Connected devices to gift for Christmas
The connected devices in the Christmas selection include watches and sensors that track your activity: Garmin Forerunner for running, Fenix, Enduro and Instinct for endurance and outdoor activities, Vívoactive and Venu for everyday use, golf watches Approach, Shot Scope and Bushnell, a heart rate monitor Magene and children's watches Vívofit and Garett.
The high-tech gift that accompanies every session.
Garmin, from navigation to the runner's wrist
Garmin was founded in 1989 in Kansas by Gary Burrell and Min Kao, with their names giving rise to the brand name. A specialist in satellite navigation, it launched the first GPS running watch, the Forerunner, in 2003, which brought pace and distance tracking into runners' training. Current Forerunners add a sunlight-readable AMOLED display, wrist heart rate monitoring, adaptive training plans, and recovery estimation. It's the perfect gift for a runner training for a 10K or a marathon.
Other top gifts
Top gifts also include:
- Sneakers.
- Motorbike / cycling helmets.
- Coats and jackets.
- Shirts and tracksuits.
- Football shoes.
- Sports accessories.
The full selection is gathered on the top gifts page.
Fenix, Enduro, Instinct: the endurance watches
For trail runners and adventurers, battery life and robustness are essential. The Fenix, with its metal case and integrated mapping, is aimed at demanding athletes who want one watch for the mountains, running, and daily life. The Enduro, lighter in weight, extends GPS battery life to several hundred hours thanks to its solar glass, enough to cover an entire ultra-trail. The Instinct, with a reinforced polymer case, is shockproof and waterproof; its Solar versions can recharge in sunlight and work without recharging in energy-saving mode. For a versatile athlete, the Vívoactive and Venu focus on a nice display, sleep tracking, and contactless payment.
Golf, cardio, and kids: specialized watches
On a course, the golf watch displays the distance to the front, center, and back of the green. The Garmin Approach and the Bushnell Ion Elite come loaded with tens of thousands of preloaded courses; the Shot Scope, designed in Edinburgh, also records each shot thanks to sensors attached to the clubs, allowing you to analyze your game without a subscription. The heart rate monitor Magene captures the electrical activity of the heart on the chest and transmits it via Bluetooth and ANT+ to a watch or a bike computer. For kids, the Vívofit counts steps in a game format, while the Garett Hero, equipped with a SIM card, allows calling and tracking the child.
Good deals
Good deals can also be found in the good deals, promotions, clearance sales, sales, and Black Friday. The new arrivals showcase the latest collections, and items shipped in 24h are prepared and dispatched within 24 hours. The year's highlights follow a stable order: Black Friday at the end of autumn, the holiday season, the winter sales, the French Days in spring, then the summer sales and back-to-school period.
Frequently asked questions
How does a smartwatch communicate with the phone?
The watch connects to the smartphone via low-energy Bluetooth, using the manufacturer's app, such as Garmin Connect. It synchronizes sessions and receives notifications there; external sensors, like a heart rate monitor, connect via Bluetooth or ANT+.
Is a smartwatch reliable for tracking health?
It provides useful trends, resting heart rate, sleep, stress levels, but does not replace a medical device. Wrist measurements can become less accurate during very intense efforts, where a chest strap remains more accurate.
Which smartwatch is best for an active elderly person?
Look for a large, readable screen, easy-to-use physical buttons, and good battery life. Some Garmin, like the Vívoactive, include an incident detection feature that alerts a relative in case of a fall during activity, if the phone is nearby.
Do you need a smartphone to use a GPS watch?
Not for training: the watch itself picks up the GPS signal and records pace, distance, and heart rate. The smartphone is used to set it up, sync history, and receive notifications; check compatibility with iOS or Android before gifting.
How long does the battery of a GPS watch last?
It all depends on usage: a running watch typically lasts one to two weeks in watch mode and around fifteen to twenty hours in continuous GPS mode. Endurance models and solar versions extend these durations, useful for multi-day trails.
