Garmin - Venu Sq 2

> I’ll have an average workout HR from the strap 134bpm, solar x2 will have 101-110 This is a major deviation, and seems more like a defect in your specific watch than an issue with Garmin’s watches.  I use the HRM Pro Plus too, and anectodally, have found no discernible difference between what it, and the sensors on my Venu Sq 2 or Fenix 8, reads. Unless I’m doing sprint intervals or something, I find the strap doesn’t offer much over the built-in HR sensor. 

Bought a used garmin venu sq 2, only charge around 3 times a month. Had fitbits and Samsung watches for years.

I got the 255 last week. I came from a broken Venu sq 2 that didn’t last 2 years. I’m very happy with it so far. Loads of features and data that you can enjoy or ignore. I don’t run much these days but am in the gym on their cardio machines and tracking sets on the watch for dumbbells and we bike in the summer outdoors. The screen is bigger but it hasn’t annoyed me. I’m still figuring out having music on it but that’s the only thing. https://preview.redd.it/1p5e327asdse1.jpeg?width=2735&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ad4b219cd990b2a89893c3c78cba2f96b5bb5dbb

Garmin Venu SQ 2. It’s an entry level Garmin for general fitness and do what you need it to do. Can be found less than $200.

i have used a venu sq 2 for a year, extensively tracking everything. sleep, runs, lifts, steps etc.,  it was fun. but i gave it to my dad and don't use a watch anymore, and i honestly feel no difference.  only time I feel a difference is when I go for runs and nike running club just doesn't cut it. but I'm okay with that. 

I have a Garmin Venu SQ2 and like it. Body battery is there. I get at least a week of battery and the music version lets me put my own songs on it. I do not use it for anything phone related outside of weather. The one thing that I ran into in tracking at least yoga was that they don't seem to differentiate between postures unless you press one of the buttons. That said, it's more of a "these are your stats over 1 posture" vs "these are your stats over 90". Your body is still reacting the same and I think you can probably go into the Garmin app afterwards and clarify if you'd like. If I'm weight training, I have the capability of specifying exercises, reps, and weights. I used r/privacy to decide which fitness tracker and Garmin, at my time of purchase, seemed to be the best when it came to protecting user info.

I have a Venu sq2 and it's fantastic for swimming, it's fully waterproof so I never need to worry about putting it into swim mode and I can record laps and rest times really easily. I've had my watch for almost a year now and it's great, although it does have less fitness modes than Fitbit which is a shame.

I've never had an issue with the pool lengths, you press a button on the side of the watch to record laps and it calculates it for you. I can't do flip turns lolol 🤣 and I've been had an issue

I just bought a venu sq2 new from Amazon for $250AUD. That's $160USD

Yep. I have a garmin venu sq 2. Love it

I’ve done two marathons, both between 5.5-6 hours finish times. My Garmin Venu Sq 2 lasted all the way round, no battery or connectivity issues

I like the venu for running, I’ve got the venu sq 2

I had a venu sq2 last me a long time. It’s still ticking but I recently switched to iPhone and an Apple Watch. I work in automotive so it’s been covered in sweat, grease grime and every cancer causing chemical you can think of.

What watch you use? I feel like if I use my watch all day it’s real low and wouldn’t get a second day of recording out of it. For reference I have a venu sq 2

Visible has been a game changer for me but I wear it alongside my Garmin Venu Sq 2. It gives heart rate alerts right away (as opposed to my Garmin which only alerts me if my HR is high after a few minutes of rest). Visible doesn't have a watch face but the notifications get forwarded to my Garmin so I get the alert and I can still glance down at my HR on my wrist. Sounds a bit convoluted but I find Visible much more useful for pacing than fitness oriented smart watches. I like the pace points and I find the heart rate/exertion zone tracking much more helpful than HRV tracking.

Yes in the same way you can get WhatsApp messages or other notifications to show up there, I've found that so helpful. No it doesn't - I haven't found HRV massively useful for me but I know others who have. You can do a morning check in every day where it measures your HRV but it's just one measurement to give you an idea of how you're doing compared to the last few days (which is also based on symptom tracking you do in the app).

Using tla chest strap as ground truth, the PW3 is really close to what my chest strap data set shows.  Within 2/3 bpms Definitely better than my old AppleWatch and Garmin Sq, which were out by up to 15bpms

Forerunner and fenix watches seem to me like a heavier, off grid watch. Longer battery life, super rugged, heavier. Vivoactive is good for all those things but it’s lighter and a good daily wear. I have the venu 3. I lift weight, cycle, and starting to get into running. I wanted a watch that did all the bio tracking but didn’t want something rugged and off grid. 7-10 days battery life. Good daily wear. Good sleep tracking. I’ve worn it for 1.5years now. Had the venue SQ prior. I disable the messaging and notifications but still get calls just in case I don’t have my phone on me. Glad you aren’t looking at Apple Watches. Garmin is the best choice for activity and daily wear.

Garmin venue square eBay around $137 new Refurbished for $109 Great at counting steps Has lasted 3 years and counting

I have most bells and whistles turned off on my VenuSQ, but it drains really quickly. I have the screen brightness at the lowest setting too. It’s only 3.5 years old.

Previously using a garmin SQ, now the fit 3 and the huawei is excellent. Gps lock is fast, works well with cycling as a hr monitor. Ganda pa ng interface at battery life. Daming free watchface na maganda din.

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 lasts about 2 weeks without charging. Venu line.

It is beat with the Garmin Venu line.

Most people coming from apple go vivo active or venue. Venue being closest to a smart watch. Personally, I'm a instinct guy. Although I'm wearing a Fenix today since I didn't charge my Instinct for 2 weeks and it died before bed. I've swam tens of thousands of meters (more like hundreds but..) in pool, open and salt water with my Garmins. Done free diving (only to about 40ft, I'm not very good) and press the buttons regularly sub surface. I've also done cliff jumping with every watch, and haven't lost a garmin to water intrusion. I would definitely select a 100m rated model for water sports. Any watch can fail but I've had 6 garmins and none have. I also had a bunch of Casio and Timex over the years and not one failure.

Been wearing the same Garmin for 5 years now. Sometimes the splurge is worth it. If you can wait, there will probably be some deals for the upcoming holidays and Black Friday, but that is a bit away. Personally I do like an all in one smart watch for fitness tracking and phone syncing.

Garmin Venu series are comparable to an Apple Watch. Garmin’s GPS tracking for outdoor activity is a little bit better/accurate. That’s something to consider if you want to log hikes, bike rides, walking, running etc. I use an iPhone and just download the Garmin Connect app, that’s where all the data is stored. The Venu series are more fashionable. The first Venu model has the basic sleep tracking. I know the newer ones have some other updated features. I do find the sleep tracking, body battery, active/resting calories data to be pretty accurate based on how I feel.

Depending on the types of weights you utilise in your training, you may want to consider a Garmin with Sapphire Glass. It's pretty much bulletproof (I have hit mine with a 24kg kettlebell more times than I care to mention). That said the Venue range is great if you are not juggling kettlebells.

If you want a watch that leans more towards the social side in appearance, go with one of the Venu series that fits your budget. If you want a watch that leans more towards the sporty side in appearance, go with one of the Forerunner series that fits your budget. Both will fit your requirements.

From what you have written, budget is not a constraint for you. I'd go for a watch. Tracking sleep is very useful. I am implementing small changes to improve sleep and the data from the watch is helpful. Eventhough it's not perfect. If i could afford it, I'd buy a Garmin Venue right now. Also, while a chest strap may be a tad bit more accurate for heart rate tracking, it is not something you want to wear for hours at a stretch every day. There a watch is useful.