Garmin Forerunner 970 review: A runner’s dream with one big caveat

After six weeks with the Forerunner 970 strapped to my wrist, it’s clear that Garmin’s latest flagship running watch isn’t here to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it’s a story of meticulous refinement, adding a robust suite of features that make it a compelling upgrade for serious runners.

While the Forerunner 965 revolutionised the line with its vibrant AMOLED display, the 970 subtly builds on that foundation. For this generation, Garmin has also done a better job of creating a clearer distinction from its more affordable sibling, the Forerunner 570, than it did with the 265.

Is it the best running watch money can buy right now? Without a doubt, yes.

But it comes with a couple of significant caveats: an eye-watering price tag and the unspoken expectation to invest in Garmin’s also-new HRM 600 chest strap to unlock its full potential. If you’re willing to do so, you’ll be granted unparalleled insights that serious runners crave. Find out whether they’re worth it for you in this extensive review.

Price: The elephant in the room

For all the good posed by the Forerunner 970 (and I’ll detail the entirety of it below), let’s not beat around the bush: at $750/£630, this is a very expensive running watch. This isn’t just a bump from the Forerunner 965’s price point of $600; it’s a significant leap that puts it close to the Fenix 8 Solar’s $799 starting tag.

For $50 more (or less, if you find a good Fenix 8 deal), you could step into the broader Fenix world, gaining diving support, a more rugged design, better battery life, and a host of additional navigation tools that truly distinguish it as Garmin’s premier outdoor adventure watch.

Given that the Fenix 8 is also slated to receive many of the 970’s new software features through future updates, the value proposition here becomes a tightrope walk, forcing you to seriously weigh up your priorities.

SQUIRREL_PLAYLIST_10207701

And then there’s the hidden cost (which, again, I’ll evaluate in more detail below): to truly experience the 970’s cutting-edge running dynamics, you’ll need to shell out an additional $170/£150 for the new HRM 600 chest strap.

Naturally, this requirement for external hardware to access the 970’s full potential feels like a low blow, especially after the backlash over Connect+ earlier this year. For many, this double whammy of subscription and accessory dependency for the best features might be a significant turn-off. Yet, it’s one of the few areas where you can truly fault the offering.

Design and display: A subtle evolution

On the surface, the 970 is an evolution, not a revolution, of the 965’s design. You’ll notice minor visual tweaks: a slightly smaller Start/Stop button that feels more integrated into the overall design, and a new guard on the case’s right edge offering subtle protection.

The screen shape now also subtly slopes off, reminiscent of the older Forerunner 265, making the dead space on the display look a little more elegant. These are largely take-it-or-leave-it changes, refinements rather than groundbreaking redesigns.

In daily use, we found that the real game-changer in design comes with the move to sapphire crystal glass. After struggling mightily with the 965’s easily scratched non-sapphire display–with the easy-to-obtain scratches quickly sending me back to a sapphire Epix/Fenix–the 970’s improved durability is a revelation.

I’ve subjected it to gym abuse, proximity to power tools, and the chaotic abyss of my backpack filled with cables and hand tools, and it’s emerged without a single mark. While the titanium bezel still picks up the occasional superficial scratch, the display’s newfound resilience is a significant quality-of-life improvement for anyone who uses their watch in demanding environments and expects it to withstand daily wear and tear.

The addition of the built-in LED flashlight is another clutch move. It’s been one of my favorite features on premium Garmin devices since its proper rollout on the Epix Pro and Fenix 7 Pro lines. On the 970, it makes perfect sense, as it enhances safety for those dark winter runs or unexpected nighttime errands. I use it daily, far more often than my phone’s flashlight, and it’s incredibly convenient for everything from finding dropped keys to navigating a dark house.

Display brightness ramps up—but at what cost?

Less impactful, for me at least, are the built-in mic and speaker, which enable voice commands, out-loud music playback, and calls when paired with your phone. While undoubtedly a feature that should be on a premium watch in 2025, it’s not something I’m clamoring for in a dedicated running tool.

Similarly, the headline act (in a marketing sense, at least)—the brighter display—hasn’t proven too impactful in use. The 965’s AMOLED already provided excellent visibility, and this brightness boost feels like an unnecessary trade-off for battery life (more on that later). I question how many users were feverishly awaiting a brighter screen after using the previous model.

New run tracking features: Metrics galore

Garmin always rolls out a few new software carrots with each major release, and the 970 is no exception. This time, they include Step Speed Loss (SSL), Running Economy, and Running Tolerance, and are joined by tweaks to the wider run-tracking experience and legacy features.

So far in testing, they’ve proven to be a mixed bag, largely due to the need for the HRM 600 chest strap to access SSL and Running Economy, which feels like a significant barrier to entry for some of the most anticipated new features.

I respect the fact that Garmin isn’t trying to do everything from the wrist like other wearables brands—and I’ve found the integration itself to be very clean—but the fact remains that some will instantly veto the 970 due to its reliance on the HRM 600.

Running Tolerance

I’ve found this to be the most immediately useful of the trio, which is good because it also doesn’t require any additional hardware to work. As I’ve slowly ramped up my mileage post-injury over the last few months, this feature has been invaluable for interpreting load in a clear, actionable way.

It saves me from tediously diving into Garmin Connect or Strava graphs to track my weekly mileage and, crucially, assigns a higher ‘impact load’ to tempo and interval efforts, rightly acknowledging their greater physical demand. In contrast, base-building runs will largely be right in line, impact-wise, with what you’ve actually run.

This has been a genuine tool for managing my training load and building up gradually without overexertion. I also envision it becoming even more powerful with future integrations of Garmin Coach plans, which could guide users even more precisely through their training blocks.

Running Economy

This was the feature I was most excited about, hoping it would help with my poor form tendencies. So far, though, I’ve found it a little disappointing.

After unlocking the metric after a couple of weeks of running, the value hasn’t moved in a month of consistent running—well over 100 miles. The guidance on how to improve it is generic at best, offering little in the way of specific, actionable advice.

Like many advanced Garmin metrics, it’s a valuable calculation that no other brand offers in this level of detail. Still, the onus is squarely on you to interpret how to actually improve it. Is it my form that needs tweaking, or do I just need more mileage and a higher VO2 max before I see the Running Economy value move? It’s unclear.

It might serve as long-term confirmation of progression as an overall long-distance runner, but only over a wide view (such as a year of consistent running blocks). And, even then, you could still argue that it’d need to provide more explanation.

Step Speed Loss

The latest addition to the Running Dynamics family, Step Speed Loss, falls into a similar category.

I have a decent grasp of it after having it set up as a workout glance (above) over the last six weeks of running. Yet, it doesn’t cut through and actively remind me to fix any lazy forms.

This is admittedly, I think, because I tend to stay in the top percentiles whether running at a high tempo or not. Whatever my running form issues are, Step Speed Loss isn’t one of them. And I say ‘seemingly’ because, again, Garmin isn’t giving you much personal feedback on what the value says about your running form.

Again, this one would be much more helpful if you’re trying out new form techniques and are specifically trying to learn how to pick up your feet and be more efficient in your stride.

The other new stuff

Other handy features include the niche but useful auto-laps for timing gates, which, despite the complexity in setting up, seem like they’d be incredibly handy in specific race situations. It’s one I’m looking forward to testing out properly in a marathon setting at some point later this year.

There’s also the new race finish line prompt for cropping race PBs, and a slightly evolved and improved version of the race widget that now dynamically shows how your training is affecting your time projection.

These are exactly the kind of useful, performance-oriented features you expect at this price point. And if they’re anything like Garmin’s other calculations, they’ll be bang on the money.

Heart rate and GPS accuracy: As reliable as it gets

To access Running Economy and other advanced metrics, I paired the 970 almost exclusively with the HRM 600 chest strap. However, my daily sessions in the gym relied solely on the wrist-based sensor, and they confirmed exactly what I’ve come to expect from the brand’s Elevate 5 optical HR sensor over the last couple of years.

There’s the inherent lag you would expect from any wrist optical sensor, particularly during rapid changes in heart rate. Yet, curiously, I found it better than the Fenix 8 in that it doesn’t seem to suffer from the frustrating dropouts (or the weird warm-up period that sometimes occurs with Garmin devices), providing a more consistent and reliable reading from the start.

That aside, average BPM and maximum heart rate figures were always within 2 BPM of the other Garmin on my wrist connected to the HRM 600. So, unless you want those extra metrics or don’t want to put up with latency, the Elevate 5 sensor remains as accurate as it gets from the wrist.

Garmin’s GPS accuracy remains top-tier, too. In my testing, it was right in line with the Apple Watch Ultra 2. With no changes to its core GPS setup, the Multi-Band setting remains my most recommended for navigating the dense signal environments of city marathons, ensuring pinpoint accuracy even amidst tall buildings.

SatIQ—which auto-adjusts during workouts to optimize battery and accuracy—also remains rock solid for everything else, providing excellent performance for daily runs and trails. And naturally, battery-saving modes are there if you want to eke out every last hour for extended adventures.

Smart features: Classic premium features

Beyond core sports tracking, the 970 offers the expected suite of premium smartwatch features. The built-in speaker and mic enable convenient calling and voice control directly from your wrist (when paired with a compatible smartphone), allowing you to use voice commands to control watch functions or interact with your phone’s voice assistant for quick text replies.

For runners who prefer to stay connected on the go without reaching for their phone, these are welcome additions. Music storage and Spotify streaming are standard, and the improved battery life, specifically in the ‘GPS + Music’ mode, makes it a touch more usable for those longer runs where a soundtrack is essential.

More in touch, but still no LTE connectivity

The ‘Evening Report’ also acts as a nice bookend to the beloved Morning Report, offering a pre-bed summary of sleep goals, tomorrow’s scheduled workout (especially useful if you’re following a Garmin Coach plan), and a quick weather forecast.

Other thoughtful touches include Focus Modes (borrowed from the Fenix 8, allowing you to minimize distractions) and a large font size option for improved readability.

It would also be remiss of me not to make note of the never-ending question regarding Garmin’s return to LTE.

The functionality isn’t available on the 970—sorry—but rumors suggest we may be closer than ever to seeing an all-new twist on a Garmin LTE watch. With it seemingly being prepared for the Fenix 8’s mid-cycle update, though, we’ll likely have to wait another couple of years before we see it on a Forerunner.

Health and sleep tracking: A more rounded picture

The Garmin ECG app is a notable health addition for this generation. This feature enables the 970 to record electrical signals from your heart, with the app analyzing those recordings to detect signs of an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation.

While probably not a primary concern for the average runner solely focused on performance, it’s an important feature for overall health monitoring and aligns the 970 with other premium smartwatches. Basically, I think it’s here to tick a box, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Other new health metrics include Garmin’s interpretation of Skin Temperature and ovulation estimates, adding more layers to the tracking suite. This adds to the likes of HRV Status, Body Battery, and 24/7 stress monitoring.

They’re all great tools–though, again, I’d still like to see Garmin streamline the interpretation process with all of these metrics. Even with a Connect+ subscription and the help of its Active Intelligence model, you’re still left to do a lot of the heavy lifting on these insights yourself.

That’s also true of sleep, but Garmin does at least remain very consistent in understanding when you’ve gone to sleep and woken up. The 970 proved no different from the brand’s norm; among the better options, but still not as consistent at interpreting the quality of our sleep (via scores, stage analysis, and more) as a device like the Oura Ring 4.

I did like the touch of Sleep Coach being integrated into Evening Report, though—even if its function remains pretty limited.

Battery life: One step forward, two back

This is where things get a little complicated. While Garmin has historically crushed it on AMOLED battery efficiency, managing to deliver vibrant displays without crippling endurance, the 970 takes a curious step backward in its general-use smartwatch mode.

Compared to the 965’s impressive 23 days without always-on display (AOD), the 970 offers 15 days. With AOD enabled, that drops to roughly four days, compared to the 965’s six days under similar conditions—default brightness, blood oxygen monitoring on during sleep, the screen off between 10 pm and 7 am, and 30-90 minutes of SatIQ tracking often with music.

This translates to me reaching for the charger every 2-3 days now, rather than every five, which is a noticeable shift in quality of use. For me, this frequent charging has been the biggest difference in switching from the more enduring Fenix 8, and, combined with the fact that all those software exclusives will carry over, a significant factor in why I’d probably return to it for daily wear.

Squeezing out more life in tracking modes

However, if your primary concern is GPS tracking battery life, the 970 actually improves in most key modes, which is a crucial distinction. This isn’t all a step back.

In SatIQ, enabled by default, you’ll get an extra hour (23 hours compared to 22 on the 965). All Systems + Multi-Band, Garmin’s most accurate GPS mode, is also up by two hours (21 hours from 19). And crucially, music streaming performance during GPS activities is significantly better, gaining 3.5 hours in both these modes – more than enough to carry you for a pretty gnarly ultramarathon with your favorite tunes.

So, while smartwatch endurance has dwindled, activity tracking battery life remains robust and, in many scenarios, actually improves. I can’t truly say it’s been a noticeable uptick, but, still, that extra squeeze of life is there should you need it.

Final thoughts: A summary of our Forerunner 970 testing

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is undoubtedly the best running watch on the market today.

It offers unparalleled insights into your training, a more scratch-resistant display that finally brings it in line with premium expectations, and a host of refined software features that will genuinely benefit serious runners looking to optimize every aspect of their performance.

The LED flashlight is a surprisingly useful addition for daily life and safety, and the improved GPS battery life with music streaming is a boon for ultra-runners tackling big distances.

However, its hefty price tag, coupled with the unofficial requirement of the HRM 600 chest strap to unlock its full potential, makes it a significant financial investment. The dip in smartwatch battery life is also a notable regression, one that might prompt some users to consider the more robust (and similarly priced) Fenix line.

SQUIRREL_PLAYLIST_10207701

If you’re a serious runner demanding the absolute cutting edge in performance metrics, who values durability, and is willing to pay a premium for it the Forerunner 970 is your undisputed champion. Just be prepared for the hit to your wallet, and maybe keep that charger handy for daily use.