10 Best Garmin Waterproof Watch 2026 in the United States

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is a solid choice for runners and fitness enthusiasts looking for a reliable smartwatch. It stands out with its built-in GPS functionality, which accurately tracks pace and distance, making it a great companion for outdoor activities. The AMOLED display is bright and colorful, ensuring visibility even in bright sunlight, while the lightweight design adds to its comfort during extended wear.

Battery life is impressive, offering up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and 19 hours in GPS mode, which means you can go on long runs or multi-day adventures without worrying about charging. The watch is designed with various training metrics and recovery insights, helping users understand their fitness levels and plan workouts effectively. Safety features, such as incident detection and assistance, enhance peace of mind during outdoor activities. The watch also supports smart notifications and Garmin Pay, allowing you to stay connected and make purchases without carrying extra items.

There are some drawbacks to consider. While the Forerunner 165 is packed with features, it may feel overwhelming for someone who is not tech-savvy. The need for a paired smartphone for certain functionalities, like incident detection and smart notifications, might limit its usability for those who prefer standalone devices. Additionally, while it offers a variety of built-in activity profiles, it may not cater to niche sports as effectively as some specialized devices. The Garmin Forerunner 165 is best suited for serious runners and those invested in tracking their fitness journeys, thanks to its robust GPS, health monitoring features, and smart functionalities. However, casual users or those seeking a simpler watch may find it a bit complex.

The Garmin vívoactive 6 is a solid choice if you want a waterproof smartwatch that covers a wide range of fitness and health tracking needs. It features a bright and sharp 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, making it easy and enjoyable to view your stats and interact with the watch. The built-in GPS works well for tracking outdoor activities like running, cycling, and swimming, which is great if you want accurate location data without carrying your phone. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, so you won’t have to charge it frequently, even with regular use.

This watch stands out for its extensive health monitoring, including wrist-based heart rate, Body Battery energy levels, sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and even menstrual cycle support. It also offers personalized workout suggestions and animated exercise guides, which can help beginners stay motivated and exercise correctly. The watch is durable enough for daily wear and sports, though its lightweight design means it’s comfortable rather than ruggedly bulky.

The watch offers many smart features like notifications and alarms, but it doesn’t support as many third-party apps as some other smartwatches. The Garmin vívoactive 6 is especially well suited for those looking for a feature-rich, sporty, and health-focused smartwatch with reliable GPS and long battery life.

The Garmin Forerunner 265S is a feature-rich running smartwatch designed for smaller wrists, making it an excellent choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Its standout strength is the brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display, which is easy to read and navigate. The watch is lightweight and comfortable to wear, weighing just 39 grams. The water resistance is adequate for open-water swimming, making it versatile for various activities.

GPS functionality is top-notch with multi-band GNSS and SatIQ technology, ensuring accurate positioning even in challenging environments. The battery life is impressive, lasting up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and up to 24 hours in GPS mode, which is quite beneficial for long workouts and training sessions. Heart rate monitoring, along with a suite of other health metrics like HRV status, sleep coach, and stress tracking, provides comprehensive insights into your fitness and wellness.

Durability and build quality are commendable, ensuring the watch can withstand vigorous activities and daily wear. Smart features such as receiving calls and texts, incident detection, and personalized training plans add to its convenience. However, the 1.1-inch display might feel small for some users, and the dependency on pairing with a smartphone for full functionality can be a drawback if your phone is not nearby. The 8GB storage capacity might also be limiting for users who wish to store a lot of music or data directly on the watch. Despite these minor setbacks, the Forerunner 265S excels in offering a comprehensive and reliable training companion for serious runners and fitness enthusiasts.