Garmin - Venu Sq

I would personally always take a Forerunner over the Venu series, as I am pretty serious about my fitness. I don't really care much about smart watch features, just need a bare minimum. And the venu series seems to take tradeoffs with fitness features to accommodate the increase in smart features.

Garmin now has smaller, less expensive options (no chest strap) like the Venu SQ that are great. You can get one for under $200 and you get all the tracking, heart rate data. Lower models just don’t have all advanced metrics and setting.

Might just depend on the amount you want to spend vs what you are going to get out of it. You could get a less expensive Garmin like a Venu Sq ($100-$150 refurb) that gives you body battery, sleep score, steps, heart rate, etc. The standard run of health metrics that can help with recovery and measuring general activity. I wear a gamin daily and do a lot of weight training. I can confirm that it doesn't do well at measuring anything related to lifting. You'll get a standard heart rate increase, but even intense weightlifting sessions aren't able to trigger the auto activity sensor. I still appreciate the data though. but you don't need a $1,000 Fenix to get helpful data. That is the one thing I wish I would have known before buying a Fenix.

You need to ask yourself what she’ll actually be using it for. If you’re just doing basic fitness tracking, then she likely doesn’t need a Fenix and a Vivoactive or Venu series would be the best bet for her. Use the website to compare devices with the activities she does regularly.

Garmin lasts about 2 weeks without charging. Venu line.

It is beat with the Garmin Venu line.

I’ve rowed for years with my Concept 2 and my old Venu Sq. I use a chest strap because the arm isn’t great for activity where the wrist is constantly moving like rowing. RowErg links up with Garmin Connect and adds the activity after it’s synced. I’ll have a new 955 tomorrow so we’ll see how all the additional training metrics are affected by the rowing and running. Just keep in mind if you want to trend VO2Max data over time you’ll need to run or walk occasionally for Garmin to give you an estimate.

I’ve had[ ](https://matrixmaverick14.github.io/website/garmin-venu-sq.html)[this smartwatch](https://matrixmaverick14.github.io/website/garmin-venu-sq.html) for months. pairs easy, notifications work fine, no real complaints.

I got a Garmin Venu SQ from Ebay for $40 and it's pretty good.

my old venu sq has better range than my vivoactive 5

If you also want a smartwatch with payment features: I have a Garmin Venu Sq. Would reccomend

People have to stop comparing these. These are for two different people. I would never wear an Apple Watch based on battery life alone. I specifically got the Garmin for a wrist based gps and mapping tool to track and orient myself. You buy an Apple Watch to use smart features and be connected to your phone. Garmin has never been in that market. It’s a whole company based on gps systems for outdoor activities . You buy an Apple Watch to have Apple ecosystem. you can’t use half the feature of the fenix on an iPhone bc they only want you to use their watch… Garmin are all specifically made for their audience even down the the model . Apple watches are just to keep you plugged into your phone and have no bearing on actual outdoor activities despite calling it ultra. The Millitary has been orienteering with Garmin wrist based gps systems forever. You’d never catch an Apple Watch on patrol in Afghanistan. 😂