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| https://www.garmin.com |
In case you aim at running the race, Garmin happens to be one of the very few brands of multisport watches that will get you there. Nevertheless, there are two things I don’t like about ‘em. The first is their expensive nature whereas the second is that they can be quite difficult for beginners in terms of navigation and operating functions.
Are you familiar with its online store? It may seem difficult for beginners to figure out which of dozens of Garmin’s watches will only give them basic functionalities without breaking their banks. Not anymore because after spending a couple of weeks using Forerunner 165 Music worth $299.99, I am sure that this or another known as standard version retailing at $249.99 is the best Garmin watch that suits everyone.
Until you take a look at flagship offerings from Garmin, three hundred dollars may not sound like such a great deal in these times when people have more options. In some cases, those can retail for even up to one thousand dollars each while others go far beyond seven hundred dollars mark.
Even middle-range wearable timepieces along the lines of great Forerunner 265 series sell for four fifty bucks.
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| https://www.garmin.com |
Truly. One can hardly differentiate between my 165 Music and 265S if they stand side by side. The buttons of the 265S are somewhat more adorned. Thank God, I have them in different colors otherwise I would not easily distinguish between the two.
Regarding performance, for more than ninety-five percent of what I do daily; there was no difference at all. Even though it doesn’t have dual-frequency GPS, accuracy is still provided when tracking outdoor activity.
While testing 165 Music concurrently with my phone and the Apple Watch Ultra 2- which comprises dual-frequency GPS; all maps plus distance were within a tenth of a mile apart.
A training watch will give you activity profiles and health tracking metrics. However, Garmin’s definition of basic is extensive. Meaning you don’t get snowboarding or boxing? No. Triathlon, golfing, mountain biking as well as group sports such as soccer, require an expensive Forerunner or Garmin. But if your gym workouts tend to focus on cycling, running, swimming, hiking, but also tennis (or pickleball!), and sometimes include yoga or pilates? Then all is well. Yes, the more money you spend the more you will get out of it — however most people’s requirements would be fulfilled by this.
In addition to that heart rate data was similar to my Ultra 2 and a Polar H10 chest strap.
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| https://www.garmin.com |
Everything else in the world that makes Garmin a Garmin is there: lots of training data, ruggedness and long battery life. In fact, even with an OLED that consumes more power, I used it for almost seven days non-stop before re-charging it.
My cat chewed my 165 Music up and this gadget was able to withstand falling into water from poolside. Still available are a few things including Garmin Coach; napping time detection; sleep monitoring; and features like Body Battery and Morning Report. Luckily enough, the company has revamped its Garmin Connect app, making it less crowded hence easy to skim through.
Usually, I would start a TED Talk with the idea of why Garmin’s clusterfuck of a product lineup requires fewer watches.
Nevertheless, out of all their products, Forerunner 165 is particularly prominent due to matching prices with proper features and good design.
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| https://www.garmin.com |
The only disadvantage I can see with the 165 series is that it adds further confusion to an already overcrowded Forerunner range. As far as I know there is also another one like Forerunner called Instinct and so on. However, from among all these options, the Forerunner 165 and 165 Music would be my best choice for an entry-level Garmin watch meant for running.
This is fantastic for beginners on this platform – but also intermediate to advanced athletes who do not need any fussing.
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| Blogchatter |