Garmin

Tactix Bravo GPS

We may not all be up to the rigorous physical standards of special ops forces, but — whether training or indulging in some outdoor exploration — there's no reason why we shouldn't have access to all the environmental and biological metrics available to the pros. Enter the Garmin Tactix Bravo GPS unit, which serves as a wrist-based mobile command center and ushers you into an unparalleled world of tactical operations functionality.

No operation — no matter how recreational — is complete without an accurate assessment of the local geographical and environmental situation, so the Tactix Bravo is equipped with an altimeter, barometer, and 3-axis compass that automatically calibrate to keep your intelligence accurate during mutable conditions. Its non-reflective body avoids drawing attention to itself in all lighting conditions, and the Chroma display is readable in high light and features a backlight that can be set to a level that won't flare-out night-vision goggles—allowing you to gather valuable intel without blowing your cover.

The display is protected by Garmin's scratch-resistant Sapphire dome face, which is in turn encompassed by a stainless steel bezel that's every bit as ruggedly durable as it sounds. The GPS and GLONASS capabilities are enabled by an equally rugged EXO antenna, which is coated in black diamond-like carbon that's knurled for abrasion resistance.

Among the more advanced features, the U.S. Tide and Jumpmaster modes are ideal for amphibious and airborne operations. Jumpmaster mode is especially impressive, as it provides experienced skydivers — particularly those in military operations — with a calculated high-altitude release point. It can even auto-detect when you've jumped to begin navigating toward a desired impact point using the Tactix Bravo's internal barometer and electronic compass.

The watch itself is fully functional with time, date, alarm, timer, chronograph, chimes, and vibration settings. The built-in GPS creates routes, waypoints, and bread crumb trails (tracklogs). Navigate to coordinates, along a track, or toward waypoints with the GPS and 3-axis digital compass. TracBack mode retraces previous tracklogs, allowing you to navigate tactical training courses or find a trailhead, even in dark and challenging conditions. A sun/moon chart and hunt/fish calendar also make this watch a valuable tool for serious outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, and fisherman.

Along with the tactical and GPS functionality, this watch measures real-time performance stats for athletes such as trail runners and cyclists. Recording distance, pace, cadence, and calories burned, this watch will eagerly accompany a wide variety of outdoor exercise activities. The Tactix Bravo syncs with Garmin auxiliaries including HRM heart rate monitors, speed/cadence bike sensors, and foot pods (all sold separately) for further biometric functionality. Additionally, this watch controls Garmin's VIRB and VIRB Elite action cameras for action-sports enthusiasts and budding videographers.

When you've finished your tac-ops mission, afternoon hike, wilderness expedition, hunting trip, or outdoor exercise, plug this watch into a compatible PC or Mac to upload GPS information and share adventures with friends and family via Garmin's downloadable BaseCamp and BaseCamp Mobile Software. The Tactix Bravo's battery has been upgraded to 20 hours while in GPS mode or 50 hours in UltraTrac mode, and the watch-only setting lasts for six months. Like the generic Tactix, the Tactix Bravo enjoys ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless sharing, automatic wi-fi syncing, and smart notifications from compatible devices. It can be fully customized through Garmin's Connect IQ App, which musters an arsenal of optional watch faces, data fields, applications, and "widgets."