From Apple Watch ultra to Epix pro?

I switched from the AWU to an Epix Pro and I am not sure I would call it best on the market lol.   So far, unless I am doing things wrong the most annoying things about the Garmin workout app is when I setup a group for sets and rest and you do the custom workout the Rests don't have a countdown timer?  The watch will countdown and buzz when it hits the set reset period but there is no countdown.  May as well count myself.   Just weird.   On top of that if you get to an exercise and the machine is in use you have to skip the group, then later re-add it.  Why can't you just navigate between the groups/sets of exercises on the fly.

I am not sure completely understand on what you are speaking about, but you may be correct.   That said, I know there are lots of way to program the custom workouts and it takes some experimentation.  If you made a video showing what you mean someone maybe able to help.   

All of that said, I don't bother with "reps" or "sets" etc.   Keep in mind I came from a Casio and a notebook ;-)   I still find that I like the notebook.  I have no idea why, but something about seeing it in ink and writing in the counts just makes a difference for me.  

What I do, is at the end of the workout I record the load, avg HR and MAX HR.  I also record the work time vs. rest time.  Then, week to week I flip back and reference it to see where I can improve.  The important thing (as it relates to Garmin) is that I am getting what I do added to the total loading of all the other things I may be doing (running, bike etc).  

There is not a watch in the world that does strength training any better.  They all have drawbacks and is likely why you don't see many guys in the gym with them at all, LOL. 

For me, I switched to resistance band training during the pandemic when all gyms were closed.  I was amazing at what I can do.  So, I adapted and have not been back to a "gym" since, and am in far better shape now.  I love it.  So, I write out my weeks workout in my notebook and each morning I get to it.  I use the strength app in "free mode" default everything. and disable reps and weight. (no need).  I write out in my notebook what I do and how hard I go.  I use the load score and stats at the end of the workout to backup my perceived feeling.  I love it.  Simple.  I also use a Polar H10 chest strap.

Now, I understand everyone is different.  So, if you are power lifting or doing something where you really want to sit down and reflect on all the specifics afterwards (something I find most people forget to do) then, having the reps and weight added would be nice and avoids having to write anything down.    I just find it faster to flip a few pages in my book to look quickly at the loading and times, weight etc from week to week in a notebook vs. fooling around with any app, regardless of what it is or how well it may work.

Now, running on the other hand (or biking) or even Tennis, is a bit different.  At the end of the week it is nice to reflect on that data and make some mental notes on how you want to attack the upcoming week.  I look at the Garmin as the friend that thinks he knows everything and take what it says and overlay that with how I feel and make a choice based on the two :-)

EDIT - The first question you had about rest timers can be done in Garmin Connect with a custom workout and I just confirmed that this works fine.    So, lets take a basic example.. 

1. I start off with chest flys.  I have a programmed workout of 5 sets, (aim for 15 or 20 reps).  I want a countdown of 50-sec between sets to allow me to recover.  When I hit "start" it starts the elapse timer (total workout) and as soon as I finish that last rep on the first set, I hit the lap button, it beeps and vibes and REST is shown on screen for the 50-sec.  It starts counting down, then gives me a 5-sec warning.. (to get ready), love that too!  Then, on to the next.   So, that is great an exactly how anyone would want it to work.  Then, on top of that you can customize data screens to show what you want etc.

Now, if you run into a situation where next up is say.. bench press.  and someone is using it.  Yeah, you have a problem there. LOL.  So, you can either hit start /stop to pause until its free.. or, eliminate such a structured program and just use it in free mode, and still count reps and weight.  But again, AWU does not do any of this better at all.  It's the same problem.

I don’t use the strength activity and neither have I used any on Apple Watch, så can’t say anything about that. But for you will need an external HR-monitor for garmins analysis to make sense, else it is the old saying Garbage in -> Garbage out. I have a Polar Verity Sense, because I don’t like wearing chest straps. Apple Watch has a better HR-sensor and do make much analysis, så easier to get by without external sensor. But even Apple watch has problem with you grap hard to something. I have garmin bacause of all the analysis and that it is all included, where as you end up with a bunch of subscription on Apple Watch (I also have Apple Watch) trying to match it.

It has. If you scroll up from the resting pause you'll see the countdown right in the beggining of the structured workout sequence.

As far as machine and skipping sets goes, I structure my workouts in a specific order for a reason (and avoid crowded hours) so it has never been an issue (probably wouldnt skip or reorder anyway) but I can see the value of having a reorder function on the fly.

I’m in the same boat. Went from android to iPhone for the first time since the original iPhone and thought I would make the switch from the Fenix 7x SS to the AWU.

Eco system wise it’s amazing and the best way that the experience has been summarised in reviews is that the AWU is smartwatch first and sports watch second. I actually found the battery life not a problem at all despite the huge difference coming from Fenix 7x SS; charging the AWU is quick and easy to live with. I really wanted to like the AWU but found I was downloading multiple apps to try and replicate the Garmin level sports/fitness status. I found the Health App from Apple is just a dump of data with relatively poor presentation and explanation/meaning given. The Athlytic is good (gives % recovery) but the data presentation becomes overlapped with the Health app and is all a bit of a mess between apps.

The moment I came to the conclusion to move back to Garmin (oddly) was when doing weights. The AWU merely tracks heart rate and time whereas the Garmin can auto detect reps. Not a game changer clearly but it was the straw that broke the camels back for me. I’m sure these short comings can be patched with other apps on the AWU but I like native apps and features which provide a cohesive experience. I’ve even tried getting an all in one experience with Samsung in the past and where that short lived experience was largely due to the shocking battery life of the galaxy watch, it still didn’t match the excellent fitness tracking and presentation of the Garmin. I also think the Fenix and Epix have that built like a tank feel which nothing else can match. Currently in the process of switching to Epix Pro.

Yeah, Garmin really is a very unique product indeed.  I have refrained from calling it "the best", LOL.  but, I personally feel it is (for fitness).  Apple is great for a mini-iPhone on your wrist.  I think that is really about it.  For many, MANY everyday people that is a nice, fun little toy and I can see the attraction.  But, the Garmin eco system is a totally different bear and home of many serious pros.  ;-)   I too just got the Epix 2 Pro 47mm and love it.