10 Best Garmin Forerunners 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is a high-end GPS running and triathlon smartwatch designed for serious athletes who want detailed insights into their performance. Its standout feature is the bright 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen combined with button controls, making the display easy to read in various lighting conditions. The watch offers multi-band GPS with full-color maps, helping you confidently navigate any route with dynamic round-trip routing. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and 26 hours with GPS active, which covers long training sessions and multi-day events without frequent charging.

It includes advanced heart rate monitoring with wrist-based running dynamics and running power metrics, offering detailed data to improve running economy and avoid overtraining. The built-in LED flashlight is a practical addition for early morning or late-night workouts. Smartwatch features like call handling, voice assistant support, and notifications keep you connected on the go. It also supports multisport auto-transition for triathletes and provides personalized Garmin Coach training plans.

The titanium bezel and sapphire lens add durability while keeping the watch lightweight. This watch suits runners and triathletes who want a premium, feature-rich device with excellent battery life and detailed training insights.

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is a high-end GPS running and triathlon smartwatch designed for serious athletes who want detailed insights into their training and health. Its brightest AMOLED touchscreen combined with durable titanium and sapphire materials makes the watch both visually appealing and tough enough for daily use. The built-in LED flashlight is a thoughtful addition for early morning or nighttime runs, enhancing safety. Battery life is solid, offering up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and 26 hours with GPS active, so you can rely on it for long training sessions without frequent charging.

This watch provides advanced running metrics like running economy and step speed loss, though measuring some of these requires an additional HRM 600 chest strap. Its personalized Garmin Coach training plans adapt to your performance and recovery, helping you train smarter. The multisport auto-transition feature is very useful for triathletes, automatically switching tracking modes between swimming, cycling, and running. Wrist-based running dynamics and power measurements give you a detailed view of your form and effort.

Smart features include making and receiving calls directly from your wrist and using your phone’s voice assistant for messages, which adds convenience during workouts. Full-color maps and multi-band GPS support let you explore new routes confidently, with dynamic routing adjusting as needed. Health monitoring includes a training readiness score based on various factors and an ECG app for heart rhythm checks, though the latter is limited to certain countries and users over 22. This watch is an excellent choice for dedicated runners and triathletes seeking a durable, feature-packed device with robust health and training tools.

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is a high-quality GPS smartwatch designed mainly for runners and triathletes who want detailed training insights and reliable tracking. Its bright 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen is easy to read in most lighting conditions, and the titanium bezel with sapphire lens adds durability without much extra weight. The built-in LED flashlight is a handy safety feature for running in the dark. Battery life is strong, offering up to 15 days in regular watch mode and about 26 hours when using GPS, so you won’t need to recharge often during training cycles or races.

This watch tracks a wide range of health metrics such as heart rate, ECG for heart rhythm, and advanced running dynamics like cadence and stride length, giving you a comprehensive view of your fitness and performance. Training features include adaptive coaching plans and a training readiness score that helps you avoid overtraining by considering your sleep, recovery, and stress. The built-in maps and multi-band GPS provide accurate navigation, including dynamic routing if you change course mid-run. On the smart side, the watch supports phone calls, text responses via voice assistant, and notifications when paired with your smartphone.

Advanced metrics like step speed loss require an additional heart rate monitor that is sold separately. If you are serious about running or triathlon training and want a premium, durable smartwatch that covers health, performance, and smart connectivity well, the Garmin Forerunner 970 is an excellent choice.