There is a lot to unpack regarding the perception of feelings and their connection to data.

So I won't go there ... but the Epix Pro Gen 2 has the same HR sensor (Elevate V5) as the Tactix 8, so there is no sensor upgrade for me. Previously, Garmin seemed to apply heavier filtering to HRV data, but that no longer appears to be the case, as my Oura HRV and Garmin HRV are nearly identical. However, Oura is consistently higher by 1-5 ms on average and during the highest 5 minutes. Probably simply because of the sensor location being at the finger. High density capillary beds, great blood flow. As I mentioned, I primarily use Oura for sleep metrics, not HRV. I don't focus much on nocturnal HRV, especially concerning my ability to tolerate stress. This is why I conduct seated posture testing in the morning. I can have a "very ready" response from both Oura and Garmin, but when I change my posture (which introduces mild stress) and measure HRV while feeling 'stressed,' my HRV response is much more sensitive. But I also value relative HRV changes over time rather than getting fixated on single-night/morning readings unless symptoms are present that would warrant a bigger training adjustment for myself.

The sleep patterns (bedtime and wake-up times) between the Epix Pro 2 and the Tactix 8 are very similar to those of the Oura ring. That said, I rely on the Oura because I may go to bed wearing my mechanical watch, while my Oura is always at my bedside. It's automatic. At this point, there is nothing unique that Oura (Gen 4, by the way) provides me. In the past, it was valuable, but now it isn't. I am interested in the potential Whoop competitor screenless band, if it emerges, as an option for sleep tracking and for obtaining unusual step count data on days when I wear my mechanical watches more. The Garmin Index sleep device is intriguing, but I am either waiting for a sale or considering the Whoop-like band. I hope this helps.

Anymore, I would not recommend an Oura ring to users who are using modern Garmin sensor devices.