Garmin Index: A New Way to Track Sleep

Looking at Sleep, Not Steps

The Garmin Index Sleep Monitor isn’t trying to do everything. It’s not a smartwatch, and it doesn’t measure your steps or buzz with alerts. Instead, it focuses entirely on what happens after you go to bed.

This device is worn on the upper arm. It’s soft, lightweight, and has no screen, so it doesn’t interrupt sleep or feel bulky. Once worn, it quietly gathers data throughout the night and syncs it to Garmin’s health app when you wake up.

It’s for people who want better sleep insights, without adding more distractions to their routine.

What It Tracks

Garmin Index records a wide range of sleep-related data, including:

• Sleep stages: light, deep, REM, and awake periods
• Heart rate: throughout the night, even subtle changes
• Heart rate variability (HRV): helps understand recovery and stress
• Breathing patterns: steady or disrupted respiration
• Skin temperature: shifts that may relate to your environment
• Blood oxygen levels: including possible drops during sleep

All of this information connects to the Garmin Connect platform, where it’s organized into easy-to-read graphs and insights over time.

3 Reasons It’s Built for Recovery

1. No wrist needed: Side sleepers, or those who remove watches at night, can wear this comfortably on the upper arm.
2. Nothing to manage at night: No buttons, lights, or screens, just wear it and sleep.
3. Purpose-built for rest: Unlike all-day wearables, this focuses only on what your body does while sleeping.

This singular focus makes it a useful tool for those who want a deeper understanding without overcomplication.

 

Who Might Use It

This monitor works best for people who:

• Use a Garmin device during the day, but remove it at night
• Want more accurate sleep and recovery data
• Prefer minimalist devices without screens or alerts
• Have specific sleep goals or are managing recovery from physical stress

Whether you're an athlete, a health-focused user, or simply tired of wearing a watch to bed, this tool offers a low-effort way to track something essential.