Syncing Strava routes over to your Garmin watch is a painless way to follow trails from the app and avoid creating them through Garmin’s own Courses feature. 

Providing you’ve a Garmin device that’s compatible with Courses, and you’ve already linked your Strava account with Garmin Connect, syncing routes is a very quick process.

Learn how to send them to your Garmin watch by following the steps below.

1. Ensure Courses are enabled 

Open the Garmin Connect app on your iOS/Android device and open the ‘More’ tab from the bottom-right.

From here, scroll down to ‘Settings’ and then find ‘Connected Apps’.

Strava should be on that list if you’ve already linked your accounts (we’ve linked our separate guide on how to do this above), and all you need to do is tap through and ensure the ‘Courses’ switch is turned on.

2. Open Strava and save a route

Once that’s done, jump over to Strava and begin searching for routes by opening the ‘Maps’ tab.

Once you’ve found one you like the look of, hit the ‘Save’ option. 

Next, you’ll be given a screen to confirm that save – do so by tapping the option in the top-right corner, but ensure ‘Sync to supported devices is ticked’ before you do.

3. Sync your watch to Garmin Connect

Return to Garmin Connect and sync by pressing the refresh icon in the top-right corner. 

Now, go to ‘Training & Planning’ from the ‘More’ tab and select ‘Courses’. 

The route you’ve just saved in Strava should now be under ‘My Courses’. 

4. Load the route on your watch

Once the route is showing on Garmin Connect, it’s time to fire it up on your connected watch.

Go to start a workout as normal by selecting your favored activity profile, but hit the ‘Up/Menu’ button before you begin and tap through on ‘Navigate’.

From here, ‘Courses’ should be in the list of options – select it and then confirm the route you’re loading up. 

The post How to sync Strava routes to your Garmin watch appeared first on Wareable.

Tucked away in some Garmin watches is a sensor that enables continuous blood oxygen monitoring, a feature the company refers to as ‘Pulse Ox’.

You may have seen the feature appear in menus or in Garmin Connect’s My Day. To really get the most out of it, there are some basics relating to blood oxygen readings (or SpO2 readings, as they’re sometimes referred to) to understand.

Below, we’ve run through everything there is to know about the Garmin feature, including which watches it’s available on and how you can enable it during sleep.

What is Garmin Pulse Ox?

Pulse oximetry is a reading that aims to establish how much oxygen is flowing in your bloodstream compared to its maximum capacity. 

Delivered as a percentage figure (with higher percentages being more favorable), this is determined by shining light into the skin and measuring how much light is absorbed. 

Garmin’s particular method of pulse oximetry examines smaller vessels in the skin, which is known as peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2).

Anything between 90% – 100% saturation is considered normal by the Mayo Clinic, with anything less than this considered low.

For those at altitude or involved in an activity, this figure will often be temporarily lower than their usual average, and this figure can also be affected by compromised blood flow. 

And while Garmin watches aren’t designed to be used as diagnostic tools, one of the primary uses for Pulse Ox is to monitor during sleep, given the relationship between low blood oxygen saturation and conditions such as sleep apnea. 

How to take a Pulse Ox reading

There are three ways to receive Pulse Ox data from your Garmin watch, as detailed below.

Manual Check

When ‘Manual Check’ is enabled, this means the feature won’t be draining battery life in the background. 

Instead, it will lay dormant until you decide to perform a manual spot-check from the watch’s Pulse Ox widget.

That figure will then show (along with how long ago it was taken) until you take another manual reading.

An average figure will also show if you decide to take multiple readings within the space of five minutes. 

During Sleep 

Monitoring your blood oxygen during sleep only is a bit of a middle ground, allowing you to still receive Pulse Ox from your night but not have the feature drain battery during the day. 

As we mentioned above, it’s also especially useful for those wanting an indication of whether they may suffer from sleep apnea.

With this mode turned on – which can be performed by heading to the Pulse Ox widget and finding the ‘Pulse Ox Mode’ within settings – your Garmin watch will measure SpO2 levels every minute during sleep.

This will begin and end based on the sleep/wake times set within Garmin Connect.

All Day

For those who want around-the-clock insights into their SpO2 levels, turning on ‘All Day’ via your Garmin watch is the best option. 

Like with the other modes, you’ll be able to do this from ‘Pulse Ox Modes’ within the settings of the Pulse Ox widget on your device. 

Interestingly, when this mode is turned on, your watch will take readings less often when it detects a lot of movement (such as when you’re exercising). 

Just be cautious about the battery drain when this mode is enabled. 

Is Garmin ‘Pulse Ox’ accurate?

With Pulse Ox now available on most Garmin watches, more and more people are understandably wondering whether the blood oxygen saturation data is accurate. 

Given that readings are taken from the wrist and the feature is only designed to provide an estimation, there are several limitations to it.

The wearer’s physical characteristics, the fit of the watch, and even the presence of ambient light can impact readings, meaning that there’s plenty of room for Pulse Ox readings to be inaccurate. 

In our experience, however, Garmin’s watches are among the more consistent blood oxygen estimators, with some rival devices fluctuating significantly from day to day.

As far as blood oxygen estimations go from the wrist, we think Pulse Ox is pretty accurate.

The post Garmin Pulse Ox explained: Understand blood oxygen saturation data appeared first on Wareable.

Heart rate variability has become the cornerstone of recovery-focused metrics on top sports watches, but Garmin’s ‘HRV Status’ takes it a step further. 

Once you get to grips with how HRV Status works, it can be one of the best tools to help understand the body’s adaptation to training. 

However, if you’re new to HRV Status and want to know exactly how it works, or perhaps which Garmin watches the feature is available on, you’re in the right place.

And if you’re just getting started with HRV, get started by reading our quick explainer of exactly what heart rate variability is and what it means.

What is Garmin HRV Status?

Most sports watches and fitness trackers only register an average HRV figure from your previous night’s sleep, leaving you to fill in the gaps and determine whether this is within a typical range or not.

Instead, HRV Status establishes a baseline of your typical HRV range and assesses your recovery into a broader context, then provides an easy-to-understand summary of your own data.

Which watches is HRV Status available on?

• Forerunner 165/255/265/570/955/965/970
• Enduro 2/3
• Instinct 2/3 series
• Epix (Gen 2) & Epix Pro (Gen 2)
• Fenix 7 & Fenix 7 Pro series
• Fenix 8 series
• Tactix 7/8 series
• Venu 3
• Vivoactive 5/6

Explained: How Garmin measures HRV

Garmin measures HRV in the same way as every other wearable device, using light from the device’s heart rate sensor to detect pulse wave blood flow as it’s pushed through your veins. 

But what it does with this data is a little different.

Everything is recorded continuously throughout your sleeping hours, with the time between heartbeats measured in milliseconds and then charted using averages of five-minute windows throughout the night.

Your Garmin will take three weeks to establish your heart rate variability range, though you will still be able to view individual nightly averages during this period. 

Then, once the baseline is in place, you’ll be able to view nightly scores within the context of your own personal HRV range. 

Everybody’s range is individual, with some showing naturally higher variation and other people’s range being much tighter together. 

This baseline is also dynamic. Following a period of extended training, for example, this range of variability will likely be much lower than a period of little training or peak condition.

Understanding your HRV Status: How to use it

Once the context has been gathered, HRV Status gets to work, and you’ll be given one of four statuses based on your seven-day rolling average: Balanced, Unbalanced, Low, or Poor. 

Balanced

If your HRV Status is Balanced, this means your rolling average is within your personal variation range and indicates your body is functioning optimally and recovering well. 

Unbalanced

If the status is Unbalanced, this means that the rolling average is outside of a user’s standard variation, and this can occur if the figure is both lower or higher than the typical range.

High HRV values are typically associated with a strong parasympathetic nervous system, so why is this considered Unbalanced in HRV Status?

According to Garmin and wider research, abnormally high HRV values (compared to a typical baseline) are sometimes linked to overtraining – particularly when this overreaching is achieved through low-intensity activity. 

In these instances, the parasympathetic system is essentially working in overdrive in order to try and re-establish a balanced baseline.

Low

If your rolling average significantly drops below your baseline range, you’ll be tagged with the Low status.

In our experience, this typically occurs after a prolonged period of increased training or illness. Though, as we mentioned earlier, an extended period at a lower HRV value will also mean the baseline will shift, too.

Poor

While HRV Status typically uses your own personal range, the Poor tag is reserved for when your baseline shifts below age-based standards associated with good health. 

When this occurs, you’ll notice that a baseline is no longer provided. Garmin indicates this is to avoid denoting an unhealthy baseline as Balanced. 

Like with the Low marker, we’ve noticed a sudden illness can quickly send our HRV Status into the Poor zone.

The post How to use Garmin’s HRV Status to master your readiness appeared first on Wareable.

Once exclusive to cyclists, runners can now take advantage of all the insights that stem from tracking ‘power’—and certain Garmin watch owners can enjoy the feature directly from their wrists. 

However, while running power is essentially another measure of work rate or effort, it can be challenging to understand. Without a standardized definition of what should be included in running power measurements, the situation becomes even more complex.

To help you gain a better understanding of the insight, we will guide you on everything you need to know about Garmin’s flavor of running power, including which watches can process it directly from the wrist, and how you can use it to enhance your training.

• Understanding the benefits of using running power

How does Garmin measure running power?

Garmin’s specific measurement considers your pace and vertical oscillation, along with the grade and wind conditions, to calculate in real time the amount of power you’re applying to the ground.

In total, Garmin lists five things used in its model to calculate your effort:

• Kinetic Power: The power required to change pace, measured using speed data
• Potential Power: The power required to run up or downhill, measured using elevation data
• Vertical Oscillation Power: The power required for vertical oscillation on each step
• Horizontal Oscillation Power: The power required for horizontal oscillation on each step
• Wind/Air Power: The power required to overcome air resistance

However, it’s also important to consider the unique aspects of running power, which will be deeply personal to your individual running efficiency and weight. 

Garmin Running Power vs. the competition

As we mentioned up top, there’s no actual agreement on what should be included in a running power measurement. 

There is no right or wrong answer, as scientists disagree over what should be included, primarily due to a phenomenon known as elastic recoil. 

We won’t delve into the details of this here, but, essentially, Garmin does include this output in its measurement, while manufacturers like Apple and Stryd don’t appear to. 

As with anything relating to running power, the formulas involved in calculating any version of it are mind-boggling – but all you need to know is that it’s unlikely your Garmin Running Power info can be compared to another manufacturer’s measurement. 

Which Garmin watches have Running Power?

Once restricted to those with a Garmin Running Dynamics Pod, the running power feature is now available on multiple Garmin watches natively, listed below:

• Forerunner 165/255/265/570/955/965/970
• Fenix 7 & 7 Pro series
• Fenix 8 series
• Epix (Gen 2) & Epix Pro (Gen 2)
• Enduro 2/3
• Tactix 8 series
• Vivoactive 6

If you don’t have one of these watches, picking up the Running Dynamics Pod (or a compatible Garmin chest strap) and downloading the Running Power app from the Garmin Connect IQ Store is the best alternative.

How to view Running Power during workouts

To view your running power output during workouts, you need to add it as a data screen on your Garmin watch. Still, if you have a compatible device, you can view two running power charts immediately after finishing a workout: one that displays your running power zones and another that charts your power across the workout, providing an average and maximum figure.

Once synced over to Garmin Connect, there’s even more: a graph of your Power (W), Split Average Power (W), Power (W/kg), and Split Average Power (W/kg).

In real-time, though, you can view all sorts. There’s the potential to view your Power, Power Gauge, Power Chart, 30-second Power, Average Power, Lap Power, Last Lap Power, Maximum Power, and Power Zone. 

Follow the instructions below to add Garmin Running Power insights:

1. Press the ‘Start/Stop’ button to bring up your activity profiles, then press again to select ‘Run’.
2. Next, push the ‘Up/Menu’ button to tinker with the settings, scrolling down to ‘Data Screens’.
3. From the ‘Data Screens’ list, scroll down to the bottom and select ‘Add New’.
4. Select ‘Custom Data’, followed by the layout you wish to choose for your data screen.
5. Choose the metrics you wish to add by scrolling down to ‘Running Power Fields’ and picking from the list. 
6. Once complete, use the ‘Up/Menu’ and ‘Down’ buttons to place the data field in the list of data screens.

The post Garmin Running Power explained: How to use it for smarter running appeared first on Wareable.

Garmin watches are relatively unrivaled when it comes to the sheer amount of sports profiles on offer, but that’s not to say they’re all immediately available from the favorites list.

Luckily, many of the top outdoor watches in Garmin’s arsenal allow you to expand the list of activity profiles beyond running, cycling, and swimming, with some also enabling you to manually add your own activity type.

Doing so is extremely straightforward if you do have a compatible Garmin device, and below we’ll run through the steps to do exactly that.

Adding an activity profile to a Garmin watch

If there’s a niche activity that doesn’t appear in your favorites list that you want quicker access to, follow the steps below:

1. Press the ‘Start/Stop’ button.
2. Scroll down to ‘Add’. 
3. Navigate through the activity types such as ‘Outdoor’ and ‘Running’ to narrow down your choice.
4. Once selected, use the ‘Up/Down’ buttons to choose its place in your favorites list. 

Adding a personalized activity profile

If there’s an activity profile that’s not available to plug into your favorites list, you can still add it and tinker with the data screens as you would with any other profile. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press the ‘Start/Stop’ button.
2. Scroll down to ‘Add’. 
3. Navigate down to ‘Other’ and then select ‘Other’ again.
4. Once selected, a keyboard should appear for you to enter the name of your activity profile.
5. After you confirm the name, simply place the activity profile in your list of favorites. 

Compatible Garmin watches

Most Garmin watches will allow you to add a custom profile type. Here are some of the devices we’ve tested this feature on:

• Enduro/2/3
• Epix and Epix Pro (Gen 2)
• Fenix 5 series
• Fenix 6 and 6 Pro series
• Fenix 7 and 7 Pro series
• Fenix 8 series
• Forerunner 255/265/570/955/965/970
• Instinct / Instinct 2 / Instinct 3 / Instinct Crossover
• MARQ and MARQ (Gen 2)
• Quatix 6 / Quatix 7
• Tactix 7 / Tactix Delta / Tactix 8

The post How to add a custom activity type to a Garmin watch appeared first on Wareable.

Understanding Garmin’s power-saving tools is essential for those seeking complete control over their watch’s battery life, whether during workouts or general wear.

Mastering the Power Manager section of your Garmin watch is essential if you plan on embarking on multi-day tracking adventures or simply want to maximize battery life between charging cycles. 

Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Power Manager and how to use it to extend the life of your compatible watch.

Battery Saver—ideal for saving battery in general wear

Battery Saver is a mode that does exactly what you expect—a quick setting designed to maximize battery life by adjusting settings related to backlight, phone connectivity, and heart rate.

How to enable or disable Battery Saver

1. Hold the ‘Up/Menu’ button and scroll down to ‘Settings’.
2. In this section, you should find ‘Power Manager’ – select it.
3. From here, tap ‘Battery Saver’ and tweak the switch to on or off.

Customizing Battery Saver

Following the same initial steps as detailed above should lead you to the option to ‘Edit’ the settings within Battery Saver. 

Here, you can tweak the settings of the watch face, music, phone connection status, Wi-Fi status, wrist heart rate, always-on display, and brightness to your desired level. 

Of course, this will lead to different battery estimates compared to the default Battery Saver settings.

Activity Power Modes—for managing battery during workouts

Not all Garmin watches are created equally, which means some of the following Power Modes may not be available universally. However, here’s a quick rundown of the options that may be available.

Unlike Battery Saver, these different Power Modes are designed to help you continue tracking activity just a bit more efficiently.

Max Battery

The overkill option and great for multi-day events, ‘Max Battery’ turns off all customizable power features except GPS tracking. However, even this is set to the low-power UltraTrac mode to provide the longest possible time between charges.

Jacket Mode

Superb when you’re using the watch to navigate but not necessarily record performance, Jacket Mode disables wrist heart rate but doesn’t alter any other settings.

Extended

If you’re out on an adventure in an area with solid GPS signal, Extended can be used to instruct the watch to only tap into GPS and no other satellite systems. No other settings are changed, however.

Max Accuracy

For those with Garmin watches that feature Multi-Band, the Max Accuracy profile can be used to instruct the watch to use all available satellite networks and dual frequency. No other settings are changed, though.

Available only on watches that feature Multi-band satellite connection, sets the watch to use all satellite networks and multi-band for the most accurate position tracking. Does not change any other settings.

Customizing Power Modes

As you’ll notice, these Power Modes often alter one setting significantly but leave others untouched. 

If you wish to tweak them a bit more to your specific activity, you can do so – just as with Battery Saver.

1. Hold the ‘Up/Menu’ button and scroll down to select ‘Settings’.
2. Next, hit ‘Power Manager’ and then ‘Power Modes’.
3. Select the Power Mode you wish to edit from.
4. Change the settings for each available option to your choosing.

How to customize battery alerts on Garmin

As you would expect, setting up battery alerts will allow you to keep an eye on your battery levels outside of the usual warnings when you hit the critical 5% battery life.

1. Hold the ‘Up/Menu’ button, scroll down to select ‘Settings’ and then ‘Power Manager.’
2. Head to ‘Battery Saver’ and then scroll to ‘Battery Saver Alert’.
3. Select when you would like to receive an alert from the list.

The post How to use Garmin’s power modes to maximize battery life during tracking appeared first on Wareable.

Determining the appropriate level of exertion during workouts or races can take years of experience. However, those with a compatible Garmin watch can utilize the Real-Time Stamina feature to assess this more easily.

Still a relatively new feature available only on the company’s most premium sports watches, Real-Time Stamina is a continuously updating measure of how much you have left in the tank.

Below, we’ll run through what exactly it is, which watches it’s available on and how to use it to understand your real-time efforts better.

Which Garmin watches have Real-Time Stamina?

• Enduro 2/3
• Epix (Gen 2) & Epix Pro (Gen 2) series
• Fenix 7 series & Fenix 7 Pro series
• Fenix 8 series
• Forerunner 955/965/970
• MARQ (Gen 2) series
• D2 Mach 1
• Tactix 7/8

What is Real-Time Stamina?

We all have a general understanding of what stamina is when it comes to performing an activity; it’s essentially the total capacity of the body for sustained effort. 

However, stamina is adaptable depending on effort intensity, generally speaking, and Garmin’s Real-Time Stamina attempts to calculate this in real-time to provide you with an accurate view of your remaining levels.

It does this in a few interesting ways, and you can choose which aspect of the feature appeals to you most during workouts. First, let’s review what Real-Time Stamina actually measures:

• Current Stamina: Based on your current effort, your total remaining stamina is displayed as a percentage or in a progress bar/gauge
• Potential Stamina: Based on a period of active rest or recovery, your potential stamina is displayed as a percentage
• Distance Remaining: An estimation of the distance that can be covered at the current effort 
• Time remaining: An estimation of the time that can be covered at the current effort, and can also be presented in a progress bar/gauge

Adding Real-Time Stamina to your Garmin

The individual Real-Time Stamina metrics discussed above can be added to any Garmin data screen you like, but the easiest way to add it to your list of screens during activity is just to add the standard ‘Stamina’ data screen.

Follow the steps below to do so:

1. Press the ‘Start/Stop’ button and select either running or cycling from the list.
2. Push the ‘Up/Menu’ button to access the activity settings.
3. Navigate down to ‘Data Screens’
4. Scroll down to the ‘Add New’ option and select it.
5. Select ‘Stamina’ and then use the buttons to place it in the list. 
6. Finish by pressing ‘Start/Stop’ to confirm its place.

The post Garmin Real-Time Stamina: Manage your energy from the wrist appeared first on Wareable.

Garmin Connect defaults to Dark Mode, but a setting hidden in the app’s menus allows you to switch to Light Mode. 

After years of requests from Garmin users, the company introduced this feature in September 2023, allowing you to choose between these two themes at any time or have it match your phone’s settings.

Below, we will demonstrate how each option appears in the iOS and Android versions of Garmin Connect and provide guidance on changing them.

• Best Garmin watches: Tried and tested

How to select Dark Mode or Light Mode

Choosing between light settings in the Garmin Connect app is very simple. Follow the steps below to change this at any time.

1. Open the Garmin Connect app.
2. Tap ‘More’ from the bottom row of tabs.
3. Next, tap ‘Settings’ and then ‘Theme’.
4. Choose your preferred mode – ‘Light’, ‘Dark’, or ‘System’.
5. Tap the back button in the top-left corner – changes are saved automatically.

Light Mode vs. Dark Mode

Above, we’ve shown the two themes for Garmin Connect.

We prefer Dark Mode because it’s easier on the eyes; however, we also think the colors in the widgets and cards of the latest app update stand out more. 

As always, these choices come down to personal preference. We recommend trying both to see which one suits your eye better. After all, if you’re anything like us, you’ll spend plenty of hours poring over your training data.

The post How to choose Dark Mode or Light Mode in Garmin Connect appeared first on Wareable.

Connecting your Garmin watch to a Wi-Fi network is fundamental to the experience. To get the latest updates or connect to Spotify, you’ll first need to set up your Garmin Wi-Fi.

Fortunately, this is usually quite straightforward – and Garmin now enables you to do this through the Connect app or directly on the device. 

Below, we will go over how to do both and offer troubleshooting tips for when connecting your Garmin watch to Wi-Fi isn’t smooth sailing.

How to add a new Wi-Fi network to Garmin

In most cases, you’ll be prompted to join and save a Wi-Fi network in Garmin Connect during the initial setup of your device. However, if you are in a hotel, office, or public place with a different network, you will need to add it to ensure your device continues to function normally.

Add a new network in Garmin Connect

1. Open Garmin Connect on your iOS/Android device and begin in the ‘More’ section.
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap ‘Garmin Devices’.
3. Choose the device you wish to connect, then ‘Connectivity’ (or ‘General’)
4. Next, select ‘Wi-Fi’ > ‘My Network’ and then ‘Add a Network’ to prompt a search.
5. A list of available networks will then appear, as well as the option to add one manually.
6. Select the network you want to connect to, input the password, and select ‘Connect’.
7. Tap ‘OK’ to complete the process – your watch should now freely connect to this network.

Add a new network from your Garmin watch

1. From your watch’s home screen, hold the ‘Up/Menu’ button until the list of options appears.
2. Scroll down to and select ‘Connectivity’.
3. Next, tap ‘Wi-Fi’.
4. Ensure the ‘Status’ is turned on and then scroll down to ‘My Networks’.
5. Hit ‘Add Network’ to begin a search for available networks around you.
6. Select the network you want to add and then use the keyboard or letter wheel to type in the password.
7. Confirm the password and then wait for your watch to connect.

Top tip: Have Garmin Connect open during this process – the ‘Instant Keyboard’ will appear when you’re prompted to type in the password on your watch, which is much quicker.

Garmin Wi-Fi requirements and troubleshooting

If you’re here, you might be having issues with Garmin Wi-Fi. While this isn’t very common in our experience, there are a couple of requirements that you need to follow first:

• Only 2.4 GHz frequency is supported
• Security for the network must be WPA or WPA2 (or have no password)
• The password must be at least eight characters long
• The Wi-Fi network can’t contain a captive portal (browser login screen)

If you believe the Wi-Fi network you’re trying to join meets those requirements, it’s time to dig a little deeper. Here are our go-to troubleshooting steps when we encounter further issues with Garmin Wi-Fi:

• Ensure Garmin Connect is up to date by checking the App Store or Google Play Store
• Try both methods – Garmin Connect and the watch itself – for entering a new network
• Remove your network from the ‘My Networks’ section and reconnect
• Remove parental controls – these may affect your connection
• Restart your Garmin watch

The post How to set up Garmin Wi-Fi: Add a new network and troubleshoot issues appeared first on Wareable.

Since arriving in late 2023, skin temperature and trends have become increasingly available on Garmin watches; however, the number of compatible devices remains relatively few.

It’s also an easy feature to miss. The tracking isn’t clearly signposted in Garmin Connect or on compatible watches, and there are no meaningful insights regarding nightly measurements.

As such, it can be a little difficult to interpret what you’re supposed to use skin temperature for. 

Below, we’ve attempted to answer these questions. Continue reading to find out which watches can track skin temperature, along with information on how to access the data and what insights you can gain from it.

Which Garmin watches measure skin temperature

Not all Garmin watches can track skin temperature. Even premium Forerunner devices released in 2023 don’t have access to the feature, which will no doubt disappoint some owners.

Currently, it’s limited to Garmin devices equipped with the company’s latest optical sensor technology, Elevate 5. That means it’s the same list of devices that can access the Garmin ECG app. We’ve listed them below:

• D2 Mach 1 Pro
• Enduro 3
• Epix Pro (all versions)
• Fenix 7 Pro (all versions)
• Fenix 8 (all versions)
• Forerunner 570/970 (all versions)
• Quatix 7 Pro
• Tactix 7 Pro
• Tactix 8
• Venu 3 (both versions)

How to view Garmin skin temperature data

As we mentioned earlier, it’s not immediately clear where the skin temperature data is located within Garmin Connect. This information is currently tucked away in your sleep stats, and only here for now.

Follow the steps below and refer to the screens shown above to access your skin temperature readings and trends.

1. Open Garmin Connect and select the ‘More’ tab from the bottom row.
2. From here, tap ‘Health Stats’ and then ‘Sleep’.
3. Under the ‘Sleep Score’ page, scroll down and you’ll be able to view ‘Avg Skin Temp Change’ in the Sleep Metrics section.
4. To view your seven-day or four-week skin temperature trend, scroll to the top of the screen to change the timeline.
5. Once the data extends to your desired timeframe, scroll through the bubbles of available features underneath the graph until you find ‘Skin Temp Change’ – then select it.

How to use Garmin skin temperature data

We’ve explored the relationship between skin temperature tracking and wearables in a separate piece for those who want to dive deep into this feature, but how can you currently use it on your Garmin?

Honestly, we believe it’s quite challenging to use it effectively in its current form.

Unlike the skin temperature tracking implementations we’ve seen from Apple, Whoop, and Oura, which use data to inform daily readiness or cycle prediction, the data collected by Garmin still lacks context. 

We expect the feature to evolve over time, although it remains uncertain whether Garmin will concentrate on utilizing it for women’s health tracking or enhancing aspects like Training Readiness.

Garmin Connect currently allows you to track periods, for example, but it does not use any data like skin temperature to enhance the accuracy of predictions. 

It’s also well-positioned to help inform readiness, especially since it’s already monitoring deviations in your baseline skin temperature overnight. Based on our tests and experiences with Whoop’s Health Monitor, this baseline can indicate when an illness may be approaching.

Tracking skin temperature faces numerous environmental challenges, influenced by factors as simple as sleeping in a hot or cold room. Therefore, we’re curious to see how Garmin addresses this issue.

The post Garmin skin temperature tracking: How to view and use the insight appeared first on Wareable.