Operations Manger review of the Garmin Tactix 8.
The all-new Garmin Tactix 8 AMOLED Tactical Sapphire is built for those who demand absolute reliability both indoors and out. This watch is for the serious outdoor enthusiast that wants the latest tech on their wrist.
The AMOLED touchscreen is highly responsive and pairs seamlessly with the durable side buttons—ensuring precise control in every environment, whether you’re gloved up, underwater, or on the move. I would say that you need to take some time to fully get to grips with all the sub menus and how to get there efficiently. Health monitoring is great on the watch, being able to track your sleep, training data, recovery etc is great to be able to look at with a press of a button.
This model also includes the Applied Ballistics solver, giving long-range shooters access to accurate ballistic solutions right from the wrist—an invaluable tool in tactical and field scenarios. Admittedly, this is something I never tested but hopefully a member of the team will provide feedback on this soon.
With enhanced mapping, Real-Time Stamina, the Up Ahead feature, and new Map Manager, the Tactix 8 makes outdoor navigation more intuitive than ever. The device displays more activity data at a glance and includes a built-in green and white flashlight for low-light tasks or emergency signalling. The light is good enough to go running in the dark if you happen to forget your headtorch!
Multi-band GPS offers exceptional accuracy, while preloaded TopoActive maps allow you to explore without relying on cellular coverage. Your well-being and activity data syncs automatically to the Garmin Connect app.
Smart features include notifications, music storage, Connect IQ personalization, and Garmin Pay message notification etc keep you in touch with the daily grind.
I did find the watch quite heavy and noticeable on my 5-15km runs, where I normally try to go as light as possible compared to my normal everyday Apple Watch.
Battery life is exceptional, delivering up to 29 days in smartwatch mode, and with 100-meter water resistance plus a 2-year manufacturer warranty, the Tactix 8 AMOLED stands out as one of the most capable and dependable tactical smartwatches available today.
In summary, a great watch for a serious outdoor enthusiast or military personnel with some fantastic tech onboard