10 CRAZY BUT TRUE FACTS ABOUT
The longstanding GOVX top seller gets the legendary treatment.
For as long as we’ve carried Garmin on GOVX, it’s always been abundantly clear that the growing collection of cutting-edge tech is different – in the best ways possible. From long battery life and pinpoint GPS accuracy to durable builds, you know you’re getting quality wrist or wearable upgrade. What you might not know however, is that there’s quite a bit of interesting lore behind the company. Here’s what we dug up.
10. Garmin Was First Known as PRONAV
Initially focused on GPS technology for aviation and marine navigation, ProNav developed some of the first portable GPS units for commercial and recreational use before being rebranded as Garmin early into its existence.
Image Source: garmin.com.sg/company/about
9. Their Company Name is An Easter Egg
Every origin story has at least one. For this GPS giant, the brand was founded in 1989 by Gary Burrell and Dr. Min Kao in Lenexa, Kansas. The name “GARMIN” is actually a portmanteau of its founders' first names - (GAR)Y + (MIN). If that doesn’t show the power of collaboration, we don’t know what does.
8. Their First Product Launched in 1990
The Garmin GPS 100, a marine navigation unit was the company's inaugural product and a pioneering device in the GPS industry. Developed under Garmin's original name, it served as a significant advancement in navigation technology and garnered significant attention at that year’s International Marine Technology Exposition, leading to 5,000 orders.
7. The U.S. Army Was One of Their First Customers
That’s right, America’s first fighting force had Garmin on the radar early. In 1991, the United States Army began purchasing GPS units for navigation training and field operations.
Pretty soon, Garmin devices were used for land navigation in training exercises, coordinating troop movements and field operations, and improving situational awareness for soldiers in remote areas. Early Army adoption helped cement Garmin’s credibility, paving the way for its expansion into aviation, marine, and consumer GPS markets.
6. They've Infiltrated Hollywood
You don’t have to look too hard to find a Garmin on film. Some notable actors who’ve rocked some big tech on the big screen include Jennifer Lopez in The Mother (2023), Bert Kreischer in The Machine (2023), Chris Pine in The Contractor (2022), Jake Gyllenhaal in The Covenant (2023), and Jamie Foxx in Project Power (2020).
5. Double Olympic Gold Medalist Kelly Holmes is a Garmin Ambassador
Since 2016, Holmes has fronted Garmin’s “Beat Yesterday” campaign, which encourages people to incrementally improve their fitness by tracking and understanding data like heart rate, steps, sleep, and more, while promoting the importance of health metrics.
4. They've Earned Their Wings
Introduced in 2004, Garmin’s G1000 integrated cockpit transformed general aviation by merging GPS navigation with flight instruments, quickly becoming the standard in numerous aircraft models. Today, many flight schools train students on G1000-equipped planes, making it instrumental for new pilots.
3. They Once Created a Dog Collar
Humorously known as the Garmin Astro, the device was engineered to track hunting dogs in the field, basically serving as a very primitive version of a pet tracker. No pooches were harmed in the making of this product.
2. They've Got Diving Computers Down
Garmin’s Descent series can connect directly to scuba tanks, showing air pressure on your wrist. From technical to free dives, it just makes sense to go with the best over the rest.
1. They've Got a Watch with a Kill Switch
The Tactix Delta series comes engineered with a stealth mode that disables wireless communication and even features a kill switch to wipes all data instantly. It can’t help you with your browser history though, buddy. You’re on your own there.