Top 4 Outdoor Fitness Watches of 2022 | Garmin fenix 7 & epix (Gen 2) vs COROS VERTIX 2 & Polar Grit X Pro

You asked for it, and now the fēnix 7—released on January 18, 2022—is your next-level Garmin fēnix 6 outdoor multisport watch with even more battery life, added endurace and stamina-tracking, new multi-band frenquency (Sapphire only), TopoActive mapping access for every size and model—and all that with a touchscreen on top!

Garmin fēnix 7 Touchscreen

Buttons on an outdoor fitness GPS watch are a must for some, while others prefer the convenience of a touchscreen. So, why shouldn't your high-end outdoor multisport watch have both? Now, the Garmin fēnix 7 lineup does. If you need your trusted 3-button operation that you can rely on through sweat, rain, and any outdoor condition, and don't even have to look at to use—the fēnix 7 still has your back. And when you want the convenience of a touchscreen, that's all yours too!

Garmin fēnix 7 Size & Models

Display sizes include:

• 1.2" fēnix 7S (in standard, Solar, and Sapphire Solar models)
• 1.3" fēnix 7 (in standard, Solar, and Sapphire Solar models)
• 1.4" fēnix 7X (available in Solar & Sapphire Solar only)

For an indepth review of the models, check out our Garmin fēnix 7/7S/7X page.

Garmin fēnix 7S / Solar / Sapphire Solar Battery Life

Smartwatch: Up to 11 days/14 days with solar
Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 38 days/87 days with solar
GPS Only: Up to 37 hrs/46 hrs with solar
All Satellte Systems: Up to 26 hrs/30 hrs with solar
All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 7 hrs
Max Battery GPS: Up to 90 hrs/162 hrs with solar
Expedition GPS: Up to 26 days/43 days with solar

Garmin fēnix 7 / Solar / Sapphire Solar Battery Life

Smartwatch: Up to 18 days/22 days with solar
Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 57 days/173 days with solar
GPS Only: Up to 57 hrs/73 hrs with solar
All Satellte Systems: Up to 40 hrs/48 hrs with solar
All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 23 hrs/26hrs with solar
All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 10 hrs
Max Battery GPS: Up to 136 hrs/289 hrs with solar
Expedition GPS: Up to 40 days/74 days with solar

Garmin fēnix 7X Solar / Sapphire Solar Battery Life

Smartwatch: Up to 28 days/37 days with solar
Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 90 days/ 1+ year with solar
GPS Only: Up to 89 hrs/ 122 hrs with solar
All Satellte Systems: Up to 63 hrs/ 77 hrs with solar
All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 36 hrs/ 41hrs with solar
All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 16 hrs
Max Battery GPS: Up to 213 hrs/ 578 hrs with solar
Expedition GPS: Up to 62 days/ 139 days with solar

Garmin fēnix 7 vs fēnix 6 Maps & Navigation

The Garmin fēnix 6/6S standard does not come with preloaded golf, ski, or topo maps (42,000+ Garmin worldwide golf maps can be downloaded from your phone). The fēnix 6/6S/6 Pro, Sapphire, and Pro Solar models all have preloaded maps for golf, ski, road & trail—and full-color TopoActive maps.

All the Garmin fēnix 7 multisport GPS watches—fēnix 7/7S/7X standard, Solar, Sapphire Solar—come preloaded with golf, ski, road & trail maps. The fēnix 7/7S/7X Sapphire Solar models are preloaded with topographic maps, while you can download TopoActive maps onto the standard and Solar models.

Both the fēnix 6 and fēnix 7 series have built-in sensors for the 3-axis compass, gyroscope and barometric altimeter; supports multi-GNSS satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo).

Additionally, the fēnix 7/7S/7X Sapphire Solar models offer navigation with a higher level of positioning accuracy, thanks to new multi-band frequency and GNSS network support (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo).

Training & Performance Data

With all fēnix 7 series GPS smartwatches you can level-up with training features, such as GPS speed and distance, interval training, advanced workouts and downloadable training plans, heat and altitude acclimation, VO2 Max (run), Training Status (lets you see if you’re training effectively by tracking your training history and fitness level trend.), Training Load (your total training load for the last 7 days calculated from estimated EPOC), Training Effect (instantly measures the impact of training on aerobic and anaerobic fitness), finish time, a virtual partner, course guidance, Garmin and Strava live segments, and activity history on watch.

Additionally, the Garmin fēnix 7 series allows you to take your training to the next level with endurance and real-time stamina tracking, in addition to Training Status, advanced performance metrics and 30+ built-in sports apps. Plus, trusted button controls that work in any environment are matched with a highly responsive touchscreen interface for quick, convenient access to selections.

Visit our Garmin Smartwatches Product Specs page for all the details on the fēnix 7 series.

Finally, a Garmin fenix GPS watch with an AMOLED touchscreen display! The new Garmin epix (Gen 2) premium multisport GPS watch is, in essence, a fēnix 7 or fēnix 6 Pro with an irresistable edge: improved readability with vibrant colors, sharper images, better viewing angles—and it allows for more information to be viewed on the watch face at once. Geared toward active lifestyles, the epix 2 at its core is one of the most robust multisport performance watches on the market—now with a display that perfectly complements it.

Garmin epix (Gen 2) Battery Life

• Smartwatch Mode: Up to 16 days/6 days always-on
• Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 21 days
• GPS Only: Up to 42 hours/30 hours always-on
• All Satellite Systems: Up to 32 hours/24 hours always-on
• All Satellite Systems + Multi-Band: Up to 20 hours/15 hours always-on
• All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 10 hours/9 hours always-on

Garmin epix 2 Maps & Navigation

The epix 2 comes out of box with access to detailed maps for the region it was purchased in (US, Europe, etc.) and includes digital elevation data—download TopoActive mapping via Wi-Fi® connectivity for epix 2 standard, or get it preloaded on Sapphire editions. Move around the map with zoom, pan, and scroll functions. You can see the terrain around you, as well as navigate to points of interest or other places. Additionally, you can create Round-Trip Courses for both running and cycling that allow you to set a given distance and desired direction of travel, and it’ll give you three different courses using Trendline Popularity Routing data. No internet connection required. Finally, you can follow any downloaded courses as well, using Garmin’s smartphone course creator or any other downloaded GPS files. Following these routes, you’ll get instructions on when to turn, and when you’re off-route, allowing you to gain context of what's around you and know things like if you're going along a river or headed toward a mountain.

Training & Performance Data

Like the fēnix 7, the epix (Gen 2) outdoor multisport watch provides GPS speed and distance, interval training, advanced workouts and downloadable training plans, heat and altitude acclimation, VO2 Max (run), finish time, a virtual partner, course guidance, Garmin and Strava live segments, and activity history on watch.

Detailed perfromance metrics, like Training Status (lets you see if you’re training effectively by tracking your training history and fitness level trend), Training Load (your total training load for the last 7 days calculated from estimated EPOC), Training Effect (instantly measures the impact of training on aerobic and anaerobic fitness). Garmin Coach and 30+ built-in sports apps mean the epix (Gen 2) is ready to help you you attack your specific goals. And multi-band GNSS (Sapphire editions only) provides enhanced tracking accuracy, whether you're running a mountain trail, paddling through a canyon, or biking through skyscrapers.

epix (Gen 2) Size & Durability

Both the epix 2 standard and Sapphires sport an AMOLED display size of 1.3", a durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass DX lens, with physical dimensions of 47 x 47 x 14.5 mm. The standard has a steel bezel and weighs 76 grams, while the lighter yet even more durable Sapphire edition has a 70-gram titanium bezel with a sapphire crystal lens for your most rugged adventures. Moreover, all Garmin epix (Gen 2) models are tested to U.S. military standards for thermal, shock, and water resistance (10 ATM) and are Quickfit™ watch band compatible.

Visit our Garmin Smartwatches Product Specs page for all the details on the epix (Gen 2).

The VERTIX 2 adventure watch is the latest in the COROS lineup of GPS watches created for the most extreme athletes in the most extreme settings. It offers brow-raising features that outdoor athletes will love.

COROS VERTIX 2 Battery Life

Known for their long-lasting batteries, we didn't imagine COROS could level-up the battery life of the VERTIX—but they did with the VERTIX 2 ... impressively. Amazingly, this ultimate GPS watch gets:

• Watch mode: Up to 60 days
• Standard Full GPS: Up to 140 hours
• UltraMax GPS mode: Up to 240 hours
• All Systems + Dual Frequency On: Up to 50 hours

VERTIX 2 Maps & Navigation

Get 5 major satellite systems—GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS—accessed by your VERTIX 2 GPS sport watch at the same time! Dual Frequency satellite communication acts as an express lane for a faster, better signal—previously only available in aviation products! GEt out there with built-in ABC sensors—an altimeter for elevation data, a barometer to monitor weather, and a compass. The VERTIX 2 outdoor watch offers global offline mapping and includes Landscape, Topo, and Hybrid modes. Get a full global Landscape map out of the box and you can download Topo maps by regions for free from COROS.com. By zooming in and out of the map with the digital-dial, or dragging around the map with the highly-responsive touchscreen, the VERTIX 2 offers the best experience for on-wrist navigation. Plus, have Breadcrumb and Back-to-Start navigation at your disposal.

Training & Performance Data

Use the new electrocardiogram (ECG) to get Heart Rate Variability (HRV) straight from your wrist. The HRV metric measures your body’s response to stress and its ability to recover—pretty handy knowledge when you're pushing it to the extreme in the extremes. Plus, you get Altitude mode, advanced training analytics, and recovery time. Running profiles include Run, Indoor Run, Trail Run, and Track Run.

Size & Durability

The COROS VERTIX 2 adventure watch is built for extreme conditions. It's water resistant, opterates at extreme temperatures, and has a scratch-proof sapphire lens. Both the bezel and cover are constructed from highly durable Grade 5 titanium alloy with PVD coating. But this rugged, powerful, advanced tracking GPS watch has heft, putting a 1.4" display on you wrist with dimensions of 50.3 x 50.3 x 15.7 mm and a weight of 89g.

Visit our COROS Smartwatches Product Specs page for all the details on the Grit X Pro.

Do you have trail-running type grit? Meet your match with the Polar Grit X Pro premium outdoor watch for extreme go-getters. This rugged yet lightweight GPS smartwatch has all the features and none of the fat on it! Although it has military-grade durability, smart training features, and a super long-lasting battery—it won't bulk up your run, ride, or climb!

Polar Grit X Pro Battery Life

• Smartwatch mode: Up to 7 days
• Training time: Up to 40 hours
• Training time on power save options: Up to 100 hours

Grit X Maps & Navigation

Plan routes on Komoot’s navigation and route planning app and sync them to your Polar product for detailed turn-by-turn route guidance. The Grit X Pro's route guidance feature guides you along routes that you have recorded in previous sessions or routes that other Polar Flow web service users have recorded and shared. You can also import a route as a gpx or tcx file to your watch or bike computer through Polar Flow. The guidance on the watch display keeps you on track and shows you the distance still left to cover. Back to Start directs you to your starting point in the shortest distance possible (straight line distance), as well as shows the distance to your starting point. TrackBack guides you back to your starting point and with Elevation Profiles, get your slope angles and elevation profiles for every up and down on your route.

Plus, the Grit X Pro has a compass, barometric sensor, and altimeter on board and offers superior tracking with Assisted-GPS for faster fix times: supporting GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS satellite systems so you can train with the best positioning experience anywhere in the world.

Training & Performance Data

Training Load Pro shows how your training sessions strain the different parts of your body and how much you’ve been training, so you can make sure you’re on the right track. Hill Splitter™ gives you detailed uphill and downhill stats to know how you performed on the ascent and descent sections of your route. Running Power give you more comprehensive insight into the intensity of your running sessions. Running Index shows an estimate of your running VO2max and how your running performance is developing. Recovery Pro™ reveals how training strains the body and provides metrics that show when it’s time to recover (H9/H10 heart rate sensor required). Running Performance Test helps you track your progress and personalize your heart rate, speed, and power zones. Cycling Performance Test lets you personalize your power zones and tells you your personal functional threshold power (compatible power meter required). Leg Recovery Test tells you whether your legs are ready for high intensity training in just a couple of minutes without any special equipment—just your watch!

Size & Durability

The 79-gram Polar Grit X Pro outdoor multisport watch provides military-level durability, passing several MIL-STD-810G tests, including extreme temperatures, drop, and humidity and is water resistant to 100 meters. It also comes with a tough, sapphire scratch-resistant lens for the most durability wherever you take it.

Visit our Polar Smartwatches Product Specs page for all the details on the Grit X Pro.