Is the Garmin Forerunner 265 good for swimming?

What can the Forerunner 265 track in the pool and open water?

The 265 supports both environments, but the measurements work differently. Pool distance comes from completed lengths and your chosen pool size; Open Water starts with a satellite fix and records distance, pace and stroke rate.

Garmin lists the water rating as Swim, 5 ATM. The manual specifies surface swimming and warns that scuba diving can damage the product and void the warranty. Treat the rating as a swim-use specification, not a diving depth target.

How do you set up the Forerunner 265 for a pool swim?

Start with the correct pool size, then choose how to mark rests before recording. The watch reuses the previous pool size, so changing pools is a reason to check it again.

For an optional lead-in before an interval, look for Countdown Start in the activity settings. Garmin describes it as a countdown timer for pool swimming intervals; it is separate from choosing automatic or manual rest.

How do you record kick sets and avoid misleading length counts?

Use the drill log for kick sets, one-arm swimming and swimming outside the four main strokes. Automatic stroke identification happens at the end of a pool length; it is not a technique assessment or a promise to recognise every drill.

A useful setup check: 20 completed lengths of a 25 m pool equal 500 m. If that pool is incorrectly configured as 50 m, the same length count represents 1,000 m. Fix the pool size before interpreting an unexpectedly fast pace or long distance.

Can you follow structured swim workouts and use CSS?

Yes. Select Pool Swim, hold UP and choose Training: Workouts opens sessions downloaded from Garmin Connect, while Critical Swim Speed offers a CSS test or manual CSS entry. Training Calendar gives access to scheduled workouts.

Use the AquaPlan workout builder to organise the session. Use a supported Garmin export workflow where available, or mirror the steps in Garmin Connect; this guide does not claim that every drill instruction or export format transfers unchanged. The Garmin swim workout guide explains the wider planning workflow.

Should you buy the 265 or compare another Garmin?

Put the 265 on your shortlist if pool workouts and open-water tracking are the functions you will actually use. A budget-only buyer should compare the live cost and required features with the Forerunner 165; a buyer seeking newer swim functions should check the exact feature in the 570 or 970 manual before choosing an upgrade.

The Forerunner 165 swimming guide is the focused comparison starting point for that model. Include Instinct 3 in your research if outdoor use and case design matter to you; the evidence here does not establish an accuracy or durability advantage over the 265. If you are replacing a Swim 2, use the Swim 2 replacement guide to check which familiar swim controls you want to retain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and editorial process

Sources checked October 1, 2026: Garmin Forerunner 265 Series owner’s manual, version 9, June 2025. This is a documentation-based buying and setup guide. Limitations: no first-hand watch testing, accuracy comparison, current price check or firmware-specific transfer test was performed; menus and compatibility may change.

• Garmin Forerunner 265 Series: specifications and 5 ATM rating
• Garmin Forerunner 265 Series: swimming, rest and drill log
• Garmin Forerunner 265 Series: pool swim workouts and CSS
• Garmin Forerunner 265 Series: activity settings and countdown start

Automated editorial check (daily-ai-v1): this article was authored using AI and checked through an automated editorial process. No human expert review is claimed.