Recommended Watches

Which Garmin Would I Actually Recommend? Which Garmin should you buy in 2026?

Recommendations and Comparison Updated: 5 September 2026

If you’re buying a Garmin specifically with KCD Watch in mind because your old one doesn’t support the watch face, or you have another make that’s not supported but you’d want to use my watch face and get a new Garmin watch; the good news is that you don’t need to spend a small fortune on one!

The seven models listed below are ones I’d personally recommend at different price points for this watch face, and just as a general guide to purchasing a Garmin watch in 2026. So, whether you like the watch face or not – I’m hoping this comparison will be helpful for you in navigating the wonderful and confusing world that is the Garmin model naming convention where bigger numbers mean nothing – and everything else is just as confusing like their model naming conventions.

Without getting too overly technical, I’ll show all the features of the 7 KCD-friendly watches mentioned on this page, and then dive into the specific models and what I’d recommend for what kind of use. Finally, these seven models will be my priority targets for KCD Watch updates (as there are just so many darn models out there). One thing that you will perhaps notice is, that I’m not really recommending the ones with 50mm watch faces or the super bulky ones, as I think they just look comical on people. However, this is just my personal preference: Wearing a smart watch should still be like wearing a watch, without looking like Inspector Gadget.

Relative Price

2 / 5 Groschen

Best choice for most people – and the watch KCD Watch was actually built on… And the also cheapest out of the new watches.

The Forerunner 70 wasn’t chosen simply because it happened to be the cheapest suitable Garmin I could find. It was actually the combination of features that made me buy it in the first place. Maybe I’m a tight git, but if something gives me all the features I actually want, I don’t see much sense in paying more just for the privilege.

It’s a current-generation Garmin (released in May 2026) with a bright 390 x 390 AMOLED screen, proper GPS, wrist-based health and fitness tracking, Body Battery, stress, sleep and recovery data, and a frankly ridiculous number of activity profiles.

Running is obviously the main focus of the Forerunner range, but it goes considerably further than that. Strength training, walking, hiking, cycling, yoga, HIIT, swimming, skiing, kayaking and various other forms of voluntarily making yourself tired are all covered. I have used the watch myself in yoga classes, when using the rowing machine, and doing free weights at the gym. And I like the fact that you can put a more general workout one like cardio or strength training – and just forget about it if you wish. You also have the option to actually do laps, sets, and for example with the yoga mode you can time different poses. But for me? I’m not going to start faffing around with the damn watch whilst I’m following a yoga class, so the class gets recorded as “1 pose” (which, is fine).

Rather wonderfully, it even has a dedicated motorcycle mode (which may or may not be important to you specifically). I wasn’t expecting my running watch to understand that sometimes the exercise involves a V4 engine, but here we are. Also, it’s great to see that my 1 hour motorcycle ride burns more active calories than 20 minutes at a gym – and I get a neat little map of the ride! So… More the reason to jump on the bike and take it for a spin?

Battery life is another major reason I like it. Garmin rates it for up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and up to 23 hours using GPS only, so it behaves much more like a watch than another stupid and unnecessarily complicated gadget that needs charging up every evening. One of the most off-putting things for me (and the reason why I used my Forerunner 35 for so long) is the lack of battery life and having to plug something in every day to charge. With the Forerunner 70? That’s not an issue. Even with the KCD Watch face. I haven’t done excessive battery testing yet, but with the KCD Watch Face installed and doing a workout and some walks / activities each day… It seems to run the battery down by 5-10% each day depending on how much I’ve been poking at the watch.

Most importantly for this project, the Forerunner 70 gives KCD Watch everything it needs while sitting at the affordable end of Garmin’s current range. It’s the actual device I’ve used while designing, testing, breaking, fixing and repeatedly staring at KCD Watch.

As for the colour choices? There are some. I think the black one is probably the most versatile and the one I’d go with, but that’s up to you.

Do I regret buying the FR70?

If I were buying a Garmin primarily for everyday fitness, running, gym use and KCD Watch, this is still the one I’d choose. And I’m glad I still have this opinion, as it’s the bloody watch I did end up buying and I wouldn’t want to buy another one. The only downside to some of the other watches is that there are higher resolutions available than the 390 x 390. Saying that, those watches usually have larger dials, so the actual pixels-per-inch/whatever won’t be that different – if at all. And I personally wouldn’t want to have a larger dial than the 1.2″ one this watch has. For my arm, it’s large enough to be visible and clear, without being comically bulky.

If you think the Forerunner 70 is for you and you’d like to purchase one, Forerunner 70.

Here’s how the Forerunner 70 looks like on my arm, with the current beta version of the KCD watch face (v.1.1.X).

Relative Price

2 / 5 Groschen

Best for general fitness and everyday use. Also, a bit less bulkier-looking than the Forerunner 70.

If running isn’t your main reason for owning a Garmin, or you would like to have the best value option that supports storing and playing music straight from the watch itself, or to be able to pay for your shopping with the watch; the vivoactive 6 is probably the most obvious alternative to the Forerunner 70.

It’s not for me as I don’t ever want to pay for anything with my watch or want to listen to music on my watch as I have my phone with me (as I’m an ‘old school peasant’ like that), but I appreciate the lack of such ‘basic smart watch features’ could potentially be a dealbreaker for others.

This one is built more as an all-round lifestyle-friendly and feature-rich health and fitness smartwatch, with plenty of activity tracking, sleep and recovery information and Garmin’s usual everyday health metrics, while retaining the same 390 x 390 AMOLED resolution that makes it such a convenient home for KCD Watch.

Garmin rates its smartwatch battery life at up to 11 days, so you’re still getting the wonderfully un-Apple-Watch-like experience (sorry-not-sorry to Apple) of not having to charge the thing every five minutes. Although, the battery life is just marginally worse than the Forerunner 70. I presume this is just due to the watch being considerably more feature-packed.

I’d choose this over the FR70 if your priorities lean more towards gym sessions, walking, general health and everyday smartwatch use than running-specific features.

Funnily enough, at the time of writing this comparison: The vívoactive 6 is actually cheaper on Amazon than the Forerunner 70 is… Which obviously might change any moment – but the choice between this one and the FR70 wouldn’t be down to price anyway as they are both very affordable.

If you think the vívoactive 6 is for you and you’d like to purchase one, click here to see the latest price on Amazon.

Relative Price

3 / 5 Groschen

Best for outdoors, hiking and people who occasionally walk into things.

The Instinct 3 AMOLED 45mm takes a rather different approach. It’s chunkier, tougher and much more obviously intended for outdoor use. If you’re the kind of Henry who rides into a tavern sign and falls off Pebbles frequently, this watch is probably the one to go for.

It still gives us that useful 390 x 390 AMOLED display, but wraps it in the more rugged Instinct design, adds multi-band GPS and a built-in LED flashlight, and substantially increases the battery reserves.

Garmin quotes up to 18 days of smartwatch use with gesture-based display activation and up to 32 hours in GPS-only mode. That’s an impressive amount of wandering around in the woods before civilisation needs to be located again.

It’s more expensive than the FR70, but the extra money makes sense if durability, outdoor navigation and battery life genuinely matter to you.

And visually, let’s be honest, it’s probably the Garmin most likely to survive an unexpected encounter with a Cuman – or the bailiff.

If you think the Instinct 3 AMOLED 45mm is for you and you’d like to purchase one, click here to see the latest price on Amazon.

Relative Price

4 / 5 Groschen

Best if the fitness features matter as much as the medieval clock.

The Forerunner 570 42mm is where I’d start looking if you’re a more serious runner or athlete and actually intend to use Garmin’s more advanced training features.

You’re paying for things such as multi-band GPS, more advanced training and performance tools, music storage and a built-in speaker and microphone rather than simply paying for a more expensive way of telling the time.

It retains the same 390 x 390 AMOLED resolution as the FR70, so you can have all that considerably more serious sporting technology underneath a watch face that looks like it was designed several centuries before GPS was invented.

Garmin rates the 42mm version for up to 10 days in smartwatch mode.

For my own needs, the FR70 gives me the features I actually want for considerably less money. But if you’re already the sort of person who would make use of Garmin’s advanced running and training tools, the 570 is the much more capable sports watch.

If you think the Forerunner 570 42mm is for you and you’d like to purchase one, click here to see the latest price on Amazon.

Relative Price

4 / 5 Groschen

Best premium everyday option. Also, what I’d personally pick if I wanted a sleeker and a more stylish Garmin with premium features.

The Venu 4 41mm is the option I’d look at if you want something that feels more like a premium everyday smartwatch while retaining Garmin’s excellent health and fitness platform. It is still the one I’d call the most polished everyday smartwatch of the group, even though the Forerunner 970 and fēnix 9 now sit above it in outright flagship territory. You may need to stop pretending to be a peasant if you purchase this, but rather admit that you might be a nobleman (or woman).

It’s less running-focused than the Forerunner 570 and considerably less rugged-looking than the Instinct, but adds the more polished Venu experience with a built-in speaker and microphone, music, multi-band GPS and a broad selection of health, fitness and smartwatch features – as expected. It has so many bells and whistles, that I’m surprised that it actually lacks a little bell and a whistle hanging from the side of the watch.

The 41mm model also happens to use the same 390 x 390 AMOLED resolution as the original KCD Watch design, while Garmin quotes up to 10 days of smartwatch battery life. That’s a tiny bit less than the Forerunner 70’s quoted figure is – but for such a feature-rich watch it’s more than expected.

It’s difficult for me to argue that you need to spend this much purely to acquire a medieval watch face. You absolutely don’t. But if you already want Garmin’s more premium everyday watch, there isn’t any reason KCD Watch shouldn’t come along for the ride.

If you think the Venu 4 41mm is for you and you’d like to purchase one, click here to see the latest price on Amazon.

Relative Price

5 / 5 Groschen

Best premium choice if running and training are the point.

The Forerunner 970 is the one I’d look at if you got as far as the Forerunner 570 and thought, ‘Yes, but what if Garmin put basically everything in it?’ This is Garmin’s flagship Forerunner, with a larger 47mm case and a 454 x 454 AMOLED display.

You’re getting a sapphire crystal lens, titanium bezel, multi-band GPS, full-colour maps, 32 GB of storage, music, Garmin Pay, a speaker and microphone, ECG support and a built-in LED flashlight, on top of Garmin’s most advanced running and training features. In other words, it is a very serious piece of sporting equipment on which I fully intend to display a medieval clock.

Garmin rates it for up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and up to 26 hours in GPS-only mode. That is particularly impressive given how much is crammed into it, although your wallet will of course be considerably lighter and therefore easier to carry while running.

For KCD Watch, the 970 also gives the larger 454 x 454 design a proper flagship Forerunner to live on. You absolutely do not need to spend this much just to use KCD Watch, but if you’re already shopping for Garmin’s best running watch, there is no reason Henry cannot come along too.

If you think the Forerunner 970 is for you and you’d like to purchase one, click here to see the latest price on Amazon.

Relative Price

5 / 5 Groschen

Best premium multisport and adventure choice.

The fēnix 9 43mm is the newest watch on this list and the obvious choice if you want Garmin’s flagship outdoors-and-everything-else range rather than a watch primarily built around running. It is also the model that stops this recommendation page rather suspiciously pretending that the entire fēnix family doesn’t exist.

The standard 43mm fēnix 9 has a sapphire crystal lens, titanium bezel, 10 ATM water rating, multi-band GPS, built-in maps, 64 GB of storage, music, Garmin Pay, a speaker and microphone and an LED flashlight. The 1.3-inch AMOLED screen runs at 416 x 416, which also makes it the recommendation representing KCD Watch’s middle AMOLED resolution.

Garmin quotes up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and up to 18 hours in normal activity mode. There are larger 47mm and 51mm versions if you prefer a bigger watch and more battery life, but those use the larger 454 x 454 KCD Watch layout rather than this 416 x 416 one.

Is buying a fēnix 9 purely because you fancy putting KCD Watch on it an entirely unreasonable use of a very large pile of Groschen? Yes. Obviously. But if you already want a premium Garmin for hiking, multisport training, maps, navigation and generally disappearing into the woods with far more technology than Henry ever possessed, this is the one I’d look at.

If you think the fēnix 9 43mm is for you and you’d like to purchase one, click here to see the latest Amazon listings.

Honestly? Up to you. Each of the watches listed on this page supports the KCD Watch Face – and I will always ensure the 7 recommended watches here get the latest updates before other models. Between them they cover the three main AMOLED resolutions I’m actively maintaining for KCD Watch, which makes them sensible priority targets rather than trying to promise immediate builds for every Garmin model ever made.

For most people, I’d go with the Forerunner 70, or the vívoactive 6. They are both excellent watches packed with probably more than enough features for the majority of us.

The others aren’t here because they’re somehow required to run KCD Watch. They’re here because they offer genuinely useful extras for particular types of Garmin owner – whether that’s tougher construction and enormous battery life, more advanced running metrics, or a more premium smartwatch experience… For the ‘noble fancypants’. As it’s only fair to assume that not everyone will be as happy with the Forerunner 70 as I am – and that’s absolutely fine.

Buy the Garmin that makes sense for everything else you want to do with it. Or don’t. JCBP! 🌞

To recap the models:

Specification	Forerunner 70	vívoactive 6	Instinct 3 AMOLED 45mm	Forerunner 570 42mm	Venu 4 41mm	Forerunner 970	fēnix 9 43mm
My Recommendation	Best Overall Value / The one I use	Best Everyday All-Rounder	Best Rugged / Outdoor Choice	Best for Serious Runners	Best Premium Everyday Choice	Best Premium Running Choice	Best Premium Multisport / Adventure Choice
Latest Amazon Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price
Relative Price	2 / 5 Groschen	2 / 5 Groschen	3 / 5 Groschen	4 / 5 Groschen	4 / 5 Groschen	5 / 5 Groschen	5 / 5 Groschen