Garmin Forerunner 165: Advanced Running Smartwatch
Original price was: $249.99.$199.99Current price is: $199.99.
Price: $249.99 - $199.99
(as of Jun 04, 2025 11:14:44 UTC – Details)
Description
Train brilliantly for your next race with the Garmin Forerunner 165. This easy-to-use GPS running smartwatch features a stunning AMOLED touchscreen display that brings your stats to life. Track your pace, distance, and heart rate with precision, and leverage personalized training plans like Garmin Coach to crush your goals. Wake up to a detailed morning report covering sleep, recovery, and your training outlook. With advanced metrics like training effect, recovery time, and up to 11 days of battery life, plus smart notifications and Garmin Pay, it’s the perfect partner to elevate your running journey.
Product Details
- Display:Â Brilliant AMOLED touchscreen with traditional button controls
- Size:Â 43 mm lightweight design
- Battery Life:Â Up to 11 days in smartwatch mode; up to 19 hours in GPS mode
- Core Tracking:Â Built-in GPS for pace/distance, wrist-based heart rate
- Key Features:Â Morning Report, Training Effect, Recovery Time, Garmin Coach, Race Adaptive Training Plans
- Activity Profiles:Â 25+ built-in, including running, cycling, HIIT, and strength
- Connectivity:Â Smart notifications, Garmin Connect app integration, Garmin Pay
Advantages
The Forerunner 165 provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed to improve your performance and health. Its personalized daily suggested workouts and adaptive training plans take the guesswork out of your routine. The morning report offers a holistic view of your health, combining sleep, recovery, and HRV status. Customers praise its accurate heart rate monitoring and detailed health information. The bright, clear AMOLED display is easy to read outdoors, while the excellent battery life ensures it’s always ready for your next workout, making it a fantastic value.
Our Recommendations
We highly recommend the Garmin Forerunner 165 for beginner to intermediate runners who want serious training data without the premium price tag. It’s perfect for anyone training for a 5k, 10k, or half-marathon. If you're looking for a major upgrade from a basic fitness tracker and want key features like a vibrant display, accurate GPS, and actionable recovery insights, this watch delivers exceptional performance and value.
Conclusion
The Garmin Forerunner 165 is an outstanding choice that successfully bridges the gap between basic fitness trackers and elite-level running watches. It delivers all the essential tools a runner needs—a brilliant screen, impressive battery life, and core training metrics—to train effectively and stay motivated. While it omits some pro-level features, it provides exceptional value and is a smart, capable, and highly recommended running partner for a huge range of athletes.
FritzB. –
Best entry level. Can’t go wrong, can only go up.
I bought the 55 as an intro not knowing what I wanted. Within one day I realized that the 55 was too old, too dim screen (MIP pixels), it chewed through the battery using the backlight all the time (it was a renewed product though) and lacked support for the latest features and lacked sensors as well. I was totally into the Garmin vibe with the 55 but right out off the box (minus some confusion on the UI) I LOVE the watch. I def recommend this model as the entry level. The 55 is kind of steam locomotive with none of the charm. The menus and features are deep enough that you really DO need a touch screen even once you have the watch configured. The mix of hard buttons and touch screen is really nice. I def dig the sport vibe of this watch over some of the Garmins that are more “lifestyle”. I’m sure anything higher in price would be excellent. Supposedly the glass on this isn’t has good as Gorilla glass, so, perhaps if you are really a Gorilla with your gear you should go up to the 265, spending more to protect the money you’ve spent. But, i def wouldn’t go any lower – especially if you want to use the breath trainers, (which are awesome) and the other health metrics. Not using for running, general fitness. I can def see gradually moving up to one of the $1K watches with maps, etc, that are more robust, but so far the light weight is great. Band is a little more irritating and sweaty than my Casio Pro Trek.
K. –
All-Around Fitness Powerhouse
I’ve been using the Garmin Forerunner 165 for several months now, and it has become an essential part of my active lifestyle.The first thing that stands out about this watch is the vibrant AMOLED display. The colors are crisp and bright, making it easy to read metrics during outdoor activities, even in direct sunlight. The screen responsiveness is excellent, with smooth transitions between different data screens during workouts.For running, which is my primary activity, the Forerunner 165 provides comprehensive metrics that have genuinely helped improve my performance. The GPS accuracy is impressive – much more reliable than my previous fitness tracker, with minimal distance discrepancies when comparing to known routes. The training insights have been particularly valuable, suggesting recovery times and training load adjustments that have helped prevent overtraining.The versatility of this watch is where it truly shines. I’ve used it for hiking, with the altimeter providing useful elevation data. For walking, it accurately tracks steps and distance. The swim tracking functionality works exceptionally well for lap swimming, counting strokes and identifying stroke types with surprising accuracy.Sleep tracking has been eye-opening, providing detailed breakdowns of sleep stages that correlate well with how rested I feel each morning. The step goal feature adjusts based on your activity levels, which I find more motivating than static goals. The calories burned estimations seem reasonably accurate when compared to other methods I’ve used.Battery life deserves special mention – I typically get 5-6 days between charges with regular GPS usage, which is excellent for a watch with this bright a display.The only consistent issue I’ve encountered is with the weather feature. It sometimes fails to update properly. This is a minor inconvenience since I typically check the weather on my phone anyway, but worth noting as it’s the one feature that doesn’t quite meet the high standard set by everything else.The companion app ties everything together nicely, presenting the data in an intuitive format that makes it easy to spot trends and improvements over time.For anyone serious about fitness tracking across multiple activities with recovery insights to help optimize training, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is an excellent investment.
Brandee –
Perfect watch for runners!
I’ve been wearing this watch everyday and night for a few months now. I use it for daily walks and for running 3 times a week. Just completed my first 10k following the Garmin coaching program and it was super helpful! I only have to charge the battery once a week and it doesn’t take very long to reach 100%. I also love the sleep tracking and how it breaks down all the cycles!
Fred Beck –
Superior to the Apple SE watch
Great product. My Apple SE watch died after 3 years of use due to water intrusion. It was purchased for swimming. Who would have guessed that the seal would not last long. Apparently it is a common issue from what I have been reading on line. Because of this, I started to look outside of Apple for a watch to track my swimming and biking.I have had my Garmin for about a week now and am impressed. The battery life is amazing. My Apple Watch would not even get me through a day, wheres the Garmin has lasted a week already. The display is easy to read even without my glasses. The user interface takes a little getting used to, but works well. Great product Garmin. I just wish I had gotten one sooner. Only time will tell if the water seal holds up.
Michael H. –
Love my Forerunner165
Good value for money. I use it to monitor activities (running, cycling, hiking, walking) and sleep. Gives very good insight on overall health and fitness age.Tracking sometimes does not match up with Apple products, but that’s to be expected.
Anthony P. –
Great Watch for the Money
I came to this watch after several years in the Fitbit environment. This watch is truly superior to the Fitbit Sense I was using. The level of data is amazing, the display is crisp and bright, and the touch/button combo is far superior to Fitbit. My only issue is forgetting to charge it (because I have to so infrequently).
Ryan smith –
Good watch
Have only had about 2 weeks but so far I really like this watch.The battery life is for real..I took it out of the box and wore it until it was @2% until I charged it. Was at 86% out of the box and made it 9 days before I had to charge it. Waterproofness is good, I was my hands, shower, work out in the rain and seems to work fine. I did buy a screen protector and charger port protector when I got the watch. Have hit it on a few things by accident and no scratches at all. Fits nice but for someone with a bigger wrist would recommend a large or different band that is larger. Only knock i have only it so far and reason I didn’t give a 5 star is the steps/distance counter is off. I do lawncare, even though i calibrated my stride it picks up steps when I’m a mower or moving slowly in my golf cart. Great watch so far though, I would recommend
Muy bueno –
Si estas iniciando en el running o en el ejercicio fisico diario en el que te gustarÃa tener controlados aspectos del dÃa a dÃa que afectan a tu energÃa en momentos concretos, es PERFECTO. Como extensión del movil no lo recomiendo ya que gasta mucha bateria de manera innecesaria.
Jose Luis –
Nunca habÃa tenido una Garmin. Superó mis expectativas.Cuando le platico a mis amigos, quienes tienen un Garmin, que yo también ya tengo uno y le platico todas sus funciones, se sorprenden de lo modernizado que es el mÃo.Estoy feliz porque nunca un tema importante para mà era mi calidad de sueño, y este reloj me lo dice.Gracias.
ACRUNNER –
The HR function is very poor…when assessing against my polar HR monitor the Garmin was around 40-50 beats per minute in error!!! So, in my zone 2 training the Garmin HR monitor had me at 170 bpm while the polar was at 125. Really disappointed with this…
Doruk Arda Alparslan –
Wenn ich Produkte wie dieses kaufe, möchte ich nicht sofort eine Bewertung abgeben. Ich finde es nicht fair, eine Bewertung abzugeben, ohne sie unter verschiedenen Bedingungen zu erleben.Nach einer 6-monatigen Nutzung hatte ich jedoch die Möglichkeit, es unter verschiedenen Bedingungen zu testen.Ich habe es sowohl im Alltag als auch beim Sport (besonders beim Laufen) benutzt, ohne es von meinem Handgelenk zu nehmen.Zunächst einmal sollte ich sagen, dass der Akku sehr effizient genutzt wird. Ich vergesse fast, dass ich eine Smartwatch trage. Wenn der Akkustand auf 25% sinkt, gibt es eine Warnung und fragt, ob es in den “Battery Save”-Modus wechseln soll. Selbst dann sage ich “Nein”, weil es mich immer noch gut versorgt.Ein weiterer guter Punkt ist, dass es sehr schnell auflädt.Ich lege es zum Aufladen, bevor ich anfange, Frühstück zuzubereiten, und wenn ich fertig bin, ist der Akku bereits voll.Ein weiteres Thema, das ich ansprechen möchte, ist die GPS-Genauigkeit. Ich habe es bei verschiedenen Wetterbedingungen wie Regen und Bewölkung, insbesondere beim Laufen, getestet. Nach dem Training habe ich die GPS-Daten immer wieder auf der Karte überprüft und es gab nie eine Situation, die mich zweifeln ließ.Besonders mit der Leistung in Gebieten mit vielen Bäumen bin ich mehr als zufrieden.Die HR-Funktion nutze ich sowohl im Alltag als auch beim Sport. Ich habe die Genauigkeit mit einer anderen Smartwatch von Apple verglichen und keine Probleme festgestellt.Ohne die Bewertung zu lang zu machen, möchte ich eine Funktion erwähnen, die mir besonders gut gefällt und die ich vor dem Kauf nicht kannte: die “Live Tracking”-Funktion. Diese Funktion ermöglicht es Ihnen, während des Trainings, wenn Sie Ihr Handy dabei haben, Ihren Standort mit einem Freund oder Familienmitglied zu teilen. Wenn Sie ein langes Training machen möchten, sorgt diese Funktion für ein beruhigendes Gefühl bei Ihnen und Ihren Liebsten.Fast hätte ich das Gewicht vergessen zu erwähnen. Eigentlich sollte ich sagen, die Leichtigkeit. Denn ich vergesse, dass ich es trage.Definitiv 5 Sterne verdient.
vanessa –
Comprei o Garmin Forerunner 165 recentemente e estou impressionada com a qualidade e funcionalidade do relógio. Ele é leve, confortável no pulso e tem um design bonito e moderno. O visor AMOLED é incrÃvel, com cores vivas e ótima visibilidade mesmo sob sol forte.O que mais me encantou foram os recursos voltados para corrida e atividades fÃsicas. O GPS é super preciso, o monitoramento cardÃaco é confiável e os treinos sugeridos são uma ótima ajuda para manter a motivação. A bateria também surpreende, durando vários dias mesmo com uso intenso.Além disso, a integração com o app da Garmin é fácil e completa, oferecendo uma visão detalhada da evolução nos treinos, qualidade do sono, estresse e outros dados úteis para quem busca saúde e performance.Valeu cada centavo! Recomendo muito para quem quer um smartwatch esportivo com excelente custo-benefÃcio.