Best Garmin smartwatches and bracelets in 2020

As you know, the main activity of Garmin is electronic devices for GPS navigation, but the trends of the global economy force well-known companies to diversify their business and look for new economic niches for development. Today, this popular company has taken up an innovative business of developing and manufacturing a wide range of different fitness gadgets for people with active lifestyles.

What are fitness gadgets

The company's products are distinguished by their reliability, durability, well-defined technical solutions, style and ease of use. Many models of Garmin multisport watches are versatile, have many useful functions for solving various tasks when practicing different sports.

Fitness bracelets and sports watches from Garmin have a wide range of useful features:

1. Determine the state of the cardiovascular system;
2. Analyze according to various criteria of training in the gym and outdoors;
3. The resource of work without additional charging is over 24 hours.

They allow you to determine the number of kilometers traveled or run over a certain period of time, monitor the pulse and give an alarm when a preset level is exceeded, and analyze night rest.

The gadget manufacturer invites users to download various, useful programs for their devices in a special store Garmin Connect IQ.

It is quite difficult to navigate the wide range of watches from Garmin. The company produces a large number of models with unique looks and social fictions, designed for the convenience of users involved in various sports. The review of devices from this well-known company presented below in the text will help the reader to choose an accessory that fully satisfies him.

Essential Criteria for Choosing the Right Garmin Electronic Devices

The main module of every fitness device is an electronic sensor that allows you to determine the degree of human mobility, called an accelerometer. In different models, information about the athlete's activity is transmitted to various devices - to a special smartphone program that analyzes the data and builds load curves or to a processor built into the gadget that translates movement indicators into steps or meters.

A heart rate sensor, GPS navigation, barometer, compass, monitor for displaying information on the screen can be built into the design of a fitness watch.Each device has a miniature battery and a lightweight, elastic strap for everyday wear.

In order to choose a sports watch that can best meet the needs of a particular person, he needs to decide on a set of required functions. If an athlete is running, then the device must have a GPS sensor, if a person will only play sports in the gym, then he will be satisfied with a cheaper model without the function of tracking the location in space. A versatile athlete will already need a multisport device with the ability to track the parameters of the human body under various sports loads: cardio, strength or dynamic.

Popular features of these devices

All fitness bracelets are able to determine the number of steps passed and convert them into meters or kilometers, the bulk of the devices can measure the heart rate and determine the sleep phase. This “smart alarm clock” will wake a person up during active sleep, when it is easy for him to wake up.

Using GPS

A watch with a GLONASS navigation system and GPS will be needed by people exercising in nature, they will record the athlete's routes. Using this data, a person can easily analyze their workouts in the Garmin Connect web application or its mobile version. The athlete will see progress or deterioration in his performance and will be able to view the detailed parameters of any sport activity. This device will help you when navigating on a hike.

Monitor

Early models of electronic sports bracelets were produced without monitors, only the most expensive devices were equipped with displays. Nowadays, even the cheapest devices are made with screens that display the time, date, calories burned, steps taken and heart rate. If there are wireless communication devices, it is possible to synchronize the gadget with a smartphone and receive information on the display about notifications and calls. In expensive models, it is possible to adjust the parameters of data playback on the monitor, it is possible to change the image of the dial and set different screensavers.

Human heart rate display

A very important function for every person involved in sports is the measurement of the intensity of the workout, it is carried out using a heart rate monitor. There are two modifications of monitors:

1. Wrist monitor with Elevate system;
2. Chest heart rate monitor with transmitter.

The use of a chest heart rate monitor with an information transmitter is not the most convenient, but the most accurate way to monitor the load, although today's developments of wrist optical heart rate monitors are no longer inferior to them in accuracy. In any case, when choosing a sports watch, you need to take into account the option that a device with a wrist monitor will be more expensive.

Support system for sensors located outside the device

Cyclists will be interested in devices that communicate with special devices designed for bicycles that allow them to control the dynamics of movement, roll to the right or left, energy expended on movement. Runners will benefit from advanced gadgets that can interact with Running Dynamics Pod sensors to capture special data:

1. Athlete's stride length;
2. Contact time with the Earth's surface;
3. Balance.

The advanced watch connects wirelessly to sensors using ANT + or Bluetooth systems.

Barometer, compass and altimeter

For hikers and professional climbers, devices with the ABC system are suitable, it includes:

• altimeter
• barometer
• compass.

The sensors function smoothly in the absence of GPS signals and allow you to make forecasts about weather changes and plot new routes.

Battery capacity

Budget sports watches will have to be recharged every 3 days, or even once a day if they operate in an energy-intensive mode. More expensive devices have higher capacity batteries, so they can last a week or even a month without recharging.

Protection against moisture penetration

The characteristic of protection against penetration into the device is determined by the IP index. Devices with IP 65 will not get dust and raindrops, in a gadget with IP 67 you can dive to a depth of no more than 1 m for 30 minutes, and with IP 68 you can dive to a depth without fear of its performance.

Additional functions

Each model has its own uniqueness due to the presence of additional features, for example, vibration and sound notification about the need to get up and move, after a long immobility, or there is the possibility of scheduling classes.

The price of a watch with multifunctional electronics from Garmin

The investment in these devices will not disappoint users because they are of very high quality, have great durability and high performance. With a limited budget, you can refuse fancy, additional functions:

1. Sapphire crystal;
2. Wrist-based heart rate monitor;
3. Ensuring switching signals from external sensors.

Ordinary people with an active lifestyle may not need such additional opportunities.

date of manufacture

All modern devices update their software via the Internet, Garmin sports watches also use programs developed by employees and companies. For example, the Garmin Connect software shell is constantly being improved and updated by the company's programmers. In this regard, you should not purchase a supported watch that has been in operation for a long time, it is likely that after a short period of time, their software will no longer be supported.

Garmin multisport watch rating

Garmin Forerunner 235

Representatives of the company are positioning the Garmin Forerunner 235 model as suitable for active people involved in jogging and cycling. This watch is perfect for daily wear.

The sports watch case is made of sturdy plastic with a color display mounted in it. The watch is equipped with a lightweight and durable strap made of high quality silicone rubber. In active mode, with support for communication with GPS satellites, they work without additional charging for more than 11 hours.

The developed functionality of the device, small size and weight attract the attention of runners and cyclists to this model of sports watches. Communication system with external Garmin Foot Pod sensors provides accurate and varied information about the athlete's running. The heart rate monitor built into the body of the gadget provides the user with information about the intensity of the loads, and the GPS and GLONASS navigation systems provide movement behind a pre-planned route, with the ability to return to the starting point of movement.

Suitable for people involved in jogging and cycling, a gadget with advanced functionality, tuned to these sports at a fairly reasonable cost.

• the presence of a wrist heart monitor;
• providing with GPS and GLONASS systems;
• the presence of a color display;
• optimal ratio of cost to quality of the device.

• lack of a swimming regime;
• barometer not installed.

Price: 26 385 rubles.

Fenix ​​5

The most popular multisport watch from Garmin, which has won the hearts of many users, is called the Fenix ​​5. If you compare this device with the Forerunner 235, the athlete will see that the body of this device is made of a stronger material, the electronic filling has more functionality optimized for exercise swimming, mountaineering, cycling, outdoor training and playing sports. But, unfortunately, this miracle device has a price higher than the model discussed above.

The Fenix ​​5 is additionally designed with:

• barometric altimeter;
• barometer (for forecasting weather changes);
• compass;
• thermometer.

The gadget has three modifications with different sizes; the display is protected by a sapphire crystal, which is very difficult to scratch. The Fenix ​​5X has the ability to support topographic maps for easy navigation on the ground.This sports watch will be indispensable for people who lead a varied active lifestyle and are engaged in two or more sports.

• the watch is intended for people involved in 2 or more sports;
• the display is protected by a sapphire crystal;
• built-in heart rate monitor;
• supports GLONASS and GPS navigation systems;
• reliable and durable watches;
• a barometer is built into the structure.

• high cost of the device;
• some models are quite heavy.

Cost from 31,000 rubles.

Garmin fenix chronos

The premium flagship model has a luxurious design and three finishes:

1. The case is made of durable steel, the strap is made of genuine leather for fastening on the hand;
2. The body of the device and the strap are made of steel;
3. The body of the device and the bracelet for fastening are made of titanium.

The electronics support all multisport and navigation modes. This sports watch has few competitors in terms of features and value.

• sports watches have a rare, stunning design;
• support all multisport modes;
• beautiful display protected by sapphire crystal;
• built-in analyzer of heart activity;
• support for GLONASS and GPS navigation systems;
• built-in height sensor, compass;
• reliable durable device.

• high price.

Cost: about 106,437 rubles.

How to choose a Garmin fitness bracelet

When asking a question when buying a fitness bracelet, which model to choose after all, you first need to decide for yourself what is required of the gadget. Someone only counts the steps, but someone wants to put on an almost smart gadget with clock functions. There are suitable options for everyone.

The heart of any fitness bracelet is the accelerometer. This is a special device that can react to movement. The bracelet has a built-in processor that processes the readings and immediately interprets it in steps and mileage, which is displayed on the screen of the gadget. Some models transmit all the information collected by the sensor to an application on a smartphone, which is able to immediately process the information received and build a beautiful graph of the athlete's activity.

When buying a fitness bracelet, it is recommended to pay attention to the corresponding characteristics:

• functionality;
• screen;
• autonomy;
• moisture protection;
• additional features;
• design;
• price.

The following are the best fitness bracelets among those that are currently available in store windows.

Garmin Vivofit 3

The budget model from a well-known company has protection against impacts, against moisture penetration, allowing them to float gently, but not submerge under water. The model is provided with an elastic removable strap, it can determine the number of steps taken, recognize the phases of a person's sleep. The design includes a small display and a timer.

A serious advantage of this device is the presence of a removable battery that allows you to operate the device for a year without recharging.

The device sits very comfortably on the wrist and effectively determines the type of physical activity.

• the presence of synchronization with a smartphone, allowing you to use a proprietary program for analyzing physical activity;
• a year of operation without recharging;
• low cost.

• the design does not provide a heart rate monitor;
• there are difficulties with automatic detection of physical activity.

Price: from 4 490 rubles.

GSMIN WR11

The fitness bracelet has a standard design. All information is displayed on a monochrome OLED screen equipped with backlighting and having a resolution of 124x64, the diagonal is 0.96 inches.

The display is mounted in a silicone strap, which can be adjusted to fit the hand if necessary, as well as changed to others, for example, different in color.

The device is synchronized with the smartphone via Bluetooth version 4.0. There is no internet. On the display, you can get information about the arrival of an incoming call, an SMS message or in social networks, an event from a calendar or a received letter by e-mail.

The gadget will inform about this or that notification by means of vibration.

Among the functional sensors: calorie counter, sleep and physical activity indicators, heart rate monitor (built-in with the ability to continuously monitor the heart rate), accelerometer.

• The presence of moisture protection IP67;
• Decent indicators of autonomy: on a charged Li-Polymer battery, the bracelet can work up to 168 hours, and in standby mode - up to 360 hours;
• Functionality for measuring blood pressure, ECG;
• Anti-lost service.

• The pressure measurement results cannot be viewed on the watch display, only in the application on the smartphone;
• Some users note the inconvenience of the charging process as a removable cradle.

The cost of GSMIN WR11 is about 6,000 rubles.

Garmin Vivofit 4

The Vivofit 4 is considered the finest design and manufacture by Garmin. A distinctive feature of this gadget is its battery life; it can fully function without recharging for a year. The fitness bracelet performs functions such as monitoring and analyzing calories spent by the human body, physical activity, and tracks sleep phases. When synchronized with a smartphone, you can view all training modes in the proprietary Garmin software.

The device is provided with a color display, quickly and accurately carries out all calculations.

• built-in color display;
• sleep phase tracking mode;
• accuracy and speed of parameter registration;
• excellent value for money.

• inability to receive notifications from the phone.

Average cost: 6500 rubles.

Vivosmart 3

Garmin's Vivosmart 3 is a device designed to monitor activity and exercise levels during fitness and strength training. The Vivosmart 3 activity tracker has all the necessary functions for analyzing the loads received in the gym, including a heart rate monitor. The device has a built-in barometric altimeter, light sensor, accelerometer, alarm clock. For connection with a smartphone, Bluetooth is provided. The data from the device is wirelessly transferred to a smartphone, on which the trainee's activity is analyzed using the Garmin Connect software, and synchronization with the phone allows you to receive notifications from it and control the smartphone's music player. Also, this mobile application will provide an opportunity to view the training archive, set up various alerts.

The Vivosmart 3 from Garmin is the perfect choice for active people who want a powerful, lightweight and convenient tracker for everyday use.

• work without recharging for about 5 days;
• low cost;
• built-in wrist heart monitor;
• the presence of a barometer and accelerometer;
• control of the degree of stress.

• the device is most effective only when playing sports in gyms;
• the device has a non-removable strap.

Price: from 9 969 rubles.

Garmin Vivosmart HR +

This device from Garmin differs from the previous model by the presence of a GPS navigation module and, accordingly, a higher price. The manufacturer also expanded the functionality of the device:

• the number of training modes has been increased in the device;
• added running / walking mode;
• the device now has the ability to enable notifications about the intensity of the workout;
• the sleep phase control function appeared.

• five days of work without recharging, with the GPS module turned off;
• there is a sleep monitoring function.

• long waiting time for synchronization with a smartphone;
• the device is large enough.

Average cost: 14,500 rubles.

Garmin Vivosport

More expensive, but stylish and with a wide range of functions, the bracelet is a representative of the "golden mean" of gadgets from Garmin. The built-in GPS sensor will allow you to make long runs and long bike rides in unfamiliar terrain. Reliably protected from water and dust, this device will work without recharging for a whole week. The presence of a smart watch in the gadget will allow you to control the phases of a person's sleep and wake him up at the most favorable time.
The strap of the device connects to the gadget without joints and is fixed on the hand with a reliable classic buckle. The display of the device is made on the basis of a TFT-matrix with a resolution of 77x144 pixels. The display sensor allows you to operate the device even with wet fingers; water does not interfere with the screen's sensitivity.

The weight of the fitness bracelet is only 27 g, it is hardly felt on the hand. Taking readings from the heart rate monitor, the gadget calculates the value of the degree of stress. The device records the heart rate in continuous mode and fixes its value. In GPS navigation mode, the device will work without recharging for about 7 hours, and it will be fully charged for about 1.5 hours.

• the product accurately records all movements and quickly recounts them;
• light weight;
• the presence of a heart rate monitor;
• tracking sleep phases.

• the device does not have a swimming mode function;
• quite high price.

Price: from 18 358 rubles.

The new generation of sports watches and fitness bracelets are smart and reliable companions for people who lead an active lifestyle and keep an eye on their figure. The use of Garmin multisport gadgets, which have universal capabilities for solving various sports tasks and a large selection of various functions, will allow you to organize your training process and make life easier for an athlete.