigation mode is also new and well-suited to long-distance hiking and backpacking. It simultaneously displays two sets of coordinates on a single screen to help you track progress and get where you want to go without confusion.

Design-wise, the new model adds a tough metal-reinforced bezel and fiber-reinforced case to protect its bright AMOLED or solar-charging MIP display. Its rough and ready outer is tested to military standards for thermal and shock resistance, and water-rated down to 328ft (100m).

The solar-powered Instinct 3 - Tactical Edition is available in 45mm and 50mm sizes, along with a 50mm AMOLED display version.

Garmin claims that its latest solar tech is far more efficient than previous models, harnessing the power of the sun to receive five times the battery life in GPS mode while solar charging.

"The Instinct series has proven itself time and again as the ultimate choice for individuals who need an advanced smartwatch they can depend on in any situation," says Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing Susan Lyman.

"With incredible battery life, an innovative rugged design and dedicated features for your tactical lifestyle, the Instinct 3 – Tactical Edition answers the call and dares to be more.”

The solar-powered Instinct 3 - Tactical Edition watches start at $499.99 (£429.99), while the 50mm AMOLED version retails for $599.99 (£499.99) on the Garmin website.

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Whoops! Garmin may have just accidentally confirmed the latest sports watch in their beloved Forerunner range - and it's not the model you might be expecting.

On Tuesday, the eagle-eyed Garmin fanatics at Garmin Rumours spotted the Forerunner 970 listed in an Extended Warranty Campaign Application page on Garmin’s Taiwanese website.

The page, which was swiftly deleted, was designed to help Taiwanese Garmin lovers apply for an extended warranty with the supposedly incoming watch.

The leak doesn't officially confirm anything, but as noted by our sister site TechRadar: "the Forerunner 970 shows up as a brand, so there's no chance this is some kind of machine learning-induced translation of, say, the Forerunner 965."

This latest leak might come as something of a surprise to Garmin lovers, after months of rumours about a new Forerunner 975 watch.

In March, we reported on a newly registered device that had the potential to be the Forerunner 975, but ultimately wasn't.

If it's on the way, as this leak suggests, the Forerunner 970 would break from tradition to become the first '70' Forerunner watch. This clouds any prediction about new features, although it would likely include a similarly extensive range of health trackers and sports modes as the Forerunner 955.

It could also be the first Forerunner watch to feature Garmin's ECG heart monitoring app, after the American brand introduced its Elevate Gen5 optical HR sensor tech to Enduro, Fenix, and Venu watches in the UK and Switzerland earlier this month.

The ECG app uses sensors in your Garmin watch to track and record your heart's electrical activity, including its rate and rhythm. This creates an electrocardiogram (ECG) which can recognise dangerous heart problems like atrial fibrillation.

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Garmin lovers in the United Kingdom and Switzerland will be able to track their heart's electrical activity as Garmin’s ECG heart monitoring app is rolled out to certain models.

The ECG function has been a common feature of the best Garmin watches in the United States, the EU, and elsewhere for several years. In the coming weeks, it will become available to UK and Swiss Enduro 3, Fenix 8, and Venu 3 users.

These are the only compatible watches as they all feature Garmin's high-tech Elevate Gen5 optical HR sensor.

What is an ECG?

The ECG app uses sensors in your Garmin watch to track and record your heart's electrical activity, including its rate and rhythm. This creates an electrocardiogram (ECG).

ECGs are a vital tool for detecting and monitoring heart problems like atrial fibrillation; an irregular heart rhythm that can increase your chances of a stroke and other heart problems.

How to access the ECG app

Providing you've got the right watch, the ECG app can be set up simply and easily with the assistance of Garmin Connect.

• Open the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone
• Select your device image at the top of the screen
• Select Finish Setup
• Select Set Up ECG App
• Follow any further on-screen instructions

How to record an ECG

Once you've downloaded the ECG app, you can record an ECG by following these quick and easy steps.

• Wear your Garmin watch just above your wristbone
• Open the ECG app on your watch and follow the on-screen instructions
• Rest your wrist on a flat surface and keep it still
• Start a recording by putting your thumb and index finger on the metal ring around the watch face
• Remain still for 30 seconds while the reading is taken

Once you've taken a recording, you'll be able to view it in the Garmin Connect companion app.

The Venu 3, Fenix 8, and Enduro 3 watches are three top-of-the-range Garmin sports watches. Alongside ECG capabilities, they each feature multiple sports modes and other health trackers like stress tracking, pulse oxygen tracking, and sleep coaching.

These stats are all visible in the Connect app, which displays your health data in handy graphs and charts.

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First impressions

The sports watch market is saturated with multiple high-end options promising to be the perfect companion for your run, hike or other outdoor activity. Models like Garmin's Fenix 8 deliver super-accurate GPS and scores of insightful health information for prices approaching $1,000 (~£750).

These watches are the best of the best but can leave a serious hole in your wallet. That's where the Mibro GS Explorer comes in. Retailing for only $155 / £123), and often dropping below that in the sales, this affordable model boasts many of the same features as a high-end running watch for a fraction of the price.

It's made from fiber-reinforced polymer with a stretchy silicone strap. The bright, 1.32-inch (3.35cm) AMOLED display is protected by a Corner Gorilla lens, a sturdy, scratch-proof glass that – Mibro say – has passed multiple military tests for durability. The watch itself is big, and while it was fine for me, may feel a little clunky to wearers with smaller wrists.

This rugged watch is designed to suit athletes of all passions, with over 150 different sports modes that track and keep a record of your workouts. These modes offer specialized information following each fitness activity. For example, after a trail run, you can access run-specific stats like your cadence, stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation.

You can also view a wide array of health information, thanks to the Explorer's multiple fitness trackers. These include oxygen, heart rate, and scientific sleep monitors.

All of your health and sport-specific information is mapped onto various charts and graphs in the Mibro app. Here, you can also see detailed GPS round-ups of your activity.

I've worn the Mibro GS Explorer for the past couple of months, putting the GPS watch through its paces and trying out the various sports modes, to see just how good this budget watch really is.

On the trails

Health monitors

The Mibro Explorer GS watch features a decent array of health and fitness trackers, comparable to other watches at its price tag like Garmin's Forerunner 55.

The main trackers measure your heart rate, sleep, stress, blood oxygen saturation, and metabolic energy saturation. Each tracker provides a good level of detail, which is clearly displayed and easily accessible in the Mibro app.

For example, the sleep tracker calculates the amount of time you spend each night in deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep, and wide awake.

None of this information is in any way groundbreaking, but I found it interesting and was able to put it to good use to improve my sleep and stress levels.

Sports modes and navigation

This watch shines in its 150+ sports modes. During activities, the touchscreen display provides useful, up-to-date information on your levels of activity and progress made.

For example, in the trail running mode, you can swipe through real-time stats detailing your pace, cadence, stride length, and ground contact time, among many others, so you can adjust your efforts mid-run.

The information provided differs per sport, although many share metrics.

After each activity, you can look over a detailed round-up of your performance, which includes multiple charts and graphs that summarise your health data. There's also a handy recovery time calculator, which tells you exactly when you'll be back to full fitness.

Navigation information is also provided in this round-up. After an activity, you can view a detailed map of your movements which illustrates where you were fastest, where you gained the most altitude, and where your heart rate was highest.

This fun little feature is great if you're keen to beat your PB on a particular route, allowing you to identify and target your slowest areas.

Aside from this, the GPS is a little lackluster. Tracking lines, which are designed to keep you on course, repeatedly went off-route and could not be relied upon for longer distances.

Display and construction

The vivid AMOLED display is very impressive and remains crystal clear in the brightest sunshine. It's also customizable, meaning you can change how your watch face looks at any time and even use your own photos as a background.

The military-tested construction is equally impressive. I put the GS Explorer to good use on the trails and didn't notice a single scratch on the rugged Corner Gorilla glass. The rest of the watch, including its silicone strap, was also durable and didn't fray or degrade at any point during my weeks of wear.

Battery life

The Mibro GS Explorer boasts a decent battery life, especially for its price range. This rugged watch claims a battery life of 60 days in standby mode, 20 in daily mode, and 15 hours in GPS mode.

I predominantly used the Explorer in GPS mode and had no battery-related issues. Charging was fast, effective, and pain-free.

Other features

Alongside its standard sport-watch capabilities, the GS Explorer uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone and headphones, alerting you with notifications and controlling music.

While you can't reply to messages, notifications are a handy feature, especially if you don't have your phone on you at all times.

When it worked, the Bluetooth feature was also useful. However, on several occasions, it became stuck on one song or displayed the wrong title, which made song selection a little tricky.

Price

Despite a few flaws, the Mibro GS Explorer watch is good value for money. Its insightful fitness trackers and multiple sports modes are well worth the price tag of $155 (£121).

Some faulty features and unreliable GPS tracking stop this watch from really punching above its price, but it's a great option for athletes keen to learn about their capabilities without splashing the cash.

Also consider

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