Forerunner 170 Garmin's starter running watch grows up

What is new about the Forerunner 170?

Garmin announced the Forerunner 170 on 12 May 2026 alongside the cheaper Forerunner 70, and it takes over from the Forerunner 165 at the beginner end of the range. The UK RRP is £259.99, or £299.99 for the Forerunner 170 Music.

The changes are mostly about features moving down the range. Both new models get a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a traditional five-button layout, which helps when touch is awkward, such as with wet fingers or gloves. On top of the Forerunner 70, the 170 adds Garmin Pay contactless payments. Both get training readiness, training status, wrist-based running power and running dynamics, plus Garmin Coach plans that now include run-walk workouts and lower-volume options for beginners.

Daily suggested workouts adapt after every run. The health side covers sleep coaching, HRV status, Pulse Ox, breathing variations and Health Status, and there are more than 80 built-in sports profiles including swimming, cycling and strength.

How big is it, and how will it wear?

Garmin lists the case at 42.6 x 42.6 x 11.9 mm with a weight of 41 g. That is a compact, light watch by sports-watch standards, and Garmin says it fits wrists from 126 to 203 mm in circumference. The bezel is fibre-reinforced polymer and the strap is silicone on standard 20 mm quick release pins, so you can swap in any 20 mm strap.

For smaller wrists, the 42.6 mm case without long lugs should sit comfortably, and 41 g is light enough to sleep in, which matters because much of the training advice depends on overnight HRV and sleep data.

How long does the battery last?

Garmin quotes up to 10 days in smartwatch mode, falling to 4 days with the display always on. Battery saver mode stretches that to 19 days. With GPS running, Garmin quotes up to 20 hours in GPS-only mode and 14 hours using all satellite systems. In practice, a runner doing four or five hour-long sessions a week should be charging roughly weekly, not nightly.

Storage is 4 GB on the standard model, and it controls music on your phone rather than storing it. Charging uses Garmin's own plug charger.

Is it tough enough for swimming and daily wear?

Water resistance is 5 ATM, which Garmin rates as suitable for swimming, and there are pool and open-water swim profiles. The lens is chemically strengthened glass rather than sapphire, which is normal at this price but more prone to scratches than the sapphire on Garmin's dearer watches. The polymer case keeps the weight down.

How does it compare with the Forerunner 70 and a Galaxy Watch9?

The Forerunner 70 shares the same screen, button layout and core training tools, and Garmin quotes a longer 13 days in smartwatch mode. What you give up is Garmin Pay. If you never pay from your wrist, the cheaper watch covers almost everything a new runner needs.

A general smartwatch such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch9 starts at £349 RRP for the 40 mm model and runs far more apps, but Samsung quotes up to 40 hours of battery on the 44 mm version with the display set to switch off. For running, the Forerunner 170's multi-day battery and Garmin's structured training plans are the stronger pitch.

What is the catch?

There are three. First, music storage is only on the Forerunner 170 Music, which costs £40 more. Second, the glass lens and polymer case are built to a price, so this is not a watch for scrambling over rock. Third, at £259.99 this is no longer a cheap way into Garmin: the entry point to the running range has moved up, and the older Forerunner 165 may still be worth a look while stock lasts.

Who should buy it?

Runners in their first few years who want a watch that tells them when to push and when to rest, and who like the idea of paying for a coffee at the end of a run without a phone. If you train for marathons, want maps or need music on the wrist, look further up the range.

“Training readiness at £259.99 is the real story: advice that used to need a dearer watch now comes on Garmin's starter model.”