14 March 2023
Just a quick heads up for those that aren’t subscribed on YouTube, that I’ve just hit publish on my incredibly detailed hour-long user guide for the new Garmin Forerunner 265. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll leave no stone…err…menu option unturned as I dive into how everything actually works. As always, this isn’t limited to just the fancy new stuff, but also covering all of the basic watch features too. So whether you’re a first-time Garmin watch user, or upgrading from an older model that lacks the newest features released in the past year – this guide provides all the information you need to know (and a boatload more you probably never knew you needed to know).
Of course, I dive deep into everything from wrist-sizing comparison on the FR265 to FR265S on both myself and my more petite wife. I cover Training Readiness, which the FR255 didn’t have, showing the impact before/after a workout. Beyond that I go through HRV Status, Race Calendar driven dynamic training plans based on scheduled races, revamped Daily Suggested Workouts, and more. And I dive into the new fancy AMOLED display a bit showing side-by-side MIPS vs AMOLED, including in sunny conditions.
There’s plenty of goodness and tips/tidbits in this video that I don’t cover as deeply in the written review – especially around navigation, music, and contactless payments. And best of all, you can skip right to the video section you’re looking for using the YouTube chapters in the video itself, or the quick-links below:
0:00 The Game Plan
0:46 Sizing, Hardware Overview
4:03 AMOLED Screen in Real-Life
7:40 Watch Face, Daily Activity Tracing, Widgets
12:22 Sleep Tracking
15:00 Morning Report
16:54 HRV Status Deep-Dive
20:07 Training Readiness Deep-Dive
24:09 Training Status (and Load/Recovery)
29:55 Race Calendar, Training Plans, Daily Suggested Workouts
33:44 Sport Modes, Config, LiveTrack
41:50 Native Running Power/Running Dynamics
45:39 Multiband GPS & SatIQ
48:34 Sensors & Pairing
50:29 Navigation, Routing
51:56 Flashlight Feature
53:58 Music Support (Spotify)
57:34 Garmin Pay/Contactless Payments
And don’t forget, if you’re trying to decide between the FR265 and the FR965, I’ve also got a complete beginners guide for that too (albeit, it’s darn-near identical video except the added Stamina, Mapping, and Training Load Ratio sections).
With that – thanks for watching!