Ultimate Adventure Watch Showdown: Coros Nomad vs Garmin Fenix 8 vs Polar Grit X Pro (2025 Edition)

Outdoor multisport watches are evolving rapidly, and 2025 brings some exciting options for adventurers. In this comprehensive comparison, we pit three premium GPS adventure watches against each other: the brand-new Coros Nomad, Garmin’s flagship Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar, and Polar’s rugged Grit X Pro. We’ll dive into detailed technical specs (battery life, sensors, maps, etc.), real-world performance, durability tests, expert reviews, and the latest updates for each device. We’ll also highlight recent firmware upgrades and upcoming contenders from Polar, Garmin, Coros, Suunto, and Apple. By the end, you’ll know how these watches stack up across trail runs, triathlons, hikes, and more – and which might suit your outdoor pursuits best. Let’s explore the strengths, weaknesses, and standout features of each watch in this adventure watch face-off.

Design and Build Quality

Coros Nomad: The Nomad is built to be robust yet lightweight. It has a fiber-reinforced polymer case with an aluminum-reinforced bezel for extra toughness dcrainmaker.com. The screen is protected by hardened mineral glass – durable, though not as scratch-proof as sapphire crystal gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com. It’s a fairly large watch (47.8 × 47.8 mm) and 14.8 mm thick, but remains light at 61 g with the silicone strap (just 49 g with the nylon band) coros.com coros.com. The Nomad is water-rated to 5 ATM (50 m) for surface water sports coros.com. It lacks an official MIL-STD certification, but is designed for “real-world durability” in harsh conditions gearjunkie.com. A raised bezel helps protect the display from bumps and scratches bikerumor.com. Overall, the Nomad feels rugged without too much heft – GearJunkie’s tester noted it “weighs next to nothing” on the wrist despite its size gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com.

Garmin Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar: Garmin’s Fenix series is known for tank-like build quality, and the Fenix 8 is no exception. The Sapphire Solar edition features a metal (often titanium) bezel with a Power Sapphire™ glass lens that is both scratch-resistant and embedded with solar-harvesting technology us.firstclasswatches.com. The build is dive-rated and designed to endure extreme use, even incorporating leakproof button technology: the Fenix 8’s buttons have no physical holes into the case, using inductive sensors instead, greatly reducing risk of water ingress dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. The watch comes in two case sizes for the Solar variant (47 mm and 51 mm), both fairly thick (~15 mm) and bulky on smaller wrists techradar.com. Weight varies by model, but the 51 mm Sapphire Solar (with titanium) is around 85 g, while the 47 mm is lighter; still, it’s heavier than the Nomad or Polar. The Fenix 8 is built to MIL-STD-810 for thermal, shock, and water resistance (100 m) us.firstclasswatches.com techradar.com. In short, it’s “built like a tank” yet refined – TechRadar praised its high-end build and noted the “superior” feel of the titanium case and sapphire crystal techradar.com techradar.com.

Polar Grit X Pro: Polar’s outdoor watch emphasizes durability and comfort. The Grit X Pro has a 47 mm stainless steel case (with an optional lighter titanium bezel on the Titan model) and a scratch-resistant sapphire glass lens techradar.com wareable.com. It’s 13 mm thick and weighs about 79 g with its fluoroelastomer strap techradar.com wareable.com – noticeably heavier than the Nomad, but on par with similar steel watches. The design features a compass-etched bezel and five textured buttons for reliable operation with gloves or wet hands techradar.com wareable.com. The Grit X Pro is rated 10 ATM waterproof (100 m) and passes MIL-STD-810G testing for temperature, drop, and humidity resistance techradar.com. Reviewers found it “very durable and comfortable,” with the improved sapphire lens and bezel giving it a tougher feel than the original Grit X runningmagazine.ca techradar.com. However, it lacks some of the Fenix’s premium touches (no fancy button guards), and its build is described as “flashier” than Garmin’s utilitarian designs livescience.com. Still, if you want a serious adventure watch with a bit of style, the Polar fits the bill.

Verdict – Design: All three watches are engineered for the outdoors with quality materials. The Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar stands out for premium touches (titanium, sapphire, dive-ready build) and extreme ruggedness techradar.com. The Coros Nomad is impressively light and adequately tough, though its mineral glass and polymer build are a step down in scratch resistance gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com. The Polar Grit X Pro strikes a balance with a proven steel/sapphire construction and military durability standards techradar.com. Those who prioritize minimal weight may prefer the Nomad, whereas the Fenix 8 offers the most robust build (at the cost of weight and bulk) techradar.com.

Display and Interface

Coros Nomad: The Nomad uses a memory-in-pixel (MIP) transflective display, chosen for its efficiency and outdoor visibility. It’s a 1.3-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 260×260 pixels coros.com. Coros improved this latest-gen MIP panel to be brighter and higher-contrast than prior models dcrainmaker.com. In side-by-side comparisons, the Nomad’s screen is noticeably easier to read than older Coros watches like the Apex 2 Pro dcrainmaker.com. The always-on display excels in direct sunlight and conserves battery, though it’s not as vibrant as an AMOLED. The interface is navigated via three physical controls (including a rotating digital crown and a new customizable “Action” button) plus touch input dcrainmaker.com. Testers found the interface snappy and appreciated the extra button – albeit configuring that Action button per sport profile is a bit tedious in the current firmware dcrainmaker.com. Overall, the Nomad’s UI is straightforward; it lacks flashy graphics, but offers lots of watch face choices and widget customizations (Coros provides many free watch faces and even photo-based custom faces) dcrainmaker.com. One noted downside: the Nomad’s display glass is mineral, which can scratch easier over time (something sapphire-equipped rivals avoid) gearjunkie.com. But from a usability standpoint, the touch + button interface and readable screen make it user-friendly for an adventure watch.

Garmin Fenix 8: Garmin actually offers the Fenix 8 in two display variants under one lineup. The Fenix 8 Solar models use MIP transflective displays (always-on, sunlight-optimized), while the standard Fenix 8 (AMOLED) models use high-resolution AMOLED screens dcrainmaker.com. Garmin consolidated the former Epix (AMOLED) into the Fenix branding, so now “Fenix 8” can mean AMOLED, and “Fenix 8 Solar” means MIP with solar dcrainmaker.com. The Sapphire Solar version we’re focusing on uses a transflective memory-in-pixel display with an always-on backlight and a solar charging ring around the edges dcrainmaker.com. Notably, Garmin increased the display sizes slightly over the Fenix 7: the medium Fenix 8 grew from 1.3″ to 1.4″, and the small (S) from 1.2″ to 1.3″ dcrainmaker.com. The result is a bit more screen real estate without enlarging the watch’s footprint. The MIP displays aren’t as colorful as AMOLED, but they sip power – and with the upgraded solar panel, they contribute to outstanding battery life (more on that later) dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. Garmin also overhauled the user interface in the Fenix 8, blending elements from the Forerunner 965 and Epix series. The interface features revamped widgets, easier settings menus, and modernized visuals, though opinions on the changes are mixed dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. Like recent Garmins, you get both full button control (5 side buttons) and touchscreen capability – you can even disable touch selectively or entirely if you prefer button-only operation dcrainmaker.com. The Fenix’s UI depth is immense given its features, but Garmin has tried to make it more approachable. One highlight is the new default watch face with highly customizable data fields. Ray Maker did quip that the default design was initially “hideous” to him – but it grew on him over time dcrainmaker.com. Whether you choose the vivid AMOLED model or the practical MIP Solar, the Fenix 8 delivers a sharp, always-visible display. And unlike many AMOLED smartwatches, even the bright Fenix 8 AMOLED can last in always-on mode (thanks to Garmin’s efficiency, though it still can’t match the Solar’s longevity) dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com.

Polar Grit X Pro: The Grit X Pro sticks with a 1.2-inch transflective color display (MIP) at 240×240 resolution wareable.com. It’s an always-on panel with a modest brightness – great in daylight, but a bit dim indoors compared to modern AMOLED screens. Polar’s display can show colors for data and watch faces, but reviewers note the colors are “far from punchy or vibrant” wareable.com. In practice it behaves similarly to Garmin’s transflective screens: easy to read in sun, with a backlight for dark conditions. The interface supports touch and buttons, but Polar’s touchscreen responsiveness is a known weak spot. Both TechRadar and Wareable observed that the touch input on Grit X Pro is laggy, often prompting you to use the physical buttons instead techradar.com wareable.com. The UI itself is simpler than Garmin’s – you navigate through widgets and menus that are more spartan. Polar’s strength is data, not flashy graphics, so the interface shows you metrics cleanly but without much flair. You do get always-on outdoor features like an altimeter/compass view and navigation screens, which benefit from the always visible (if basic) screen polar.com techradar.com. One nice addition on the Pro model was the new compass bezel and always-on dashboard for outdoor info. Still, by 2025 the Grit X Pro’s display technology feels dated. Users in their 2020s and 30s might find the font and screen size a bit small; even one Polar fan in his 50s wished for larger text or a bigger screen option dcrainmaker.com. In summary, the Polar’s display and interface get the job done for training and navigation, but lack the crispness and smoothness of its competitors. This is an area where Polar significantly improved in its 2024 successor (adding an AMOLED and faster processor), but on the 2021 Grit X Pro you’ll be dealing with a rather utilitarian screen and UI.

Verdict – Display/Interface: If you crave a bright, high-res screen, Garmin’s Fenix 8 (AMOLED variant) is top of the class – though the Sapphire Solar’s MIP display is more directly comparable to the Nomad and Polar. The Nomad’s screen holds up well: its new-gen MIP is clear and even supports touch, making it competitive with Garmin’s transflective quality dcrainmaker.com. Polar’s display is the most sluggish and low-res of the trio, showing its age techradar.com wareable.com. All three offer a mix of touch and physical controls, which is great for outdoor usage. Garmin’s interface is by far the most feature-rich (and complex), whereas Coros and Polar keep things simpler. Casual users might find Coros and Polar easier to learn, but power users will appreciate Garmin’s depth and Connect IQ app ecosystem.

Battery Life and Power Management

One of the biggest differentiators for outdoor watches is battery endurance. Here’s how these three compare:

• Coros Nomad: Despite its modest price, the Nomad boasts excellent battery life. Coros rates it for 22 days of normal use (with daily wear and sleep tracking) and around 50 hours of continuous GPS tracking with all satellite systems on dcrainmaker.com gearjunkie.com. Even using the most accurate dual-frequency GNSS mode, it can log about 34 hours of GPS activity on a charge dcrainmaker.com. These figures include having the screen always on. The Nomad can stretch even further if you disable power-hungry features (there’s an UltraMax mode, though Coros hasn’t quoted a number for Nomad yet). In testing, real-world results back up Coros’s claims – GearJunkie’s review lauded the Nomad’s “epic” battery life, calling it one of the device’s standout features gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com. Notably, the Nomad also supports music playback (MP3s stored on the 32 GB memory), which will reduce GPS time slightly (Coros says ~15 hours GPS if music is playing) coros.com coros.com. There’s no solar charging on the Nomad, but thanks to the efficient MIP screen and a decent 500 mAh battery, most users can get multiple weeks between charges in regular use. In short, the Nomad punches above its weight, delivering multi-day adventures without battery anxiety.
• Garmin Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar: Battery longevity is a hallmark of the Fenix series, and the 8 Solar pushes it to new heights. With its larger battery and improved solar panel design, the Fenix 8 Solar can achieve truly multi-week runtimes. Officially, Garmin claims the 47 mm Fenix 8 Solar lasts up to 92 hours in GPS mode (with sufficient sun), and the 51 mm up to 149 hours – huge jumps from the Fenix 7 generation dcrainmaker.com. Even without solar or using multi-band GPS, you’re still looking at roughly 50–65 hours of GPS tracking on Solar models dcrainmaker.com. In multi-band (highest accuracy) mode, the Solar can do about 43 hours (47mm) or 65 hours (51mm) with sunlight dcrainmaker.com. In smartwatch mode (daily wear), the Fenix 8 can last on the order of 2–4 weeks on a charge techradar.com – TechRadar noted it “lasts for weeks,” which is not an exaggeration techradar.com. The AMOLED version trades some endurance for display tech: for example, the 51 mm Fenix 8 AMOLED is rated ~29 days in watch mode and ~62 hours GPS (multi-band) with its larger battery androidcentral.com. But the Sapphire Solar (MIP) variant we’re focusing on maximizes longevity. Review testing has confirmed Garmin’s battery claims: Ray Maker managed about 6 days of heavy use (1–2 hours GPS daily) on the Solar and was on track for much more with lighter use dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. Crucially, Garmin’s new solar design (an “edge ring” panel) significantly boosts solar charging efficiency, contributing tangible extra hours in sunny conditions dcrainmaker.com. The Fenix also has many power management options: you can define power modes to disable certain sensors, use UltraTrac (lower GPS sample rate) for up to several hundred hours of tracking, and so on dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. In expedition mode, it can last multiple months pinging GPS periodically. Simply put, the Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar is the undisputed endurance king here. It’s the watch you’d pick for a multi-week expedition or an ultra race where charging isn’t possible. The only downside is that all this capacity comes with weight (it’s a heavier watch) and cost. But if battery life is your top priority, the Fenix 8 is best-in-class, with OutdoorGearLab rating its battery 9.3/10 as “crushing the competition” androidcentral.com.
• Polar Grit X Pro: The Grit X Pro’s battery life was good in 2021, but pales next to the newer devices. Polar advertises up to 40 hours of continuous GPS training in standard mode, or up to 100–130 hours in power-save modes dcrainmaker.com polar.com. In daily smartwatch use (with notifications and 24/7 tracking), it lasts about 6–7 days on a charge polar.com. These numbers assume no solar (Polar watches don’t have solar charging) and using the older Sony GPS chip in either full or reduced recording rate. In real-world terms, testers found the Grit X Pro can handle a solid weekend of activities, but not much more. DC Rainmaker notes that most people will use the standard GPS mode (~40h), and that “Polar also claims 7 days of standby” which aligned with his experience dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. However, battery life can drain faster if you use all of Polar’s features – for example, the always-on optical heart rate and especially the Sleep Plus tracking feature. Wareable observed that Polar’s rich sleep tracking “still dents battery” noticeably wareable.com. One user reported that in an ultra-distance race, their Grit X Pro died in under 24 hours even though it estimated 35 hours at the start (perhaps due to cold temps or sensor use) dcrainmaker.com. Unlike Garmin, Polar doesn’t allow on-the-fly charging without ending the activity – a drawback for ultra athletes dcrainmaker.com. In summary, the Grit X Pro will get most people through a normal week of workouts or a shorter ultra event, but it’s not in the same league as the Nomad or Fenix 8 for extreme battery life. It was outlasted by Garmin’s Fenix 6 series back in 2021 wareable.com, and today in 2025 it’s decidedly middle-of-the-pack. Polar’s newer Grit X2 Pro improved this to ~43h GPS and 140h eco dcrainmaker.com, but the original Grit X Pro remains a “charge weekly” device for active users. If you plan very long adventures, you’d likely need an external battery pack or to carefully use power-saving modes (e.g. one-second vs 60-second GPS logging).

Verdict – Battery: Garmin’s Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar is the clear winner for endurance, with the ability to last several times longer than the Polar under equivalent settings dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. The Coros Nomad is surprisingly close to Garmin in many scenarios – its ~50 hours full GPS runtime is excellent dcrainmaker.com, and for many users the Nomad will feel like a “multi-week” watch as well (22 days regular use) dcrainmaker.com. The Polar Grit X Pro lags behind; 2–3 days of heavy GPS use or about a week of daily wear is what you can expect dcrainmaker.com polar.com. All three support on-wrist charging during an activity except Polar (which forces you to stop the activity to charge), so Garmin and Coros have an edge for ultra events where you might top up mid-race. In short, if you need ultimate battery stamina, go Fenix 8. If you need very good battery on a budget, the Nomad delivers. The Polar will require more charging stops on long adventures and feels dated in this department – something Polar addressed with newer models, but the 2021 Grit X Pro itself remains just “okay” for battery life techradar.com.

GPS, Navigation and Mapping

Robust navigation is a key selling point for adventure watches. Here we compare satellite accuracy, mapping capabilities, and navigation features of the three devices:

Coros Nomad: Coros equipped the Nomad with an all-satellite, dual-frequency GNSS chipset coros.com, meaning it can lock onto multiple constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS) on two frequencies for high precision. This multi-band tech helps in challenging environments like deep canyons or urban jungles. The Nomad’s GPS performance in testing has been impressively accurate – reviewers noted it was fast to get a fix and on par with the best in class gearjunkie.com. One expert even said the Nomad’s accuracy is “easily among the best” thanks to dual-frequency, putting it up with Garmin and Suunto’s latest the5krunner.com dcrainmaker.com. Where the Nomad really shines is mapping: it offers full-color offline maps with 32 GB of storage dcrainmaker.com the5krunner.com. You get global landscape maps (with street names) and regional topographic maps that you can download as needed coros.com. During navigation, you can see your route line on a map background – a huge leap for Coros, since previously only their Vertix 2 had map capability. The Nomad’s maps don’t have turn-by-turn routing intelligence onboard (they’re raster-style maps), but the watch does provide breadcrumb navigation, off-route alerts, and turn prompts based on your loaded route the5krunner.com the5krunner.com. Zooming and panning the map is extremely smooth – arguably “best in class” according to The5KRunner, who reported lightning-fast map rendering with no lag the5krunner.com the5krunner.com. In contrast, Garmin maps can sometimes take a few seconds to redraw when zooming or scrolling, especially on older models the5krunner.com. The Nomad supports setting points of interest (POIs) and will show data like upcoming elevation profiles for a loaded route (though it lacks a Garmin-style “Up Ahead” or climb-by-climb breakdown) the5krunner.com. Unique to the Nomad are its Adventure Journaling features: you can drop voice-tagged pins during an activity (e.g. mark a fishing spot or a trail junction by voice) and later see those on the map dcrainmaker.com gearjunkie.com. It’s essentially geotagged voice notes integrated into your route, which is great for remembering details of your trek gearjunkie.com. The Nomad also introduces a suite of fishing-specific modes (Fly fishing, kayak fishing, offshore, etc.) that leverage GPS – you can log catches with location, track drift, see tidal data, and mark hotspots on the map dcrainmaker.com gearjunkie.com. This is something neither Garmin nor Polar offers natively and makes the Nomad particularly attractive if angling is part of your adventures. In summary, the Coros Nomad’s navigation toolkit is robust: dual-band GNSS for accuracy, detailed offline maps for context, and standard nav features like back-to-start, checkpoints, and compass guidance coros.com coros.com. It may not recalc a new route on the fly like a Garmin can, but it “delivered on every front” for hikes, rides, and fishing trips according to GearJunkie gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com.

Garmin Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar: Garmin is the gold standard in consumer GPS, and the Fenix 8 continues that legacy. It also uses multi-band GNSS, and testing shows its accuracy is among the best in the wearables world – Ray Maker found the Fenix 8 delivered virtually spot-on tracks in dense cities, mountains, open water swims, and more dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. In fact, he noted the Fenix 8 is “industry-leading” for GPS accuracy, on par with devices like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the latest Suunto, and often better dcrainmaker.com. Where Garmin truly outshines others is mapping and navigation software. The Fenix 8 comes preloaded with topographic maps (region-specific), and you can download additional regions for free via Wi-Fi. These maps are vector-based and routable: they know every trail, road, and intersection. This enables features like on-device route creation, turn-by-turn directions, and automatic rerouting if you stray off course. A new software trick in the Fenix 8 is “dynamic routing”: if you have a set course and go off-path, the watch can intelligently generate directions to get you back on track or back to start techradar.com. Essentially, it can do some basic reroute calculation on the fly, which is a step toward car-GPS-like behavior on your wrist the5krunner.com. The Fenix can also create round-trip courses and suggest popular routes via Trendline™ popularity data – great for exploring in unfamiliar areas. Navigation guidance on the Fenix is enhanced by its rich data: you get an “Up Ahead” feature showing upcoming POIs on your route, ClimbPro which breaks out each climb’s distance/elevation so you know what’s coming, and detailed elevation plots. It will alert you with turn prompts and off-course warnings, just like the Nomad. However, Garmin’s turn-by-turn is a bit smarter because of the routable maps – it knows street/trail names and can recalc routes (Nomad just follows the loaded route) the5krunner.com the5krunner.com. The Fenix 8 also adds a built-in LED flashlight (first seen on Fenix 7X) which is a handy safety/navigation tool for night hikes or finding gear in the dark youtube.com techradar.com. One completely new hardware feature is the depth gauge: Fenix 8 can function as a basic dive computer (Descent mode) for scuba and freediving down to 40 meters dcrainmaker.com techradar.com. It tracks dive depth, time, ascent rates, etc., and integrates with Garmin’s Dive app. Neither Coros nor Polar have anything comparable – their water resistance is fine for swimming, but they are not designed for diving. This essentially means the Fenix 8 can accompany you from mountain top to undersea, mapping and recording all the way. Of course, the Fenix also supports multi-sport navigation profiles like triathlon, ski touring (with maps of ski resorts), golf maps, and more. In terms of software, Garmin’s Connect IQ allows third-party mapping apps (e.g. specialized topo maps, RouteCourse, etc.), something closed platforms lack. Garmin’s high-end watches even got a new SatIQ feature which auto-chooses the best GPS mode (multi-band vs single) to save battery while maintaining accuracy dcrainmaker.com. And Garmin introduced an online GPS track correction system: if your watch uploads a track that appears erroneous (due to signal issues), Garmin Connect can use the watch’s sensor data (accelerometer, compass) to post-process and correct the track dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. This “fix it after the fact” approach is similar to Suunto’s FusedTrack and shows Garmin’s commitment to top-notch GPS data. In sum, the Fenix 8 offers the most comprehensive navigation suite: best-in-class accuracy, topo maps with routable intelligence, on-device rerouting, countless sport-specific nav tools, and even niche features (like dive mode) techradar.com dcrainmaker.com. It’s the navigator’s choice, albeit you pay a premium for it. The experience is also very data-rich – some casual users might not use half the nav features packed in, but for explorers, it’s all there.

Polar Grit X Pro: Navigation was historically a weaker point for Polar, but the Grit X Pro made some strides over the original Grit X. It has a built-in GPS (single-frequency) supporting GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS – but not multi-band on this 2021 model wareable.com. GPS accuracy is generally good; Polar uses Sony chipsets known for efficiency and decent accuracy. In testing, the Grit X Pro’s tracks were “very good” in most situations, though like many devices it can smooth corners and has minor distance quirks (Polar tends to do some smoothing that can under-report distance a bit, as noted by TechRadar in the Grit X2 review) techradar.com. For 99% of cases (trail runs, hikes, rides), the Grit X Pro will get you an accurate track and pace, just not quite as robust under extreme conditions as dual-band units. Where Polar lags is mapping – the Grit X Pro does not have onboard maps or background cartography techradar.com. Navigation is done via a breadcrumb line on a blank screen. You load routes (e.g. from Komoot or Polar Flow) and the watch will guide you along that line with turn-by-turn instructions if the route has turn data (Polar partnered with Komoot for turn-by-turn directions) reddit.com techradar.com. It also has a “back to start” arrow and a simple track-back function to retrace steps. The Pro added an always-on compass display and coordinates, plus an altimeter-based elevation profile view of your route – so you can see the hills ahead (this was an upgrade over the original Grit X’s navigation) wareable.com techradar.com. But compared to Garmin/Coros, Polar’s nav feels barebones. There’s no actual map image – just a line. If you go off course, the watch alerts you, but cannot recalculate a detour. You’ll have to find your way back to the line. Polar does include turn alerts via Komoot, and you can mark POIs via the app to have the watch alert approaching them. One strong point: Polar’s barometric altimeter is leveraged for the Hill Splitter feature, which automatically detects ascents and descents during your session and shows stats for each climb wareable.com. It’s a nice post-workout analysis tool for trail runners and cyclists, although it’s not quite as real-time useful as Garmin’s ClimbPro. The Grit X Pro also excels in route elevation guidance – you can follow a route’s altitude profile and it will show how far up/down you are at any point, helping in mountain navigation. As for compass and back-to-start, it’s reliable but standard (an arrow pointing to start, with distance). Polar’s focus is more on training guidance than exploration; as one review put it, the Grit X Pro “will help you find your way back home” but lacks richer mapping like Garmin’s Fenix techradar.com techradar.com. Lastly, Polar’s satellite lock times are generally quick and its “Precision Prime” sensor suite can use magnetometer data to keep orientation, but it doesn’t have advanced fused-tracking or post-processing like Garmin’s SatIQ or Suunto’s algorithms. It was simply not Polar’s priority in 2021. They have since caught up – notably, the 2024 Polar Grit X2 Pro and Vantage V3 introduced full-color AMOLED and offline maps dcrainmaker.com. But the Grit X Pro we’re examining remains a generation behind in nav tech. It’s perfectly adequate for following pre-planned routes and recording tracks, and Polar’s data accuracy is solid (they historically had excellent GPS pacing, etc.), yet those who need onboard maps or automatic rerouting will feel limited.

Verdict – Navigation: Garmin Fenix 8 is the runaway leader for navigation features and mapping capabilities techradar.com dcrainmaker.com. It offers everything from topo maps to dive metrics, which neither competitor matches. Coros Nomad significantly narrows the gap by offering full offline maps and dual-frequency accuracy at a much lower price the5krunner.com. The Nomad is an outstanding navigator for the money – it even introduces novel ideas like the voice-pin Adventure Journal that outdoorsfolk will love gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com. However, it lacks on-device route recalculation and still leans on a connected phone for complex routing tasks the5krunner.com. Polar’s Grit X Pro brings up the rear: it covers the basics (follow a breadcrumb, get back to start, don’t get lost) but without maps or multi-band GNSS it feels outdated now techradar.com techradar.com. In fairness, if you mainly train on known routes or courses from Komoot, the Polar will serve you fine and has decent accuracy. But for serious off-trail exploration, the Fenix or Nomad are far superior tools. As one review noted, by the time the Grit X Pro launched, you could get a Garmin Fenix (6 series) at similar price with far richer mapping wareable.com – a telling comparison. For 2025, Coros and Garmin clearly lead the way in navigation, while Polar has shifted that fight to its next-gen devices (leaving Grit X Pro as a simpler option for Polar loyalists who prioritize training analytics over mapping).

Health Sensors and Training Features

All three watches come loaded with sensors for health and fitness tracking, but there are some important differences in capability:

• Heart Rate and Biometrics: Each watch has an optical heart rate (OHR) sensor on the back for 24/7 heart-rate monitoring and training. The Garmin Fenix 8 uses Garmin’s latest Elevate optical sensor (with multiple LEDs including green and red) and is generally very accurate for an optical sensor. In testing, the Fenix 8’s heart rate was “surprisingly good” in most activities, only losing the plot in a few moments of rough cycling (which is common for wrist HR) dcrainmaker.com. The Coros Nomad likely uses Coros’s standard optical HR module (similar to Apex 2/Vertix 2’s sensor). Ray Maker found the Nomad’s HR was “mostly fine, but not industry-leading” – meaning it’s decent but can have minor errors, as is typical with wrist sensors dcrainmaker.com. The Polar Grit X Pro uses Polar’s Precision Prime OHR, which combines optical sensors with electrode contact to reduce motion artifacts. It’s serviceable, but many found it average – Polar’s own athletes often pair the watch with Polar’s H10 chest strap for serious training dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. A Consumer Reports test even noted the Grit X Pro was “very good” at HR accuracy consumerreports.org. All three watches support pairing external HR straps via Bluetooth; Garmin also supports ANT+ sensors (more on connectivity shortly). Notably, SpO2 (blood oxygen): the Coros Nomad does include a pulse oximeter for spot checks (and an altitude acclimation mode that regularly measures SpO2) coros.com. Garmin Fenix 8 has a Pulse Ox sensor as well, allowing all-day O2 monitoring or on-demand readings, useful for high-altitude adventures or sleep apnea hints. The Polar Grit X Pro does not have SpO2 at all dcrainmaker.com – Polar omitted that feature in 2021, though they added it in later models. So if blood-oxygen tracking is important (e.g., mountaineers), Nomad and Fenix have the edge.
• Unique Health Sensors: The Coros Nomad has an interesting addition: it’s the first Coros watch with a microphone, used for voice memos (not for calls) dcrainmaker.com. It does not have a speaker, so no audible feedback – the mic is purely for recording notes (or issuing voice commands to your phone’s assistant if connected). More intriguingly, the Nomad’s spec sheet lists an ECG sensor on board coros.com. This suggests the Nomad hardware can record an electrocardiogram (likely through the metal contacts on the case back or bezel). Coros hasn’t fully activated any ECG features as of Aug 2025 (no app to take an ECG reading has been announced yet), but the hardware inclusion hints at future potential for things like detecting atrial fibrillation or measuring HRV with medical-grade precision. By contrast, Garmin introduced ECG capability in some of its watches (starting with the Venu 2 Plus) via an app that can record a single-lead ECG and check for AFib – it’s not confirmed if the Fenix 8 has this feature, but Garmin did roll ECG out to the Fenix line in certain regions in 2024. Polar’s new Vantage V3 also has ECG for fitness tests, but the Grit X Pro does not. In summary, Nomad may have dormant ECG hardware and Garmin likely has ECG function in markets where approved, whereas Polar Grit X Pro lacks this.
• Other sensors: All three watches pack the usual array: barometric altimeter (for elevation, ascent/descent tracking, and floors climbed), compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer. Garmin and Coros use these for enhanced features – e.g., Coros has a temperature sensor that (with an external accessory) can even track skin temperature during training coros.com. Garmin’s thermometer helps with acclimation data and can connect to Garmin’s external tempe sensor for accurate ambient readings. All use the barometer for weather change alerts (storm alarms) and altitude functions. The Fenix 8, as mentioned, adds a depth gauge for measuring water depth while diving – a very niche sensor none of the others have dcrainmaker.com.
• Connectivity (Bluetooth/ANT+/Wi-Fi): The Garmin Fenix 8 has the most connectivity options: Bluetooth (for phone sync and sensors), ANT+ (for a wide range of sensors and accessories), and Wi-Fi (for direct cloud sync and map downloads). This means you can pair just about any sensor – chest HR straps, cycling power meters, cadence sensors, smart trainers, running foot pods, even Garmin’s cycling radar – either via BT or ANT+. It can also broadcast your heart rate over ANT+ or Bluetooth to gym equipment or other devices (like an indoor bike or Zwift) easily. The Coros Nomad supports Bluetooth for connecting to your phone and Bluetooth sensors (HR straps, foot pods, bike sensors). However, Coros does not support ANT+ on any watch – a fact Ray Maker notes can “hurt them in the cycling/triathlon realm” since some people want to pair multiple devices or older ANT+ gear dcrainmaker.com the5krunner.com. That said, Bluetooth-only is becoming less of an issue as most modern sensors are dual-protocol. The Nomad can broadcast HR over Bluetooth (it has a “Virtual Run” mode and gym HR broadcast) coros.com the5krunner.com. The Polar Grit X Pro similarly has Bluetooth only (Polar hasn’t used ANT+ in years). You can pair Bluetooth sensors like straps, foot pods, cycling sensors to the Polar, but one limitation Polar had was connecting to multiple Bluetooth devices concurrently – for example, Polar watches historically couldn’t pair to a trainer if that trainer was already connected to Zwift, due to single BLE channel issues dcrainmaker.com. This is a niche scenario, but serious triathletes using indoor trainers found Polar inconvenient here. Polar also can broadcast HR over Bluetooth (so you could use the Grit X Pro as a HR sensor for gym equipment). None of the watches have cellular connectivity built-in (so no standalone LTE, except Garmin offers an LTE variant in a different model, FR945 LTE, but not in Fenix 8).
• Training and Sports Features: All three are multisport watches capable of tracking a wide variety of activities with advanced metrics.
  • Running & Cycling: Garmin is famous for its training load, VO2 max, training status, recovery time, and race predictor algorithms (licensed from Firstbeat). The Fenix 8 carries all of these, plus new metrics like Training Readiness (a daily score combining sleep, recovery, stress) and HRV Status (7-day heart rate variability trend for recovery) introduced via updates tomsguide.com. It also offers Running Dynamics (ground contact time, vertical oscillation, etc.) when paired with a compatible sensor, and native Running Power from the wrist (Garmin added wrist running power in 2022 updates). Cyclists get support for power meters (with detailed cycling dynamics), courses, and even structured workouts on-device. The Fenix 8 can guide structured training plans (Garmin Coach), has a multisport/triathlon mode (with auto transitions), and can do things like ClimbPro for running or cycling climbs. With the added mic/speaker, the Fenix 8 also supports voice coaching prompts and can give audio cues (like laps or navigation) via a connected phone or Bluetooth headphones dcrainmaker.com.
  • Coros Nomad: Coros has rapidly caught up on training analytics. The Nomad offers over 40 sport modes, including specialized profiles (trail run, track run, indoor run, bike, MTB, pool swim, open water swim, triathlon, ski, snowboard, rowing, strength, etc.) the5krunner.com. Within each, you can customize up to 8 data fields per page and configure multiple pages – very similar flexibility to Garmin the5krunner.com. Coros’ EvoLab platform provides metrics like Training Load, Training Effect, VO2 max (Running Performance), recovery timer, threshold pace, and race predictor – essentially the “most useful measures offered by Garmin” are also present in Coros’s ecosystem the5krunner.com. They even have a Training Status equivalent that labels your load as productive, maintaining, etc. the5krunner.com. Some metrics are still being refined (EvoLab has had hiccups in the past), but Coros is continuously improving them the5krunner.com. The Nomad includes running form tests (with the Coros POD sensor) and supports Stryd power meters, but also has its own native running power from the wrist. It offers a “running fitness” indicator and even tracks something called “Running Performance” to gauge your current conditioning. For recovery, it tracks HRV overnight (like Garmin and Polar do) and shows a recovery score. Coros also added a “Heat & Altitude” acclimation metric (on other models), and on Nomad they have Altitude Mode which regularly checks SpO2 and fitness at high elevations coros.com. Swimmers get metrics like SWOLF, stroke rate, etc., and triathletes can seamlessly switch sports with one button. One notable omission: Coros doesn’t have on-device coaching or adaptive training plans (you can load workouts or plans via the app, though). Also, no Pay or music streaming – music is limited to playing MP3 files loaded on the watch (which is functional, but not as convenient as Spotify support that some Garmins have). As The5KRunner summarized, Coros covers “more than enough to support the needs of just about every athlete,” even if it lacks some of Garmin’s deep analytics nuance the5krunner.com the5krunner.com.
  • Polar Grit X Pro: Polar’s heritage is in heart rate training, and the Grit X Pro benefits from Polar’s advanced coaching features. It has unique tests like the Leg Recovery Test (jump test to estimate muscle recovery), running and cycling performance tests to estimate VO2 max and FTP, and the orthostatic HR test for recovery (with H10 strap) techradar.com wareable.com. Polar’s Training Load Pro and Recovery Pro systems give insight into how strained you are: it separates cardio load, muscle load, and perceived load, and if you also use their chest strap you can get Recovery Pro feedback on whether you’re balanced or strained wareable.com. Polar pioneered daily FitSpark workout suggestions – the Grit X Pro can suggest daily exercises (cardio, strength, supportive exercises) based on your recovery status and past workouts, which is great for general fitness guidance. For endurance athletes, Polar’s FuelWise is a standout feature: it’s a smart fueling reminder that tells you when to take carbs during long sessions, based on energy expenditure – very handy for marathoners or cyclists on long rides wareable.com. The Grit X Pro of course tracks VO2 max (called “Running Index”) and provides training benefit feedback after workouts. It does not calculate a single training status like Garmin/Coros; instead, it gives you graphs of your cardio load vs tolerance and whether you’re detraining, maintaining, etc. On recovery, Polar’s Nightly Recharge feature combines sleep quality and autonomic nervous system data (HRV and breathing rate overnight) to rate how well you recovered. It also offers Sleep Stages Plus analysis (detailed breakdown of your sleep cycles), which many users find insightful (though it contributes to battery drain) techradar.com wareable.com. Polar’s algorithms for calorie burn and heart rate are clinically validated and tend to be very solid. The Grit X Pro supports many sport profiles (over 130 in Polar Flow), so you can track virtually any activity (from hiking to kitesurfing). It also was one of the first to natively support running power from the wrist (Polar beat Garmin to that), so the Grit X Pro can display running power without any extra sensor. Swimmers get metrics too (strokes, pace, etc., though Polar’s swim mode is basic compared to Garmin’s). One limitation: Polar does not have any music playback capability, nor does it have contactless payments – it’s purely focused on fitness. Its “smart” features are limited to notifications and weather info. And while it can control phone music (skip tracks), it can’t store songs.
• Smart Features: On the smartwatch side, Garmin Fenix 8 is far ahead with things like Garmin Pay for NFC payments, onboard music storage for 2000+ songs and Spotify/Amazon Music offline syncing (on Sapphire models), and the ability to take Bluetooth calls via the built-in mic/speaker dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. The Fenix can also respond to texts (with preset replies) when paired to an Android phone. It basically doubles as a high-end smartwatch in daily life (notifications, calendar, weather, phone finder, etc.). The Coros Nomad is more limited: it shows notifications from your phone and can dismiss or mark them read, but no replies. It does not have any payment system, and as noted, it plays only local MP3 files for music (no streaming app support) the5krunner.com. Coros has added small smart features like GoPro camera control and Insta360 camera control from the watch, which are neat for adventurers filming their exploits the5krunner.com. The Nomad also introduces safety features like a dual-frequency siren (using the speaker? Actually Nomad has no speaker, so likely not – Garmin has a safety siren in some models with speakers). Correction: The Nomad doesn’t have speaker, so scratch that; but it does have standard safety alerts (you can set up emergency contacts and the watch will send an alert through your phone if you trigger an SOS). Polar Grit X Pro is very basic on smart features: it does notifications (read-only), has weather forecasts, and that’s about it techradar.com. No music, no payments, no voice assistant. Polar’s ethos with the Grit X Pro was “sports watch first, smartwatch second” techradar.com, and it shows.

Verdict – Health & Training: All three watches are highly capable for fitness tracking, but Garmin Fenix 8 offers the most comprehensive package of sensors and training features. It has every sensor (HR, SpO2, temp, depth, etc.), every training metric (including the latest training readiness and HRV trends via updates tomsguide.com), and the richest ecosystem for coaching and analysis. Polar Grit X Pro holds its own with some unique features like FuelWise and excellent recovery/sleep analytics wareable.com techradar.com. Polar’s training analysis is very in-depth – if you are an athlete who loves to dissect HR curves and recovery scores, Polar Flow delivers rich data. However, it lacks newer innovations (no HRV status over weeks, no native daily readiness score) and the hardware limitations (no SpO2, older processor) put it a step behind. Coros Nomad is impressively close to Garmin now in terms of training tools – it covers VO2 max, training load, structured workouts, multi-sport profiles, etc. the5krunner.com. It even innovates with things like the Adventure Journal and its focus on memory-keeping and new fishing metrics gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com. Where Coros lags slightly is in the finer polish – e.g., Garmin’s training suggestions and adaptive plans are more mature. Also Garmin and Polar have decades of physiological research backing their metrics, whereas Coros’s EvoLab, while good, is newer and occasionally had quirks (though it’s improving). Another consideration: ecosystem and apps. Garmin Connect is a robust platform with community challenges, insights, and third-party app integrations. Polar Flow is excellent for data analysis and has a loyal following among coaches. Coros’s app is modern and good for day-to-day use, but for deep analysis some athletes still export Coros data to TrainingPeaks or Strava (which Coros does integrate with fully). If you need broad sensor compatibility (like pairing cycling radar or a smart trainer), Garmin is the clear choice thanks to ANT+ support. Coros and Polar will handle the basics (HR, foot pod, power meter) over Bluetooth but not much beyond. In terms of health monitoring: Garmin and Coros both track daily stress and HRV, with Garmin offering more refined insights (body battery, etc.), and Polar focusing on nightly recovery metrics. Coros recently added a “Wellness” check feature that gives a quick HRV and stress test reading, similar to Garmin’s Body Battery snapshot the5krunner.com. Ultimately, serious triathletes and ultra-endurance folks might lean Garmin for its all-around capabilities. Runners who want basic training load and maybe a simpler interface might like Coros (and its value). Polar remains a great option for those who value its specific tests and recovery focus – for instance, some coaches trust Polar’s recovery metrics more than others. But the Grit X Pro’s lack of some modern sensors (SpO2, ECG) and limited smart features are notable drawbacks in 2025 dcrainmaker.com.

Real-World Reviews and Durability Tests

It’s important to see how these watches fare outside of spec sheets – in actual use on wrists around the world, and how well they hold up over time:

• Coros Nomad (Real-World Feedback): Early reviews have been very positive. GearJunkie’s tester (an outdoors editor focusing on hunting/fishing) put the Nomad through hikes, bike rides, and fishing trips and reported that “it delivered on every front” gearjunkie.com. She praised the Nomad’s comfort and light weight, saying it “hasn’t let my wrist go” since she started testing gearjunkie.com. The Nomad was particularly commended for its battery life (“epic”), accurate dual-frequency GPS, and useful fishing modes gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com. The new Adventure Journal feature was also a hit – being able to quickly log voice notes and have your whole trip (route, photos, notes) laid out after the fact felt “more immersive than I expected,” making it easy to relive and share adventures gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com. On the durability side, the Nomad has a polymer body but doesn’t feel cheap. One potential issue noted is the mineral glass lens: it can scratch more easily than sapphire. If your adventures are very scratch-prone (rock climbing, heavy bushwhacking), you may need a screen protector or just accept some scratches gearjunkie.com. Otherwise, the Nomad’s build has been reliable – its 5 ATM water rating covers swimming, kayaking, and surface water sports fine (just don’t scuba with it), and it operates in -20°C to 50°C temperatures without issue coros.com. Coros also has a reputation for very sturdy hardware (Coros Vertix watches are known for surviving ultra events and harsh climates). No serious durability red flags have emerged for the Nomad so far. It’s worth noting that because the Nomad is new (released August 2025), long-term user reports are limited – but Coros’s track record with previous models gives confidence. The5KRunner’s in-depth review highlighted 9 pros and only 7 cons, indicating a well-balanced device the5krunner.com the5krunner.com. He did mention the lack of an app store and limited smartwatch features as cons, but in terms of reliability he found no major issues. One specific pro he mentioned: the “lightning speed” map rendering, easily best in class – a real-world benefit when you’re trying to pan/zoom a map during an activity the5krunner.com. That is a practical win for Nomad’s user experience in the field. All in all, real users seem to find the Nomad a capable and durable adventure companion, especially praising its value (many are surprised to get mapping and dual-band GPS in a $349 device dcrainmaker.com). The main knocks are minor: iPhone notifications are a bit less interactive than on an Apple Watch (expected), and the polished mineral glass means you should be a bit careful to avoid scratches gearjunkie.com.
• Garmin Fenix 8 (Real-World Feedback): As Garmin’s flagship, the Fenix 8 has been extensively reviewed by experts and used by thousands of athletes in its first year (launched late 2024). The consensus: it’s an outstanding adventure watch, but with some caveats – chiefly its price. TechRadar gave it an Editor’s Choice, calling it “the ultimate watch for adventure enthusiasts” and “phenomenal” in capabilities techradar.com. They nearly deducted points for cost, but acknowledged that a slightly more affordable variant (the Fenix E, i.e. Solar/MIP model) exists for those who don’t need AMOLED techradar.com. In use, the Fenix 8’s multi-band GPS and mapping have received rave reviews – athletes found it extremely reliable for tracking and navigating, even in remote or tricky conditions dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. Endurance testers love the battery life; Outdoor Gear Lab gave it top marks in accuracy and activity tracking, noting it “crushes the competition” in battery longevity androidcentral.com. Real-world durability has been great: the watch’s titanium and sapphire construction easily handles bumps and scrapes (one user noted after months of hiking and mountain biking, the Sapphire lens was still scratch-free). The new leakproof buttons also inspired confidence for water use dcrainmaker.com – divers have taken it to recreational dive depths without issues (Garmin rates it to 10 ATM and tests each unit). One tester even took the Fenix 8 scuba diving alongside a dedicated dive computer, and while the Fenix’s interface was simpler, it performed well and the tester was tempted to use it as their primary dive watch techradar.com. On the flip side, some early adopters reported software bugs at launch – e.g. a few glitches in the new UI and syncing. Garmin has mostly addressed these in firmware updates, but a Reddit thread pointed out reliability concerns with initial firmware (one user rated reliability 4/10 initially due to tracking bugs) reddit.com. Over the year, Garmin’s updates have improved stability. The Fenix 8’s durability in extreme conditions is proven – it’s been used in ultras, high-altitude expeditions, and even by military folks (the Tactix 7 is similar hardware and has been field-tested). The watch’s bulk is one minor complaint: the 51mm can feel huge on some wrists, and even the 47mm is noticeable. TechRadar flagged it as “bulky” in cons techradar.com. However, they also said it’s “built like a tank without being too obnoxious” – meaning if you’re used to these types of watches, it’s fine techradar.com. Another recurring critique: price, price, price. At $999+ list price, many feel the Fenix 8, while the best, is almost too expensive for what incremental upgrades it brought dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. Ray Maker pointed out that existing Fenix 7 users might not find a lot of new features for the hefty $1000+ cost – unless they specifically want the dive mode or mic/speaker dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. He fell in the camp that the price jump was “unjustified given the lack of non-dive/non-speaker features” for most users dcrainmaker.com. But for someone coming from an older watch or needing the new capabilities, it’s simply the best out there. Summing up user sentiment: The Fenix 8 is an amazing watch technically (“very much the best Fenix or Epix Garmin’s ever made” dcrainmaker.com), with bombproof build quality – but its high price and slight overkill nature mean it’s not for everyone. If you do invest, you’re unlikely to be disappointed by its performance or durability; you just might wince at your credit card statement.
• Polar Grit X Pro (Real-World Feedback): Being the oldest model here (released 2021), the Grit X Pro has the benefit of long-term user experiences. The overarching theme is that it’s a durable, reliable outdoor watch, but one that has been eclipsed in features by competitors over time. Reviewers at launch appreciated the improvements over the original Grit X – the addition of sapphire glass, better navigation views, and extra fitness tests made it feel like “the watch the Grit X should have been” techradar.com techradar.com. Users have generally reported that the Grit X Pro holds up well to abuse: with 100m water resistance and MIL-STD durability, it’s not uncommon to hear of folks taking it on week-long treks, mountain runs, or adventure races without problems. The sapphire lens resists scratches; the stainless steel or titanium body might get some scuffs, but nothing affecting function. Polar’s comfortable strap and slightly smaller size (47mm) make it easier to wear 24/7 than the giant Garmins – a plus for users who sleep with the watch to get that great Polar sleep tracking techradar.com wareable.com. That said, some cracks show: the battery life is a source of occasional frustration. In ultra events, a number of users found it didn’t last as long as needed – one ultrarunner complained their Grit X Pro died before 24 hours (with everything on) and they “can’t charge on the go” without stopping the activity dcrainmaker.com. For regular use it’s fine, but adventurers doing multi-day activities have had to be mindful. The laggy interface is another issue raised often. Both professional reviews and user forums mention that the Grit X Pro’s responsiveness is slow – swipes can be unresponsive and menus not as snappy techradar.com wareable.com. It’s not deal-breaking (you can always use buttons), but it contributes to a less polished feel. On the positive side, Polar’s GPS and HR accuracy in real world seems to satisfy most. A Canadian Running Magazine review noted it was very durable and comfortable, and while the HR might not be the absolute best, it’s consistent, and you can always pair a Polar H10 strap for perfect accuracy runningmagazine.ca. Many users praise Polar’s sleep and recovery insights – some claim it helped them improve their rest habits and avoid overtraining. So in daily life, the Grit X Pro can actively guide a healthier training routine. The biggest knocks from real users actually revolve around what it doesn’t have: no music, no payments, no app ecosystem. Compared to a Garmin or Apple Watch, the Grit X Pro feels “limited” in smart capabilities – essentially just a notifications conduit. For some that’s fine (less distraction), for others it’s a deal-breaker. As Wareable’s review put it, you might get more for your money elsewhere unless you specifically want Polar’s platform wareable.com. And indeed, since 2021 many Grit X Pro owners eventually jumped to other devices or awaited Polar’s next-gen. Polar did address many of the criticisms with the new Grit X2 Pro in 2024 (AMOLED screen, maps, better CPU, etc.), leaving the Grit X Pro somewhat outdated. Still, if someone buys a Grit X Pro now (at heavy discount), they will get a tough, accurate watch with excellent training analysis – just without the bells and whistles. It’s telling that a common refrain in user communities is: “The Grit X Pro is great for Polar fans, but if you’re not tied to Polar Flow, there are arguably better choices now.” It’s the oldest warrior in this fight – still standing, but a bit battle-worn.

Pricing and Availability (August 2025)

Coros Nomad: The Nomad launched in August 2025 at a very aggressive price of $349 USD (349 EUR / 319 GBP) dcrainmaker.com. This price includes both a silicone band and all features (maps, etc.) – there are three color options, but all are the same price. At $349, the Nomad significantly undercuts both Garmin and Polar’s offerings, making it one of the best value propositions for a fully equipped outdoor watch. It’s available directly from Coros’s website and through authorized retailers (running and outdoor stores, Amazon, etc.). As of late August 2025, stock is plentiful since it’s a new product – no major discounts yet given it just released. The Nomad’s affordability was highlighted in many reviews, e.g. DCRainmaker noted it’s $50–$150 cheaper than Garmin’s Instinct 3, yet offers far more features (like color maps that Instinct lacks) dcrainmaker.com. In other words, you’re getting near top-tier functionality at a mid-range price – part of Coros’s strategy to gain market share. There are no premium variants or LTE editions – just one Nomad model (in different colors) for $349. For what it’s worth, accessories like extra bands are relatively cheap (Coros sells nylon bands etc. around $30). Overall, the Nomad is widely regarded as a lot of bang for the buck in this category.

Garmin Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar: The Fenix 8 series is at the top of Garmin’s price ladder for consumer watches. The Sapphire Solar editions (which have the sapphire crystal + solar charging + multi-band GNSS + 32GB maps + music) start at $1,099 USD (for the 47mm size) and go up to around $1,199 for the 51mm Sapphire Solar dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. In fact, Garmin shocked many by raising prices: the cheapest Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) is $300 more than the prior Fenix 7 Solar was at launch dcrainmaker.com. The AMOLED (non-solar) Fenix 8 models start around $999 (for 43mm or 47mm with Sapphire AMOLED) dcrainmaker.com. Essentially, the Fenix 8 series ranges roughly from $999 to $1,299 depending on size and features. By August 2025, we have seen some mild discounting (for instance, Amazon briefly had the base Fenix 8 around $975 dcrainmaker.com, and the Solar around $1,100 dcrainmaker.com). Garmin also tends to run sales during holidays – one might find 10–15% off at times, but it’s still a very expensive watch. Availability is broad: you can buy Fenix 8 from Garmin’s site, outdoor retailers like REI, Backcountry, big stores like Best Buy, Amazon, etc. All models are in stock by now (initial demand was high but Garmin caught up). One more affordable way to get “Fenix 8 tech” is the Epix Pro Gen 2 or Enduro 3. However, note Garmin’s renaming: “Fenix 8” covers both MIP and AMOLED models now dcrainmaker.com. For clarity, if someone specifically wants the Sapphire Solar MIP, they’ll be paying that ~$1.1k. The value aspect was discussed heavily: many reviewers felt at $1000+, the Fenix 8 is a tough sell for casual users, considering the previous Fenix 7 was often on sale for ~$600 dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. But for those who want the cutting edge and can afford it, the Fenix 8 is available and is arguably unmatched in features.

Polar Grit X Pro: At launch in late 2021, the Grit X Pro was priced at $499 USD / £439 for the regular version, and $599 (about £520) for the Titan edition techradar.com techradar.com. Since then, Polar has significantly dropped the price. As of August 2025, Polar’s own web store lists the Grit X Pro for $439.95 USD (and often it’s been on sale for around $379) polar.com. Retailers frequently discount it now that it’s an older model – it’s not uncommon to find it in the ~$350 range on Amazon or others, especially since the Grit X2 Pro came out. In essence, the Grit X Pro now costs about a third of the Garmin Fenix 8, and only slightly more than the Coros Nomad. It’s positioned as a sort of rugged mid-range option in 2025. Availability is a bit more limited because Polar as a brand doesn’t have the sheer retail presence Garmin does. You can buy it from Polar’s site, Amazon, and some fitness retailers, but many brick-and-mortar stores have slim Polar selections. Also, with the Vantage V3 and Grit X2 Pro released, Polar might eventually phase out the Grit X Pro. But for now, it’s still “currently available on the market” as requested, just at much better prices than before. If one is bargain hunting, a $400 Polar Grit X Pro is attractive given it was $500–$600 not long ago techradar.com wareable.com. The Titan edition (with titanium bezel and extra band) might still run higher ($499 or so if you can find it), but functionally it’s the same watch.

Value Perspective: At list prices, Garmin Fenix 8 is in a different stratosphere – you’re paying premium dollar for premium tech. The Coros Nomad offers an astonishing value, bringing features like maps and dual-frequency GPS down to the $349 level dcrainmaker.com. Polar’s Grit X Pro originally was premium-priced but is now mid-priced due to age – if you find it around $350, it’s a decent value for a sapphire, MIL-STD watch with Polar’s software, but keep in mind it lacks some features the cheaper Nomad has (like maps, music) ts2.tech. Each watch justifies its price in different ways: Garmin with sheer feature depth, Coros with bang-for-buck, Polar with its specialized training perks (now at a discount).

Recent News, Updates, and Firmware Upgrades

Staying updated is crucial, as firmware can add features or improve these devices:

• Coros Nomad: Since the Nomad just launched (firmware v3.x in August 2025), Coros has already pushed some updates. In fact, Coros rolled out an August 2025 Feature Update shortly after release, which included refinements to the Adventure Journal and training metrics coros.com. The Nomad release notes (v3.1110.0 on Aug 18, 2025) indicate new abilities like using voice to pin landmarks and auto-transcribe notes directly on the watch support.coros.com. Coros is known for delivering firmware updates that bring new features to even older watches, and the Nomad will benefit from that ecosystem. For example, some features introduced on Nomad (voice notes, etc.) are being added to other Coros watches via firmware updates in summer 2025 dcrainmaker.com. In the months ahead, we might see further tweaks – Coros could enable that ECG sensor for some wellness feature, or add more sport modes, etc., via updates. Also, Coros’s app got a major overhaul in early 2025 with a new design and training hub coros.com. All this to say, Nomad owners can expect a steady cadence of improvements. No “bad news” or major bug reports have surfaced – Coros had a very smooth launch by all accounts (they even seeded units to reviewers ahead of time to ensure polished firmware). The only thing to watch is how Coros positions Nomad in updates relative to their Vertix series – but given their track record, they usually unify features across devices where hardware allows. So far, so good: no reports of crashes or GPS issues on Nomad’s firmware; just added features and minor fixes.
• Garmin Fenix 8: Garmin has an established quarterly update cycle for Fenix. Since its launch (~Aug 2024), the Fenix 8 has received multiple firmware updates adding functionality. Notably, in May 2025 Garmin released Software v15.32 which brought new features like Auto Lap by Position for track run, a Calculator app, and other tweaks forums.garmin.com. A major August 2025 update was also announced, rolling out to Fenix 8 (and other high-end models) – this update incorporated some features from the new Forerunner 970 and Venu X1 into the Fenix 8 androidcentral.com. For example, Garmin added top features for runners/triathletes: we saw news of improvements like an enhanced interval training experience and perhaps new physio metrics (one report said the update includes features from the FR970, which likely means things like improved acute load focus, etc.) tomsguide.com androidcentral.com. Android Central noted that Garmin’s August 2025 feature drop was “massive,” with the Fenix 8 gaining even more tools for training and navigation androidcentral.com. This demonstrates Garmin’s commitment to keeping the Fenix line fresh – many of these were features that could have been exclusive to new models, but Garmin gave them to current owners via free updates. On the bug fix side, Garmin has squashed many initial issues: by mid-2025 the firmware (v17.xx in beta, v16 stable) resolved earlier glitches (for instance, the activities merge bug reported in forums was fixed by v17.28) forums.garmin.com. Garmin also runs a Public Beta program for Fenix 8, where adventurous users can test upcoming features – it’s through this that news of new additions often leaks (like Beta features enabling Wrist-Based Running Dynamics without a pod, which some suspect is coming). All in all, as of August 2025, the Fenix 8 is more capable than it was at launch due to these updates. We haven’t heard of any major hardware issues (like widespread sensor failures) – Garmin’s updates have been mostly positive. The only “news” in a negative sense was some talk that a Fenix 8 Pro might be in the works (rumors popped up on forums about leaks) dcrainmaker.com, which could imply an incremental model, but Garmin hasn’t confirmed anything. For now, Fenix 8 owners can enjoy ongoing support and can likely expect at least another year of significant updates before Garmin’s attention shifts fully to a future Fenix 9.
• Polar Grit X Pro: Polar has provided periodic firmware updates to the Grit X Pro, but by 2025, new features are sparse – Polar’s focus shifted to launching new devices (Pacer, Vantage V3, Grit X2 Pro). In late 2021 and 2022, the Grit X Pro got some updates: for example, Polar added turn-by-turn route guidance via Komoot to the original Grit X and Pro in firmware, as well as small things like new watch faces and data pages. Polar also improved swim tracking algorithms and added the ability to broadcast heart rate over BLE in a firmware update. However, since 2023, there haven’t been noteworthy feature additions to Grit X Pro. Instead, Polar delivered new features on the Vantage V3 (like ECG, dual-frequency GPS, maps) which are not backwards-compatible with Grit X Pro due to hardware limitations. The most recent updates for Grit X Pro have been bug fixes and compatibility updates (ensuring it syncs with the new Polar Flow app versions, etc.). One significant update in mid-2023 did introduce Polar’s new “SleepWise” insights to the Grit X Pro, giving more predictive sleep data – Polar often tries to bring at least some software enhancements to older models if possible. But essentially, the Grit X Pro is in maintenance mode; Polar even left it out of some recent feature expansions. For instance, when Polar introduced stride sensor calibration improvements and new test features on Vantage V3, those did not come to Grit X Pro. Polar did release new firmware for the original Grit X to add some Pro features (like HR sensor mode, etc.), so they take care of products for a while. But as of Aug 2025, no major “news” on Grit X Pro firmware – the real news in Polar land is the Vantage V3 and Grit X2 Pro. Speaking of which, one could consider the Grit X2 Pro (May 2024 launch) as essentially a big “update” to the Grit X Pro hardware: it has AMOLED, multi-band GPS, maps, etc. dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. Firmware-wise, the Grit X2 Pro and Vantage V3 run a new Polar UI that the Grit X Pro doesn’t get. So while Grit X Pro owners still receive support (it’s compatible with Polar’s latest apps, and any bug affecting it will be patched), they shouldn’t expect new features. On a positive note, no reports of severe bugs are lingering – it’s a stable device now.

In summary, Garmin and Coros are continuously updating their watches with new features and improvements (Garmin’s August 2025 update and Coros’s frequent firmware rollouts show that) androidcentral.com coros.com. Polar’s Grit X Pro sees mostly maintenance updates at this stage, as Polar directs innovation to its new models. It’s always wise for buyers to check for firmware updates right after purchase: installing the latest will ensure the best performance (e.g., Fenix 8 on launch vs after a year of updates is a much richer experience).

Upcoming and Rumored Watches in this Category

The outdoor multisport watch arena is hotter than ever. Beyond the Coros Nomad, Garmin Fenix 8, and Polar Grit X Pro, here’s a look at notable recent releases and rumors as of August 2025 among major players:

• Polar: After a quiet 2022, Polar came back swinging with the Vantage V3 in late 2023. The Vantage V3 is Polar’s premium multisport watch that introduced a 1.39″ AMOLED display, dual-frequency GPS, offline maps, and even wrist-based ECG for the first time in Polar’s lineup polar.com dcrainmaker.com. Essentially, it brought Polar into feature parity with Garmin on many fronts (bright screen, maps). It also has Polar’s new high-powered processor and 32GB storage for maps dcrainmaker.com. Polar positioned it as a triathlon/endurance watch (the Vantage series), but it shares internals with their new outdoor watch. Which is the Polar Grit X Pro’s successor: in May 2024 Polar announced the Grit X2 Pro (sometimes called Grit X Pro 2). This watch takes all the Vantage V3 upgrades and puts them in a more rugged form factor for outdoor adventurers dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. According to DCRainmaker, the Grit X2 Pro is now Polar’s flagship adventure watch, with AMOLED display, multi-band GNSS, 32GB maps (preloaded NA and EU maps), much faster performance, and added features like skin temperature tracking and an ECG-based orthostatic test dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. It maintains 100m water resistance and adds MIL-STD-810H certification too dcrainmaker.com. However, it came with an eye-watering price: $749 for base, $869 for Titan edition dcrainmaker.com. The Grit X2 Pro has been reviewed as “the best Polar watch yet” in hardware, finally catching up to competitors, though its high price and Polar’s still-developing software (maps not as advanced as Garmin’s) were noted. For Polar fans, it’s great news – and it shows Polar’s direction: AMOLED screens, maps, ECG, and advanced sensors in their high-end. Looking ahead, Polar might unify their lines more; but one rumor is a Polar “Pacer Pro 2” or updated mid-range for 2025. Also, Polar won an iF Design Award for the Vantage V3 polar.com, indicating they’re invested in that new design language. If you’re eyeing a Polar, the Vantage V3 and Grit X2 Pro are the ones to watch (pun intended). They effectively make the older Grit X Pro obsolete, albeit at high cost. No specific rumors of a “Polar Grit X3” yet – presumably the Grit X2 Pro will carry that mantle for a couple of years.
• Garmin: Garmin’s release cycle has accelerated. In 2023–2024, they launched the Forerunner 265/965, Epix Pro (Gen 2), Fenix 7 Pro, and then the Fenix 8/Epix (Gen 3) and Enduro 3 in 2024. By Aug 2025, the rumor mill suggests a Forerunner 970 is either just launched or imminent – indeed, search results showed mention of a FR 970 and FR 570, perhaps Garmin’s next running watches techradar.com. Garmin also quietly ended the Epix name, folding AMOLED models into Fenix 8, but they introduced a new name: Fenix E (likely meaning Epix) to denote the AMOLED versions dcrainmaker.com. Looking forward, what could Garmin do? Possibly a Fenix 9 in late 2025 or 2026 with more revolutionary features (some speculate satellite messaging or LTE). But something more concrete: Garmin’s MARQ (Gen 3) luxury lineup may appear in 2025, bringing Fenix 8 tech in a luxury case (just speculation as Gen 2 was 2022). A recently launched interesting model is the Garmin Venu X1 (2025), which is a lifestyle watch but with some advanced features – it even garnered attention as an “Apple Watch Ultra rival” in some respects techradar.com. Garmin also unveiled the Descent Mk3i dive watch in 2025, which shares platform with Fenix 8 but adds air integration for divers techradar.com. On the ultra-endurance side, the Enduro 3 (Garmin’s ultra battery variant of Fenix) launched alongside Fenix 8 in Aug 2024. Ray Maker hinted he was testing Enduro 3 then dcrainmaker.com. Enduro 3 gives an even bigger battery (but no maps, to maximize life) and came in at $900 dcrainmaker.com. It’s a niche product but relevant for ultra runners wanting 2+ months battery. In Garmin’s near future, we might see more integration of satellite communication – Garmin owns DeLorme/inReach, and integration with watches is already there (you can control an inReach from a Fenix). Perhaps a Fenix with built-in satellite SOS (like Apple’s) could be on the horizon if tech permits. No direct rumor, but not far-fetched. Summarily, for Garmin the current lineup is strong (Fenix 8 series, Enduro 3, Forerunner 965 for tri folks, etc.), and any upcoming device will likely be iterative improvements or filling niches. One rumor that came out right after Fenix 8 launch was a possible Fenix 8 Pro or an Instinct 3 AMOLED – not confirmed, but a leak suggested a smaller 42mm Fenix might return as a Pro model. If that happens, it’d just broaden choices. Garmin’s reliable pattern: expect Forerunner 975 maybe in 2025 (triathlon watch with Fenix 8 tech), and possibly a Fenix 9 in later 2025/2026 with something new like microLED display or LTE.
• Coros: Coros has been steadily expanding. Apart from the Nomad, Coros recently released the Pace 3 (late 2023, an entry-level runner’s watch) and then in mid-2025 they introduced the Pace Pro (which confusingly, is not a direct Pace 3 successor but a higher-end model with AMOLED display) coros.com. Actually, Coros’s site shows “Pace Pro” and “Vertix 2S” and “Coros Dura” (the Dura is a bike computer) coros.com. The Vertix 2S listed implies Coros has a smaller version of their older Vertix 2 adventure watch, likely to cater to those wanting a smaller form factor with big battery. The flagship before Nomad was the Vertix 2 (launched 2021) – now four years old. It wouldn’t surprise if Coros is planning a Vertix 3 for 2025/2026 with even more features (Nomad covers the mid-range, so a Vertix 3 could go high-end with say Sapphire glass, 10 ATM, maybe music streaming, etc.). No strong rumors yet, but the pattern suggests Coros might unify or refresh the Apex line or Vertix line soon. They did release a highly specialized product in 2023: the Coros Heart Rate Monitor, a chest strap to complement their watches. They also entered new territory with the Coros Dura bike computer (2024), which had a “theoretical forever power” via solar and huge battery dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. That shows Coros’s interest in solar tech – perhaps a future Coros Vertix might include solar charging to compete with Garmin’s PowerGlass. For now, the Nomad is Coros’s newest star. One could call it a response to Garmin’s Instinct and Polar’s Grit, but it actually leapfrogged them in features ts2.tech. Upcoming from Coros in rumor circles: nothing firm, but keep an eye on if they announce a Vertix 3 or an Apex Pro 2. Coros tends to drop hints on social media a few weeks before launches.
• Suunto: The storied Finnish brand has been reborn somewhat after being acquired by Liesheng (parent of Xiaomi’s wearables) in 2022. Suunto made waves with the Suunto Vertical in mid-2023 – an adventure watch boasting free offline maps and ultra-long battery (up to 85h GPS, or 500h in expedition mode, plus a Solar variant) suunto.com. The Vertical targeted Garmin’s Fenix/Enduro directly, and did quite well, offering a 1.4″ MIP screen, military durability, etc. Then in late 2023, Suunto launched the Suunto Race, a slightly smaller watch focused on performance (less battery, more compact, still with maps) suunto.com dcrainmaker.com. DCRainmaker called the Suunto Race “easily the best watch Suunto has ever made” dcrainmaker.com. So Suunto is resurging: their watches have greatly improved software (now including structured training, training load, etc.), and still emphasize clean design and great GPS accuracy. The rumor from Suunto’s user forum is that more devices are coming in 2024/2025, possibly including an AMOLED-based Suunto to replace the aging Suunto 9 Peak line forum.suunto.com. One user claimed Suunto might use AMOLED in a future watch to cut costs and reach a lower price point than the Race forum.suunto.com. Additionally, Suunto hinted at incorporating more smartwatch features – while still probably avoiding things like music or payments for now. Another interesting development: Suunto’s new models allow apps via their SuuntoPlus Guides (not full app store, but you can load guides/workouts). It’s behind Garmin in ecosystem but catching up. The Suunto Ocean was another 2025 announcement – essentially a Suunto 9 Peak Pro repackaged as a dedicated dive watch (a direct rival to Apple Watch Ultra 2 for diving) techradar.com. It’s more eco-friendly (case made of recycled metal) but shows Suunto’s diversification. In summary, expect Suunto to continue pressing forward – maybe a “Suunto 10” or a new series with WearOS? There have been rumors of Suunto experimenting with WearOS (especially given their new owner makes other smartwatches). However, the Vertical and Race run Suunto’s own OS which is lightweight and efficient. For now, Suunto offers strong competition particularly to Polar and Garmin in the adventure segment, and any “rumored watches” list must acknowledge their comeback.
• Apple Watch Ultra line: Apple’s entrance into the adventure watch market with the Apple Watch Ultra (2022) and Ultra 2 (2023) has certainly influenced the industry. The Ultra offers a robust titanium build, dual-frequency GPS (very accurate, sometimes matching Garmin), and deep integration with iOS apps – but its Achilles heel is battery life (~36 hours max, or 2–3 days with light use). As of August 2025, Apple has not released an Ultra in 2024, meaning the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is anticipated to launch in September 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 macrumors.com. There are quite a few rumors about Ultra 3: MacRumors reports that it’s likely to have a slightly larger display (trimming bezels for a ~2-3% bigger screen, the “largest Apple Watch display yet”) macrumors.com macrumors.com. It’s also expected to adopt the new display tech from the Series 10, meaning a faster refresh LTPO3 OLED and wide-angle visibility (so better always-on with a live second hand, etc.) macrumors.com macrumors.com. Importantly, Ultra 3 is heavily rumored to include satellite connectivity for off-grid texting/emergency SOS – essentially building on the iPhone’s satellite SOS but in the watch macrumors.com. Bloomberg reported Apple working on this, and iOS 18 code hints at it macrumors.com. This could be a game changer for safety in remote areas, letting Ultra 3 users message or call help via satellite without any phone macrumors.com. Additionally, Ultra 3 may be the first Apple Watch with 5G cellular: rumors say Apple will use a new MediaTek 5G modem to upgrade from 4G LTE, improving speed and perhaps reception macrumors.com macrumors.com. A new processor (S11 chip) is expected, though performance gains may be modest – Apple might use the space savings for a bigger battery or new sensors macrumors.com macrumors.com. One speculation is Apple could introduce a microLED display to the Ultra, but most reports suggest that’s more likely for 2026’s model – though if it happened in Ultra 3, it’d bring even better brightness and efficiency. Apple might also expand health sensors (there’s talk every year of noninvasive glucose monitoring – not here yet, likely). That said, two confirmed improvements: watchOS 11/12 will probably bring more outdoorsy software features, and the Ultra 3 might incorporate the new wide-angle OLED tech that improves off-axis brightness by 40% macrumors.com. In essence, Apple seems focused on making Ultra 3 an even stronger contender: larger, more readable display, satellite comms, faster chip, and maybe slight design tweaks. It’ll still likely have that 2-3 day battery, which hardcore expedition folks find limiting. But for many, the Ultra is attractive due to its rich app ecosystem (AllTrails, Gaia GPS, etc. on your wrist) and excellent integration. So, heading into late 2025, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is definitely one to watch for (pun intended again). If Apple addresses battery via efficiency and adds satellite SOS, it will narrow the gap with Garmin for a lot of users except those doing week-long trips. And Apple’s influence could push others (Garmin, etc.) to consider adding similar satellite texting capabilities – something already rumored (Garmin has inReach but not built into Fenix; Apple doing it might spur Garmin to integrate).
• Other notable mentions: One cannot forget smaller players or adjacent products. Casio continues their G-Shock Move line; no big news for 2025 yet, but they did a G-Shock with dual-band GPS and solar (GPR-B1000) and might do more WearOS-based rugged watches. Fitbit has basically exited the high-end GPS watch field after Google bought them (the Google Pixel Watch 2 is their focus, but that’s not an outdoor watch). Wahoo tried a rival with the Elemnt Rival watch in 2020 but hasn’t followed up. And there’s always a chance of a newcomer or startup – for instance, Huawei and Xiaomi have made GPS watches primarily for Asia with big batteries and some maps (like the Huawei Watch Ultimate). Not globally dominant, but worth noting as rumored new Huawei models often push battery tech.

In summary, 2025 is a dynamic time: Polar came back with new hardware (V3, X2 Pro), Suunto is fiercely competitive again (Vertical, Race), Coros launched Nomad hitting a sweet spot, and Garmin keeps iterating on its dominance. Apple is steadily improving the Ultra, making traditional players up their game. For consumers, the pipeline of upcoming watches suggests more choices and better tech – from microLED displays to satellite messaging to even more battery life. If you’re not in a rush, keeping an eye on announcements in September 2025 (Apple event) and possibly CES 2026 (where companies sometimes reveal new wearables) could be wise. But as it stands, the three watches we compared today are among the best you can get right now.

Limitations and Drawbacks

No watch is perfect. Let’s summarize the known limitations or criticisms of each device, as reported by users and professionals:

Coros Nomad – Drawbacks: Despite its many strengths, the Nomad has a few notable omissions. First, it lacks advanced smartwatch amenities like contactless payments or a third-party app ecosystem (Coros has no app store) the5krunner.com. If you’re coming from an Apple or Garmin, the Nomad might feel a bit isolated in terms of app integration – you won’t be controlling Spotify or paying for coffee with it. Music is limited to local MP3 files, which feels old-school in 2025 (no streaming service support out of the box) the5krunner.com. Secondly, while the Nomad can show smartphone notifications and allow simple actions like dismissing calls, you can’t reply to messages from the watch. In the smart department, it’s a notch above Polar but below Garmin. Another drawback is sensor support: the Nomad only supports Bluetooth sensors, not ANT+ dcrainmaker.com the5krunner.com. This is increasingly less of an issue (most new sensors broadcast BT), but if you have older ANT+-only gear or like to link multiple devices concurrently (like a bike computer and watch to one power meter), the Nomad can’t do that – a niche but noteworthy limitation for triathletes. The display, while good, is mineral glass, which as mentioned can pick up scratches more easily than sapphire. If you’re rough on watches, this could be a long-term con (Coros possibly saved cost here – understandable, but a sacrifice). Some early reviewers listed the lack of on-device routable maps as a minor con – the Nomad has maps but cannot create routes or reroute without a phone the5krunner.com. That’s a trade-off of its simpler mapping. The 5KRunner also pointed out that loading routes to Coros can be a bit more manual (not as “magic” as Garmin where courses sync automatically) the5krunner.com. Again, not huge but a small hassle. One more con: no LTE/cellular option – but none of the watches in this comparison have that either (only Apple Ultra has a true cellular function among mainstream rugged watches). Overall, the Nomad’s cons are mostly about what it doesn’t have compared to pricier rivals: no payments, limited music, no ANT+, and potentially less polish in software nuance (Coros is still fine-tuning EvoLab metrics) the5krunner.com. The good news is that none of these are deal-breaking for its target audience who prioritizes battery and core functionality. But if you expect your “adventure watch” to double as a day-to-day smartwatch with rich features, the Nomad might leave you wanting in those specific areas.

Garmin Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar – Drawbacks: The Fenix 8’s biggest downside, hammered by virtually every reviewer, is its high price dcrainmaker.com techradar.com. With models around the $1,100 mark, cost is the top criticism – many feel Garmin overreached with the price hike. Ray Maker outright said he falls in the camp that the price jump is “unjustified” given relatively modest upgrades for non-divers dcrainmaker.com. So value for money is a concern; you pay a lot for marginal gains over a Fenix 7 in some cases. Next, the Fenix 8 is bulky and heavy, especially the 51mm. While robust, the watch can be cumbersome on smaller wrists or when sleeping (though Garmin offers multiple sizes, the Solar is only 47/51mm, and even the 47 is fairly thick). TechRadar listed bulk as a con techradar.com, and indeed some users opt for the smaller Epix Pro (43mm) to get similar features in a smaller form. Another drawback: for all its features, the Fenix 8 still lacks cellular/LTE connectivity. Ray Maker and others noted disappointment that Garmin didn’t include at least an LTE option for safety features (like live tracking without phone) dcrainmaker.com. They have the tech (FR945 LTE had it in 2021), but Fenix 8 stuck with tethered phone connection for incident alerts, etc. So if you crash on a bike in no-cell zone and don’t have an inReach, the Fenix can’t call for help by itself – something Apple’s Ultra can via SOS satellite (and Ultra 3 likely will do for texting) macrumors.com. Garmin might be falling behind on that aspect. Another oft-cited quirk: complexity. The Fenix is powerful but can be overwhelming. The new UI changes tried to simplify, but not everyone loves them – some find the mix of old and new interface elements a bit inconsistent dcrainmaker.com. Beginners might struggle to navigate the myriad settings and features. It’s not exactly a con, but something to be aware of: a Garmin Fenix can feel like a small computer on your wrist – which is both a strength and a weakness if you prefer simplicity. Battery life, while awesome overall, does fall short if you use the AMOLED version with always-on display – but the Sapphire Solar model mitigates that. There were some early bugs (like the aforementioned reliability issues in initial firmware, or a respiration rate bug doubling values) forums.garmin.com, but those are largely fixed now. One more criticism: some advanced metrics still require external accessories (e.g., run power on Garmin was external until recently, and things like HRV status need consistent wear). In contrast, Polar gives you some of those insights built-in (like nightly HRV without fuss). But Garmin has closed that gap with updates. The proprietary charger can also be a nitpick; Garmin uses a specific cable, whereas Coros and Polar use standard USB magnetic ones – minor, but if you lose it you need Garmin’s. All considered, the Fenix 8’s cons revolve around cost, size, and the absence of a few wish-list items (LTE, perhaps a truly next-gen feature). As Ray put it, “while the Fenix 8 is the best Garmin’s made, it missed the mark in balancing new features with the new pricing scheme” dcrainmaker.com.

Polar Grit X Pro – Drawbacks: The Grit X Pro’s limitations are mostly due to its age and original design trade-offs. A glaring one in 2025 is the lack of mapping capability – no topographic maps, only breadcrumb navigation techradar.com. This is a significant disadvantage compared to Coros and Garmin, especially for an “outdoor” watch. Polar tried to compensate with turn-by-turn via Komoot, but it’s not the same as having a map on your wrist. Also, no music storage or playback on the Grit X Pro, and no NFC payments or voice assistant – it’s decidedly low-tech in smartwatch terms dcrainmaker.com. That means if you want to leave your phone behind, you’ll also leave behind tunes and the ability to buy stuff or ask Siri/Google something. Another drawback is the performance/UI lag we noted: the processor in Grit X Pro is underpowered, resulting in a sluggish interface and animations. The touch is often unresponsive, leading many to disable it, which isn’t ideal for a modern device techradar.com wareable.com. Battery life, while decent in spec, underachieves in some scenarios; plus, Polar can’t be charged during activity without stopping the tracking, which ultra racers found frustrating dcrainmaker.com. Compared to competition, it’s not “ultra-long battery” as Polar marketed – certainly not when Garmin and Coros can go much longer. Another drawback is that Polar Flow, the companion platform, while rich in data, can feel overwhelming or “busy” to some and lacks the social features or app ecosystem that Garmin has wareable.com. And unlike Garmin’s Connect IQ or even Coros’s simple integrations, Polar doesn’t allow any third-party apps on the watch. Sensor support: Polar is Bluetooth-only and lacks support for things like cycling radar or smart trainer control, etc. It also can’t connect to multiple Bluetooth sensors of the same type simultaneously (as discussed). On the health side, notably no SpO2 sensor – so if you go to altitude, the Polar won’t give blood oxygen readings, which Garmin and Coros do dcrainmaker.com. Polar also has no ECG on this model, while others are adding those. Some users and reviewers knocked Polar for basically repackaging a lot of old hardware in the Pro: it was essentially the 2019 Vantage V2 internals with a sapphire glass in 2021. So it was playing catch-up even then. As Wareable’s verdict said, the price jump was hard to justify when a Garmin Fenix 6 Pro (at the time) offered maps and more for similar cost wareable.com. Now that it’s cheaper, that’s less of an issue, but it still means you’re buying older tech. Finally, Polar’s backlight is relatively weak and not adjustable to be very bright – minor, but some found night visibility not great (especially since no flashlight feature). One more tiny thing: the Grit X Pro’s charging port is a bit fiddly (a 4-pin magnetic connector that sometimes can attach at wrong angle), whereas Garmin’s is more robust. In conclusion, the Grit X Pro’s criticisms focus on it being behind the times: no maps, slower UI, shorter battery than peers, and limited “smart” functionality dcrainmaker.com techradar.com. Polar loyalists accept many of these because they love Polar’s training insights, but for someone comparing all options, these drawbacks are significant. Polar has addressed nearly all of them in their new models (maps, AMOLED, faster chip, ECG, etc. in Grit X2 Pro/Vantage V3 dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com), which unfortunately highlights what the Grit X Pro lacks.

Final Thoughts: Each watch has trade-offs. The Coros Nomad’s shortcomings are mostly in ancillary features, but it nails the fundamentals for a low price – just don’t expect high-end smartwatch luxuries the5krunner.com. The Garmin Fenix 8 is feature-packed to the brim, but you pay dearly for it in money and wrist real estate techradar.com. And the Polar Grit X Pro is a solid, durable performer but is outclassed by newer devices in tech, making it harder to recommend to anyone except those who specifically want Polar’s ecosystem or a good deal on a rugged watch wareable.com. Knowing these limitations helps in making an informed choice aligned with your priorities.

Conclusion: Which Adventure Watch Should You Choose?

All three watches – the Coros Nomad, Garmin Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar, and Polar Grit X Pro – are capable adventure companions, but they cater to slightly different audiences and budgets:

• Garmin Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar is the no-compromise choice for those who want the most advanced features and are willing to pay for them. It excels in every technical aspect: best-in-class GPS accuracy, exhaustive mapping and sport functions, tremendous battery life, and robust build dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast who does a bit of everything – ultra runs, triathlons, backpacking, diving – the Fenix 8 can do it all. It’s effectively a smart assistant on your wrist too (music, payments, phone calls) on top of its adventure prowess. The main downsides are its high price and bulk. But if budget is no issue and you want the current pinnacle of multisport GPS watches, the Fenix 8 is it. As one review succinctly put it, “there’s no getting around it: this is the ultimate watch for adventure enthusiasts” techradar.com. Just be sure you’ll utilize its myriad capabilities to justify the investment, and prepare for a learning curve given how feature-rich it is.
• Coros Nomad is the value hero and a fantastic option for those who want high-end functionality without a high-end price. At a fraction of the Fenix’s cost, you get outstanding battery life, dual-frequency GPS accuracy, full offline maps, and unique extras like the Adventure Journal and fishing modes dcrainmaker.com gearjunkie.com. The Nomad is lightweight and comfortable for long wear, and its core performance (tracking runs, hikes, rides, navigation) has proven rock-solid in reviews gearjunkie.com. It does have fewer frills – no contactless pay, no fancy AMOLED screen or app store – but many outdoor users won’t miss those. The Nomad especially makes sense if you’re on a mid-range budget but still demand features like mapping that usually come only in pricier watches. It undercuts direct rivals (for example, it offers more than Polar’s Grit X Pro at a lower price, and challenges Garmin’s Instinct 3 while beating it on features) dcrainmaker.com. If you are an angler, paddler, or hunter, the Nomad’s specialized profiles might sway you as well gearjunkie.com. In short, the Nomad delivers 90% of what most adventurers need. As long as you’re okay without premium smartwatch perks, it’s arguably the best bang-for-buck in 2025’s outdoor watch market.
• Polar Grit X Pro remains a rugged, reliable performer but is no longer at the cutting edge. It’s best suited for Polar loyalists or athletes who prioritize Polar’s training and recovery analytics. The Grit X Pro offers superb durability (sapphire glass, 100m water resistance) and Polar’s famed heart rate accuracy and coaching tools like FuelWise and Training Load Pro techradar.com wareable.com. It will dutifully track your runs, rides, and climbs with decent accuracy and give you deep insight into your sleep and recovery – areas where Polar still excels techradar.com. And thanks to price drops, it can be found at a reasonable cost now, making it a possible budget alternative if mapping or advanced smart features aren’t important to you. However, keep in mind its limitations: no maps, a laggy interface, and shorter battery life vs. the others techradar.com dcrainmaker.com. Also, with Polar’s own newer models now available (Vantage V3, Grit X2 Pro), the Grit X Pro is essentially a last-gen product. It’s still tough and trustworthy for outdoor use – if you want a straightforward, data-rich sports watch and see a great deal on it, it could be worth it. But many prospective buyers would be better served by either spending a bit more for Polar’s new generation or going with Coros/Garmin for more features.

In the broader context, if none of these perfectly hits your needs, remember the competition: Suunto’s Vertical is a strong alternative with offline maps and mega-battery, and of course the Apple Watch Ultra (especially the impending Ultra 3) offers a different take with more “smart” and less endurance techradar.com macrumors.com. Each has pros and cons similar to what we discussed.

Ultimately, the “best” watch depends on your priorities:

• Choose the Garmin Fenix 8 if you demand the most comprehensive tool available and don’t mind paying for it – it’s the go-to for multi-sport athletes, explorers, and those who want every feature in one device techradar.com.
• Choose the Coros Nomad if you want nearly all the adventure essentials – fantastic battery, mapping, training metrics – in a more affordable, user-friendly package. It’s ideal for ultra-runners, hikers, and outdoorsy folks on a budget who still want a high-performance watch gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com.
• Choose the Polar Grit X Pro if you value Polar’s training guidance, prefer its styling/comfort, or find a great deal – and you can live without newer bells and whistles. It will serve an outdoor fitness enthusiast well, but know that it’s a step behind in technology as of 2025 techradar.com wareable.com.

Each of these watches has proven itself in the field – durable and capable in harsh environments. The decision comes down to balancing your budget with the features you need for your adventures. No matter which you pick, you’ll get a watch that encourages you to explore, train, and push your limits, all while tracking the journey. Happy adventuring!

Sources:

• DC Rainmaker – in-depth reviews and analysis of Coros Nomad, Garmin Fenix 8, Polar Grit X Pro dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com dcrainmaker.com
• Coros, Garmin, Polar official spec sheets and announcements coros.com dcrainmaker.com techradar.com
• GearJunkie – real-world test of Coros Nomad gearjunkie.com gearjunkie.com
• TechRadar – reviews of Fenix 8 and Grit X Pro techradar.com techradar.com
• Wareable and Canadian Running – additional perspectives on Polar Grit X Pro techradar.com runningmagazine.ca
• MacRumors – rumors on Apple Watch Ultra 3’s upcoming features macrumors.com macrumors.com
• Android Central & NotebookCheck – news on recent Garmin updates (Aug 2025) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com.