He's got the Alpha 200i. He has the DriveTrack 71. He has enough collars to start a small Garmin dealership. What's next? A Garmin watch.
As far as gadgets go, there's nothing quite like a Garmin watch to make you feel like an outdoor James Bond. Perfect for the hunter who already has everything, don't spoil the hounds by adding yet another spare collar to the already bloated system; Get a tracking accessory you can wear in and out of the field.
Picking a Garmin watch can be a big decision. It'll likely be a one-time purchase to last for years, so being satisfied with your device and its features is important.
With a high-ticket item like timepieces, buyer's remorse can come into play. Did I get something I won't use? Should I spring for the more advanced model? This guide is here to help ensure you make the right decision. If you see something here you like that isn't listed on our website, give us a call at 855-384-8687. We'll put in the order for you and get your preferred Garmin watch on the way.

All Garmin watches come equipped with the ability to pair with a compatible phone to receive and answer calls and text messages at a glance. Both the Fenix and Instinct watches come standard with ABC tracking (Accelerometer, Barometric Altimeter, and internal Compass), an internal thermometer, and GPS, so you'll always be in command of your environment and prepared to face your day (or for some of us, night).
For those houndsmen of a certain age, these watches also handily monitor and alert you to any abnormalities in your heart rate, so even if you're getting "over-the-hill", your watch ensures you can safely get over that next hill. And should you for some reason wipe out and tumble down that hill, the Instinct and Fenix both pair with the Alpha 200i's inReach capabilities, allowing you to receive and send messages, trigger a 24/7 emergency response team, and check the weather from your watch while you wait for the helicopters to arrive.
Is the crack in the truck seat notorious for eating your phone? Pair the Fenix or Instinct to your compatible smartphone and use the Find My Phone feature. Your watch will ping your phone and light it up with a ringtone, even in silent mode, so no more fumbling around in the cab with a flashlight when it drops or searching high and low around the house because "somebody stole" your phone. Choose a Fenix with premium features to preload music (or the Double U Podcast) and pair with a set of wireless earbuds to take your favorite tunes (or Jason's sultry baritone voice) out into the field.
Fenix vs. Instinct
As a houndsman, your obvious choices in Garmin Watches will likely be between the Instinct, and the more cutting-edge Fenix 6. Before you can decide which features you can and can't live without, you'll need to decide which model suits your needs best.
Instinct
Standard - $299

Garmin's most basic dog-tracking outdoor watch would be the Instinct. Built to be rugged with its polymer casing, and coming in Solar and Tactical versions, the trusty Instinct can track dogs, leave a trail back to the truck, and boasts an impressive two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode for those lengthier outings.
Instinct Tactical - $299

At the exact same price as the standard edition, why not choose the Instinct Tactical? With all the same features of the standard Instinct, the Tactical edition also has a cool night-vision compatibility mode. If you use NV goggles during coyote, coon, or fox hunts, simply toggle this setting to use your watch simultaneously, without damaging your equipment or your eyes.
Still wondering what else is so tactical about this version? For those of us who have a little outlaw in them, the Instinct Tactical also comes equipped with "Stealth Mode". Turn it on, and instantly you're off the grid; pause all of your tracking and go dark to stop storing and sharing your GPS position as well as disabling wireless connectivity and communication. You know, just in case you're hunting somewhere "off the record".
Instinct Solar - $399-$449
For an extra $100 ($150 for the Tactical), you can always upgrade to the Instinct Solar Edition. With a battery powered by the sun, and a Power Manager option to decide which features to run and pause, you can stay outside almost indefinitely without the need to ever charge your watch.
Fenix

Fenix 6S - $549-$649
For a truly advanced smartwatch experience, look no further than the Fenix series. Boasting incredible features for use on and off the mountain, this watch is just as useful in everyday life as it is as a hunting partner. At a higher price point than the Instinct (nearly double, in fact, depending on the model) these watches are an investment, but a solid one.
Starting at around the $600-$700 mark, this is Garmin's biggest hurdle when marketing outdoor watches to houndsmen (Why would I get a watch for myself when I could get another collar for my dog?). But wear a Fenix for just a couple of weeks, and you'll feel naked without it. In addition to being a seriously gorgeous timepiece with useful widgets and apps sure to turn your buddies green with envy, you'll never feel more prepared to tackle the elements, or an average workday with its impressive suite of features.
Fenix 6 - $549-$799
Your standard Fenix 6 watch comes equipped with data collection and personal performance metrics: if you're the type of Data Lover who enjoys reviewing your dog's average speed and elevation gain after every hunt, you can take as much interest in your own statistics. Monitor your heart rate, sleep schedule, hydration, and even your own speed and elevation in the field in real-time as you chase after your hounds, or log and compare your speed after the race with the Garmin Connect app. Pair your watch with Connect IQ via Garmin Express, and a litany of apps, watch faces, and widgets are at your disposal to make you feel like an outdoor James Bond.
This watch may look pretty, but like any Garmin device, it's built tough. With an ATM 10 water rating, the Fenix 6 withstands everything from a shower, to a swim, to a hurricane, and a depth of up to 100 meters. You can take a dive in the creek (intentional or not), and the Fenix will still be running strong.
Fenix 6 Sapphire - $749-$799
Why is it you only break expensive stuff? It always seems like a cheap pair of sunglasses lasts forever, but you sit on the expensive pair in your back pocket within two weeks of buying them. It may sound extravagant, but the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens option on the Fenix comes highly recommended for the user that spends most of his time in the brush. We never fail to lean on that exposed screw on a shop countertop or nick that watch face on a rock soon after ownership, and while scars leave character on men, they tend to be less handsome on your watch. Tougher than even gorilla glass or a masonry drill bit and rating at a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale (Diamond being a 10), a lens made with synthetic sapphire will hold up to most any scratches or damage that would affect other watches, eventually clouding your screen and requiring replacement.
Fenix 6X 51mm - $699-$949

For some houndsmen, a watch seems out of the question simply due to the fact that the font on the screen seems like it would be smaller than your collar's serial number. Even if you share an eyeglass prescription with the Hubble Telescope, Garmin has a watch for you. The Fenix 6X is available in a massive 51mm (2-inch) diameter casing, giving you a larger look at your maps, weather, dog list, and all of the data you find useful.
If you don't see your preferred watch on our webpage, contact us and we can always place a special Garmin order to get the item you choose. When you're ready to spring for a stylish and tactical timepiece, give us a call at 855-384-8687 here at Double U. We can help answer any questions and get you whichever Garmin watch suits your needs best, or those of the houndsman in your life.