rabbit.reviews
Best Overall

Garmin Forerunner 265

The sweet spot in Garmin's lineup — full-featured AMOLED display, solid GPS, and advanced training metrics at a price that doesn't require a second mortgage. Consistently the most-recommended Garmin across Reddit communities for runners of all levels.

$350-$450
Pros
  • AMOLED display with 454x454 resolution — same screen as the pricier 965
  • Full training metrics including daily suggested workouts and race predictor
  • Covers everything from 5K to marathon training
  • Frequently found on sale around $350, making it accessible
Cons
  • Lacks topographical maps found on higher-end models
  • No music storage (need the 265 Music variant for that)
  • Battery life shorter than Fenix or Forerunner 955/965 series
Why we recommend it

If you only want one recommendation, this is it. The 265 hits the feature-to-price ratio better than anything else Garmin makes, and Reddit keeps coming back to it again and again.

Reddit user

Get the Forerunner 265. Has everything you will need, including a lot of fun statistics that you can check to see your progress.