What I Was Looking For
I wanted a watch that could keep up with the way I actually live.
I exercise regularly.
I spend a lot of time hiking, backpacking, hunting, fishing, and exploring Alaska.
I wanted something that could help me make better health and recovery decisions, accurately track my workouts, confidently navigate in the backcountry, and withstand years of hard use without constantly worrying about charging it.
Once I clearly defined what I actually wanted from a watch, my decision became surprisingly easy.
The Garmin Fenix 8 Solar checked every box.
In this article, I’ll walk through the thought process that led me to the Garmin Fenix 8 Solar, the features I use the most, and why I believe it’s one of the best investments I’ve made for my health, fitness, and time in the outdoors.
There Isn’t a ‘Best’ Smartwatch
When I started shopping I looked seriously at Apple, Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Polar, Samsung, Google Pixel, Amazfit, and Bridger. Each excels in different areas.
I considered the Bridger very seriously. I love what they’re trying to build for hunters and I think it’s one of the most exciting new products in the outdoor industry.
Ultimately I chose the Garmin because it is a far more mature platform. Garmin has spent years building an enormous library of health, fitness, mapping, navigation, and outdoor features that have been refined over multiple generations.
I also simply prefer a traditional round watch. I’ve never been a fan of square watch faces. That’s completely personal, but it mattered to me.
I’d still love to own a Bridger someday as it continues to mature, but I couldn’t justify buying two premium watches simply to experiment. The Garmin was the proven investment for me.
Health Tracking
Tracks HRV, sleep, stress, Body Battery, Training Readiness, Recovery Time, heart rate, Pulse Ox, calories, steps, respiration, hydration, and more. I use these metrics to help make smarter recovery and training decisions rather than letting the watch make decisions for me.
Fitness Tracking
Supports strength training, hiking, walking, running, trail running, cycling, rowing, skiing, swimming and hundreds of other activities while providing VO₂ Max, Training Status, Training Load, Endurance Score, Hill Score, and Recovery metrics.
Battery Life
Battery life measured in weeks instead of days is one of the biggest reasons I chose Garmin. I wear it continuously instead of constantly thinking about charging it.
Outdoor & Hunting Features
Multi-band GPS, offline maps, TrackBack, waypoint marking, compass, barometric altimeter, weather, sunrise/sunset, ClimbPro, and the built-in flashlight have made it one of my favorite hunting tools. The flashlight alone has been invaluable before daylight, around camp, and digging through gear.
Final Thoughts
I don’t think there’s a universally best smartwatch. There’s only the watch that’s best for the way you live. For my combination of everyday health, fitness, hiking, backpacking, hunting, and fishing, the Garmin Fenix 8 Solar checked every box.
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