As TechRadar’s Senior Fitness and Wearables Editor, it’s my job to test every Garmin watch that crosses my desk. As a result, I’ve tested almost every modern Garmin watch released in the last five years, and I’ve parsed the Amazon Prime Day Garmin deals to find the best Garmin watches worth your time.
• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale
It’s tough to just say „buy this one“ and be done with it, because there are a) so many different Garmin watches, each with their own target demographic — adventurers, runners, gym-goers and so on — and b) so many different deals across the US and UK.
I’m not seeing the broad swathes of discounts I’ve seen in previous years. However, the three deals I’ve picked offer good value for money — should get a lot out of whichever watch you choose, especially at these reduced prices.
Below, you can find the three models I’ve chosen, links to the deals, plus a little bit about why I’ve chosen these particular models, and who should buy them.
Garmin Fenix 8
The Garmin Fenix 8 is a powerful watch. In our official Garmin Fenix 8 review, we gave it five stars, calling it „rugged, expensive perfection“. It’s amazing for long-distance running, skiing, multi-day hikes, and any workout that involves finding your way outdoors. However, it’s not cheap.
That’s why it’s nice to see some lowest-ever prices in the US and the UK for this watch. We know the reason why — the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro and 9 have just been released, so it’s only natural to see the Fenix 8 coming down in price. However, that doesn’t stop a Fenix 8 for under $750 / £600 feeling less like an extravagant purchase and more like a smart deal.
This is the Garmin deal to get if you’re a serious outdoor enthusiast, long-distance athlete, or hiker.
Garmin Forerunner 165
The Garmin Forerunner 165, like the Garmin Fenix 8, has been replaced in the lineup this year by a more recent model, this time the Garmin Forerunner 170. As a result, we’re seeing prices drop on the older model, which means you’re getting a good watch at a great price.
The US deal gets you 20% off, and while the UK Amazon deal doesn’t state a temporary drop in price, it began life as a £249.99 watch, and Currys has it listed at £199 right now, meaning the above Amazon link is the cheapest place to buy it.
As the name suggests, regular runners should look closely at this watch. While it doesn’t have full-color maps, it’s got more than enough functionality for most people running distances from 5-10km up to marathons, in addition to daily health tracking.
Garmin Vivoactive 5/6
The Garmin Vivoactive series is a watch for generally active people, rather than one specifically geared towards runners or adventurers, and as a result, it’s very popular. I gave the Garmin Vivoactive 6 an impressive 4.5 stars in my review, calling it „a pocket rocket“ Its small size and cheaper price make it a great gift, and it’s come down in price in the UK.
In the US, the Vivoactive 6 is still at full price. However, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is shockingly cheap in America, and there isn’t that much difference between them. The Vivoactive 6 packs advanced running metrics, course mapping on-wrist, double the storage its Smart Wake alarm, but the two watches share the same screen, software, battery life, fitness tracking and general look.
I’d recommend these watches to gym-goers, joggers or sporty people — anyone who loves the gym or multi-disciplinary forms of exercise, and wants something longer-lasting than an Apple or Samsung watch.
