Garmin Forerunner 265S
Introduction
I became a runner in the middle of 2023. In addition to the running shoes, I also need a professional watch for runners so that I can use for tracking my training and giving me information during the race.
After some research, I chose Garmin Forerunner 265S. In this blog post, I would like to share my research and user experiences.
Professional Watch for Runners
When I was looking for a professional watch for runners, I was considering the following features:
- Long battery life
- Lightweight
- Bluetooth
- Music player
- Distance tracker
- Heart rate monitor
- Water resistant
It turns out that only Garmin Forerunner 265, 265S, and 965 have all the features I need.
Battery Life
Garmin smart watches typically have the longest battery life in the market. Garmin Forerunner 265 or 265S has a battery life of 2 weeks, which is the much longer than the battery life of the watchers from other manufacturers, such as Apple. Garmin Forerunner 265S, because it has smaller screen, has slightly longer battery life than Garmin Forerunner 265. Garmin Forerunner 965, which is much larger, has even longer battery life, up to 3 weeks.
Weight
As a runner, I want my watch to be as light as possible. Garmin Forerunner 265S is the lightest watch among Garmin Forerunner 265, 265S, and 965. Garmin Forerunner 265S is only 37 g, which is much lighter than Garmin Forerunner 265 (47 g) and Garmin Forerunner 965 (53 g). Garmin Forerunner 265S is also probably the lightest watch among all the smart watches in the market.
Bluetooth and Music Player
I want to carry as few devices as possible during my training. Garmin Forerunner 265, 265S, and 965 have Bluetooth and music player, which means that I can listen to music using my watch without carrying my phone, the battery life will be compromised if I use the music player though.
Sports and Health Monitoring
Almost all the smart watches nowadays have sports and health monitoring features, such as distance tracker and heart rate monitor. But based on some other professional reviews, Garmin Forerunner 265, 265S, and 965 have the most accurate distance tracker and heart rate monitor.
Occam’s Razor
Garmin Forerunner 965 is more specialized for triathlon, which means that it has more features than Garmin Forerunner 265 and 265S that I don’t need. Garmin Forerunner 265S is the lightest and smallest watch among Garmin Forerunner 265, 265S, and 965. It comes with a smaller screen and fits my thin wrist much better. If I wore Garmin Forerunner 265 or 965, it does not look good on my wrist. Therefore, I chose Garmin Forerunner 265S.
Garmin Forerunner 265S
User Experiences
I have been using Garmin Forerunner 265S for three months so far. Its battery life is the same as advertised and I don’t have to charge it very often. It is very light and fits my thin wrist very well. The music player is also convenient when I use Bluetooth earphones.
As a runner’s watch, Garmin Forerunner 265S tracks my running distance, personal record, recovery and sleep. I have used it in a few races that I attended and it works well.
The only caveat is that I should not wear it too tight, otherwise my wrist might feel uncomfortable. But if wearing appropriately, I don’t feel it when I work out.
Garmin Forerunner 265S