Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Garmin Forerunner 570 vs Garmin Forerunner 965

Garmin Forerunner 265, Garmin Forerunner 570 or Garmin Forerunner 965? We compare GPS battery, weight, maps and multi-band on all three and tell you which to choose for what you need.

All three share an AMOLED screen, dual-frequency multi-band GPS, onboard music and Garmin's training metrics, so the decision comes down to two questions: do you need maps on your wrist, and how many hours of GPS do you need? The 265 is the simplest: no maps and 20 h of GPS, the best fit for road and waymarked trail. The 570 adds full-color topo maps at the same weight (47 g) and the same 20 h of battery, the shortest route to on-watch navigation without stepping up to the 965. The 965 is the only one of the three with ultra-length battery (31 h of GPS) and the most complete navigation; its entry price is the highest. For mountain trail and routes you don't know, choose between the 570 and the 965 by how long you'll be out: up to roughly 15-18 h the 570 is enough; on long ultras, the 965.