Garmin · Smartwatch
Garmin Forerunner 170
Training Readiness finally reaches the entry tier — the 165’s one real gap, closed.
$299.99Garmin →
Battery10 days
Water5 ATM
Weight41g
Sensors9
OSStandalone
The 170 replaced the 165 and brings Training Readiness and full Training Status down to $299, which is the whole story of this watch. The hardware is familiar: a 1.2-inch AMOLED, Elevate Gen 4 optical HR, Pulse Ox, and a barometric altimeter, with single-band GNSS rather than multi-band. Garmin Pay is standard on both variants, but music storage and Wi-Fi are reserved for the $349.99 Music model. Ten days in smartwatch mode, 20 hours of GPS. It costs $50 more than the 165 did, and for most runners the readiness score is worth exactly that.
Strengths
- Training Readiness and Training Status at $299
- Barometric altimeter, unlike the cheaper Forerunner 70
- Garmin Pay standard on both variants
Tradeoffs
- Single-band GNSS only
- $50 more than the Forerunner 165 it replaces
- Music storage and Wi-Fi require the Music model
Full specs
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Common questions
- How much does the Garmin Forerunner 170 cost?
- The Garmin Forerunner 170 starts at $299.99, with larger sizes and premium finishes costing more.
- Does the Garmin Forerunner 170 require a subscription?
- No. The Garmin Forerunner 170 has no subscription — you pay for the hardware once and the Garmin app is included.
- How long does the Garmin Forerunner 170 battery last?
- About 10 days of typical use per charge. Heavy GPS use, an always-on display, and continuous sensing all pull that number down.
- Is the Garmin Forerunner 170 waterproof?
- The Garmin Forerunner 170 is rated 5 ATM (50m), which covers showering, swimming, and surface water sports. It is not a dive rating.
- Do you need a phone to use the Garmin Forerunner 170?
- No. The Garmin Forerunner 170 records, stores, and shows your data on the device itself — a phone is for syncing and review, not for tracking.
- When was the Garmin Forerunner 170 released?
- Garmin released the Garmin Forerunner 170 in 2026, and it is still in the current lineup.