It’s been a while since Garmin gave us anything to write about, and now it’s quietly announced two (technically three) new smartwatches, all aimed at newbies looking to kickstart their fitness journey. The Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 (plus a 170 Music), as they’re known, will officially go on sale this Friday, 15 May.
And South Africa is on the list. Their price(s) may not seem as beginner-friendly as the brand makes them out to be. But compare them to something a little more high-end within the Forerunner family, like the R16,500 Forerunner 970, and the R5,500 and R6,500 prices locked in for the 70 and 170 don’t seem quite so bad.
Garmin’s running the numbers
Part of what makes the new Forerunner family so attractive is the included suite of advanced training tools, which Garmin typically reserves for its highest-paying customers. These… aren’t cut from quite the same cloth, and yet they’ll behave as if they are. We’re talking Training Readiness, Training Status, and running dynamics metrics.
Forerunner 70 and 170 owners will be rewarded for their frugality with a 1.2in 390 x 390px colour AMOLED screen, right under ‘chemically strengthened glass’. The surrounding frame is made up of a fibre-reinforced polymer and a silicone strap. All the basics are included, too, like GPS, sleep and heart rate tracking.
Nothing you couldn’t find in a cheaper smartwatch, in other words. We’ve already mentioned a few of the more in-depth metrics Garmin will send your way, but it gets better. On top of the 80+ sports the watches will track, Garmin’s ‘Coach’ takes you through your workouts, whether it be running, yoga, or something cardio-based.
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You’ll also get suggested workouts on a daily basis, adapting to the user’s specific routines, as well as their overall performance and recovery times. Battery life is claimed to be up to 13 days in smartwatch mode on the Forerunner 70. That’ll be slashed down to five days if you’re an always-on fan. Stick it in ‘All-systems GNSS’ mode, and it’ll eke out only 16 hours of life before whining for a charge again.
For the average gym-goer or street jogger, the Forerunner 70 ticks a lot of the right boxes. But the Forerunner 170 adds a few key features that may make it worth the extra R1,000. Garmin Pay is one of them, the built-in compass and gyroscope are two more, both of which contribute to the Forerunner 170’s weaker ten-day battery life. You can see some of the features the Forerunner 170 adds below:
- Thermometer
- Smart trainer control
- Power meter compatibility
- Bike lap and lap maximum power with power sensor
- Elevation profile
- Vertical speed
- Total ascent/descent
- Floors climbed
- Open-water swimming
Finally, there’s the Forerunner 170 Music, which simply adds the ability to download music, podcasts and other audio to your watch. You’ll need to cough up a hefty R8,000 for the privilege, however.
