And it stays accurate during workouts: It catches the spikes during intervals within seconds of increasing my exertion, and then when I back off into rest periods the displayed heart rate follows suit.
GARMIN VENU SQ MANUAL
Other fitness smartwatches tend to overestimate my resting heart rate, but the Venu Sq measures mine much closer to my manual reading. Where Garmin Venu Sq really shines, though, is in its heart rate accuracy. For a recreational runner like myself, those extra hundredths of a mile aren’t deal breakers, though they do result in a final pace that seems a few seconds per mile faster than I really am. I consider its GPS-based distance calculation mostly accurate too: Whenever I hit an area on my route I know to be exactly 0.50 miles, my Venu Sq would clock it at about 0.52 or 0.53. AccuracyĪ not-exactly-scientific step test (where I simply counted a 50-step path throughout my apartment) showed the Venu Sq to be pretty much on target, though it tended to underestimate the total a bit-usually measuring around 46 or 47 steps. No need to yank off sweaty gloves (and then try to squeeze them back on).
![garmin venu sq garmin venu sq](https://www.nakan.ch/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/garmin_venu_sq_fc_continu_web-1020x694.jpg)
With the Venu Sq, though, I wasn’t limited by any type of glove: I just needed to press the top button to end my run or the lower button to mark a lap. These buttons really come in clutch during cold-weather running, where clunky gloves-yes, even ones that promise to be touchscreen compatible-make it difficult to start or stop a workout. The bottom button serves as a “back” button, making it simple to retrace your steps on the watch face. With one press of the top button, I enter the exercise menu (where I was able to set my four favorite exercise types to show up as a shortcut, alleviating the need to scroll through a dizzying array of options each time, including everything from golf to skiing to elliptical). My favorite part, though, might be one of its lower-tech features: It has two functional buttons! The Venu Sq has a touchscreen for scrolling and clicking, but I found its two buttons to be a real boon for ease of use. Using the watch itself was super easy too. My phone had no problem pairing with my watch. I was already pretty familiar with Garmin’s Connect app-the home base for all of your metrics and daily analysis-since over the years I’ve owned both its Forerunner 10 and Vivosmart HR+, and getting back to it was a welcome change from some of the more complicated ones out there: Garmin Connect is super intuitive to use, and it sets up very easily. For comparison, I wore another fitness tracker on my right wrist, and during my indoor cycling workouts, I added a forearm-based heart rate monitor that synced with my class app. I tested the Garmin Venu Sq for one week, taking it off only when it needed to be charged, meaning I wore it for sleep and showering, as well as for all of my exercise sessions (running, indoor cycling, and strength training) during that time. SELF’s panel of fitness experts helped us determine which criteria to focus on when testing fitness trackers, including things like accuracy, ease of use, battery life, and other features. But after wearing the Garmin Venu Sq, I learned that saving a few bucks doesn’t mean missing out.
![garmin venu sq garmin venu sq](https://www.montre-cardio-gps.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Garmin-Venu-Sq-montre-connectee-700x700.jpg)
I was especially curious whether the entry-level price would limit the bells and whistles I’ve come to expect from a fitness smartwatch. I’ve tested a few fitness smartwatches recently, from the Fitbit Sense to the Timex Metropolitan, so I was eager to give Garmin’s latest offering a try.
![garmin venu sq garmin venu sq](https://www.subtil-diamant.com/ori-montre-garmin-venu-sq-white-light-gold-010-02427-11-37426_49978.jpg)
GARMIN VENU SQ DOWNLOAD
Priced at a base of $200 (the music version, which allows you to download songs to your watch, costs $50 more), the watch promises to appeal to those who are watching their budget, but still want access to a whole host of fitness metrics on their wrists. Fitness smartwatches can now set you back several hundred dollars, which can be out of reach for many exercisers.Įnter the Garmin Venu Sq, the company’s new entry-level, GPS-enabled smartwatch. But this often comes with a not-so-welcome rise too-of their prices. As the competition among smartwatches heats up, the lists of their features continue to grow.