Garmin's beginner-friendly Forerunner 70 hits a record low under $200

Garmin’s newest entry-level running watch just got its biggest discount yet. The Garmin Forerunner 70 in Whitestone is down to $199.99 on Amazon, which is $50 (20%) off its $249.99 list price and the lowest price it has sold for since launching in May.

The Forerunner 70 is aimed at newer runners, but it borrows a lot from Garmin’s pricier watches. Training Readiness tells you whether you’re ready to push hard or should take it easy, while Training Status, VO2 Max, and Race Predictor show how your fitness is building. Garmin Coach can build an adaptive plan for your next race, including run-walk plans, and Daily Suggested Workouts take the guesswork out of each session. You also get wrist-based running power and running dynamics.

The 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen is bright and easy to read mid-run, and the watch weighs just 40g. Battery life is rated at up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and up to 23 hours of GPS tracking, so most people will only charge it every week or two.

Away from training, the Garmin Forerunner 70 tracks heart rate, HRV Status, Pulse Ox, sleep, stress, and Body Battery energy levels. Incident detection and LiveTrack add peace of mind on solo runs, and it’s water resistant to 50 meters. It has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon.

It would make a great gift for anyone starting their running journey in the new year. Only the Whitestone model is at this price.