Forerunner 301

As someone who has used Garmin on and off since the forerunner 301 and who has owned multiple AWs, what data can you get on Garmin that you can’t from Apple Watch + app ecosystem? I currently just switched from a Garmin 965 to an AWU3 (having had the AWU1 previously). I run 50Ks and looking to do a 50 miler next year. Battery life for LONG (14+ hours) events and more physical buttons would be the only reason to use a Garmin IMO.

Just switched from a series 3 to a used 955 within the last week. So far so good still learning my way around. I really wanted the more in depth stats for my workouts and sleep tracking (and better workout options as the series 3 didn't recieve updates like a triathlon mode, structured running workouts, and full tracking during pool swims). The battery life on the series 3 was getting really bad especially when doing 2 workouts in a day. I can still ping my iphone when in range. The battery life is a crazy change. I didn't have an LTE version and didn't carry my phone anyways so no changes there for me.

Ultra and Cadence.app (you have to pay subscription, of course). But in my opinion, Garmin is better option for cycling and I’ve tried both - Garmin needs no subscription, has offline maps and more and better metrics. And somewhat can export to Apple Health too :)

I switched. 1) no need to subscription (I'd have to pay for at least three apps to just remotely mimic what garmin does out of the box - cadence, bevel or athlytic and fitify) 2) ability to connect and use all my gear (I tend to use Engo Eyewear AND Stryd Duo pod together, which is hardly achievable on AW (I never managed to do it). 3) Garmin just works. No fiddling with apps like AW, just select the activity and go. 4) Five buttons! AW tended to behave erratically when sweated with long sleeve. Not Garmin. Or swimming workouts are accurate thanks to those buttons and drill log mode. 5) Battery good enough to withstand long run in winter (AW tended to have problems in 30+ km runs in cold, not Garmin) Forerunner asks me if to go to power saving mode, when there are "just two days left" :) 6) it is iphone independent. I can freely choose whatever phone I like 7) Garmin connect has bad UI, but the data trove is great. 8) ANT+ - lots of gear uses it 9) maps are in the watch offline, no need for data connection, like AW

i second that. wrist HR with F8 is also faulty for me like 30% of the times, could be because of a wrist or a strap. But i did not see any with F8 improvement compared to F6 or older forerunners

Garmin Forerunnner has several models in that range. Work like a charm.

Garmin Venu 1, 2, or even one of the newer Vivoactives would be great. You can get a Venu 2 for probably about $100-$130 on Facebook Marketplace right now. You can also get one of the older Garmin Forerunners for about the same price as well, if not a little cheaper

Use forerunner for swimming and it works great. So happy I no longer have to count my laps and I can just swim.