EP29 - Garmin Quatix 8 - Deep Dive chat on garmin's latest marine smart watch (ft. AI Insights)
Resources & Links:
- Buy one: https://geni.us/GarminQuatix8
- All the new features and details: https://the5krunner.com/2025/06/25/garmin-quatix-8-specifications-review-opinion/
- Main Channel: https://the5krunner.com
My other channels: https://linktr.ee/the5krunner
—Credits: Content in this episode was generated using AI tools (NotebookLM) based on original content from @the5krunner, and other sources as cited.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome back to the Deep Dive. This is where we take a whole
stack of information, boil it down to what really matters, and
basically give you a shortcut tobeing genuinely well informed.
And today, we're plunging into some pretty cool wearable tech.
We're doing a deep dive on the Garmin Aquatics 8 Marine GPS
smartwatch. Right.
Our goal here is to really unpack what makes this watch
(00:21):
special. Particularly, you know, for
Mariners who might already be, let's say, heavily invested in
Garmin's marine gear, their chart plotters, autopilots, that
kind. Of thing, exactly.
But there's a really interestingangle here, too.
We're also looking at how this watch performs away from the
boat. Yeah, that's the twist.
Can a watch built specifically for the sea actually cut it as a
(00:43):
like a top level multi sport watch for your everyday workouts
and active life? And to help figure that out,
we're bringing in some perspective from someone who's
deep in the world of wearable tech, the 5K Runner.
That's the 5K runner. Think triathlete, cyclist,
runner, serious gym goer, someone who really knows their
stuff when it comes to performance tracking.
So we want to see what this purpose built Marine watch
(01:05):
offers for you, whether you spend all your time sailing or
you're just an active than looking for maybe 1 device that
does it all. OK, so let's get into it.
At its heart, the Garmin Aquatics 8 is, well, exactly
what it says on the 10A Marine GPS smartwatch.
Garmin really designed this withlife on the water as the main
focus. Absolutely, and you see that
(01:26):
straight away in the build. It's a premium device.
We're looking at the 47 millimetre model here and it has
this fantastic 1.4 inch AMOLED display.
Which means it's bright, right? Like actually visible in
sunlight. Oh yeah, super bright and it has
an ambient light sensor to adjust automatically.
Plus you've got a scratch resistant sapphire lens that's
tough stuff. And a durable titanium bezel.
(01:48):
A metal guard for the sensors onthe back.
Leak proof buttons. They've thought about the harsh
environment. And I saw something about
recycled plastics. Yeah, that's a nice touch.
The housing uses recycled ocean bound plastics and it's dive
rated too, down to 40 metres. Pretty impressive for something
that does so much else. Right.
So build quality is clearly there, but the wheel hook for
(02:10):
Mariners already in the garment ecosystem must be the
integration, yeah. That's where it gets real
interesting. It's not just a watch, it
becomes part of your boat's system.
A major new feature, and this isa big deal, is the chart plotter
voice control. Voice control?
How does that work? Well, the watch has a built in
speaker and mic. You connect it via Bluetooth to
(02:33):
your compatible Garmin chart plotter and you can just talk to
your watch to control the plotter.
Wow. OK, so hands are totally free at
the helm. Exactly.
It could be managing the sails, holding the wheel and rough
seas, whatever, and still control your navigation display
just by speaking. That's a significant step up.
Yeah, I can see that being huge for safety and convenience.
But you know, some people like buttons.
(02:54):
Does it still offer physical remote control?
It does, absolutely. It goes beyond voice.
You get full remote control capabilities for compatible
garment chart plotters. Also for autopilots like their
GHC 50 instruments. Even for force trolling motors
if you're into fishing and your fusion stereos.
So adjusting course, tweaking the motor, changing the music,
(03:15):
it's all right there on your wrist.
It feels really integrated. Feels like it just streamlines
everything at the helm. Pretty much.
And then there's the data streaming.
Yes, getting boat data right on the watch.
What kind of info are we talkingabout?
Critical stuff in real time holdstraight from the chart plotter.
Things like your water depth, engine RPM, wind speed, and
(03:36):
direction. Instantly visible.
Instantly visible right on your wrist so you get that key
situational awareness without constantly glancing down at the
main console. Really useful and dynamic
conditions. Makes sense.
And it seems loaded with dedicated marine apps too,
things like anchor drag alerts. Oh yeah, anchor drag alerts are
huge for Peace of Mind. You know, making sure you're not
(03:57):
drifting off your spot tide alerts keep you aware of water
level changes. You can mark waypoints directly
from the watch. For those secret fishing spots.
Exactly, and for sailors there are some really advanced apps,
tack assist to help with manoeuvres, race start guidance,
even a regatta timer. It's geared towards giving you
an edge if you race. So really comprehensive on the
(04:19):
marine side. What about just practical stuff?
Well, they've included a built in LED flashlight.
It's actually surprisingly bright with different
intensities. And importantly, it has a red
light mode too to preserve your night vision, which is critical
on a boat after dark. OK, that's smart.
And battery life, That's always the big question with
smartwatches. Garmin's generally pretty good
(04:40):
here for this 47 millimetre quadX8 they're claiming up to 16
days in smartwatch mode. 16 days, that's really solid,
especially with an AIM LED screen.
It is means you're not constantly hunting for a
charger, especially if you're ona longer trip offshore.
It's a major practical benefit. All right, so we definitely
established the Quad X8 is a beast at sea.
It's like the ultimate companionpiece if you're running a Garmin
(05:03):
set up on your boat. No question about it.
But life isn't always lived on the water, right?
Many Mariners are also runners, cyclists, gym goers.
Yeah, they have active lives on land too.
Exactly. So how does this very
specialised marine watch performwhen you trade the deck shoes
for trainers? This is where that perspective
(05:25):
from the 5K runner becomes really valuable.
Right, because the big question is can a device so focused on
one area like Marine truly deliver as a high end general
sports watch or are there compromises?
Yeah. Does it feel like a Marine watch
with some fitness features tacked on or is it genuinely top
tier across the board? And what someone like the 5K
(05:45):
runner who tests tonnes of thesedevices for running cycling
triathlons would likely find is,well, the Aquatics 8 doesn't
seem to compromise much at all. It's packed with the kind of
health and Wellness features you'd expect from Garmin's best
multi sport watches. OK, like what specifically?
You're getting 247 health monitoring.
That means risk based heart rateobviously, but also all day
stress tracking and they're bodybattery feature.
(06:08):
Body battery. I like that one.
Tells you how charged up you are.
Yeah, it's basically your energymonitor.
It uses heart rate variability, stress, and activity to estimate
your energy reserves. Tells you if you're ready for a
hard workout or if maybe you need to take it easy.
Plus you get respiration tracking, hydration tracking.
The works and sleep tracking, that's huge for recovery.
(06:29):
Very advanced sleep tracking, you get a sleep score each
morning. Personalised coaching tips on
how to improve your sleep based on your data.
Nap detection, which is pretty neat.
It even detects naps. It does, and it tracks breathing
variations during sleep, so you're getting a really detailed
picture of your night's rest, not just how long you slept.
That sounds incredibly comprehensive, more than just
(06:50):
counting steps. Oh, way more.
It gives you key health insightstoo, like the morning report.
You wake up and it gives you a customizable summary of your
sleep, your training outlook forthe day, your HRV status, even
the weather. HRV stat.
That's heart rate variability, right?
Right. Why is that important?
Yeah, HRV is a really good indicator of your body's overall
stress and recovery level. Tracking it over time gives you
(07:13):
a much deeper insight into your readiness to train and your
general health than just restingheart rate alone.
OK, got it. And there's also the health
snapshot feature. You sit still for two minutes
and it records key metrics like heart rate, HRV, stress,
respiration, pulse ox all at once.
You can even generate a report from that to share, maybe with a
(07:33):
coach or doctor. Speaking of doctors, you
mentioned some features that sound almost medical grade, like
an ECG. A Yes, the Garmin ECG.
A now crucial disclaimer here. Garmin is very clear, this is
not a medical device. It can't diagnose conditions,
but it can record an electrocardiogram, basically
your heart's electrical signal, right from your wrist.
(07:54):
What's the point of that? It's primarily looking for signs
of atrial fibrillation or a fib,which is a common type of
irregular heart rhythm. Finding it early can be
important, so it's a screening tool giving you data you could
then take to a doctor. Interesting and pulse ox.
That measures your blood oxygen saturation.
Useful for tracking how you're acclimating to altitude or just
(08:15):
getting another data point on your respiratory function,
especially during sleep. Again, not for medical
diagnosis, but useful data. OK.
They seem to have packed in a lot of health tech.
They really have, and some clever lifestyle features too,
like the Jet Lag Advisor. If you travel across time zones,
it gives you recommendations on light exposure, sleep schedules
(08:35):
and exercise to help minimise jet lag.
That's actually really smart. Yeah.
And there's altitude and heat acclimation tracking, which
adjusts your performance expectations based on the
environment, plus full Women's Health tracking, cycle tracking,
pregnancy tracking. It's good to see that included
comprehensively. OK, health and Wellness are
clearly covered, but for someonelike the 5K runner, the real
(08:57):
test is performance and activitytracking.
How does it stack up there? This is where, honestly, it
seems to perform just like Garmin's top end Forerunner or
Phoenix watches. It's got the full suite for
training and recovery. You have training readiness.
Training readiness. What's that score tell you?
It combines your recent sleep quality, recovery time needed
from workouts, your HRV status, acute training load, and stress
(09:21):
history into a single score. Basically tells you how ready
your body is to benefit from training today.
So it guides your intensity. Precisely.
Then there's training status, which looks at your longer term
load and HRV trends to tell you if your training is productive.
Peaking, maintaining, recovering, unproductive,
strained, or detraining helps you see the bigger picture.
(09:42):
Useful for avoiding burnout or under training.
Absolutely, and recovery time recommendations after each
workout tell you how long to rest before your next hard
effort. Plus daily suggested workouts.
These adapt based on your recenttraining, recovery and upcoming
goals and turned into the race widget.
The race widget. Tell me about that.
You put in your race day and goal, say 1/2 marathon.
(10:03):
The widget then gives you a raceprediction, shows you the course
profile available at the weatherforecast for race day, and
provides tailored daily suggested workouts to help you
prepare specifically for that event.
Like a little dynamic training plan on your wrist.
Pretty much, yeah. And the running metrics
themselves are seriously advanced.
OK, this sounds like the 5K runner territory.
(10:23):
What have we got? You've got Visual Race Predictor
estimates your potential finish times for 5K10K, half and full
marathon based on your fitness trend.
Pace Pro technology gives you grade adjusted pace guidance
during a run based on a course you've loaded.
So it tells you how fast to run a pills.
Exactly, to maintain an even effort or hit a specific time
(10:44):
goal, there's Climb Pro which gives you real time info on
current and upcoming climbs during a run or ride.
Great adjusted pace shows your equivalent flat ground pace when
you're running uphill or downhill.
That makes comparing efforts much easier.
And then there are newer metricslike endurance score which
gauges your ability to sustain prolonged efforts and he'll
score measuring your capability for running uphill.
(11:06):
And critically you get risk based running dynamics.
Meaning no extra pod needed. Correct.
Right from the wrist you get data like cadence, stride
length, ground contact time, vertical oscillation, things
that used to require a separate chest strap or foot pod.
Helps you analyse and fine tune your running form.
Wow. OK, so for a runner it's ticking
all the boxes. What about other sports?
(11:27):
The list of activity profiles isjust vast.
Beyond the marine stuff we talked about, it has profiles
for recreational diving, both scuba and apnea modes.
Diving too seriously. Yep, wake sports like water
skiing, wakeboarding, golf with over 43,000 courses preloaded
(11:47):
and a virtual caddy feature thatsuggests clubs based on your
performance and wind conditions.That's impressive.
Skiing and snowboarding with maps for over 2000 resorts.
It can even calculate XC ski power if you have a compatible
heart rate monitor. HIIT workouts, animated workouts
you can follow on the watch screen.
And then just about every other sport you can imagine.
Tennis, pickleball, football, baseball, boxing, MMA, the list
(12:11):
goes on and. On sound like they just crammed
everything in there. It really feels that way.
It's incredibly versatile. And what about navigating when
you're not on the water for hiking or trail running?
Just as capable, it supports Outdoor Maps Plus IS, which is
Garmin's subscription service for premium mapping content like
satellite imagery, but also comes preloaded with multi
continent topographic maps. COPO maps preloaded.
(12:34):
That's huge. Yeah, really useful for
Backcountry adventures and it uses Garmin's SAT EQ technology.
This intelligently switches between different satellite
systems, GPS, Geelon S, Galileo and frequencies to give you the
best possible accuracy while optimising battery life.
Smart GPS. Basically yes, and you have the
(12:54):
essential ABC sensors, altimeterfor elevation data, barometer to
monitor weather changes, and a three axis electronic compass
for orientation plus turn by turn navigation for courses you
download. It's a proper outdoor adventure
watch too. OK, and finally, the everyday
smartwatch features notifications, payments, music.
All present and correct. You get smart notifications from
(13:14):
your paired smartphone. Music storage is on board, you
can download playlist from Spotify, Deezer or Amazon Music
and listen with Bluetooth headphones, no phone needed.
Garmin Pay is there for contactless payments at
compatible terminals. Everything syncs to the Garmin
Connect app, which is your hub for all the data.
Safety and tracking features like incident detection and live
track are included, which can alert contacts if you have an
(13:36):
accident or let them follow youractivity in real time.
And I saw a stocks tracker. Yeah, a little bonus.
You can keep an eye on your favourite stocks right from your
wrist. Why not?
So let's pull this all together then, for you, the listener.
What's the bottom line here, especially if you're a mariner
already using Garmin gear? Well, for that mariner, the
Aquatic say isn't just a super capable marine tool that
(13:58):
integrates beautifully with yourboat, it's genuinely a complete
package. It effectively extends that
Garmin ecosystem investment you've made on the water into
every other part of your active life.
Right. It seems to perfectly bridge
that gap between needing those very specific marine functions,
the chart plotter control, the boat data, the alerts, and
(14:18):
wanting high level general purpose fitness and health
tracking. Exactly.
If you're a sailor who also loves to run or cycle or hike or
hit the gym, this watch means you genuinely don't need 2
separate devices anymore. It handles the boat control even
with hoist commands, and it delivers the kind of a
sophisticated training metrics, recovery insights and health
monitoring that a dedicated multi sport athlete like the 5K
(14:41):
runner would expect and demand. It really is kind of a testament
to how Garmin has managed to pack an almost unbelievable
amount of functionality into onesingle very rugged device.
Yeah, and the quality and depth of those fitness features, the
stuff that someone like the 5K runner really digs into, means
that if you own a Garmin chart plotter, you're not just buying
(15:01):
a fancy remote control for it. You're getting a truly top tier
multi sport, watch for absolutely everything else you
do. It really does consolidate
things. Versatility, convenience maybe
simplifies your tech life a bit.It's a great way to put it.
It's a really compelling option for a surprisingly broad range
of people. It proves that a device can be
purpose built for something specific like marine use, but
(15:23):
still offer outstanding performance across, well, pretty
much everything else. It kind of solves that.
Which watch do I wear today? Dilemma for active Mariners.
So we've taken our deep dive into the Garmin Aquatics 8.
We've seen how it shines at the helm, how it integrates with the
Garmin Marine world, but also how it holds its own and then
(15:43):
some, far beyond the water viewsthrough that lens of serious
athletes like the 5K runner. What really stands out, I think,
isn't just the list of marine features, which is impressive on
its own, but how seamlessly it merges that with incredibly
advanced health, Wellness and multi sport tracking.
It feels like a truly unified, versatile companion.
(16:03):
So what does this all mean for you?
We've seen a device purpose built for a niche, yet
absolutely loaded with features for almost every aspect of an
active life. Yeah, does something like the
Garmin Aquatics 8 maybe point towards the future of personal
tech, where our devices become less specialised and more
integrated, supporting all the different facets of who we are?
The sailor, the runner, the hiker, the health conscious
(16:24):
individual, all in one place. Makes you think, doesn't it?
How capable should we expect ourwearables to be?
Welcome back to the Deep Dive. This is where we take a whole
stack of information, boil it down to what really matters, and
basically give you a shortcut tobeing genuinely well informed.
And today, we're plunging into some pretty cool wearable tech.
We're doing a deep dive on the Garmin Aquatics 8 Marine GPS
smartwatch. Right.
Our goal here is to really unpack what makes this watch
(00:21):
special. Particularly, you know, for
Mariners who might already be, let's say, heavily invested in
Garmin's marine gear, their chart plotters, autopilots, that
kind. Of thing, exactly.
But there's a really interestingangle here, too.
We're also looking at how this watch performs away from the
boat. Yeah, that's the twist.
Can a watch built specifically for the sea actually cut it as a
(00:43):
like a top level multi sport watch for your everyday workouts
and active life? And to help figure that out,
we're bringing in some perspective from someone who's
deep in the world of wearable tech, the 5K Runner.
That's the 5K runner. Think triathlete, cyclist,
runner, serious gym goer, someone who really knows their
stuff when it comes to performance tracking.
So we want to see what this purpose built Marine watch
(01:05):
offers for you, whether you spend all your time sailing or
you're just an active than looking for maybe 1 device that
does it all. OK, so let's get into it.
At its heart, the Garmin Aquatics 8 is, well, exactly
what it says on the 10A Marine GPS smartwatch.
Garmin really designed this withlife on the water as the main
focus. Absolutely, and you see that
(01:26):
straight away in the build. It's a premium device.
We're looking at the 47 millimetre model here and it has
this fantastic 1.4 inch AMOLED display.
Which means it's bright, right? Like actually visible in
sunlight. Oh yeah, super bright and it has
an ambient light sensor to adjust automatically.
Plus you've got a scratch resistant sapphire lens that's
tough stuff. And a durable titanium bezel.
(01:48):
A metal guard for the sensors onthe back.
Leak proof buttons. They've thought about the harsh
environment. And I saw something about
recycled plastics. Yeah, that's a nice touch.
The housing uses recycled ocean bound plastics and it's dive
rated too, down to 40 metres. Pretty impressive for something
that does so much else. Right.
So build quality is clearly there, but the wheel hook for
(02:10):
Mariners already in the garment ecosystem must be the
integration, yeah. That's where it gets real
interesting. It's not just a watch, it
becomes part of your boat's system.
A major new feature, and this isa big deal, is the chart plotter
voice control. Voice control?
How does that work? Well, the watch has a built in
speaker and mic. You connect it via Bluetooth to
(02:33):
your compatible Garmin chart plotter and you can just talk to
your watch to control the plotter.
Wow. OK, so hands are totally free at
the helm. Exactly.
It could be managing the sails, holding the wheel and rough
seas, whatever, and still control your navigation display
just by speaking. That's a significant step up.
Yeah, I can see that being huge for safety and convenience.
But you know, some people like buttons.
(02:54):
Does it still offer physical remote control?
It does, absolutely. It goes beyond voice.
You get full remote control capabilities for compatible
garment chart plotters. Also for autopilots like their
GHC 50 instruments. Even for force trolling motors
if you're into fishing and your fusion stereos.
So adjusting course, tweaking the motor, changing the music,
(03:15):
it's all right there on your wrist.
It feels really integrated. Feels like it just streamlines
everything at the helm. Pretty much.
And then there's the data streaming.
Yes, getting boat data right on the watch.
What kind of info are we talkingabout?
Critical stuff in real time holdstraight from the chart plotter.
Things like your water depth, engine RPM, wind speed, and
(03:36):
direction. Instantly visible.
Instantly visible right on your wrist so you get that key
situational awareness without constantly glancing down at the
main console. Really useful and dynamic
conditions. Makes sense.
And it seems loaded with dedicated marine apps too,
things like anchor drag alerts. Oh yeah, anchor drag alerts are
huge for Peace of Mind. You know, making sure you're not
(03:57):
drifting off your spot tide alerts keep you aware of water
level changes. You can mark waypoints directly
from the watch. For those secret fishing spots.
Exactly, and for sailors there are some really advanced apps,
tack assist to help with manoeuvres, race start guidance,
even a regatta timer. It's geared towards giving you
an edge if you race. So really comprehensive on the
(04:19):
marine side. What about just practical stuff?
Well, they've included a built in LED flashlight.
It's actually surprisingly bright with different
intensities. And importantly, it has a red
light mode too to preserve your night vision, which is critical
on a boat after dark. OK, that's smart.
And battery life, That's always the big question with
smartwatches. Garmin's generally pretty good
(04:40):
here for this 47 millimetre quadX8 they're claiming up to 16
days in smartwatch mode. 16 days, that's really solid,
especially with an AIM LED screen.
It is means you're not constantly hunting for a
charger, especially if you're ona longer trip offshore.
It's a major practical benefit. All right, so we definitely
established the Quad X8 is a beast at sea.
It's like the ultimate companionpiece if you're running a Garmin
(05:03):
set up on your boat. No question about it.
But life isn't always lived on the water, right?
Many Mariners are also runners, cyclists, gym goers.
Yeah, they have active lives on land too.
Exactly. So how does this very
specialised marine watch performwhen you trade the deck shoes
for trainers? This is where that perspective
(05:25):
from the 5K runner becomes really valuable.
Right, because the big question is can a device so focused on
one area like Marine truly deliver as a high end general
sports watch or are there compromises?
Yeah. Does it feel like a Marine watch
with some fitness features tacked on or is it genuinely top
tier across the board? And what someone like the 5K
(05:45):
runner who tests tonnes of thesedevices for running cycling
triathlons would likely find is,well, the Aquatics 8 doesn't
seem to compromise much at all. It's packed with the kind of
health and Wellness features you'd expect from Garmin's best
multi sport watches. OK, like what specifically?
You're getting 247 health monitoring.
That means risk based heart rateobviously, but also all day
stress tracking and they're bodybattery feature.
(06:08):
Body battery. I like that one.
Tells you how charged up you are.
Yeah, it's basically your energymonitor.
It uses heart rate variability, stress, and activity to estimate
your energy reserves. Tells you if you're ready for a
hard workout or if maybe you need to take it easy.
Plus you get respiration tracking, hydration tracking.
The works and sleep tracking, that's huge for recovery.
(06:29):
Very advanced sleep tracking, you get a sleep score each
morning. Personalised coaching tips on
how to improve your sleep based on your data.
Nap detection, which is pretty neat.
It even detects naps. It does, and it tracks breathing
variations during sleep, so you're getting a really detailed
picture of your night's rest, not just how long you slept.
That sounds incredibly comprehensive, more than just
(06:50):
counting steps. Oh, way more.
It gives you key health insightstoo, like the morning report.
You wake up and it gives you a customizable summary of your
sleep, your training outlook forthe day, your HRV status, even
the weather. HRV stat.
That's heart rate variability, right?
Right. Why is that important?
Yeah, HRV is a really good indicator of your body's overall
stress and recovery level. Tracking it over time gives you
(07:13):
a much deeper insight into your readiness to train and your
general health than just restingheart rate alone.
OK, got it. And there's also the health
snapshot feature. You sit still for two minutes
and it records key metrics like heart rate, HRV, stress,
respiration, pulse ox all at once.
You can even generate a report from that to share, maybe with a
(07:33):
coach or doctor. Speaking of doctors, you
mentioned some features that sound almost medical grade, like
an ECG. A Yes, the Garmin ECG.
A now crucial disclaimer here. Garmin is very clear, this is
not a medical device. It can't diagnose conditions,
but it can record an electrocardiogram, basically
your heart's electrical signal, right from your wrist.
(07:54):
What's the point of that? It's primarily looking for signs
of atrial fibrillation or a fib,which is a common type of
irregular heart rhythm. Finding it early can be
important, so it's a screening tool giving you data you could
then take to a doctor. Interesting and pulse ox.
That measures your blood oxygen saturation.
Useful for tracking how you're acclimating to altitude or just
(08:15):
getting another data point on your respiratory function,
especially during sleep. Again, not for medical
diagnosis, but useful data. OK.
They seem to have packed in a lot of health tech.
They really have, and some clever lifestyle features too,
like the Jet Lag Advisor. If you travel across time zones,
it gives you recommendations on light exposure, sleep schedules
(08:35):
and exercise to help minimise jet lag.
That's actually really smart. Yeah.
And there's altitude and heat acclimation tracking, which
adjusts your performance expectations based on the
environment, plus full Women's Health tracking, cycle tracking,
pregnancy tracking. It's good to see that included
comprehensively. OK, health and Wellness are
clearly covered, but for someonelike the 5K runner, the real
(08:57):
test is performance and activitytracking.
How does it stack up there? This is where, honestly, it
seems to perform just like Garmin's top end Forerunner or
Phoenix watches. It's got the full suite for
training and recovery. You have training readiness.
Training readiness. What's that score tell you?
It combines your recent sleep quality, recovery time needed
from workouts, your HRV status, acute training load, and stress
(09:21):
history into a single score. Basically tells you how ready
your body is to benefit from training today.
So it guides your intensity. Precisely.
Then there's training status, which looks at your longer term
load and HRV trends to tell you if your training is productive.
Peaking, maintaining, recovering, unproductive,
strained, or detraining helps you see the bigger picture.
(09:42):
Useful for avoiding burnout or under training.
Absolutely, and recovery time recommendations after each
workout tell you how long to rest before your next hard
effort. Plus daily suggested workouts.
These adapt based on your recenttraining, recovery and upcoming
goals and turned into the race widget.
The race widget. Tell me about that.
You put in your race day and goal, say 1/2 marathon.
(10:03):
The widget then gives you a raceprediction, shows you the course
profile available at the weatherforecast for race day, and
provides tailored daily suggested workouts to help you
prepare specifically for that event.
Like a little dynamic training plan on your wrist.
Pretty much, yeah. And the running metrics
themselves are seriously advanced.
OK, this sounds like the 5K runner territory.
(10:23):
What have we got? You've got Visual Race Predictor
estimates your potential finish times for 5K10K, half and full
marathon based on your fitness trend.
Pace Pro technology gives you grade adjusted pace guidance
during a run based on a course you've loaded.
So it tells you how fast to run a pills.
Exactly, to maintain an even effort or hit a specific time
(10:44):
goal, there's Climb Pro which gives you real time info on
current and upcoming climbs during a run or ride.
Great adjusted pace shows your equivalent flat ground pace when
you're running uphill or downhill.
That makes comparing efforts much easier.
And then there are newer metricslike endurance score which
gauges your ability to sustain prolonged efforts and he'll
score measuring your capability for running uphill.
(11:06):
And critically you get risk based running dynamics.
Meaning no extra pod needed. Correct.
Right from the wrist you get data like cadence, stride
length, ground contact time, vertical oscillation, things
that used to require a separate chest strap or foot pod.
Helps you analyse and fine tune your running form.
Wow. OK, so for a runner it's ticking
all the boxes. What about other sports?
(11:27):
The list of activity profiles isjust vast.
Beyond the marine stuff we talked about, it has profiles
for recreational diving, both scuba and apnea modes.
Diving too seriously. Yep, wake sports like water
skiing, wakeboarding, golf with over 43,000 courses preloaded
(11:47):
and a virtual caddy feature thatsuggests clubs based on your
performance and wind conditions.That's impressive.
Skiing and snowboarding with maps for over 2000 resorts.
It can even calculate XC ski power if you have a compatible
heart rate monitor. HIIT workouts, animated workouts
you can follow on the watch screen.
And then just about every other sport you can imagine.
Tennis, pickleball, football, baseball, boxing, MMA, the list
(12:11):
goes on and. On sound like they just crammed
everything in there. It really feels that way.
It's incredibly versatile. And what about navigating when
you're not on the water for hiking or trail running?
Just as capable, it supports Outdoor Maps Plus IS, which is
Garmin's subscription service for premium mapping content like
satellite imagery, but also comes preloaded with multi
continent topographic maps. COPO maps preloaded.
(12:34):
That's huge. Yeah, really useful for
Backcountry adventures and it uses Garmin's SAT EQ technology.
This intelligently switches between different satellite
systems, GPS, Geelon S, Galileo and frequencies to give you the
best possible accuracy while optimising battery life.
Smart GPS. Basically yes, and you have the
(12:54):
essential ABC sensors, altimeterfor elevation data, barometer to
monitor weather changes, and a three axis electronic compass
for orientation plus turn by turn navigation for courses you
download. It's a proper outdoor adventure
watch too. OK, and finally, the everyday
smartwatch features notifications, payments, music.
All present and correct. You get smart notifications from
(13:14):
your paired smartphone. Music storage is on board, you
can download playlist from Spotify, Deezer or Amazon Music
and listen with Bluetooth headphones, no phone needed.
Garmin Pay is there for contactless payments at
compatible terminals. Everything syncs to the Garmin
Connect app, which is your hub for all the data.
Safety and tracking features like incident detection and live
track are included, which can alert contacts if you have an
(13:36):
accident or let them follow youractivity in real time.
And I saw a stocks tracker. Yeah, a little bonus.
You can keep an eye on your favourite stocks right from your
wrist. Why not?
So let's pull this all together then, for you, the listener.
What's the bottom line here, especially if you're a mariner
already using Garmin gear? Well, for that mariner, the
Aquatic say isn't just a super capable marine tool that
(13:58):
integrates beautifully with yourboat, it's genuinely a complete
package. It effectively extends that
Garmin ecosystem investment you've made on the water into
every other part of your active life.
Right. It seems to perfectly bridge
that gap between needing those very specific marine functions,
the chart plotter control, the boat data, the alerts, and
(14:18):
wanting high level general purpose fitness and health
tracking. Exactly.
If you're a sailor who also loves to run or cycle or hike or
hit the gym, this watch means you genuinely don't need 2
separate devices anymore. It handles the boat control even
with hoist commands, and it delivers the kind of a
sophisticated training metrics, recovery insights and health
monitoring that a dedicated multi sport athlete like the 5K
(14:41):
runner would expect and demand. It really is kind of a testament
to how Garmin has managed to pack an almost unbelievable
amount of functionality into onesingle very rugged device.
Yeah, and the quality and depth of those fitness features, the
stuff that someone like the 5K runner really digs into, means
that if you own a Garmin chart plotter, you're not just buying
(15:01):
a fancy remote control for it. You're getting a truly top tier
multi sport, watch for absolutely everything else you
do. It really does consolidate
things. Versatility, convenience maybe
simplifies your tech life a bit.It's a great way to put it.
It's a really compelling option for a surprisingly broad range
of people. It proves that a device can be
purpose built for something specific like marine use, but
(15:23):
still offer outstanding performance across, well, pretty
much everything else. It kind of solves that.
Which watch do I wear today? Dilemma for active Mariners.
So we've taken our deep dive into the Garmin Aquatics 8.
We've seen how it shines at the helm, how it integrates with the
Garmin Marine world, but also how it holds its own and then
(15:43):
some, far beyond the water viewsthrough that lens of serious
athletes like the 5K runner. What really stands out, I think,
isn't just the list of marine features, which is impressive on
its own, but how seamlessly it merges that with incredibly
advanced health, Wellness and multi sport tracking.
It feels like a truly unified, versatile companion.
(16:03):
So what does this all mean for you?
We've seen a device purpose built for a niche, yet
absolutely loaded with features for almost every aspect of an
active life. Yeah, does something like the
Garmin Aquatics 8 maybe point towards the future of personal
tech, where our devices become less specialised and more
integrated, supporting all the different facets of who we are?
The sailor, the runner, the hiker, the health conscious
(16:24):
individual, all in one place. Makes you think, doesn't it?
How capable should we expect ourwearables to be?
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.