Garmin Charging Cable

My 965 stopped charging suddenly and after several checks I notice that charging pins on the provided Garmin cable have deteriorated significantly.
I'm surprised that this deterioration occurred after only one year of use.
Given my experience, I'd appreciate any advice on how to choose a more durable replacement. Specifically, could you recommend some reliable cable brands that I can trust?

Top Replies

JazzRunnerDP 4 months ago +2

I have been through several Garmin supplied cables on multiple Forerunner watches. I often have found that the cable will allow the watch to charge, but not to connect to Garmin Express through my computer…
Narziss 5 months ago +1

I used lots of cables. The outrageously expensive originals seem better to me because they have larger pins which deteriorate less the contacts on the watch. You can buy a new cable, but if the contacts…

All Replies

0 Narziss 5 months ago

I used lots of cables. The outrageously expensive originals seem better to me because they have larger pins which deteriorate less the contacts on the watch. You can buy a new cable, but if the contacts on the watch become unusable, you need to get a new watch, and it happened to my Fenix 6X luckily shortly before the warranty expired.

The best way to charge the watch avoiding contact deterioration is to keep them always clean from sweat, and ATTACHING THE CABLE TO THE WATCH BEFORE giving it power, by attaching the other side to the power supply. This way, the small sparkle that inevitably happens each time you close the power circuit, does not happen on the contacts on the watch.

You may try to clean your cable's contacts with a contact cleaning spray.

0 JazzRunnerDP 4 months ago

I have been through several Garmin supplied cables on multiple Forerunner watches. I often have found that the cable will allow the watch to charge, but not to connect to Garmin Express through my computer to sync. When I've called Garmin to complain about this problem, they have sent me a new cable at no charge.

0 morey000 4 months ago

ugh- story of my garmin life. seems to me that the better garmin cables maybe last me 6 months, the cheap aftermarket ones, maybe 3 months. I just always have some extra. be careful reading the description when you order the aftermarket ones. some are 'just power' cables, and some are 'data' cables (which I presume have all the pins connected, not just the power ones.

which reminds me, I think I'll order a couple more. I'm down to my last functional one.