10 Best Garmin Waterproof Watch 2025 in the United States

The Garmin fēnix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar is a robust multisport GPS smartwatch designed for serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Its standout feature is the Power Sapphire solar charging lens, which extends battery life significantly, particularly useful for extended outdoor activities. The built-in flashlight with different intensities is a practical addition for nighttime training or emergencies.

This watch also excels in health and fitness tracking, boasting features like heart rate variability (HRV) status, Pulse Ox for altitude acclimation, and advanced sleep monitoring, making it a comprehensive tool for monitoring your overall health and training progress. The new hill score and endurance score features provide insights into your running strength and endurance over time, adding more depth to your training data analysis.

Advanced navigation with multi-band GPS and SatIQ technology ensures accurate positioning and optimized battery life, crucial for outdoor explorations. Durability is another strong point, with its fiber-reinforced polymer case, titanium bezel, and rear cover, making it resilient against harsh conditions. The 1.3-inch display is clear and easy to read, complementing the watch's robust build. However, the watch may be a bit bulky for those with smaller wrists, and some might find the multitude of features overwhelming if they are only looking for basic functionality.

The watch is priced on the higher end, which could be a consideration for budget-conscious buyers. Nevertheless, with 32 GB of storage, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connectivity, and compatibility with iOS and Android, it offers ample smart features alongside its fitness and navigation capabilities. This watch is particularly well-suited for athletes, outdoor adventurers, and those who value extensive health monitoring and long battery life.

The Garmin Instinct 3 is built tough with a 50mm fiber-reinforced polymer case and a metal-reinforced bezel, making it a solid choice for anyone needing a rugged, waterproof outdoor watch. Its 1.3-inch AMOLED display is bright and clear, which is a nice upgrade over traditional screens in this category, helping you easily read data outdoors. GPS functionality is strong, featuring multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology for accurate navigation and optimized battery use, aided by a 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter. This makes it reliable for hiking, trail running, or other adventures.

Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 18 days under normal use and even longer with power-saving modes, so you won’t worry about frequent charging on trips. Health tracking is comprehensive, including wrist-based heart rate, Pulse Ox, and advanced sleep monitoring, though it’s important to remember these are estimates and not medical-grade. The built-in flashlight with adjustable brightness and strobe modes adds practical value in low-light situations.

The watch is fairly large at 50mm, which might feel bulky for smaller wrists. Also, its weight is just under 60 grams, so it’s not the lightest option if you prefer something more minimal. While it offers smart features like notifications and multisport tracking, it may lack some of the app variety or touchscreen responsiveness found on other smartwatches. This Garmin model is especially well-suited for outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize durability, reliable GPS, long battery life, and solid health monitoring in a waterproof package.

The Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar is a waterproof GPS smartwatch designed especially for triathletes and serious runners. Its standout feature is solar charging, which extends battery life to up to 20 days in smartwatch mode and up to 49 hours when using GPS with solar assistance. This means less frequent charging, which is great for long training sessions or races. The watch has a bright, always-on color touchscreen that's easy to read even in bright sunlight, paired with traditional buttons for easier control during workouts. It provides very accurate GPS tracking by using multiple satellite systems and frequencies, making it reliable even on trails or in challenging environments. Heart rate monitoring is advanced, offering insights like HRV status that help you understand your recovery and training readiness. The watch also delivers helpful smart features like daily workout suggestions, race planning tools, and a customizable morning report on your sleep and overall condition.

It’s built to be lightweight and comfortable, with a sturdy design that can handle tough outdoor use. While it offers many high-end features, some users might find the screen resolution a bit modest compared to more premium smartwatches, and the various health metrics can be overwhelming if you prefer a simpler device. This watch is well-suited for active athletes seeking detailed training data, long battery life, and dependable GPS in a durable, waterproof package.