Testing Garmin Trails and Potential Upgrades: Scope for Enhancements Identified
In this weekly column, Wearables Editor Michael Hicks delves into the realm of wearables, apps, and fitness technology pertinent to running and health, driven by his ambition to become faster and more fit.
The Garmin May 2025 feature update, while modest, introduces notable additions such as Garmin Trails, a rucking mode with pack weight, and Pulse Ox breathing variations that are highly valued by most Garmin users. However, criticism has arisen as the Garmin Trails feature has room for expansion and encourages users toward Connect+.
A response to AllTrails and Komoot, Garmin Trails allows Garmin Connect users to search through local trails via 'More > Training & Planning > Garmin Trails', filtering routes by distance, total ascent, difficulty, popular months, and "features" like being dog-friendly. Users require a Connect Plus subscription to save the trail to their courses or Garmin watch.
Garmin, aiming to balance not removing old features and incentivizing Connect Plus, created Trails instead of enhancing Courses. Early reactions to Garmin Trails have been mixed, with users criticizing the feature due to its current limited availability in five countries or being paywalled as Garmin watches become more expensive.
A critique of Garmin Trails comes from its reliance on user input to populate its database with context and ratings. The new rucking tools have garnered generally positive responses, with hikers finding the trail filters useful when seeking options suitable for their preferences.
Garmin Trails lags behind community-driven apps
Garmin Trails offers robust filters, enabling users to find suitable routes within driving distance by specifying parameters like distance, total ascent, and difficulty. However, it currently lacks the years of context and photos found in community-driven apps like AllTrails and Komoot.
Garmin users will need to collaborate to bolster Trails as a service, as it currently trails behind other platforms in the number of available trails. The application's selection may cater to the best starting points but sometimes defaults to one great hike option when other apps might offer multiple variations from the same point.
New rucking tools on Garmin watches
Excited to test rucking on Garmin watches, Hicks jumped into the rucking trend last year. Rucking, a military training concept adapted for everyday athletes, strengthens muscles and endurance on hikes.
With the update downloaded on his Fenix 8, Hicks installed a 4-mile route from Garmin Trails, loaded his pack with 25 pounds, and embarked on the trail. Rucking isolates the activity from affecting VO2 Max, and the Rucking profile seemed more likely to feature specialized widgets.
Post-workout data screens revealed useful information such as HR, distance, elevation, ascent and descent, hill grade, sunrise/sunset times, a compass, and the map. Though this data is already available on a Hike activity, Hicks anticipates additional load-specific metrics like load-adjusted pace, stamina depletion, estimated muscle strain build-up, or other metrics pertinent to the carried weight.
During his rucking adventure, Hicks encountered an issue with the recommended trail, noting it directed him to climb over an immovable fence surrounded by barbed wire to stay on course. However, he could access the "Report an issue" field, providing feedback to Garmin to update the map.
Breathing variation and sleep apnea detection
Brands are increasingly pushing towards sleep apnea detection, and Garmin's new breathing variation tool moves in this direction. Garmin watches have long been the best option for blood oxygen data due to their configurable settings for spot checks, all-night data, or all-day data, as well as in-depth HRV data.
The new breathing variation tool contributes another metric attributed to "lifestyle factors, your sleep environment, or other issues," without specifically mentioning sleep apnea. Hicks used his Fenix 8 during sleep and observed moments with "Few" breathing variations, with average and lowest SpO2 levels and breath rate per minute displayed.
Though the breathing variation tool is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, it offers a valuable addition to Garmin watches and may signal potential issues for users to pursue sleep labs.
Analysis of the May Garmin update
Hicks did not have to reassess the Passcode feature to acknowledge its significance in optional security, which other brands have already incorporated. Golfers with the Venu 3 will appreciate the new tools like full-color CourseView maps, touch targeting, plays-like distance, and green contours.
In sum, Hicks finds the update generally favorable, particularly the weight adjustment for VO2 Max results and the readiness to enhance the rucking profile in future updates. However, for Garmin Trails, Hicks contends that Garmin enthusiasts should start adding missing data to catch up with AllTrails and Komoot. Connect+ subscription requirements may discourage some users who might have embraced Trails otherwise.
- Garmin Trails, while offering robust filters, currently lags behind community-driven apps like AllTrails and Komoot, as it lacks the years of context and photos that these platforms provide.
- In his rucking adventure with the new rucking tools on Garmin watches, Hicks encountered an issue with the recommended trail, which directed him to climb over an immovable fence surrounded by barbed wire to stay on course.
- Garmin's new breathing variation tool moves in the direction of sleep apnea detection, offering a valuable addition to Garmin watches and potentially signaling potential issues for users to pursue sleep labs.
