SerpApi.Org
Garmin has long been in the business of wearables, but it’s always leaned towards functional GPS and lifestyle watches. Now, Garmin is making a splash in the health wearable market with the launch of the Cirqa smart band. It looks and feels much like the popular Whoop band, but with a pretty big difference—Garmin’s is subscription free.
Wearables that link with your smartphone to log your sleep, activity, and overall health have been around for a few years, but accessing much of the data has required you to buy a monthly subscription package. Garmin’s does not. In fact, even though Garmin’s watches have subscription programming, the majority of its best metrics and features have always been sans subscription, unlike Whoop or Oura.
The Cirqa offers 24/7 health monitoring with activity detection and the ability start and log activities directly into the Garmin Connect app. The detection is a major benefit in my experience with wearables. Things you’d not necessarily log as activity, like heavy cleaning, a walk through the mall, or playing at the park with your kids, are recognized and logged, something that doesn’t happen as easily with smartwatch style wearables.
Other cool features include women’s health monitoring (getting pregnant—or avoiding it—and dealing with perimenopause is made easier with accurate tracking); a jet lag advisor that helps you modify your schedule to improve your sleep; and serious monitoring of breathing variability during sleep that can help you understand how things like alcohol, marijuana, or caffeine affect your sleep. It also has all the standards you expect like heart rate, O2, and temperature sensors.
The fit looks similar to other bands on the market and, if it follows along Garmin’s typical path, it will be designed to heavily favor both comfort and reliability, along with a bananas good battery. Garmin claims up to 10 days of battery life and, for something so simple, I’m inclined to believe it.
The material is a cleanable, stretchy band that is similar to other wearables of the category, but it appears as though the seams may be a little less intrusive than some of the others I’ve tested.
All in all, the Cirqa costs only $199 and comes in four colors and two sizes, and starts shipping on July 24, 2026. If you’re someone who loves data but doesn’t love wearing a running watch to bed, this may be a good option for you.
