Garmin Enduro™ 2 GPS Smartwatch

Over the years, I have owned and used several different Garmin watches. They are amazing devices. I have had some issues with the earlier Fenix Watches (3 and 5). About 3 years ago, I settled on the Garmin Instinct and have used it every single day. It truly has been a fantastic watch and the second version seems to be great as well. I’ve always loved all of the features of the Fenix watches but some of the early version had altitude measurement issues and other drawbacks for me. I have been wanting to upgrade for a while and so far, I am really glad I waited. I have only had the Enduro 2 for a few days but I am loving it so far (and will update this review with more hands-on experience).

One other note is I know this watch is targeted at Ultra marathoners. That I am not! I am an avid outdoorsman, hiker, hunter, backpacker. I think that group of individuals will really be interested in this watch. When you are doing multi-day trips in the backcountry, battery life is critical. The fact that this watch has all of the bells and whistles of the Fenix line and improves on the battery life is incredible. So I understand the target consumer Garmin is going after, I think they will be surprised at the interest they will get from the outdoors crowd.

Things I love:

-Button Location. One major issue I had with my Instinct was when my wrist was bent, it would push the activity button. Garmin had a lock feature on the buttons but the duration of time wasn’t long enough. I was constantly accidently start activities and triggering the GPS with that watch. It was the worst part about that watch for me. On the Enduro 2, the buttons are far enough apart that my wrist does not press them when bent.

-Flashlight! The fact the Garmin is the first (as far as I know) to include this feature on a watch is pretty incredible. Its one of those features we will wonder why it took so long for manufactures to include. To me, it is a game changer. It is so convenient to have that feature on a watch. I think you will be very surprised how often you use it (as I have been).

-Battery Life. In the short time I have had the watch, the battery life has been incredible. I will continue to test this with time but this watch seems to go forever.

-Touch Screen. What an amazing add by Garmin. For the mapping features, it really improves the watch. You can completely customize when the Touch feature is on/off as well which is great.

-Wrist Strap. The lightweight wrist strap that comes with the watch is excellent. One thing I loved about my instinct was how lightweight it was. It would disappear on the wrist. This watch isn’t on that level but this strap makes a big difference! Comfort and weight are much better with it.

Things to Consider:

-This watch is big! Slightly thicker than a 7x and just a large watch overall. The strap helps quite a bit with the weight but just want to point that out. I have big wrists so its not a huge deal for me.

-Visibility indoors is not great. I knew this would be an issue as I have owned other Fenix’s. The sapphire screen doesn’t help with this either. For me, I am buying this watch primarily for outdoor use. The visibility outside is fantastic. I know Garmin has the Epix 2 now and I tried it out. That watch is the complete opposite. Visibility is incredible indoors but the Fenix and Enduro 2 are better in the outdoors. One of those frustrating realities that no product is perfect. So for me, the better option was the outdoor screen with much better battery life.

Overall, I am very happy with this watch. I will continue to update this review with time.

I love it!!! I bought my first fitness/smart watch month ago and it was Apple Ultra. I always hold off the apple watch bc they dont look like a watch.. more like a tamagotchi! Im a watch guy. With Apple Watch ultras I realized Apple will most likely never make round watch so I got one thinking I get use to it. Unfortunately I didnt. I just hate how they look. So I was looking for replacement and ended up with the Garmin since my sister has one for years.
All I can say i dont even miss that beautiful amoled on apple ultra. Just the crazy battery life is amazing compared to one and a half from ultras. And they look beautiful. Plus the strong flashlight is a nice feature on top. I dont miss the cellular as I don’t need to be that connected. And since I can download music with Spotify and connect my apple airpods i have pretty much everything I need. I was originally thinking about Fenix 7X but then found out about Enduro 2 and went for it. Even better battery and stronger flashlight is no brainer.

There are many reasons why Fenix 7 and Enduro 2 are great devices. Quality is not on the list.

I am very disappointed. I own Garmin Fenix 6X Sapphire, and I tried to upgrade to both — first, Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar and later, Garmin Enduro 2. I love the 6X and was ready to invest between $1000 and $1200 in upgrading to the next generation. Instead of feeling the love I had for my 6th-generation Fenix, I was thoroughly disappointed. The 7X and the Enduro 2 suffer from identical issues, poor display, and low-quality buttons.

The display has four issues, possibly minor on their own, but they make things worse together.
1. Less transparent – the display is darker and harder to see.
2. More reflective – the objects reflected by the watch display are more visible compared to 6X. Again, it is harder to read the display.
3. Internal refraction – there are visible light effects created by the internal reflection plus refraction when the screen in the correct angle to reflect the light from a bright source. It is hard to explain. There is a line of different colors passing through the screen. I will attach an image.
4. The solar cell is shiny – when you have a shiny object, your pupils contract, and reading the less illuminated part of the screen gets harder.
Overall that makes that watch shinier, which is a pretty effect on its own but harder to read. When I am in an artificial light environment, I have to adjust the angle of the 7X and the Enduro 2 before I can read the time. I spend half of my life under such conditions, and that is an issue for me. With 6X, I rarely have to adjust because of a bad reflection. Making the display touch-sensitive requires a sensitive layer to be added between the sapphire crystal and the MIP display. That layer is of low quality. I tried to take good photos to add to the review. However, the camera automatically compensates for the conditions, and only the refraction effect is well visible. Those issues are not that bad outside in the wilderness and do not exist at night when the backlight is used.

Another issue with 7X and Enduro 2 is that the text on the screen is a black background with white letters. On 6X, the default colors are reversed, and I find it easier to read that way. It would be great if that becomes a menu option, and even better if the colors could be selected independently for day and night.

Enduro 2’s solar cell varied in color from green to dark blue. It felt like the solar cell was chemically or thermally treated differently in different areas, which felt cheap. This is a minor issue since the solar cell worked well.

The buttons – well, lousy quality. When pressure is applied on the 6X’s buttons at some point, there is a single click, and the watch performs the function. The same happens in the opposite direction. When the pressure is reduced, the buttons make a single click. That is simple perfection. The 7X was a very different experience. The 7X’s buttons feel like there is sand inside. When you press a button, there are a series of minor crumbles until the button goes no more. The uncrumbling goes on the way back too. The feeling is of a very low-quality gadget. The Enduro 2 was much better than the 7X but could not match the 6X buttons. The Enduro’s three left buttons could have been better, but they were acceptable. The right two buttons, however, did double clicks in both directions with a slight bending between the clicks.
To put it in perspective, I remembered the sequences of clicks to get a specific functionality out of the watch. Say I want to start 10 minutes count down. On the 6X, I can do that in the morning without opening my eyes to check if I got it right. With the 7X, I always checked if the watch got me to the menu I was trying to pass through. The Enduro 2 almost always got it right on the first try, but I still had to check and make sure.

I love what Garmin offers. However, it feels unacceptable that those issues exist on such expensive devices. Can you imagine an Apple watch with a bad screen or buttons barely working? I traded my 44mm Apple Watch 6 for the Garmin Fenix 6X Sapphire. The Apple Watch had superior biosensors, ECG, a better compass, and a dazzling screen, and it is the better smartwatch. Yet, I never had second thoughts about the exchange since Apple is far-far behind what Garmin offers as an outdoor sports watch.

I have tested other 7X watches displayed in stores, and they all had terrible buttons, and all the displays had the same issues. The buttons issue is simply a poor quality control and probably can be resolved in later production units. I cannot guess how easy it would be to fix the display.

I am writing this review as constructive criticism, hoping that Garmin will not put quality secondary to profit.

Image descriptions – I am not sure in what order they will show up. Thus, I will not number them:
* Two watches are showing 18:26 time – The left watch is Garmin Enduro 2, and the right watch is Garmin Fenix 6X Sapphire. This picture shows that the newer watch (Enduro 2) has a darker display.
* Two watches show an Apple Card charge of $13.17 – The left watch is Garmin Fenix 6X Sapphire, and the right watch is Garmin Enduro 2. This image shows that Enduro 2 is harder to read when there is a reflection from the background. There are two issues: the reversed text and background colors and the darker display on Enduro 2. Those are the default color for Fenix 6 and Enduro 2 (Fenix 7 is the same as Enduro) and cannot be changed through settings. Additionally, Enduro’s solar cell is shiny, making your pupils contract and thus even harder to read.
* One watch with the sun reflected in the center of the display without diagonal lines before and after the sun’s reflection – my old Garmin Fenix 6X Sapphire.
* Two images with diagonal multicolored lines, one with the sun reflected and the other with the sun not directly reflected – Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar.
All shots are made with iPhone 13 Pro Max and are not edited.

I recently got my hands on the Garmin Enduro 2 and have been putting it to the test over the past few weeks. Right out of the box, the watch exudes a sense of ruggedness and durability, which is exactly what I was looking for as an avid trail runner and hiker. The titanium bezel and case back are not only sturdy but add a touch of class to the overall design.

The battery life on this thing is phenomenal; it has lasted well over a week with regular use before needing a recharge. The solar charging feature is a great addition, offering that extra bit of juice on sunny days.

On the performance front, the GPS accuracy is spot on, and the multitude of fitness tracking features have been incredibly insightful. The heart rate monitor and Pulse Ox sensor are quite responsive, providing valuable data to optimize my training routine.

The user interface is intuitive, making it easy to navigate through the various settings and features. The customizability options are plentiful, which is a nice touch for those looking to personalize their device.

Additionally, I was pleased to find that the user interface supports Chinese characters, making it more user-friendly for Chinese speakers. This is a thoughtful inclusion that broadens the appeal of this device to a wider audience.

One of the highlights for me was the muscle mapping feature. During a session where I only selected the strength training mode, the watch accurately detected and displayed the muscle groups I worked on post-workout. The visual representation of the muscles worked is an impressive feature that provides insightful data for training optimization.

However, I do wish the sleep tracking was a bit more accurate. It seems to miss the mark on the actual hours of sleep I get.

In conclusion, the Garmin Enduro 2 has proven to be a reliable companion for my outdoor adventures. The blend of durability, long battery life, comprehensive fitness tracking capabilities, and the user-friendly interface make it a worthy investment for anyone serious about their outdoor activities and fitness training.

If you’re considering the 7X Sapphire Solar this is basically the same watch with a better battery, a few more features, and an extra strap. No brainer for the slight increase in price.

Go for it if you are considering Fenix 7x. It has everything what Fenix 7x + some more. I switched from Fenix 3HR which was serving for last couple of years. It’s the same size as Fenix3HR but has tons of latest technology and battery lasts very long time (I have it for little bit over a week and using all sensors for workouts) and it still shows me 12 days of battery life. I’m supper happy with purchase. I hope it will as durable as Fenix3HR or better.

Update 10/4/22. I finally loaded some music to this watch and… surprise. My $100 bluetooth headset is INCOMPATIBLE! It plays music at MAXIMUM VOLUME and it cannot be changed. Bummer. I take 1 star off my previous review.

I use the watch for backpacking, biking, hiking and swimming. (So I have no idea if say it’s golf features are good :)).

I went on an 8-day Sierras backpacking trip. The watch “lasted” until the last day, with perhaps 7 hours of backpacking time (GPS) every day. I did not charge it; and though I wore it on my wrist, I didn’t say set it on a stone for solar at the end of a day (I figured I might forget it). I thought that was a pretty good spell.

The mapping and other features are good; and I like how I can turn the touch screen on or off based on what I’m doing (off when backpacking since it’s too easy to touch, or touch incorrectly, for instance). Ok, the features are superb — I’m not sure what else they would include.

The pleasant surprise to me is that I was a Venu 2 user. This watch ships with more of a “strap” (light nylon) in addition to the rubber band, and I think that makes the watch as comfortable to wear as the smaller watch. (I found myself missing the mapping features and lack of a couple others in the Venu 2).

So pricey, but I hope I keep it for a decade or the like.

This is my fifth Garmin watch, incremental disappointments for years. Now they have it right!

Received watch in 2 days by seller. That was pretty good. I have only had it a couple of days now. I am an older 78 year old male still trying to do my best. The watch was purchased mainly for hiking and walking.Also for working out at the gym. I presently have an Apple watch ultra. This is an excellent all around watch but the 2 day battery life is its negative. The screen brightness is much better on the Apple watch compared to the Garmin Enduro 2 watch. The Garmin is not bad, but not as clear and bright, but acceptable. My biggest problem is the new learning curve with the Garmin coming from the Apple. But I am slowly picking up on all the features and how to use them. What I have learned so far has been very impressive. I have been looking at the Garmin products for about 3 years and liked what I saw with their battery life and GPS capabilities. I should know more about the watch in the next few weeks of use. I will give an update then.. I do like the looks of the Enduro 2 watch. It is not too heavy for me and is built solid. Actually attractive for a larger watch.– Unfortunately the garmin enduro did not work out for me. I returned it today. Nothing against the watch, it was just not the correct option for me after giving it an honest try. I am sticking with my Apple Ultra watch. I find it much easier to use and it is crystal clear. For other people who need more athletic details the Gamin may be better. I just feel the smart watch is perfect for me and does most of what I need and easier to use.

If you’re an iPhone user that relies on Apple Health, Apple Fitness, or other third party iOS apps to track and analyze your activity, beware that “Garmin Connect” does not reliably share your activity data to other iOS apps. For example, if you use Apple Fitness to count steps, and “close your circles,” activity from your Garmin device will not transfer over consistently and your circles will not close. Or, if you use an app like HealthFit to track routes and other activity data, “Garmin Connect” does not share routes/GPS data to other third party apps, and heart rate is often differs from the values reported on “Garmin Connect”.

Poor data sharing from “Garmin Connect” to other iOS apps seems intentional, to lock Garmin device users to “Garmin Connect.” That might not be so bad, if “Garmin Connect” were polished and up to 2022 mobile app standards, but the interface and experience on the Garmin app are dated and subpar — for example, even after I dismiss/close a “new record set” alert banner, the banner continues to show every time I review the activity. Frustratingly, there is no option to disable the banners within the app.

Bottom line, I’m so frustrated with “Garmin Connect,” I’m considering returning my recently purchased Enduro 2. The hardware/watch is great, the Garmin software ecosystem (Garmin Connect and Garmin Express) is HORRIBLE, and, worst yet, they break my experience on other iOS apps. In 2022, the software used to manage the hardware is as much, if not more, part of the experience. After all, the software is how I interact with my activity data, and track my progress.