So you are planning to upgrade your Garmin watch and you don’t know what to do with the old one. Your first thought might be to list it on eBay, and that’s certainly one option, but it’s not the only one. We’ve put together a list of ideas here to help you give your old sports watch a second life, or dispose of it responsibly if it’s truly past the point of no return.
Keep it as backup
The Garmin Connect app is great, not least because it lets you connect multiple devices (watches, bike computers, e-pedals, etc.) and bring all that nice data together in one convenient place. If you bought yourself a new watch, there’s no reason why you can’t set it as the primary device and leave the old one set up as the backup device.
There are various reasons why you might want to do this. For example, your old watch might be a bit thinner than the new one (especially if you’ve invested in a big Fenix 7), you might want to keep the old one for everyday use and only release the new one. for training. sessions when you really need all of its extra features.
You can also keep the old watch while the new one is charging. Garmin has made great strides with battery life in recent years, but unless you’re using an Instinct Solar in power-saving mode, you’ll still need to plug it in occasionally. Even if it’s just to capture a few extra steps or the occasional night’s sleep, having a spare watch means you won’t have any gaps in your daily data.
Use it as a bike computer
Garmin has made a name for itself in satellite navigation and its Forerunner watches make great little bike computers when clipped to your handlebars. You won’t get the biometrics you would get if they were on your wrist, but they’re easier to read while riding and you can get turn-by-turn directions on the screen.
Garmin sells a neat mounting system that lets you attach your watch body to your bike with a snap and detach it just as easily. It costs $29.99 / £26.99 / AU$49 and is compatible with a wide range of watches including Fenix 6 & 7, Quatix 6 & 7, Epix (Gen 2), Enduro, D2 Mach 1 and Tactix 7 and Delta.
If your watch isn’t compatible or you don’t want to spend that much money, there’s also a less fancy mount that attaches to your bike with cable ties and lets you loop just about any Garmin watch in place during trips. It costs $14.99 / £10.99 / AU$17.99.
Donate to a good cause
If your watch is still in working order, you can donate it to a good cause. There are charities like RecycleHealth in the US that accept working sports watches and fitness trackers. You can also research clubs and organizations in your area that are working to make the sport more inclusive and contact us to find out if they would be interested in hosting.
sell it
If you really don’t need two Garmins in your life or want to recoup some of the cost of your new watch, selling it may be the best option. First, make sure all your data is synced with Garmin Connect so you don’t lose any of your valuable stats, then open the left menu in the app and select “Garmin Devices”. Tap the watch you want to sell, then tap the menu icon in the top right and select “Delete device”.
Your watch contains all kinds of sensitive data, including GPS information, so it’s important to perform a factor reset before selling it. Start by turning it off, then press and hold the back/turn button. Once the “Erase user data” option appears, release the button and select “Yes”. If your watch doesn’t have a back/turn button, check the manual on how to clear your data; you can find the manual by searching for your watch model on the Garmin website.
When shipping your watch, make sure it is well packaged and note any restricted items that your chosen shipping company will not handle. Some refuse to deal with lithium-ion batteries like the one inside your Garmin watch.
Even if your watch isn’t in perfect working order, you may still be able to make some money by selling it for parts. Just make sure you’re fully transparent about the flaws.
recycle it
If your watch is broken, recycling is another option. It’s important to make sure your watch goes to the right place, so that its lithium battery is handled safely and any other hazardous materials can be handled properly (some LCD screens contain small amounts of mercury, for example).
You may already know of a waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling facility nearby, but if you are unsure, Garmin itself can provide details of places that can process your watch in completely safe. Simply fill out an online form with your name and the name of the device you want to recycle. You can also Google “WEEE Recycling Near Me” to get helpful results.
If you can’t find anything, try calling an electronics dealer near you. Many of them run their own WEEE recycling programs, and some will even give you a store discount for bringing your old technology to them.
It’s worth hanging on to the charging cable, though. All Garmin watches released in recent years use the exact same type of charger, and you never know when a spare might come in handy.