Best Garmin Watch for Running in 2026
The Forerunner 570 is the Garmin for most serious runners at $549.99. The 970 adds maps, ECG and a flashlight for $749.99. New runners should look at the $249 Forerunner 70 or $299 Forerunner 170.
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Quick answer
The Forerunner 570 is the Garmin for most serious runners at $549.99. The 970 adds maps, ECG and a flashlight for $749.99. New runners should look at the $249 Forerunner 70 or $299 Forerunner 170. Best for most runners: Garmin Forerunner 570, $549.99. Best for marathons and trails: Garmin Forerunner 970, $749.99. Best for beginners: Garmin Forerunner 170, $299.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for most runners | Garmin Forerunner 570 | most serious runners | $549.99 |
| Best for marathons and trails | Garmin Forerunner 970 | marathon and trail runners | $749.99 |
| Best for beginners | Garmin Forerunner 170 | beginners who want smart features | $299 ($349 music) |
| Cheapest Garmin runner | Garmin Forerunner 70 | the lowest price | $249 |
| Best older bargain | Garmin Forerunner 165 | a discounted older model | $249.99 |
This guide covers only Garmin’s Forerunner running watches, using The Run Testers’ Garmin rankings, Wareable’s[2] 970 vs 570 comparison and WIRED[3], with prices checked October 2026. For every Garmin line, including Venu, Fenix and Instinct, see best Garmin watches.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Watch | Price | Size | Battery (watch / GPS) | Key extras | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forerunner 70 | $249 | 42mm | 10 days / 16 hrs (all-systems) | AMOLED, Training Readiness | The lowest price |
| Forerunner 170 | $299 ($349 music) | 42mm | 10 days / 14 hrs (all-systems) | Barometer, compass, NFC, music option | Beginners who want smart features |
| Forerunner 165 | $249.99 ($299.99 music) | 43mm | 11 days / 17 hrs (all-systems) | Older, often discounted | A discounted older model |
| Forerunner 570 | $549.99 | 42/47mm | See Garmin | Multi-band GPS, triathlon | Most serious runners |
| Forerunner 970 | $749.99 | 47mm | 15 days / 21 hrs (dual-band) | Maps, ECG, flashlight, sapphire | Marathon and trail runners |
The picks in detail
1. Garmin Forerunner 570
Best for: most serious runnersWareable[2] recommends the 570 if you want top-tier GPS and training tools without the 970’s price. It has multi-band GPS and triathlon support, but uses breadcrumb navigation instead of full maps and lacks ECG and the newest running metrics. Wareable suggests also comparing it with the cheaper Forerunner 265 and the Forerunner 965.
Price (Oct 2026): $549.99 Source
Pros
- Multi-band GPS
- Triathlon modes
- $200 less than the 970
Cons
- No offline maps
- No ECG
- Fewer advanced metrics
2. Garmin Forerunner 970
Best for: marathon and trail runnersThe Run Testers call the 970 probably their favorite Garmin for running. Wareable[2] says it adds offline topographic maps, the longest GPS battery in a Forerunner, a sapphire display and an LED flashlight. Its most advanced running metrics need the HRM 600 chest strap, which Wareable says costs another $170.
Price (Oct 2026): $749.99 Source
Pros
- Offline maps
- Longest Forerunner GPS battery
- Flashlight and sapphire glass
Cons
- Expensive
- Best metrics need a $170 strap
3. Garmin Forerunner 170
Best for: beginners who want smart featuresThe Run Testers say the 170 shares the 70’s design but adds a barometer, altimeter and compass, plus NFC payments and music storage on the $349 version. It has slightly shorter battery life than the 70 and no multi-band GPS.
Price (Oct 2026): $299 ($349 music) Source
Pros
- NFC payments
- Music option
- Extra sensors
Cons
- No multi-band GPS
- Slightly shorter battery than the 70
4. Garmin Forerunner 70
Best for: the lowest priceThe Run Testers say the 70 replaces the Forerunner 55 as Garmin’s cheapest running watch. It has an AMOLED screen and useful stats like Training Readiness and Training Status, but no NFC payments, music or multi-band GPS.
Price (Oct 2026): $249 Source
Pros
- Cheapest current Forerunner
- AMOLED screen
- 10-day battery
Cons
- No NFC or music
- Fewer sensors
5. Garmin Forerunner 165
Best for: a discounted older modelThe Run Testers say an older Garmin like the 165 gets you a feature-packed watch for less, though you’ll miss future software features. It’s $249.99, or $299.99 with music, and TechRadar[4] has seen it under $200.
Price (Oct 2026): $249.99 Source
Pros
- Often discounted
- Touchscreen AMOLED
- 11-day battery
Cons
- Older model
- Fewer future updates
Also considered
Garmin Fenix 8 Pro: $1,199–$1,299 per The Run Testers; an adventure watch more than a running watch.
Garmin Venu X1: $799.99; a thin, big-screen Garmin with running features.
Coros Pace 4: A $249 non-Garmin rival with long battery life; see best budget smartwatches.
Which Forerunner should you buy?
If you’re new to running, start with the Forerunner 70 or 170. If you train for races, the 570 covers almost everything. Get the 970 if you run trails, need maps, or want the longest battery life. Comparing brands? See Garmin vs Apple Watch and best fitness trackers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Garmin for running?
What is the cheapest Garmin running watch?
Is the Forerunner 970 worth it over the 570?
Do I need a chest strap?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- The Run Testers: Best Garmin running watches (theruntesters.com)
- Wareable: Garmin Forerunner 970 vs 570 (wareable.com)
- WIRED: Best Garmin watches (wired.com)
- TechRadar: The best cheap smartwatch (techradar.com)
Related
Best Garmin Watches of 2026
The Vivoactive 6 is the best Garmin for most people at $300. Runners should get the Forerunner 970, and the Fenix 8 is the best outdoor watch if you can afford it.
best ofBest Budget Smartwatches in 2026
TechRadar’s best cheap smartwatch is the $99 Amazfit Active 2. iPhone owners should get the Apple Watch SE 3, and the CMF Watch 3 Pro is the cheapest pick at about $79.
comparisonGarmin vs Apple Watch
Garmin watches last days to weeks and work with iPhone and Android. The Apple Watch has better smart features and calls but needs an iPhone and lasts about a day (Series 12) or two (Ultra 4).
best ofBest Fitness Trackers
The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is the best overall, the screenless Fitbit Air is the value pick, and the Oura Ring 5 is the best if you don’t want anything on your wrist.
best ofBest Smartwatches
If you have an iPhone, get an Apple Watch Series 12 (or the SE 3 to save money). On Android, the Pixel Watch 5 has the best battery life of the big three, and the Galaxy Watch9 is the pick for Samsung phones.
comparisonGarmin Forerunner 570 vs Forerunner 970
Both watches have bright AMOLED screens, a speaker and microphone, and Garmin’s training tools. The 970 adds offline topographic maps, ECG, an LED flashlight, a sapphire lens with a titanium bezel, and longer battery life, for $200 more.