Fabulous video, Matt! I have wanted to make a video like this for the last 22 days. The best running watch for me is... 1. Apple Watch Ultra 2.0 on my left wrist (calls my wife if I fall, connects with Spotify, and fun to use as a smart watch) 2. COROS Pace 3 on my right wrist (so light, ultra-accurate, and the battery life is good enough for a 50K trail race)
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
It's not too late to make a video like this! I'm sure your take on it would be fantastic!!!!
@PeterHerget7 ай бұрын
I'll just copy your video, well, about 11% of it, add my voice, my watches and make it about 17 minutes long... 😁@@mlegrand
@Thatsmantas7 ай бұрын
I had an Apple Watch, Coros Apex 2 Pro, Garmin 255, 955, 965, and Epix. Ultimately, I returned the 965 for the Epix because of its sapphire glass and titanium back; the watch feels more complete than the 965. Garmin is the only watch with offline maps, navigation, and rerouting capabilities-it's simply the best.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
That's a wide range of options. Looks like I need to subscribe to your channel 😂 But I agree with that Epix decision. It's going to be a longer lasting, more durable option. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@jervinreyes217 ай бұрын
Totally agree. You have to find the watch that will suit your needs. I for one tried the well reviewed Coros Pace 3 but its leaning too much for Running focus user. As I'm casual runner and most of the time prefer Strength work-outs, it didn't work and felt incomplete. When I switch to Garmin 955, I found the balance I'm looking for. Good enough for both running and strength training plus with Recovery metrics I love to read and overall tracks my fitness while I'm trying to loss weight. As you have mention, most watches now are great or maybe not perfect at all. It comes down what you prefer to do with it. Haven't tried Suunto and Polar but I bet they awesome as well, but for now I'm happy with my 955. Cheers! 😁
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Yeah, that 955 is an extremely capable watch. It doesn't hurt to have all of the data metrics from the Garmin Connect app surrounding it. Good choice. 👌
@chrisking64487 ай бұрын
Excellent unbiased informative video. Would love to see your Top 10!
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
I'm on it! Thank you so much for all the support with these videos Chris!
@2WheelWeekendViking7 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand Great video! Looking forward to your Top Watches of 2024 video as well😁 Question: What are your thoughts on touch screens vs buttons? On one hand touch screens can be easy to navigate. On the other have manual buttons are easier to use more deliberately. And then there’s the face that some touch screen watches lock when in the water or the watch gets wet. Cheers!
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
@@2WheelWeekendViking - I like how Garmin has touch screens but allows you to do everything with buttons. Typically during an activity the touch screen will be off which is also good. I've lost so many activities due to the Apple Watch's touch screen on a rainy day. 😬
@JerelMcCollum7 ай бұрын
You pretty much nailed everything that’s important and if anyone wants a more comprehensive breakdown, they just need to go through all your videos. I too would definitely love a top 10 list as I’m bouncing back and forth between Coros and Garmin.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
I'll get to work on it. I have a Coros after 100 days video coming up and a video comparing 965 to the 265 but I'll also try to get a quick top 10 list going. It shouldn't be too hard a video to make. Hope all is well with you Jerel!
@JerelMcCollum7 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand we appreciate you and I’m great! I hope you and your family are doing well too.
@The_running_tech_guy7 ай бұрын
Great as always 👍🏼 For me it’s important that it’s easy to program intervals and wear the watch on the outside of my jacket. I cold here in Denmark 🥶
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
I bet. We’re having a cold snap here in the States as well. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@rideSYV2467 ай бұрын
Great video ML! and pointing out there is a big difference in the supporting software and eco systems for the devices. That's why I'm all in with Garmin, external device add-ons, their software and integration with Strava. Thanks!
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Thanks Jack! Yeah, I think I could have gone much much deeper on this one. Maybe next year I'll try to organize the video differently. I think this just scrapes the surface but hopefully it helps some new people that aren't as familiar with these devices and options.
@VernL46 ай бұрын
Very nice video! For me, battery life is much more important that Apple thinks it is. I can honestly say that there are days that I do not have time to charge my watch. I might not get home until it is time to go straight to bed. I need the battery to be able to last multiple days. I would consider 5 days to be my minimum. As for MIP display, I actually prefer it. I work outside, so I need it to look the best while in direct sunlight. I don't like the sapphire screens because they seem to have more of a glare while outside. Oh, and offline mapping. I spend a fair amount of time in locations where there is no cell phone service, so Garmin's offline mapping (which is much more than just a breadcrumb trail) has been incredibly useful for me!
@mlegrand6 ай бұрын
That sounds like you have a really strong idea of what will work well for you. I think the AMOLED displays are great but also a been overrated. I go back to MIP displays all the time and have no issues with them. They just work and they work for longer. 🤷🏻♂️ Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@wilsonoliveira43707 ай бұрын
“Fantastic video!! Observations from someone who uses it for those who use it… excellent! I used the Garmin 745 for 2 years and was very happy… I switched to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and I’m even more satisfied, I run in the Northeastern Brazilian sun… Congratulations on the video!!”
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Thank you so much! Glad it was helpful and thanks for taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@kiar0077 ай бұрын
Just the video I was looking for. Thanks 👍
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Glad I could help. I was honestly worried about this one. I'll try to get a top ten list up soon. I'm not trying to avoid naming names when talking about these watches here. Thanks Kiar!
@Adventures4vida7 ай бұрын
I love backpacking, and cycling. I also love my watch to have a rugged tactical look. So the Garmin epix 2 pro has been my favorite so far. AWU is still a great watch though.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Awesome! I’m so glad you’re having a good experience with that watch. I absolutely love the built in flashlight. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@fitdude7 ай бұрын
I have the AWU and have been so tempted by the Epix and Epix 2 Pro! I just deal with going to different apps for all the data and maps I'm wanting so I can have Apple Pay and live in the Apple Ecosystem, but man that Epix sure is beautiful!!
@Adventures4vida7 ай бұрын
@@fitdude offline maps and the style was too much for me to say no to. I still wear my AWU at work though, as its nice not having to have my phone at the shop.
@Adventures4vida7 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand yea that built in flashlight is something you never knew you needed. Its VERY useful, I use it at least once a week.
@grimkur7 ай бұрын
Si vous êtes intéressé par polar, soyez sûr que vous ne pratiquerez seulement les sports de course comme le trail le running le cardio ETC ... que ce soit sur la Pacer Pro ou la Vantage V3 il n'y a pas de compteur de serries automaiques comme chez garmin ou coros. La montre ne vous compteras pas le nombre de pompes, tracions, squats etc... Polar est actuelement uniquement dédier aux sports de marche course ( Malgré les +150 profils sportifs pris en comptes indiqué) et aussi il y'a très peut(voir jamais) de MAJ systeme ou de fonctionalités ajoutés.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Yeah, I've been worried about Polar lately. They do have a lot of sport activity types but agree that a lot of those might be just copies of other profiles with very minor changes. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@ikuturso75707 ай бұрын
Personally I think counting of repeats is a gimmick even if it works, which it often does not.
@grimkur7 ай бұрын
@@ikuturso7570 I kind of agree but it fits in the kind of “useful gimmick” area, it add depth to the watch usage and features. Some also have a automatic counter that let you manually correct or add reps. Witch is always handy .
@shotonpotato147 ай бұрын
@5:11 transition effect 🔥🔥🔥
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Thank you so much!!! I love adding these little details to the videos. It's super fun.
@nickyatsko98227 ай бұрын
Great video. For me, a day hiker in mostly the Santa Cruz mts my Garmin Instinct 2X has been awesome for the price and includes a flashlight.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Yes, that is a fantastic option!!! 👌
@jaymaizel12637 ай бұрын
If you were to pick just one watch between the Epix Pro 2 51mm and the Enduro 2, which one would you pick? Take price out of the equation. Thanks for the content.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
To be clear, I've been wearing the Enduro 2 significantly more than any other watch I have here but I think I'd go with the Epix Pro 51. The larger size has solid battery life, it has a flashlight and every feature that Garmin has to offer. The Enduro 2 offers all of that with the main difference being additional battery life and a MIP display. So it'll depend on your use case. If you're outside all the time and you travel (not needing to bring a charger) than the Enduro 2 makes more since. Otherwise the Epix Pro's display is nicer to look at. 🤷♂ Tricky call
@bonn17717 ай бұрын
amazing video Matt watches have came a long way from when I got my fenix3 non HR model.... once i step into longer distance i be switching to a new watch. first thing first getting a edge 1040 solar still... happy training!
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Are you doing some long stuff on the bike with that 1040? Sounds very cool. Hope all is well buddy!
@bonn17717 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand long gravel rides so not miles long but time..
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
@@bonn1771 - I think you’ll really enjoy it. I could also see it being amazing for multi-day stuff. Hopefully one day I could make a bike packing video. Dreams. 💭
@someoneelse957 ай бұрын
Thanks for the video. I am obsessed with the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar (47mm).
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Yeah, that watch is absolutely amazing. One of, if not the best watch on the market right now. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@someoneelse957 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand My pleasure! 👍
@yevinn-7 ай бұрын
Great video. Also love your videos
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
That is very nice of you to say Yevinn. I really appreciate it. People who post on KZbin often get a lot of hate messages and it's nice to receive the occasional kind message. 👍
@leewitt42147 ай бұрын
Just curious about the lack of mention of either the Suunto Vertical or Race, especially considering reports of the Vertical’s battery life and very good GPS track [despite fairly mediocre heart rate data]. I don’t have a dog in that race as I have a 7x Sapphire solar, but as I said, curious.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
It's only because I don't have and have never reviewed a Suunto watch. I *think* that Suunto Race might be one of the best watches on the market currently. I really should suck it up and buy one to review it. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@leewitt42147 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand I thought just after I posted that I wasn’t sure you’d reviewed them. I need to think deeper before commenting. Thanks.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
@@leewitt4214 - I don't think you do. Suunto is such a great recommendation. I think it's a very well thought out comment. 👌 Thanks buddy.
@meowzic7 ай бұрын
Just subscribed. I need something for hiking, getting lost in the woods and planning routes with offline maps, but would also appreciate accurate sensor monitors on a budget. Maybe i need to wait..
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Offline maps is tricky. 955 for $500 🤷🏻♂️. Or I also see a 945 for $319.
@meowzic7 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand I wonder if the Coros Apex 2 is a good watch and how it stacks up to something like the Fenix or Epix
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
@@meowzic - I really like Coros but the Apex 2 wouldn't be my first choice.
@meowzic7 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand What would you recommend for hiking? I like to do dispersed camping and hiking where there isn't usually cell service, but also would like the daily function of a smart watch. I just heard of Coros last night, originally I was looking at Amazfit as a more budget friendly option but there seems to be a lot of criticism in KZbin reviews.
@meowzic7 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand why would the apex 2 not be your first choice? What don't you like about it?
@ikuturso75707 ай бұрын
IMO most people get the best value by getting last gen watches for -50% or so of original price. Or even second hand two gen old one for some -80% of original msrp.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Smart call. Even the Garmin Fenix 7 vs the newer 7 Pro is significantly discounted. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@beachs72107 ай бұрын
Would love a Top 10 video.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
I'll get to work on it. I have a Coros after 100 days video coming up and a video comparing 965 to the 265 but I'll also try to get a quick top 10 list going. It shouldn't be too hard a video to make. Thanks Beaches!
@HARSHBENIWAL233 ай бұрын
Hey Matt, could you please do a short top 5 watches video for Triathlon…
@mlegrand3 ай бұрын
It'd be fun to do a ton of little triathlons in different watches to really test them out but all of my weekends seem to be swamped with kids swim meets. Thanks for the idea Harsh!
@oliwa10947 ай бұрын
you didn't mention the Suunto Race! Very incomprehensible in terms of price and features (cards, sapphire crystal).
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
It's only because I don't have and have never reviewed a Suunto watch. I think that Suunto Race might be one of the best watches on the market currently. I really should suck it up and buy one to review it. I would put it in the top 10 even though I haven't reviewed it. Am I even allowed to do that? Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@ed6675Ай бұрын
Very helpful video, but amongst the brands that you mention I notice you omitted Amazfit. Other reviewers have tended to suggest that Amazfit provides a good compromise for performance vs price. Do you have a view on this?
@mlegrandАй бұрын
I've really enjoyed Amazfit and I've reviewed a few of their watches. I don't think I'd personally put them in my top ten but they are a good value option. 👍
@sxhrgvs7 ай бұрын
Helpful. Thank you. Would be good to see the top 10 you’d recommend but, also, what are the new releases expected in 2024? I guess awu 3 will come along in Sep, but what will we see from garmin etc?
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
I have no idea what we'll see from Garmin. I'm guessing they will start adding flashlights to all of their watches this year 🤷♂️. Hopefully they have a lot of updates and don't stick to their old 3 year update cycle. This market is moving too fast for that. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@fitdude7 ай бұрын
I hear that the Apple Watch 10 or X is supposed to come out with a complete re-design (round face maybe?). If you're in the market for a Garmin then you get the most value by buying the previous year's model, if you can wait ;)
@trinapierce3 ай бұрын
Thanks for the videos! Currently have AW8 and mostly love it. I have two 25k trail races coming up (first for me, I’ll be slow). Thought I made up my mind b/c my AW had 41% left after 2.5 hour run. This was not on trails and I’m guessing I’ll take 4.5 hours for races. Thoughts on if it’ll last? Also, on different note, I’ll be coaching middle school XC in the fall. Considering 255 or 955 (both discounted rn) or chancing my AW. Any of these have any features that would benefit coaching?
@mlegrand3 ай бұрын
There are some things you can do to make the AW8 last as long as possible. I think you'd be able to tweak the settings to make it work for 4.5 hours. The accuracy might not be as ideal but I think you can make it work if you want to. The AW8 would also be fine for all the training and coaching. (I also coach BTW). The main tool you'd need for coaching is a basic stopwatch which all of these watches would have. The Garmin Forerunner 255 would be a great option. It's on sale right now for about $100 off (amzn.to/3yXsOU5) and the 955 is similarly discounted. The 955 would be nice because it has maps. Thanks for watching this one Trina! Best of luck with the race and coaching! You're going to do great!
@parkerkerth84467 ай бұрын
another great one! Garmin will always be #1 for me
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Glad you're still a big fan! All your hard work there seems to be paying off. They're making great watches these days. 🙌
@brebur197 ай бұрын
I would interested in a top 10 best value in your opinion!
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
I think the Coros Pace 3 and the Garmin 255 would be the best value options on the market today. I'll work on a complete top GPS watch list here for a video in the next few weeks. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@tadejdanev5030Ай бұрын
Your videos rox :)
@mlegrandАй бұрын
Wow, thank you so much! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@robhunt83787 ай бұрын
Will there be a new Garmin Forerunner with MIP display in 2024 or are they going full Amoled? I bet I'm not the only one who wants to know the answer to that question.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
I’m guessing that it’s a lot of AMOLED. I hope that they keep a few MIP options available. 🤞
@DigiPix59776 ай бұрын
which watch is best for golf?
@mlegrand5 ай бұрын
Garmin Forerunner 965 or the Epix or Fenix line of watches. Golf is actually missing from a lot of these watches.
@paulmulks7 ай бұрын
Garmin Fenix 8 for me
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Looking forward to it!
@user-ur4lv4zh4h5 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand if only someone knew when ...
@Bramic247 ай бұрын
Garmin 4 life!!!!!
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Garmin did seem to be on the forefront of this video for sure. They're doing great things in 2024. They'd be all over my top ten list also. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@Bramic247 ай бұрын
@mlegrand I used to collect and wear a different watch everyday. Up until 2018 when I got my fenix 6s. I haven't taken it off since and all of the health info keeps me going to want to improve. Great video though and thanks for the information
@rocoltro7 ай бұрын
What about Suunto? I was trying to find your thoughts on Suunto watches!
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
I actually think the Suunto Race might be one of the best watches on the market right now. Maybe the heart rate tracking isn't as accurate but I'm impressed with the features, materials and price. I've actually never reviewed a Suunto watch on my channel. It's a brand I really need to explore. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@rocoltro7 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand thank you for your return! Will be waiting for your review on this watch! Suunto Race! I am about to buy one and do not know witch one to get and the Suunto Race is one of my first options! Suunto Race or Garmin 265 (same prices). Suunto only got the heart rate sensor wrong unfortunately, and maybe this is a deal breaker, or not? Tks again
@allenpanlilio53087 ай бұрын
top 10!!!!!!!!!!!
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
I'm on it! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@kristofverschueren31417 ай бұрын
Top 10 pls 😊
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
I'm on it! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@kristofverschueren31417 ай бұрын
Love your channel. It’s my birthday next month and will buy myself a new watch. So definitely curious for your top 10!
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
@@kristofverschueren3141 - Happy Birthday early from over here on the west coast of the United States!
@uldistucs7 ай бұрын
Interesting Garmin promotional video.
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
Ha! I thought the same thing when editing this. It's funny, in this video, while doing the talking head stuff, I'm wearing a Coros Pace 3 and an Apple Watch Ultra. But yeah, I agree. This video totally comes off a bit too pro Garmin. I think if I made a top 10 GPS watch list for 2024, it'd probably also be pretty pro-Garmin. 😬 Thanks for the comment Uldis.
@chrisking64487 ай бұрын
I disagree: I loved your opening comment (paraphrased) “a device that’s good for you may not be good for someone else.” I find that people get so emotional about what they use is the best. The fact is, these devices all bring valuable tools to the table. Great video Matt!!
@mlegrand7 ай бұрын
@@chrisking6448 - I actually do think this video has a very pro-Garmin vibe to it. Totally accidental. I noticed when editing but I found @uldistucs comment very funny. Painful but funny. 😂
@mrnicbst7 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand Not surprising, Garmin is at the top of any of my lists. I tried the Suunto, Race, (too buggy, hurt my wristbone) Samsung GW6 Classic (Let's not go there, terrible everything except display), Coros Pace 3 (Horrible display, cheap feel), Polar V3 (all the bugs, crap battery), and always went back to Garmin. They just work for the most part, everyone else is playing catch-up. Also since getting the Epix Pro 51mm, I can't go back to a watch without a flashlight, it's just so incredibly useful. I use Android so no Apple watch for me.
@uldistucs7 ай бұрын
@@mlegrand Don't get me wrong, I'm not against or for any manufacturer. In general, of course, GARMIN is a top manufacturer. Anyway, thanks for the video.