Customer Reviews for Garmin Forerunner 165 Smartwatch, GPS, 43mm, Slate Gray & Black Silicone Band (010-02863-20)
408 reviews
Most helpful positive review
Posted Jan 21, 2026
Great Feature
I love my garmin forerunner 165 but I would like to have the garmin forerunner 265 instead please I would like to work with u guys. I’ve had the garmin instinct for about 2-3 years and now I have the forerunner 165
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Most helpful critical review
Posted Oct 30, 2025
Difficult to set up and understand
I have not been able to get it set up properly and neither could my son who has a different Garmin watch
Kapono
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 21, 2026
Great Feature
I love my garmin forerunner 165 but I would like to have the garmin forerunner 265 instead please I would like to work with u guys. I’ve had the garmin instinct for about 2-3 years and now I have the forerunner 165
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RL-Fitness
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 21, 2026
Data Screens Charts & Graphs
The main reason I purchased the FR165 was the ability to add charts and graphs to the Data Screens within activities. Using "Heart Rate Chart", Heart Rate Zone Ratio Graph" and Time in Heart Zones (1,2,3,4 & 5) is very helpful when doing HIIT on the Treadmill.
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CateGuns
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 21, 2026
Wildly user friendly
Over the past 10yrs, I’ve had a Garmin forerunner 295 and a 55 , both held their value and versatility for the athletic life I lead.
The upgrade to the 165 with tough screen has been welcomed change for the better. Still have all the great features, but with added simplicity in touch screen usage.
The upgrade to the 165 with tough screen has been welcomed change for the better. Still have all the great features, but with added simplicity in touch screen usage.
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Keller
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 20, 2026
Great product
I had an RR 235. It was broken, so I got a RR 165
Perfect replacement
Perfect replacement
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Ethanhh
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 17, 2026
The good and bads
Overall great but don’t like how it gets my heart rate wrong when I’m working out a lot. I don’t know if its to tight or to loose I keep trying different lengths and it will be off a lot.
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Lucas2319
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 17, 2026
Love the Sleep Score
What I love is the battery life, sleep score, and body battery.
Great wqtch
Great wqtch
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RunJunkie66
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 16, 2026
Liking most everything so far
I got this watch after wearing out my Forerunner 45. The battery life on this thing is stellar. My old 45 was getting so bad I had to charge it every day that I ran, but I'm on day 5 and have 2 runs on it, so very pleased with that. The only thing I don't like is when I complete a run and try to save it, it asks me how hard I ran, then it asks how I felt, before fina...
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Forrest C
Reviewed at:
ExpertVoice.com
Posted Jan 15, 2026
Great watch
My whole family has Garmin watches now. They hold up great, are very reliable and usable.
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Jim01
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 15, 2026
Great features.
Got it for Christmas and have worn it every day since. Fits great and feels amazing with its touchscreen.
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Tony R
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 15, 2026
All that you need
This is a very affordable watch that provides you everything that you need in a GPS watch! I can set a walk back path when hiking/lost. I love that feature the most! I enjoy the rating of my workouts and also my sleep. It is amazingly accurate! The battery life is impressive.
Garmin has moved to the AMOLED display on all their watches. The older Garmin w...
Garmin has moved to the AMOLED display on all their watches. The older Garmin w...
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DavidS123
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 13, 2026
Why is it so hard to save your run
Why is it so hard to save your run when you are done running?
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Gabotrabo
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 11, 2026
Everything I want in a running watch!
I mean, it works great. I love the training feature, that makes my goals a lot easier to hit! Love it
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Sophie E
Reviewed at:
ExpertVoice.com
Posted Jan 11, 2026
Garmin Forefunner 165
I love this watch and would recommend it to anyone looking to switch away from Apple. The durability is wonderful, I have smacked it so hard on corners and it is still perfectly fine. Also, the battery life! 11days! Thats awesome. I can totally forget about the charge.
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Two2Fly
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 10, 2026
Great Upgrade from my Forerunner 55
Love the watch. I was a little surprised it didn’t have a native HIIT selection on the start menu. It had to be selected and installed from the Garmin Connect app. Other than that the 165 is an option rich watch that will please any runner; for sure!
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Lou Lou
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 8, 2026
Pretty Good ……..but
A lot of different features on the 165.
I am having issues with it disconnecting and connecting when my phone is only a few feet away.
Have an easy fix?
I am having issues with it disconnecting and connecting when my phone is only a few feet away.
Have an easy fix?
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Greg in Fair Oaks
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 8, 2026
Better than expected
I wasn't expecting much from an entry level running watch, but compared to my last watch (Fenix 2) it's quite an upgrade. The main features I like is 1) a clear indicator of where I am relative to my target (pace, heartrate using a speedometer style animation) and 2) the pace indictor seems responsive to changes in my running speed without jumping around too much. I w...
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Lattegirl
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 8, 2026
Great features
I wanted this specifically for pool swimming. I love the green circles around the timepiece when you hit start and the red when you hit stop. The total yardage displays easily. Easy for those over 60 to operate.
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Staying above ground
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 8, 2026
Good features great battery life
Got this as a Christmas gift and have been a iwatch user for years. Love the weight and size of the 165. Like most of not all features of this watch however if I get on my paliton there is no way to track that ride. There is no stationary bike tracking so I use my iwatch. But all in all it’s a good product
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RL175
Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 8, 2026
Love the features and size
I got this for Christmas and I previously had the instinct 2. I thought it was going to be a step down but it has features that I personally use more. I do a lot of running and tennis. The only thing I wish is that it supported triathlons. It supports all the individual parts of a triathlon so why not just add a triathlon mode?
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Reviewed at:
Garmin
Posted Jan 6, 2026
Everything I thought it would and more!
Seriously love this watch. I never take it off unless I have too. It perfect for all my training needs. The one thing I wish it had was the Garmin "Training Readiness" i probably would have got the 265 if knew that but it's not a deal breaker because the watch still does everything the 265 does.
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