I've always considered myself a lover of Type 2 Fun — pleasures that may not feel all that pleasurable in the moment, but leave you feeling richer and rewarded when you're done. Taking my body to its limits is one of life's great joys, whether that means riding my bike to almost sadistic levels or heading out on a trail run with no real idea of how I'll make it to the end.
On adventures like these, I find myself more in touch with the mind, spirit, body and surroundings. While I love the physical and spiritual side of long-distance efforts, I'm also obsessed with the gear that is required for such endeavors. I've found my latest obsession, the ultra-distance-focused Garmin Enduro 2, a GPS watch engineered for lengthy adventures, harsh climates and pushing yourself to the brink.
One of the foremost authorities in the world of GPS tracking, Garmin's wearables and bike computers have been some of our favorite gear over the years. When we saw that a new ultra-performance watch was released, we knew we had to get our hands on one to test.
While I wasn't able to put in a weeks-long bikepacking trip or run an ultra while I've been testing, I was able to ride a gravel bike race in Colorado, go on a mini bike tour in upstate New York and traverse the streets and parks of Brooklyn with the Enduro 2 on my wrist. After months of testing, one thing is for sure: this watch is an epic endurance companion.
The Enduro 2's standout features are its insane solar-powered battery life and robust mapping and course tracking, plus its ability to maintain accurate positioning in challenging areas without compromising on battery life. For ultra runners, this might mean traversing high-altitude terrain surrounded by obstructions, while for me this largely meant keeping me in the right place while surrounded by skyscrapers (something that can't be said for a lot of GPS units). Utilizing the power of the sun, the battery can last up to 46 days on smartwatch mode and 81 hours with full satellite systems and music running. That, in my opinion, is plenty.
Along with these essential functions, the watch provides a bevy of other actions and insights, including run power, VO2 max, advanced pacing metrics, a real-time ascent planner, mountain bike-focused data, surfing features and even an LED flashlight. It's nearly indestructible thanks to a fiber-reinforced polymer case with a titanium rear cover, titanium bezel and sapphire lens. With all of this packed into a tiny package, its 70 grams never feel heavy.
Garmin Enduro 2: What We Think
This watch is an absolute win for Garmin. Aside from a couple of hangups (namely the $1,100 price tag and some heart rate monitor issues that I'll address later), the Enduro 2 is a must-have for the serious ultra-athlete and an exceptional option for those who aspire to compete in ultra-distance events, love to push themselves or just want to have the best of the best at their fingertips.
The data options are second to none and the mapping features are not only as accurate as Garmin claims, but can be super helpful off the mountainside. If you're in a new city or neighborhood, the watch can generate routes for you and the GPS remains accurate in urban areas surrounded by tall buildings and other interferences. The Garmin Connect IQ store allows for connection to third-party apps, including Spotify and Strava, plus pretty much everything about the watch is customizable, from digital faces to data profiles. While there is a lot of info to parse through as you're getting to know the watch, once you have a handle on all the features, the opportunities to unlock your best performance are everywhere.
This watch has features, features and more features
I mentioned this earlier, but this watch just really has it all. When you first pull the watch out of the box, getting to know the watch will likely feel like a Sisyphean task, but after spending some time with the watch and its companion apps (Garmin Connect and the ConnectIQ Store), you'll be surprised at how quickly you can master it.
My first tip for getting started would be to get familiarize yourself with the buttons and the touch screen. Bounce around through the different fields and learn how to navigate through the various menus and standard features, like weather, alarms, Bluetooth and other standard smartwatch fare. Next, find the activity profiles you'll be using most frequently and dial in the data fields. If you're primarily a road runner, dig into the Run profile. If you're going to be riding your bike on gravel roads, hit that one first. You can't go wrong here, so just play with it and decide how you like your data organized. Next, if you're a Strava user, get that connected so that you can push courses to the watch and automatically upload your activities to the social app. From there, it's just a matter of exploration. YouTube is a great resource for this, along with the actual Garmin product page itself.
Excellent battery life and mapping set the Enduro 2 apart
I've always been a big fan of Garmin. I've used its Edge series bike computers, Forerunner running watches and at one time had a watch in the Fenix series. Those are all exceptional devices that do exactly what they're made for, and the Enduro 2 is no different. It's designed for ultra athletes and has the tools to justify the high cost — I've never seen such a powerful battery and mapping on a wearable. Normally, these features are reserved for large head units you see in the cycling division, but with the Enduro 2, you get these features right there on your wrist. The screen is big enough to really see where the maps are leading you and the battery is powerful enough to ensure you can follow the map all the way to your destination.
Speaking of destination, one of my favorite mapping tools is the ability to create courses and load them onto the watch. Whether you use Strava, Komoot or any other route-building tool, you can upload a route and take it along with you. I used both Strava and Komoot in my testing — each allows you to save routes and automatically transfer them to the watch via the Garmin Connect app. This means no uploading files or connecting to a computer. It all happens between my phone and the watch. This came in especially handy on my bike tour, where we were constantly changing our minds about the direction we wanted to go; it was simple to take a break, hop into Komoot, make a new route and load it up on the watch.
The heart rate monitor could be more accurate
The watch comes with two straps: one nylon and one silicone. The only issue I had with this watch throughout my testing was with the nylon band — it was very comfortable, but when I was using it, the heart rate monitor could not accurately keep up throughout even a short run. It would be correct for a while then just go blank.
At one point, the watch said my heart rate was in the 30s. Either I was dead and having visions of the afterlife or something was up. This is well-addressed in Garmin's help center and the brand readily admits that the silicone strap is better for accurate wrist-based heart rate tracking. If you love the nylon strap and can't live without it, I'd recommend purchasing a heart rate strap for your chest. These connect to the watch seamlessly and provide a much more accurate heart rate in general.
Also, this watch is ginormous
The only other nitpick is the size of the actual watch. It is huge. I have relatively small wrists, so the 51 x 51 x 15.6mm unit feels enormous. This doesn't really matter in short sleeves, but if you like to wear the watch around 24/7 or are working out in cold weather, you'll need to accommodate the size. There's a trade-off: it's great for visibility and use, but for wearability, the size is tough.
Garmin Enduro 2: Alternatives
If you're curious about alternatives to the Enduro 2 that fall within the Garmin family, I'd recommend the Fenix series for all-rounders or the Forerunner series for runners. They both utilize quality GPS, heart rate monitoring and activity tracking, much like the Enduro, but with subtle differences. You can also find options in each lineup that are much more affordable than the Enduro.
When it comes to competitors, Coros and Suunto are both brands that have a strong hold in the fitness and adventure world. We've reviewed the affordable multisport Coros Apex Pro and the top-tier running-focused Coros Apex 2 Pro, both of which are highly regarded not only at Gear Patrol but within the industry. Suunto also offers great products, from its base-level Core lineup to its pro-level Peak Titanium watches. For my money, though, I'm going with Garmin.
