Regardless of which type of device you choose to wear, it is important that your Garmin watch is a proper fit for you.
The question of how tight you should wear a Garmin watch is important as it could affect the performance of your device. The band on your Garmin smartwatch or fitness tracker should be worn loosely enough so that it can move on your wrist, but snugly enough so that the sensors can detect your body readings.
Read below for our wear and care tips for getting the best out of your Garmin gps watch.
Does it matter how tight you wear your Garmin watch?
Although you will not break your watch or harm its sensors by wearing it too tight, there is a chance that you could develop a skin rash or skin irritation.
A good rule of thumb is to wear your watch as snugly as possible without it being uncomfortable, but not so tight that it’s cutting off circulation.
There’s no need to worry about the gps watch moving around on your wrist. The band will stay in place on your wrist even if you’re running or doing other strenuous activities.
If you have a Garmin Fenix watch, which is one of the heavier Garmin watches, you need to make sure that it is not too loose, as there’s a chance that it might move around or fall off during a workout.
This could be dangerous if you have a heart rate monitor chest strap attached — especially if you’re running outside — because the heart rate chest strap needs to be in contact with your skin for accurate readings.
We therefore suggest a snug but comfortable fit.
Will it affect data collected?
The first thing that affects the accuracy of data collected by the GPS running watch is how tightly or loosely you wear it on your wrist.
Wearing a watch too tightly will cause it to move around when you are working out. This can make it difficult for the watch to detect your movements and heart rate accurately.
This may lead to inaccurate readings like over-counting calories burned, distance covered during exercise sessions, sleep tracking, and heart rate.
Wearing the watch too loosely may cause the gps watch to lose contact with parts of your body, such as arms or legs, which will affect the device’s heart rate monitor and its ability to track accurately.
It may also affect other fitness-related data points, such as steps taken and miles covered during walking sessions and even if in sleep mode.
How to wear your Garmin watch correctly
Wearing a running watch is something that many people have trouble with. They purchase their new fitness tracker and don’t know how to wear it.
This is because some basic rules must be followed when wearing a watch.
Follow these rules, and you’ll get the most out of your new watch:
- Ensure the Garmin silicone band is clean and dry before putting it on your wrist. If there is any moisture on the Garmin or if it has any dirt, this could damage the band and cause it to break over time. You can wash it with soap under warm running water and then gently wipe with a soft cloth or disinfecting wipe before putting it back on.
- Make sure that the Garmin buckle is closed tightly enough so that it doesn’t move around your wrist bone while you’re wearing it, but not so tight that it causes discomfort or pain. Your watch strap should never leave marks when removed.
- Once you’ve completed step 2, make sure to adjust the watch band’s length so that it fits snugly around your wrist and allows for some movement (so your arm can still bend comfortably when doing everyday activities). It makes no difference whether you choose to wear your watch on your right wrist or, like me, you choose to wear it on your left wrist.
Check out our blog post on the best place to wear your fitness tracker here.
Why does my Garmin watch give me a rash?
Regardless of whether you are wearing a Garmin Fenix with a metal band or a Garmin Forerunner with a silicon band, you need to be aware of the chances of possible skin irritations.
When exposed to sweat, these materials can cause skin irritation and rashes.
The best thing to do is to stop wearing the watch until your skin has had a chance to heal.
How do I stop my Garmin watch from irritating?
If the rash persists, try using a barrier cream like Vaseline or Aquaphor before putting on your watch. You can also try wearing a thin glove underneath your Garmin wristband for daily use.
This will help prevent contact between your skin and the band and keep you from sweating too much while wearing it.
You should always wash your hands before putting on or taking off any watch or fitness tracker.
If you have sensitive skin, consider using hypoallergenic soap to reduce the chance of a possible skin irritation during these activities.
How do I stop my Garmin watch from vibrating on my wrist?
One of the most common issues that many users report is that their Garmin watches keep buzzing or vibrating every time they receive an incoming call or text message on their phones.
This can be very annoying, especially if you are driving or doing some other activity that requires your full attention.
The way to fix this is to first, go into your phone’s settings and disable notifications for all apps except for calls and texts.
Then open up the settings of your watch and enable” Do Not Disturb” mode so that it will only notify you with alarms and important events.
Finally, try turning off Bluetooth on your phone and disabling notifications for other applications that may be causing this problem.
Make sure that your garmin connect app is still syncing properly though, in order to get accurate health data.
FAQs
Do Garmin watches have nickel in them?
If you are concerned about nickel, you can purchase a watch with a band made of titanium or rubber instead of stainless steel. These materials are hypoallergenic and safe for everyone.
Nickel can be found in many different types of jewelry, including rings and earrings. Nickel skin irritation may be caused by exposure to nickel in these products, especially if they come into contact with the skin regularly.
What are Garmin watch bands made of?
A Garmin watch band is a great way to add protection and style to your device. The first thing you’ll notice about Garmin watch bands is that they’re made of silicone rubber.
This material is hypoallergenic, which means it won’t irritate your skin if you have sensitive skin or allergies or affect your heart rate. Just remember not to wear your watch tightly and you should be perfectly fine.
Garmin gps watches are also waterproof, so you can wear this type of band while swimming or in the shower without worrying about damaging it.
The second thing you’ll notice about your watch bands is that they’re available in many colors and styles. You can choose from bright colors like orange, pink, and red or more neutral shades like black and brown.
Some people prefer leather-style straps because they look more like a traditional watch than rubber watch bands do, but others prefer the comfort of wearing rubberized bands over leather ones because they aren’t as hot when worn in warm weather conditions (such as during the summer months).
Are Garmin watch straps removable?
This is why the bands are interchangeable on most Garmin watches. The strap is attached by two small pins and can be removed by pressing down on them with a paper clip or other similar object. The pins will pop out, and then you can slide the band off your device.
There are some exceptions to this rule, though. Some devices have a metal buckle that attaches directly to the device and cannot be removed without breaking it off with pliers or other tools.
Most Garmin watches are intended for daily wear, not only because they look great on your wrist but because the heart rate monitoring straps monitors your heart rate over an extended period.
The general rule of thumb is to wear the band so that there is a finger’s width between the band and your wrist. This way, there’s room for blood circulation, providing more accurate data. When the band is too tight, and you are trying to sleep or rest, this may hinder your ability to get an accurate reading.
Conclusion
When it comes to how tight you should wear a Garmin watch, the answer is always snug but comfortable.
In order to get the most out of your device and its various Garmin features, you need to ensure that the sensor can detect your heart rate, blood flow and daily stress levels when you are exercising, resting and even asleep, in order to give you a good indication of your health data.
Learn more about Garmin watches here: