As we gear up for 2025, it’s time to embrace the latest fitness technology to stay ahead of your goals. Whether you’re striving for better performance, recovery, or overall health, fitness watches are your perfect companion.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best fitness watches for 2025—including Garmin, Apple Watch, and Whoop—highlighting their pros, cons, who they’re best for, and personal experience. Let’s find the perfect watch to help you crush your goals in the coming year.
1. Garmin: For the Outdoor Adventurer and Data Geek
Top Picks:
- Garmin Forerunner 965 – Currently $499 on Amazon
- Garmin Fenix 7 – $439-$799 (depending on model)
Pros:
- Advanced GPS and mapping features perfect for outdoor adventures.
- Exceptional battery life compared to most competitors.
- Detailed health metrics, including VO2 Max, training load, and recovery recommendations.
- Rugged and durable design for extreme conditions.
Cons:
- Bulkier than other fitness watches, which might not appeal to everyone.
- Steeper learning curve for beginners.
- Operating system isn’t as nice as Apple Watch.
- Higher price point for premium models.
Best For:
Garmin watches are ideal for serious athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who wants deep insights into their fitness and recovery data. Whether you’re a trail runner, mountain biker, triathlete, or hiker, Garmin can help you train harder and learn more about yourself. Checkout our personal experience.
Personal Experience – Garmin Fēnix/Forerunner
I have been using a Garmin Fenix 5s Plus since is came out in 2017, which tells you about it’s durability. And Emily has used a Forerunner, and is currently using the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar (Amazon). So you can see this is one of our preferred fitness watch.
We specifically use our Garmin Fēnix watches for tracking our workouts, mountain bike rides, running, and trail finding with GPS maps when we don’t have cell phone service.
Buying Considerations – Fēnix 7 vs. Fēnix 8
Garmin has already released their Fēnix 8 line of watches, which includes their new AMOLED technology. After tracking Emily’s experience with her Fēnix 7 (that is currently $649 at Amazon), and comparing the Fēnix 7 vs. Fēnix 8, I am personally going to buy the Fēnix 7. The tech and battery life of the new Fēnix 8 isn’t much better when compared to the Fēnix 7, and at almost half the price… I’m going for the Fēnix 7!
2. Apple Watch: For the All-Around Tech Lover
Top Picks:
- Apple Watch Series 10 – $329- $699 (depending on model)
- Apple Watch Ultra – $699-$799 (depending on current sales)
Pros:
- Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem (iPhone, AirPods, etc.).
- Excellent fitness tracking for everyday activities like walking, running, and cycling.
- Motivational fitness/health rings
- Stylish and customizable with a variety of bands and watch faces.
- Access to third-party fitness apps like Strava and MyFitnessPal.
Cons:
- Battery life falls WAY short compared to Garmin and Whoop.
- Fitness metrics are not as advanced as Garmin’s for serious athletes.
- More expensive for premium models like the Apple Watch Ultra.
Best For:
The Apple Watch is perfect for tech-savvy individuals who value style, versatility, connectivity, and don’t mind charging almost everyday. It’s great for casual fitness enthusiasts, busy professionals, and anyone already invested in the Apple ecosystem who likes to stay connected all the time.
Personal Experience – Apple Watch (any model)
Neither Emily or I have been able to bring ourselves to buy an Apple Watch for the single issue of lack of battery life. The Garmin Fēnix 7 battery lasts over a week (while using features), and the Whoop lasts up to 5 days. The other major negative of the Apple Watch is the constant connection to your notifications. Have you ever been talking to someone who has an Apple Watch, and mid sentence they look down at their phone, and are completely disconnected from the conversation you’re having with them. I realize that you can turn these notification off, but most users don’t, and we don’t believe it’s good for our world to be that connected.
On a positive note, I do believe that the Apple Rings are the most motivational function of all of the fitness watches, and personally know people that are using the Rings to get themselves into better shape.
3. Whoop: For the Recovery-Obsessed Minimalist
Top Picks:
- Whoop 4.0 – $30/month, $239/year, $399/2 years
Pros:
- Laser-focused on recovery and strain tracking with no screen distractions.
- Offers personalized daily coaching based on your data.
- Comfortable and lightweight band you barely notice.
- Monthly subscription provides continuous updates and insights.
Cons:
- No screen or smartwatch features like notifications or music controls.
- Requires a subscription, which can add up over time.
- Fitness tracking isn’t as robust for activities like GPS tracking.
Best For:
Whoop is ideal for those who prioritize recovery and want to avoid the distractions of a traditional smartwatch. It’s particularly popular among high-performance athletes and anyone looking to prevent overtraining or burnout.
Personal Experience – Whoop
I was one of the very early Whoop users, using it since 2014. Whoop takes the most measurements per second of any fitness watch, and for that reason it’s my top choice for tracking metrics related to sleep, and training heart rate. My Garmin is setup to use Whoop data when training.
Over the years Whoop has helped me understand when I should train hard vs. taking an easy day (or day off) with it’s daily Recovery Score. Whoop is also trying hard to correlate self entered data (like nutrition, supplements, recovery activities, etc.) to your recovery score(s). Although it feels like this data isn’t being used very well. For example, I just had Whoop tell me that doing breathing exercises decrease my recovery score by 4%. So… It feels like they still have some work to do, as far as telling you what is good or bad for your recovery.
How to Choose the Right Fitness Watch for You
- Consider Your Fitness Goals: Are you a casual walker, a marathon runner, or a triathlete? Garmin is great for data-heavy tracking, Apple Watch balances lifestyle and fitness, and Whoop focuses on recovery.
- Evaluate Battery Life Needs: If you’re on multi-day adventures, Garmin wins. For daily use with frequent charging, Apple Watch is sufficient.
- Budget and Subscription Preferences: Garmin and Apple require a one-time purchase (with optional app subscriptions), while Whoop uses a subscription model.
Where to Buy
Ready to invest in your fitness journey? Check out the latest prices and deals for these fitness watches:
- Garmin Forerunner 965 on Amazon
- Garmin Fenix 7 on Amazon
- Apple Watch Series 9 on Amazon
- Whoop 4.0 Subscription Plans on Whoop.com
Final Thoughts
The best fitness watch for tracking your progress in 2025 ultimately depends on your lifestyle and goals. Garmin excels for outdoor adventurers, Apple Watch offers a balance of style and functionality, and Whoop is perfect for those laser-focused on recovery.
Find the one that fits your needs and start crushing your fitness goals today! Or wear both the Garmin and Whoop, like we do! Hahaha!
Also, I’m here for any and all questions. Just let me know what you need.
*above could be affiliate links. I get a small commission if you click through them and buy, but they in no way make the products cost anymore. If you decide to use them please let me know so I can thank you. Affiliate Disclosure
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