Updated 31 Oct 2026
Is the Garmin Forerunner 70 worth it?
Yes — the best running watch for the money.
It brings Garmin's best running tools, including training readiness and daily suggested workouts, to its cheapest Forerunner, with a bright AMOLED touchscreen and five physical buttons that are easy to use mid-run. It's light and comfortable, tracks reliably and lasts up to 10 days (four with the screen always on). It works with iPhone and Android. To keep the price down it has no contactless payments, music storage, altimeter or triathlon mode, so climbs aren't measured well.
94%of 17 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Garmin's training readiness and coaching
- Bright AMOLED touchscreen
- Up to 10 days of battery
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What owners say
Owners are happy with it, many of them moving up from an older Forerunner.
Good to know
- No altimeter, so climb and elevation data are off.
- No contactless payments or music storage.
- No open-water swim or triathlon modes.
From 17 buyer ratings at Takealot (South Africa) and Costco (Canada), every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Tracks runs wellMentioned a lot
- A big step up from older ForerunnersMentioned a lot
- Easy to set up and useMentioned often
- Bright touchscreenMentioned often
What they complain about
Hardly any: just 1 of 17 owners gave it 3 stars or fewer, and no complaint came up often enough to list.
Get it if…
- You're starting to run or want to improve, on a budget.
- You want Garmin's training advice with any phone.
Skip it if…
- You want payments and music: the Forerunner 170 adds them.
- You do triathlons: the Coros Pace 4 has multisport modes for the same money.
More on the Forerunner 70
How we reached this verdict
Tom's Guide (4/5) calls it a near-perfect watch for anyone who wants Garmin's best running tools without breaking the bank, with a bright screen, lots of buttons and six days of battery in testing, but notes inaccurate elevation and no NFC. TechRadar (4/5) says it's a big upgrade on the Forerunner 55 and the smarter buy over the Forerunner 170 for most, though it costs more than past entry Forerunners and has no triathlon mode.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Garmin, Tom's Guide, TechRadar, TechRadar, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Tom's Guide, Android Central, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 31 Oct 2026How we decide