Garmin watch bands

QuickFit or quick release

Garmin uses two band systems, and they don't swap. QuickFit arrived with the Fenix 5 series: the band ends in a solid connector with a latch that clicks over a pin fixed in the case, so a band goes on or off in seconds with no tools. It comes in three sizes, QuickFit 20, 22 and 26, named after the band width in millimeters. Quick release is the standard watch strap fitting, a spring bar with a small lever on its underside. Venu, vivoactive and most Forerunner models use it, in 18, 20 or 22 mm. A QuickFit band won't go on a quick-release watch, and a quick-release band won't latch onto a QuickFit watch, so check which one you have before you pick a band.

Find your size

The size is printed on the back of the band your watch came with. If that band is long gone, find your watch in the chart above. On QuickFit watches the size follows the case: the small Fenix and epix cases take QuickFit 20, the standard cases take QuickFit 22, and the X and 51 mm cases take QuickFit 26. On quick-release watches, the S models take 18 mm, the Venu Sq 2, Venu 2 Plus, vivoactive 5 and 6 and the Forerunner 55, 165 and 245 take 20 mm, and the full-size Venu 2 and 3, vivoactive 4 and Forerunner 255 and 265 take 22 mm. On the Venu 4 and Forerunner 570 the size follows the case: the Venu 4 takes 18 mm on the 41 mm case and 22 mm on the 45 mm case, and the Forerunner 570 takes 20 mm on the 42 mm case and 22 mm on the 47 mm case. Each band lists its sizes and the watches it works with on its own page.

Titanium, steel, mesh, nylon, leather or silicone

Titanium links are the lightest metal band, a little over half the weight of the same band in steel, and they don't mind sweat or salt water. Stainless steel links are heavier and dressier. Both shorten by taking out links, and both come with a small link tool in the box. Milanese mesh is a fine woven steel loop with a magnetic clasp that closes anywhere along its length, so it fits any wrist without tools. Hook-and-loop nylon is the lightest band of all and the quickest to adjust, over a sleeve or a glove cuff as easily as on a bare wrist. Leather on a rubber backing looks dressed up on top and copes with sweat underneath. Two-layer silicone is the one for the pool, the trail and the gym: rinse it, pat it dry and wear it again.

Metal bands and the Pro models

Garmin asks owners of the Fenix 8 Pro, Fenix 9 Pro, quatix 8 Pro and D2 Mach 2 Pro to use only its own non-metal bands. On those watches, metal parts near the case can interfere with the satellite, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and LTE features. None of the bands here are listed for those four watches. Every other Fenix, epix and Enduro in the chart takes any band in its size.

Fitting a new band

For QuickFit, open the latch on the back of the band, lift the connector off the pin, then press the new band down over the pin until the latch clicks shut. For quick release, slide the small lever on the spring bar toward the middle of the band, ease that end out from between the lugs, and fit the new band the same way in reverse. Give each end a light tug before you head out. Our fit guide shows how to measure your wrist if you are sizing a link band.

Delivery and returns

Delivery is $6.95, or free on orders over $49. US delivery takes 7 to 16 days. You can return an unworn band in its original packaging within 30 days of delivery. Return shipping is paid by you, unless the item arrived faulty or incorrect. See delivery and returns for the steps.