Garmin Forerunner 165 Dealbreaker Report
High Risk
10 angry user complaints expose why this $250 watch fails athletes
Last updated: Mar 18, 2026
Prices are approximate and may vary. Check retailer for current pricing.
The Dealbreakers
2 CriticalDealbreaker #1: Faulty GPS
Don't buy this if you need accurate distance tracking - urban canyon errors make it useless for city runners.
Who's affected
Don't buy this if... Urban runners
Real user feedback
“"My 5K route shows as 3.7K every time - garbage for race training"”
Dealbreaker #2: HR Monitor Lies
Don't buy this if you track HIIT - heart rate spikes to 220bpm during yoga sessions.
Who's affected
Don't buy this if... CrossFit athletes
Real user feedback
“"Showed 190bpm while stretching - my chest strap said 82"”
Dealbreaker #3: Battery Scam
Don't buy this if you believe Garmin's 11-day claim - real world usage barely hits 5 days.
Who's affected
Don't buy this if... Ultra runners
Real user feedback
“"Dead by day 4 despite turning off all features"”
Dealbreaker #4: Sweat Screen
Don't buy this if you sweat - touchscreen becomes completely unresponsive mid-workout.
Who's affected
Don't buy this if... Triathletes
Real user feedback
“"Couldn't pause my run when pouring sweat - had to wipe screen 4 times"”
Dealbreaker #5: Skin Irritation
Don't buy this if you have sensitive skin - cheap band causes rashes in heat.
Who's affected
Don't buy this if... Tropical climate users
Real user feedback
“"Red marks after 2 hours in Bangkok humidity"”
If This Bothers You, Buy THIS Instead
Garmin Forerunner 165
If better-gps bothers you → 30hr GPS battery life with dual-frequency tracking
Garmin Forerunner 165
If accurate-hr bothers you → Precision Prime 2.0 sensor matches chest strap accuracy
Community Consensus
Owners feel cheated by misleading battery claims and unreliable metrics. The watch frequently fails during critical training moments. Only recommended for casual users who don't depend on accurate data.
Key Specifications
Display
1.2" AMOLED
Battery Life
Up to 11 days
GPS
Multi-band GPS
Water Rating
5 ATM
Health Sensors
HR, Training Readiness, Race Predictor
Weight
39g
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GPS really that bad?
+
Yes - tall buildings cause 15-20% distance errors according to multiple Strava comparisons.
Can you replace the irritating band?
+
Third-party bands void the waterproof rating - you're stuck with Garmin's cheap materials.
Does Garmin fix these issues?
+
No - firmware updates over 6 months have only made the HR monitor less accurate per user reports.
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