I Upgraded From the Garmin Forerunner 165 to the 970, and It Was Worth the Cost for Me

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In the past few years, I’ve gone from being a defiant minimalist runner, to becoming a humble fan of Garmin’s most entry-level running watch, to now falling in love with the company’s top-of-the-line Forerunner. 

A quick cheat code to understanding the model numbers in Garmin’s Forerunner line: The first number tells you how fancy (and expensive) the watch is. This means that my upgrade from the Garmin Forerunner 165 to the Forerunner 970 is not a small step up the ladder. Honestly, it’s more like skipping the ladder entirely and taking the elevator to the penthouse. The price gap alone—from $250 to $750—is enough to give anyone serious pause. Having made the switch, here’s my honest take on who actually needs this big of an upgrade in their running watch.

The Forerunner 165 is a solid entry-level watch, especially for its price

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