10 Best Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Watches 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Instinct Solar is a rugged outdoor smartwatch designed for people who want reliable health and activity tracking in tough environments. Its standout feature is solar charging, which greatly extends battery life, making it ideal for spending long periods outdoors without easy access to charging. The watch includes accurate heart rate monitoring and Pulse Ox sensors to keep tabs on your health, alongside stress and sleep tracking that help you understand your overall wellbeing.

GPS tracking is strong here, using multiple satellite systems to provide better location accuracy even in challenging environments like dense forests or mountains. This model is water-resistant up to 100 meters and built to U.S. military standards for toughness, so it handles shock, heat, and water well—great if you’re into swimming, hiking, or rugged sports. While its display is relatively small and basic (128 x 128 resolution), it is clear and easy to read under sunlight, fitting the outdoor use case.

Smart features are functional but not as extensive or flashy as some other smartwatches, focusing more on outdoor and fitness needs than lifestyle apps. The watch is controlled with buttons rather than a touchscreen, which works well when wearing gloves or in wet conditions, though some users might find it less intuitive. For those seeking a tough, long-lasting smartwatch to track activities like running, biking, swimming, and more, with solid heart rate monitoring and GPS, the Instinct Solar is a dependable choice. If you want a larger, more vibrant screen or a broader range of smart features, you might want to consider other options.

The Garmin vívoactive 5 is a versatile health and fitness smartwatch featuring a vivid AMOLED display and impressive battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode. It excels in heart rate monitoring, making it ideal for users who want to keep track of their cardiovascular health. The watch also offers extensive GPS tracking, beneficial for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy activities like running, cycling, and hiking.

It's well-suited for fitness enthusiasts with more than 30 built-in sports apps, and special modes for wheelchair users, ensuring inclusivity. The vívoactive 5 provides comprehensive health monitoring, including sleep tracking, stress levels, and Body Battery energy monitoring, which offers personalized insights to help users manage their wellbeing effectively. Additionally, it supports smart features like music downloading, notifications, and Bluetooth connectivity, enhancing convenience.

The design is sleek and comfortable, with a lightweight build and a round, 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen that is both responsive and easy to read. However, some users might find the screen size a bit small compared to other smartwatches on the market. The water resistance makes it suitable for swimming, but those looking for more advanced swimming metrics might find it lacking. The smartwatch is compatible with both Android and iOS, ensuring broad accessibility. While it has a decent storage capacity of 4 GB, heavy music and app users might find this limiting. The Garmin vívoactive 5 is a solid choice for those looking to improve their fitness and health tracking with a stylish and functional smartwatch.

The Garmin Venu 3S is a versatile smartwatch featuring a bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display. This device excels in heart rate monitoring, providing wrist-based heart rate tracking along with stress tracking and Body Battery energy monitoring. This makes it highly suitable for users interested in comprehensive health insights. With built-in GPS and over 30 sports apps, including walking, running, swimming, and golf, it is perfect for fitness enthusiasts. The watch offers up to 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, reducing the need for frequent recharges.

Water-resistant and equipped with a 41mm case, it's designed to withstand various activities, including swimming. The convenience of making and taking phone calls from the wrist, voice assistant integration, and the ability to respond to texts directly from the watch are significant smart features that enhance everyday usability. The sleek design with a soft gold stainless steel bezel and silicone band ensures comfort and style, appealing to casual users.

However, the battery capacity of 4 milliamp hours might appear low, potentially affecting battery longevity under heavy usage. Additionally, while the 1.2-inch screen is clear and vibrant, it may be small for users who prefer larger displays. The Garmin Venu 3S is a well-rounded smartwatch catering to a wide range of users, particularly those focused on health and fitness, without compromising on style and smart features.