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Home / Hot Stuff / Here’s how you can track sleep on your Garmin – without having to wear your Garmin

Here’s how you can track sleep on your Garmin – without having to wear your Garmin

Garmin's new Index Sleep Monitor is a sleeve you can wear to track your sleep instead of a clunkier Garmin smartwatch

Ever yanked off your smartwatch in the middle of the night because it’s uncomfortable on your wrist? I have, and typically prefer using a Whoop or smart ring instead. It’s even more of a problem on larger pro watches like those from Garmin. But the fitness giant has decided to do something about it.

Garmin just released the Index Sleep Monitor. It’s a smart band you wear on your upper arm instead of your smartwatch. It does all the same sleep tracking, so you’re not missing out on anything.

This thing isn’t trying to replace your Garmin smartwatch during the day – it’s more like its sleep sidekick. The Index Sleep Monitor quietly gathers all the data your wristwatch misses when you chuck it on the bedside table. You wear this band to bed, wake up, and have all your REM cycles, breathing patterns, skin temperature fluctuations, and other metrics neatly synced up in the Garmin Connect app. It can even nudge you awake during lighter sleep with a “smart wake alarm.”

As someone who doesn’t like wearing their smartwatch while sleeping, this is the first Garmin wearable in ages that I’d actually consider – if I had a Garmin watch, that is. It looks surprisingly unintrusive, sits on your upper arm, and looks a lot easier to wear. Garmin’s even thought ahead and made the band machine washable, which is the kind of hygiene feature that should be standard.

Naturally, it also tracks the usual suspects: heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, respiration, HRV, and stress levels. The sleep scores roll into Garmin’s Body Battery system, which basically tells you how ready you are for the day. Temperature tracking can also play a role in estimating past ovulation and offering period predictions.

If you fancy slapping this new device on your arm, the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor is available now. You can get it in small-medium and large-extra large sizes for $170/£150.

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About

Connor is a writer for Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website. He has been writing for around nine years now across the web and in print too. Connor has attended the biggest tech expos, including CES, MWC, and IFA – with contributions as a judge on panels at them. He's also been interviewed as a technology expert on TV and radio by national news outlets including France24. Connor has experience with most major platforms, though does hold a place in his heart for macOS, iOS/iPadOS, electric vehicles, and smartphone tech. Just like everyone else around here, he's a fan of gadgets of all sorts. Aside from writing, Connor is involved in the startup and venture capital scene, which puts him at the front of new and exciting tech - he is always on the lookout for innovative products.

Areas of expertise

Mobile, macOS, EVs, smart home