The Garmin Forerunner 970 is described on the brand’s website as a premium running watch. In big letters. Accompanied by prominent images of athletes running. So, why am I reviewing it for Cycling Weekly? Well, despite its name and Garmin’s product positioning, it’s actually a highly capable multisport watch, so I was curious to discover whether we can judge it one of best smartwatches for cyclists.
Launched in May 2025, it’s certainly not just a running watch that happens to support a few other sports as a token gesture. Without exception, its sports profiles reach far and deep; including every activity you can think of from sail racing to snowmobiling. In fact, as I’ll come on to, its cycling profile has pretty much the same functionality as one of Garmin’s high-end Edge head units, such as the 850.
