The following article was produced in partnership with Garmin.
The world of premium smartwatches is changing and changing fast, with brands across the board endlessly attempting to out-do one another with incrementally amped-up features which, we hasten to add, turn out to be gimmicks far more often than not…
However, since the beginning of the smartwatch era, one watchmaker has always stood out from the pack for its ability to create a watch that not only sets a new benchmark for how a timepiece can enhance your outdoor adventures, but frankly raises the bar for the entire industry. Enter: Garmin and their brand-new Fenix 8.
Designed for the adrenaline-seeker who thrives on adventure and appreciates the cutting-edge technology that can enhance those adventures no end, this genuinely exceptional new offering is far more than just a watch — it’s your ticket to limitless experiences and all the great memories that follow.
Golfers, Hikers, and Bikers Will Love The Fenix 8
When you’re under the pump all week long at work, you need every bit of help you can get making your weekend adventures as slick and seamless as possible, and this is precisely where the Fenix 8 comes into play. A premium multisport GPS smartwatch engineered to perform in the most challenging environments, this is the perfect companion for blokes who refuse to compromise on quality or functionality.
What makes the Fenix 8 tick is its array of advanced performance features: multi-band GPS and enhanced map navigation — suped-up with battery-enhancing SatIQ — mean you can explore new terrains with total confidence… and a massive (and we mean massive) up to 29-day battery life mean you can keep on exploring for as long as you damn please…
Whether you’re hiking remote mountains or navigating equally confounding urban landscapes, the dynamic round-trip routing feature lets you input your desired distance and receive suggested routes that will get you back on time, whether that’s for an afternoon meeting or the bittersweet end of a long-overdue weekend getaway. TopoActive maps and preloaded golf courses and ski resorts around the world mean you’re always equipped for your next adventure.
Elevate Running, Swimming, Diving and Climbing
For fitness freaks, the watch also offers an impressive suite of training tools. The Endurance Score and Hill Score provide data-driven insights into your ability to sustain prolonged effort and your uphill running capability, respectively. The Visual Race Predictor takes this a step further, for those with a shamelessly competitive streak; it estimates your potential pace for race distances, helping you set and achieve new personal bests faster.
Advanced strength training features include sport-specific workouts and targeted strength training plans, elevating your body’s performance across your chosen disciplines. Climbers, for example, will love ClimbPro, while runners will never go back after trying PacePro. With preloaded activity profiles, you can track a boatload of pursuits, from HIIT workouts and backcountry skiing to recreational diving and surfing.
The Fenix 8 also caters to multi-sport athletes with its automatic sport transition feature, which detects changes between swimming, cycling, and running during triathlons, duathlons, or whatever other shade of self-elected suffering you’re training for. The watch records your splits seamlessly, letting you focus entirely on your performance.
Anyone who takes their training seriously will know that recovery is just as important as working out. That’s why the Training Readiness feature gives you a readiness score each morning based on sleep quality, recovery, and training load, allowing you to optimise your upcoming workout schedule and prevent burnout. The watch also samples your heart rate, stress levels, and respiration. Forgive the pun but: don’t sleep on this.
Cutting-Edge Touchscreen Tech Meets Rugged Design
We’re not big on hyperbole here at DMARGE, but it’s not a stretch to call the Fenix 8 a marvel of design embracing durability. Featuring a bright, crisp 1.4″ AMOLED display, it offers spectacular colour and contrast, ensuring readability in all light conditions. The rugged construction boasts leakproof buttons, a metal sensor guard cover, and options for a scratch-resistant lens and titanium bezel. Tested to U.S. military standards for thermal, shock, water resistance, and dive-rated up to 40 metres, this watch is built to endure whatever you fancy throwing at it.
One of the standout features versus competitor pieces is the built-in speaker and microphone. When paired with your smartphone, you can make and take calls directly from your wrist — an essential function for the busy professional and adventurer on the move in equal measure. The off-grid voice command capability allows you to control watch functions without touching a button, which is a similarly invaluable asset when your hands are occupied elsewhere (rock climbing, for example… get your head out the gutter).
An integrated LED flashlight with variable intensities and a red safety light provides potentially lifesaving illumination in low-light conditions, while a strobe mode that matches your running cadence is pure-and-simple genius.
The Fenix 8 is Smart and Safe
The Fenix 8 helps you stay connected no matter where your adventures take you. Smart notifications deliver emails, texts, and alerts directly to your watch when paired with your smartphone. Music storage and streaming capabilities allow you to enjoy your favourite playlists on the go, and with Garmin Pay contactless payments, you can make purchases without reaching for your wallet. You can even keep track of your investments from basecamp, thanks to the built in stocks tracker.
As any serious adventurer will know: safety is paramount, and the Fenix 8 incorporates incident detection and assistance, features which send your live location to emergency contacts if needed. The Garmin Messenger app enables two-way text messaging, ensuring you can communicate even when off the grid. The watch is also compatible with the Connect IQ Store, allowing you to customise it with all the apps, widgets, and watch faces that suit your doubtlessly top-drawer lifestyle.
And for those connecting with friends or colleagues overseas, the Jet Lag Adviser is a godsend. Providing guidance on light exposure, sleep schedules, and exercise to help minimise the effects of crossing time zones, the watch also includes nap detection and sleep coaching features, ensuring you get the rest you need to maintain peak performance wherever you are and wherever you’re going.
Buy the Garmin Fenix 8 Today, You Won’t Regret It
The Garmin Fenix 8 is not just a smartwatch; it’s an artisanal tool crafted for the discerning adventurer who demands excellence in every facet of his life, whether that’s in the office, the home, or the great outdoors. Its fusion of advanced performance metrics, rugged yet elegant design, and comprehensive health and connectivity features make it this year’s essential accessory for the man ready to embrace a life without limits.
