What Garmin watch for biking and general use

Can't speak for other models but I have the original Venu and it's great. I don't look like a Gravy Seal wearing it and it hasn't lost a ride yet.

There's just enough "smart watch" about it for daily use too.

The broadcasting of hr to my edge is very frugal. It warns me that the feature uses up battery faster, but after about 4hrs out it's dropped about 1% an hour! 🤣

I was going to suggest the Instinct Solar Crossover, as I have one, which was an upgrade recently from an Instinct Solar 2. Then I read the small slim bit 🙂

If you are not needing nav (as you have a 530 on the bike), I'd suggest an Apple watch tbh !

I got a Fenix 6 a few months ago, haven't used my bike Garmin 820 since (but would still use it if I was following a route and/or needed a map).

Records everything, works effortlessly with Garmin Connect and Strava and gets +10 days from a battery charge including +20 hours 'recording' rides.

I think the Venu 2 is just the vivoactive 4 with a different screen? If so, thats a watch due for immenent replacement as it was released in 2019

I'd look at the Forerunner 255 instead - its got a lot of the newer features missing from the vivoactive around recovery, HRV status etc.

I moved from a VA2 to a Fenix 6, initially thought I'd miss the touch screen but actually prefer the buttons - they work in the wet!

Also, I'd use a heart rate chest strap over broadcasting from the watch, especially if mountain biking.

If you are not needing nav (as you have a 530 on the bike), I’d suggest an Apple watch tbh !

And have to charge it daily...

Thanka all i want a garmin as i use garmin connect and can link it all up with my 530 edge. I dislike using a chest hrm so thought yhe new sensors on these watches would be as accurate? Are the fenix watches noticeably heavier on the wrist? I am more xc whippet than gravity assisted 😁

I do like the look and slimmer size of the venu sq2. Does any one here have any experience of this watch ?

I have had the vivoactive 4 for a couple of years and use it daily to record biking and other activities. Seem to do every thing I need it to do

I’ve had a fair few smartish watches and my thoughts are as follows

Best sports watch - Fenix of whatever size suits

Best Everyday watch - Apple Watch 7 upwards

Best watch ever that I wish was still around. Pebble Time Round 2 ☹️

I found the change from the vivoactive 3 to the Fenix noticeable for about 3 days, then completely forgot about it.  I love it, I wish I could afford a 7 because the touchscreen would be nice at times, but 5 buttons are loads better for sports use.

I’ve not used my Edge 530 since, might sell it, don’t think I’ve ever used it to navigate, but I have use my watch and it’s great.

Fenix 7s might be worth a look for you if you like a smaller watch. I’m going to get a 7x when funds allow. Or an Apple Watch ultra if they carry on getting better.

OP, John Lewis have a Fenix 6Pro for £369 while stocks last. If you're not bothered about the latest and greatest that'd be a steal.

Now that I've mentioned it, I'd hurry up if you want it!

I came from an apple watch to a venu 2 plus (switched to android). As a smart watch it's no contest, apple wins, however the only feature I miss is the authy app for 2fa logins, so I just have to use my phone instead (no big deal). Battery is much better, and now both my sports tracker sync with one app (Garmin connect). Battery is a lot better, and the heart rate transmission is bluetooth on the garmin, so for zwift it's fine, whereas with an apple watch you have to keep the garmin connect app open and on screen. I don't really bother with heart rate on my MTB, but have a heart rate strap for my edge 530.

Previously I had a vivoactive 3 music which was fine, but the screen was terrible (low res, coming from oled apple watch). that's only an issue if coming from an apple watch, and if you are careful with watch face selection you won't notice it as much (still see pixelated clock hands depending on what time it is

if you don't need gps on the watch (just heartrate, and your gps is always the edge 530) - the non-gps watches are much smaller

And have to charge it daily…

true, but most of us charge our phones daily too..

heart rate transmission is bluetooth on the garmin, so for zwift it’s fine, whereas with an apple watch you have to keep the garmin connect app open and on screen. I don’t really bother with heart rate on my MTB, but have a heart rate strap

I don't use either my Apple watch or Garmin on Zwift, as the HR chest strap is more accurate I find

I've given up on chest HRM straps - not sure if sweat was eventually killing them, but nothing was lasting longer than a couple of years. I've been using a Foreruner 55 for bike rides and general fitness recording for 6+ months now and can't fault it. Definitely more at the fitness end of the spectrum rather than smart watch. Small and light enough I don't notice it when MTBing. Broadcasts HR to my Edge, also broadcasts to a cheap Coospo bike computer I also use. Battery life over a week with daily fitness use.

I don't wear it daily as I prefer my old-fashioned actual watches, but it'd be fine as an everyday watch

Think the higher range forerunners are fenix in all but casing. Same functions, just more whippetty.

Have you checked the DC rainmaker review of the sq2? If not I'd do so.

It generally looks like a pretty good watch for the money, but it's worth noting the few things cut out for whatever reason, no sounds (unless you get the 'plus' version) so no audible alarms etc, and no altimeter so it doesn't do ascent or stair counting. Those things wouldn't bother me personally as elevation plots can be pulled off Strava/Garmin maps after upload. Most importantly it looks to have better battery life than equivalent Apple watches...

Maybe worth a poke about at the other Vivo and Venu watches which are pitched more as smart watches that can do sporty stuff than sports watches that can do a bit of smart stuff.

But yeah if it appeals and has the key features you want, I'd go for it.

i went from a fr935 which was a fenix 5 in all but case to a fr255 last year. charge it every 10 days or so (it has similar battery life to the fr935) but it has all the up to date sensors, gps chipset, and the new s/w stuff like body battery, sleep analysis, pulse ox, altimeter (which appears to continue working...) and is 250 RRP IIRC. can be had cheaper now i think. having had it for 6 months or so i have to say i'm extremely happy with the choice and happy to recommend it to anyone. the step up from there would be the direct replacement of the 935 which is now the fr955 or the fenix 7 or enduro range (i think?). for a substantial uplift in money neither of these options presented any features i felt i needed.

as suggested above the dcrainmaker site will cover all your garmin info needs and probably a lot more!

I went from the 935 to a Fenix 6 when it was on offer 2.5 years ago. Just got it replaced by Garmin as the charging port failed to charge. Gets worn daily and tracks various bits and pieces, it works very well for my usage.
It is big and chunky though, the 955 is same watch but in a smaller face (battery life may not be quite so good)...
I did have a look at a 7, more to see what it did that the 6 didn't and all the stuff wasn't of much interest to me, so I've not had the urge to go find a deal on it.
I like all the fitness tracking stuff - considering I'm unfit and out of shape though, I clearly don't like it enough to get improvements!

I've a Venu music for about 18 months and really like it. I can only imagine that the Venu 2 is even better.

I use it to track my walks, runs, bike rides (including static rides) and swims. The music is a bonus for running.

i 'think' the fr945 is equivalent to the fenix 6 and the 955 equivalent to the 7? though there are a few flavors of 6 and 7 with different features, battery capacity and the like. the fr255 has an improved sensor set over the fenix 6 i think. it also does the morning report thing yada yada.

After reading some on line reviews and many hours of u tube video content I think the watch for me is the Garmin venu 2 plus. It is smaller than the venu 2 (but bigger than the venu sq2) more compact and thinner than the forerunner or the instint. It has more sensors than the sq2 which is a bonus. It also has a speaker which the other 2 watches do not so alerts can be heard. All that is left is to find one thats on offer. . . . .

I'm probably going to be upgrading my FR 255 music before summer, I'm stuck between the FR 955 solar, Fenix 7 Sapphire solar and the Instinct crossover solar. All 3 are a similar size and weight, bigger than my 255 but not massive, instinct has the hands and superior battery life, 955 and 7 have more features but I don't need maps but would like the sapphire screen... 😵‍💫🤣

I dislike using a chest hrm so thought yhe new sensors on these watches would be as accurate? Are the fenix watches noticeably heavier on the wrist? I am more xc whippet than gravity assisted 😁

I've got a Fenix 5x Sapphire and the wrist sensor heart function is absolutely pants. The new watches may have addressed this but mine is wildly inaccurate.

During a ramp test on a static bike where my chest strap was transmitting to a PC I was keeping an eye on my watch and it was showing me pretty much laying on the sofa while I was on the verge of collapse!

When I first got the watch I tried all sorts. Different wrist, mega tight, loose, inside the wrist, moisten wrist, shave wrist. No change.

The doctor running the ramp test above said wrist based heart rate is widely regarded as being very flaky.

I wear the Fenix daily, wouldn't be without it. Not noticeably large on the wrist once you get used to it and no discernible weight.

My wife and I have gone through a few forerunners over the years and the 255 is a big step up over 235 and 245. Much more solid connection to phone, better HRM, battery life, notifications etc. I really like it. Didn't bother with music as I always take my phone anyway.

The wrist HRM is really good. Previous models were sometimes dodgy (so was a chest strap for me).

When I first got the watch I tried all sorts. Different wrist, mega tight, loose, inside the wrist, moisten wrist, shave wrist. No change.

Was the watch set to record the activity or was it in normal day to day hr mode?

During an activity the power to the sensor is increased so should be more accurate. Saying that, I find the watch to be 10-20bpm lower than a chest sensor during an activity so pretty much always use a chest strap.

Just got the Venu 2 plus a couple of days ago. Moved from Fenix 5. Much better screen, newer sensors etc. If you have Blue Light Card or mygym discounts thing via work it can be had for £280 direct from Garmin.

Fails to answer the question asked …

I just replaced a Garmin Fenix 3HR with a Coros Pace 2.

Chinese I think so it may be exporting my movements to China, but as I only use it for running, cycling etc and I switch it off thereafter, they won’t get much.

Cheaper than Garmin for the same features, lighter, and claiming a 30 hour GPS runtime.  Impressively quick at picking up the satellites.

Oh, almost forgot- under £170 for a triathlon capable watch. DC Rainmaker liked it if I recall.

If the cash is equal, would you go for a new Venu 2 or discounted Fenix 6pro solar to replace an instinct 2 solar?

I want notifications while desk surfing, and recording 3 x indoor and 2 x outdoor cycling workouts a week with related data.

I honestly think the fenix range is fab... The 6 and 7 series are getting the latest updates infilling ECG and other goodies....
The maps, activity and fitness tracking are ace...

Fenix all the way...

Btw... I've got skinny wrists and the standard 7 looks fine on these sticks....

D red P

Fenix 6 here…I found the HR is accurate but slow to pick up on trainer workouts compared to chest strap. I never bought it for that anyway, just use it to track metrics, strength workouts and dog walks etc.

Really happy with it 👍

If you can get a decently priced Fenix 6 Pro, I'd go for it. I lost mine last summer whilst kitesurfing and replaced it with a 7 solar; the 6 gives you 95% of the functionality for much less cash.
The standard (not S or X) size looks fine in formal occasions....not too big

As above, I use a polar OH HR monitor on my elliptical and Zwift sessions for better accuracy.