Brief Summary
This review examines the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor, a device designed for capturing sleep data without needing to wear a watch. It targets Garmin users who prefer not to wear a watch to bed but want to maintain their training metrics. The monitor tracks sleep times, blood oxygen levels, HRV, skin temperature, and more, feeding this data into Garmin's ecosystem.
- The device is praised for its hardware engineering, being lightweight and comfortable.
- It addresses the gap in data for users who don't wear watches to bed, impacting training and recovery metrics.
- The review compares its performance against other wearables like Whoop and Oura, highlighting its accuracy.
What It Does
The Garmin Index Sleep Monitor records sleep metrics and transfers the data to a user's Garmin account. It is designed for Garmin watch users who don't like wearing a watch to bed, ensuring that sleep data is captured for training metrics. The monitor tracks sleep times, blood oxygen levels, heart rate variability, skin temperature, body battery levels, sleep phase/stage levels, sleep score, breathing disturbances, and heart rate. This data updates metrics like Training Readiness score, Training Status, Recovery time, HRV Status, Sleep Coach recommendations, women’s ovulation cycle prediction features, Morning Report, and Daily Suggested Workouts. The unit costs $169USD and comes in S-M or L-XL band sizes, with a battery life of about 7 nights.
In the Box
The Garmin Index Sleep monitor includes the band, a standard Garmin charging cable, and the pod inserted into the strap. The strap is available in two sizes: S-M and L-XL. The reviewer chose the S-M size for a better fit. The weight of the band is comparable to other devices like the Whoop 5.0.
Daily Usage
The pod is removable for band swapping and washing. The band is wide but thin and lightweight, distributing snugness evenly for comfort. Garmin suggests that users might forget they are wearing it. Removing the band prompts an immediate sync to the app. The band material feels like women's underwear, composed of 70% Nylon and 30% Spandex. Sizing is adjustable with a provided tube. Users can set static or smart alarms, with the latter waking them up within a 30-minute window based on their sleep cycle. The Garmin Connect app allows for alarm customization, though the software aspect feels like an afterthought. The alarm vibrates to wake the user, with a double-tap function for snoozing. A bug was found where snoozing ends sleep tracking prematurely. The device syncs with the Garmin Connect Mobile app, though syncing issues can occur if the phone and monitor are not in close proximity. The battery lasts about 8-9 days with 6-8 hours of wear per day.
Data Comparison
The Garmin Index Sleep band's data was compared against other wearables like Garmin Venu 3, Whoop MG, Oura Ring V3, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Index Sleep band consistently aligned with actual sleep times and other Garmin and third-party wearables. It accurately tracked sleep, even on nights with less sleep or disturbances.
Wrap-Up
The Garmin Index Sleep Monitor is designed for Garmin smartwatch users who prefer not to wear a watch to bed. The device is praised for its hardware, comfort, and battery life. It is seen as a potential trial platform for a future 24/7 wearable. The Index Sleep Monitor accurately tracks sleep data and integrates it into the Garmin ecosystem, though it comes at a premium price.
