Express comparison (Focus Ski)
| Model | Cards & SkiVIeW | GNSS Multiband | Baro altimeter | Safety (fall/lte/inreach) | Winter autonomy* | COMFORT GLOVES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fēnix 8 pro / epix | Complete | Yes | Yes | According to version | ★★★★ ☆ | ★★★★ ☆ |
| Forerunner 965 | Carto | Yes | Yes | Without LTE (according to country) | ★★★★ ☆ | ★★★★ ☆ |
| Instinct 3 (Solar) | Skiver | Yes | Yes | Inreach via pairing | ★★★★★ | ★★★ ☆☆ |
| Come 3 | No | Accurate | Yes | Fall + Livetrack | ★★★ ☆☆ | ★★★★ ☆ |
| Enduro 3 | Partial | Yes | Yes | Inreach compatible | ★★★★★ | ★★★ ☆☆ |
*Winter autonomy : relative appreciation (temperature, GNSS, AOD). The cold consumes. Under the chairlift, it’s better.
Comparison with other brands
Apple Watch (ultra included). Very good GNSS precision, fall detection, rich apps ecosystem. Shorter autonomy in intensive cold, “native” on -board carto less cut mountain without third apps. For a simple arbitration, go through this Garmin vs Apple comparison for sport and contrast according to real use.
SUUNTO. Robust, solid navigation, concrete autonomy (vertical). Stripped interface, serious hardware. Less accessories/ecosystem than Garmin, but very credible in hiking/skiing.
Coros. Monstrous autonomy, aggressive quality/price ratio, carto sharply. Some “winter” refinements still behind Garmin on the skiview side, but the gap is tightening.
Thriller. Sprogged cardio coaching, useful pacing/hill tools. Carto and mountain functions that are less deep than fēnix/epix, but progression continues.
Clearly. Station + Carto + Safety: Garmin stays in front. Pure smartwatch (payment, apps, iPhone integration): Apple dominates. Extreme autonomy: coros/suunto. This is a field reality.
Testimonials and use cases
Pierre (42, Haute-Savoie). Fēnix pro on the wrist, activated ski profile, 14 runs/day. The click? Coupling instant and vertical speed. He identified his braking zones and gained in fluidity. Simple. Effective.
Léa (ESF instructor). Epix, Livetrack shared to parents during lessons. Reassuring for everyone. The integrated lamp has helped it to the SKIS room one evening (detail, but not so much).
Paul (Rando/HP). SOLAR instinct in skimo: separate climb/descent, backtrack to get out of a valley in the fog. Without the return trace, he was still running. To complete the pure hiking side, see our top 10 hiking watches if you walk as much as you ski.
Tips for use and maintenance
- Before leaving. Up -to -date cards, calibrated altimeter, downloaded weather. Test LiveTrack/Emergency contacts.
- Screens. Speed, vertical, descent time, hr. Two pages max. Too much info = you read less.
- Battery. Satiq/Auto, AOD OFF, Short recharging at breakfast. Under the Chairlift.
- Baro clean. Rinse/dry. Do not clog the vents (cream, textiles).
- Updates. Firmware/GNSS up to date: sometimes visible gains on the forest trace.
- Bracelets. Thick silicone for cold, nylon if you sweat. Adjusted without tightening (HR sensor).
- Security. Inreach if you go out alone, headset, front, favorite station number. The watch helps, but does not replace common sense.
Connectivity and ecosystem
Garmin Connect. Runs, cards, trends (sleep, load, vo2), Sharing Strava. Clear analyzes, visible progression. You see what works – and what doesn’t work.
Livetrack, Grouptrack. Sharing in real time (telephone required), followed by friends on the estate when it captures. LTE on certain references, and SOS Iridium via Inreach in the white area. Yes, it has a cost. So what? When it serves, it saves.
Conclusion: Choose according to carto, battery, security
Versatility + carto + safety: Fēnix 8 pro or epix. Light with Carto: Forerunner 965. Robust/Price: Instinct 3 (solar if you live outside). Leisure/Health: Coming 3. We can quibble, always. But for the station and the hike, Garmin remains a safe bet.
Next not? Define your priority (carto, autonomy, safety), then try in store – gloves to the hands, pressed buttons. Suddenly, you feel right away if it sticks. And you ski serene, from the first climb.
