Looking for a running watch that actually works for your goals – not just pro athletes? Garmin’s been in the game long enough to know that no two runners are the same. Whether you’re building your base, chasing a PB, or just love geeking out over your training stats, there’s a Garmin smartwatch that fits.
From entry-level models with the basics to fully loaded watches packed with performance insights, here’s how to choose the one that’ll help you train smarter, run stronger and keep going.
READ MORE: 34 Running Tips Every Beginner Needs To Know
Features For The Beginner Runner
Let’s start with the basics, and by basics, we don’t mean your watch will be basicEven smartwatches designed for beginners have advanced tools and metrics that can help you grow as a runner:
- Built-in GPS: Easily track where you run and get accurate stats, including distance, pace and intervals.
- Long battery life: No, really. We mean a really long battery life. Depending on which Garmin smartwatch you have, you should get up to 1 week of battery life in smartwatch mode at a minimum, or even unlimited battery life with solar charging1 on the Instinct® 3 Solar adventure smartwatch.
- Sleep monitoring: Understand how your body is recovering – and get ready for training – with our improved sleep monitoring feature2. With select watches, you’ll receive a sleep score after waking up, along with a breakdown of your sleep stages and so much more.
- Wrist-based heart rate: Your heart rate zone matters. With wrist-based heart rate2, you can gauge how hard your heart is working during runs. Plus, tracking your heart rate data and heart rate variability (HRV) outside of workouts lends insight into your recovery, overall fitness and more.
- Recovery time: We can’t emphasise enough how important it is to rest. The recovery time feature uses your latest training, stress levels and sleep to help you figure out how long you should take to recover.
Garmin Coach & Connect
- Garmin Coach: Is there a race in your future? You’ll want to check out these free adaptive training plans, available in the Garmin Connect™ app. Pick a training plan based on your goal and distance – 5K, 10K or a half-marathon – and select a coach who suits your needs. Garmin Coach will help you find upcoming races near you and keep you on track leading up to race day with recommended workouts that sync to your watch.
- Garmin Connect™: All Garmin smartwatches are compatible with the Garmin Connect app, the free tool for tracking, analysing, and sharing health and fitness activities. Think of it as a personal assistant to help you achieve your health and fitness goals.
Smartwatches For The Beginner Runner
Forerunner® 55
With Forerunner 55 on your wrist, you can start calling yourself a runner. This GPS smartwatch offers up to 2 weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode while tracking essential stats so you can chase your goals.
Venu® 3
With advanced fitness features, detailed wellness insights and up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, Venu 3 is the perfect entry-level running companion.
vívoactive® 6
This bright and colourful smartwatch provides up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and fitness features tailored for runners, including PacePro™ pacing strategies, running dynamics, race predictor and interval creation.
Forerunner 165 Music
This watch includes training effect – so you can see how your workouts affect your fitness – as well as daily suggested workouts, Garmin Run Coach (more on that later), race predictor and running dynamics. It offers up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode.
Features For The Advanced Runner
You’ve been running for a while and have started getting the hang of things. You’re not afraid to push your limits; now you need a smartwatch to keep up. In addition to the features for entry-level runners, you may also want to consider a smartwatch with:
- Daily suggested workouts: Get run recommendations each day based on your training history, fitness level and recovery time.
- Training readiness: Wake up and get a readiness score so you can determine whether it’s a good day to go hard – or sit back and take it easy.
- Multi-band GPS support: With multiple frequency bands allowing for more consistent tracklogs and improved positioning, you’ll enjoy superior accuracy for running speed and distance even in challenging environments.
- Garmin Run Coach: Adaptive training plans from Garmin Run Coach can help you train for a race, achieve a personal milestone or improve your fitness. Just choose an end date or goal and the days you want to train, and Garmin Run Coach will create a personalised training plan that includes daily workouts that adapt to your performance, recovery and health metrics.
READ MORE: This Free Beginner 10K Running Plan Works In Just 10 Weeks
A Smartwatch For The Advanced Runner
Forerunner 570
You’ll look and run good with the Forerunner 570 on your wrist. It provides 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, two size options, personalised Garmin Coach training plans for running and triathlons, projected race time predictor, auto lap by timing gates and more.
Features For The Elite Runner
Elite runners are looking for serious smartwatches. Good thing we have those too. To power your marathons, triathlons and long training sessions, we have wearable tech packed with advanced features designed just for you.
- Real-time stamina: Don’t overexert yourself. Use this feature to track and manage your exertion before the start of every run.
- Built-in maps: Full-colour, built-in maps and turn-by-turn navigation keep you on track whether you’re running on city streets or densely covered trails.
- Dynamic round-trip routing: Just tell your watch how far you want to go and you’ll get suggested return routes. Plus, if you go off course, your watch will reroute to keep your mileage on track.
- Endurance score: How long can you last? This feature measures your ability to keep up prolonged efforts so you know how your training impacts your overall endurance.
- Built-in LED flashlight: This is the feature you never knew you needed. The LED lights on the side of select Garmin smartwatches are bright enough to illuminate the room.
READ MORE: 18 Running Clubs In South Africa To Kickstart Your Journey
Smartwatches For The Elite Runner
Forerunner 970
Made of premium materials and offering a built-in LED flashlight, this GPS smartwatch brings you performance features, including running tolerance, running economy and step speed loss (when paired with the HRM 600), all while delivering up to 15 days of battery life in smartwatch mode.
fēnix® 8 Series
The fēnix 8 is a premium multisport smartwatch available in multiple sizes with up to 29 days of battery life in smartwatch mode on the 51 mm AMOLED model, or up to 48 days with the 51 mm solar charging model1. It includes a rugged design, built-in LED flashlight, and advanced mapping and navigation.
Enduro™ 3
Built for the ultra-distance athletes, Enduro 3 brings you a built-in LED flashlight and premium training, performance and navigation features – with up to 90 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging1.
Want to dig deeper into the features? From VO₂ max tracking to heart rate zones, there’s a science to smart training – and your Garmin’s got it all. Learn how to make the most of your tech, then browse the curated selection of Garmin watches to find your perfect match.
1Assumes all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions
2 See Garmin.com/ataccuracy
