Moving on from Whoop, but where should I go?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been using WHOOP for the past 2 years and while I’ve appreciated the data, my subscription is coming up and I just can’t justify the ongoing cost anymore — it’s getting way too expensive.

The main reason I originally went with WHOOP was the lack of a screen — I have zero interest in getting texts, calls, or app notifications on my wrist. I really just want a dedicated fitness and recovery tool.

For context:

• I’m not an endurance athlete, I don’t run and don’t plan to.
• I lift regularly (mainly strength training) and mix in rucks, sprints, and long sessions on the assault bike.
• With WHOOP, I only really used the sleep tracking, HRV, resting heart rate, and the silent alarm (which honestly is my favorite feature — love waking up without sound).

What I’m looking for:

• Good sleep tracking
• Accurate HRV + resting heart rate
• Silent vibrating alarm
• No distractions (ability to turn off notifications)
• No subscription
• Clean, rugged look — don’t want a flashy or colorful screen. Would like it to look like a regular watch.

I’ve been eyeing Garmin — really like the look of the Fenix and Instinct series. Budget is around $300–400, but I’d stretch up to $500 if it’s truly worth it.

Any non-Garmin options worth looking into? Or Garmin recommendations that match what I’m after?

Thanks in advance!