The middle sibling of the Garmin Forerunner family has had its latest upgrade. At a higher price point than the Forerunner 265, are the latest developments worth it? And how does it stack up against other running watches? Let’s give it a spin and find out…
Garmin Forerunner 265S technical details
- Weight: 39g
- Price: £429.99
- Up to 15 days battery life with 24 hours in GPS mode
- fast charging
- Garmin Connect compatible
- multisport tracking
- Touch screen
- AMOLED display screen
Garmin Forerunner 265S pro
- Made for smaller wrists with 42mm watch face
- Great quality screen
- So much content to discover through the Connect app
- Excellent battery life
Garmin Forerunner 265S cons
- More expensive than its previous version
Who is this running watch for?
This is a watch made with runners in mind: it will definitely support you with other cross-training, but if you want a more general sports watch then it might be worth skipping out on some of the specs and saving your pennies with a more general sports watch like the Garmin Vivomove Trend. The Forerunner 265S offers all sorts of smart watch features that will help to support your running that might be particularly helpful to you if you’re time poor. It’s a watch for the busy runner who wants to get more insight into their training and efficiently work running into a packed schedule.
Is this running watch comfortable to wear?
I didn’t find it quite as comfortable as other Garmin lifestyle offerings like the Vivomove range, but it’s a little more heavy duty so this didn’t bother me. It feels secure and the silicone is soft. I also really appreciated the smaller watch face, which didn’t get in the way when I slept. I got used to wearing this watch very quickly, and it’s super lightweight, too.
What’s the display like?
The display is perhaps one of the big selling points of the Forerunner 265S – it’s had a decent upgrade to an AMOLED screen, which tech fans generally consider to be superior in terms of color and vividness. This watch is more comparable to watches like the Apple Watch Ultra.
Is the Garmin Forerunner 265S waterproof?
Yes, this watch is waterproof. It has a water rating of 5 ATM, meaning it can withstand pressure equivalent to about 50 meters under water.
What’s the battery life like?
I was really impressed with the battery life – it won’t last you quite as long as something like the epic Garmin Fenix 7, but it lives up to its promises: you’ll get at least a day’s worth of GPS life, with almost 15 days of general use. It also charges really quickly.
What other activities does it track?
This watch will track almost anything else you can think of: I used it for spin classes, yoga and even meditation as well as running. That being said, a lot of the stats and, of course, the GPS features are geared towards running.
Garmin Forerunner 265S running review
I’ve used the Garmin Connect app before, but I was pleased to discover plenty of new features with the 265S. Something new for most Garmin wearers is the Training Readiness feature, which takes into account all sorts of data including your sleep score and body battery to present you with a stat that will help you decide when is best to train. As I mentioned previously, this watch would be a really good choice for time-poor runners, as it definitely offers info that can help you work your training into your life in the most efficient way possible.
You can control so much from the watch itself that I barely needed to use the app – but I still found it the most useful way to check out all the incredible personalized training features like the training plans and workouts.
The display really comes into its own when running, with accurate GPS and great real-time stats including VO2 Max and heart rate variability.
Despite the brilliant screen, the battery life still holds up really well: you could train with this for a week, using insightful features as well as music modes, before you needed to take it off and charge it.
I really love this watch, and I’ve found it absolutely essential to my training. Not only has it provided me with all the usual stats, but it’s also helped me to set new fitness goals and given me the tools to work towards them. It’s pricey, but less so than super high-end Garmin watches like the Fenix. I’d say that the new price point is worth it, and I haven’t been disappointed.
Where can I buy this watch?
You can buy the Forerunner 265S on the Garmin website.
