@@merritt001 I think this would be an awesome option. Keep in mind that all wrist based optical heart rate monitors are going to struggle with weightlifting but this do a decent job of tracking HR and reps. A really good channel to check out would be @fitgearhunter 👌
Ordered my 965 yesterday, been using the Fenix 6x pro and also a Apple Watch 7. It always come down to the battery longevity, plus the screen on the 965 looks Awesome.
Great review, thank you. I just picked up a 265 for $300 on eBay. The 965 looked awesome, but I couldn’t justify the cost. I opted for a 265, polar h10 chest strap and a pair of running shoes instead. Excited to use it
Matt great assessment of this watch. I go through an insane amount of watch testing to settle on my watch of choice. I got the 965 when it was first released and the white version was about the only one I could get my hands on. Loved everything about that watch except for the white color. I then went through Fenix 7 Pro and Eprix Pro Gen 2. While both were awesome pieces of hardware and more than met my needs the bulk of those watches just bugged me and never set up to my eye very well. Landed back on the black 965 which hits the sweet spot for size on the wrist and the awesome 1.4 display which matches the Eprix 51mm. The titanium bezel adds a nice touch of class. All the features added with the new update like nap detection really brings this watch up to very closely matching the epix and fenix line. This will remain on the wrist until that 9 whatever comes out with the flashlight and upgraded OHR comes out. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for posting this feedback. My guess is that the next one would have a flashlight and that updated OHR sensor. I'd love to see a bit more. We'll see. 🤷🏻♂️
265 user here, bought it at launch and it does everything a regular amateur triathlete would ever want. A titanium bezel sure would be lovely, but so was the money I saved by buying the 265 over the 965. Either way they are both fantastic watches and I look forward to upgrading in the future to perhaps the 285/985.
I really want to get my hands on a 265 to review. Seems like it does everything that I'd really need and at a better price. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Been using the 965 for about 6 months now. No scratches whatsoever (I do not use any protective cover). Started on the FR 55, progressed to the 245 and now the 965. It is by far the best watch I have ever had. Love the slim body and light weight. Also maps is important to me so for me it is perfect. Not a fan of the iq-app store but I can live with that. Shame not more banks parttake in garmin pay
Glad the 965 is working out well for you. So far so good for me also! 👌 Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
265 user since early 2023. Love it does everything I need for running, biking, hiking, walking. Love the long battery life (>1 week). Love the morning report and daily suggested runs. I did get scratches on the glass surface but that’s just what happens when you use it daily
MIP (955) allows you to glance at the data without flipping your wrist, say, if your hands are on the brake hood. It's always on: It's a deal maker for me against AMOLED. AMOLED is the next bright thing that all you reviewers are compelled to be onboard regardless of its short coming.
I have a lot of watches over here. I still go back to MIP displays all the time and don't dislike them. I'd say I prefer AMOLED but I think it has more to do with the higher sharper resolution than the brightness. There's actually more mapping information on these displays for example. That being said, I think AMOLED is a bit overrated. I do trust most of the reviewers. The ones I know are good people giving brutally honest reviews.
@@wlieu12but something continually emitting light from your wrist is kinda of annoying I think.. I'll stay with MIP (and will get myself another 955 for when my current one stops working haha)
Just watched your intro, and then watched it again. I truly need to give the ForeRunner line of watches by Garmin another go. I have not worn a ForeRunner for nearly 18 years - thanks for the review, Matt 👍
First of all , thanks for your excellent review after 100 days !!! I and struggle on chose between forerunner 965 and Coros apex 2 pro a month ago, chose the Coros finally since I do feel disappoint on the materials which Garmin still using plastic on the body and the battery is my concern , I use Garmin from 910XT for long time and forerunner 945 almost 4 years , the new AMOLED display is the main trend in the the future ,I would rather to test coros ecosystem for 1 or 2 years and hoping Garmin will have a huge improvement on the battery life even using multi band GPS to track the activity, beside the the the life trend of 955 ( just almost a year ) and they release 965 which also make the runner willing to wait a year or half and year more longer to see how Garmin will make a huge change on the forerunner series !!!
Yeah, I'll be very curious to see where they take this series of devices. Maybe they're all in on AMOLED displays? 🤷🏻♂️ I hope you're enjoying the COROS device! They make a good watch 👍🏻
I have the 265 and a lot of what you liked about the 965 (training readiness, morning report, size/weight factor, amazing display!) Is there in the 265 as well. I really agonized about not having maps but the price difference was just such a barrier to entry and I think for *most* people a 265 will do almost everything they want. I really wish Garmin didn't pay gate some of their features (looking at you stamina and hill score!) On the 965 vs 265 as there's no reason the 265 can't do those metrics but hey they're a bit gimmicky at this point in their first iteration so I'm not sure how big a loss that is.
I will say I very rarely use maps, stamina or hill score. It’s nice to know that it’s there if I need it but I could have been very happy with the 265. I’m still sad that I haven’t had the opportunity to review that one. Looks like a great balance of price and functionality. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Thanks, that's a really useful video.. I'm still using my FR935 and there have been so many new features and functionalities since then, that I am at the point where I just need to upgrade. I am still a bit torn between the FR965, Fenix 7 SS or even the Epix pro.. Next to running and swimming I also golf and the new functionality they added in the F7/Epix pro makes me tend a bit more in that direction, however the F7 doesn't have the AMOLED display. That's next to the fact that they're soooo thick compared to the FR. The slimness that you mentioned is what I really like about my FR935 as well..
The Epix Pro is a bigger watch but you'll love it once you've grown accustom to the size. Keep me posted on what you end up with and how you like it. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand as an update: I went out and got myself the Epix pro sapphire.. this was last week and so far I've only done a couple of shorter runs (3K and 5K at E and T pace) as I'm injured a little bit and honestly can't really feel a big difference to my 935. Yes, it is thicker compared to the 935, but so far it hasn't caused any issue. Definitely worth getting.
After 2 months with FR965 - I have a display on gesture and it takes around 2-3% of battery per day. In activity with multiband GPS, HR monitor, and always on display, I am on 5% battery per hour. With a 60-minute daily activity, I have no trouble lasting almost two weeks on one charge. The only real battery drain is Spotify. Don't know why, but when I run with music it's around 15% per hour and it really makes a difference, when you have two longer runs on the weekend and you are under 50% battery :-O
Yeah, music kills this thing but it sounds like you have the battery life pretty dialed in. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment on this one Martin! I really appreciate it. 👍
Yeah, my battery life is same. I'm about 10 days between charges, could maybe push to two weeks if I didn't run with music. Gesture only mode all the time. I do use stryd which takes more battery, and running with spotify really kills the battery too.
The 965 is one of my favorite Garmin watch releases of late. The point around its slimmer body is a great one. Despite it being a larger watch in terms of screen size, it really disappears on the wrist compared to an Epix or Fenix.
I agree. Watch companies really should pay more attention to the depth of these watches. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Congrats on the video! I am new to the channel, and I really loved your content. I am deciding between the 955 solar, base Fenix 7 base solar (we can find incredible discounts in the last weeks), 965, or Suunto Race. For the last 5 years, I have been using a Suunto Spartan Trainer, with zero problems, but I am noticing that the display is dimming and the battery life is not the same, though still alright. I've never had luck with Garmin devices. My Suunto survived two Vivoactive 4 (both of them died before 6 months of use), and my wife's forerunner 35. Therefore, I am having a hard time deciding to stay with Suunto and go with the Race (though it is amoled, I prefer MIP, and the Vertical is beyond my budget) or give Garmin another chance. I once saw on reddit the following comment that sure brought me LOL: "MIPS if you're an athlete who trains outdoors a lot. OLED if you just want people at the office to think you are.¨. Anyway, thanks for the updated review, man, and have a happy new year!
If you can get a good deal on the Fenix, that is a very nice watch. I’ve yet to review a Suunto watch on this channel but that Suunto race looks like an amazing option. Happy to help if you have any questions. 👌
Garmin watches are serious tools. But there are two issues I found both in epic pro and instinct 2X. When I was walking without moving my hands sometimes the steps did not count. I mean with no any exercise active on the watch. And the other one has to do with the Garmin connect app. It needs internet connection in order to show you your stats. These watches suppose to be expedition watches. You should see your stats by Bluetooth, as you are lost in the nature for some days. These was the biggest flaw for me.. Bigger than the battery life shortage of an AWU.
Even though it's only 0.7 mm bigger in diameter, it does look bigger on the wrist than the 955. Especially when the screen is on it looks huge I think.. I still prefer the 955, primarily for the MIP screen. OLED surely looks nice but on a watch I don't like that it's either a black screen or emitting light. I might even get another 955 (even though my current one is a year old and works fine) so I know I can enjoy an MIP forerunner for many years to come 🙈
I am curious if all forerunner models in the future will be AMOLED. It definitely looks like it currently. I guess Garmin makes other product lines like the Instinct that will be MIP for the foreseeable future. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand I'm afraid they will be, maybe the Fenix will stay as MIP as well. That depends on how the sales of the current model will be compared to the Epix I suppose. But I prefer the light weight of the Forerunners for comfort as wear the watch 24/7. The Fenix is also a bit bulky for my delicate wrists;) I don't think many major developments (that are relevant for me) will be there anytime soon and the 955 should serve me well for many years :) Thank you for responding, always a pleasure to watch your videos!
It’s an interesting choice. I often find myself preferring the MIP displays frequently. They just work and I know they’ll work for a really long time. Thanks for all of the support with these videos! 👌
@@mlegrand yeah showing AMOLED watches laying on a table next to MIP is kinda false advertising as they simply turn off after a couple of seconds. This and the fact that I need to turn my wrist to check hour/stats (even in always on mode!) are the main reason I will never again buy an AMOLED watch.
@@ted363636 Also something that's rarely or never mentioned by reviewers is that with Amoled you "lose" the white background during activities. To me at least black on white background is more readable than white on a black background.
I purposefully chose the 955 over the 965. I run in very bright sunlight during the summer months and Amoled would have to be on full brightness. That’ll kill your battery life. Also the contrast is better on MIP displays in bright light. Longer battery life and always-on display is another big plus. I like the looks of the Amoled but not enough to justify buying one.
Dislikes = still 2 ciq fields, after all these years. Concerns = the risen gorilla glass. I don't have any scratches yet but i hit stuff all the time, so i believe it is a matter of time. Regarding battery life during ultra activities, i tested it and i estimated you can get 40 hours of battery life with the following settings: - display = gesture - timeout = 4 seconds - gestures = 15-20 per hour - gps = auto - recording = every second - heart rate = wrist - external sensors = 2 - phone = not connected - pace pro = on for 1 hour - navigation = off
This is extremely helpful. Thank you so much for posting this Jazznroll. I know there are other watch options with a few more features but this watch has been excellent so far for the things I've wanted to do. Hope you're enjoying yours. 👌
Thank you for the very precious video review. I can find quickest reviews on TH-cam, but yours is adding the 100 days of experience that makes difference! I was almost to buy epix pro gen2 47mm, but now I am really in between them.. haha The reasons I initially thought epix pro gen2 is the go are that I wear it on business, and I had scratched my Venu quite bad... I was still thinking that the bigger screen and lighter weight are the better points for 965, so now I am a little bit leaning to 965... What is your opinion? Thanks from Japan.
Hello to Japan! The Epix Pro is an incredible device. I think you’d love the extra durability and built in flashlight. It’s surprisingly useful. Best of luck!!! And thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
I putted hydrogin film on the screen to protect it more. In secret I start liking it a bit more then my Epix 2. Thank you for making this evaluation. And super video quality again! 🎥 And about the watch. Happy I have it. Love the light and slimness compared to an Epix. It just has everything. With swiminng you need to watch out no to scratsch the bezel at the bath stone walls. The morning report is also a good wat to start the day. The training programm helps me to become a better runner. I hope the Venu 3 software futures also find their way. And about the price in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 it's for sale through my bank for €450 incl taxes. Which wasn't expencive. The good thing about the watch, is thats a really good alrounder which brings the best of Garmin.
Hello! I'm in doubt between the Epix Pro 51mm or Forerunner 965, I'm afraid I won't adapt to the 51mm, I had an Epix Gen2 47mm and thought it was a little small, but the 51mm on my wrist I thought was a little big, oh cruel doubt. haha
If you switch off the AOD and switch it to GPS you can easy do an Ultra Run with it🙂. I saw a comment someone was doing one and he had after 36hrs still 21% left
I think you'll love the 965. It's a great option and I think you'll love a lot of the new stuff that Garmin has added to these watches over the past 3 years or so. The 265 would be another one to check out. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Excellent video! A question... How accurate is the 965 for indoor running? Will it eliminate the need for a foot pod or the Stryd pod? Also, can you recommend any screen protectors? It seems like the 965 has a delicate screen
I haven’t tested indoor accuracy but I would expect some difficulty measuring distances. I would highly recommend a screen protector. I’ve recently got two scratches on the edge of my 965. amzn.to/4bZkKQg (I’ve had good luck with these)
I bought mine second hand had like two screen scratches cant be seen until you aim it toward light but at least saved 300dollars 😂😂😂 plus it is going to scratch which means I am using it.....about first experince from 945 user well big difference all I can say worth the upgrade .....
Your reviews are fabulous! I recently purchased an Instinct 2X off the back of your review. I’m thrilled with it so far! Question: how does the Generation 4 Sensors compare to the new Generation 5? Would you notice a big difference?
I don't think you'd notice a huge difference. It's hard to know for sure because skin type, how it's worn and a million other factors all play a part in accuracy. But in my experiences, it wasn't a huge difference. Thank you so much for the kind words about the reviews.
Sorry, I only wanted to say that with Lego minifigures appearing here and there in the review, you are definetly the person I trust most! 😁 Being serious, thanks for this nice and complete review, also proposing real-life examples and giving some view on swimming, too - which was something I was looking for!
I love the Legos!!! I have three kids who all love legos but they also serve to show size in these shots. I like throwing them in these shots whenever I can. 😆
I actually do love Lego too (and my children too) , and that's why I took it as a plus point 😁 Anyway, thanks again for this review, I still haven't found anything else close to it. And if I finally make up my mind and buy it, it will be thanks to how your review has been feeding my thoughts - especially about 🏊🏽♂️ features. Have a nice day 🤟🏼
@@Ramz1979 Oh yeah, the 965 or the 265 would be some of my top picks for swimming. That bright screen is clear and easy to read, even under water. Take care Ramz!
Hi, I have FR965 but I get issued when use Running exercise, sometimes the display still off when I raise my hand, so I must tap the display to turn on. Is that issue happening of your watch?
I leave my 965’s screen in Always On Mode. There is a setting for during activities and general. So you can switch the mode for either type. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
You explain specifications nice! But i have to say that you have not mentioned anything about "background color setting" of this watch in activities! Infact this watch with all the glorious stuffs "HAVE NO" background color setting in activities like FR-955!
I'd say they're different watches. This one is bright, lightweight and slim where as the Instinct 2X sits up a bit higher on the wrist. You'd love that built in flashlight. It's surprisingly useful. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Usefull video, no scratches on mine! Loooove this watch ( coming from 945LTE ) would have been great if they added the LTE feature to this one. You mentionned the swimlap in manual mode. So you hit start stop every time ??? I have it in auto mode mæbut track my swims with my FORM goggles. But the garmin AWAYS droppes my avg pace per 100 by about 10 sec. Its not a sensitive to me stopping at the end of the lane i guess.
Glad you're not seeing scratches and I don't know why Garmin hasn't been moving forward with more LTE options. It's super odd right? I do manually start and stop after each rep in the pool. It helps me get more accurate splits. For example, I just got out of the water and one set was 10x100 and the auto splits would have been about a second and a half off. I really want to know if it's 1:24 or 1:25. Seems silly but those little seconds matter when doing the shorter stuff. The Form swim goggles had some of the best automatic lap/stroke/split detection that I've ever tested here on this channel. Their swim software is ridiculously good. Part of me thinks that they should open it up to non-form swimmers. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Great review Matt ,as always 😊 can you give me your opinion please. I'm addicted to watches ,i have the Fênix 7 solar and the 955 ,but lately the feeling of get an amoled watch is growing on me,my racional side tells me if i bought an epix 2 or a 965 I'm a dumb, because is the same watch with an amoled display. But in the other hand the screen looks beautiful,my question is,do you think,if money is not a problem, worth to buy some of those watches only because of the beautiful screen?
I could see you really enjoying the Epix Pro with the flashlight. It's a great option and it looks really good. If you find you're wearing it more than your Fenix 7 you could probably sell the 7 solar for a good price at this point. 🤷♂️
This isn’t my targeted watch but my sister likes it light weight and bright good in enough for her 👏 I said to myself no more garmin purchases 😅 but I did choose one yh 1 more garmin tactix 7 pro. I could say list reasons why but 3 good ones 1. The price drop just right. 2. I’m sucka for a green light it’s my fav colour 3. It’s a black dlc yh I’m not the biggest fan grey watches 😂 it’s a big usually But hey the smallest can make anyone happy including me 😄 Brilliant vid as always Matt 👍🙌
Great review. Thanks. Any views on how using polarised sunglasses interact with visibility/ readability of the FR965 screen? I’ve heard it might be an issue compared with the FR955s.
I don’t have experience enough to speak to that. I do have a polarized camera lens. I might need to do some experimenting. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Hi Matt! Great review. Thanks so much for posting. I've been with Polar for over 10 years (currently have the Vantage M that I got in 2019) and was hoping the newly released Vantage 3 was going to be somewhat on par with the FR965. So, I think at this stage I'll be jumping over to Garmin. Can you just address two items: 1). Pool lap swimming accuracy and 2) Durability for Strength Training sessions. I know you touched on lap swimming briefly in your review. Just looking for feedback on the lap accuracy (assuming the watch is set up with correct pool size). My Vantage M has been unreliable from the start in this area. And I do everything Polar tells me to as far as watch/hand position; pushing off at each lap, etc. As far as strength training I saw a blurb out there that the watch might be on the less than durable side; especially during strength training sessions. So just looking for your feedback. Thank you!
Pool lap swimming accuracy is about normal. Not perfect but good. Durability seems good to me. The curved lens looks dangerously vulnerable but so far it’s been good for me. Scan the comments because I’m sure others have had scratches. 🤷🏻♂️ Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand thanks for quick response. I'll scan the comments regarding durability. Can you just shed light on "normal" regarding pool laps? Do you mean "normally" good where maybe 9 out of 10 sessions will be spot on. Or will it be close to accurate each session but potentially off by a lap or two? Being in Northeast I train in the pool for 9/12's of the year lol. So just want something very close to accurate (especially for the price tag). Thank you!
@@ChristopherBarry-t2w In my experience if you're doing really simple swimming. 10x100 for example, it'll nail the exact distance. When I do a typical master workout. Warm up, kick set, drills and then some much more complex workout, it'll typically be off by a 100 or so. I found this to be normal for most of the brands that I've tested.
Great review as usual. Just the best video quality and so informative. Question: Do you prefer your AW Ultra 2 over your Epix Pro Gen 2? Curious as to which watch of those two get the most wrist time with you. Thanks and keep up the great work.
I had to return the Epix Pro but I tend to wear two watches at a time so these both would end up getting about the same amount of wrist time. 🤷🏻♂️ I do make sure to snag a watch with more battery life when heading out on a trip. So. . . Garmin in those cases.
Matt really excellent video today mate and thank you for taking the time to do this and going through it so thoroughly and good to get some feedback. I've just gone and bought one I'm waiting for it to arrive tomorrow but I do a lot of Long distance swimming and I just wanted to ask does it record VO2 Max and your recovery time if you don't wear it for sleeping? I Tend not to wear bulky watches when I sleep at night as it's cumbersome and I don't like sweeper sleeping with them but will I get accurate body battery type information on the watch if I don't use it for sleep and only wear it during the day? Cheers Adam
I'm not 100% sure. VO2 max is typically estimated based on running and biking information. I don't know how much you'll get from swimming. But I'd still call this one of (if not the best) swimming watch on the market today. Sleep is one of the big factors for determining the Training Readiness scores but I think it'll still try it's best to estimate that data. There is a lot of good data that you'll miss out on by not sleeping with it. HRV, resting HR and all of the sleep metrics obviously but it'd be worse to let it effect your nightly sleep.
Thanks a lot for this awesome review!!! I got 99% of the data I needed from your review. As someone who is swimming in pools, seas, lakes and rivers I am very interested in how my body behaves in water bodies of different temperatures. Is there a way to use the temperature sensor on the 965 to measure the water temperature you are swimming in?
There is a thermometer but it’s turned off during swimming. (Long story as to why) I typically put my watch in the lake to check temperature using the temp widget before starting an activity and swimming.
Hi Matt! Awesome video!!! I’m trying to decide between the FR965 and the Epix pro sapphire 47mm. I have a 165mm wrist and I’m planning to sleep with it. I love the looks of the Epix but I’m concerned with the size. The 965 is an option, but I’m concerned with the durability of the screen. Any recommendations/thoughts? Thanks!!!
I have both of these and a similar size wrist. I think you’ll get used to whatever you pick up. The bezel on the Epix tends to make the watch look a little bit nicer. (Not sure if you care about that). But they’re very similar from a features standpoint. I’d probably look at what deals you can find and choose based on price. I do have two new scratches in my 965. So maybe snag a screen protector if you go with that one.
@@damianherbstein3287 - I think the shape of the Epix feels a bit better. Maybe it's the round shape vs the square but the Ultra just feels thicker or higher up on the wrist. But whatever you end up with will be easy to get used to after a few days! 👋 🇦🇷
I noticed you’re wearing the ultra. I’ve been a long time Garmin guy, I used to really love all the data and used it substantially in training through the years. The past year or so I’ve really altered my training and have gotten much more into zone 2 training with sprints a few days a week and the at just about all I need in terms of data. I’ve never had much luck with Garmin having any really reliability on the watch alone for accuracy, I’ve just always worn a chest strap but recently wanted to simplify things and sort of prioritize wrist based accuracy. I seem to be down to the ultra and the 965. Would you say you feel confident in these two for wrist based accuracy alone, no chest strap? Additionally of the two which do you prefer? Regards and love your videos.
I like both the 965 and Ultra. I'd say the heart rate on both is a bit more accurate than some of the older Garmins. But it depends on a lot of different factors. Skin tone, type of activity and how it's worn. But I think you can get some good heart rate data from either of these. I'd say buy the Garmin if you want to save a little money and buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2 if you want to try something different. 🤷♂️ Thanks Payton!
Is there a surf activity on the Forerunner 965? Will it hold up in the waves? I much prefer the look (and price, haha) of it compared to the Epix pro. Outstanding video!
Last I checked, Garmin wasn't recommending it as a surf option. My fear would be that the waves might rip this watch from your wrist. There used to also be surf third party apps like Surf Tracker 2 which would get number of waves and amount of time ridden. You might also look at the Garmin Instinct 2X as an option which I *think* does have a dedicated surf activity type.
It's unfortunate that they used titanium, titanium sounds premium, but in contrary to what many people believe, it's much easier to scratch than most other materials. A titanium watch is a dealbreaker to me, because I know it will look like crap within half a year.
Hey great video! I’ve been thinking of getting either this or the 955 solar as its a bit cheaper and can solar charge. I don’t know if i can justify the extra money for the FR965. Whats your opinion/thoughts?
I think the screen is significantly sharper and nicer. However, I've been going back and forth between MIPs displays and AMOLED and when I have the 955 on, I never really miss the sharper brighter display. Part of me thinks AMOLED is a bit overrated. Tricky call. 🤷♂️
The problem of this watch is that; It doesn't have background color in data screen setting, like FR-955! It is only black background with white shining amoled font wich shines on to your eyes! I didn't have eyes comfortability and easy readability! That's why i sent the watch back.
One question when I go for a run for one hour and I won't turn on the GPS mode so garmin forerunner 965 will capture my step count speed and rest of the numbers?....... Reason behind this question is if we don't turn on GPS we can save battery life right. So please answer to my question
Yeah, I've never tried it but it should still count your steps towards your daily total without GPS on. It'd also get time and any splits you mark. It wouldn't show pace, distance or the other metrics that require GPS. But I've honestly never tested using it for a run without GPS on. I'll have to try it out.
Thanks for the video. Is it possible to just control the music of your smartphone through this Garmin? Not listening music directly but just manage the music you listen with your headsets from the phone. ??
Yes, there's a setting in here for controlling the music on your phone or it's on device options. You kind of have to pick one in settings so it's not the easiest thing to switch back and forth. 🤷🏻♂️
Why not it's super light so way more comfortable than a heavy Fenix for example. It's they're still very strong and durable (not a single scratch on my 955 after lots of heavy use)
6:46 "The GPS data looks absolutely fantastic to me..." did you really run three feet beside the road or you did run on the road surface, Matt? Your traces shown here doesn't support your talkings.
Oh those aren’t roads sir. That’s a tiny little trail that runs along a lake and crosses a road. I’ve seen a lot of GPS tracks from different watches and personally, I think this watch does a fantastic job tracking. It’s not perfect but it’s pretty damn good. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Great review. I'm not sure why the hr monitor of my fr965 disconnects frequently while doing any kind of exercise, even sleeping. I'm not sure if it's just me or anyone else. 🥺💔
That sounds odd. I wonder if it's not being worn snug or something? I'd reach out to Garmin support and see if they have any ideas. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Hi everyone, I have a lil question about the forerunner series. Should i buy the 965 or the 955 solar? What's your opinion? Now I have the Polar Vantage M but the new Polar Vantage V3 is disappointing me. So I'm going to switch to Garmin..
The 265 or even the 255 would also be good options. I’ll vote 965 for the screen. It’s amazing and coming from the Vantage M, it’ll be like night and day. ☀️
Thanks! I will buy the 965. It will ask a lil time to switch from Polar to Garmin (learning all the settings and app) but I think it's worth the change. @@mlegrand
Last I checked it wasn’t on here. It’s probably worth taking a lot at some of the latest beta editions to see if it’s making its way over. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Thx for the review! As someone else pointed out, this is a really high production value video! I have been looking for a watch that can be worn in both marathons and trail races (light weight, long battery life, navigation with maps) and the 965 seems to fit all my criteria… that is until you said it may not last long enough for a 100 mile race such as the UTMB. Not that I am planning to run 100 miles any time soon, but I definitely don’t feel like buying another watch just for that occasion. If you fiddle enough with the settings, do you think you can get it to last approximately 46 hours?
Oh if you adjust settings you can go significantly longer. I think you can safely get another 10 hours. 46 is pretty long and I just don't know how you'll want to manage that. You might reach out to Dave Dillion over on the @Chasethesummit channel. I know he's done some longer stuff with this watch. Not sure about 46 hours but he might have some good ideas.
I have mine for 70 days. Dislikes - raise to wake doesn't always work when I'm running or racing so I have to do a double or triple arm turn when my 245 never had this issue. Also I got stung by a wasp last week and the watch went mental trying to contact emergency contacts but couldn’t because it needs to be connected to a phone. So this feature is pretty much useless if something happens to you and you don't have your phone. Everything else is magic with this watch. No scratches, 9 day battery, every piece of information a runner could desire especially with the recent software update.
On the emergency contact thing, I’m so surprised that Garmin hasn’t been pursuing the LTE stuff it started with the 945LTE. So odd. I thought it’d be an option on every device by now. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
7 days in and a scratch on the screen, totally gutted as i have never had a scratch on any garmin before and ive had a lot. If this is a week in then i dont hold out much hope, gutted.
I have had really good luck with using screen protectors on these watches. I was amazed with my 945 because the adhesive on the screen protector filled in the scratch a bit and made it look so much better. There also super cheap: amzn.to/4djHzAe
@@mlegrand thanks for that mate, I'd ordered some glass curved ones but the bubbling is so bad that they'll be getting returned, after watching the video I ordered some similar to the link you sent and they're due to arrive tomorrow. Hopefully like you said they'll fill a wee bit of the scratch as I love the watch, surely whenever the 275 and 975 come out they'll be recessed again. Thanks again though I really appreciate the link.
Thanks Matt, got the other protectors in today and what a difference they make, definitely feel the watch is better protected, not helped much with the scratch but it's down at the Garmin wording and looks like a bit of hair or something so at least it doesn't distort the screen too badly. Thanks again for reaching out, it means a lot. 🙂.
They function the same but the screen on the 965 is a lot nicer. I think if you wore them each at the same time you’d want the 965. But if the 955 is significantly more affordable, you won’t be missing much getting that device. 🤷🏻♂️
Actually the screen is a major turn off for me, I really like the sunlight-visible, transflective screen So if that is the main difference then that makes my choice much easier. Thank you!!!
Was torn between 965 and Epix while viewing reviews, but an in store on arm comparison took less than 30 seconds for me to go 965. Really disliked the bulk of the Epix. Ive purchased the more adventurish quick detach band used on some Epix and the standard 965 watch face options have some that are more adventure looking than the std Forerunner faces. It is now my perfect hybrid and I often switch watch faces to match what I'm doing at the time. I really enjoy this device!
Great feedback for people to read. Thanks for posting this. The 965 is significantly lighter weight on the wrists. It's a great device but it's also probably not quite as durable as the Epix. Glad you're enjoying this one. Thanks Brook!
The Epix Pro looks a little nicer and has a flashlight but the 965 is more affordable and is lighter weight. Totally up to you but having a flashlight is awesome. 👌
Great video as always! I love the 965. I upgraded from the 935 and was very impressed with the improvements!! One of the features I like, in addition to the one you mentioned and others, is that it pairs seamlessly with Zwift while I am on the treadmill. I do not have to use my Strd foot pod and it makes life much easier during virtual training.
Ezra! Hope all is well with you buddy! Good call. I don't tent to do a lot treadmill running but it's nice to know that this one can track and output distance to Zwift if needed. Thank you for the comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@b09d4n You can calibrate your pace with the 965. Just do a run in virtual mode on the watch. After that run , choose the option to adjust the pace etc. It might not be perfect but neither are either the treadmill or Stryd . I enjoy it better than the foot pod.
Where in the heck can you find the move status in the 965?!?! You can see it in steps within the Fenix. I have still yet to find it on the 965, and I don't want to use another watch face
Are you talking about the widget list or the watch face data field. I'm able to switch it to steps on the watch face under settings watch face, customize and then cycle through the 10 or so options.
I have the Forerunner 255. Is pretty good. The screen is way nicer on the 265 and 965. I mainly use the Instinct Solar though. Since that thing does solar charging, rugged, and the battery lasts so long.
The 255 is a fantastic device. And there's always a tradeoff between screen vibrance and that killer battery life. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Did your wife like the size of it or was it too large? I would like to sleep with it but worry that it might be too large for a 5feet 4 girl? Wish there was a 965s… Oh also: Your videos are amazing Matt!!!
So... I'm a triathlete who holds onto things forever. I had the Garmin Forerunner 920XT for years. It recently died, though, (the battery is shot), so I'm looking for my next long-time watch. Is the Garmin 965 worth it over the 955? Are the differences notable enough to make up the price difference? Thanks for your help!
The AMOLED screen is very different than a traditional MIPs display. I think you’d really love it but either one is going to be a huge upgrade. I’d see if there are any sale deals going on. 👌
first glad your wife enjoys your watches as much as you do! those beg shots are awesome!! the king of b roll is what someone said and it is true once my fenix 3 non hr dies i will buy this or the latest fenix too bad you dont use the Stamina as was wondering how that is, i see ClimbPro is with this watch. so that is a good thing enjoy the fall running!! its been beautiful over here in VT
Best place to buy: dialedcyclinglab.com/product/...
Try discount code: matt_legrand
or Amazon: amzn.to/3RJKI40
@mlegrand what’s your opinion on this watch effectiveness for CrossFit-style and/or strength training?
@@merritt001 I think this would be an awesome option. Keep in mind that all wrist based optical heart rate monitors are going to struggle with weightlifting but this do a decent job of tracking HR and reps. A really good channel to check out would be @fitgearhunter 👌
Those shots are incredible! And that transition is amazing! Man I love your videos! Well done once again! Keep up the amazing work :)
Thank you so much! I'll keep at. I enjoy making these also.
Ordered my 965 yesterday, been using the Fenix 6x pro and also a Apple Watch 7. It always come down to the battery longevity, plus the screen on the 965 looks Awesome.
Yeah, I think you'll really enjoy it. I really like that device. If you remember, come back and let me know how it goes! 👌🏻
Great review, thank you. I just picked up a 265 for $300 on eBay. The 965 looked awesome, but I couldn’t justify the cost. I opted for a 265, polar h10 chest strap and a pair of running shoes instead. Excited to use it
Wow! Nice snag on that 265!!! Hope you enjoy it! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
the video quality is unreal... love it. keep it up!
Wow, thank you!
Just when I consider buying this watch ... Your insights are much appreciated and video production is top notch. Instant sub
Wow, thank you so much Luxinatoris! That's super nice of you to say.
Matt great assessment of this watch. I go through an insane amount of watch testing to settle on my watch of choice. I got the 965 when it was first released and the white version was about the only one I could get my hands on. Loved everything about that watch except for the white color. I then went through Fenix 7 Pro and Eprix Pro Gen 2. While both were awesome pieces of hardware and more than met my needs the bulk of those watches just bugged me and never set up to my eye very well. Landed back on the black 965 which hits the sweet spot for size on the wrist and the awesome 1.4 display which matches the Eprix 51mm. The titanium bezel adds a nice touch of class. All the features added with the new update like nap detection really brings this watch up to very closely matching the epix and fenix line. This will remain on the wrist until that 9 whatever comes out with the flashlight and upgraded OHR comes out. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for posting this feedback. My guess is that the next one would have a flashlight and that updated OHR sensor. I'd love to see a bit more. We'll see. 🤷🏻♂️
265 user here, bought it at launch and it does everything a regular amateur triathlete would ever want. A titanium bezel sure would be lovely, but so was the money I saved by buying the 265 over the 965. Either way they are both fantastic watches and I look forward to upgrading in the future to perhaps the 285/985.
I really want to get my hands on a 265 to review. Seems like it does everything that I'd really need and at a better price. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
These videos feel like they cost $600 to see, the production quality is spectacular,
For you, half price! 😆 Thank you so much for the kind words Sheriff!
I agree!
Been using the 965 for about 6 months now. No scratches whatsoever (I do not use any protective cover). Started on the FR 55, progressed to the 245 and now the 965. It is by far the best watch I have ever had. Love the slim body and light weight. Also maps is important to me so for me it is perfect. Not a fan of the iq-app store but I can live with that. Shame not more banks parttake in garmin pay
Glad the 965 is working out well for you. So far so good for me also! 👌 Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
265 user since early 2023. Love it does everything I need for running, biking, hiking, walking. Love the long battery life (>1 week). Love the morning report and daily suggested runs. I did get scratches on the glass surface but that’s just what happens when you use it daily
Good choice! I've never reviewed that watch. It seems like the perfect choice for lots of people. Thanks Mark!
Just discovered your channel……..Love the style, look, and information of your videos! Keep up the great work
Thank you so much for the kind words! I’ll keep at it. 👍
your videography and editing is amazing. Nice video
Wow, thank you so much! I really enjoy that part of it.
MIP (955) allows you to glance at the data without flipping your wrist, say, if your hands are on the brake hood. It's always on: It's a deal maker for me against AMOLED. AMOLED is the next bright thing that all you reviewers are compelled to be onboard regardless of its short coming.
I have a lot of watches over here. I still go back to MIP displays all the time and don't dislike them. I'd say I prefer AMOLED but I think it has more to do with the higher sharper resolution than the brightness. There's actually more mapping information on these displays for example. That being said, I think AMOLED is a bit overrated. I do trust most of the reviewers. The ones I know are good people giving brutally honest reviews.
@@mlegrand well, until they get so power efficient that AMOLED stays on all the time, I'll stay with MIP.
@@wlieu12but something continually emitting light from your wrist is kinda of annoying I think.. I'll stay with MIP (and will get myself another 955 for when my current one stops working haha)
Awesome Matt! You do great work!
Thank you!
What an intro!! ❤️
Wow, thank you Aparagarwal! These intros are my favorite part to make 👍
Just watched your intro, and then watched it again. I truly need to give the ForeRunner line of watches by Garmin another go. I have not worn a ForeRunner for nearly 18 years - thanks for the review, Matt 👍
Thinking of all the views!!!
Well... sometimes TH-cam counts 30 seconds of a video a view. So, I think you gained 2 or 3 views from just me. @@mlegrand
First of all , thanks for your excellent review after 100 days !!! I and struggle on chose between forerunner 965 and Coros apex 2 pro a month ago, chose the Coros finally since I do feel disappoint on the materials which Garmin still using plastic on the body and the battery is my concern , I use Garmin from 910XT for long time and forerunner 945 almost 4 years , the new AMOLED display is the main trend in the the future ,I would rather to test coros ecosystem for 1 or 2 years and hoping Garmin will have a huge improvement on the battery life even using multi band GPS to track the activity, beside the the the life trend of 955 ( just almost a year ) and they release 965 which also make the runner willing to wait a year or half and year more longer to see how Garmin will make a huge change on the forerunner series !!!
Yeah, I'll be very curious to see where they take this series of devices. Maybe they're all in on AMOLED displays? 🤷🏻♂️ I hope you're enjoying the COROS device! They make a good watch 👍🏻
I have the 265 and a lot of what you liked about the 965 (training readiness, morning report, size/weight factor, amazing display!) Is there in the 265 as well. I really agonized about not having maps but the price difference was just such a barrier to entry and I think for *most* people a 265 will do almost everything they want. I really wish Garmin didn't pay gate some of their features (looking at you stamina and hill score!) On the 965 vs 265 as there's no reason the 265 can't do those metrics but hey they're a bit gimmicky at this point in their first iteration so I'm not sure how big a loss that is.
I will say I very rarely use maps, stamina or hill score. It’s nice to know that it’s there if I need it but I could have been very happy with the 265. I’m still sad that I haven’t had the opportunity to review that one. Looks like a great balance of price and functionality. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
How has the screen held up?
Thanks, that's a really useful video.. I'm still using my FR935 and there have been so many new features and functionalities since then, that I am at the point where I just need to upgrade. I am still a bit torn between the FR965, Fenix 7 SS or even the Epix pro..
Next to running and swimming I also golf and the new functionality they added in the F7/Epix pro makes me tend a bit more in that direction, however the F7 doesn't have the AMOLED display. That's next to the fact that they're soooo thick compared to the FR. The slimness that you mentioned is what I really like about my FR935 as well..
The Epix Pro is a bigger watch but you'll love it once you've grown accustom to the size. Keep me posted on what you end up with and how you like it. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand as an update: I went out and got myself the Epix pro sapphire.. this was last week and so far I've only done a couple of shorter runs (3K and 5K at E and T pace) as I'm injured a little bit and honestly can't really feel a big difference to my 935. Yes, it is thicker compared to the 935, but so far it hasn't caused any issue. Definitely worth getting.
Awesome content
Wow thank you for the kind words! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
After 2 months with FR965 - I have a display on gesture and it takes around 2-3% of battery per day. In activity with multiband GPS, HR monitor, and always on display, I am on 5% battery per hour. With a 60-minute daily activity, I have no trouble lasting almost two weeks on one charge. The only real battery drain is Spotify. Don't know why, but when I run with music it's around 15% per hour and it really makes a difference, when you have two longer runs on the weekend and you are under 50% battery :-O
Yeah, music kills this thing but it sounds like you have the battery life pretty dialed in. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment on this one Martin! I really appreciate it. 👍
Yeah, my battery life is same. I'm about 10 days between charges, could maybe push to two weeks if I didn't run with music. Gesture only mode all the time. I do use stryd which takes more battery, and running with spotify really kills the battery too.
The 965 is one of my favorite Garmin watch releases of late. The point around its slimmer body is a great one.
Despite it being a larger watch in terms of screen size, it really disappears on the wrist compared to an Epix or Fenix.
I agree. Watch companies really should pay more attention to the depth of these watches. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Congrats on the video! I am new to the channel, and I really loved your content. I am deciding between the 955 solar, base Fenix 7 base solar (we can find incredible discounts in the last weeks), 965, or Suunto Race. For the last 5 years, I have been using a Suunto Spartan Trainer, with zero problems, but I am noticing that the display is dimming and the battery life is not the same, though still alright. I've never had luck with Garmin devices. My Suunto survived two Vivoactive 4 (both of them died before 6 months of use), and my wife's forerunner 35. Therefore, I am having a hard time deciding to stay with Suunto and go with the Race (though it is amoled, I prefer MIP, and the Vertical is beyond my budget) or give Garmin another chance. I once saw on reddit the following comment that sure brought me LOL: "MIPS if you're an athlete who trains outdoors a lot. OLED if you just want people at the office to think you are.¨. Anyway, thanks for the updated review, man, and have a happy new year!
If you can get a good deal on the Fenix, that is a very nice watch. I’ve yet to review a Suunto watch on this channel but that Suunto race looks like an amazing option. Happy to help if you have any questions. 👌
Garmin watches are serious tools. But there are two issues I found both in epic pro and instinct 2X.
When I was walking without moving my hands sometimes the steps did not count. I mean with no any exercise active on the watch.
And the other one has to do with the Garmin connect app.
It needs internet connection in order to show you your stats.
These watches suppose to be expedition watches. You should see your stats by Bluetooth, as you are lost in the nature for some days.
These was the biggest flaw for me..
Bigger than the battery life shortage of an AWU.
Good suggestions for Garmin to consider. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Even though it's only 0.7 mm bigger in diameter, it does look bigger on the wrist than the 955. Especially when the screen is on it looks huge I think.. I still prefer the 955, primarily for the MIP screen. OLED surely looks nice but on a watch I don't like that it's either a black screen or emitting light.
I might even get another 955 (even though my current one is a year old and works fine) so I know I can enjoy an MIP forerunner for many years to come 🙈
I am curious if all forerunner models in the future will be AMOLED. It definitely looks like it currently. I guess Garmin makes other product lines like the Instinct that will be MIP for the foreseeable future. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand I'm afraid they will be, maybe the Fenix will stay as MIP as well. That depends on how the sales of the current model will be compared to the Epix I suppose. But I prefer the light weight of the Forerunners for comfort as wear the watch 24/7. The Fenix is also a bit bulky for my delicate wrists;) I don't think many major developments (that are relevant for me) will be there anytime soon and the 955 should serve me well for many years :)
Thank you for responding, always a pleasure to watch your videos!
Good info.
I'm completely happy with my 955.
Maybe next upgrade. I'll try the amold screens. Maybe.
It’s an interesting choice. I often find myself preferring the MIP displays frequently. They just work and I know they’ll work for a really long time. Thanks for all of the support with these videos! 👌
@@mlegrand yeah showing AMOLED watches laying on a table next to MIP is kinda false advertising as they simply turn off after a couple of seconds. This and the fact that I need to turn my wrist to check hour/stats (even in always on mode!) are the main reason I will never again buy an AMOLED watch.
@@ted363636 Also something that's rarely or never mentioned by reviewers is that with Amoled you "lose" the white background during activities. To me at least black on white background is more readable than white on a black background.
I purposefully chose the 955 over the 965. I run in very bright sunlight during the summer months and Amoled would have to be on full brightness. That’ll kill your battery life. Also the contrast is better on MIP displays in bright light. Longer battery life and always-on display is another big plus. I like the looks of the Amoled but not enough to justify buying one.
Dislikes = still 2 ciq fields, after all these years.
Concerns = the risen gorilla glass. I don't have any scratches yet but i hit stuff all the time, so i believe it is a matter of time.
Regarding battery life during ultra activities, i tested it and i estimated you can get 40 hours of battery life with the following settings:
- display = gesture
- timeout = 4 seconds
- gestures = 15-20 per hour
- gps = auto
- recording = every second
- heart rate = wrist
- external sensors = 2
- phone = not connected
- pace pro = on for 1 hour
- navigation = off
This is extremely helpful. Thank you so much for posting this Jazznroll. I know there are other watch options with a few more features but this watch has been excellent so far for the things I've wanted to do. Hope you're enjoying yours. 👌
Congratulations for the video as always.
Thank you for the very precious video review. I can find quickest reviews on TH-cam, but yours is adding the 100 days of experience that makes difference!
I was almost to buy epix pro gen2 47mm, but now I am really in between them.. haha
The reasons I initially thought epix pro gen2 is the go are that I wear it on business, and I had scratched my Venu quite bad...
I was still thinking that the bigger screen and lighter weight are the better points for 965, so now I am a little bit leaning to 965... What is your opinion?
Thanks from Japan.
Hello to Japan! The Epix Pro is an incredible device. I think you’d love the extra durability and built in flashlight. It’s surprisingly useful. Best of luck!!! And thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand Thank you for the reply. Oh your recommendation is epix pro! I was expecting 965 to be recommended. I will rethink this. (｀･ω･´)ゞ
Well, I like the price of the 965 better. 😬
@namazukaeru4388 What watch did you end up choosing? How do you like it?
I putted hydrogin film on the screen to protect it more. In secret I start liking it a bit more then my Epix 2. Thank you for making this evaluation. And super video quality again! 🎥
And about the watch. Happy I have it. Love the light and slimness compared to an Epix. It just has everything. With swiminng you need to watch out no to scratsch the bezel at the bath stone walls. The morning report is also a good wat to start the day. The training programm helps me to become a better runner.
I hope the Venu 3 software futures also find their way. And about the price in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 it's for sale through my bank for €450 incl taxes. Which wasn't expencive.
The good thing about the watch, is thats a really good alrounder which brings the best of Garmin.
Wow, that's a great price on this device. Glad you snagged a deal. Thanks for checking this one out. 👍
Hello!
I'm in doubt between the Epix Pro 51mm or Forerunner 965, I'm afraid I won't adapt to the 51mm, I had an Epix Gen2 47mm and thought it was a little small, but the 51mm on my wrist I thought was a little big, oh cruel doubt. haha
If you switch off the AOD and switch it to GPS you can easy do an Ultra Run with it🙂.
I saw a comment someone was doing one and he had after 36hrs still 21% left
Wow, good point. It really is a good option for most of us. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand you are welcome. Glad when I could help🙂👌🏾
Been w the 745 for the past 3 years and I love it been looking to upgrade to the 965 fir the amoled but that raised screen is kinda a deal breaker imo
I think you'll love the 965. It's a great option and I think you'll love a lot of the new stuff that Garmin has added to these watches over the past 3 years or so. The 265 would be another one to check out. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Excellent video! A question... How accurate is the 965 for indoor running? Will it eliminate the need for a foot pod or the Stryd pod? Also, can you recommend any screen protectors? It seems like the 965 has a delicate screen
I haven’t tested indoor accuracy but I would expect some difficulty measuring distances. I would highly recommend a screen protector. I’ve recently got two scratches on the edge of my 965.
amzn.to/4bZkKQg
(I’ve had good luck with these)
@@mlegrand thank you for your insight and keep up the awesome work. Just subscribed to your channel 💯
@@romrome - Thanks for the sub!
I bought mine second hand had like two screen scratches cant be seen until you aim it toward light but at least saved 300dollars 😂😂😂 plus it is going to scratch which means I am using it.....about first experince from 945 user well big difference all I can say worth the upgrade .....
Awesome! Glad you got a good deal on it and that you're enjoying it. It's a great option!
Your reviews are fabulous! I recently purchased an Instinct 2X off the back of your review. I’m thrilled with it so far! Question: how does the Generation 4 Sensors compare to the new Generation 5? Would you notice a big difference?
I don't think you'd notice a huge difference. It's hard to know for sure because skin type, how it's worn and a million other factors all play a part in accuracy. But in my experiences, it wasn't a huge difference. Thank you so much for the kind words about the reviews.
Sorry, I only wanted to say that with Lego minifigures appearing here and there in the review, you are definetly the person I trust most! 😁
Being serious, thanks for this nice and complete review, also proposing real-life examples and giving some view on swimming, too - which was something I was looking for!
I love the Legos!!! I have three kids who all love legos but they also serve to show size in these shots. I like throwing them in these shots whenever I can. 😆
I actually do love Lego too (and my children too) , and that's why I took it as a plus point 😁
Anyway, thanks again for this review, I still haven't found anything else close to it. And if I finally make up my mind and buy it, it will be thanks to how your review has been feeding my thoughts - especially about 🏊🏽♂️ features.
Have a nice day 🤟🏼
@@Ramz1979 Oh yeah, the 965 or the 265 would be some of my top picks for swimming. That bright screen is clear and easy to read, even under water. Take care Ramz!
Hi, I have FR965 but I get issued when use Running exercise, sometimes the display still off when I raise my hand, so I must tap the display to turn on. Is that issue happening of your watch?
I leave my 965’s screen in Always On Mode. There is a setting for during activities and general. So you can switch the mode for either type. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
You explain specifications nice! But i have to say that you have not mentioned anything about "background color setting" of this watch in activities! Infact this watch with all the glorious stuffs "HAVE NO" background color setting in activities like FR-955!
I’m not sure what you mean by background color. Do you mean, white or black background back lighting?
Got this watch. Well, it does everything i need. But i would probably like instinct 2x tactical better.
Still a good choice i think.
I'd say they're different watches. This one is bright, lightweight and slim where as the Instinct 2X sits up a bit higher on the wrist. You'd love that built in flashlight. It's surprisingly useful. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Usefull video, no scratches on mine! Loooove this watch ( coming from 945LTE ) would have been great if they added the LTE feature to this one.
You mentionned the swimlap in manual mode. So you hit start stop every time ???
I have it in auto mode mæbut track my swims with my FORM goggles. But the garmin AWAYS droppes my avg pace per 100 by about 10 sec.
Its not a sensitive to me stopping at the end of the lane i guess.
Glad you're not seeing scratches and I don't know why Garmin hasn't been moving forward with more LTE options. It's super odd right?
I do manually start and stop after each rep in the pool. It helps me get more accurate splits. For example, I just got out of the water and one set was 10x100 and the auto splits would have been about a second and a half off. I really want to know if it's 1:24 or 1:25. Seems silly but those little seconds matter when doing the shorter stuff.
The Form swim goggles had some of the best automatic lap/stroke/split detection that I've ever tested here on this channel. Their swim software is ridiculously good. Part of me thinks that they should open it up to non-form swimmers.
Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Great review Matt ,as always 😊 can you give me your opinion please. I'm addicted to watches ,i have the Fênix 7 solar and the 955 ,but lately the feeling of get an amoled watch is growing on me,my racional side tells me if i bought an epix 2 or a 965 I'm a dumb, because is the same watch with an amoled display. But in the other hand the screen looks beautiful,my question is,do you think,if money is not a problem, worth to buy some of those watches only because of the beautiful screen?
I could see you really enjoying the Epix Pro with the flashlight. It's a great option and it looks really good. If you find you're wearing it more than your Fenix 7 you could probably sell the 7 solar for a good price at this point. 🤷♂️
I see you’re wearing the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin. Thought I was the only one that wore 2 watches 😂
Indeed I am! Glad you're part of this elite club! 😂
This isn’t my targeted watch but my sister likes it light weight and bright good in enough for her 👏
I said to myself no more garmin purchases 😅 but I did choose one yh 1 more garmin tactix 7 pro. I could say list reasons why but 3 good ones 1. The price drop just right. 2. I’m sucka for a green light it’s my fav colour 3. It’s a black dlc yh I’m not the biggest fan grey watches 😂 it’s a big usually
But hey the smallest can make anyone happy including me 😄
Brilliant vid as always Matt 👍🙌
That Tactix watch looks amazing. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Great review. Thanks. Any views on how using polarised sunglasses interact with visibility/ readability of the FR965 screen? I’ve heard it might be an issue compared with the FR955s.
I don’t have experience enough to speak to that. I do have a polarized camera lens. I might need to do some experimenting. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Hi Matt! Great review. Thanks so much for posting. I've been with Polar for over 10 years (currently have the Vantage M that I got in 2019) and was hoping the newly released Vantage 3 was going to be somewhat on par with the FR965. So, I think at this stage I'll be jumping over to Garmin.
Can you just address two items: 1). Pool lap swimming accuracy and 2) Durability for Strength Training sessions. I know you touched on lap swimming briefly in your review. Just looking for feedback on the lap accuracy (assuming the watch is set up with correct pool size). My Vantage M has been unreliable from the start in this area. And I do everything Polar tells me to as far as watch/hand position; pushing off at each lap, etc. As far as strength training I saw a blurb out there that the watch might be on the less than durable side; especially during strength training sessions. So just looking for your feedback. Thank you!
Pool lap swimming accuracy is about normal. Not perfect but good. Durability seems good to me. The curved lens looks dangerously vulnerable but so far it’s been good for me. Scan the comments because I’m sure others have had scratches. 🤷🏻♂️ Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand thanks for quick response. I'll scan the comments regarding durability.
Can you just shed light on "normal" regarding pool laps? Do you mean "normally" good where maybe 9 out of 10 sessions will be spot on. Or will it be close to accurate each session but potentially off by a lap or two? Being in Northeast I train in the pool for 9/12's of the year lol. So just want something very close to accurate (especially for the price tag). Thank you!
@@ChristopherBarry-t2w In my experience if you're doing really simple swimming. 10x100 for example, it'll nail the exact distance. When I do a typical master workout. Warm up, kick set, drills and then some much more complex workout, it'll typically be off by a 100 or so. I found this to be normal for most of the brands that I've tested.
@@mlegrand Matt, sounds good. and great info. Thanks again!
Great review as usual. Just the best video quality and so informative. Question: Do you prefer your AW Ultra 2 over your Epix Pro Gen 2? Curious as to which watch of those two get the most wrist time with you. Thanks and keep up the great work.
I had to return the Epix Pro but I tend to wear two watches at a time so these both would end up getting about the same amount of wrist time. 🤷🏻♂️ I do make sure to snag a watch with more battery life when heading out on a trip. So. . . Garmin in those cases.
Thanks
Matt really excellent video today mate and thank you for taking the time to do this and going through it so thoroughly and good to get some feedback. I've just gone and bought one I'm waiting for it to arrive tomorrow but I do a lot of Long distance swimming and I just wanted to ask does it record VO2 Max and your recovery time if you don't wear it for sleeping? I Tend not to wear bulky watches when I sleep at night as it's cumbersome and I don't like sweeper sleeping with them but will I get accurate body battery type information on the watch if I don't use it for sleep and only wear it during the day? Cheers Adam
I'm not 100% sure. VO2 max is typically estimated based on running and biking information. I don't know how much you'll get from swimming. But I'd still call this one of (if not the best) swimming watch on the market today. Sleep is one of the big factors for determining the Training Readiness scores but I think it'll still try it's best to estimate that data. There is a lot of good data that you'll miss out on by not sleeping with it. HRV, resting HR and all of the sleep metrics obviously but it'd be worse to let it effect your nightly sleep.
@@mlegrand understood thanks. Adam
Thanks a lot for this awesome review!!! I got 99% of the data I needed from your review. As someone who is swimming in pools, seas, lakes and rivers I am very interested in how my body behaves in water bodies of different temperatures. Is there a way to use the temperature sensor on the 965 to measure the water temperature you are swimming in?
There is a thermometer but it’s turned off during swimming. (Long story as to why) I typically put my watch in the lake to check temperature using the temp widget before starting an activity and swimming.
@@mlegrand That is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks! Did you compare the reading with any other thermometer?
@@gandalfsivi80 - I have compared it to a very basic pool thermometer. If anything it seemed more accurate to me. 🤷♂
Hi Matt! Awesome video!!! I’m trying to decide between the FR965 and the Epix pro sapphire 47mm. I have a 165mm wrist and I’m planning to sleep with it. I love the looks of the Epix but I’m concerned with the size. The 965 is an option, but I’m concerned with the durability of the screen. Any recommendations/thoughts? Thanks!!!
I have both of these and a similar size wrist. I think you’ll get used to whatever you pick up. The bezel on the Epix tends to make the watch look a little bit nicer. (Not sure if you care about that). But they’re very similar from a features standpoint. I’d probably look at what deals you can find and choose based on price. I do have two new scratches in my 965. So maybe snag a screen protector if you go with that one.
Thanks Matt! Last question. The “bulkyness” of the Epix 47mm is comparable to the Apple Watch Ultra? Greetings from Argentina!!!
@@damianherbstein3287 - I think the shape of the Epix feels a bit better. Maybe it's the round shape vs the square but the Ultra just feels thicker or higher up on the wrist. But whatever you end up with will be easy to get used to after a few days! 👋 🇦🇷
I noticed you’re wearing the ultra. I’ve been a long time Garmin guy, I used to really love all the data and used it substantially in training through the years. The past year or so I’ve really altered my training and have gotten much more into zone 2 training with sprints a few days a week and the at just about all I need in terms of data. I’ve never had much luck with Garmin having any really reliability on the watch alone for accuracy, I’ve just always worn a chest strap but recently wanted to simplify things and sort of prioritize wrist based accuracy.
I seem to be down to the ultra and the 965. Would you say you feel confident in these two for wrist based accuracy alone, no chest strap? Additionally of the two which do you prefer?
Regards and love your videos.
I like both the 965 and Ultra. I'd say the heart rate on both is a bit more accurate than some of the older Garmins. But it depends on a lot of different factors. Skin tone, type of activity and how it's worn. But I think you can get some good heart rate data from either of these. I'd say buy the Garmin if you want to save a little money and buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2 if you want to try something different. 🤷♂️
Thanks Payton!
Is there a surf activity on the Forerunner 965? Will it hold up in the waves? I much prefer the look (and price, haha) of it compared to the Epix pro. Outstanding video!
Last I checked, Garmin wasn't recommending it as a surf option. My fear would be that the waves might rip this watch from your wrist. There used to also be surf third party apps like Surf Tracker 2 which would get number of waves and amount of time ridden. You might also look at the Garmin Instinct 2X as an option which I *think* does have a dedicated surf activity type.
@mlegrand Pretty sure I'll go with the Epix Pro now. Thank you good sir! 🤙🏻
@@mikephilpot - You will love that watch. The flashlight is surprisingly useful. 👍
It's unfortunate that they used titanium, titanium sounds premium, but in contrary to what many people believe, it's much easier to scratch than most other materials. A titanium watch is a dealbreaker to me, because I know it will look like crap within half a year.
You should watch my Epix 2 after 100 days video. There are a ton of scratches visible. 😬
Hey great video! I’ve been thinking of getting either this or the 955 solar as its a bit cheaper and can solar charge. I don’t know if i can justify the extra money for the FR965. Whats your opinion/thoughts?
I think the screen is significantly sharper and nicer. However, I've been going back and forth between MIPs displays and AMOLED and when I have the 955 on, I never really miss the sharper brighter display. Part of me thinks AMOLED is a bit overrated. Tricky call. 🤷♂️
The problem of this watch is that; It doesn't have background color in data screen setting, like FR-955! It is only black background with white shining amoled font wich shines on to your eyes! I didn't have eyes comfortability and easy readability! That's why i sent the watch back.
Are you posting the same comment on all the 965 videos that you find online?
One question when I go for a run for one hour and I won't turn on the GPS mode so garmin forerunner 965 will capture my step count speed and rest of the numbers?....... Reason behind this question is if we don't turn on GPS we can save battery life right. So please answer to my question
Yeah, I've never tried it but it should still count your steps towards your daily total without GPS on. It'd also get time and any splits you mark. It wouldn't show pace, distance or the other metrics that require GPS. But I've honestly never tested using it for a run without GPS on. I'll have to try it out.
just ordered mine today, can't wait to replace my samsung watch, thing dies in about 36 hours, so annoying having to constantly charge it.
Oh yeah, you’re going to love the battery life on this watch! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Thanks for the video. Is it possible to just control the music of your smartphone through this Garmin? Not listening music directly but just manage the music you listen with your headsets from the phone. ??
Yes, there's a setting in here for controlling the music on your phone or it's on device options. You kind of have to pick one in settings so it's not the easiest thing to switch back and forth. 🤷🏻♂️
Coming from a 955 I cannot bring myself to get another plastic shell
Yeah, the 955 has all the same features as the 965. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Why not it's super light so way more comfortable than a heavy Fenix for example. It's they're still very strong and durable (not a single scratch on my 955 after lots of heavy use)
6:46 "The GPS data looks absolutely fantastic to me..." did you really run three feet beside the road or you did run on the road surface, Matt? Your traces shown here doesn't support your talkings.
Oh those aren’t roads sir. That’s a tiny little trail that runs along a lake and crosses a road. I’ve seen a lot of GPS tracks from different watches and personally, I think this watch does a fantastic job tracking. It’s not perfect but it’s pretty damn good.
Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Great review. I'm not sure why the hr monitor of my fr965 disconnects frequently while doing any kind of exercise, even sleeping. I'm not sure if it's just me or anyone else. 🥺💔
That sounds odd. I wonder if it's not being worn snug or something? I'd reach out to Garmin support and see if they have any ideas. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
I had one a few months ago and it did the same thing when broadcasting to my bike computer. I returned it for a refund , hope this helps.
Hi everyone, I have a lil question about the forerunner series. Should i buy the 965 or the 955 solar? What's your opinion? Now I have the Polar Vantage M but the new Polar Vantage V3 is disappointing me. So I'm going to switch to Garmin..
The sports that I use most are: soccer, fitness, running, bike, hike and swimming. Maybe the 265 is an option too? Help me out!
and the new fenix is cool, but I like the design from the 965 more and the price is too heavy for my wallet...
I loved the video bro! Greets from Belgium!
The 265 or even the 255 would also be good options. I’ll vote 965 for the screen. It’s amazing and coming from the Vantage M, it’ll be like night and day. ☀️
Thanks! I will buy the 965. It will ask a lil time to switch from Polar to Garmin (learning all the settings and app) but I think it's worth the change. @@mlegrand
Hi Matt,have garmin introduced the jet lag into the 965 ? Or just the fenix.
Last I checked it wasn’t on here. It’s probably worth taking a lot at some of the latest beta editions to see if it’s making its way over. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand many thanks, it was this or the epix,looks like the epix now for me.
I have scratches on my display by hitting something rough. But that‘s what can happen to all watches 🤷🏼♂️
Same my 965 is so badly scuffed up
I kept thinking that people would have issues with scratches here. It’s definitely not as durable as the sapphire lenses. Thanks for the feedback 👌
Add nap tracking (see Venu 3) and this one is mine. Anyone agree?
Seems like it would be something they could add via a normal firmware update. 🤷🏻♂️
Thx for the review! As someone else pointed out, this is a really high production value video! I have been looking for a watch that can be worn in both marathons and trail races (light weight, long battery life, navigation with maps) and the 965 seems to fit all my criteria… that is until you said it may not last long enough for a 100 mile race such as the UTMB. Not that I am planning to run 100 miles any time soon, but I definitely don’t feel like buying another watch just for that occasion. If you fiddle enough with the settings, do you think you can get it to last approximately 46 hours?
Oh if you adjust settings you can go significantly longer. I think you can safely get another 10 hours. 46 is pretty long and I just don't know how you'll want to manage that. You might reach out to Dave Dillion over on the @Chasethesummit channel. I know he's done some longer stuff with this watch. Not sure about 46 hours but he might have some good ideas.
Would you go 965 or Fenix 7 sapphire solar for 100k trail races?
Probably the Fenix. Especially if you can find any sort of deal on the watch. 👌
I have mine for 70 days. Dislikes - raise to wake doesn't always work when I'm running or racing so I have to do a double or triple arm turn when my 245 never had this issue. Also I got stung by a wasp last week and the watch went mental trying to contact emergency contacts but couldn’t because it needs to be connected to a phone. So this feature is pretty much useless if something happens to you and you don't have your phone. Everything else is magic with this watch. No scratches, 9 day battery, every piece of information a runner could desire especially with the recent software update.
On the emergency contact thing, I’m so surprised that Garmin hasn’t been pursuing the LTE stuff it started with the 945LTE. So odd. I thought it’d be an option on every device by now. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
7 days in and a scratch on the screen, totally gutted as i have never had a scratch on any garmin before and ive had a lot. If this is a week in then i dont hold out much hope, gutted.
I have had really good luck with using screen protectors on these watches. I was amazed with my 945 because the adhesive on the screen protector filled in the scratch a bit and made it look so much better. There also super cheap:
amzn.to/4djHzAe
@@mlegrand thanks for that mate, I'd ordered some glass curved ones but the bubbling is so bad that they'll be getting returned, after watching the video I ordered some similar to the link you sent and they're due to arrive tomorrow. Hopefully like you said they'll fill a wee bit of the scratch as I love the watch, surely whenever the 275 and 975 come out they'll be recessed again. Thanks again though I really appreciate the link.
Thanks Matt, got the other protectors in today and what a difference they make, definitely feel the watch is better protected, not helped much with the scratch but it's down at the Garmin wording and looks like a bit of hair or something so at least it doesn't distort the screen too badly. Thanks again for reaching out, it means a lot. 🙂.
did you developed oled burn in in 100 days?
Not that I can see. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Im trying to decide between the 955 and 965. Any thoughts or recommendations??
They function the same but the screen on the 965 is a lot nicer. I think if you wore them each at the same time you’d want the 965. But if the 955 is significantly more affordable, you won’t be missing much getting that device. 🤷🏻♂️
Actually the screen is a major turn off for me, I really like the sunlight-visible, transflective screen So if that is the main difference then that makes my choice much easier. Thank you!!!
Was torn between 965 and Epix while viewing reviews, but an in store on arm comparison took less than 30 seconds for me to go 965. Really disliked the bulk of the Epix.
Ive purchased the more adventurish quick detach band used on some Epix and the standard 965 watch face options have some that are more adventure looking than the std Forerunner faces. It is now my perfect hybrid and I often switch watch faces to match what I'm doing at the time. I really enjoy this device!
Great feedback for people to read. Thanks for posting this. The 965 is significantly lighter weight on the wrists. It's a great device but it's also probably not quite as durable as the Epix. Glad you're enjoying this one. Thanks Brook!
Fr965 or epix pro!? Greetings from México, great video!
The Epix Pro looks a little nicer and has a flashlight but the 965 is more affordable and is lighter weight. Totally up to you but having a flashlight is awesome. 👌
Give me a flashlight on the next version please 👍
100% 👌
Enduro 3
@@jakejoyride still want the forerunner form factor
Great video as always! I love the 965. I upgraded from the 935 and was very impressed with the improvements!! One of the features I like, in addition to the one you mentioned and others, is that it pairs seamlessly with Zwift while I am on the treadmill. I do not have to use my Strd foot pod and it makes life much easier during virtual training.
Ezra! Hope all is well with you buddy! Good call. I don't tent to do a lot treadmill running but it's nice to know that this one can track and output distance to Zwift if needed. Thank you for the comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@b09d4n You can calibrate your pace with the 965. Just do a run in virtual mode on the watch. After that run , choose the option to adjust the pace etc. It might not be perfect but neither are either the treadmill or Stryd . I enjoy it better than the foot pod.
935 owner as well, ice baths seem to have lifted the screen after a few years and its cactus. The 965 arrives next week. Pumped!
Where in the heck can you find the move status in the 965?!?! You can see it in steps within the Fenix. I have still yet to find it on the 965, and I don't want to use another watch face
Are you talking about the widget list or the watch face data field. I'm able to switch it to steps on the watch face under settings watch face, customize and then cycle through the 10 or so options.
Widget list
Oh it's sat iq , I keep calling it SA tick 😅
I always mispronounce it StatIQ. 🤦♂️ Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Great review but your wrist... 165mm
Correct! They're super small.
@@mlegrand You could try knuckle push ups or power cleans with just a bar. It weighs 20kg 3 x 10 reps. Trust me they will grow!
I have the Forerunner 255. Is pretty good. The screen is way nicer on the 265 and 965. I mainly use the Instinct Solar though. Since that thing does solar charging, rugged, and the battery lasts so long.
Yeah, those Instinct devices are fantastic. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
The 255 is a fantastic device. And there's always a tradeoff between screen vibrance and that killer battery life. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Did your wife like the size of it or was it too large? I would like to sleep with it but worry that it might be too large for a 5feet 4 girl? Wish there was a 965s… Oh also: Your videos are amazing Matt!!!
She’s only about 5’3 and she did sleep with it. It is a large watch. I think it’d take a little getting used to.
@@mlegrand I finally bought it and lovin it, it is so light! Thanks for all the info it helped me decide to buy it!
@@brigitteboulais5474 You're welcome Brigitte! 👍🏻
First! :D
Thank you GP Fraser! Hope you enjoyed a few of these up close and personal shots of the 965. 👍
So... I'm a triathlete who holds onto things forever. I had the Garmin Forerunner 920XT for years. It recently died, though, (the battery is shot), so I'm looking for my next long-time watch. Is the Garmin 965 worth it over the 955? Are the differences notable enough to make up the price difference? Thanks for your help!
The AMOLED screen is very different than a traditional MIPs display. I think you’d really love it but either one is going to be a huge upgrade. I’d see if there are any sale deals going on. 👌
@@mlegrand Thank you!!
first glad your wife enjoys your watches as much as you do!
those beg shots are awesome!! the king of b roll is what someone said and it is true
once my fenix 3 non hr dies i will buy this or the latest fenix
too bad you dont use the Stamina as was wondering how that is, i see ClimbPro is with this watch. so that is a good thing
enjoy the fall running!! its been beautiful over here in VT
We don’t have nearly the foliage here that you see but I have seen some good fall colors. Thank for the kid words.
Forerunner 45 is Better Forerunner 965 Watch Tell You
The FR 965 is an amazing option. Maybe Garmin will update this 45 series soon.
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