Not sure which Garmin to buy for running? The right choice mostly depends on how you run. The Forerunner 70 or 170 is all you need to start and improve on the road. The Forerunner 570 suits runners training seriously, and the Forerunner 970 is built for long trail runs and ultras.
If you mainly want an everyday smartwatch that can also track your runs, look at the Vivoactive 6 or the Venu 4 instead.
Contents
- The short answer
- What to look at before buying a Garmin running watch
- Garmin Forerunner 70: the entry-level watch for beginners
- Garmin Forerunner 170 and 170 Music: the best value
- Garmin Forerunner 570: for structured training with a time goal
- Garmin Forerunner 970: for trail running and ultras
- Vivoactive 6 and Venu 4: everyday watches that can run too
- What about the fenix, Enduro or Instinct?
- Garmin Forerunner comparison 2026
- Following your RunMotion Coach sessions on your Garmin watch
- Frequently asked questions
The short answer
- You’re starting out or you run on the road: Forerunner 70 ($249.99 / £219.99).
- You also run on trails or want to pay with your watch: Forerunner 170 ($299.99 / £259.99, or $349.99 / £299.99 for the Music version).
- You’re chasing a half marathon or marathon time: Forerunner 570 ($549.99 / £429.99).
- You run long trails or ultras and need maps: Forerunner 970 ($749.99 / £629.99).
- You mainly want an everyday watch: Vivoactive 6 or Venu 4.
Prices are Garmin’s official list prices in the US and the UK. You’ll often find them cheaper at retailers.
What to look at before buying a Garmin running watch
- The screen: the whole running range now uses bright, easy-to-read AMOLED displays.
- GPS accuracy: multi-band GPS (Forerunner 570, Forerunner 970, Venu 4) is more reliable between tall buildings and in dense forest.
- The barometric altimeter: essential for accurate elevation on trails. The Forerunner 70 doesn’t have one.
- Battery life: look at GPS hours if you’re preparing long runs.
- Music: to run without your phone, you need a Music or high-end model.
- Maps: in the Forerunner range, only the Forerunner 970 offers topographic maps with navigation.
Garmin Forerunner 70: the entry-level watch for beginners
Announced in May 2026, the Forerunner 70 replaces the Forerunner 55. It has a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen and weighs 40 g. It brings tools that used to be reserved for pricier models, such as training status and wrist-based running power.
Garmin quotes up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and 23 hours in GPS-only mode.
Its limits: no barometric altimeter or compass, no contactless payments, and swimming is pool-only. It’s perfect on the road, less so as soon as the route gets hilly.
Who is it for? You’re new to running, or you’re preparing your first 10K or half marathon.
Garmin Forerunner 170 and 170 Music: the best value
The Forerunner 170 succeeds the Forerunner 165. It keeps the size and screen of the Forerunner 70 and adds a barometric altimeter, a compass, Garmin Pay and an open-water swim profile.
Garmin quotes up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS-only mode. The Music version lets you store your music and sync playlists from Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music or YouTube Music, so you can run without your phone.
Its limit: no multi-band GPS.
Who is it for? You run regularly and mix road and trails.
Garmin Forerunner 570: for structured training with a time goal
Released in 2025, the Forerunner 570 succeeds the Forerunner 265. It comes in 42 mm and 47 mm with a very bright AMOLED screen. It adds multi-band GPS, music, and a speaker and microphone so you can take calls during your run.
Garmin quotes up to 11 days in smartwatch mode. For training, you get Garmin Coach plans and an evening report that sums up your day.
Who is it for? You’re preparing a half marathon or a marathon with a time goal.
A watch measures, a plan makes you progress. RunMotion Coach builds a personalized training plan based on your level and your goal, and your sessions can be exported to your Garmin watch. Try RunMotion Coach free for 7 days.
Garmin Forerunner 970: for trail running and ultras
The Forerunner 970 is the most complete model in the range. 47 mm case, 1.4-inch AMOLED screen, sapphire glass and titanium finishes. It adds a built-in LED flashlight, topographic maps with navigation and an ECG.
Garmin quotes up to 15 days in smartwatch mode. It also offers advanced metrics: running economy, step speed loss and running tolerance.
Who is it for? You run long trails or ultras, or often run routes you don’t know. Remember to upload your race GPX file to follow the course.
Vivoactive 6 and Venu 4: everyday watches that can run too
If running is just one of your activities, these two models are designed to be worn every day.
The Vivoactive 6 ($299.99 / £269.99) has an AMOLED screen, up to 11 days of battery life and stores your music. It offers more than 50 sports, Garmin Coach plans, PacePro, recovery time and heart rate variability tracking.
The Venu 4 (from $549.99 / £439.99, in 41 mm or 45 mm) goes further: multi-band GPS, barometric altimeter, built-in flashlight, speaker and microphone, ECG and up to 12 days of battery life.
What about the fenix, Enduro or Instinct?
These are Garmin’s outdoor watches, tougher and designed for the mountains and long adventures. The Instinct 3 starts at $249.99 / £219.99, the Enduro 4, built for ultra-endurance, costs $899.99 / £799.99, and the fenix 9 starts at $999.99 / £859.99. For most runners, a Forerunner is more than enough.
Garmin Forerunner comparison 2026
| Model | List price (US / UK) | Barometric altimeter | Multi-band GPS | Music | Smartwatch battery life |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forerunner 70 | $249.99 / £219.99 | No | No | No | Up to 13 days |
| Forerunner 170 | $299.99 / £259.99 (Music: $349.99 / £299.99) | Yes | No | Music version | Up to 10 days |
| Forerunner 570 | $549.99 / £429.99 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Up to 11 days |
| Forerunner 970 | $749.99 / £629.99 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Up to 15 days |
Full specifications are on Garmin’s official website.
Following your RunMotion Coach sessions on your Garmin watch
RunMotion Coach works with Garmin Connect. Once both apps are linked, your activities sync automatically to the app. The other way round, you can export the sessions from your plan to your watch and follow them during your run, without having to remember paces or durations.
Here’s how: sync your activities with RunMotion Coach.
Frequently asked questions
Which Garmin watch is best for beginner runners?
The Forerunner 70 is the best fit: simple, light and complete for road running. If you also run on trails, the Forerunner 170 adds a barometric altimeter for $50 / £40 more.
Do you need multi-band GPS?
No. It improves accuracy between tall buildings and in dense forest. On open routes, standard GPS is enough for most runners.
Which Garmin watch is best for trail running?
Choose at least a model with a barometric altimeter, like the Forerunner 170. For ultras or unfamiliar routes, the Forerunner 970 adds maps, a flashlight and more battery life.
Can you follow a RunMotion Coach plan on a Garmin watch?
Yes. Your plan’s sessions can be exported to your Garmin watch through Garmin Connect. Here’s how.
Ready to give your new watch a real goal? Try RunMotion Coach free for 7 days and get your personalized plan. You can also predict your 10K, half marathon or marathon time.
Article updated on July 1, 2026. List prices from Garmin’s US and UK websites, subject to change.
