10 Best Garmin Activity Trackers 2025 in the United States

The Garmin fēnix® 8 is a high-end multisport GPS smartwatch designed for athletes and adventurers. Its 1.4-inch AMOLED display is bright and scratch-resistant, protected by a sapphire lens and surrounded by a durable titanium bezel. One of its standout features is the impressive battery life, lasting up to 29 days in smartwatch mode and up to 84 hours in GPS mode, which is excellent for long-term tracking and outdoor activities. The built-in LED flashlight is a handy addition for nighttime visibility, and the watch's 40-meter dive rating makes it suitable for scuba and apnea diving.

Heart rate monitoring is reliable and is complemented by advanced sleep tracking, respiration tracking, and Pulse Ox monitoring (though the latter isn't available everywhere). The device also supports ECG for checking heart rhythm, though this feature is region-specific. GPS accuracy is enhanced with multi-band technology and built-in sensors, including a 3-axis compass, gyroscope, and barometric altimeter, offering superior navigation capabilities.

For smart features, it includes smartphone notifications, calling from your wrist, and voice assistant functionalities, which are convenient for staying connected without your phone. On the downside, its high-end materials and extensive features make it relatively heavy at 102 grams, which might be noticeable for some users during prolonged wear. Additionally, the advanced features and premium build come at a higher price point, which might not be necessary for casual users. Despite these factors, it's an excellent choice for serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who need comprehensive tracking and rugged durability.

The Garmin vívoactive 6 is a solid choice for anyone looking for a well-rounded fitness and health smartwatch with strong GPS tracking and heart rate monitoring. Its bright 1.2-inch AMOLED display makes it easy to read your stats throughout the day. You can expect good battery performance with up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, which is helpful if you don’t want to charge it often.

It offers extensive health tracking features including sleep monitoring with personalized coaching, stress tracking, menstrual cycle tracking, and even energy level insights via Body Battery. The watch supports over 80 built-in sports apps, covering common activities like running, cycling, swimming, and yoga, plus animated workouts that are useful if you want some guidance on exercising correctly. Smartphone notifications are supported, so you stay connected without constantly pulling out your phone.

The watch is water-resistant for swimming and daily use. Its optimized design delivers good real-world battery life despite the 50mAh battery capacity. This watch is well suited for active individuals who want detailed health insights and versatile workout options in a lightweight, stylish design.

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a strong choice for runners and fitness enthusiasts looking for a reliable activity tracker with advanced features. Its bright and colorful 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen makes interaction easy and enjoyable, while traditional button controls add convenience during workouts. The watch excels at heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking, boasting multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology for very accurate location data even in tricky environments. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and around 20 hours when using GPS continuously, which is quite good for extended outdoor activities.

Sleep and recovery insights are thoughtfully integrated, giving you a morning report on sleep quality, training readiness, and heart rate variability, helping to tailor your workouts intelligently. There are over 30 built-in activity profiles including running, cycling, and swimming, making it versatile for different sports. Safety features like incident detection add peace of mind but require your phone to be nearby with network coverage.

You also get smart notifications for calls and texts from your paired smartphone, plus Garmin Pay for contactless payments, which is handy for on-the-go use. This watch suits active individuals who want detailed training feedback, strong GPS performance, and long battery life, combined with convenient smart features. It might be less ideal if you need deep water resistance or perfectly precise health measurements.