Other Fitness Trackers to Consider
Photograph: Adrienne So
Garmin Instinct 3 for $400: Garmin's Instinct line doesn't have as many high-end features as the Fenix 8, but it's popular because it's cheaper and it has a cool, chunky retro aesthetic that I love. This year's updates include the built-in flashlight and a new reinforced bezel, which is good considering that I still managed to bang up the Fenix and Epix watches quite a bit. For more information, check out our guide to the Best Garmin Watches.
Coros Apex 4 for $429: Coros is the king of affordable watches for extreme sportsmen (and women), and the Apex 4 is the company's alpine watch that Kilian Jornet recently used in his States of Elevation project. The battery life lasts forever. It has five specialized climbing modes and vertical GPS, and it can auto-detect climbing routes. I love this watch for climbing.
Fitbit Charge 6 for $100: This tracker was our Best Overall pick for over a year, and it's still the best and most cost-effective way to use Fitbit's premium health tracking software. However, it launched in 2023 and is getting a bit long in the tooth.
Coros Nomad for $349: Coros also has an angler-specific sport watch with sport modes for fishing. A new feature called Adventure Journal also lets you record voice memos and pin locations as you're hiking and running so that you can remember where bathrooms, campsites, or really great berry-picking spots are.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $699: I no longer recommend last year's Watch Ultra 2 because the vastly extended battery life (up to 42 hours from 36 hours) plus satellite communications are enough of a reason for any outdoorsperson to just get a Watch Ultra 3. You definitely shouldn't buy it at full price. But it is compatible with WatchOS 26, so if you can find it significantly on sale, I won't think you're dumb for going for it.
Garmin Venu X1 for $800: Garmin's Venu line straddles an odd niche. It has a polymer case, a nylon strap, and an enormous 2-inch AMOLED display, which is great for displaying built-in maps. It has speakers and a mic for taking calls, and much of the fitness functionality of the Fenix, but without the classy, durable metal bezel or insane battery life. It works fine; it's just hard to look at it and not think it's plastic and that it costs twice as much as the Apple Watch.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
OnePlus Watch 3 for $300: My kingdom for a smartwatch that can last more than a day! The OnePlus Watch 3 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) can last for five days on a single charge. OnePlus now includes many by-now standard health features, like fall detection, a skin temperature sensor, irregular heart rate notifications, and an electrocardiogram. This is another great pick if you want a smartwatch that's also a good fitness tracker.
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