We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. If you use our links to purchase something, we may earn a commission. Read our disclosures.
If you’ve ever spent time training for endurance activities, you’ve probably heard of Garmin, a company that makes some of the best fitness trackers for outdoor activities, runners, triathletes, and everyone in between. The company is known for its advanced fitness and health tracking, and Garmin watches are often seen among the most elite athletes in the world.
Along with Garmin, quite a few large companies specialize in wearable fitness trackers, like Polar, Samsung, Apple, and Fitbit. This means choosing the right option for your goals and preferences can be very confusing.
In this in-depth Garmin Forerunner 965 review, we’ll take a closer look at Garmin’s premiere running watch. This watch is absolutely packed with features and has a battery that can easily last more than a week. But is it the right watch for you? Let’s find out.
Tested by a Certified Fitness Professional
Every GGR review is based on extensive hands-on testing from our team of expert testers, which includes certified personal trainers, athletes, gym owners, and more. We spend plenty of time with each piece of equipment, carefully assigning a final score using our equipment testing methodology.
For this review, GGR Senior Editor Amanda Dvorak, ISSA-CPT, spent several weeks wearing this watch, assigning scores to the most important categories, including:
- Aesthetics
- Tech capabilities
- Durability
- Value
- Customer service
Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin Forerunner 965
Product Highlights
- Garmin running watch
- Color AMOLED display
- Features multi-band GPS and built-in maps
- Provides suggested workouts and training readiness
- Shows on-wrist running dynamics and training status
- Includes USB C cable and manual
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Available in 3 colors
- Both touchscreen and button control
- Live location tracking and incident alerts with location data
- Built-in maps and multiband maps
- Tracks sleep data and provides a readiness score in the morning
Cons
- Short 1-year warranty
- Expensive at almost $600 dollars
- No ECG heart rate tracking
- No wireless charging capabilities
- Very mixed reviews on the Garmin Connect App
Bottom Line
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is a running watch with multi-sport functionality. It features an AMOLED display, multi-band GPS, and built-in maps and tracks your activity, recovery, and sleep. Customer reviews for that watch are mostly positive. However, multiple customers dislike the Garmin Connect interface.
A Quick Look at the Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin specializes in equipment for athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and those looking for the best possible fitness tracking. It carries a wide range of smartwatches and GPS devices, from high-end watches like the Garmin Epix Pro and Garmin Fenix 7 to minimalist trackers like the Garmin Vivosmart 4.
The Forerunner 965 is the next evolution of the Garmin Forerunner 955, and the latest (at the time of writing) watch that’s focused on runners.
Some fitness trackers tend to lean into the smartwatch side of things. However, with streaming music, sleek designs, and cellular data plans, the Forerunner 965 is truly meant for those looking to track as many advanced health metrics as possible.
This watch can track nearly any activity you’d like, the battery should easily last 1 to 2 weeks, and setting up your watch is quick and easy. It’s not the cheapest fitness tracker, but if you’re an endurance athlete who cares about tracking as many health and fitness metrics as possible, this is one of the best options on the market.
Before You Buy
- The Forerunner 965 is certainly geared toward elite endurance athletes. Some of the advanced features may go entirely unused by those looking for a basic fitness tracker and smartwatch.
- Our tester found that her watch battery easily lasts 1 to 2 weeks with regular use, so you won’t need to charge the watch very often.
- If you’re used to something like an Apple Watch, know that you can’t use a cellular data plan with this watch.
Is the Garmin Forerunner 965 Worth It?
With a retail price of $599 at the time of writing, this watch is right in the middle of the pack. It’s not the cheapest fitness tracker, but it’s certainly not the most expensive option either. Here’s who we think would benefit from this watch.
Great for:
- Multisport athletes, especially endurance athletes
- Those who are primarily looking for advanced fitness tracking
- People who want a watch with a battery that can last for weeks
Not recommended for:
- Those looking to use cellular data
- People who are primarily interested in a smartwatch with basic health tracking
- Anyone who wants a more discreet fitness tracker
Garmin Forerunner 965 Specs
| Price | $599 |
| Size | 47.2 mm x 47.2 mm x 13.2 mm |
| Battery life | Up to 23 days |
| Display | 1.4” diameter AMOLED touchscreen |
| Water resistance rating | Water resistant to 50 m |
| Metrics tracked | Heart rate, Vo2 max, blood oxygen, step count, and many others |
| Display | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX |
| Bezel material | Titanium |
| Connectivity | GPS, Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
Using the Garmin Forerunner 965
Our tester, GGR Senior Editor Amanda Dvorak, CPT, wore the Garmin Forerunner 965 for about two and half weeks, using it for her runs, CrossFit workouts, and walks with her dog. She’d previously owned and used the Garmin Venu, and was familiar with the Garmin app and ecosystem.
Even though the Forerunner 965 is packed with features that may seem overwhelming, Amanda found it quite easy to use after spending a day exploring the features. She said, “It took me a day or so to figure out what all of the buttons do and how to access the screens for starting a workout or looking up my other health stats, but now that I’m used to it, it’s not difficult at all.”
Overall, Amanda was very impressed with the watch’s features, although she mentioned that it is geared toward runners and could be a bit much for those who simply want basic smartwatch features and a step counter. That’s not to say you should avoid it, but if you don’t need all the features, there are plenty of more affordable options, like the Fitbit Charge 4.
Fitness and Health Tracking
The health tracking component is the most important thing to consider with any fitness tracker. Anyone considering a Garmin is probably looking for advanced health and fitness tracking, and on that front, the Forerunner 965 tracks nearly anything you can imagine.
Amanda said it best in her testing notes: “The amount of stuff you can track with this watch is insane.”
Here are a few of the most notable health metrics you can track with the Forerunner 965:
- Resting heart rate
- Body battery
- Training readiness score
- Sleep insights (including a nap detector)
- Pulse ox (for measuring oxygen saturation in your blood)
- Stress levels
- Daily step count
- Daily calorie expenditure
- Vo2 max
- HRV
- Sleep tracking
- Training load
That’s just the health metric side of things. When it comes to activity tracking, Garmin allows you to track over 80 activities, including running, walking, hiking, HIIT, biking, swimming, SUP, rowing, kayaking, and more.
RELATED: What is VO2 Max?
As if that’s not enough, Amanda noted that the watch gets even more granular for specific types of activities. For example, rather than simply tracking “running” as an activity, Garmin allows you to choose between running on a treadmill, running outdoors, or trail running, allowing you to record the most accurate data.
The training effect feature tells you whether a workout should be classified as active recovery or high aerobic training. It can also tell you how long you spent in each heart rate zone after a workout, and the daily morning report will tell you how well-recovered you are for the day ahead.
We’re not done yet—there are a few other unique metrics that aren’t often found in fitness trackers.
“It also measures things I never thought about before, like a heat acclimation score,” said Amanda. “For women and individuals who menstruate, you can also log the dates of your periods in the Garmin Connect app. Eventually, it learns your schedule, and I’ve found that it’s pretty good at predicting when my next cycle will start.”
Durability and Construction
With a fitness tracker like the Garmin Forerunner 965, it’s safe to assume that many users will expose their watch to regular wear and tear.
The AMOLED display has a 454 x 454-pixel resolution, a built-in touchscreen, buttons on the side for additional control, and a durable titanium bezel. You can also choose to use an always-on display screen, though that may impact the battery life.
A good fitness tracker is one that’s built to last, and Amanda gave the Forerunner 965 a 5-out-of-5 rating for its durability and construction. She’s only had the watch for a few weeks but wore the original Garmin Venu for four years, and it worked perfectly the whole time. She expects the same from this watch as well.
Technology Capabilities
The Garmin Forerunner 965’s technology capability score is a strong 5 out of 5. While most of the technology capabilities were covered extensively in the health and fitness tracking section, there are a few more important things to mention.
You’ll use the Garmin Connect app to sync your watch and set up your profile, and within the app, you can participate in various challenges and earn badges. The Garmin Connect app can also be used to pair your watch with third-party fitness apps if you want, like Strava or MapMyFitness.
The Garmin Connect app can also be used to install streaming music apps like Spotify or Amazon Music or customize your experience by choosing from a variety of watch faces, widgets, and apps. You can also use Garmin Pay to make purchases anywhere that allows tap to pay. When paired with your phone, you can receive notifications about text messages and phone calls on your watch.
RELATED: 9 Best Running Apps
There is no cellular LTE plan available, but the powerful internal GPS can help you navigate your run. You just won’t be able to make a call or text unless you also have your connected phone with you.
Battery Life and Charging
Garmin claims that the Forerunner 965 battery can last up to 23 days in smartwatch mode, but Amanda found that the actual battery life was a bit less with regular use and activity tracking.
She said, “When I first got it, I charged it up to 100% then used it to track 6 different activities, and got about 9 days out of it before I needed to charge it. Charging it from 8% to 100% took about an hour and 15 minutes. Since then, I’ve actually gone close to 10 days and have tracked some kind of activity on it every single day, and it’s at 35%.”
This has a very impressive battery life compared to many other fitness trackers and smartwatches, especially with a bright AMOLED screen, though it may not reach the full 23 days.
Comfort and Style
While comfort and style are secondary to the features for most users, they’re still important, and Amanda gave the Forerunner 965 a 3 out of 5 for aesthetics.
The watch is available in three colors, and as Amanda noted, certainly has a rugged, “sports watch” look and feel. It’s very sporty and won’t look out of place with casual wear. However, if you’re going somewhere more formal, you’ll probably want to leave this watch behind or wear a more discreet tracker, like the Oura Ring.
Amanda said the silicon watch band slides around her wrist a bit when sweating, but this would be the case with most watches unless the band is very tight. She also mentioned that certain exercises that bend her wrist back, like front squats, can push buttons on the side, so she has to take the watch off or push it further up her arm.
Garmin Forerunner 965 vs Apple Watch Series 9
Apple Watch Series 9
Apple Watch Series 9
Product Highlights
- Pricing starts at $399
- 18-hour battery life
- Seamless integration with other Apple devices
- Tracks heart rate and steps
- Can track body temperature and energy expenditure
- Optional data plan available
- Added data unlocks calls and texts without your phone
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Tracks heart rate, body temperature, ECG readings, and more
- Stream music, calls, and texts with a data plan
- Works seamlessly with other Apple products
Cons
- Battery only lasts up to 18 hours
- Sensors don't work well with tattooed skin
- Not much different from previous models
Bottom Line
The Apple Watch Series 9 is a fantastic smart watch with integrated health and fitness tracking, especially for those who use other Apple products. The battery isn't very long, and the design hasn't changed much over the years, but this is a great choice for those who want a smartwatch that functions like a small iPhone.
If you’re looking for the best possible health and fitness tracking, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is hard to beat. However, if you’re more interested in a true smartwatch that allows you to leave your phone behind, you may want to consider the Apple Watch Series 9, which functions like a small iPhone on your wrist.
The main difference is the ability to add the watch to your cellular plan. I own the Apple Watch Series 9 and have it paired to my cell phone’s data plan for an extra $10/month, allowing me to stream music, make phone calls, and send text messages without my phone.
However, the Apple Watch’s fitness tracking features aren’t nearly as robust as the Forerunner 965, and the battery only lasts about 18 hours when used regularly. The Series 9 battery will last up to 7 hours when using GPS tracking outdoors, something to keep in mind if you’re doing an ultra-endurance event or triathlon. You can also spend more to upgrade to the Apple Watch Ultra, which doubles the battery life.
Overall, the Forerunner 965 is the better choice for those looking for an extended battery life and advanced fitness tracking. The Apple Watch Series 9 may be better suited for those looking for a true smartwatch, who aren’t as worried about the health and fitness side of things.
| Garmin Forerunner 965 | Apple Watch Series 9 | |
| Price | $599 | $399-$749 |
| Size | 47.2 mm x 47.2 mm x 13.2 mm | 41 mm or 45 mm |
| Battery life | Up to 23 days | Up to 18 hours with normal use, up to 36 hours in low-power mode |
| Display | 1.4” diameter AMOLED touchscreen | 41 mm or 45 mm Retina OLED display |
| Water resistance rating | Water resistant to 50 m | Water resistant to 50 m |
| Metrics tracked | Heart rate, Vo2 max, blood oxygen, step count, and many others | Heart rate, steps, ECG, body temperature |
| Display | Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 DX | Ion-X strengthened glass or sapphire crystal display |
| Bezel | Titanium | Aluminum or stainless steel |
| Connectivity | GPS, Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi | GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE |
Customer Experience
Garmin’s customer experience earns a 4-out-of-5 rating. If you order from Garmin, you can return your watch in its original condition within 30 days, and the watch includes a 1-year limited warranty.
While we haven’t had to contact Garmin support, you can reach out through the company’s customer support portal. If you purchase your watch from a different retailer, you’ll need to follow that retailer’s return policies.
Ordering the Garmin Forerunner 965
Ordering the Forerunner 965 is very easy, as Garmin offers free shipping on orders over $25. Amanda was also very impressed with the shipping speed, noting that she ordered her watch on a Wednesday and it arrived on a Friday.
When you order from Garmin, you’ll also have the option to finance your purchase with Klarna.
Customer Reviews
Garmin doesn’t publish customer reviews on its website, so we turned to Amazon. At the time of writing, the watch has a 4.6 out of 5 rating and 447 reviews.
Customers like the display, battery life, and map features, though a few mention the heart rate monitoring isn’t very accurate. Some don’t like that the watch doesn’t include a wall plug for the USB-C charger.
Final Verdict of Our Garmin Forerunner 965 Review
This is a fantastic watch if you’re looking for a fitness tracker with a powerful battery that can track nearly every health and fitness metric imaginable. The only thing missing is LTE connectivity to make calls and stream music without your phone, but the trade-off is the incredible battery life.
It’s sporty-looking and may be a bit much for those who are looking for basic smartwatch features, but if you’re an endurance athlete who wants to track as many health metrics as possible, this is one of the best options on the market.
- The Garmin Forerunner 965 isn’t cheap, but it’s packed with more features than nearly any other smartwatch on the market.
- Our tester found that her battery lasts about 1.5-2 weeks with regular use, though your battery life may vary.
- This won’t replace your phone the way other smartwatches might, but you can preload music ahead of time and automatically see text and phone notifications if you have your connected phone with you.
Full Rating
Garmin Forerunner 965
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is a running watch with multi-sport functionality. It features an AMOLED display, multi-band GPS, and built-in maps and tracks your activity, recovery, and sleep. Customer reviews for that watch are mostly positive. However, multiple customers dislike the Garmin Connect interface.
Product Brand: Garmin
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 599.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.4
Garmin Forerunner 965: FAQs
Is the Forerunner 965 worth it?
If you’re looking for the most advanced health and fitness tracking with a long battery life, the Forerunner 965 is a fantastic option. There are cheaper options if you don’t need all of the features, but this watch has everything you need.
Is the Garmin Forerunner 965 only for running?
No, the Garmin Forerunner 965 can track over 80 activities, including swimming, cycling, strength training, HIIT, pilates, and many more.
Can you swim with the Garmin Forerunner 965?
Yes, the Forerunner 965 is meant for surface swimming and is water-resistant up to 50 meters. Garmin notes that scuba diving with the watch may void the warranty.
Further reading
Starting a home gym on a budget may seem impossible, but it's not. Not even close. We've compiled 10 of our most important tips that we've given out over the years on how to build a home gym on the cheap. Time to get started! Read more
In our Bowflex BXT6 review, we take a look at the specs of this now-discontinued treadmill. Read more
The chest-supported row helps build muscle in your back and biceps, and reduces strain on your lower back. Here’s how to do the exercise with the correct form. Read more
No machine? No problem! We have several tips on how to do a leg press at home and still get a good pump! Read more