The Forerunner 965 earns a best-in-class slot for multisport training thanks to its lightweight AMOLED display, advanced running dynamics and comprehensive training/load features aimed at competitive runners and triathletes. Compared with the bulkier Fenix 7X Solar it delivers many high-end Garmin metrics at a lower price and lighter weight, while offering comparable sensor accuracy to the Polar and Coros units and better everyday comfort for long training days.
Pro running metrics
AMOLED maps — wrist atlas
Pro running metrics
AMOLED maps — wrist atlas
Review Summary
"Users praise the Forerunner 965 for its accurate GPS, comprehensive training metrics and bright AMOLED display; criticisms focus on the premium price and occasional software glitches."
Featherweight endurance
AMOLED display with detailed maps and customizable data screens.
Featherweight endurance
AMOLED display with detailed maps and customizable data screens.
Enhanced Physical Well-Being
Skill Development & Mastery
Time-Saving Convenience
The Forerunner 965 earns a best-in-class slot for multisport training thanks to its lightweight AMOLED display, advanced running dynamics and comprehensive training/load features aimed at competitive runners and triathletes. Compared with the bulkier Fenix 7X Solar it delivers many high-end Garmin metrics at a lower price and lighter weight, while offering comparable sensor accuracy to the Polar and Coros units and better everyday comfort for long training days.
Pro running metrics
AMOLED maps — wrist atlas
Featherweight endurance
AMOLED display with detailed maps and customizable data screens.
Advanced training and recovery metrics including VO2max and Training Readiness.
Pro running metrics
AMOLED maps — wrist atlas
Featherweight endurance
AMOLED display with detailed maps and customizable data screens.
Advanced training and recovery metrics including VO2max and Training Readiness.
$700-900 CAD
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the market leader for water-sport enthusiasts who want a premium, consumer-friendly smartwatch with ocean-ready sensors, a built-in depth gauge and broad third-party dive and water-sports app support. Though it commands a higher price than swim-specialist models, its unmatched UI, cellular connectivity and app ecosystem make it ideal for users who value versatility and safety features on the water, even if its GPS battery life lags behind dedicated multisport watches from Garmin and Suunto.
Depth-rated dive
Satellite GPS
Depth-rated dive
Satellite GPS
Review Summary
"Users report excellent multisport and open-water swim tracking, improved battery life and robust build, with most complaints focused on price and size for smaller wrists."
Trail-blazing titan
Certified for recreational diving and built for harsh environments with high water resistance
Trail-blazing titan
Certified for recreational diving and built for harsh environments with high water resistance
Enhanced Physical Well-Being
Recreational Enjoyment
Time-Saving Convenience
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the market leader for water-sport enthusiasts who want a premium, consumer-friendly smartwatch with ocean-ready sensors, a built-in depth gauge and broad third-party dive and water-sports app support. Though it commands a higher price than swim-specialist models, its unmatched UI, cellular connectivity and app ecosystem make it ideal for users who value versatility and safety features on the water, even if its GPS battery life lags behind dedicated multisport watches from Garmin and Suunto.
Depth-rated dive
Satellite GPS
Trail-blazing titan
Certified for recreational diving and built for harsh environments with high water resistance
Large, bright display and dual-frequency GPS for precise open-water tracking
Depth-rated dive
Satellite GPS
Trail-blazing titan
Certified for recreational diving and built for harsh environments with high water resistance
Large, bright display and dual-frequency GPS for precise open-water tracking
$999-1,099 CAD
The Epix Pro Gen 2 is Garmin's premium multisport and mapping smartwatch that pairs industry-leading recovery and sleep analytics with superb sensors, long battery life, and rugged materials—making it the best choice for athletes who want top-tier technical accuracy and comprehensive outdoor features. It is the most expensive option here but offers unmatched on-device computing and mapping compared with the Forerunner 965, and it avoids subscription costs tied to platforms like WHOOP while delivering broader functionality than Oura's ring.
Sapphire tough
Topo mapping
Sapphire tough
Topo mapping
Review Summary
"The Epix Pro Gen 2 earns strong long-term praise for best-in-class GPS accuracy, comprehensive recovery and training analytics, and excellent battery life on top-end hardware, making it a favorite for outdoor athletes. Criticisms center on high cost and bulkiness, but overall users find it a top-tier multisport/recovery watch."
Ultra battery
Professional-grade sensors delivering HR, HRV and advanced recovery metrics for athletes.
Ultra battery
Professional-grade sensors delivering HR, HRV and advanced recovery metrics for athletes.
Enhanced Physical Well-Being
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
The Epix Pro Gen 2 is Garmin's premium multisport and mapping smartwatch that pairs industry-leading recovery and sleep analytics with superb sensors, long battery life, and rugged materials—making it the best choice for athletes who want top-tier technical accuracy and comprehensive outdoor features. It is the most expensive option here but offers unmatched on-device computing and mapping compared with the Forerunner 965, and it avoids subscription costs tied to platforms like WHOOP while delivering broader functionality than Oura's ring.
Sapphire tough
Topo mapping
Ultra battery
Professional-grade sensors delivering HR, HRV and advanced recovery metrics for athletes.
Extended battery life and topo/maps for long outings while retaining sleep and recovery tracking.
Sapphire tough
Topo mapping
Ultra battery
Professional-grade sensors delivering HR, HRV and advanced recovery metrics for athletes.
Extended battery life and topo/maps for long outings while retaining sleep and recovery tracking.
$1,099-1,399 CAD
The Epix Pro Gen 2 is the premium, market-leading option for athletes who want the most advanced training-plan features combined with a luxurious AMOLED display, topographic maps and rugged materials—delivering a technical edge for navigation-heavy coaching and multisport athletes. It is the most expensive in the list but justifies the cost with superior screen clarity, full mapping and multi-day navigation capabilities that surpass the Forerunner 965 and Coros in on-device route management and visual feedback during coached sessions. For buyers who value premium hardware and the broadest feature set for complex training plans, the Epix Pro Gen 2 is the technical flagship.
Topo maps — trail-whisperer
Sapphire toughness — tanky
Topo maps — trail-whisperer
Sapphire toughness — tanky
Review Summary
"Owners appreciate the Epix Pro Gen 2 for top-tier GPS accuracy, premium build and comprehensive mapping/coaching features, though many mention its high cost and occasional firmware rough edges."
Pro sensors — data buffet
Extensive multisport coaching features with advanced route planning and race-day tools.
Pro sensors — data buffet
Extensive multisport coaching features with advanced route planning and race-day tools.
Enhanced Physical Well-Being
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
The Epix Pro Gen 2 is the premium, market-leading option for athletes who want the most advanced training-plan features combined with a luxurious AMOLED display, topographic maps and rugged materials—delivering a technical edge for navigation-heavy coaching and multisport athletes. It is the most expensive in the list but justifies the cost with superior screen clarity, full mapping and multi-day navigation capabilities that surpass the Forerunner 965 and Coros in on-device route management and visual feedback during coached sessions. For buyers who value premium hardware and the broadest feature set for complex training plans, the Epix Pro Gen 2 is the technical flagship.
Topo maps — trail-whisperer
Sapphire toughness — tanky
Pro sensors — data buffet
Extensive multisport coaching features with advanced route planning and race-day tools.
Rugged sapphire construction and bright AMOLED for durable outdoor training.
Topo maps — trail-whisperer
Sapphire toughness — tanky
Pro sensors — data buffet
Extensive multisport coaching features with advanced route planning and race-day tools.
Rugged sapphire construction and bright AMOLED for durable outdoor training.
$1,099-1,399 CAD
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 combines an extensive set of workout modes and solid battery performance at an aggressive price, positioning it as a market leader for cost-conscious buyers who want feature depth. It competes closely with the Amazfit on value but often wins on a wider user base and third-party accessory support, delivering many high-end band features without the premium cost.
Stylish color flash
Detailed sleep guru
Stylish color flash
Detailed sleep guru
Review Summary
"The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 is favored for its excellent value, bright screen, extensive workout modes and reliable day-to-day tracking, with minor gripes around app polish and occasional sensor lag under intense use."
Budget powerhouse
Bright AMOLED display with many watch faces and customizable options
Budget powerhouse
Bright AMOLED display with many watch faces and customizable options
Enhanced Physical Well-Being
Time-Saving Convenience
Recreational Enjoyment
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 combines an extensive set of workout modes and solid battery performance at an aggressive price, positioning it as a market leader for cost-conscious buyers who want feature depth. It competes closely with the Amazfit on value but often wins on a wider user base and third-party accessory support, delivering many high-end band features without the premium cost.
Stylish color flash
Detailed sleep guru
Budget powerhouse
Bright AMOLED display with many watch faces and customizable options
Comprehensive fitness tracking across numerous sports modes and SpO2 tracking
Stylish color flash
Detailed sleep guru
Budget powerhouse
Bright AMOLED display with many watch faces and customizable options
Comprehensive fitness tracking across numerous sports modes and SpO2 tracking
$60-90 CAD
The Fenix 7X Pro is the market leader for multisport performance analytics thanks to its rugged construction, multi-band GNSS, exceptionally long battery life (including solar options), and enterprise-grade mapping and navigation features. It outclasses most rivals technically with the broadest feature set for outdoor and ultra-endurance athletes, though that capability comes with a premium price compared with lighter or more budget-focused models like the Forerunner 965 and Coros Apex 2 Pro. For athletes who need the most complete on-wrist analytics and durability for remote adventures, the Fenix 7X Pro remains the benchmark.
Solar battery champion
Built LED torch
Solar battery champion
Built LED torch
Review Summary
"Reviewers call the Fenix 7X Pro the ultimate rugged multisport watch with outstanding battery life, robust navigation and advanced training tools; criticisms focus on size, weight and high price."
Trail-ready titan
Robust titanium/steel build with optional solar charging for extended use
Trail-ready titan
Robust titanium/steel build with optional solar charging for extended use
Enhanced Physical Well-Being
Recreational Enjoyment
Eco-Friendly Living
The Fenix 7X Pro is the market leader for multisport performance analytics thanks to its rugged construction, multi-band GNSS, exceptionally long battery life (including solar options), and enterprise-grade mapping and navigation features. It outclasses most rivals technically with the broadest feature set for outdoor and ultra-endurance athletes, though that capability comes with a premium price compared with lighter or more budget-focused models like the Forerunner 965 and Coros Apex 2 Pro. For athletes who need the most complete on-wrist analytics and durability for remote adventures, the Fenix 7X Pro remains the benchmark.
Solar battery champion
Built LED torch
Trail-ready titan
Robust titanium/steel build with optional solar charging for extended use
Extensive performance analytics like Training Load Pro, Recovery Time and multi-band GNSS
Solar battery champion
Built LED torch
Trail-ready titan
Robust titanium/steel build with optional solar charging for extended use
Extensive performance analytics like Training Load Pro, Recovery Time and multi-band GNSS
$1,000-1,400 CAD