I have relied on my fitness watch to keep me on pace with my goals during training and racing since I took on my first marathon back in 2017. Since then I’ve worked hard to achieve three Boston Qualifying times and race in two (hopefully soon to be three!) Boston Marathons. At last year’s Boston Marathon, I signed on as a Garmin Ambassador so I can more easily share my love for fitness with all of you!
This year, Garmin is celebrating their birthday with the best deals on watches I have seen (some are up to $250 off!). The sale runs September 12-18. There are so many great options, but here are my favorites:
1. Vivoactive 4S, Was: $350, Now: $200
In my opinion, this is the best watch for your money, regardless of your fitness level. I started with the Vivoactive 3 and upgraded to the 4S just ahead of the 2021 Chicago Marathon. Favorite feature: Download your Spotify playlists, wirelessly connect to your Bluetooth speakers, and you’re off to the races hands-free. Plus I love the rose gold/white combo that’s stylish enough for everyday wear.
2. Fenix 6S, Was $650, Now: $450
When I became a Garmin Ambassador, I upgraded to the Fenix 7S, and while it’s top of the line as far as fitness watches go, the price of the 6S makes it hard to contend with. There’s basically nothing this watch can’t do, from grade adjusted pacing guidance, to daily suggested workouts based on your upcoming race and goals, to pre-loaded maps for over 2,000 ski resorts, this watch is perfect for any fitness fanatic who loves data and has a challenge to tackle. Choose from the standard Gorilla glass or select the sapphire edition which features a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens. Solar charging allows for a crazy long battery life of up to 34 days and the watch is water rated to 10 ATM making it great for anyone who loves swimming or water sports. Again with the rose gold/white, but the all black looks equally cool.
3. Forerunner 45S, Was $200, Now $140
This watch is a great value. It features up to 7 days of battery life off a single charge, text and smart notifications right at your wrist, and built in accident detection to give you piece of mind. With its lightweight design and five colors to choose from, this watch won’t weigh you down while you’re chasing all your fitness goals.
4. Vivomove Sport, Was $180, Now $150
For the smart watch that doesn’t look like a smart watch, look no further. Features include 5 days of battery life, a hidden touchscreen display where you can stay up to date with texts, calls and calendar reminders from your wrist, and apps for yoga, walking, cardio and more, this watch is an awesome value. Plus choose from a wide variety of stylish colors!
A common question I get is “How do Garmin watches compare to the Apple watches?”. While I haven’t had an Apple watch, I almost made the switch a couple of years ago before upgrading to my second Vivoactive. After doing research online, at local running stores, and by asking fellow runners, the consensus was that if you’re looking for a fitness watch, Garmin is the industry leader especially when it comes to GPS, navigation and fitness data.
If you have any questions, leave a comment here or DM me on Instagram. I’m a Garmin Ambassador because I truly love these products, so I’m always happy to help you decide what’s best for you and your fitness needs. If you do decide to purchase, I just ask that you use any of my links throughout this post which really helps me out. Thank you!
The Plane Kate 