Once upon a time, I used to review a lot of the best smartwatches and best fitness trackers, logging countless miles running, walking, hiking, and skiing. And in that time, I tested what’s still my go-to multisport watch: The Garmin Epix Gen 2.
The watch has been around for three years now, so it’s no longer the newest model in Garmin’s lineup. But my watch is still ticking along, and just as good as the day I first got it. Even better: you can get the Garmin Epix (Gen 2) for $429 at Amazon — more than half off its regular price. If you don’t mind tech that’s a little bit older, this is an Amazon Big Spring Sale deal you don’t want to pass. (For more Garmin deals, make sure to check out our Amazon Big Spring Sale Garmin deals roundup).
Over the years, I’ve ran four marathons and about a dozen half marathons, but I also like to go hiking and skiing. While I’ve used — and have liked — the Garmin Forerunner series, their focus on running alone makes them less versatile for other outdoor activities.
The Epix 2, however, is built to track all sorts of endeavors — and does so well, as I found during my Garmin Epix 2 review. And, while it’s bigger than dedicated running watches, I’ve come to appreciate the larger display, which makes it easier to read at a glance.
It was one of the earlier Garmin watches to sport an AMOLED display, which is crisper than the transflective screens on older Garmin devices; I remember being worried that it wouldn’t be as easy to read in bright sunlight, but I was happily proved wrong.
And, like other Garmin watches, the Epix 2 doesn’t skimp on battery life. While it doesn’t have as many smartwatch-like features as the Apple Watch, I can go for a week or longer without worrying about having to recharge it.
The Epix 2 also has built-in music storage, so you can sideload your tunes or sync it with your Spotify playlists if you need a little more motivation on your runs.
Garmin has since phased out the Epix line — the fenix 8 has taken its place — but it still remains a strong watch for those venturing outdoors.
