Garmin - epix (Gen 2) Standard Edition
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 15, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
64
3
"just upgraded to the 265S for the AMOLED screen. ... Wasn't a fan of the MIPS of the 255."
"If you're over 40 or 50 the a m oled screen, it looks like neon LED lights. It's preferred over the mips screen because of well eyes and aging. You can't see the dull black and white screen underwater if you're a swimmer too, it doesn't show up. Well. Get the 265 because of the a m oled screen"
"In darker rooms the AMOLED is way better to read than the MIP without backlight."
300
22
"the battery lasts 2 weeks, that's with 5 days worth of tracking runs and day to day use. Incredible."
"16 days battery life on my fenix. ... The other aspect I really appreciate about my fenix is the battery life. 16 days or so. With everything I have to change these days (laptops, mice, keyboards, headphones, watches, phones), I appreciate not having to worry about it too often."
"Oh, and the battery lasts days even when exercising a lot (weeks without excercise)."
4
1
"This watch is indestructible with the sapphire screen (wiped out once or twice on a mountain bike and smashed it at work) that doesn’t scratch."
"is bullet proof"
"I'm glad I have the more rugged Epix with sapphire glass"
31
3
"it's literally a fitness tracker first ... then 2 miles of data sheets from all that tracking"
"the load tracking and suggested workout feature alone is worth it."
"Handles swimming and running spot on paired with HRM-Pro."
11
1
"Not even getting started on navigation in the mountains, which is really good — if you hike, camp, trail run, cycle, or generally enjoy being out, you will love your Epic or Fenix."
"*Superior GPS performance with SAT IQ."
"I really wanted maps on it without 3rd parry apps screwing around."
Disliked most:
58
121
"The thing whoop is giving me is wildly inaccurate HR readings. ... Did a casual bike ride with my child yesterday afternoon and whoop gave me a 187 high HR. This was a really slow like 4 block bike ride. ... AW said 108hr peak. Ive biked hard, ran as hard as possible doing max HR tests with my H10 chest strap and never hit above high 160s. ... Im not sure whats going on but its been doing this type of odd HR readings all week."
"I had Whoop for three months and it started showing a very bad data. Like catastrophicly bad. ... Bought Polar chest strap to check my HRV, it was VERY different and was showing me my normal data, data that whoop originally showed to me as well until three months into use it stopped."
"HR reading on Whoop are known for being absolutely aweful. ... Better having an accurate reading every 5 minutes than multiple bad readings every seconds. ... Whoop has awesome software and data analysis, but makes it somehow unusable because of bad hr data in. ... If HR accuracy is not a problem for you, and only follow "very general trends", yeah Whoop is a cool product. But if you are at some minimal point serious about HR accuracy, for real sport / performance / improvment, you cannot relly on it. ... If a Polar device, Garmin, apple watch says it's at 80 with readings every minute or so, and whoop says 65 every seconds, your "constant readings" are not worth anything. Garbage in, garbage out. ... Even counting it manually with a timer and my finger on my neck would be more accurate. ... their linear HR sensors are poor quality, and not the ideal way of positioning them (VS circular patern)."
10
60
"chunky edges on my 4.5 inch wrist which is tiny"
"So much lighter and low profile than my Epix."
"dancing with a fenix 8 will look & feel ridiculous."
2
12
"taking phone calls from the watch"
"all the "smart" gibberish as a barely visible dot on the horizon."
"You won’t be reading your emails, getting texts, or calling a Uber"
0
5
"Garmin's auto rest feature (automatic lap/set vs rest feature) is almost good. The issue is that the motion detection is way too sensitive so if I move my arm at all during rest it thinks I'm still swimming. The algorithm also has trouble with rests shorter than 20s so it's common to see workout sets recorded as one big swim blob with some periods of no movement sprinkled in."
"annoyingly less accurate compared to Finnis goggles and Apple Watch"
"about 20% of my laps are undercounted ... it keeps running up the time well after I stop for a rest - this can even be up to 10 seconds after I stop."
1
3
"Garmin pretty much stop support for new features 2 years after I got the Epix gen 2."
"garmin keeps acting like this line of watches don’t exist, and I miss loads of new features"
"although i miss some whoop creature comforts (mostly being able to trend what affects my sleep)"
Garmin Epix is good at lap counting (except for kick sets). I think its pretty good at stroke detection too bud I don't check the strokes often.
r/Swimming • Are all smart watches equally bad for swimming? ->YES. I want to wear ‘nice’ watches. I’d love to wear an ankle thingy with no screen that keeps track of things forever… and when I need a screen, I’d use the epix I have.
r/Garmin • Garmin, why? ->I’m not saying i dont look at the map during a run, I’m saying i dont “pan the map” while i am actually running. I usually stop for a moment if i need to pan and look around at the surroundings if i need to. The default map tracking (and tbt) is fast enough for me when i am coming up on an jntersection. Im also using an epix2. I havent noticed the frustrations you mention, maybe i’m not as sensitive or am used to it.
r/trailrunning • Want to get a watch for trail running. Is MIP screen best in all circumstances? ->I have the Epix, and am very happy with it. Flashlight gets used every day. It’s just so bloody useful. Battery life is around 2 weeks, and I’m running 5 times a week. Can’t speak for the other device, but slimness would be nice! It’s a thick watch and my wrists aren’t huge, but it can make getting shirts on and off a little annoying. That would be my only real gripe to be honest. It is otherwise comfortable. My only other Garmin comparison is the forerunner 235. That was slim, but had a VERY annoying protrusion where the sensor was. This is not a problem on the Epix. Another pro is the sturdy construction/rugged look; I’ve had it for a good year at least. Watch is near spotless, and I don’t baby it. https://preview.redd.it/fp2lahkizeuf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d0c40704bee6cc9825605051bf4495f57e728d78 Given it’s Amoled it isn’t always on to save batteries. I thought this would get annoying, but the tilt sensor if anything errs on the side of over sensitive, so 99% of the time it comes on when I need it to. The only time it struggles is when I’m on the bike, but then just resort to button pressing.
r/Garmin • Epix pro 47mm sapphire vs forerunner 965 ->Hey there. Using my Epix Gen 2 for day hikes - built-in map is quite nice. But for "more advanced research" and to keep a bit more autonomy from the phone, the old Garmin GPSMap 64s with Topo Map is still here. It gives over 24 hours non-stop with a pair of AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries and a set of other 4 pre-charged AA accus give me solid 3 days non-stop - but if we count the sleep time in, I am more in the direction of 5-6 days autonomy. Yes, the device does not look sexy, and the screen is nothing to compare with modern phones (however, quite a bit better in the sunlight!), but it survived blizzard many times, falling onto the rocks, into the river, being in snow, etc. >10 years old as of now. For maximum autonomy, I'd rather look into direction of solar versions of modern Garmin handhelds. Watch is nice, but as soon as you have to answer a question "man, I am standing here and the road is closed - can I cut it through the valley nearby" the screen size starts to play the role.
r/Garmin • Best watch with maps and long battery life ->I got epix 2nd gen, it’s a good watch but for some reason garmin keeps acting like this line of watches don’t exist, and I miss loads of new features
r/Garmin • Leaving Fitbit and not sure what garmin watch I should get ->Since you don't seem to be doing any crazy sports or have any races I'd go for the pixel! I think it should be equally as capable as the Garmin especially if you're not doing sports. Personally got a Garmin Epix instead of an apple watch (back when I was still on an iPhone). Took it on a Spartan race, swims in the lake, skiing, half marathon and couple shorter races.
r/GooglePixel • Need help: pixel watch 3 or garmin ->Many of the Garmin lineup support multi sport, and personally I've been on the Fenix track for over a decade now, currently on Epix Gen2. Handles swimming and running spot on paired with HRM-Pro. I have an Edge 1040 for cycling. Wife has a Fenix 8, it's super nice. Weight not an issue for me, Forerunner is a lighter model but gets a plastic case if I'm not mistaken. And go for the Sapphire screen.
r/triathlon • Best watch for triathlon training? ->I would recommend either Epix Gen2 or Enduro 2. For hiking, especially if you're going to do multi-day hikes, bigger battery in 51mm options could be handy.
r/GarminWatches • Best watch for general sports tracking and hiking? ->I swapped my AW out for an Epix 2 about a month ago and am glad I did.
r/GarminWatches • Is it just me… ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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