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 Forerunner 265S is a feature-rich running smartwatch designed with a vibrant AMOLED display and a lightweight 42 mm form for smaller wrists. It excels in battery life, offering up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and up to 24 hours with GPS active, making it an excellent option for long training sessions or extended use without frequent charging. The built-in GPS with Multi-band GNSS and SatIQ technology ensures precise positioning even in challenging environments, which is essential for serious runners and outdoor enthusiasts.

Additionally, the device is water-resistant, allowing it to be used during swimming and other water-based activities without worry. Heart rate monitoring is comprehensive, with wrist-based tracking that provides valuable insights into your training status and recovery. Sleep tracking is also robust, offering a detailed morning report that includes sleep quality, recovery, and readiness scores, helping users optimize their training plans. One of its standout features is the personalized training metrics and recovery insights, which adapt based on your daily activity and performance, providing tailored workout suggestions. Smartphone notifications keep you connected, ensuring you never miss important calls or texts.

The 1.1-inch screen size may be a bit small for viewing detailed metrics at a glance, and the 8GB memory storage capacity might be limiting for those who like to store a lot of music or data directly on the watch. Moreover, while the device offers a wide range of activity profiles, it may be more tailored towards runners and triathletes rather than casual users or those seeking a more general fitness tracker. The Forerunner 265S is a powerful tool for dedicated athletes who need detailed training analytics and reliable performance tracking.

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.