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 (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 for Black Friday/Holiday shopping, Garmin is offering the best deals on watches I have seen (some are up to $450 off!). Sales run through December but the Black Friday flash sale ends November 28! There are so many great options, but here are some of my recommendations for everyone on your list:
1. Vivoactive 4S, Was: $350, Now: $180
For literally everyone. In my opinion, this is is one of the best watches, 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 7 Series, Was: $700-$1000, Now: $600-$900
Fenix 6 Series, Was: $650-$950, Now: $350-$550
For the serious athlete. When I became a Garmin Ambassador, I upgraded to the Fenix 7S, it’s truly top of the line as far as fitness watches go. 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. The Fenix 6S is also still available at a great sale price as well.
3. D2 Air X10, Was: $500, Now: $450
For the aviator. This smart watch takes things to new heights, literally. With the Garmin Pilot App, you can transfer your flight plan directly to your watch and keep track of all your past flights the same way you would your fitness activities too. Get aviation weather, airport information, direct-to navigation and so much more right on your wrist. You’ll still get all the great fitness features Garmin always offers plus a built-in microphone to place and receive calls, and you can even pay for your Starbucks from your wrist when you forget to pack your wallet.
4. Vivomove Sport, Was: $180, Now: $150
For the fashionista. 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!
5. Venu Series, Was: $250-$450, Now: $250-$350
For the workaholic. With the built-in microphone, you’ll have the ability to place and receive calls, utilize your smartphone’s voice assistant and receive notifications all from your wrist. This watch comes in highly customizable options so you can wear it with anything while still getting all the health and fitness monitoring features you could ever want from running, to swimming, to HIIT and gym workouts.
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. The Garmin Connect app that pairs with the watches is also unique in that you can connect with other Garmin users and join challenges, seamlessly upload your data to Strava, use your watch to pay wirelessly, and track the mileage on your shoe collection-in addition to so much more!
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 