If this sounds like what you’re looking for, end the search because Garmin has just what you need. Thanks to the screenless design of Garmin CIRQA Smart Band, you can get the health and fitness insights you want without the extra screen time. Worn on your wrist or upper arm, count on CIRQA Smart Band to provide up to 10 days of battery life and your favorite fitness tracking and health monitoring capabilities.

You might be wondering how to track your fitness using the smart band and what features the band has. Keep reading as we explain why CIRQA Smart Band is the perfect addition for you.

What features are included on CIRQA Smart Band?

With CIRQA Smart Band, you can take a break from screen time without sacrificing the essential Garmin health monitoring and fitness features you know and love — no subscription required.

Want to track a run, walk, pickup basketball game or yoga class? CIRQA Smart Band automatically detects a variety of activities. While you focus on the work, CIRQA Smart Band quietly monitors your performance progress with data-informed insights into training readiness, HRV status and VO2 max¹.

If your focus is on wellness, wear CIRQA Smart Band day and night for a complete picture of your health with Body Battery energy monitoring, heart rate, Pulse Ox², stress, sleep tracking, sleep score and more³ — all accessible through the free Garmin Connect app. For women looking to receive better period predictions and past ovulation estimates⁴, CIRQA Smart Band assesses skin temperature data gathered during sleep. Natural Cycles° subscribers can sync their menstrual data to the FDA-cleared Natural Cycles birth control app⁵ for optimal tracking.

Created with comfort in mind, CIRQA Smart Band is made with a fabric band, so you’ll forget you’re wearing it.

How does it work?

CIRQA Smart Band can track activities either automatically or manually depending on your preference.

Whether you’re starting a run or weightlifting at the gym, the smart band will automatically detect and begin tracking your activity. Afterward, you can view or edit recorded activities in Garmin Connect. This helps the device adjust its tracking capabilities and become accustomed to frequently performed activities.

If you prefer, you can manually track your activities directly from the device or in Garmin Connect. Customize the activity tracking button on the side of the band so you can easily track frequently recorded activities. For example, if you lace up for a run multiple times a week, customize the button to record runs when you press it. When tracking activities in Garmin Connect, simply select the device and activity type to record and get started.

Your quiet, distraction-free companion is ready for 24/7 tracking and monitoring. In just a few clicks, CIRQA Smart Band could be your new favorite addition.

_{¹VO2 max is not available in wheelchair mode.}

_{²This is not a medical device and is not intended for diagnosing or monitoring any medical condition; see Garmin.com/ataccuracy. Pulse Ox is not available in all countries.}

_{³Activity tracking accuracy}

_{⁴The menstrual cycle tracking feature should not be used in support of conception, contraception or birth control. This is not a medical device and is not intended for diagnosing or monitoring any medical condition. See Garmin.com/ataccuracy.}

_{⁵Compatible Garmin smartwatches are consumer wellness devices and are not medical devices intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or monitor medical conditions. The Natural Cycles app independently determines fertility status based on skin temperature and other data when worn on your wrist.}

The post How you can use CIRQA Smart Band to track your fitness appeared first on Garmin Blog.

Whether you’re training for a sprint, standard, half or full triathlon, you need quality gear — and coaching — to help you swim, bike and run to the finish line. 

Garmin offers everything a triathlete could need, from premium multisport smartwatches and heart rate monitors to bike computers, power meter pedals and indoor trainers. Plus, Garmin Triathlon Coach can help you maximize your performance for a variety of triathlon formats.

If you’ve ever wondered which is the best Garmin smartwatch for a triathlete or how a Garmin smartwatch could help your training, you’ve come to the right place. Our multisport smartwatches, such as Forerunner^® 970, Enduro 3 and fēnix^® 8, include ways to track your triathlon workouts and events, plus they offer advanced performance insights and compatibility with Edge^® cycling computers and Tacx^® smart trainers.

And with a long battery life, you can train more between charges. Forerunner 970 has up to 15 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, while the fēnix 8 series gets up to 30 days. For the ultra-distance athletes, Enduro 3 takes battery life to another level with up to 36 days in smartwatch mode and up to 90 days with solar charging¹. 

Activity tracking 

When you’re training for three sports, you need a smartwatch that can keep up. 

With the multisport activity feature, your compatible Garmin watch will automatically detect transitions during a training session or race. Plus, you can build a custom multisport profile. 

You also can track your pool swims to see metrics, including lengths, distance, pace, stroke count, swim efficiency and calories. 

Performance tracking 

When you’re training to perform your best (against the best), you need data. Detailed performance data. See every detail with Garmin’s training status and training load, real-time stamina, and recovery and sleep tracking² on multisport smartwatches, including Forerunner 970, Enduro 3 and fēnix 8.

Training status connects the dots between your training and your results. Your training status can be peaking, productive, maintaining, strained, unproductive, overreaching, recovery or detraining. This feature interprets your fitness while looking at how much you’re training and at what level.

Training load is based on your excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and helps you understand the impact and recovery demands of your activities. Your exercise load describes the difficulty of one activity, while your acute load tracks the combined impact of your recent activities. 

With real-time stamina tracking your runs, rides or multisport activities, you can tell just how much you have left in the tank. That can help prevent overexertion during exercise. 

Sleep tracking helps you understand your sleep duration, quality and more, while recovery tracking helps you know how long you should be recovering based on the demands of your training and lifestyle. 

The Garmin Connect app tracks your performance and training data at every stage of your triathlon progression and beyond. Get a holistic view of your overall fitness and health by tracking your sleep, HRV, recovery status and more.

With all that information at hand, you’re better prepared to make decisions about your training plan and how to better take care of your body as a triathlete. 

Garmin Triathlon Coach

You won’t have to question how much time you need to spend in the pool, cycling or running when you train with Garmin Triathlon Coach on a compatible smartwatch. This adaptive program emphasizes balance and smart training progressions, while considering your sleep quality, recovery needs and overall fitness. Garmin Triathlon Coach adds in two-a-days so you can build up your training volume as well as brick workouts to tune your body for race-day transitions.

You’ll get guidance for a variety of triathlon formats, including spring, standard, and half or middle triathlon distances. If you don’t have a specific race on your calendar yet, Garmin Triathlon Coach can still help you stay in shape with general triathlon-oriented workouts. You can even add gym and bodyweight strength workouts to your plan that sync with your swim-bike-run schedule.

Cycling features 

We know how important it is for your watch and bike computer to work together seamlessly while training and racing. That’s why we included convenient features to make your transitions easier. 

Through the extended display feature, you can show certain data fields from Garmin multisport smartwatches on your compatible Edge cycling computer. This means that once you transition to the bike, you can see the data that’s most important to you while getting the benefit of cycling-specific features that Edge has to offer — right from your handlebars. 

Training gear 

OK, you’ve got the watch down. What else do you need to take on that tri? 

We’ve already touched on Edge cycling computers, and the Edge^® 1050 is worth mentioning. This is our most advanced premium GPS computer, providing up to 20 hours of battery life in the most demanding use cases or up to 60 hours in battery saver mode. While we’re talking about cycling, don’t forget to prepare for your indoor training sessions by adding our most accurate and realistic smart trainer, the Tacx^® NEO 3M Smart Trainer, for the ultimate indoor setup. 

You can bring power data to your pedals with a dual-sensing cycling power meter such as Rally RK210, which is easy to swap from your tri bike to your road bike and more so you have a power meter for every ride. This allows you to take a closer look at your performance by measuring total power and cadence and viewing advanced cycle dynamics like L/R leg balance, seated versus standing time, power phases and more.

And with a premium heart rate monitor such as HRM 600, you can take your training up a notch. HRM 600 can be used in the water and provides the accurate data you need to reach your goals². If you don’t want to wear a watch while swimming, HRM 600 can record your workout and sync data — including heart rate and calories — directly to the Garmin Connect app.

As a triathlete, you compete against the best. You need the best gear. Browse our collection of multisport smartwatches. 

¹_{Assumes all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions}  

²_{See Garmin.com/ataccuracy}

The post How Garmin can help you train for a triathlon appeared first on Garmin Blog.

Garmin smartwatch features can help play an instrumental role in tracking a woman’s body metrics throughout the day to help give her a real-time health assessment in the time it takes her to glance at her wrist. From how well she slept the night before to where she is in her menstrual cycle, a variety of factors play a role in how well she’s feeling — and may continue to feel for the rest of the day.

Menstrual cycle tracking

Compatible Garmin smartwatches can help track where a woman is in her menstrual cycle, which affects more than you might think, including nutrition, training and general health — all of which can also be monitored on a Garmin smartwatch. Your smartwatch also tracks your skin temperature¹ while you sleep for more accurate period predictions and past ovulation estimates². A woman’s cycle typically involves varying levels of hormones throughout a typical 21- to 35-day timeframe. But it’s a lot more complicated than whether you’re on your period or not. Low estrogen and progesterone levels during menstruation, for example, might leave you feeling drained, while an increase in estrogen during the follicular phase may have you feeling ready to take on a killer workout. In fact, it’s for this reason that many women will train hard during their menstrual cycle.

Pregnancy tracking

If you’re pregnant, knowing how far along you are is important. Once your doctor has given you an approximate due date, you can use the pregnancy tracking feature on your compatible Garmin smartwatch to monitor daily symptoms and mood, approximately how big your baby should be measuring, your baby’s movement, weight gain and more. You’ll even receive tips for exercise and nutrition as you progress in your pregnancy.

Compatibility with the Natural Cycles° app

Garmin users with select smartwatches can also integrate their temperature data with the Natural Cycles (NC°) app³, an FDA Class II medical device designed to prevent and plan pregnancy naturally. It analyzes body temperature and other key fertility indicators to determine each user’s unique daily fertility status and provide personalized cycle insights. This hormone-free birth control app helps women know their fertile days and when they need protection.

Sleep score

How well you do — or don’t — sleep affects nearly every other aspect of your body’s performance for the day. Select Garmin smartwatches with advanced sleep tracking will assign a sleep score¹, from 0-100, to rate your sleep, drawing on a combination of sleep architecture, stress data, interruptions during the night, how long you slept and more. It’s important to wear your Garmin watch to bed to get a better idea of how your sleep is impacting your body. We can’t guarantee that you’ll have a successful day if you wake up with a better sleep score — but we are willing to say it’s more likely.

Body Battery

Like the gas gauge on your car, the Body Battery energy monitoring feature on your Garmin watch is designed to help you manage exactly how much energy you’ve got left in your personal tank. Your Body Battery score considers physical activity, stress, rest and sleep — and all the ways those factors impact your energy stores. The more you monitor it, the more you’ll understand how activities and lifestyle choices impact your overall energy levels, allowing you to adjust accordingly moving forward.

Stress score

When you’re stressed, your body is in an elevated physiological state. Using primarily heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) data, compatible Garmin smartwatches can measure your stress level on a scale from 0-100, giving you a stress score¹ that indicates just how well your body is reacting to the challenges of life and the environment you’re in. If you’re undergoing an unfamiliar — but stressful — situation you’ll know exactly how well your body is reacting to it, which may help you to know how to better prepare next time.

Peace of mind

The reality is that if you’re a woman who runs, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Compatible Garmin smartwatches come equipped with features such as LiveTrack⁴ and incident detection and assistance in case an accident happens when you’re away from home.

LiveTrack tracks your location in real time when you’re out logging an activity, so chosen family and friends can follow along wherever you are. The incident detection feature can sense when there’s a drastic change in movement while recording a timed GPS activity and alert your emergency contacts that you need assistance. If for any reason you feel unsafe, you can also trigger assistance manually to alert your emergency contacts.

Would you like to better understand everything that happens in your body? Browse our collection of Garmin smartwatches to find one that fits you and your needs.

¹_{See Garmin.com/ataccuracy}

²_{The menstrual cycle tracking feature should not be used in support of conception, contraception or birth control. This is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition.}

³_{Compatible Garmin smartwatches are consumer wellness devices and are not medical devices intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or monitor medical conditions. The Natural Cycles app independently determines fertility status based on skin temperature and other data when worn on your wrist.}

⁴_{When paired with a compatible smartphone. For safety and tracking features requirements and limitations, see Garmin.com/safety.}

The post Garmin smartwatch features for women appeared first on Garmin Blog.

Staying connected

Compatible with either your Apple® or Android smartphone, you get a lot when you sync up with a Garmin smartwatch. In addition to next-level battery life, activity profiles for just about any sport under the sun and advanced physiological data tracking, your Garmin smartwatch makes it easy to stay connected to what matters with a flick of the wrist.

Receive notifications

Any notification you get, such as texts, calls, calendar reminders and emails, will go from your phone straight to your watch, unless you choose to opt out of some of them. If you have an Android, you can even respond directly to messages from your watch using our predetermined response options. And select smartwatches, like Venu® 4, come with a built-in speaker and mic so you can take and make calls from your watch or use your paired smartphone’s voice assistant to send text messages, ask questions and more.

Find your phone

Skip the panicked feeling you get when you realize your phone isn’t on you. Instead, use your Garmin smartwatch to sound an alarm from your phone with the Find My Phone feature. Follow the sound and quickly track your device down.

Added peace of mind

To ensure your friends and family can find you in the event of an emergency, Garmin smartwatch users can use LiveTrack and incident detection features¹. LiveTrack keeps a real-time view of your location during a GPS activity so your loved ones can see where you are when you venture out for your next jog. If you choose to share the information with them, they’ll be able to see your current location, the duration of the activity, the distance you’ve traveled, your heart rate and more. With incident detection, automated messages with your name and GPS location will be sent to up to 3 of your emergency contacts. To utilize this feature, pair the Garmin Connect app with your smartphone.

Garmin smartwatches that include inReach® connectivity for LTE and satellite coverage allow users to communicate with loved ones back home². Once connected to the LTE network, send 30-second voice messages as well as make or answer phone calls from your smartwatch to users with compatible smartwatches or those who are Garmin Messenger app users². For support from Garmin Response℠, a 24/7 international emergency coordination center², trigger an SOS message on your smartwatch.

Tracking your health and fitness

The Garmin Connect app also includes all your health and fitness data in one place so you can easily view the metrics your watch is tracking and access additional features such as Garmin Coach plans and workouts. Plus, meet your nutrition goals through tracking and logging with a Garmin Connect+ plan.

Ready to stay connected without staring at your phone screen all day? Explore Garmin smartwatch offerings to find the wearable that’s meant for you.

¹_{When paired with your smartphone; see Garmin.com/ble. For safety and tracking feature requirements and limitations, see Garmin.com/safety.}

²_{Active subscription required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit satellite communication devices; it is the user’s responsibility to know and follow all applicable laws.}

_{Apple is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android is a trademark of Google LLC.}

The post Yes, Garmin smartwatches work with your phone appeared first on Garmin Blog.

If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve been asking yourself for a while: Which Garmin watch should I get?

The answer depends on how you’re planning on using it. But luckily for you, whether you’re looking for a smartwatch with essential wellness tracking features, advanced running metrics, rich mapping details for your outdoor adventures, premium golf features or even a smartwatch with SOS messaging¹, you’ll find what you need with Garmin.

That said, we know we have a lot of options. If you can’t decide which Garmin watch is best for you, look no further. We’re going to explain each of our watch options.

Perfect for essential wellness tracking

Lily^® 2 Active: This small and stylish smartwatch has a metal case with a hidden display (just tap it to reveal the bright display) and essential wellness features — including heart rate, Body Battery energy monitoring, sleep tracking and women’s health features — to give you a more complete picture of your health².

• Battery life: Up to 9 days in smartwatch mode
• Case size: 38 mm
• Display type: Liquid crystal hidden behind a patterned lens that blends in with the watch colors

Perfect for wellness tracking and hitting the gym

vívoactive^® 6: This smartwatch offers a bright AMOLED display and a variety of health and fitness features — so you can monitor your health in and out of the gym. vívoactive 6 includes more than 80 preloaded sports apps so you can stay on top of your fitness. You can also use Garmin Coach running and strength training plans — some of which adapt based on performance, recovery and health metrics.

• Battery life: Up to 11 days in smartwatch mode
• Case size: 42 mm
• Display type: AMOLED

Perfect for tracking your wellness, workouts and fitness metrics

Venu^® 4: With detailed health and fitness insights, the ECG app³, a bright AMOLED display, a built-in speaker and microphone (to make and take calls from the watch when paired with a smartphone and connected to the phone’s voice assistant), Garmin Coach and dozens of sports apps, Venu 4 is ready to help you serve looks — or serve on the pickleball court. Plus, light your way with the built-in LED flashlight. The advanced health and fitness features — including skin temperature tracking² for more accurate period predictions and past ovulation estimates⁴ — can help you better understand your body and make healthier decisions. It also offers a sophisticated metal design and two size options.

• Battery life: Up to 12 days on the 45 mm size in smartwatch mode
• Case size: 41 mm or 45 mm
• Display type: AMOLED

Perfect for wellness-minded runners, multisport athletes and gym rats

Venu X1: This premium GPS smartwatch features an easy-to-read 2” AMOLED display with a scratch-resistant sapphire lens — and our thinnest watch case. Venu X1 offers detailed health and fitness insights as well as advanced running features and mapping. It includes a built-in LED flashlight as well as a built-in speaker and microphone. Whether you’re training with Garmin Coach, recovering on off days or navigating a new running route, you can trust Venu X1.

• Battery life: Up to 8 days in smartwatch mode
• Case size: 41 x 46 mm
• Display type: AMOLED

Perfect for new runners

Forerunner 70/Forerunner 170 Music: When you’re getting started as a runner, you need a watch with essential training features to cross the finish line. That’s where the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 Music come into play. Along with built-in GPS for time, distance and pace, long battery life, sleep monitoring and wrist-based heart rate², these Forerunners curate daily suggested workouts that match performance and recovery after every run. Plus, take advantage of beginner-friendly Garmin Coach training plans with run-walk workouts in the Garmin Connect app. If you want to quickly set up a running workout based on your available training time and desired intensity level, the quick workout feature will create a workout for you.

When you have the Forerunner 170 music, download your favorite songs, podcasts and more to listen with your wireless headphones from your watch (subscription may be required). If you need to refuel, stop for a mid-run snack, water or gel, and use Garmin Pay contactless payments to pay from your wrist⁵.

It’s time to sign up for that 5K when you have a Foreunner 70 or 170 Music on your wrist.

• Battery life: Forerunner 70 up to 13 days and Forerunner 170 Music up to 10 days in smartwatch mode
• Case size: 43 mm
• Display type: AMOLED

Perfect for advanced runners

Forerunner 570: Let’s up your running game. You need training status, training readiness, multi-band GPS support and adaptive training plans from Garmin Run Coach. Forerunner 570 includes a built-in speaker and microphone, an aluminum bezel and advanced running features.

• Battery life: Up to 11 days on the 47 mm size
• Case size: 42 mm or 47 mm
• Display type: AMOLED

Perfect for runners and multisport athletes who want a premium watch

Forerunner 970: With a sapphire crystal lens, titanium bezel and longer battery life for intense training, Forerunner 970 is ready for your next long run or bike ride. Train for your next race — whether that’s a marathon, half-marathon or even triathlon — or improve your fitness with adaptive training plans from Garmin Coach. It also adds a wealth of advanced running features, such as running tolerance, which can recommend weekly maximum mileage. When you also train with your heart rate monitor such as HRM 600, the running economy feature will show your overall energy efficiency while running. This feature also includes data such as step speed loss, which shows how much you slow down when your foot hits the ground. There is a built-in LED flashlight, speaker and microphone, and more upgrades to help you take your sport to the next level. (You can compare all of our running smartwatches here).

• Battery life: Up to 15 days in smartwatch mode
• Case size: 47 mm
• Display type: AMOLED

Perfect for multisport athletes who love outdoor adventures

fēnix 8: This is our premium GPS multisport smartwatch. The purpose-built design includes a dive-rated build with leakproof metal buttons, a metal sensor guard, a titanium bezel, a built-in LED flashlight, and speaker and microphone. You’ll get all the health and wellness monitoring features you already love as well as training, planning and analysis features you can rely on. The fēnix 8 Series offers a bright AMOLED display or a solar charging display.

• Battery life: Up to 29 days in smartwatch mode on the AMOLED 51 mm size or up to 48 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging⁶ on the 51 mm size
• Case size: 43 mm, 47 mm and 51 mm
• Display type: AMOLED or solar charging with a sunlight-readability, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display

Perfect for athletes and explorers who want to stay connected on the go

fēnix 8 Pro: This smartwatch with SOS messaging takes everything you love about fēnix 8 and adds inReach^® technology for satellite and cellular connectivity¹. When connected to the LTE network, you can use LiveTrack to share your location with loved ones. You can also use fēnix 8 Pro to send 30-second voice messages as well as make and take phone calls from other fēnix 8 Pro users or those using the Garmin Messenger app on their smartphone¹. With inReach connectivity, you can send and receive text messages with friends and family using the Garmin Messenger app on their smartphone or compatible Garmin smartwatch. When you trigger an SOS message on your fēnix 8 Pro, it sends a message with satellite or cellular connectivity to Garmin Response℠, our 24/7-staffed international emergency coordination center that connects you to help if you need it. Plus, you’ll have the option of a MicroLED display that delivers up to 4,500 nits, making it the brightest smartwatch display ever built. (Learn more about the differences between fēnix 8 and fēnix 8 Pro.)

• Battery life: Up to 27 days in smartwatch mode on the AMOLED 51 mm size or up to 10 days in smartwatch mode with the MicroLED display
• Case size: 47 mm and 51 mm
• Display type: AMOLED or MicroLED

Perfect for runners who want the ultimate endurance watch

Enduro 3: Built for the longest runs on earth, Enduro 3 is the ultraperformance GPS smartwatch you’ve been looking for. It features a built-in LED flashlight, preloaded TopoActive maps, point-to-point navigation and solar power for extreme battery life. You’ll also get up to 320 hours of battery life in GPS mode with solar charging⁷.

• Battery life: Up to 36 days in smartwatch mode or up to 90 days with solar charging⁶
• Case size: 51 mm
• Display type: Solar charging with a sunlight-visible, transflective MIP display

Perfect for outdoor adventurers who want a rugged watch

Instinct^® 3: With a metal-reinforced bezel, fiber-reinforced polymer case and a scratch-resistant display for extreme durability, Instinct 3 is purpose-built for adventurers who love enjoying the great outdoors. It also features a built-in LED flashlight, multiple sizes and a solar option that can bring you up to unlimited battery life⁶. Plus, you can get this watch packed with tactical features, including night vision capability, rucking activity, stealth mode (which collects distances and biometrics without recording location data), projected waypoints and many more.

• Battery life: Up to 24 days in smartwatch mode on the 50 mm size or up to unlimited battery life with solar charging⁶
• Case size: 45 mm and 50 mm
• Display type: AMOLED or a solar charging, monochrome, sunlight- readability and transflective MIP display

Perfect for those who need a tactical watch built for the mission

tactix® 8: This next-gen tactical smartwatch offers leakproof buttons, a sensor guard, a titanium bezel and a scratch-resistant sapphire lens for extreme durability. tactix 8 features a built-in LED flashlight with a white (disabled in night vision mode) or green beam (which becomes dimmable in night vision mode). It also includes tactical features such as rucking, jumpmaster activity, waypoint project, dual-position GPS format, stealth mode, kill switch, Applied Ballistics^® solver, compatibility with night vision goggles, a dedicated tactical activity and more.

• Battery life: Up to 29 days in smartwatch mode on the 51 mm size or up to 48 days with solar charging⁶
• Case size: 47 mm or 51 mm
• Display type: AMOLED or solar charging with a sunlight-readable, transflective MIP display

Perfect for golfers looking for essentials

Approach S44: You’ll get all the golfing essentials — and then some — with the Approach S44 GPS golf smartwatch, including the green view feature to see each green’s shape from anywhere on the course and AutoShot game tracking to automatically track where your shots land⁹. Plus, with a Garmin Golf membership, you can get premium features such as Premium CourseView maps, touch targeting and green contour data.

• Battery life: Up to 15 hours in GPS mode
• Case size: 43 mm
• Display type: AMOLED

Perfect for on and off the golf course

Approach S50: This advanced GPS smartwatch helps you easily see key yardages to the green, hazards and layups on more than 43,000 courses. Thanks to the PlaysLike Distance feature, you can see how far each shot is playing with yardage adjusted for elevation changes. (Don’t forget to add on a Garmin Golf membership for access to even more features). You’ll also get essential health and wellness features as well as preloaded activities to help you improve your strength and mobility.

• Battery life: Up to 10 days in smartwatch mode
• Case size: 43 mm
• Display type: AMOLED

Perfect for golfers who want premium features

Approach S70: This premium GPS golf smartwatch comes in two sizes and can help you improve your game on and off the course. With the virtual caddie feature (which includes a dispersion chart that displays hazards in play, depending on club choice), enhanced PlaysLike Distance (which accounts for changes in elevation and environmental conditions), club suggestions based on performance and wind⁹, and preloaded fitness apps for strength, running and more, golfers will have everything they need. (Need to dive deeper on our golf watches? Learn more about your golf smartwatch options).

• Battery life: Up to 16 days in smartwatch mode
• Case size: 42 mm or 47 mm
• Display type: AMOLED

Now that you’ve got a better idea of our options, it’s time to choose which Garmin watch is best for your needs. You can browse our full selection of smartwatches.

¹_{Active subscription required; LTE network coverage and satellite connectivity are not available in all countries. Check Garmin.com/fenix8ProCoverage to see which services are accessible in your area — or in countries to where you may be traveling; some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communication devices. It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the device is intended to be used.}

²_{See Garmin.com/ataccuracy}

³_{The ECG app is only available on select Garmin smartwatches with the latest version of the Garmin Connect smartphone app and watch software. The ECG app is not available in all regions; see Garmin.com/ecg for availability. The ECG app is only intended for adults aged 22 years and over. The ECG app is capable of recording an ECG similar to a Lead I ECG and detecting the presence of atrial fibrillation or normal sinus rhythm.}

⁴_{The menstrual cycle tracking feature should not be used in support of conception, contraception or birth control. This is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition.}

⁵_{View current supported country, payment network and issuing bank information}

⁶_{Assumes all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions}

⁷_{Assumes continuous use for entire period in 50,000 lux conditions}

⁸_{Lie and ball contact may affect shot tracking. Putts are not tracked. Some shots, particularly chip shots around the green, may not be tracked.}

⁹_{When paired with your smartphone}

The post Which Garmin smartwatch is right for me? appeared first on Garmin Blog.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of finding the perfect wearable companion for your runs, but how do you get there?

Because we’ve been in the smartwatch game for quite some time, it’s no secret we have tons of options to help you reach your goals — but don’t worry. If you’re not sure which Garmin smartwatch is right for you, we’ve got you covered. From novice runners to elite marathoners, we have the best GPS running watches to guide you through every stride, every mile and every race along the way.

Before you choose a Garmin smartwatch, you’ll want to know which watch has the running and training features that make the most sense for your goals. Let’s run through your options — no pun intended.

Features for the beginner runner

Let’s start with the basics.Even smartwatches designed for beginners have advanced tools and metrics that can help you grow as a runner:

• Built-in GPS: Easily track where you run and get accurate stats, including distance, pace and intervals.
• Long battery life: No, really. We mean a really long battery life. Depending on which Garmin smartwatch you have, you should get up to 1 week of battery life in smartwatch mode at a minimum, or even unlimited battery life with solar charging¹ on the Instinct® 3 Solar adventure smartwatch.
• Sleep monitoring: Understand how your body is recovering — and get ready for training — with our improved sleep monitoring feature². With select watches, you’ll receive a sleep score after waking up, along with a breakdown of your sleep stages and so much more.
• Wrist-based heart rate: Your heart rate zone matters. With wrist-based heart rate², you can gauge how hard your heart is working during runs. Plus, tracking your heart rate data and heart rate variability (HRV) outside of workouts gives you insight into your recovery, overall fitness and more.
• Recovery time: We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to rest. The recovery time feature uses your latest training, stress levels and sleep to help you figure out how long you should take to recover.
• Advanced training: Curious if it’s time to tie your laces and hit the pavement? Get training readiness, status and effect data to know when you’re ready to run and insights into your training regimen. To solidify your routine, keep an eye on your training status to see if you’re training productively, and check training effect to see how your workout is benefiting you.
• Garmin Coach: Is there a race in your future? You’ll want to check out these free adaptive training plans, available in the Garmin Connect app. Pick a training plan based on your goal and distance — 5K, 10K or a half marathon — and select a coach who suits your needs. Garmin Coach will help you find upcoming races near you and keep you on track leading up to race day with recommended workouts that sync to your watch.
• Garmin Connect: All Garmin smartwatches are compatible with the Garmin Connect app, the tool for tracking, analyzing, and sharing health and fitness activities. Think of it as a personal assistant to help you achieve your health and fitness goals.

Smartwatches for the beginner runner

Forerunner^® 70: With a Forerunner 70 on your wrist, it’s time to start calling yourself a runner. This GPS smartwatch offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode while tracking essential running and health features. It offers daily suggested workouts depending on performance and recovery, and provides adaptive training plans and advanced training features.

Forerunner 170 Music: This smartwatch has must-have advanced training features and offers up to 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, perfect for any entry-level runner. Plus, download your favorite playlist or podcast episode for easy, phone-free listening with your Bluetooth^® headphones (subscription may be required). Need to refuel? Make pitstop stops during your run and pay with Garmin Pay contactless payments³.

Features for the advanced runner

You’ve been running for a while and have started getting the hang of things. You’re not afraid to push your limits; now you need a smartwatch to keep up. In addition to the features for entry-level runners, you may also want to consider a smartwatch with:

• Lactate threshold: A common struggle among runners is learning to pace themselves — especially right out of the gate. Curious just how far you can push yourself? Use the lactate threshold activity to see when you can expect muscle fatigue.
• Performance condition: In the first 6 to 20 minutes of your run, know how you’ll be expected to perform using pace, heart rate and HRV data. The higher the data point on your watch, the better the run.
• Multisport workouts: If your training involves performing consecutive activities, such as biking, swimming or running, record it as a multisport workout and transition from one activity to the other seamlessly. Each sport will be recorded separately when you set up automatic transition or by selecting the sport and starting the activity timer.
• Heat and altitude acclimation: Training for or running a race in a new city or country? Training for a couple days in a new place can help you get acclimated to heat and altitude. Your Garmin smartwatch will detect higher altitudes or hotter weather and provide insights to help you achieve your performance goals despite changing conditions.
• Speaker and mic: When paired with your smartphone, a built-in speaker and microphone make it easy to respond to messages and answer or take calls when you’re in the middle of a run. Pick up the phone from your watch and use voice command to respond to text messages.

A smartwatch for the advanced runner

Forerunner 570: You’ll look and run great with Forerunner 570 on your wrist. It provides 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, two size options, personalized Garmin Coach training plans for running and triathlons, projected race time predictor, auto lap by timing gates and more.

Venu^® 4: This smartwatch has advanced fitness features, detailed wellness insights and up to 12 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. From 24/7 health monitoring and sleep tracking to workout options and lifestyle logging, the Venu 4 is the perfect running companion.

Features for the elite runner

Elite runners are looking for serious smartwatches. Good thing we have those too. To power your marathons, triathlons and long training sessions, we have wearable tech packed with advanced features designed just for you.

• Real-time stamina: Don’t overexert yourself. Use this feature to track and manage your exertion before the start of every run.
• Built-in maps: Full-color, built-in maps and turn-by-turn navigation keep you on track whether you’re running on city streets or densely covered trails.
• Dynamic round-trip routing: Just tell your watch how far you want to go, and you’ll get suggested return routes. Plus, if you go off course, your watch will reroute to keep your mileage on track.
• Endurance score: How long can you last? This feature measures your ability to keep up prolonged efforts, so you know how your training impacts your overall endurance.
• Built-in LED flashlight: This is the feature you never knew you needed. The LED lights on the side of select Garmin smartwatches are bright enough to illuminate the room.
• Garmin Triathlon Coach: Do you see a triathlon in your future but want the proper training? Use Garmin Triathlon Coach to find your preferred training plan based on your training status, training load, stamina, sleep tracking and more.
• Garmin Connect+: If you’re looking for advanced training metrics as well as nutrition tracking and logging capabilities with insights to help improve your overall health or achieve a fitness goal, consider a Garmin Connect+ plan. Plus, receive exclusive Garmin Run Coach and Garmin Cycle Coach content and videos.

Smartwatches for the elite runner

Forerunner 970: Made of premium materials and offering a built-in LED flashlight, this GPS smartwatch brings you performance features, including running tolerance, running economy and step speed loss (when paired with the HRM 600 heart rate monitor), all while delivering up to 15 days of battery life in smartwatch mode.

fēnix^® 8 Series: fēnix 8 is a premium multisport smartwatch available in multiple sizes with up to 29 days of battery life in smartwatch mode on the 51 mm AMOLED model, or up to 48 days with the 51 mm solar charging model¹. It includes a rugged design, built-in LED flashlight, and advanced mapping and navigation.

Enduro 3: Built for the ultra-distance athletes, Enduro 3 brings you a built-in LED flashlight and premium training, performance and navigation features — with up to 90 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging¹.

Need to know more about features on our running watches? Learn all about running science to take advantage of all a Garmin watch has to offer, then browse our running watch collection. You really can’t go wrong — every Garmin smartwatch packs a punch.

¹_{Assumes all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions}

²_{See Garmin.com/ataccuracy}

³_{See Garmin.com/garminpay/banks}

_{The Bluetooth word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Garmin is under license.} 

The post Which Garmin running smartwatch is right for me? appeared first on Garmin Blog.

If you run with a Garmin smartwatch, you probably spend a few minutes (OK, more than just a few) looking at your performance data when you get home from a run. How far did you run? What was your pace? And if you’ve been running for a while, you’re probably peeking at that VO2 max number too. You get all that and so much more when you run with Garmin.

But where does your data fit in with users across the globe? We can help you figure that out. We looked at Garmin Connect app data from runners — all over the world — to find trends.

Here are a few highlights:

• The average run distance for all users was about 4.8 miles, but the age group logging the longest average run might surprise you.
• European locales clocked the fastest average pace, with Ireland leading the way at a 9:09 minutes per mile pace.
• Garmin runners are all committed to beating yesterday. Runners under 40 saw the biggest upticks in running activities, and athletes over 60 made big strides as well.
• Strength training is gaining traction: We found a nearly 25% increase in users who recorded a run and a strength activity in the same week.
• The average VO2 max for all Garmin runners was 50.
• Garmin runners tended to record a better sleep score compared to non-runners. Plus, the average resting heart rate¹ of Garmin runners decreased as they ran farther.

How many miles do Garmin users run?

The average distance on a run for all users was 4.82 miles. Those ages 50–59 ran slightly more per activity on average at 5.1 miles. Those ages 20–29 tended to run slightly less at 4.6 miles per run.

No matter how many miles you’re putting in, it’s important to pay attention to how your body restores itself. That’s where your recovery time, powered by the Garmin Human Performance Lab, comes in. This feature provides scientifically personalized insight into how long it will be before you are fully recovered so you know when you’ll be ready to gain the maximum benefit from your next hard workout.

What month and day of the week were the most popular?

August was the month of the year with the most miles run. Garmin users recorded the most miles on Saturdays — we love a Saturday long run too.

If you’re venturing out on a long run, you don’t have to worry about battery life when you run with Garmin. Our long battery life — and we mean long — means you should get up to 1 week of battery life in smartwatch mode at a minimum on most outdoor and fitness watches, or even up to 90 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging² on the Enduro 3 GPS endurance smartwatch.

How many miles did users run each week?

Now, how much did Garmin users run in a week? The sweet spot is between 6–10 miles per week on average with nearly 40% of runners falling in that category, while 28% of runners hit their stride between 11–20 miles per week. Only 7% of users ran between 21–30 miles a week and just 3% ran more than 31 miles each week.

Compatible Garmin smartwatches can help you manage the impact of running on your body with the running tolerance feature. Powered by the Garmin Human Performance Lab, this feature offers the insight you need to manage that impact while you build and maintain mileage.

How long does it take to run a mile?

The average pace per mile was 9:21 for men and 10:11 for women. As you might expect, the younger age groups ran a bit faster than the older ones, with an average speed of 9:16 per mile for those 20-29 compared to 10:57 per mile for those over 70.

These locales ran the fastest on average:

• Ireland (9:09 minutes per mile)
• Portugal (9:12 minutes per mile)
• Italy (9:13 minutes per mile)

If you’re wondering just how efficient you are while clocking those miles, check the running economy feature on a compatible Garmin smartwatch, such as Forerunner® 970. This uses your long-term running volume, stride length and step speed loss to measure your overall energy efficiency — when paired with the HRM 600 monitor.

How much time do Garmin users spend running?

On average, Garmin users spent 46.3 minutes on a run.  When broken down by age, those ages 60–69 ran 50.8 minutes, 50–59 ran 50.7 minutes, over 70+ ran 49.9 minutes, 40–49 ran 48.5 minutes, 30–39 ran 45.9 minutes and 20–29 ran 42.6 minutes.

To power your long training sessions, select Garmin smartwatches are packed with features for the elite runner. Determine how hard you can push yourself on a run by looking at your real-time stamina that tracks and manages your exertion, while your endurance score helps track your progress after workouts as you strive to become a better endurance athlete. Plus, with dynamic round-trip routing, you can tell your watch how far you want to go and it will suggest return routes.

How much more are Garmin users running?

The number of running activities increased across the board for Garmin users on a per- capita basis. Indoor running activities increased 12.6% per capita in 2025 compared to 2024, while outdoor running activities went up 3.2%. The 30–39 age group recorded the largest year-over-year increase of average activities per user, followed by those ages 20–29, 60–69, over 70+ and 40–49.

When it comes to specific types of runs, South Korean users recorded the most activities per user for running, track running and treadmill running. Users in France recorded more trail running activities per user than those in other locales.

Whether you’re running on city streets or densely covered trails, the built-in maps on compatible Garmin smartwatches provide full-color maps and turn-by-turn navigation to keep you on track.

If you wake up wanting to go for a run but don’t know how hard you should push yourself, consider the daily suggested workouts feature on select Garmin smartwatches. You’ll get run recommendations each day based on your training history, fitness level and recovery time.

How well did runners sleep?

Sleep is essential to your recovery — and runners tended to sleep better than those who didn’t run. The average sleep score of all Garmin runners — 73 if they ran between 0-10 miles, or 74 if they ran between 11-30 or more — was higher than non-runners who had an average sleep score of 70.

How did running affect resting heart rate?

Getting that cardio in can be good for you. There’s no surprise there. We know that Garmin users who spend more time being active — whether they love running, biking or swimming — tend to have lower resting heart rates. The resting heart rate of non-runners sat around 62 bpm. The more miles a user committed to running, the lower that number dropped. A user who ran 0-5 miles per week had a resting heart rate of 59 bpm, while a user who ran more than 31 miles a week had a resting heart rate of 55 bpm.

What is VO2 max? And what was the average best VO2 max for Garmin runners?

Your VO2 max is a number that defines your cardiovascular endurance; the Garmin Human Performance Lab embedded in compatible Garmin smartwatches estimates your VO2 max by analyzing and interpreting performance data while you run.

A higher VO2 max, which means your body is better at taking oxygen from the air and using it in your muscles, is better than a lower one. The average VO2 max for all Garmin runners was 50. If you’re having trouble increasing your VO2max, focusing on high-intensity efforts and increasing variety in those efforts — among other factors — could help. But VO2 max varies significantly when it comes to gender and age. The below VO2 max chart shows how VO2 max differs between men and women and gradually decreases with age.

How are Garmin runners using strength training?

In our 2025 Garmin Connect data report, we found that all users have been loving their strength training regimen, but we wanted to look at runners in particular. When comparing 2024 to 2025, we found a 23% increase of runners recording a run and strength training activity in the same week.

That makes sense. After all, research shows that strength training can be beneficial for runners. And when you train with a Garmin smartwatch that supports Garmin Run Coach, you’ll also have the option of adding supplemental strength workouts into your plan — making it even easier to build the strength you need to keep your runs going, well, strong.

How did runners use Garmin Coach?

The most popular distance that runners trained for using Garmin Coach was a half marathon. And if you need help on race day, don’t forget about these free race day features on your Garmin running smartwatch.

If you’re a runner looking for structure, Garmin Coach provides dynamic training plans from the pros and adaptive training plans with Garmin Run Coach, so you’ve got great options for how to train. Whether you’re ready to train for a 5K or a marathon, Garmin Coach has your back.

Feeling inspired to pull on your running shoes? Just grab a Garmin smartwatch to get started. Whether you’re just starting to run around your neighborhood or you’re passionate about ultras, Garmin has the right running smartwatch for you.

And don’t forget to record your run on Global Running Day. You’ll earn a limited-time Garmin Connect badge. Plus, try out the transparent data and map overlays available in the Garmin Connect app to post and share your run.

¹_{See Garmin.com/ataccuracy}

²_{Assumes all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions}

The post Trends in running: New data shows how Garmin runners hit their stride appeared first on Garmin Blog.

At Garmin, we know cyclists. We know how much you love getting the miles in on your bike. That’s because we love it too. All our cycling products — including Edge® bike computers, Rally power meter pedals, bike radars and lights, and more — are purpose-built to help you make the most out of your rides.

We also know how much you love the data you get when you ride with Garmin. That’s why we looked at data from Garmin cyclists riding with an Edge bike computer all over the world to find the latest trends.

Here are a few highlights:

• On average, cyclists tended to spend the equivalent of a full-length feature film on their rides.
• Garmin cyclists in Italy rode the farthest per ride on average, followed by those in Belgium and Spain.
• This age group climbed nearly the elevation of the Empire State Building on average per ride — and it might not be one you’d expect.
• The more miles ridden, the higher a cyclist’s average VO2 max and functional threshold power (FTP) tended to be.

How far did Garmin cyclists ride?

The sweet spot lies at an average of 28.59 miles per ride.

Age also played a role in how many miles users were able to squeeze in. Those ages 20–29 and 60–69 both rode just over 30 miles per ride, while those ages 30–39 and 40–49 rode just over 27 miles per ride on average.

These three locales went the distance and clocked the highest average miles per ride:

• Italy: 34.73 average miles per ride
• Belgium: 33.05 average miles per ride
• Spain: 32.80 average miles per ride

No matter how many miles you’re putting in — and whether you’re wanting to enjoy the ride or you’re looking for premium features — an Edge cycling computer can improve your time on the bike. If you need help choosing, not to worry: We can help.

Which locales are riding more?

When you ride with Garmin, you want to get out there more. We understand.

These were the top locales with the largest increases in number of cycling activities in 2025 compared to 2024:

• Belgium: 3.5%
• Luxembourg: 2%
• Taiwan: 1.7%

For cyclists getting out on the road more, awareness and visibility are critical. That’s where our Varia rearview radars and smart lights come in. The Varia Vue headlight camera, for example, records video in 4K (requires memory card; not included¹) and saves footage automatically if it detects an incident², while a headlight with up to 600 lumens lights your way. And Varia RearVue 820 features a powerful and precise radar that provides reliable alerts, a tail light with up to 1.24 miles of visibility and advanced vehicle tracking.

How long did cyclists spend on each ride — and when did they go?

Garmin cyclists spent about 115 minutes on average on each ride. Older cyclists tended to ride longer than younger cyclists. While those ages 20–29 spent about 111.6 minutes per ride and those over age 70 spend about 134.2 minutes on average.

Cyclists in the below locales spent quite a bit more time than others on their bikes:

• Italy: 142.7 average minutes per ride
• Spain: 134.4 average minutes per ride
• Colombia: 130.3 average minutes per ride

As for the time of day, Garmin cyclists tended to kick off their rides in the early to mid-morning and late afternoon.

Garmin Edge cyclists also recorded most of their rides on Sundays. And the most popular month of the year for all rides was August.

No matter when you choose to go, when you’re putting in that much time on each ride, the last thing you want to worry about is battery life. Edge 1050, for example, delivers up to 20 hours of battery life per day even in the most demanding use cases on a bright and vivid display, while Edge 1040 Solar offers up to 35 hours in demanding use cases and solar charging to extend that time even more — so you can ride longer and explore further.

How fast were cyclists riding?

Garmin cyclists rode an average speed of 14.89 mph.

When looking at age, we found younger cyclists typically rode at a faster pace than older cyclists.

These three locales recorded the fastest speeds globally:

• United Arab Emirates: 17.75 mph
• Thailand: 16.81 mph
• Malaysia: 16.73 mph

What was the elevation of these rides?

Garmin cyclists recorded a global average elevation gain per ride of 1,158 feet per ride.

And while those ages 20–29 may have been riding the fastest, they weren’t climbing the most. That honor falls to those ages 60–69, with an average elevation gain of 1,201 feet per ride — nearly the equivalent height of the Empire State Building in New York City.

These three locales recorded the highest average elevation per ride:

• Spain: 1,704 average feet
• Colombia: 1,678 average feet
• Portugal: 1,617 average feet

What is functional threshold power (FTP)? And how did Garmin cyclists perform?

What is FTP in cycling? It measures how much power in watts you can sustain without rapidly fatiguing — typically for about an hour — and is the gold standard in cycling. It helps you guide your training, optimize intensity and track changes in your performance over time. Powered by the Garmin Human Performance Lab, compatible Garmin devices estimate your FTP when you ride with a power meter (and a heart rate monitor for the most accurate results).

We found that the average max FTP for men was 224 and 188 for women. FTP was also typically the highest on average among younger cyclists, decreasing with age.

These three locales had the best average max FTP globally:

• Norway: 234 average max FTP
• Slovakia: 231 average max FTP
• Czech Republic: 228 average max FTP

The average max FTP steadily increased as users rode more miles; the chart below shows what the weighted average max FTP was by the average weekly miles ridden.

We also looked at the top 1% of Garmin cyclists, defined as those who cycled 140 miles or more per week, for a recent snapshot of just how well they performed. The max FTP for elite cyclists on average was 243. For all other users, it was 220. (Hint: If you’re wanting to improve your FTP, try boosting your tolerance for high-intensity performance.)

If you’re looking for a power meter to help you get an FTP estimate, consider our versatile Rally 110 and 210 power meters. These deliver responsive and accurate performance data, durable designs, rechargeable batteries and so much more.

How does age and mileage affect your VO2 max?

Now, let’s get into VO2 max³. This is a number — the higher, the better — that defines your cardiorespiratory fitness and aerobic performance capacity. The Garmin Human Performance Lab engine in your Garmin cycling computer or watch estimates your VO2 max by identifying, analyzing and interpreting meaningful performance data during your ride based on your power and heart rate data.

The average VO2 max for all Garmin cyclists was 51. Similar to FTP, the average VO2 max was the highest among younger age groups and steadily decreased with age.

Here’s the average VO2 max by the number of average weekly miles ridden: The more miles recorded each week, the higher the VO2 max.

To find the VO2 max of elite cyclists, we looked at those users with an average weekly mileage of 160 miles or more. The top cyclists recorded an average VO2 max of 62, while everyone else averaged 51.

If you’re looking for a way to get in your best cycling shape, consider the free and personalized Garmin Coach training plans in Garmin Connect. With Garmin Cycling Coach, for example, and a compatible heart rate monitor and power meter, you’ll get a program that adapts based on your performance and recovery — using your VO2 max and FTP as the foundation.

Why should you ride with Garmin?

With an Edge bike computer (otherwise known as your bike’s best friend), you get valuable performance data, detailed mapping features and dedicated training data — all the essentials for a quality ride experience. When you also wear a Garmin smartwatch, you get important off-the-bike training and recovery data so you can take your cycling fitness and health monitoring to a new level. Add on a Rally power meter to help track your performance, and don’t forget about our rearview radars and smart lights that help give you peace of mind.

These devices work together to help you reach your goals, whether that’s training for a race or improving your overall fitness.

Learn more about choosing which Garmin bike computer is right for you and how you’ll benefit from insights for cyclists on Garmin smartwatches. Browse all of our cycling products to start improving your rides today.

¹_{See Garmin.com/variavuememorycard}

²_{Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit use of this camera device. It is your responsibility to know and comply with applicable laws and rights to privacy in jurisdictions where you plan to use this device.}

_{³See Garmin.com/ataccuracy}

The post The beat on bikes: The latest global trends from Garmin cyclists appeared first on Garmin Blog.

Millions of users rely on Garmin Connect as the tool for tracking, analyzing, and sharing health and fitness activities from their Garmin device every day. But Garmin Connect is so much more than just an app. If you dive a little deeper, you’ll find dozens of useful features, whether you want to track your wellness statistics, start training for a running or cycling race, or anything in between.  

Wonder how to use Garmin Connect? Here are just a handful of the useful and surprising features you’ll find. Take a few taps around the app or click around the website, and chances are you’ll find even more ways that Garmin Connect can help you achieve your health and fitness goals

Your homepage  

If you’re a regular Garmin device user, then you are no doubt familiar with Home, the Garmin Connect app’s homepage. This hub of your health and performance stats presents all of today’s (and the past seven days’) information in easily digestible cards. These cards may include activities tracked by your Garmin device, daily step count, heart rate, stress level¹ and much more depending on your device’s capabilities. Even better? You can customize the In Focus and At a Glance sections that are displayed on your Home screen, allowing you to focus on the data you care about most. With a Garmin Connect+ plan, receive personalized insights and suggestions to improve your health and activity data with Active Intelligence, an AI-powered feature.

If you want more information about a specific metric, simply tap the card to access daily details. Or by tapping into each stat, you can view charts and analysis of your stats over longer periods to monitor your progress.

View your activity details 

One of the main reasons people turn to Garmin Connect is for a closer look at their activity details. Once you save an activity on your Garmin device and sync with Garmin Connect, you get an in-depth view of your activity that includes relevant performance metrics like time, distance, laps, elevation, pace/speed, heart rate and more. GPS-tracked activities include a map with a themed polyline that details the metric of your choice along your route. The mobile app and website also provide historical activity reports so you can track your personal records, training history, overall mileage and more. 

To see charts and graphs of your fitness and health data over time, take a look at the performance dashboard with Garmin Connect+.

Monitor sleep and recovery  

Research in recent years has shown just how important sleep is to our overall health and well-being. Garmin is at the forefront of sleep technology with advanced metrics that show you the duration and quality of your sleep over time as well as sleep stages, including REM¹. Beyond tracking your total duration and sleep stages, Garmin Connect gives you a nightly sleep score (with compatible devices) that ranks the overall quality of your sleep and provides guidance. For extra sleep recommendations, Garmin sleep coach gives you sleep insights based on your age, activity levels, sleep history, naps and HRV. Garmin’s exclusive Body Battery feature also shows how sleep impacts your overall energy levels each day, and sleep is factored into several advanced Garmin training metrics as well. Enable features like Pulse Ox² on your compatible device to track your blood oxygen while you sleep. By tracking blood oxygen, your device will measure your breathing variations for enhanced awareness of your sleep environment and wellness. Plus, see your HRV status to check in on your recovery status.

Proper recovery includes staying on top of your nutrition. Easily track burned¹ and consumed calories and progress, log foods, set goals and receive Active Intelligence insights on how nutrition is impacting your health and training all in one place.

Track women’s health 

Both Garmin smartwatches and Garmin Connect have several women’s health tracking features. Menstrual cycle tracking lets you log your period dates, receive future period predictions, track symptoms and more. During each phase of your cycle, you can learn something new about how hormone changes can affect your workouts and nutrition. You can also track pregnancies in Garmin Connect and receive insights, record baby movements and log blood sugar, among other useful features. On compatible devices, enable skin temperature tracking to receive period predictions for potential start dates and past ovulation estimates². You’ll find women’s health tracking in “Health Stats,” which is located in the left-side menu of the website and the “More” menu in the app.

Train hard  

One area where Garmin Connect stands above the competition is as a training tool. Whatever your goal, Garmin Connect likely has a workout, training plan, pacing strategy or performance stat to help you achieve it. Just tap on “Training” in the left-side menu of the website or the “More” menu in the app to get started.  

The list of training tools hosted within Garmin Connect is lengthy, but one of the highlights is Garmin Coach training plans. When it’s time to train for an event, achieve a milestone or improve your fitness, Garmin offers training plans for runners, cyclists, strength trainers, triathletes and fitness enthusiasts. If you’re a runner, for example, choose your plan, select your race distance or other training goal, and start packing on the miles. With Garmin Connect+, get coaching guidance and videos for Garmin Run, Cycling and Triathlon Coach. Plus, check out PacePro for pacing strategies when running and advanced training metrics such as Training Status, Training Effect, Lactate Threshold and Functional Threshold Power (FTP) that help you track your training progress.

Follow friends 

Maybe you want to compete in a step count challenge with your family members, or you want to follow and compare stats with your favorite athlete. If you do, keep up with the stats of your friends, family, and athletes and influencers on Garmin Connect. When you follow other accounts, choose to share logged activities, earned badges or steps. Plus, if you’re going toe to toe with one of your friends in the app, favorite their account to see frequent updates of their stats. 

Earn badges  

Nothing feels better than being rewarded for your accomplishments, and Garmin’s wide variety of badges do exactly that. For everything from recording your first activity to achieving a 30-day step goal streak to running a marathon, Garmin Connect will award you a badge and give you points for earning that badge. Plus, earn additional badges and points by joining badge challenges with your followers. Compare your badge achievements with your followers and climb the badge level leaderboard as you earn more points. Get exclusive badges and badge challenges, with a Garmin Connect+ plan.  

And so much more

Whether using the app or the web, Garmin Connect also lets you create mapped-out activity courses to download to compatible devices, build custom workouts, manage your device’s music and a whole lot more. This may sound like a lot, but it’s really just scratching the surface of what you can do with your Garmin device paired with Garmin Connect. No matter what your health, fitness or training goals may be, Garmin Connect has you covered.   

¹_{See Garmin.com/ataccuracy}

²_{The menstrual cycle tracking feature should not be used in support of conception, contraception or birth control. This is not a medical device and is not intended for diagnosing or monitoring any medical condition.}

³_{This is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition; see Garmin.com/ataccuracy. Pulse Ox not available in all countries.}

The post How to use Garmin Connect to track your health and wellness appeared first on Garmin Blog.

Ever wanted to know how your runs affect your Garmin sleep score¹? Or how your training load correlates with your resting heart rate? Now you can.

With a Garmin Connect+ plan, you’ll get access to premium features, including a performance dashboard that provides a comprehensive view of your training data, and helps you compare your fitness and health data in customizable graphs and charts. While you can already easily view metrics such as steps, intensity minutes, stress and much more in the Garmin Connect app, the performance dashboard takes analyzing your data to a new level.

If you’re looking for an in-depth way to understand your personal metrics — whether you want to improve your overall wellness or you’re an ultra-endurance athlete — this robust dashboard is made for you. Here’s what you should know.

What are the benefits of the performance dashboard?

The performance dashboard can help an athlete at any level examine the impact of their training through overlaying health and wellness metrics with sports and performance data. This enables you to see how your body is reacting to your activity. And that means you’ll be able to tell if one or more aspects of your workout routine are working great or if you need to adjust.

Even if you aren’t an athlete, you can benefit from the dashboard. If, for example, you struggle with a chronic health condition, you could look for a pattern in your health metrics tracked by your compatible smartwatch.

And with the Index S2 Smart Scale tracking your weight, body mass index, body fat percentage and more, you’ll have even more data available to track trends with.

How does the performance dashboard work?

Want to know how your heart rate variability relates to your running? Wondering if you’re less stressed on the days you work out? Curious how your training status correlates with how far you’re running? The performance dashboard can help with all of that and so much more.

If you want to see if changes you’ve made to your training are improving your fitness, you can compare training blocks by creating multiple charts with different time periods but the same data inputs.

With more than 140 premade charts, Garmin Connect+ lets you juxtapose dozens of health and performance metrics from any timeframe and create your own hub of customized insights. Incorporate strength training stats such as reps, weight, sets, volume and even muscle groups into your charts. Plus, add nutrition data such as daily average protein, carb, fat and calorie intake.

Simply open the Garmin Connect desktop site, select the performance dashboard and begin creating a new dashboard. Choose between strength training, running, cycling, multisport or a fully custom dashboard. Once set up, you can also use the Garmin Connect app (under the “more” tab) to open your dashboard on your phone’s browser.

What else do you get with Garmin Connect+?

These are a few of the premium features you can take advantage of when you sign up for Garmin Connect+:

• Active Intelligence: Powered by AI, this feature provides personalized insights and suggestions. As the app gets to know you, the insights will adjust based on your activities and performance metrics.
• Nutrition tracking: If you have nutrition goals, track your calories and macros in the Garmin Connect app for a well-rounded view of your health and fitness. Track progress, log foods (on select smartwatches), create personalized goals and receive Active Intelligence insights on nutritional impacts when you have a Garmin Connect+ plan.
• Live activity: When you pair your smartphone to your compatible smartwatch, you can see real-time heart rate¹, pace data and videos for your indoor workouts such as Pilates, strength training and more. Plus, you can edit reps, update your weight, and stop and start workouts – all from your phone.
• Exclusive coaching guidance: You’ll get expert guidance from Garmin Coaches as you progress through your Garmin Run Coach, Garmin Triathlon Coach or Garmin Cycling Coach training plan. Plus, get exclusive educational content and videos when you upgrade to a Garmin Connect+ plan.
• Garmin Trails²: Find routes in select countries based on difficulty, distance and more for your next hike, backpacking trip or trail run with Garmin Trails. Then, send the trail to your compatible device with an active Outdoor Maps+ or Garmin Connect+ plan for offline access.
• Enhanced LiveTrack³: Your contacts will get a text when you start an activity on a compatible device. Plus, you can create a personalized LiveTrack profile page to share with followers.
• Social features: You can access exclusive badges, badge challenges and personalization for your Garmin Connect app profile.

Already have a Garmin smartwatch? Activate your Garmin Connect+ plan today. If you’re a first-time user, get familiar with Garmin Connect+ using your 30-day free trial. Still deciding which watch is right for you? Browse our collection of smartwatches to start learning more about your health and performance metrics.

_{¹See Garmin.com/ataccuracy}

_{²Trails available in select areas. Learn more.}

_{³When paired with your smartphone; LiveTrack feature has requirements and limitations}

The post What is the Garmin Connect+ performance dashboard? appeared first on Garmin Blog.

We’ll help you understand what FTP is, how it differs from VO2 max, the science behind it, how you can find yours and how you can improve your FTP.

What is functional threshold power?

FTP is the highest power output, measured in watts, that you can sustain without rapidly fatiguing. This definition comes from Andrew Coggan, Ph.D., an early advocate of power-based training.

Well-trained cyclists can typically maintain FTP-level output for around an hour, though this varies by the individual. Fatigue can accumulate rapidly when your power output exceeds your FTP. Reduce your power output even slightly below your FTP and you may be able to keep going for longer.

It’s worth noting that FTP can be expressed in both absolute and relative terms. In absolute terms, your FTP is the total wattage of your power output. Relative expressions of FTP frame this insight as a power-to-weight ratio (watts per kilo of body weight). The ability to sustain higher power at lower body weights is an important predictor of success in races that involve major climbs.

What’s the difference between FTP and VO2 max?

What about VO2 max? VO2 max and FTP share an important relationship in the pantheon of performance metrics. VO2 max is the number that describes your maximum capacity for aerobic energy production. FTP, on the other hand, captures your ability to sustain higher intensities relative to your maximum aerobic capacity.

For two cyclists with similar VO2 max scores, the rider with the higher FTP may generally have an advantage in competitive settings. And just like VO2 max, FTP can be improved with targeted training methods. 

Physiology and the science behind FTP

The scientific basis for FTP offering useful insight is metabolic in nature. It connects what you do on your bike to what is happening inside your body.

A power meter quantifies performance by measuring energy transfer over time in terms of watts — one joule per second to be precise. Rally power meters can determine the force you’re producing right at the pedals, allowing you to compare the force generated between different bikes — regardless of variations in cadence, power and cranks between bikes.

But where does the energy that powers your muscle contractions come from? It’s the result of breaking down adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules, a biological resource often called the fuel of life. 

Your body maintains a limited supply of ATP that’s consumed quickly during physical activity. To keep going, your ATP production rate needs to match the energy demand of your performance.

The ATP you use when cycling is mostly produced aerobically, meaning oxygen was available and used in the process. Aerobic creation of ATP is efficient but limited by the ability of your heart, lungs and circulatory system to import oxygen from the atmosphere and transport it to your muscles.

When you need more energy than can be produced with the available oxygen, the ATP needed to make up the difference comes from anaerobic energy pathways — and this can lead to fatigue.

When glucose molecules are broken down for fuel, anaerobic metabolism produces a byproduct called lactate (small amounts of which are always present in your blood supply). The concentration of lactate rises when you exercise and increase the intensity of your performance. Some lactate molecules become fuel for aerobic energy production, while your circulatory system clears other lactate molecules from your working muscles to be remade as glucose in your liver.

Continue to increase the intensity of your performance and eventually the rate of lactate production will eclipse your ability to clear it away, so it accumulates. This can result in reaching your lactate threshold, where you may notice fatigue setting in faster.

How to find your FTP

FTP tests can help estimate the point at which the energy demand results in more lactate production than your circulatory system can clear away. A traditional approach may require taking blood samples during exercise and analyzing them in a laboratory.

Experienced cyclists typically reach the lactate threshold at a higher percentage of VO2 max compared to untrained cyclists. This difference is generally the result of improved aerobic energy production achieved through training.

With Garmin’s auto FTP feature, you don’t have to worry about a 60-minute time trial, 20-minute test or a ramp with increasing intensity. Select Garmin cycling computers and multisport watches can estimate your FTP during any cycling activity you record that includes enough time spent at different intensities, above and below your FTP. This method uses a combination of heart rate, heart rate variability and power data, so you need to have a heart rate monitor and a Rally 110/210 power meter paired with your Garmin head unit or compatible smartwatch. Plus, this improves your recommendations from Garmin Cycling Coach and daily suggested workouts.

How can I improve my FTP?

Increasing your FTP means boosting your tolerance for high-intensity performance. After establishing your FTP, Garmin Cycling Coach will use it to fine-tune your workout intensity and target specific training outcomes.

To get the full benefit of more targeted specialty workouts, you’ll need to build a strong, well-balanced foundation. Long, low-intensity aerobic training sessions set the stage for FTP-focused workouts by building muscular and cardiorespiratory endurance. Anaerobic and sprint training sessions enhance neuromuscular coordination and grow absolute maximum power output capacity — both of which improve overall cycling efficiency.

How you challenge yourself determines your results. This is known as the specificity principle of training. Tackling a hard challenge tells your body that it’s time to adapt to make similar challenges easier in the future. These adaptations happen in the recovery period after a challenge. Then, rinse and repeat: Repeating this cycle of loading and recovery helps you improve performance over time.

To improve your ability to tolerate high-intensity efforts, you need to strain your body with high-intensity efforts. Interval workouts are widely used to target both VO2 max and FTP development. That’s because punctuating higher intensity segments with periods of lower intensity activity allows you to perform more high-intensity work than you would in a workout built around a single continuous exertion.

VO2 max level intensity can typically only be sustained for several minutes. As a result, VO2 max targeting interval workouts typically feature shorter, higher intensity intervals. Because VO2 max-focused workouts involve pushing yourself above and beyond FTP intensities, these rides can have a positive impact on your ability to tolerate high-intensity performance.

Workouts designed to target FTP improvement often involve pushing yourself at FTP-level intensity for longer intervals. The extended duration of these intervals means you’ll also need longer recovery periods, and you will perform fewer of them during a ride.

Training to improve your FTP is both mentally challenging and physically exhausting, so avoid scheduling high-intensity workouts on consecutive days and give yourself plenty of time to recover.

How Garmin can help you train

If you’re not sure what type of workout would be best for you today, you can always check the daily workout suggestion on your Garmin device for an ideal training session based on your current fitness level, recent training activities and recovery levels. Even daily stress levels and sleep quality are considered in your workout suggestion when using select Garmin devices with 24/7 lifestyle tracking capabilities.

If you train with Rally 110 and 210, you get a versatile power meter that easily transfers between bikes and pedal bodies and accurately tracks performance metrics to help you fine-tune your training on every bike and ride. Our single-sensing power meter pedals, Rally 110, and our dual-sensing power meter pedals, Rally 210, provide essential data such as power and cadence within 1% accuracy. With Rally 210, you can also access advanced cycling dynamics including seated/standing position, power phase, platform center offset (PCO), and right/left balance.

When paired with a compatible Garmin cycling computer or smartwatch, Rally 110 and 210 also feature force data measurements for greater insights on the relationship between your power and cadence,.

Start optimizing your rides today with a Garmin power meter.

The post Do I need a power meter? The case for functional threshold power appeared first on Garmin Blog.

The right bike gear can help you practice responsible riding and feel more secure on your rides, whether you’re squeezing in post-work road rides as the sun sets or dedicating hours to your bike in peak sunshine on the trails.

No matter what type of cyclist you are, you should brush up on these five cycling safety tips — and consider adding Garmin bike computers, radars and lights before you start pedaling.

1. Make sure you can see other people.

With rearview radars and smart lights, you can help raise your awareness of drivers behind and in front of you.

The Varia Vue headlight camera records front-facing video in 4K (memory card required¹; sold separately) and automatically stores the video on the device if an incident is detected. Varia Vue front bike light with camera offers five light modes and an auto brightness control that adjusts to your speed and surroundings, designed to help you see the road ahead — and to increase the chance that other drivers will see you². You can spend more time on the road with up to 7 hours of battery life in day flash mode with the camera recording, and up to 9 hours when not using the headlight.

Plus, you can get coverage from the back of your bike by adding the Varia RearVue 820 rearview radar tail light or Varia RCT715 rearview radar tail light and camera.

Our most powerful and precise radar yet, Varia RearVue 820 provides more reliable alerts than ever before. It can send visual and audible alerts while you ride when you connect it to the Varia smartphone app, compatible Edge® bike computers or select Garmin smartwatches — so you can easily get a heads-up that a car is approaching³. With advanced vehicle tracking, you’ll see alerts based on size, movement and threat level when you ride with compatible Edge cycling computers or the Varia app on your compatible smartphone.

If you want a radar tail light with a camera, consider Varia RCT715. Instead of advanced vehicle tracking, you’ll get essential visual and audible notifications on your paired Edge cycling computer, select Garmin smartwatches or the Varia app on your paired smartphone. Plus, Varia RCT715 adjusts the intensity of your tail light when it senses oncoming vehicles. You can adjust your light intensity and flash behavior to fit your ride. The easy-to-mount Varia RCT715 also features a built-in camera that will continuously record the surroundings behind you and, in the event of an incident, automatically save video footage from before, during and after the event. Plus, you’ll get up to 6 hours of battery life with radar, tail light in day flash and camera recording.

If you have an eBike, then Varia eRTL615 is the rearview radar for you. Varia eRTL615 features a battery-free design that is powered by your compatible eBike⁴, and it can help increase awareness between rider and driver.

While we hope most drivers are patient with cyclists, this isn’t always the case. The alerts from our rearview radars give you the opportunity to judge the car’s position and speed to determine if you need to pull over and give them a little more room to pass. 

2. Make sure other people can see you.

It’s always a good idea to wear reflective clothing when you ride, but thanks to the latest advancements in Garmin technology, you can take your visibility to a whole new level regardless of when the sun sets.

Our brightest tail light, Varia RearVue 820 , offers up to 1.24 miles (or 2 kilometers) of visibility and a brake light that shows when you’re slowing or stopping, while the Varia eRTL615 radar tail light can be seen up to a mile away. The Varia Vue headlight camera projects a steady blast of up to 600 lumens to help drivers coming from the other direction see you from up to 1 mile away. It also includes a cutoff beam, meaning the light intensity is reduced above the cutoff line to help preserve the vision of oncoming drivers.

3. Know exactly where you’re navigating.

No natural sense of direction? No problem. The latest Garmin Edge GPS cycling computers come equipped with multi-band GPS, which provides superior positioning accuracy.

Plus, thanks to the vivid display on the Edge 1050 premium cycling computer, and the more compact Edge 550 and 850 devices, you can see your maps in greater detail. With these Edge computers, you can get ride-specific routing, no matter if you’re on mountain, gravel or road rides. With Trendline popularity routing, your Edge cycling computer will find a route recommended for you based on the most traveled roads and trails by other Garmin cyclists. (You can learn more about choosing which Garmin bike computer is right for you here).

4. Stay connected in case of an emergency.

With the LiveTrack feature on a compatible Edge cycling computer (or your Garmin smartwatch), you can share your rides with contacts you have selected in the Garmin Connect app. This allows viewers to track your location and see where you are in real time. 

Plus, Garmin Edge cycling computers offer an incident detection feature that sends a message⁵ to your designated contacts with your live location if the device detects an incident. (Reminder: You need to set up emergency contacts in the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone before you can use the incident detection feature). You’ll receive a message on your Edge device and paired smartphone letting you know the message to your contacts will be sent within 30 seconds, giving you plenty of time to cancel the automated emergency message if you don’t need help.

You can also pair your compatible cycling computer to an inReach® satellite communicator⁶ to stay connected wherever you ride — even when you don’t have cell service. When you’re cycling through backcountry trails, you don’t need to swap back and forth between devices. Instead, you can use your Edge to control features such as sharing location data and viewing and replying to messages. However, your incident detection contacts are different from your inReach contacts, which can be set up through the Garmin Explore app or the Garmin Messenger app, depending on which device is being used. In an emergency, you can trigger an SOS message on your Edge to Garmin Response^℠, our 24/7-staffed international emergency coordination center, which will connect you to help if you need it.

5. Follow the rules of the road.

Traffic laws are put in place to help keep people safe on the road, and they apply to cyclists as well. It’s critical to obey all traffic signs and signals. Use bike lanes when available and be aware of your surroundings.

Part of that awareness should also include awareness of hazards. With a compatible Edge computer, you — and other Garmin cyclists — can report five types of community-generated road hazards: animals, obstructions, potholes, slippery surfaces and general hazards. You can also see hazards as an alert on your Edge, allowing you to be more aware of potential hazards ahead based on what other riders reported.

By following these five simple tips, you will be on your way to becoming a more responsible cyclist. Ready to hit the road? Be sure to outfit your bike with the latest Garmin technology for superior, bike-specific navigation and a host of performance features for cyclists at any level.

¹_{See Garmin.com/variavuememorycard}

²_{When paired with your Edge cycling computer}

³_{Requires a compatible Garmin cable (sold separately)}

⁴_{When riding with your compatible Edge cycling computer or the Varia app on your paired smartphone}

⁵_{When paired with your compatible smartphone. For safety and tracking feature requirements and limitations, see Garmin.com/safety.}

⁶_{Jurisdiction restrictions may apply; requires active inReach subscription and paired smartphone. Photo and voice messaging requires use of the Garmin Messenger app on your compatible smartphone.}

The post How Garmin cycling gear can help give you peace of mind appeared first on Garmin Blog.