Garmin Forerunner 170 vs 570 for Swimming (and the 70)
Garmin Forerunner 170 vs 570 for swimming: both track pool and open water. The 570 adds multi-band GPS, a CSS test and triathlon for $250 more. Plus the 70.
The Forerunner 170 and 570 record the same pool and open-water data. The extra $250 for the 570 buys multi-band GPS, an on-watch Critical Swim Speed test, triathlon activities and Garmin’s enhanced pool workouts. Here is the swim-only comparison, with the Forerunner 70 as the budget reference.
Forerunner 170 vs 570 for Swimming: What Actually Differs
For swimming, the Forerunner 170 and 570 record the same pool and open-water data. The 570 adds four things: multi-band GNSS, an on-watch Critical Swim Speed test, triathlon activities and Garmin’s enhanced pool workouts. Everything else a swimmer sees on the wrist — length count, pace, stroke type, SWOLF, drill log, auto rest — is identical on both watches.
Checked against Garmin’s owner’s manuals, press releases and workout-compatibility pages on October 23, 2026. Prices are US list prices; street prices change.
Forerunner 170 Music vs 570
The 170 Music ($349.99) adds music storage and Wi‑Fi, nothing for the pool. Its swim features are the standard 170’s, so the choice against the 570 is the same: pay $200 more for multi-band GPS, the CSS test and triathlon mode, or keep the money.
Which one should you buy?
Start With the Shared Swim Basics
The Forerunner 70 is not pool-only. Garmin's manual lists both Pool Swim and Open Water activities, alongside pool metrics and a drill log. That makes it a valid entry choice for swimmers who train in both environments; see Forerunner 70 for open-water swimming for how it tracks in a lake or the sea.
The real question is what comes beyond those core profiles: multi-band GNSS, the Critical Swim Speed test, multisport activities and Garmin’s enhanced pool workouts. Those four features separate the 570 from the 70 and 170; the swim recording itself does not.
Cheapest pool + open water: Forerunner 70 ($249.99). Pool-first with Garmin Pay and altimeter: Forerunner 170 ($299.99). Triathlon, multi-band GNSS or CSS on the wrist: Forerunner 570 ($549.99).
Forerunner 70 and 570 for Swimming: Quick Answers
Is the Forerunner 70 good for swimming? Yes. It supports pool and open-water activity profiles and Garmin lists it for Pool Swim workouts, so it suits an entry-level swimmer who uses both. It has no multisport activity and no multi-band GNSS.
Does the Forerunner 570 track swimming? Yes. It adds multi-band GNSS, the Critical Swim Speed test and Triathlon and Swimrun activities to its pool and open-water profiles. Those matter for triathlon and tricky open-water routes, not for every pool swim.
The 3 New Forerunners, Compared for Swimming
How These Fit Against the Rest of the Lineup
The new entry models don't exist in a vacuum. The Forerunner 165 still sits alongside the 170 as a strong budget swim pick (and is often cheaper on sale) — see our Forerunner 165 swimming review if you're choosing between them. Above the 570 sits the flagship Forerunner 970 (full maps) and the rugged Fenix 8 for serious open water and diving.
For the full picture across every price tier, our best Garmin watch for swimming guide ranks the whole range, and the open-water section of the main Garmin guide focuses on the multi-band GPS picks specifically.
Which New Forerunner Should You Buy?
Choose the Forerunner 70 ($249.99) when pool and open-water recording is all you need. Choose the Forerunner 170 ($299.99) when you also want Garmin Pay, a barometric altimeter and the Music option. In the water the two record the same data.
Step up to the Forerunner 570 ($549.99) if you race triathlon, swim open water where single-band GPS drifts, or want the Critical Swim Speed test and CSS-paced sets on the wrist. If none of those apply, the 170 is the better buy.
Add Structured Workouts to Any of Them
Garmin lists the Forerunner 70, 170 series and 570 for Pool Swim workouts, so all three follow a structured set on the wrist. AquaPlan creates Garmin-compatible FIT workout files for them; test the import once before a key session.
Build your set in the AquaPlan workout generator , export it as a Garmin-compatible FIT file, then review the imported workout on the device. The Garmin swim workouts guide walks through the sync.
Here is a 1,600 m pyramid session to test on whichever new Forerunner you choose.
This comparison is based on published Garmin documentation and AquaPlan's FIT-export workflow. It is not a controlled accuracy test; prices, software support and regional variants can change.
New Watch? Give It Workouts Worth Wearing It For
Whichever new Forerunner you pick, AquaPlan turns it into a structured-training tool. Build a session in the drag-and-drop generator, create a Garmin-compatible FIT file, and review the supported workout steps on your wrist — or start from 200+ ready-made workouts sorted by goal and zone.
New Forerunner pyramid
Pyramid of steady repeats · 1600m total
- 300m Warm-up — GA1
- 4 × 50m Easy kick — GA1 · Rest 20s between repeats · kick
- 100m Pyramid 100 m — GA2 · Rest 30s
- 200m Pyramid 200 m — GA2 · Rest 30s
- 300m Pyramid 300 m — GA2 · Rest 30s
- 200m Pyramid 200 m — GA2 · Rest 30s
- 100m Pyramid 100 m — GA2 · Rest 30s
- 200m Cool-down — ReKom
Try it in AquaPlan
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Written and maintained by AquaPlan Team, Swim Training & Product.
The AquaPlan team builds swim-training software for structured pool workouts, Garmin-compatible FIT export, printable workout PDFs, and progress tracking.
Focus areas: Structured swim workout design, Garmin-compatible FIT file export, Pool training plans and workout-library systems, Swim training tools for web, iOS, and Android.
Editorial standard: AquaPlan is built by lifelong swimmers — 20+ years in the water, competitive racing, and countless hours on deck. Our training guides come from that experience, not a content mill.