Why a Garmin Guy Wears an Apple Watch Every Day

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.