Top 5 Swim-Bike-Run GPS Watches in Canada, 2026

Bright, beautiful AMOLED display

Two new training metrics

Accurate heart rate monitoring

Excellent Garmin Connect app

Like the newly released Forerunner 265, which also got the upgraded AMOLED screen, Garmin has made the start/stop button slightly bigger on the top right — handy if you struggle to remember which button to press to pause your run at a stop light.

One area where Garmin excels compared to other sports watches on the market is its battery life. Despite its brighter screen, the battery life of the Forerunner 965 is pretty similar to that of the Forerunner 955. I’ve put all the key stats in a table below:

The strap comes in three options Amp Yellow/Black, Black/Powder Grey, or Whitestone/Powder Grey. In all cases, there is a double clasp, malleable and comfy silicone strap and it can be swapped out as it uses the Garmin 22mm QuickFit system.

Long, long battery life

New training metrics ideal for runners

This is the watch that takes one of the best Apple watch features and adds it to Garmin – that stunning AMOLED display. Yet, this manages to offer at least five days more battery life than almost any of the other competition with the same display.

For what you get this justifies that cost, as this review will clarify. In short, it's got astonishing battery performance, a beautiful display, super accurate location and heart rate tracking plus lots of other smart metrics including new running dynamics without the need...

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is all about that superb 1.4-inch AMOLED display which looks superb. It's not only rich with colors and crisp definition between light and dark, but it also has a fantastic 454 x 454-pixel resolution, plus it's super bright.

All that equates to a screen you can read in any light or situation – including underwater – with lots of data at a glance. You can also activate the always-on display and since this is super low energy consuming that won't even affect battery life much.

Plus it's all coated in a Gorilla Glass DX outer layer which should mean it stays scratch-free too. In our months of using this, including throwing it in bags, there's not a mark on it.

Upgraded from the previous generation is the bezel too, which is now made of lightweight and hardy titanium. This is the metal they put in your body if you have an operation – as it's so nonreactive and won't be affected by moisture – meaning this should stay in perfect...

Since everything is waterproof to 50 meters it's also super simple to give it a clean by washing under the tap or in the shower – which in reviewing for months was found to keep it looking as good as new.

Workouts drain the battery especially hard, because of GPS, and the always-on display that shows your major metrics at all times.

Having a more accurate heart rate measurement has a cascading impact on all of your training data and Garmin's data analysis features, which help optimize your variability, recovery, and your performance on the whole. When this watch tells you to take it easy, you should listen.

The up-ahead turn-by-turn navigational system is also responsive and easy to follow. As someone who falls into a sort of directional fugue when I run, often forgetting my plan, this is a huge help.

Beyond the core running metrics, the Forerunner 965 tracks some very specific things that can be very useful for competitive runners in training looking to optimize their performance.

As I don’t have a fancy running coach, I decided to give Garmin’s suggested workouts on the Garmin Forerunner 965 a go. And you know what? They were quite helpful.

Each race became a personal vendetta against the digital projections, and fueled by sheer stubbornness (and caffeine), I beat those times.

Fortunately, the 965's ability to download maps from secondary apps and store music on the device largely mitigates your need to interact with Garmin Connect.

The watch has an accurate multi-band GPS tracking system and is chock a block with fitness and health metrics, performance tracking, and lifestyle upgrades that turn this from just a running watch into something truly special for serious runners.

We really like the physical design of the Forerunner 965, and it even looks better now with the metal bezel. The model looks more elegant and premium without changes to its weight or feel on the wrist.

The removable, toolless straps are great, provide good comfort, and are made of high-quality materials. The dual colorway adds a nice touch of style. This slim model works well with a variety of clothes; mainly, we had no issues with gloves or jackets because of the thin profile.

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is one of the most-accurate GPS watches we've reviewed. To test the distance and pace, we ran pre-measured routes in a variety of areas with various levels of potential GPS disruption.

To measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation (Sp02) tracking, Cat ran on the treadmill wearing both the 965 and a hospital-grade pulse oximeter with a built-in heart rate monitor.

The up-ahead turn-by-turn navigational system is also responsive and easy to follow. Haptic and audible notifications effectively alert you of upcoming turns, so you don't need to check your watch to follow its directions.

Beyond the core running metrics, the Forerunner 965 tracks some very specific things that can be very useful for competitive runners in training looking to boost their performance.

For those without a running coach, we used Garmin’s suggested workouts on the Garmin Forerunner 965 and they were surprisingly helpful.

The 965 also has a feature called PacePro. We used this feature to great effect during a few test races, trusting race-day strategy to the watch and it managed to guide Ben on both a trail race and a city race, where GPS interference from tall buildings can often scupper a...

The battery life is sizeable in smartwatch mode, with Garmin claiming you can get up to 23 days of use under ideal conditions. With regular runs and workouts, we averaged about a week between charges.

Workouts do seem to drain the battery quite quickly, because of GPS, but especially if you have the always-on display (we switched it off pretty much right away).

Track intervals: 0.02 mile variance over 10 × 800m

Trail run: Matched surveyed distance within 50m over 12 miles

City running: No major dropouts, smooth tracking through tall buildings

Best-in-class GPS accuracy and training metrics

AMOLED display is a game-changer for readability

Battery life destroys competition

Works without smartphone (built-in music storage)

Comprehensive recovery and training load data

Battery life: Exceptional. I could go several days without thinking about charging.

Display: Sharp and vibrant. The AMOLED screen looks modern and performs great in sunlight.

Stamina & recovery insights: Actually useful. Real-time stamina tracking during longer rides or runs gave me more awareness than I expected.

Integration with Edge 1040: Great combo for outdoor workouts. It felt like a full training dashboard.

The AMOLED display changes how I use this watch every day. Colours pop, and it’s easy to read data fields in sunlight.

The most eye-catching thing about the Forerunner 965 is that bright AMOLED display. It’s vibrant and crisp, even outdoors in full sunlight.

Build quality feels solid for something so light. The titanium bezel adds a bit of class without making it heavy.

The buttons have a satisfying click—definitely improved from older models. Each press feels clean and responsive.

The 47mm case sits comfortably on my wrist, not bulky at all. The silicone strap breathes well and doesn’t irritate, even after hours of wear.

The watch face sits flat, and the curved edges mean it doesn’t snag on sleeves. Small but thoughtful detail.

Accurate GPS and comprehensive maps

Vibrant, high-resolution AMOLED display

Extensive sports & outdoor activity features

Outstanding comfort and lightweight design

Exceptional multi-week battery life