10 Best Garmin Walking Watch 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Venu 3S smartwatch is tailored for those who are enthusiastic about tracking their health and fitness activities, particularly walking. One of its main strengths is the impressive battery life, lasting up to 10 days in smartwatch mode, making it a reliable companion for long-term usage without frequent charging. The 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen provides vibrant display quality, ensuring data is clear and easy to read. With built-in GPS, it offers accurate tracking for outdoor activities, essential for walkers and runners who focus on distance and pace.

Heart rate monitoring is a standout feature, allowing for real-time health insights and stress tracking. The inclusion of advanced health metrics, such as Body Battery energy monitoring and personalized sleep coaching, provides a holistic view of one's wellbeing, which is beneficial for users keen on optimizing their health routines. With more than 30 indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, it is versatile for various activities.

In terms of design, the Garmin Venu 3S boasts a sleek, casual look with its soft gold stainless steel bezel and silicone band, promoting comfort and style. Water resistance adds practicality for those who engage in activities like swimming or walking in diverse conditions. Connectivity options like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enhance its functionality, allowing for convenient smartphone integration, including making calls and sending messages directly from the watch.

However, the watch's comfort and design might not fit all preferences, given its 41mm case size and 18mm band width, which could seem small for individuals accustomed to larger watches. Despite the excellent display, the 390 x 390 resolution might not match the clarity of some higher-end smartwatches in the market. Additionally, while the smartwatch offers a comprehensive range of features, those primarily looking for a basic walking watch might find it overwhelming or unnecessarily complex.

Ideal for health-conscious individuals who appreciate technology-driven insights, the Garmin Venu 3S strikes a balance between functionality and aesthetics, making it a solid choice for someone looking for a feature-rich walking companion.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is a strong choice for anyone looking for a walking or running watch that combines accurate GPS tracking with a bright, colorful AMOLED display. Its built-in GPS and wrist-based heart rate monitor make it easy to track your pace, distance, and heart health during walks or runs. The watch is lightweight and compact, which adds to comfort during daily wear. Battery life is quite good, offering up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and 19 hours when using GPS continuously, which means fewer charges for most users.

It also provides a variety of fitness metrics like step counting, training effects, and recovery times, helping you understand how your workouts impact your body. You get smart notifications for calls and texts, plus contactless payment options, which are handy extras for everyday use. Safety features like incident detection can provide peace of mind during outdoor activities, although they depend on having your phone nearby with network coverage. Water resistance is suitable for general use, but it's best to avoid deep water exposure.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 balances style, functionality, and comfort well, making it suitable for walkers, joggers, and fitness enthusiasts who want solid tracking and helpful guidance without complicated technology.

The Garmin Vívoactive 5 is a strong choice if you're looking for a walking watch that combines solid health tracking with a stylish design. It features a bright and clear 1.2-inch AMOLED display, making the information easy to read in various lighting conditions. The built-in GPS offers reliable location tracking for your walks, and with over 30 sports apps, it supports more than just walking, including cycling and swimming. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, so you won’t need to charge it frequently during your walking routines.

It tracks your heart rate continuously from the wrist and counts steps accurately, also including thoughtful features like Body Battery to gauge your energy levels and sleep tracking with personalized coaching to improve rest. Connectivity options like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB make syncing and music downloads convenient, enabling phone-free listening during walks. The watch is lightweight and comfortable with a silicone band and aluminum bezel, suitable for daily wear and exercise.

This smartwatch offers versatility and user-friendly features ideal for walkers who want detailed health metrics, long battery life, and a vibrant display without complicated tech fuss.