Why a Garmin Guy Wears an Apple Watch Every Day

HikingGuy.com August 12, 2025
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HikingGuy.com

@hikingguy

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HikingGuy helps you hike smarter: safer planning, clear trail guides, and real-world gear testing. I publish step-by-step trail guides (including bucket-list hikes), hiking skills and safety (planning, navigation, what to do when things go sideways), and outdoor tech that matters like Garmin inReach, GPS devices, and hiking smartwatches. My reviews are independent and based on field use, with no paid sponsorships influencing what I say. If you want reliable, no-nonsense advice you can actually use on the trail, subscribe and start with the playlists below. HikingGuy.com

Video Description

The life-saving feature that convinced me to switch from Garmin to the Apple Watch 24/7. *Gear I'm Using Now:* * inReach: https://hkgy.co/inreach * Hiking App: https://hkgy.co/app * Watch: https://hkgy.co/watch * Shoes: https://hkgy.co/shoes * Pack: https://hkgy.co/backpack * Rescue Insurance: https://hkgy.co/insurance *Full Hiking Gear List (What I Use Now - Tested & Not Sponsored):* https://hikingguy.com/gear *Links:* * Garmin vs Apple Fall Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT4FEdIsoio * Website: https://hikingguy.com * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/hikingguy * Monthly Hiking News (free): https://www.patreon.com/c/hikingguy/ * Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Hikingguy After nearly two decades of wearing a Garmin, I’ve made the switch to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 — and it comes down to one feature: 24/7 fall detection. This isn’t just for clumsy moments; it’s a true safety net that can automatically call 911 if it detects a serious fall and you can’t respond. Whether it’s a heart attack, a hiking accident, or something unexpected, the watch can use cellular, your phone’s connection, or even satellite if available to send your location to emergency services. Garmin has a similar feature called Incident Detection, but it’s limited to certain activities and can’t call 911 directly. Instead, it sends alerts to an emergency contact you’ve set up — which can be a problem if they’re unreachable. In my case, if my wife is on a long flight and I’m injured, that delay could be life or death. The Apple Watch’s ability to bypass that delay is why I now wear it 24/7. Since sharing my initial video on this feature, several 911 operators have told me that while false alarms happen, they’d rather deal with them than miss a real emergency. That feedback only reinforced my decision. For me, the peace of mind is worth it, even if it means sacrificing Garmin’s better battery life and certain sport-focused advantages. I’ve worn both watches simultaneously for years and know the pros and cons well. Garmin remains a fantastic sports watch, but as an everyday “daily driver” with safety in mind, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 just makes more sense. My wife summed it up perfectly: why wouldn’t you wear the watch that can save your life? --- *Disclaimer:* Some of these links are affiliate links where I’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use and trust.

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