For when you absolutely need a kill switch on your wrist
Garmin has announced the latest in its smartwatch lineup, the Tactix Delta. A watch built to military standards that combines a range of features designed for the most serious of outdoor users.
The Delta is the 4th watch in Garmin’s military-level Tactix range, updating the previous model with a veritable onslaught of new features for the hardened man or woman on a mission.
- Essential reading: The best outdoor watches
As well as those outdoor features you’ll find across other watches in the Garmin range, like outdoor navigation and fitness tracking, you can expect a selection of tools that are less commonplace in your average wearable.
Stealth mode, as you may have guessed, stops any storing or sharing of your device location as you carry out your activities, the ominously-named kill switch will erase all user memory from the watch and the unique dual-position mode simultaneously displays two sets of coordinate systems on a single data screen.
Want more? Well, if you’re planning on parachuting out of an aircraft any time soon there’s a feature called Jumpmaster which will help you calculate a high-altitude release point and guide to an objective point.
Not all missions take place in the wilderness though and the Tactix Delta incorporates the best of the tech you’ll find across the Garmin range. That includes support for music storage, Garmin Pay and the latest Garmin wearable features like PacePro and Power Manager.
This is the first time that Power Manager has been added to the Tactix range and will allow the user to modify settings and improve the battery life through customization.
Speaking of battery, Garmin states that you can expect to get up to 21 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and up to 80 days in battery saver watch mode.
The updated design features a 1.4 inch display size, a 36 percent increase in surface area over the previous Tactix models, making it Garmin’s largest round watch face and a scratch-resistant domed sapphire lens and diamond-like carbon coated bezel.
As you’d expect, there’s also TopoActive Europe mapping and advanced navigation features, including a barometric altimeter, compass and multiple Global Navigation Satellite Systems support.
Finally, you’ll get performance metrics for outdoor activities, support for training and overall wellness features, ski maps for over 2,000 ski resorts worldwide, and 41,000 golf courses, the ability to download up to 2,000 songs, and it’s compatible with other Garmin devices including satellite communicators such as inReach, Mini4 and dog trackers such as Alpha 10.
According to Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “tactix Delta premium GPS smartwatch is mission ready and proves that professional gear can also be a great statement piece.”
The Tactix Delta costs £799.99 and is available now.
