Hey,

Lately I’ve been testing a bunch of fitness tech and noticed something:

The hardest part isn’t using it. it’s choosing it.

So this week, I’m keeping things simple:

Let’s dive in👇

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To say that choosing a Garmin watch is confusing… would be an understatement.

There are so many models.

So instead of drowning you in specs, I want to do something simpler:

For most people who train regularly, it comes down to three families:

✔️ Forerunner
✔️ Fenix
✔️ Enduro
(and maybe the Venu X1 if you really want a big touchscreen)

If you want something reliable that just tracks your workouts well, 👉 start with the 55 or 165. They punch way above their price.

The Enduro is wild:

Perfect if you hate charging but it only comes in one style and skips a few features others have (AMOLED screen, mic/speaker, diving tools).

If you want premium hardware, tons of features, and something you’ll happily wear all day:

👉 Fenix 8 is the one to beat.

Multiple sizes, colours, LTE options, off-grid satellite comms, mapping, durability. It’s basically the Swiss-army knife of Garmin.

It is pricier, though, which is why my recommendation is:

This one really depends on preference not just features.

A lot of Garmin watches are chunky, so if you want something smaller, lighter, and still useful, these are the sweet spots:

These all include:

✔️ cycle tracking
✔️ GPS
✔️ sleep + heart rate
✔️ waterproofing for casual swims

If you mainly want a watch that feels like a watch, choose Lily, Vivomove, or Vivoactive.

If you want sports features that compete with the rest of the lineup 👉 go Venu 4.

You want:

My two picks:

If budget allows, Fenix 8 still feels like the most “future-proof” watch in the range especially if you add solar models.

(Just note: fabric straps are comfier… but they soak up water like a sponge. Ask me how I know.)

This one is easy:

👉 Garmin MARQ

Different editions (Athlete, Adventurer, Captain, Aviator) have gorgeous finishes, premium materials, still very Garmin-y.

But and this is important:

Luxury ≠ extreme performance.

They’re not built for deep diving. No LTE. Not the “survival watch” some assume. If you care more about capability, the Fenix 8 Pro is a better fit.

Designed to survive 200m underwater, track tanks, send sonar messages to other divers, and generally make you feel like a secret agent.

If you dive often nothing else in the lineup competes.

Marketed as “for boat people.”

It’s basically a Fenix 8 in a special colour with boating apps pre-loaded.
You can add the same apps to a Fenix so buy whichever style you like.

If golf is your thing then these are purpose-built and genuinely useful.

Two totally different ideas:

So now I’m curious: which Garmin is your favourite (or the one you’re thinking about)?

Hit reply. I read every one.

📱 Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend who’s as obsessed with tech as you are:

If you’re diving into the Garmin Buyer’s Guide this week, these videos pair really well with it.

They cover the bigger picture, not just which watch to buy, but how to think about ecosystems, upgrades, and the tech that quietly shapes your day.

Inside this roundup:

▶️ Watch the show here

In the next issue, I’m walking through the exact workflow I use to turn ideas into finished videos without getting buried in retakes, file chaos, or endless tweaks.

Here’s what you’ll get:

🗓️ See you Saturday.