Gear Review: Garmin Quatix 3

What is it?

Garmin quatix 3

What sets it apart?

Anglers value weather reports, tide tables, solar/lunar charts and navigational tools, but what about fitness tracking, heart rate, sleep monitoring, email alerts? Combine all this with traditional timepiece functions and you get the Garmin quatix 3 — a smartwatch made for the water. A protective stainless steel EXO bezel with convenient buttons houses a high-sensitivity GPS and GLONASS antenna. Navigation features include 3-axis compass, altimeter and barometer, TracBack and Sight ‘N Go. The high-resolution display is made for clear viewing in sunlight, while an LED backlight keeps it visible in dimmer conditions.

How do I use it?

The list of what the quatix 3 can’t do is probably shorter than that of what it can, but here’s a sampling: Bolstering the aforementioned, this smart watch stores 1,000 waypoints and 30 routes, counts your catch, controls your Garmin Virb XE action camera and FUSION stereo (via free app), counts your steps and tells you how many calories you’ve burned. Traditional watch functions cover time of day, calendar (day/date), daily alarm, stopwatch, timer, and sunrise/sunset alerts, while an activity tracking and multi-sport functions for running, hiking, swimming, golfing and more facilitate active lifestyles. Paired with a compatible phone, the quatix 3 displays email, text and other alerts. You can even customize the watch face with digital or analog looks or use any photo from your smartphone (via Garmin’s free Face It app). A rechargeable 300mAh lithium-ion battery powers the quatix 3 for up to six weeks in watch mode (considerably less in data modes, but still sufficient for a full day on the water).

How much?

$449.99

More Information:

 Garmin.com

Angler’s insight:

The quatix 3 doesn’t replace your full-sized electronics, it complements them by streaming data from a wide array of compatible units. Small boaters and paddlers will love this self-contained info bundle, while the fitness and terrestrial sport functions broaden performance. At 2 inches wide and long and weighing 3 ounces, the quatix 3 holds a prominent presence on your wrist, but Garmin packs a ton of features into this clean, sturdy design. Water rated for up to 100 meters, the quatix 3 comes mounted on a stylish blue silicone band that’s ideal for most outside use, especially in wet conditions, but I appreciate Garmin including the optional black band and replacement tools. Online instructions made setup and customization a breeze.