Best for: Exercise indoors and out
A brand synonymous with sports-focused smartwatches, Garmin has been at the forefront of this tech for quite some time, pumping out an endless array of premium pulse trackers that go above and beyond when it comes to sports spec.
The current range is six-strong, with a unique option for all comers, but what we’re interested in here is the Instinct S2 Solar, a lean, mean model that, available in 40, 45 and 50mm sizes to suit most wrists, is undeniably rugged. This is thanks to its fibre-reinforced polymer build, tough as a transparent nut Corning Gorilla Glass, and heat, shock and water resistance (100m). So, even if you take a remarkably unlucky tumble down a savagely steep hill and into an active geyser, the S2 will survive.
Solar-powered, as the name gives away, the Garmin packs GPS tracking, a heart rate monitor, records your daily resting heart rate, alerts you to abnormal heart rate alerts (high and low), measures respiration rate (24×7), pulse ox, blood oxygen saturation, stress, body battery and even a relation breathing timer for when you’ve gone just too far.
With a barometric, altimeter, compass, accelerometer and thermometer all included, every aspect of your exercise is measured and recorded, ready to be reviewed later. Downloadable widgets and apps, smart notifications, text response/reject phone calls with text (Android only), calendar, weather forecasts, smartphone music control, VIRB camera remote, and smart trainer control take ample care of all the other ‘smart’ stuff.
Packed to the running rafters with dedicated multisport activity profiles and compatible with both Apple and Android, all can be accessed and controlled either via the watch itself or on the accompanying Garmin Connect app, so you’ll be in the ‘your body’ know constantly.
A lot of smartwatch for a very low price, the Garmin Instinct S2 Solar is perfectly (some might say instinctively) positioned for alfresco athletes and gym bunnies alike.
- Body: Fibre-reinforced polymer
- Glass: Corning Gorilla Glass
- Strap: Silicone
- Resistance: Water (100m)
- Connection: Bluetooth