Best Garmin Running Watches for Every Runner: Our top picks of 2023

Looking for the best Garmin running watch to track your runs? Whether you're searching for the one with the best battery life for your ultra outings or you want something to kickstart your running journey, you've definitely come to the right place.
The Testers team has years of experience strapping on pretty much every big Garmin made for runners, so you're in good hands if you're ready to buy your first, or you're looking to upgrade.
Jane, Nick and Mike take you through the top picks from the team, across a range of categories to give you the best Garmin watches that we think are worthy of a place on your wrist. Enjoy.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:56 - Best Garmin For Beginners
05:38 - Best Garmin Running Watch For Women
10:07 - Best Value Garmin Running Watch
13:32 - Best Garmin For Battery Life
17:32 - Best Garmin For Mapping And Trail Running
21:37 - Best Garmin For Runners (Money's No Object)
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[@chski1220]

I think the best watch for most runners is the 265. It has almost all the features and is available in 2 sizes, while having a great screen, solid battery life, training readiness, downloadable music and isn't too expensive

[@JoutarouKuujou1]

So nice that it tracks naps now

[@YY-bp2rq]

I love my 265s. I think it has a good balance of functionalities and price. The vibrant colours of AMOLED display is really stunning especially when placed next to older versions

[@Mascha_Eleonora]

@@JoutarouKuujou1it does? That is amazing

[@JoutarouKuujou1]

@@Mascha_Eleonora New feature that dropped last week. I'm amazed at how accurate it is. Pretty much spot on

[@Mascha_Eleonora]

@@JoutarouKuujou1 now I really want to go back to Garmin

[@outdoorsguy1535]

great video, thank you.

[@martinweston8147]

I went for a 955 as I needed nav, I have a small wrist so the bigger watches didn’t appeal to me. I may need to charge it for 15mins during a 100miler, but those 15min saves me £400! Note Garmin rolled out an update last week that allows a bigger font size, so again no need to go for one of those larger models

[@tkbuz]

Write in vote for the Instinct 2x solar. All features of much more expensive watches except for the monochrome screen and no full mapping. Huge battery life. All for $349 on current sale!

[@lowzyyy]

255 best value, 955 best value if you have a little more money. I agree

[@nxel2]

Is there any difference between the fènix 7s standard and the 6s Pro (sapphire or solar) rather than the touch?

[@JohnBirtchetSharpe]

Very good reviews thanks all , especially the female specific features and metrics , while obviosly they do not apply to me I have family and mates that often ask my advice and that is very applicable. (Use the 955 Solar myself , has all the bells and whistles I want, plus great battery life)

[@vinads1309]

I’ve been wearing my Black 265s since launched & loving it to bits 🤩😍 Although I do agree with Jane on I wish Forerunner 9 series had smaller options, I didn’t pick 965 simply because of the size. Wore the Fenix series before & for me it’s quite bulky for sleep tracking & I do need the map feature.. So Garmin, please please please consider S version for 9xx 😅

[@joannemarkov]

As a woman who bought and tested the 265 and 265S and kept the S because the larger size felt gargantuan, I second the recommendation for the 265S. I also with the 965 came as a 965S!

[@pakovg4297]

Is there any of those devices that allows to create your own workouts from the device itself, without having to connect with any website or app?

[@Ouga_Official]

I have the Forerunner 55 because I have only been running for a few months. When it completely dies in a few years, I plan on buying the yet to be released Forerunner 965S or whatever version we’d be at that comes with a smaller screen. It would be great to look at maps on my watch without having to pull my phone out in unfamiliar locations

[@TheHutchRuns]

I have the Epix Gen 2 (non Pro) which does everything I need, the Pro has extra battery life but I haven't felt I've need it, yet...

[@georgesa.videau8332]

Great video thumbnail. It reminds me of the "usual suspects" movie. Kaiser Sauze.

[@snowwalker9999]

Garmin Marketing forces you to consider the higher models. For most runners maps amoled screen and a flashlight are very useful which are only available in their most expensive models. Those are basic features that in 2024 should be available on most sports watches.

[@pietro4836]

955 top🔥

[@jermainesmith1052]

I know it’s a niche watch, but the Instinct 2X should receive an honorable mention for battery life. Especially with the torch.

[@DTOWNRW16]

i really want the training readiness feature on the 265 but it really is quite a jump for me who doesnt need the nice screen.

[@pasteldecarne485]

I have the 265s. Trust me, you will basically never use that feature

[@JoutarouKuujou1]

I use it all the time

[@DTOWNRW16]

@@pasteldecarne485 overrated?

[@YY-bp2rq]

@@JoutarouKuujou1I check it every single day in the morning report. But I never listen to it 😅

[@pasteldecarne485]

I think its just not very useful to base your workouts on. At least for me. I swim, run and weightlift, the readiness never really matches how tired or rested I am. It might be useful if you only do one type of training, for periodization optimization or something like that. 😬

[@garyculver4345]

All current Garmin have way too much crap than needed.. give me time, distance, and post run elevation and i'm good .. I'm a 70 year old "beginner" with close to 100k+ lifetime miles .. currently using Forerunner 25 & 35 .. just wish the battery life was better ..

[@naj114]

Started running a year ago. Had the 55. Took running more seriously, upgraded to 245. Running 6 days a week now and just treated myself to the Epix Gen 2 Sapphire for £599. What sold it for me is the amoled, music and pay so don't need to carry my bulky phone and the build quality is something i would wear every day, and thats saying something from somone who has worn a Breitling on his wrist daily for the past 9 years!

[@johnnybombas1685]

If Money is no object then what about the Tactix 7 AMOLED, No? I wish you guys could review it even if it's overkill. I feel MarQ is just a luxury smaller version of the Epix Pro with older heart rate sensor that doesn't make much sense of a release from Garmin.

[@thegeorgiapiper4094]

I’ve been using the fenix 7x and I’m going to switch to the tactix 7 amoled. Better screen, better mapping, better heart rate sensor, better flashlight. I think it’ll be a beast for trail runners

[@Anatoly_Tsvetkov]

After getting forerunner 965 I realised that Im not even using touch screen that much cause I still mechanically reaching for buttons when it comes to workouts, amoled display is ok but not the game changer.

[@jaredstrauss617]

No love for the Marq?

[@mrbartuss1]

As long as Garmins don’t have cellular feature I’ll stay with my Apple Watch

[@andrewstorm8240]

£1k for a running watch!!

[@zz3410]

Got epix gen 2 for 399usd on sale. Just need to be patient and wait for the right time.

[@alanlamar8851]

I did as well off of running warehouse