The Garmin Forerunner 265 (ASIN B0BVF9S5TM) is available on Amazon.ca for $599 CAD — Garmin's first Forerunner with an AMOLED display, featuring multi-band GPS, full running dynamics, Daily HRV Status and Training Readiness, plus offline Spotify and Garmin Pay for runners who want a compelling everyday watch alongside serious athletic performance.
14 mentions · 7 threadslast mention Jul 2026
Real comments from Reddit, linked to the original thread. Nothing paraphrased.
Track it in open water mode and deactivate GPS in the settings. It'll estimate the distance/pace based on stroke cadence or smth. This is what I do when I'm swimming in a lake against its current (so I'm stationary like you). For me, comparing it with effort and heart rate inside a pool, it seems to be within 5-10s of the "correct" pace.
I actually tried the open water swim mode on my endless pool and it still gave me calories burned and a couple of other metrics I can't recall
I think the 265 is one of the best runner watches out there with a great value for money.
So I just tried it out for the first time today (what prompted the original question). It worked way better than I expected but, but I haven't used them long enough to say how long the bands will last or anything. I don't know that I'd compare it one to one to lap swimming. There is active resistance trying to pull you back so you have to work a lot harder. I'd compare it maybe to a sprint set work out where you work really hard in short bursts and then take a breather.
Congrats on the 265, the AMOLED upgrade is a huge jump from the older MIP screens. One thing I wish I knew starting out, turn off the always-on display if you care about battery life, otherwise it eats through charge pretty fast on this model. Also spend time setting up the morning report and training readiness widgets, those become the most useful part of the day once you build a routine. If you ever run with a chest strap, the wrist optical HR will fight with it so disable it during activities. Grab a couple data fields from the Connect IQ store, the stock screens are fine but the third party options are way better for pace and cadence. The first two weeks are the hardest because the watch is still learning your fitness baseline, so don't panic if training readiness looks rough at first. It's just calibrating.
It will encourage you to drink alcohol less when you can see how it affects your body stress and sleep!
Good choice. I got my 265s 2.5 years ago after using Samsung. It works flawlessly and I plan to use it till it dies. From everything I've read about them I'll pass it down to me grandchildren.
265 and hr strap. All you need. 265 vs 965 has same sensors just 965 have maps. 570 have newest sensors but anyway if you run you need hr strap. So my recommendations go with 265+hr strap
Bought 265 - only thing it's missing are cardio/hiit coach feature - not sure if it worth it - I was considering venu 4 as an alternative for newest updates
So I asked Gemini about the 165 vs 265 and to me the 265 is the clear winner due to: - multiband GPS - it has some of the actually useful metrics like Acute Load and Training Status unlike the 165, which makes the 165 too barebones for serious training imo. - It has Training Readiness and Endurance Score on top as a take-it-or-leave it bonus - triathlon capable if you're one of *those* maniacs ;) So yeah, I'd go for the 265 and be set for years to come.
It's been known for quite awhile that optical heart rate sensors aren't fantastic at HRV measurement, and that Garmin specifically is sub-par, rating middle of the pack in wearables for any heart measurements ... They have a cult-following because they symbol "athlete" status, but irconically are just "okay" at measureing actual health metrics.
I think; imho, an Apple Watch would motivate you better then a Garmin does. A Forerunner is essentially a running/workout tool. I've used an Apple Watch before and I think it's really good at getting you starting moving and doing some workouts again.
My main motivation was context: I already switched to the Amazfit Helio Strap for heart rate tracking after realizing Garmin's optical wrist sensor is unreliable. But testing the Helio strap without also testing a full Amazfit watch felt incomplete, so here we are. Spoiler: I'm keeping the Garmin FR265 of course — but this little $70 device made me genuinely rethink whether that €300 price gap is still justified.
After a lot of research and an upgrade process, my Forerunner 265 finally arrived today (along with a complimentary Garmin T-shirt). I've just finished setting it up, updated the firmware, and I'm already loving it. The AMOLED display looks amazing, and it feels really comfortable on the wrist.
The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the best running watch in the $500-600 range for runners who want AMOLED aesthetics, deep running dynamics, and Garmin's full health tracking ecosystem — including Daily HRV Status, Training Readiness, and Race Predictor. The battery compromise compared to MIP Garmins is real but manageable for most training rhythms. It's the watch Garmin should have built several generations ago, and it's finally here.
