‘Cat’, ‘Pigeons’ … throw one amongst the other and we have something interesting on our hands.
Garmin have just announced a new regional (Chinese) variation of the aging Garmin Forerunner 235 (review ed here). It’s the Garmin Forerunner 235 Lite or 235L.
Source: Jiaqi Yao – Thank You
Strikingly, the ELEVATE sensor is updated to the new version; the price goes down by $100, or so; and some elements of functionality are taken out such as bike mode, CONNECT IQ (!) and recovery time. Here are the specs (link to: garmin.com.cn). If you can translate anything else of special note then please let me know.
I’ll cut to the chase as to why I think we are seeing this.
It’s the new Challenger brands that are starting to make an impact.
Perhaps where someone once spent $250 they now feel comfortable paying significantly less (c$120) for a non-Garmin brand that appears to be fully featured.
Conveniently my crystal ball had this one in its sights (below) 😉 . Whilst this phenomena is only just starting to hit the USA and EU with products like the AMAZFIT STRATOS (£150 triathlon watch…FULL of features that MOSTLY work and it’s made well), we haven’t really yet seen the effects this is going to have. These will not simply be effects on the premium brands but also on the distribution chain. What do you think could happen to specialist online retailers who get well over 50% of their revenues from Garmin products?
Perhaps more interesting speculation for a new product this year…
Last Updated on 17 January 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Injinji – Runners protect your toes. Avoid discomfort and minor injury. Run more. Run faster. I use them.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — The small adapter that keeps your charging cables tidy. Essential for race day. I use one.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session. I use one.
- Ravemen FR300 — Front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters. I use one.
- Body Glide – The blue anti-chafe stick that all swimmers and many runners use. I use it.
- Maurten — The race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mixes engineered to be easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — A radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch. I use this model.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — The power-meter pedals most serious cyclists choose. Accurate, easy to move between bikes. I use this model.
- Garmin Forerunner 970 — A serious choice for a pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Polar H10 — My daily driver for accurate, waking HRV readings.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 — The bike computer that has the feature Garmin lacks: usability. I use mine on most rides.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
