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)