Gear

One of the Things I Love the Most About Garmin Watches

Garmin Fenix 5
Written by Charlie

I have owned and used many Garmin watches and there is one thing that I love about them the most! It is the thing that always keeps me coming back to Garmin and something you should consider if you are looking for a running watch.

 

If you have followed my site for any amount of time or have read any of the posts about GPS watches, you know I am a huge Garmin GPS watch fan! I started running almost 11 years ago and I had a problem with my first couple of runs – I was still having trouble breathing. I have been an asthmatic for almost 30 years and that is why I did not start running until about 11 years ago, because my asthma had been triggered by exercise.

One of the Things I Love the Most About Garmin Watches

I Have Owned Many!

Garmin watches

This was my first Garmin watch model – the Forerunner 201! | Courtesy http://www.flickr.com/people/57009135@N00 Michael Dorausch

I really wanted to run but kept having issues – until I borrowed a GPS watch! It was then that I found out that I was actually running way too fast and it was not giving me a good way to regulate my breathing! I knew I had to get one of those watches to help me keep better track of my pace and so I bought a Garmin Forerunner 201 – yes, quite an old model now!

They Have Seen It All!

Since my first Garmin 201, I have owned/used just about every model they ever made. I have put thousands of miles on my feet while wearing those watches and have done so on 6 continents and in dozens of countries. That means that my Garmin watches have also been in extreme conditions as well from Death Valley in July to the frigid temperatures of the northern US in the dead of winter. It also means that I have used my watches in the oceans and on mountains.

What Do I  Love? Garmin’s Service Is Incredible!

Garmin watches

Some of the current Garmin watches available

And guess what? They have always performed incredibly well for me! And this is what I love about Garmin watches – the service behind the watch. Garmin certainly stands behind their watches and I love the speed and professionalism that they handle repairs.

In all of that time, I have had two problems – one was a couple of years ago with an out-of-warranty heart rate module for the strap (screw was seized up and I couldn’t replace the battery after the first year), and the other was recently with the Garmin Forerunner 235 when I saw the watch face actually popping up from the case while on an airplane! In both situations (one under warranty and one out of warranty), Garmin replaced the device very fast.

With the Garmin Forerunner 235, I sent it in with their label and the replacement model went out the same afternoon my watch made it there! That meant that I would have been without it for only 4 days! Pretty incredible turnaround! With the heart rate module, they actually just send me a new one and told me to keep the old one!

But, They Work So Well I Rarely Needed Servicing

But, even more than their warranty response, you know what I like about Garmin watches? I love that I only needed to avail myself of their servicing twice in 11 years of Garmin watches and owning well over a dozen watches. These watches are built very well and handle the day-in-day-out wear and tear very well. I have tried other solutions (Polar, Motorola, even the Apple Watch) but always keep coming back to Garmin.

They have built amazing products that just work. Now, they are fitting them with features for the modern age and it is something that keeps me coming back to Garmin all the time. I absolutely love my Garmin Fenix 5 and certainly do not plan on leaving it – except for maybe the Garmin Fenix 6. 🙂

Do you have a Garmin GPS watch? What has your experience been like with it?

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About the author

Charlie

Charlie has been an avid traveler and runner for many years. He has run in marathons around the world for less than it would cost to travel to the next town - all as a result of collecting and using miles and points. Over the years, he has flown hundreds of thousands of miles and collected millions of miles and points.
Now he uses this experience and knowledge to help others through Running with Miles.

3 Comments

  • I agree I’ve had several and also live near their HQ here in the KC area and even have a nephew that works there. They make a good product and stand behind it. I love my Garmin Vivo.

  • I recently purchased a Fenix 3 HR and I had been considering to write to tell you about it because I used “tricks” to get a good price. This is my second Garmin, the first being the humble FR15 which suited my desires at the time. The Fenix is the sort of daily watch that I’ve wanted for some time but didn’t buy due to the high price tag.

    I nearly bought a refurbished unit since they run as low as $350 on Amazon. When I found a way to get the watch completely new for only a little more I snapped it up. First I signed up for ebates. Then I purchased on a site that offered 8% through ebates. After the purchase I had the site do a price match down to about $450 (eglobalcentral.com sells the unit brand new for $435 today). Next I generated two referrals on ebates to get an additional $50 via ebates. I watch the price daily. If it drops I’ll use the price match protection of my credit card to get the difference!