I’d buy these Garmin Forerunner watches in a heartbeat

Siri Schubert

14-8-2026

Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson

Pictures: Siri Schubert

Garmin’s new running watches, the Forerunner 70 and 170, offer many features that were previously reserved for more expensive models. What does this add in practice? Solid support and a big motivational boost for your workout, I find.

The selection of Garmin sports watches is impressive – from fitness trackers to expedition watches, the manufacturer offers just about everything. The downside? With so many models bearing different names and numbers, it can be hard to find the watch that’s right for you. Particularly if you’re after solid training data and aren’t prepared to pay a fortune.

The two new additions to Garmin’s range, the Forerunner 70 and 170, may be just what you’ve been looking for. If you’re new to the running game, they’ll provide you with just about everything you need to get into a serious workout routine. I find a new feature called Quickstart Training particularly useful. But more on that later.

Until I strapped the Forerunner 70 to my wrist that is. What a revelation! It weighs just half as much at 40 grammes and is also significantly smaller at 43 millimetres. The first day, I keep checking if it’s still there, as it’s barely noticeable. This also makes it much comfier to wear at night.

Admittedly, the Forerunner 70 has more plastic parts than the Fenix 8. Whether that’s your thing is for you to decide. Either way, the watch doesn’t look cheap in my opinion. With its AMOLED display, touchscreen and five control buttons, it can definitely hold its own against more expensive models. The same goes for the Forerunner 170, which I’ve been testing at the same time. It has a few more tricks up its sleeve than the Forerunner 70. Both models are available in various colours.

Smartwatches

EUR247,07

Garmin Forerunner 70

42.60 mm, without a SIM card

2

Smartwatches

EUR296,49

Garmin Forerunner 170

42.60 mm, without a SIM card

6

Smartwatches

−23%

EUR339,– was EUR439,–

Garmin Forerunner 170 Music

42.60 mm, without a SIM card

Smartwatches

EUR247,07

Garmin Forerunner 70

42.60 mm, without a SIM card

2

Smartwatches

EUR296,49

Garmin Forerunner 170

42.60 mm, without a SIM card

6

−23%

Smartwatches

EUR339,– was EUR439,–

Garmin Forerunner 170 Music

42.60 mm, without a SIM card

In terms of sensors, neither the Forerunner 70 nor the 170 are quite as advanced as the Fenix 8. But they’re also a lot less expensive. After all, I’m comparing two entry-level watches to a top-of-the-line model. Neither of the new Garmin models has dual-band GPS/GNSS like pricier watches do. However, they pick up the GPS signal without delay and prove to be generally accurate during my test runs. I haven’t tried them out in very remote, forested areas, but then again, they’re designed for beginner runners, not professional expeditioners.

The integrated heart rate sensor isn’t the latest gen 5 model, but its predecessor, the gen 4. Here, too, the readings I got during standard runs were almost identical in the Fenix 8 and the Forerunner 70 and 170. For a standard workout, that’s more than enough.

If you want to play it safe, you could always connect a Garmin heart rate monitor. I didn’t test whether straps from other manufacturers work with the watches, but had zero problems hooking up my Garmin HRM Fit.

Compared to the 70, the Forerunner 170 has extra sensors. It includes a barometric altimeter, a compass, a gyroscope and an accelerometer. As I like to incorporate some elevation gain into my training, the altimeter is an important one for me.

Speaking of training: These watches are specifically optimised for running, but that doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to that. You can choose from 80 sports profiles, including outdoor sports such as SUP, snorkelling and snowshoeing; ball sports such as football and basketball; several activities in the gym as well as boxing, skipping rope and mixed martial arts. In addition to pool swimming, the Forerunner 170 also supports open-water swimming. The only thing missing is a triathlon mode or multisport features.

I’m impressed by the battery life of both watches. The Forerunner 70 lasts up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and up to 16 hours in GPS mode. Because of its additional sensors, the Forerunner 170 runs out of juice a little sooner. Namely, after up to ten days in smartwatch mode and up to 14 hours in GPS mode. So unless you’re planning to run an ultramarathon right away, the battery should see you through much more than the first steps of your running journey.

Obviously, you’ve got to take these scores with a pinch of salt. I always trust my own judgement just as much and have had good workouts even when my scores were poor. However, if you haven’t been working out for a long time and aren’t entirely familiar with your body’s signals, the Training Readiness score can prove to be useful to avoid excessive strain or inadequate recovery.

In addition to sleep, recovery as well as workout and HRV data, the watch also offers daily workout suggestions tailored to your current fitness level and goals. It also provides a VO2 max value (based on your heart rate), a classification of the workout as anaerobic, high aerobic or aerobic, and a primary benefit of the workout (e.g. speed or base training).

Integration with the Garmin Connect app

I really love the Garmin Connect platform integration via the app. The free version is more than enough for my needs. It provides you with all your historical workout data in one place, and you can switch back and forth between different Garmin watches without losing any data or having to import it. When I started testing the two new Forerunner models, I was able to import my previous Fenix settings into the app and was ready to go in no time.

You can view the workout data in even greater detail in the Garmin app. I especially like that the app puts the measurements, which obviously have their limitations, into context. Let’s take sleep, for example. Until now, I wasn’t sure if a 1.5-hour deep sleep phase was enough. The software rates it as good. But ultimately, how I feel the next morning is still what matters most. Mind you, at least it gives me a rough idea of what my readings mean.

The same goes for the training. If I stay within the safe range in terms of training load, I should be able to avoid overdoing it or suffering setbacks. However, the watch only measures cardiovascular exertion. It’s unable to detect muscle fatigue or tendon strain, so, again, your own observations are important.

In addition, you can choose a specific goal, such as a half marathon, and have the Garmin Coach create a workout plan for you. You’ll have access to each workout right on your wrist. You can even choose combinations of running and walking, as the watch detects when you go from running to walking. Vibrations or sounds let you know if you’re working out in the right heart rate zone and when your next interval starts. It feels like having a coach right there with you.

The animated strength-training exercises displayed on the watch also motivate me. Not to say that I do them every time they’re suggested to me. But when I do feel like doing running-specific strength training, there’s a programme right at my fingertips, including a timer, exercises and animations.

Like the Fenix 8, the Forerunner watches provide estimates of how fast you can run a specific distance. In my experience, my pace is usually estimated slower than I actually run. This could be because I rarely stick to my training plans and the Garmin software’s underestimating my performance because of it.

Quickstart Training allows you to choose how intensely and how long you want to work out. Once that’s done, the watch suggests various options you can start on right away. When I’m feeling tired, I tend to stick to low-intensity workouts. If I know I don’t have anything exhausting planned for the rest of the day, I like to push myself with some intense interval training. However, this means you need to know your body pretty well and be able to sense what’s best for you on that day.

Smartwatches

−23%

EUR339,– was EUR439,–

Garmin Forerunner 170 Music

42.60 mm, without a SIM card

With the 170, you can use Garmin Pay (page in German). This isn’t a feature I need, as I always have my iPhone on me on longer runs. If you find this helpful, however, Garmin provides a list of participating banks (page in German).

Even if you’re not planning to compete, you can see whether you’ve improved on a particular route. And if you also enjoy other sports, go to the gym or want to track your steps and sleep, you can do that, too.

When it comes to entry-level watches, the question is if you should swap them for a better model after a while. In my opinion, no. I feel that even if you’re an experienced runner, you can effectively manage your training and prepare for competitions with either of these models.

I’ll still be sticking to my Fenix 8 for now though. Why? For trail running and longer outdoor adventures, I find the watch’s offline maps and navigation features very useful. That’s lacking in both the Forerunner 70 and 170. The Fenix 8’s LED torch is also more useful outdoors than the backlit displays on the new models. In addition, the Fenix 8 shows me how well-trained I am for mountain hiking, based on a combination of mountain strength, endurance and VO2 max. Although the latter probably isn’t a dealbreaker for most people, it’s a metric that motivates me to incorporate more elevation gain into my trail running training when it drops too much.

Siri Schubert

Senior Editor

Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.ch

Research diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.

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