10 Best Garmin Forerunners 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Forerunner 265S is a great choice for runners and fitness enthusiasts looking for a smartwatch that combines style with solid performance. Its bright AMOLED touchscreen makes it easy to see stats clearly, and the watch’s lightweight 42 mm size fits smaller wrists comfortably. Battery life is strong, offering up to 15 days in regular smartwatch mode and about 24 hours when using GPS continuously, which is handy for long runs or multi-day activities. The GPS is enhanced with multi-band SatIQ technology, so it provides accurate location tracking even in tricky environments like dense city areas or forests.

Heart rate monitoring and various training metrics are detailed and reliable, with features like training readiness and recovery insights helping you know when to push hard or rest. It also offers over 30 activity profiles, covering everything from running and cycling to open-water swimming, making it versatile for many workout types. Smartwatch features such as notifications for calls and texts work well when connected to your phone, and safety tools like incident detection add peace of mind during outdoor activities.

While the watch doesn’t highlight specific water resistance levels, Garmin’s Forerunner series typically handles sweat and rain fine, though heavy water sports may require caution. The watch stores plenty of data internally and connects via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which helps with syncing and updates. If you want a user-friendly, stylish running watch with strong training support and dependable GPS, the Forerunner 265S is an excellent pick. However, if you need advanced water resistance for serious swimming or diving, you might want to double-check its limits or consider a model focused specifically on water sports.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is a strong option for runners and fitness enthusiasts looking for a versatile smartwatch. It has built-in GPS and wrist-based heart rate tracking, which are reliable for measuring pace, distance, and your heart rate during workouts. The AMOLED touchscreen is bright and colorful, making it easy to see your stats even outdoors, and its lightweight 43 mm design feels comfortable on the wrist. Battery life is solid, lasting up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and about 19 hours with GPS active, which is enough for most training sessions and longer runs. This model shines with its training features—personalized daily workouts adapt based on your recovery and performance, plus it offers race-specific plans and over 25 activity profiles beyond running, including cycling and HIIT. Health insights like sleep tracking, recovery time, and heart rate variability provide useful feedback to help improve your fitness safely.

It also supports music storage with popular streaming apps and connects to wireless headphones, letting you run phone-free. Smart features like notifications, Garmin Pay for contactless payments, and safety options like incident detection add convenience and peace of mind. One drawback is that some advanced safety features require pairing with a smartphone and network coverage, so they aren’t fully independent. Also, while the watch supports many smart features, it’s primarily focused on fitness rather than being a full smartwatch replacement. For those seeking an easy-to-use, performance-focused running watch with great battery life and music capabilities, the Forerunner 165 Music offers a well-rounded choice.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is a versatile GPS running watch designed for users seeking simplicity and efficiency in tracking their fitness activities. Its standout feature is the impressive battery life, offering up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode, making it ideal for long-duration activities and daily use without frequent charging. The GPS accuracy is reliable, providing precise tracking for your runs, while the wrist-based heart rate monitoring is a convenient way to keep tabs on your fitness levels, although it is important to note it is not a medical device.

The watch includes advanced training tools such as PacePro, which offers pace guidance based on GPS data, and suggested workouts that can help users optimize their training regimen. The daily suggested workouts feature is particularly useful for those looking to enhance their performance with varied intensity levels tailored to their fitness history and recovery needs.

For those interested in a broad range of activities, the Forerunner 55 supports various profiles, including cycling, swimming, and Pilates. Smartwatch features like Bluetooth connectivity and customizable watch faces via the Connect IQ store add to its appeal, although it lacks some of the more advanced functionalities found in higher-end models. Display quality, with a resolution of 208 x 208, is adequate for viewing essential information, though not the highest in its class. The watch is water-resistant, making it suitable for swimming and use in wet conditions, but it's not designed for deep-water activities. In terms of design, it is lightweight and unisex, catering to a wide audience.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is tailored for those who need a reliable, feature-rich running watch with excellent battery life and essential fitness tracking capabilities, rather than a fully-fledged smartwatch experience.