Garmin Releases Forerunner 975 with Enhanced Triathlon Mode
Triathlon watch tech has gotten absurdly feature-packed with every new release. As someone who has owned four different Garmin models in the last six years, I learned to separate the genuinely useful upgrades from the marketing fluff. The new Forerunner 975 just dropped, and I have to say — there are some real improvements here for multi-sport athletes.
The watch introduces an upgraded triathlon mode that automatically detects transitions, tracks each discipline separately, and provides real-time performance metrics across swim, bike, and run segments. No more fumbling with buttons mid-race while your brain is oxygen-deprived.
Key Features for Triathletes
Open water swimming now features improved GPS accuracy with a new antenna design. Stroke type detection and distance tracking rival pool swimming precision, which has always been the weak point of wrist-based swim tracking. The watch can also provide turn-by-turn navigation for open water courses. That is what makes this update genuinely useful for us open water swimmers — no more guessing if you swam 1,500 meters or 1,800 because you sighted badly.
Cycling features include power meter connectivity, aerodynamic position tracking, and integration with indoor trainers. The watch now estimates cycling FTP from regular ride data, which is convenient if you don’t want to suffer through a dedicated FTP test every eight weeks.
Running metrics have been expanded to include ground contact time, vertical oscillation, and advanced pacing strategies for brick workouts. The brick workout pacing is interesting because it accounts for the fact that your first mile off the bike is going to feel terrible no matter what.
Pricing and Availability
The Forerunner 975 is available now with an MSRP of $649. It comes in three colors: Carbon Gray, Solar Flare, and Neo Tropic. Probably should have led with the price, honestly, because I know that’s the first thing most of us want to know.
For triathletes considering an upgrade, this consolidates features that previously required multiple devices. Whether the upgrade from a 965 is worth it depends on how much you value the improved swim tracking and automatic transition detection. For anyone coming from an older model, though, it’s a substantial jump.
