I've tested every modern Garmin watch — and I'd recommend these 8 deals to get race-ready over winter

It's October, and while the best of the year's weather is behind us, if you're a keen runner your thoughts might already be turning to next spring.

<![CDATA[ <article> <p>It's October, and while the best of the year's weather is behind us, if you're a keen runner your thoughts might already be turning to next spring. April onwards is marathon season, and if you've entered the New York or Berlin events, London's mammoth two-day event, or one of the many other marathons held in cities around the world, you'll want to start getting race-ready over winter.</p><p>Alternatively, you might be getting fit for the first time, or after a long absence, and deciding to do what the kids call a 'winter arc' after a summer of indulgence.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.techradar.com/best/garmin-watch">best Garmin watches</a> are perfect tools for runners of all levels preparing for the next step, and there are tons of deals up for grabs right now at retailers, including Amazon, ahead of its Big Deal Days sales event next week. I've reviewed almost every modern Garmin watch, and tested them all, so I'm well qualified to help you find your perfect watch at a great price. </p><p>I'm seeing discounts on loads of Garmin watches, such as the high-end <strong>Garmin Fenix 8 </strong>(we gave this incredible watch a full five stars in our <a href="https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/garmin-fenix-8-review">Garmin Fenix 8 review</a>), the budget <strong>Garmin Vivoactive 5</strong>, and everything in between. I've picked the eight watches getting the best discounts on Amazon, and I've applied our price-checking tool to them all. If those prices change, or a better deal pops up elsewhere, you'll always see the best deal. </p><p>Scroll down to see the best deals on the eight Garmins I recommend to get race-ready for less this winter. </p><h2 class="article-body__section" id="section-today-s-best-garmin-watch-deals"><span>Today's best Garmin watch deals</span></h2> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="41985370-bdb6-11f1-a430-63ce0215f5ad"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-f%C4%93nix%C2%AE-Multisport-Long-Lasting-Built/dp/B0DC6ZD31R/" data-model-name="Garmin Fenix 8" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nCmKqKVkPCsdU4jDfyHoP7.jpg" alt="Four Garmin watches on a muddy grass background"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Garmin</div> <div class="featured__title">Fenix 8 (47mm)</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="100" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Advanced GPS</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>New heart rate sensor</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Garmin’s trademark modularity</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Expensive</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Bulky</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="41985d16-bdb6-11f1-b0b6-5fb1de375821"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-v%C3%ADvoactive-Fitness-Smartwatch-Display/dp/B0CG6NBJ61" data-model-name="Garmin Vivoactive 5" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MiMiSVucJSf7dUM7FZNNJ7.jpg" alt="Four Garmin watches on a muddy grass background"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Garmin</div> <div class="featured__title">Vivoactive 5</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="80" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Upgraded AMOLED display</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>On-watch music streaming</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Powerful health and sports tracking options</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Minimal buttons</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>No barometric altimeter</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>No Training Readiness</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="41985dca-bdb6-11f1-a2b0-b929aeb4c891"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner%C2%AE-Music-Black-Yellow/dp/B0H1F79N52" data-model-name="Garmin Forerunner 170 GPS Watch" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AibrVRmB5jCrmB33jxw3L7.jpg" alt="Four Garmin watches on a muddy grass background"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Garmin</div> <div class="featured__title">Forerunner 170 GPS Watch</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="80" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Light and smallish-sized</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Great performance</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Smart features are useful</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Music download includes streaming playlists</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Highly priced compared with 70</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>No microphone/speaker/voice assistant</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="41985e38-bdb6-11f1-82ae-bb94c4db69e9"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner%C2%AE-43mm-Soft-Pink/dp/B0H1F8FJ7K/" data-model-name="Garmin Forerunner 70 GPS Watch" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BTTzeJWk2mfLVMKWJeyS38.jpg" alt="Four Garmin watches on a muddy grass background"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Garmin</div> <div class="featured__title">Forerunner 70 GPS Watch</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="80" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Still a solid performer without Garmin’s latest sensors</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Lots of new training and smartwatch features added</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Sharp, vibrant AMOLED display</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>More expensive than the Forerunner 55</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Doesn’t get all of Garmin’s latest smartwatch features</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>No open water or triathlon modes</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="41985ea6-bdb6-11f1-803c-0f2f91fe5b2c"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-Smartwatch-Colorful-Whitestone/dp/B0BS2F6DJ3/" data-model-name="Garmin Forerunner 265" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yWRZjtioCiQfA5EesM9bX7.jpg" alt="Four Garmin watches on a muddy grass background"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Garmin</div> <div class="featured__title">Forerunner 265s</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star half"></span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="90" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>First small Forerunner with a touchscreen</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Bright, crisp AMOLED visuals</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Small and pretty</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Run button easier to use with gloves</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>More expensive than 255 & 255S</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Screen boost means (slightly) worse battery life</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="41985f0a-bdb6-11f1-9cc6-1599d6ba1055"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-Smartwatch-Colorful-Training/dp/B0CT3SGHXL/" data-model-name="Garmin Forerunner 165" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wf8agBamuuwpWDPfRFhTN7.jpg" alt="Four Garmin watches on a muddy grass background"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Garmin</div> <div class="featured__title">Forerunner 165 (43mm)</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star half"></span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="90" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Retains many previously-premium training features</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Good-looking AMOLED touchscreen</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>13 days of battery life</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Not cheap enough to replace the Forerunner 45 or 55</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Music storage is extra</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="41985fdc-bdb6-11f1-bcc2-1573254bf902"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Instinct%C2%AE-Smartwatch-Metal-Reinforced-Flashlight/dp/B0DSC8JF59/" data-model-name="Garmin Instinct 3" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/umzWrewfKDMq6VGfw7gTh7.jpg" alt="Four Garmin watches on a muddy grass background"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Garmin</div> <div class="featured__title">Instinct 3 (45mm)</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star half"></span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="90" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Choice between AMOLED and MIP Solar</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Built-in flashlight</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>All-new fitness tools</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>No topo maps</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Polymer, not metal casing</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="419860ae-bdb6-11f1-921d-4fe493db816e"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Instinct%C2%AE-Tactical-Display-Smartwatch/dp/B0F673RJ66/" data-model-name="Garmin Instinct 3 Solar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MTxVhLbtTjXpXWBqkG9hW7.jpg" alt="Four Garmin watches on a muddy grass background"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Garmin</div> <div class="featured__title">Instinct 3 Tactical</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star half"></span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="90" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Choice between AMOLED and MIP Solar</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Built-in flashlight</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>All-new fitness tools</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>No topo maps</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Polymer, not metal casing</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> </article> ]]>