Today’s not just another Wednesday. It’s Global Running Day — a celebration of every sweaty kilometre, every early morning shuffle, every personal best chased on tired legs.
And if you’re going to honour the grind, you might as well do it with the right gear. Enter the Garmin Forerunner 265, our pick for the best running smartwatch you can buy right now. Not because it’s trendy, but because it just works brilliantly, for real runners.
A Training Partner With a Screen
If you’re after a glorified step counter that sends you WhatsApp notifications, this isn’t for you. The Forerunner 265 is built for people who actually run. People who care about heart rate zones, race-day prep, and how well they slept last night because they’ve got intervals at 5AM.
You get a stunning AMOLED display that’s crisp even in blazing sun. But more importantly, you still have physical buttons, because nobody wants to be swiping on a touchscreen mid-sprint with sweaty fingers.
Smart Training, Not Just Smart Tech
The 265 doesn’t just count your steps. It tells you when to push and when to back off.
Features like Training Readiness and the Morning Report let you wake up to real, actionable insights. Not “you slept for 6 hours,” but “you slept poorly, your recovery sucks—maybe don’t go full beast mode today.” It’s like having a coach who actually knows your body.
And then there’s the Race Widget—you tell the watch when your next event is, and it builds out a dynamic training plan that evolves as you do. Skippped a run? It adjusts. Overtrain? It knows. No drama, no guilt, just science.
Battery That Goes the Distance
With up to 13 days of battery in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in full GPS mode, this thing lasts longer than your motivation during hill sprints. Charge it once, forget about it for days. No need to babysit it like a toddler with a sugar rush.
GPS That Actually Gets You
The multi-band GPS with SatIQ is elite. Whether you’re running through Joburg’s concrete canyons or dodging trees on a trail in Magaliesberg, the signal stays locked. No weird zigzags on your Strava map. No blaming your watch for that suspiciously slow kilometre.
Availability and Pricing in South Africa
Now the important bit—where can you actually buy this thing?
- Makro has it right now for R10,599 (usually R11,499). That’s a solid deal.
→ Check it out on Makro - Sportsmans Warehouse tends to stock it in-store and online, though availability may vary depending on size and color. Worth checking if you want to try it on first.
→ Visit Sportsmans - Takealot currently doesn’t list the 265, but they do offer accessories like protective TPU cases if you’ve already got one or plan to buy from elsewhere.
→ See Forerunner 265 accessories on Takealot
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
If you’re serious about running—or even semi-serious but tired of your generic fitness tracker playing guessing games with your performance—then yes, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is 100% worth it.
It’s not the cheapest on the shelf, but it’s hands-down one of the smartest running decisions you’ll make. Because once your watch actually understands your training rhythm, recovery patterns, and race goals? You stop running blind and start running better.
And hey—it’s Global Running Day. If there was ever a reason to level up your wrist game, this is it.
Akhram Mohamed is the Editor of Geekhub.co.za and a longtime tech insider who’s spent 20+ years testing, launching, and talking about consumer gadgets. Formerly a VP at Huawei, he now writes with a critical eye and a deep love for tech that actually makes life better. When he’s not breaking down the latest devices, he’s gaming, building businesses, simplifying strategy, or podcasting about real-world leadership. Expect honest takes, sharp insights, and the occasional dad joke.
Follow him on social media: @akreinvented
