Garmin - Forerunner 165

If you want the flashiest oooh shiny/new watch experience with the lowest price point, I say try the Garmin Forerunner 165. It's entry level but has a lot of bells and whistles. Frankly Garmin has everyone else beat in terms of sport tracking imo. It's not going to be as smartwatch-y as something like an android or apple watch, but if your priority is notifications and workout metric tracking it should suit your needs just fine.

Check out the Forerunner 165. It's undoubtedly the best value running watch from Garmin at just $250. The most bang for your buck, so to speak. It's only missing like 10% of the running features that the watches 3x its price have. Re: choosing Garmin over other brands, well a lot of it is just personal preference, if Garmin was the universal winner at everything then there would be no Coros or Apple or Suunto or Galaxy watches. But they are undoubtedly the most popular watch for most athletes, and I believe one reason is the depth of the metrics they provide. You can dive deep, really deep, into analyzing all your activities. You can do a gazillion awesome things with it really easily, for example one of my latest favorite things to do is to "virtual race" against a recording of another run I did before. The watch will tell me exactly how many seconds ahead or behind I am versus the last time I did that run. Pretty cool! I can't even begin to list all the things Garmin watches can do, but it's crazy. There is an unbelievable amount of cool features. BUT!!! That's also a turnoff for some people. A lot of people don't like the feature overload, they just want to track the basics and be done with it. Some people find the Garmin "ecosystem" to be a bit overwhelming and confusing. So it comes down to personal preference - what makes Garmin awesome for many athletes is also the thing that some people hate most about it, lol. Apple watch can do basic run tracking and whatnot just fine, but it's much more of a smartwatch than a sports/fitness watch. It's designed to be, first and foremost, a wrist-sized smartphone. The fitness features come secondary to that, and most people with Apple watches don't even really use the fitness features and don't care. The other big difference between Apple Watch and Garmin is battery life - Apple measures theirs in hours, Garmin measures theirs in days/weeks, and in some cases even months. The Forerunner 165 that I recommended will last 4-11 days on a charge, depending on usage. Apple watch is like 18-36 hours. One other important thing to note is Apple Watch can only work with an Apple iPhone. It cannot be paired with any other phone. Garmin watches work with any IOS or Android device.

Big feature on the FR165 is a barometric altimeter, which they removed from the VA5. This will aid in stair counting and elevation changes when running. The other two features I preferred on the FR165 were the 5 button layout and the extra running metrics. As a runner, FR165 for sure, and if an advanced runner, I’d look to see if you can get a 265 on sale this holiday season

I had an older generation Vivoactive and purchased the 165 music when it came out. The running features and metrics are worth it alone, but I also like the physical buttons. I looked at the 265 and 965 as well but the advanced metrics and better heart rate sensor wasn’t worth it for my needs, and I use a heart rate strap anyways.

Garmin for last 8 years or so. Went from Swim to Swim2 to FR265. IMO Garmin has the most complete functionality of anything out there. I would recommend the FR165/FR265 models as they are the newer more modern releases that have the full swim functionality (with the 165 missing a few things like open water and HRM support).

Just go for the 165

I love my FR165. If you're not training for a triathlon, it is definitely a good option. Some of the other garmin models have features I probably won't utilize right now. If you're able to get it during a sale, definitely jump on it

The best swimming watch right now is by far the FR165. If you want to spend less money, go for a second hand FR245, or FR55.

Compared to the 265, you'll miss out on the animated weight lifting, bike stuff (power meters, etc), and multi sport mode. So if you aren't going to do a triathlon, the 165 is pretty great. Also the animated weights are neat but ONLY useful if you pick a weights plan by Garmin or spend the time programming the routine in connect.

I’m still struggling with the size. I sleep on my arm and I never noticed the AW, but with the Garmin it’s uncomfortable (and I’m saying this with the “thin” Forerunner 165)

Having had an apple watch for years before getting my first Garmin 165, the daily recommended workouts have been the best feature for me. I’ve been a casual runner for years but never had any sort of structure to my runs that the garmin has given me.

I had the same issue. I could not stop thinking about it. Buy it or forget about it. I’m a cycler and ended up buying the 165 and love it. I got caught up on which and how much. I bought the 165 with the intention of selling it and upgrading if I wanted to. So far, very happy. All the health metrics are helping me establish a baseline. Also I like the Connect app. I’ve pretty much quit using Strava directly. Connect just updates Strava.

For weights none of them are great, you should not spend more money expecting better results. If you think you might get a little more serious about running in the future, get the FR165 (or even the 255/265 if you find a good deal). If not, Vivoactive is a good choice.

absolutely keep using your apple watch, i have to say i got tired of the battery life and couldn’t take it on longer distance swims as it just would run out of battery. I upgraded to a garmin FR 165 as i OW + pool swim, cycle and occasionally run a 5k - i absolutely adore it and think its so much better than my apple watch. Had i of slightly further looked into i probably would have gone for a different model of the FRs, just because you can’t use a chest strap when swimming but if that’s not your bag then the 165 is not as expensive and just a really good watch. I charge it maybe every 7-10 days depending on how many activities i’ve done in that week! Edited to say that maybe the garmin swim2 would work best for you as you said you just want to swim with it

I bought garmin forerunner 165, im happy with my purchase, feels like the build quality is good and step counter is accuratre (but my steps gets miscounted lesser if i work by my hands on standing table while using wlaking pad) other than these its good

Went from a Mi band 6 to Forerunner 165. It has definitely made me run more... the ability to track stats and progress really resonated with me and has given me motivation to maintain and improve my numbers. To be transparent, I got the watch because I wanted to get more into running and it has worked.

I've been using Garmin Forerunners for like fifteen years now. When I use it on my bike, I use the handlebars adapter rather than wearing it. I had the Vivoactive for a while and it sucked. This was several years ago, maybe they're better? Meanwhile, Forerunners have been getting better too and also smaller. I have the 165 now. But turn your ask around, because you can satisfy not having a smart watch or a screen by not having anything. What do you want this thing to do?

I went from FitBit to VivoActive music (3 and 4, I believe), and now have a 165. I prefer the 165. It seems more runner-friendly, but still easily tracks other activities.

You can get a Garmin Edge 530 for around that - few models old, but same as I use. Or if you prefer a watch (might want heart rate data?), then Garmin Forerunner 55/255/165. Let me know if you need more info on them, know the watch range pretty well these days.

165 has AMOLED too. 265 has training readiness and training status. I personally prefer to listen to my body rather than relying on an algorithm. A gimmick imo. 265 has triathlon mode which is nice. Also some extra sports like skiing. Personally, the extra sports the 265 has I like to enjoy without having them to be tracked. Like skiing. 265 has multi band GPS but according to a lot of reviews this barely matters unless you’re in Manhattan or very dense forests. 265 is also 46mm and the 165 42mm. For me 46mm is way too big, but you could also get the 265S. Forerunner 165: €229 (about $230) Forerunner 265: €429 (about $450) So personally I would be paying almost double for triathlon mode, which I don’t use.

I have the forerunner 165 and it’s does a perfectly fine job. Misses kickboards and sometimes 25 yds but whatever

I have the FR165 and it has OW! The lap swimming usually drops a 25 or two, which is annoying, but manageable because I also manually track what I do Also a little silicone pop-it (about 9 bubbles) to help me track repetitive sets

Both are fine. I would put the Apple Watch as slightly more accurate given it has dual band GPS versus the single on the 165. Personally I think the metrics on many higher end Garmin watches are overboard so this 165 might be ideal for your needs. Apple metrics are very accurate, i’m just not so fond of the touchscreen and button arrangement for runners. And of course the battery isn’t as long as 165.

Forerunner has more buttons, so less need to use the touchscreen. I think that's a good thing, especially for exercise where you might be getting wet or wearing gloves etc.

I've had all kinds of watches including Galaxy Watch and now a Garmin. If becoming more active/healthy is a priority then Garmin will for sure be the right choice. If 3rd party apps are more important then pick the Galaxy Watch. With your budget I'd recommend checking out the Garmin Forerunner 165. It's not bulky, has an AMOLED touch screen and better battery life. The GW7 is a good smartwatch though not saying it's bad at all, both are good choices.

Garmin 165, auto exports my runs to Strava (social), TrainingPeaks (no longer use TP) and Stryd (replaced training peaks)

I got the 165 music, it’s great. AMOLED is a game changer for me, much nicer.

Coros, no doubt. I had both and returned the 165 within the day. I also hate the 5-button design of Garmin, the app, and ugly watchfaces.

The 165 is a very bare bones running watch. If you want better battery life, more metrics and AMOLED screen go w the 265, but the 955 is a VERY good watch w essentially all the bells and whistles as the 965 sans amoled. There is a handy little comparison tool on garmin website so you can side by side the specs, though. Welcome to the cult!

You could go with a far less expensive model like the Fr165 if you are only going to be wearing it for an hour a day. That said why do you care about the stand hours or the rings anyway? You are not getting all your exercise minutes or move calories by not wearing the U2 all day while you are not getting the stand ring closed, so none of the rings are accurate anyway. You won't get any meaningful health data from either watch just wearing to track workouts. Why not just stick with what you have? FYI the apple heart rate sensor is far more accurate as well.

The is app is not great at all, it is not user friendly and the UX and UI is bad. I would suggest the FR165 rather than the models you have on your list. They are all lifestyle watches.

I just tried on Fitbit Inspire 3, Garmin forerunner 165, and Apple Watch series 10 (I use iPhone). They all have pros and cons. I ended up keeping the Garmin. I’d choose Fitbit if you just want to track your walk, I love how affordable and simple it is. The sleep tracking seems to be the best out of all 3. It has auto-start activities when it detects you walk, run, exercise, which is great because I sometimes just forgot about my watch. Longest battery life. I do pilates, yoga, a bit of weight lifting and plan to start running so I went with Garmin because it allows me to track more activities and it collects more data. It’s bigger than Fitbit and more sporty than I’d like but it doesn’t bother me too much. Battery lasts about 10 days. While I liked the stylish AW and its smartwatch capabilities and seamless Apple transition, it was not for me. I only need fitness tracking, not constantly be connected to my phone. The steps count tend to be lower than Fitbit and Garmin. (A few times time it’s 1000+ difference). I hated having to charge it everyday.

I recently got the white Forerunner 165 music. It's a great basic running watch and has all the functions I was looking for (which would include more than an Apple Watch has to offer in terms of running metrics). However, I don't think it's the "prettiest" option. If she cares about the aesthetic and wants something she can wear all the time/dress up or down, the Vivoactive or Venu might be a better option. They still have a lot of basic fitness involved but not as advanced as the Forerunners. Depends on what she's looking for for metrics! Here's a photo of what the white 165 looks like with an Amazon watch band (the original was too bulky/sporty for me). https://preview.redd.it/ywnth469nb1e1.png?width=750&format=png&auto=webp&s=8369bb0740eff7ad4b3e5af527a01e8e78e5239f

DC Rainmaker has some great and unbiased reviews if you haven't seen that. [Garmin Forerunner 265/265S In-Depth Review: AMOLED in Two Sizes! | DC Rainmaker](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2023/03/garmin-forerunner-review-amoled.html). He also compares it to the cheaper 165 if you want to compare it to that. [Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Forerunner 265 Comparison Review: All 107+ Differences Detailed | DC Rainmaker](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2024/02/forerunner-differences-comparison.html) I have the 265 myself, and loving it. I had the 165 at first, but returned it and bought the 265 on sale. I mainly upgraded because I'm a sucker for stuff like the training readiness, and because i do bouldering and x-country skiing and 165 did not have activity profiles for those activities. I do wear it while sleeping though, and not sure the upgrade would have been worth it if I didn't. The training readiness is affected by your sleep score, and without it I'm not sure how correct it would be. I do not use the music feature as i always bring my phone on my runs. I use notifications, but only text messages and phone calls. All app notifications turned off. (I do wish they would let us select only a few apps and turn off the rest). The thing i love the most would be the battery time. I go on 3-4 runs a week and i probably charge it every other week.

A fair bit of stuff. Including coaching like training load (which is dumb they excluded on 165) https://www.garmin.com/en-CA/compare/?compareProduct=1057989&compareProduct=780196

Try a used Apple Watch 7 first. See if you use the features of the watch enough. Buy extra chargers , since u have to charge it daily. The Apple Watch 8, 9, ultra and ultra 2 is not going to be massively different from the 7. When you are frustrated with daily charging or charging every 2 days, then u will be ready for ur first Garmin. May I suggest the forerunner series 165, 265 , 965. Software is well supported for 4-6 years easily. Battery life is 7-10 days from new, and even if u use it frequently, since you are only charging it every 7-10 days, ur battery health is going to be good and the decay won’t be as much as the Apple Watch. 5 yrs later your battery life will degrade to 4-7 days -> still double or triple that of a brand new Apple Watch battery life.

I had forerunner 245 and used it for running and swimming. It was great, but I fell and trashed it. Had forruner 165 but didn't get training readiness so I upgraded to forruner 265 and happy with my choice. Ony downside with forruner 245 is that it didn't have hrv stats.

If you can swim one lap without a break in one style or a pause in it, it will count correctly. If you bump into someone mid lap and it makes you stop or brake the rhythm of your armstroke it will count it as two laps. Otherwise it's very correct and never had an issue. F255, F165, F265s Edit: omg I can't write. Sorry for my past and future mistakes lol

As long as you’re happy with the AW battery life then keep it till it breaks. Or replace with a newer watch or Garmin Venu 3 or Forerunner 165

No one has mentioned form factor. This is something to keep into consideration, size and weight. I’m very happy with my 265, which I feel is much smoother than the 165 after using it for about a month.

It works greate! Love all features and the screen. I really think I made the best choice buying a 165.

I'd say 265 is a better comparator to V3 and 165 is a basic entry level sport/run watch - still capable and a great price to get into Garmin. Battery life, dual band GPS, barometric altimeter are 3 features that I'd say are close and critical to me. The 165 does not appear to have dual band GPS, so, despite being better than other brands, your accuracy may suffer on mountainsides and in big cities. Seems the 265 has a lot of perks and training metrics that add up over the 165 and you get what you pay for. https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2024/02/forerunner-differences-comparison.html Venue 3 is less of a 'run focus' in favour of overall health and less sporty finished look. It has a later gen heart rate sensor, as well, than the 265.

[Vivoactive 5 vs Forerunner 165 vs Venu 3 for non-runner : r/GarminWatches](https://www.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1ec4sl7/vivoactive_5_vs_forerunner_165_vs_venu_3_for/) I had both and like both for different reasons / features. Kept the 165 for the additional sport features, breadcrumb routes, etc. Would have liked a combination of the two, a sleeker looking Forerunner. [Garmin | Product Compare](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=1057989&compareProduct=1055469) Something not mentioned is that the Vivo can't beep, only vibrate and doesn't have the sunrise / sunset glance, which I find interesting.

I’m not the commenter you replied to - but my husband has a Garmin Forerunner 165, got it for $150, and it has been phenomenal for tracking swimming metrics. I have a hand-me-down Forerunner 945 which is a “fancier” watch (was like $500 new) and his watch does almost every single one of the same things, plus a couple mine doesn’t do. You can get a swim-ready Garmin for under $200 for sure.

Would recommend any garmin devices. FR165

I have a Garmin and it works perfectly for tracking laps. Unsure why you’re hearing ‘mixed things’

Garmin Forerunner 165 - I couldn’t be happier with it

Fortunately, Garmin Swim 2 & Forerunner 165 (two watch models that happen to be one of the more affordable Garmin) could track swimming drills that involve no arm movements or single (non watch) arm. Perhaps the obsession to track every single workout could be unhealthy, but it's up to each individual to decide. I personally wear fitness tracker to keep record of my swimming session & how I did compared to previous one. I'm a recreational swimmer, and I would like to improve through any means possible (drills, intervals, etc). Wearing a tracker allows me to gauge that metric.

Besides the 945, no other garmin watch has LTE. (And even then, it's just for emergency texts and can't do phone calls.) So no other watch has texting/calling without your phone. You can use canned replies to texts on android phones but not on iphones (it's a limitation by apple, not grmin). You still need your phone with you for this. For podcasts, you'd need to have your phone with you to stream them to the watch. Or, if you can download directly (not sure what, if any, apps allow offline listening). For great GPS, you'd want multiband. At your price point, this really kind of narrows it down to the Instinct 2 or 2X (mono crome MIP screen, insane battery life, no maps and no touch screen) or the Forerunner 165 or 265 with touch screen and AMOLED but no maps. If you can, see if you can find a refurbished Forerunner 965 to get at/under your $500 price point. The Fenix 7 (non-Pro) and Epix 2 (non-pro) are often on sale for around $500. Those watches are touch screen, AMOLED, have maps and substantially higher build quality (Titanium/steel, sapphire screens) but somewhat more 'bulky.'

Garmin Forerunner 165. Although it’s not specifically designed for swimming, it has worked perfectly fine for me. Since you’re looking to get fit, it can also be useful for other types of sports. The price is pretty good, it has an OLED screen, and the buttons are useful when swimming. I only have experience with this watch, but i'm sure other models would work perfectly fine too!

Why not FR165? It's \*far\* cheaper and covers everything you mentioned

I would say for your price point the 255 Music is the best option out there. If you see the 265 Music with a good deal go with that (8GB instead of 4GB storage, OLED). The weight and size is still great. The 955, 965 are great as well (16Gb storage I think) but in my opinion to bulky. Forerunner 165 is nice but lacks some features. Fenix and such models are too heavy (my opinion ;)

I just got the Garmin Forerunner 165, still testing the various features. Have been using multiple Fitbit Charge devices (charge hr, charge 2, charge 4) for past few years. I gotta say that the Garmin watch looks like a serious health monitoring device compared to my Fitbits. The plethora of information it provides is awesome. I do hear that sleep monitoring is quite bad on all Garmins but apart for that, the Heart rate is tracking is quite good, gps is accurate. I am super impressed with how accurately it measures the number of floors ascended and descended, quite useless metric, but still love the pin point accuracy. Personally I have never wanted notifications on my watch, i carry my phone all the time so I can easily manage notifications there, also it's a pain keeping bluetooth on all the time on phone to receive notifications on the watch. So, if you need a health tracking device, Garmin watches are the ways to go. I can't talk much about Samsung, since I haven't used them. Also check out youtube reviews by - The Quantified Scientist. It may help you find a suitable device.

Forerunner 165 has lot of features compared to Vivoactive 5. As the watch mentions it is targeted for runners, and it has a lot of running features in it. These set of features are absent on the Vivoactive 5 and that in itself would make a huge difference in my opinion.

Same here. I absolutely ❤️ my 165 and for those special times my Garmin HR strap as well! 😊

Same here. I absolutely ❤️ my 165 and for those special times my Garmin HR strap as well! 😊 https://preview.redd.it/h5c9gjeb9n2f1.jpeg?width=1934&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1faec32def77077e596864c3f5e761119dc61e15

The Forerunner 165 has preformed so much better than my Apple Watches ever could. I’ve had the AW 3, 6, then SE2. Battery life doesn’t begin to compare. Only bummer is Garmin doesn’t really do battery swaps. Once the battery dies it’s time for a new watch.  My only gripes is I want the 265 for the extra training features but the curved screen makes screen protectors difficult. I’m a clumsy oaf and watch faces get wrecked at my job. Even the gorilla glass ones.  Also the sleep tracking is trash. I’ve been awake at midnight and it registered as light sleep. I was watching YouTube or chilling to music. Some walking around the apartment. Def not sleep. My AW would have logged it as awake. 

I have the 165.. its good for those activities

A lot of Garmin watches cover lots of sports. The Forerunner 265 is a great watch. If hiking a lot and want maps, the Garmin 965 has maps. If money is no object, the Fenix or Epix models cover it all. I have a Fenix 6 Pro as well as a Forerunner 165.. Fenix watches are bulky and heavy. The FR 165 is very good for tracking swims and running but leaves out skiing but is thin and light on the wrist and still gets very good battery life.

I'm an Apple guy with an iPhone, 2 iPads, and 2 Macs. But when it comes to a watch for swimming, I much prefer the Garmin. The Apple Watch is wonderful smartwatch but its native swimming app is pretty sparse. I had one but no longer use it. I had a Vivoactive 3 years ago. I'm not up on the VA5 but I really prefer the 5 button Garmin watches anyhow. I'm currently using a Forerunner 165 which gives you a lot of bang for the buck if you are mostly just swimming, running, or cycling. If you do lots of other activities, the the FR 265 or 965 is the better option. They all give you the choice of 5 button use or touchscreen.

I have garmin forerunner 165. Basic model. It provides HR and stroke cadence etc. recovery time, calories, etc. It’s pretty good for lap counting. It occasionally has a lapse and if it happens in the middle of a 1000 or 1500 I’m in trouble. Once you start using a watch to count laps you become completely dependent on them.

The Vivoactive 5 has meditation and wheelchair stuff that the Forerunner 165 doesn't. If you don't need either of those, the 165 would be the better choice.

I run and use the 165, I'm not into advanced analytics but I do like tracking. I also do strength training but only use the watch to track activities and time. The 165 has been 100% great for me, sounds like we have similar needs. I couldn't justify the 265 and I don't think I'm missing anything.

Works perfectly fine on my forerunner 165

165 best bang for ur buck

Like what? The upgraded Gps? I guess if your in remote areas and trails w poor service. Other than mine is fine

I have actually. They literally have models beneath the 165. Not sure why your such a 165 hater its great 😂

If you don’t want to spend money you can sync Fitbit activities to Strava.  I did that before my Fitbit charge 5 died.   If you’re looking for something new I love my Garmin.  I’m using the Forerunner 165.

I got my Forerunner 165 3 months ago. Before I had Venu 2 and I have to say that forerunner is more sport oriented, more metrics. I am running once a week + weight lifting and I have so say that I love my Forerunner 165. For that price it's best bang for your buck. Lot of metrics, stats and very nice features. Unless you are very serious about you running or you are professional or you need offline maps then I think 165 is perfects starting point for activity tracking. I recommend to spent less on watch and buy also Garmin HRM chest strap so you can monitor you hearth rate better. With this combo you can't get wrong.

Be aware that the Forerunner 165 does not have mapping capabilities. For that you need a higher model watch e.g. Forerunner 965 or one of the top epic/Fenix models.

Yes. But you can't look at a map on your watch or do map based navigation. You can plan a route on your computer and send it to your watch to follow a GPS breadcrumb trail though. Hope this helps.

Sounds like the 165 fits with what you’re looking for. If you change your goals and habits in the future you can always upgrade. I rocked an Apple Watch for years and finally got tired of it running out of battery, especially on longer races. The forerunner 265 is what I got and it’s been a game changer now. 

Go for a 255M then. Or for a 165 if you dont need one of the features it lacks vs. the 265 (can't remember what it was, something made me put the 165 off my list). I bought an 265 last year because I wanted a watch with a touch screen. Today I realized I could get around without it easy enough - so a FR255 would be my watch of choice today. 255M vs. 265: 255 has MIP screen, 265 has OLED 255 has models with and without music on watch, 265 always has music capability 255 misses touch screen 255 misses Training Readiness score (but has all others and also the same activities like the 265) 165 (can't reme.ber all the differences) cannot connect to bicycle power meters IIRC it had some analysis missing, either running metric such as vertical movement, left right balance a d ground contact time and or on watch running power estimation. It lacks multi system GPS support (but the normal one is ctually good enough in normal conditions outside of walking in ravines, deep canyons, in between sky scrapers or under thick tree cover) Reviews by Des Fit and DC Rainmaker are very thorough on accuracy and practicabilty of fitness features. They are recommended by many. There also are other great reviewers, but those two really put the sports modes to the test.

There were some limitations of the 165 that made me choose the 265. The features can be compared on the Garmin site. And chances are, some reputable reviewer such as DesFit or DCRainmaker has made an in deep comparison between the two. Ahhh... here is one https://youtu.be/pD77vx9x0Ig?si=o9NNSmrrqm29_RrO I was reluctant to get the 955 because I know I do not need navigation on my watch and the 900 series are pretty big watches (I wear them at night to also monitor sleep). But function-wise, it is a good choice. Especially if you prefer a MIP screen. From a budget vs. function perspective, the 255Music is a great running watch....if I crashed my 265 today, I'd likely get one. I'm still bemoaning the MIP display that I gave up with getting the 265.

A Garmin Foreruuner hands down. So much data you will love it. I have a 165 no music, budget friendly option. I would have gotten the 265s for the training load/readiness feature if I'd had a crystal ball st the time, but the 165 is amazing for the price!!

I have a 165 for running and cycling and while it's fantastic, I kinda wish I got the 265 since it's got a lot more sport profiles like badminton that I would occasionally like, some more metrics like training readiness and training status. Though I will say that you can basically work those out yourself also by looking at HRV and recovery time on the 165. The 265 just kind of combines the data into a new metric even though the data it's gathering from your body is the same.

Decathlon has some cheap GPS and HR watches. Running with a phone feels cumbersome. ---- I typed this but now see it's more than the Coros 3: Forerunner 165 for the win if you're specifically after a watch. Most of the required features of the much more expensive Garmins. $250 without music, extra 50 with.

I'm using a non-music fr 165 pero for your needs, I think fr 265/265s ang bagay sayo. Yung gps nyan is multiband so mas reliable especially kapag nasa city ka na maraming buildings. Battery life, wala ring problem. Pwede rin for swimming. Lastly, fr 265 ay may music capability na by default. Sa fr 165 kailangan mo pa yung music edition if you want to store music. >Planning to get a Garmin this time since I heard their watches also last for about two weeks in a single charge, which is what I'm used to. Ito, depende sya. Kung nakasmartwatch mode ka lang, yes pwede umabot ng 2 weeks pero kung lagi kang tumatakbo at nakagps, mas mabilis madedrain yung battery.

My current 265 is my 4th forerunner and it has been great. It has everything I need. That said, all these metrics are good on paper, but in practice I find I don't need it to tell me I should rest today because I already woke up feeling like crap. Adding too many metrics at the start ends up being detrimental, IMHO. That said I'd much rather suggest you to get an FR165 and get either an HR arm band or HRM-Pro chest strap since weight training is notoriously challenging for any optical wrist HR because of wrist movements. The HRM-PRO also enables you to play team sports with the watch safely in your bag, which is great for volleyball in my case. 165 or 265, you will have good watches, regardless.

The 2x5 line is much better for running than the 165, so I wouldn't recommend the 165. I find that Garmin watch are pretty bad at handling audio content (music, but especially podcasts and audiobooks). Coming from running only my Apple Watch, I switched to running with my 255 and my phone. So personally, I wouldn't recommend getting the music version. As for the 955, it does have maps and little more over the 255/265. It really comes down to how much you like to run in new places where maps are needed (and even then, the breadcrumbs map on the 255 can be handy).

I got a forerunner 165 music two weeks ago and I have liked it so far. You can build workouts (picture) in it so even if the reps and weight aren't calculated perfectly, you can edit it afterwards but it automatically goes through the exercise and rests that you've built in the app. I've only used it three times but found with dumbbells the reps were only a couple off. Machines it sucks at but I also don't know how it could count reps on a squat machine, leg extension, etc. It's not great with treadmills, you'll have to calibrate it every time, but outside is perfect. It worked great with my Pixel buds and a downloaded Spotify playlist. https://preview.redd.it/bgdrg8raovbd1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e4fdc5d0675ab9f2b9367a8487a1e6bd4ad6e65

I haven't seen that option for reps, you can set the number of reps you want to do but you can go short or beyond it. With arm stuff it generally does good counting but may be one or two off, and leg stuff it makes sense it wouldn't be amazing at it. My suggestion would be using the timer option instead of reps because that does notify you with a little count down. I don't think it will do the timer and the rep count though. I would suggest doing it with reps, see what your average time it takes you to do the number of reps cause it tracks that, and then switch to that 20 seconds or whatever for your workouts.

Forerunner 255, 165 or 265. Not Venu 3, it lacks in data pages (you can only see 1 for swimming) and there is not drill mode.

Forerunner 165 for sure.

165 is absolutely a fine running watch, with built in training functionality you would have to assemble yourself from several third aprty apps on apple watch. No subscription needed. Enjoy :).

I had the Instinct 2 for a few years and with the 165 having a price drop "upgraded" to the 165. I like the color screen and it is lighter than the Instinct. I used my Instinct for tracking my walking and steps through out the day so I did not anything fancy. https://preview.redd.it/61zti7c6s52f1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa5df6410f5c1029e145aedfad12e5eca31aa012

I have the forerunner 165 music. Wish I had also forgotten about the music thing as I literally never run with music.  I love my forerunner! 

For weight training I'd go with Forerunner 165 and a chest strap. Without a chest strap watches don't track well lifting sessions.

I use Garmin forerunner watch, sync Strava with Garmin Connect and sync Komoot with Strava. It works like a charm.

I have a Garmin Edge bike computer and chest based heart rate because I like to see my speed on the handlebars rather than having to look at my watch. It also navigates for me on more adventurous rides and race courses I'm unfamiliar with. For local social rides I just track on my Garmin Forerunner watch.

Runs are the same concept as rides. Personally, I use purpose-built devices to record: Garmin Edge bike computer, Garmin Forerunner watch (they also both do navigation, connect to heart rate sensors, watch does music, etc.). When I stop an activity and hit save, it's uploaded to Strava before I can even get the garage door open. I don't want to carry my phone on a run, and I don't want to run down the battery on all-day rides.

I actually prefer my old Vivoactive to the Forerunner. I'm a slow jogger, and this Forerunner is demotivating because it tells me how much I suck.

I’ve had and loved garmin forerunners and a coros pace. Slight preference for coros over garmin for battery life. Slight preference for garmin for multi-app interoperability.  I’m actually planning to buy an Apple Watch because it’s fine as a fitness tracker and has better health tracking capabilities on top of the fitness stuff. 

I was doing gym work exclusively, got a Forerunner. Somehow ended up a runner .. you’ve been warned lol The daily suggestions of going for a run brainwashed me I think! But there are worse things to happen in life

Mine’s always been quite low, I have asthma, asthmatic Garmin users seem to say just ignore it Just in case it doesn’t improve and you feel dejected like I did, have a read online, plenty of stuff like this https://uphillathlete.com/aerobic-training/max-vo2-myth/ it probably doesn’t mean as much as the faith we place in it! But good luck in your training!

Not having a screen doesn't really seem like much of a selling point. It's nice to have the watch function and access to other data bits on the screen. I have an older Garmin Forerunner that I've used for about 8 years.

Garmin Forerunners are a great fitness watch.

Garmin Forerunner does a great job. I like the Apple Watch, but the battery life kills me. With my Garmin, I can use it to track swims, runs, and bike ride and I still only need to charge it once a week.

I had a Vivoactive for years that died and I switch to a forerunner a few weeks ago. I am super happy, much better battery, I love the training analysis features it pushes me to work on my cardio as I am more into strength.

My Garmin Forerunner does a decent job tracking lap swimming. It struggles with open water but I do'nt do that very often.

Coros or garmin pace or forerunner, if you like music while running get the garmin, if your more minimalist (smaller screen, simpler interface) get the coros

I turn it off on my garmin forerunner as it drives me mad and once it’s off you never get notifications. Even after system updates and stuff. Easy peasy

As the other comments here say, Forerunner or instinct. It will not give you the equivalent experience to a Samsung watch, as they are sport/activity focused by design. It has all the basic functionality of a smart watch, Bluetooth connection, notification alerts (some just say you have a notification, others will aloow you to read and respond, so do your research). Forerunner is the entry level fitness device, so it may be best for you, and the instinct is a little more 'I just want a watch that's also connected' vibes. The vivosmart is a half step down from the Forerunner, and yes, super basic, will probably be in the category of just letting you know you have a message, but I'm not sure, as I don't have one. Forerunner also has built-in GPS, which vivosmart does not.

I've got a Forerunner that I wear to keep an eye on hearth rate, but that's about it. I generally mark beginning and end, and sometimes when there's a big change in the section of the sequence - from standing/balancing to seated/prone sections. I'll also often hit the pose button if it's been one of those days and I need to tap out to hero/corpse. The problem you're going to find is that the watch would have to sense very specific motion and velocity to figure out when a pose has changed. I can't think of a watch anywhere with that much sensitivity.

I have a Garmin Forerunner, hopefully soon to upgrade to Fenix. Anyway, it has the quickfit watch strap, so I have an orange band on it all the time, and for formal occasions I have the chestnut leather band, takes all of 30s to swap them over 👍🏻

I’d check Facebook Marketplace for a used Garmin Forerunner. They are good watches for running and biking, and they also have good sleep-tracking if you decide to wear it 24/7.

Garmin all the way if you are using android The tracking is really quite good and the features arent exactly advanced for a beginner, it walks you through basically everything Ive seen a few forerunners or vivoactive go on sale for slightly over 200. Abit higher than your budget but imo worth it, it will last you even when you are no longer a beginner

get a low digit garmin Forerunner, they do what you are looking for

I have the forerunner and I haven’t as it’s not rated for that kind of temp. However google searching has people going into the sauna with their Garmin without issue so it’s really a personal risk / reward scenario.

For a long time, I only ran with my phone and used the Map My Run app, and then switched to Strava. I used live tracking on the apps as I ran, but I didn’t have a watch to see how it was going in real time. Both apps have voiceovers that tell you when you hit a mile and your pace.  I ran my first half marathon and had no clue what my heart rate was, which is what made me get a little more serious afterwards. I got a cheap Garmin forerunner to start with, and moved on from there! So you don’t necessarily need anything, but if you get more serious with it, a watch is nice to have! A running belt like Flipbelt or SPI belt is handy to carry your phone.

It depends on your goals. If youre wanting to squeeze the most out of each session then more data will allow you to do that. If youre not that fussed and just happy to be doing some cardio and you can gauge your effort based on feel then that would be fine too. I use a garmin forerunner for HR zones during running and cycling (+ chest strap monitor), and as a stop watch when swimming. I dont bother to monitor anything else as Im not hoping for a podium nor do I change my training depending on any data in particular. Edit; It should also be noted that its only worth tracking data if you actually know what to do with the information

Dammit I loved my Forerunner, I pool swam, ran, trail ran, hiked, OWS, you name it, and the watch is awesome. It holds music so I can run with just the watch. Tracking was great. The numbers were big enough to read I had it for 3 years, and the plastic bracket that holds the wrist strap pin broke. I am using my sons Google watch and I curse every time I have to look at it. I keep thinking I'll get used to it and eventually love it. Nope I hate it every day. So now I run with 2 fitness trackers, the Garmin without a strap, in my pocket and my every day Google watch on my wrist. Buy the Garmin

Forerunners are much lighter weight and therefore much more comfortable to wear.

I have a Garmin forerunner and it’s great for fitness tracking and everything else, I wear it all day every day. It will give you yardages to front middle and back, and it’s pretty accurate. I mainly use my range finder though so I don’t often use the watch for golf. I was thinking about making the switch to a more golf forward version and the epix pro is the top of my list. It has unbelievable golf functionality but is also a great fitness watch. The only better “golf feature” garmin is the S62 or similar, but they aren’t as convenient for fitness tracking IMO. Garmin kicks ass though, I highly recommend it. The site DC rainmaker is a good resource, that dude has reviews on every damn garmin product I think

Garmin forerunner for sure. I got myself a Garmin venu 3 and it’s good but there’s a few features the forerunners have that I miss. I use that combined with Strava for community, Garmin connect app for stats, and Runna app for training plans. They all connect together. Runna automatically sends runs to my watch, then the watch sends the stats back to all three apps when I’m done 👍 Edit: it also all sends the data to my Apple health and my Lifesum dieting app which updates my daily calorie intake based on activity level

I use my Garmin forerunner Yes it's fine with chalk, though the buttons used to go smoother Yes it gets scratched but hey, so do I

Apple Watch will do fine for a long time - only got a Garmin last year. However once you go to only having to charge your watch once every two weeks you just can’t go back to Apple. I have a Garmin Fenix (on the $$$ side) but I wear it every day as my normal watch too and have had zero issues making the switch. However there’s heaps in the range, I love accuracy, maps, long battery and lots and lots of data so I can overthink every run - so Fenix it is! The forerunners are great and the vivoactives are a good mid range model. There’s other brands like Suunto, Polar etc. For true accuracy on any wrist watch you may need a chest monitor. But if you really like your Apple Watch I found it pretty good unless you’re somewhere with not much reception

You can’t respond to notifications with it. I have the S and I’m in love with it!

The Vivoactive 4s or the forerunner are my favorite intro garmins. That being said, the Venu 3 is probably the best intro at the moment since it has more accurate sensors (I just prefer the transflective displays as opposed to the amoled displays) The main reason I got a Garmin was due to the metrics at the start of covid. That being said, now I often use it to track metrics when walking the dogs, or as a way to see the watch readings if I’m feeling off. As an example, when I got covid I was able to use the readings to check my recovery metrics, which was nice.

I use Garmin Forerunner. But I am not interested in smart watch stuff, and only fitness (though you can still pick calls, change music), so it works for me and it lasts for weeks. However, if you want something more straightforward it also probably isn't for you. It has tons of data and some of it is hard to read unless you go out of your way to learn what it is.

If you want to get healthy and get phone notifications and *maybe* do music or something, get a Garmin. Instinct 2 (gives music controls but requires a phone for the music itself) or a used Forerunner (I believe they're done of the cheapest models that do on-board music, Spotify, etc.) or what have you. If you want to do smartphone stuff on your wrist and *maybe* get healthy, go Samsung.

Get a garmin forerunner best investment I’ve ever made

Well, it is not necessary, but definitely it helps. I’d recommend you to buy at least some basic Garmin Forerunner - it doesn’t cost much, has a decent battery life and is light. Regarding AW, for marathon, you should buy ultra, which is a lot of money. Whoops is more an add-on than running tracker. It’s not very comfortable to run with a phone and the watch shows live metrics, which is very useful. So yes, you should.

I have all phone notifications disabled on my Forerunner and on my Garmin Edge. So it works just as you expected - it records my activities and syncs them to Garmin Connect / Strava afterwards.

To add to everyone else’s comments - mines have lasted very well. My first Forerunner works after a decade, I just replaced it with a Fenix a few years back. After four years it’s never had any issues. Yes they aren’t the cheapest but it is worth the investment.

My wife has the vivoactive 5. She recently started running and finds it rather basic compared to the running metrics and functionalities I get from my forerunner. The things she would like to have the most, that are not on the Vivoactive, are Daily Suggested Workout and breadcrumb trails.

I have a Whoop band that I really like for tracking activities. It’s not a watch - doesn’t have a face to it at all - but I think it does a good job tracking sleep/activities and horse riding is an option for activity on it. You don’t pay up front for it - it’s a $35/month service fee. So while not a big expense up front, it obviously adds up over time, which is not necessarily for everyone.  I wear a garmin forerunner on my other wrist too. I like that as well, but I have to say I prefer the app and the data provided by the whoop. I basically only use my forerunner for the actual watch face at this point.  Edit: I just checked whoops website and they do offer a $399 up front fee for 2 year membership. 

The forerunner line is geared towards running and triathlon. They are excellent watches. You can get them relatively cheap used.

The forerunner will meet and exceed all your needs except one. What type of integration are you requiring? Basic smart notifications?

used Garmin like Fenix or forerunner, or just used Apple Watch 6 they are like 70-$100

I’d also recommend going for a Forerunner. Forerunners are built for running and can be used for swimming. An Instinct 2 lacks for example Garmin Run Coach, which the Forerunners have.

IMHO Apple does fitness tracking better than Garmin. Esp. sleep tracking is more accurate, plus you get ECG on most Apple Watches. In the US, blood oxygen tracking is currently disabled for new Apple Watches. Btw. I am wearing both, Garmin and Apple (I like redundancy for marathons, plus my Apple Watch has LTE, while my Forerunner does not)

Basically any modern smartwatch will do this. Your axes of choice are ecosystem, battery life, and price. The basic Apple Watch will do what you want, but because you’re using the GPS, the battery will be dead mid-day. I do not recommend any Apple Watch but the Ultra for an athlete or active person because of the awful battery life. If you want something cheaper than the Ultra, I’d look at the Coros Pace and cheaper Garmin Forerunner options. They’ll both cost about half and are really good products with roughly 5-10x battery life vs the basic Apple Watch.

Oh wow I didn’t know the Ultra 2 also had that issue. Honestly after getting a garmin watch, I don’t think I can go back.

Garmin forerunners have hrv, you don't need a special app. But again, sleep tracking isn't great

I use Strava and the Whithings app, paired with one of their smart scales and a few add ons. Apple Health can pull from both, and while I don't care about my daily steps (for example) they automatically pull from my watch (forerunner) into the various apps as well.

Can't go wrong with Garmin imho. I've had a fenix and a couple of forerunners, and they've all worked great.

I have been trying to get going as a runner for a few years but kept getting injured... anyway I've had a Garmin Forerunner for a few years as well and I am happy with it. It's useful as an everyday watch but also has built in training programs. I'm going through one right now for a half marathon in May and it's going well. I did six miles yesterday (the farthest I've ever ran in my life) and I feel great today. It is durable, has great battery life, and for the money is a pretty good bargain imo. I would suggest it to anyone.

Three things to consider that comes to my mind. 1. If you are only looking to track runs(no use for daily health metrics) then you can just wear the running watch during the run, and then put the watch away after you are done. That is what I do with my Garmin Forerunner. I do my run with the watch and then after I come back home the Forerunner gets turned off and put away. 2. Alternative option is to just use your phone's GPS data to track run data. Personally I tried this method, and I wasn't a fan because the phone GPS would struggle to find me sometimes and I'd end up with a weird run distance and times. Non watch style fitness tracking device would likely also have this issue where the GPS function is either non-existent or not as accurate as the watch style running watches. 3. Lastly, I'd just run by time and effort without any tracking if you are just starting out. Time on feet will likely matter more for your progress than accurate distance or speed measures. Set a timer on your phone and run until the timer goes off, then turn around and run back to the starting point. Slowly increase the time on the timer over as you get better. This is more or less what I did when starting out, and I still use this method when going for an easy run.

If you don’t wanna get a dedicated computer like the Garmin edge. Then get a forerunner or fenix.

That's what I did, I had a Forerunner and when it was time to upgrade, went ahead and upgraded to Fenix.

People have to stop comparing these. These are for two different people. I would never wear an Apple Watch based on battery life alone. I specifically got the Garmin for a wrist based gps and mapping tool to track and orient myself. You buy an Apple Watch to use smart features and be connected to your phone. Garmin has never been in that market. It’s a whole company based on gps systems for outdoor activities . You buy an Apple Watch to have Apple ecosystem. you can’t use half the feature of the fenix on an iPhone bc they only want you to use their watch… Garmin are all specifically made for their audience even down the the model . Apple watches are just to keep you plugged into your phone and have no bearing on actual outdoor activities despite calling it ultra. The Millitary has been orienteering with Garmin wrist based gps systems forever. You’d never catch an Apple Watch on patrol in Afghanistan. 😂