Garmin - Tactix 8 Series

I’m using a awu 1 and a tactix 8 for work

Are you active duty? Check with management first if you will be allowed to wear a smartwatch. Pricey but the Tactix 8 Solar/MIPS version has everything that you need in your list. Personally, I would lose the smart notifications and music requirement, and get the Instinct 3 tactical version. While it doesn't have topo maps, it does have a style of navigation similar to what you see in the Foretrex series where you can see waypoints and have a breadcrumb style line showing where you went.

The display aside, both watches are practically the same for me. Same HR sensor, same GPS capability. Both have a flashlight. Both have a killswitch. Both nightvision mode. If you want the best of the best, Tactix 8 has the advantage of: Scuba Diving capabilities (it has a dive computer), a colored screen that you can view Topo maps on and it has Sapphire glass. Personally, I would go Instinct 3 tactical since its way cheaper and I can easily buy another if I break it doing cool guy shit. If battery life is important to you, make sure you get the MIP version instead of OLED. [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1705221/pn/010-02934-50/#specs](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1705221/pn/010-02934-50/#specs)

Why didn’t you get the Tactics 8 51mm solar? I’ve gotten 29 days out of a single charge before with a lot of solar while out hiking.

After 3 vey committed years with Garmin (Porsche edition Epix, Epix Pro, Porsche edition Epix pro, and now a Tactix 8) I decided to go back to Apple and the Hermes Ultra 3 Honestly suits my needs more, I work out three times a week but not more. And the body battery really messed with my mind so I don’t miss it at all. I miss some of the straps more than the actual watch. The ultra 3 is a much better smartwatch. You can even install third party apps which can unlock voice notes on WhatsApp on the watch itself. So far I’m happy

Oh and one more thing. The only thing I truly miss in my Garmin is the flashlight. Game changer. And now the ULTRA 3’s solution is crap compared to how Garmin pull it off

I3 tactical for field work/deployment, Tactix for leave.

My watch is a tool, not a fashion statement, so I've always gone with 51mm even though yeah it's probably too big for me, don't care lol

People dragging 1k+ device through stuff “it’s made for” is so damn small I think we can all agree it’s basically a toy for looks. (As someone who dragged Vivoactive 4 through all kinds of shit for 4 years and now wearing Tactix 8)

https://preview.redd.it/7fhs78of36xe1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9203c8b09dff4c3250f76de1cca6e3baaa1ea018 I have big wrists and arms and a 51mm is still a monster watch. I love it though and honestly don’t think anyone else cares how big your watch is. Added bonus - it can be used to break down a door in an emergency

I spent good money on the tactix. It's great. I've beaten and abused it. It's a tank. Does all the smartphone nonsense and way way more. Lasts about 20~ days on a charge so I can actually get all the telemetry back when I sleep and it's useful.

You guys know you have to adjust settings right “literally” set your watch up. Don’t just sync it and expect it to get what’s advertised. Why Garmin made amoled for an outdoor adventure fitness watch beats the hell out of me that should have stuck to their forerunner line and their cheaper watches. Yes I understand amoled is a luxury but these watches aren’t smart watches. They are fitness/gps watches with “some” smart watch capabilities. Any one who got amoled why? Eats your battery like crazy. Like I said I get 34 days on a full charge and probably even more if I turned on notifications from my phone but i like the calls and texts I get because I don’t always have my phone next to me at home. Anybody wants to try this for their fenix I guarantee you will get at least a month of battery life tops. For MIP users only first of all if your eyesight is fine turn your brightness down to at least 10 percent if it’s not so good I wouldn’t go more then 30-40 percent that will increase your battery right there. Also fun fact don’t have your heart rate and pulse ox on 24/7 I don’t need a watch to tell me how I slept or what my heart rate is unless I’m hiking or working out. It doesn’t tell you anything other than heart rate so if you’re feeling weird you should just go to the doctor. Also switch your gps to statIQ don’t just set it on the highest gps setting you and the wife are walking around the block you dont need the highest setting. It will track you fine. As I said before I keep my watch on power saver mode 90% of the time it will stop your heart and pulse ox meter but when you start an activity even in power saver mode it reads your heart rate while it being off by default. Those are all the settings I can remember I have changed and I get 31 with power saver off and 34 with power saver on don’t lose more then 2-3% doing a hike or walk/run around the block no more then 2 hours. And i use stock watch faces most the time. Some 3rd party watch faces drain your battery like crazy.

Not a fenix but my tactics 8 gets 34 days on a full charge