The Garmin Fenix 8 is as cheap as it’s ever been — but is it worth buying? I’ve been wearing it for two years, and here’s why I’d recommend waiting

The Garmin Fenix 8 is a good activity watch by every conceivable metric, and rated our best Garmin watch in the premium category. I gave the Fenix 8 five stars when I reviewed it in September 2024, and I’ve been wearing it on and off ever since, while testing other wearables in between.

It’s accurate in terms of GPS and heart rate, it’s fast, it’s eminently customizable, and stuffed with neat, handy features. It’s got everything from some of the best navigation software I’ve ever used to advanced training plans courtesy of Garmin Connect. It’s tough, built with titanium and either hardened Corning Gorilla or Sapphire glass, and has a battery life lasting around two weeks, depending on the model and size. It’s been my daily driver, and frankly, even as a wearables and fitness tester, it’s probably too much watch for me. I don’t use all the features regularly, but I love big shiny Garmins.