10 Best Garmin Forerunners 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is a running-focused smartwatch that stands out with its colorful AMOLED display and comprehensive fitness features. GPS accuracy is a key strength, ideal for runners who need precise pace and distance measurements during workouts. Its heart rate monitoring is reliable and works straight from the wrist, which is convenient for users who prefer not to use a chest strap. Battery life is notably robust, offering up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode, accommodating long training sessions or multi-day usage without frequent charging.

Training and performance metrics are a highlight, providing personalized workout suggestions and insights into recovery times and training effects. This makes it suitable for users aiming to optimize their fitness regime or prepare for specific events. The inclusion of 25+ activity profiles means versatility for various workout types beyond running, such as cycling and strength training.

Smartwatch capabilities are well-integrated, allowing for music storage and playback directly from the watch, which supports popular music services like Spotify and Amazon Music. This feature, along with smart notifications and Garmin Pay, enhances its usability as a daily smartwatch. While it is water-resistant, making it usable in rain or sweaty conditions, it may not be suitable for extensive swimming sessions. The AMOLED display is vibrant, but some users might find the 1.2-inch screen size modest compared to other smartwatches.

In summary, the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is a solid choice for dedicated runners and fitness enthusiasts seeking a smartwatch with advanced training metrics and smart features. Its lightweight design and user-friendly interface make it accessible, although those needing more extensive swimming features or a larger display might look elsewhere.

The Garmin Forerunner 265S is a strong choice for runners and fitness enthusiasts who want detailed training insights in a compact and stylish package. Its bright 1.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen combined with traditional buttons makes it easy to use, especially for smaller wrists thanks to its lightweight 42 mm design. GPS tracking is very accurate due to multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology, meaning your runs are mapped well even in tricky environments, and it balances this with good battery life—up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and 24 hours using GPS continuously.

The watch offers plenty of health tracking features like heart rate, HRV status, and recovery insights, which help you understand when to push or rest. Personalized daily suggested workouts and a race widget can guide your training effectively, adjusting based on your recent performance and recovery. Safety features such as incident detection add peace of mind, although they require a paired smartphone with network access. Smart notifications keep you connected without needing to pull out your phone.

Some users may find the smaller 1.1-inch screen a bit cramped, and certain advanced features depend on Garmin’s app and smartphone connectivity to unlock their full potential. This model suits those wanting a powerful running watch that’s both functional and comfortable, especially if you have smaller wrists and prefer a vibrant display.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is a straightforward and reliable running watch great for runners who want accurate GPS tracking and useful training guidance without complexity. It tracks your heart rate right from your wrist and uses GPS to map your runs and measure your pace and distance. You’ll appreciate its long battery life—up to two weeks in regular mode and about 20 hours when using GPS—which means less frequent charging, helpful for those who run often or for long periods.

The watch comes with features like PacePro, which guides your pace for races, and suggested workouts tailored to your fitness level and recovery, making training easier to follow. Beyond running, it supports other activities like cycling, swimming, and even Pilates, plus wellness metrics such as stress tracking, respiration, and your body’s energy levels.

The screen is color and reasonably clear at 208 x 208 resolution, but it’s small and may not be as sharp as some other models. The build is lightweight and comfortable, and button controls work well even during workouts. It offers smartwatch features like notifications via Bluetooth but does not include advanced smart capabilities such as music storage or contactless payments. This watch is a dependable, easy-to-use device focused on running and overall fitness without extra complexity.