Garmin - Forerunner 255S

Their training readiness is unfortunately skewed for cardio like running or cycling. Garmin is not very good at measuring muscle load / fatigue. I would go 255 + Chest Strap. Optical sensors are not very good at detecting sudden changes in heart rate so without a chest strap you will notice a lot of lag and it may not properly detect peaks during lifting. Straining your wrist a lot is also known to interfere with HR measurements.

I tried both 255 and 265, if you are okay not having the amoled screen, it is better to get a 255 and save around $180 (cad)

Garmin. I have both. Heart tracking on GW is a joke

Just get one of the garmin watches with heart rate tracking. Their most budget one with a heart rate tracker, is their vivoactive, and it'll set you back maybe 200 bucks. But I'd personally spend a bit more and get the Forerunner 255. I currently have a 255, and it's fantastic. Battery life is about a week, but I also do a good deal of running. I imagine it'd go up to 10-14 days if I didn't use the GPS function while tracking my runs. It works with the Garmin Connect app, and that doesn't require a subscription at all. It'll also sync your activity data with Strava for additional tracking if you wanted.

I think for lifting, there really isn't any watch that can track things accurately. Nor do the watches I recommend have a music feature. I much prefer to listen from my phone rather than my watch. I've found that the 255 is fairly accurate in terms of heart rate tracking on average, at least compared to by chest strap monitor. But it doesn't do HIIT or vigorous exercise very well. Running and even sprinting, it tracks fairly accurately. Barbell complexes and murphs, it's pretty bad. But on a day to day basis, it provides a lot of good data, at least for me.

Forerunner 255 has absolutely everything you can possibly need to help you train.

I am an ardent sleep tracker enthusiast and always look at the Quantified Scientist before buying or considering a smartwatch/sports watch, he does have a disclaimer as well that he tested the devices only once, sleep tracking only one night. One device has to be tested at least 4 weeks continuously for it to be reliable. I had an Apple Watch series 7, one of the best sleep trackers according to Questified Scientist but mine sucked, not even registering some stages of sleep during sleep mode. Garmin takes 3 weeks to call your HRV, they will gather your data first and then present it. I don't think Quantified Scientist reviews are fully reliable due to the amount of time he tests the devices. Recently I switched from AW 7 to Forerunner 255, Forerunner has been very accurate about the quality of sleep I get, at first at was so-so but now, it seems like its getting better and better each day.

Looking through that list, the biggest difference for me is barometric altimeter. Things like training load are not useful for everyone, or used by everyone. There are some weird differences by sports included. If you don't feel either of those is important for you go with the watch that looks better for you. I personally feel fr255 is the right watch for almost everyone.

Garmin Forerunner 255S! I switched from an Apple Watch to this Garmin and I love it. the integrated running training plans and all of the fitness data is such a huge bonus for me. plus I really enjoy only needing to charge it once a week! I have really small wrists (and am just tiny in general, 5’0”) but it’s not bulky or big on me at all

Yup, what I use. Great battery life and plenty of features. I pair it with a cheap Coospo HRM for more accurate HR - does the job.

My Garmin run coach plan includes strength. I set it up on Garmin Connect website instead of on my phone today.  So far for the upcoming week it's given me 2 x total body strength workouts and 1 X core workout (pilates style). I can see a demo of each move on my watch (FR255s). The total body workout seems a bit basic if you're used to doing advanced strength work. I'm thinking of keeping the strength days but swapping it out for my own workouts because the strength workouts are stacked with my run days. 

I like my Forerunner 255. It does most of what I want in a smartwatch: 1. Find my iPhone alarms 2. Battery life of conservatively a week 3. Planned route navigation for my suburban \~5k running club runs, not needing my phone with me 4. Text messages (reading) 5. Phone calls (with my iPhone 11 nearby) 6. Messages or notifications for Skype, Snapchat, etc. (I was missing these with FitBit.) 7. Mobile payments I can't use Siri to set alarms. I can't check my calendar AFAIK. But having those features wouldn't be worth the loss in battery life for me. And even with additional features...there's a limit to what I can efficiently do on a tiny touchscreen. If I have to send someone a reply text, I'd rather just use my phone to type.

Yes, FR255 or FR255s it is. Mid-Low price, great battery, many functions, no fancy bright display, optimized for runners.

Yes, FR255 or FR255s it is. Mid-Low price, great battery, many functions, no fancy bright display, optimized for runners.

FR 255

Then 165 is for you. One factor is the new bright, shiny display, while 255 has more of a functional display.

I got the Garmin Forerunner 255 as my first improvement from my phone. It is a really solid change that also gives many stats from HR (although not as accurrate). I think the forerunner line is a really good start and will get you all you need for road running (and more), as its multiband gps gets closer than any other to the higher end tracking devices.

I’ve had multiple garmin watches that did a fine job in swim tracking. It used to be just the higher end watches that had that, but now you can get the lower end (something like forerunner 255) and that will do a great job too. However if you want something with training programs, the Form Goggles are great. I’ve been using them for a couple of years and they’ve been really great. And the number of workouts that you can choose from is excellent. All stokes, wide range of distances/duration. And having a display in your goggle to tell you things like stroke rate, lap speed, time elapsed, number of laps, rest time and your next set in your training is has been really useful. You can even get a compas when swimming outdoors to keep course.

For weights none of them are great, you should not spend more money expecting better results. If you think you might get a little more serious about running in the future, get the FR165 (or even the 255/265 if you find a good deal). If not, Vivoactive is a good choice.

Garmin is better for health and fitness tracking. Samsung is better for smart functions.

Or 255 and no reason to upgrade in years

I use a Garmin 255 and Garmin Connect. That gives all the information I need. It has sleep score, body battery, hrv status, and more.

Garmin watch linked to Strava. I also had a good experience using Fitbit linked to Strava with a Pixel Watch 2, but I've found that Garmin just offers more data and more customisation to show the stats and metrics I care about the most. I have a Garmin Forerunner 255. It felt a bit weird and maybe 'backwards' going from a touchscreen Pixel Watch to a buttons-only Garmin Forerunner, but I actually prefer it now that I've learned how to use it. Fitbit would only show my average pace. I can make Garmin show whatever I want, in whichever format I like. The GPS tracking is a bit more accurate, the battery life is a lot better, and there are so many more stats to look at to make sense of my runs and fitness in general.

Same. It works great for swimming and cycling for me.

Guess it depends. I went from the fr255 to a fenix 7 pro and the difference was night and day. During certain workouts the fr255 just wasn’t accurate and when I now compare the elevate 5 to my chest strap they’re pretty damn close

Most of them are decent at hr without a strap but you’d want something with the elevate v5 sensor for the best data and unfortunately that’s fenix only. The 255 or 955 would be the best bet here but the 255 doesn’t have maps. Also the 965 is great if you want oled instead of MIP

I'd look at the FR 255 and 255s. The 255 is larger and has battery life comparable to the pace 3. The 255s is more in your size range but has a correspondingly worse battery life, although certainly enough for regular 5k‘s. I've heard a lot of people say they like the Coros app more than the Garmin app. One thing Garmin has is better music, Garmin pay, and an App Store. Other than that they're very similar, and the same price on Amazon in the US.

I can’t tell the any difference between my heart rate from the 255 alone versus with a chest strap heart monitor.

FYI: the FR255, compared to the FR955, 265, 965 less training metrics, missing Training Readiness. FR255/955 Mips display versus Amoled others.

If you're strapped for cash, go for the 255 (with the only major differences between it and the 265 being the AMOLED+touchscreen display - which not everyone prefers - and the Training Readiness metric). But if you're needing full mapping, then probably the 955 will be best. Also, the 975+275 will likely be here in Q2, so that might help push prices down, though it sounds like your Apple watch is needing a replacement pronto.

No watch is good at calories burned. Garmins are good at running but read the reviews regarding strength training. Training readiness is based on really questionable science. The sleep tracking is a shitshow - check DC Rainmaker's comparison with an actual sleep study, and numerous threads here. What were you hoping to spend? Lately I think the 255 is probably the best value for someone who runs. I can kind of see where the right watch would be an improvement over the traditional notebook, golf pencil, and maybe Timex for strength training, but I'm not sure if Garmin or anyone has implemented that.

Forerunner. 255 or fancier. It's worth mentioning that lifting weights quantifies pretty badly. I'm not sold you'll get useful data. The sleep functions on smart watches are also mostly for your entertainment only, and turn off training readiness if you want it to do daily suggested workouts and training plans that function in a robust and predictable way. The 900-series models can show you a map, which is pretty cool if you're experimenting with routes in an area you don't have memorized. You can build routes for any of them and following a disembodied route without a map isn't as bad as I expected, but not great either. Mostly GPS is used to record so you can see where you ran and get good pace, distance, and elevation data without having to run on measured tracks.

I just recently got the FR255 - and aside from basic smartwatch functions, what I expected to use is just what you said. I've already found I'm using more of it's features than those though !

You can get a Garmin Edge 530 for around that - few models old, but same as I use. Or if you prefer a watch (might want heart rate data?), then Garmin Forerunner 55/255/165. Let me know if you need more info on them, know the watch range pretty well these days.

FR255 is great for this. I use a Walking activity without GPS turned on. Based on the step count, I adjust the distance approximately.

Garmin Forerunner 255 does the job (open water and pool swim) and supports a lot of other activities as well.

Garmin Forerunner 255 is great for this! fairly expensive I suppose but not bank-breaking like some of the others

Forerunner 255 is a much better sports watch

I have the Garmin 255 and I absolutely adore it. I use it for running, swimming, walking, hiking, yoga, and strength training. I upgraded from the 245 and gave that one to a friend because I wanted the altimeter for hikes. I agree with others about finding used.. I got mine on a heavy sale a while ago and that’s the only reason why I upgraded.

There are a lot of good condition Garmins on Ebay. I just got a new Forerunner 255s for running and swimming there, works great.

Best option in my opinion. Best bang for your buck, I’ve talked numerous people into buying a 255 FR now and they’re all delighted with it.

Agree... If you just want to track workouts get a cheap previous gen model e.gfr255. 965 would be overkill

Also this one but it only comes in MIP display right? Might feel like a step down from an Apple Watch

I have a Garmin FR745, it's an older model. If I had to get one now I would go for Garmin FR255s or 265. I'm used to the Garmin biotope, and when mine dies I'll probably stay with Garmin. Most recent Garmin that do open water swim have similar features as far as swimming is concerned, if I'm not mistaken. I do find that HR monitoring is more accurate with the swim chest strap though, maybe more recent models are more accurate for HR monitoring while swimming but I haven't really found specific tests about that.. 

I literally just switched from the Vivoactive 5 to the Forerunner 255 and the FR255 feels so much better for running. You really don't lose anything switching to the FR255, outside of the amoled screen. You're getting more features, identical functionality, better battery and way more running data from the FR255.

This depends on how you want to track your sessions. Some people prefer to start "strength training" when enter a gym and stop it at the end. I use my watch to follow my program like described here: [https://gelberhut.com/strength-training-with-a-garmin-in-a-gym/](https://gelberhut.com/strength-training-with-a-garmin-in-a-gym/) If you want to do the same - a watch which allows to adjust weight/rep number using the touch screen is handy. I know that venu3 and F8 support this, not sure about other models. PS: Not that long ago, Garmin released strength coach (https://gelberhut.com/garmin-strength-coach-what-is-it-and-what-can-it-do/), if you want it: check one of Garmin Venu 3, Garmin Fenix 8, Garmin Vivoactive 5, Forerunner 255, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 955, Forerunner 965.

I'd buy one the cheapest one with Daily Suggested Workouts. I think FR255 and FR265 have them. It gets me out and tells me what to do. Unlike the Apple watch which needs you to pay monthly subscription forever to get something close to that. I got a 265 for my father and I don't need to buy any subscriptions.

Op if your heart is set on garmin - please skip the 165. Go for 255 or if you want the fancier screen 265.

Forerunner 255 or 265

FR255

I pointed them out as I have the 255 as well! Great toy

I picked the 255 over the 955. Twice in the last year I wished I had maps. Battery life hasn’t been an issue and I’m not a fan of touch screens. I wish the hr tracking was better and that’s about it but all these use the same elevate hr module. Apart from my consumerist urges i can’t see any reason to upgrade the 255. For me 255 is the perfect Ironman triathlon watch.

If you can swim one lap without a break in one style or a pause in it, it will count correctly. If you bump into someone mid lap and it makes you stop or brake the rhythm of your armstroke it will count it as two laps. Otherwise it's very correct and never had an issue. F255, F165, F265s Edit: omg I can't write. Sorry for my past and future mistakes lol

I've got a bit fed up with my Garmin Forerunner 255, which was really struggling with some of my mapping so I've ordered a Suunto Race S after a lot of research. There didn't seem much between that and the Coros Pace Pro (used by Kylian Jornet on his training) but the Suunto is hardier. I'm a bit concerned about the future of Garmin to commit.

My wife just got the 265 mainly for the enhanced health info on sleep, stress, and body battery. She had a Garmin Lily which I thought was terrible. She lives the 265. Very accurate and responsive. I have a 255 which is very similar that I love. I will have to agree that the music function on the watch could be a lot easier, but it is still useful if you want to go without your phone. The ~15 day battery is great. I hate the thoughts of charging daily on an apple.

Forerunner 255.

Garmin 255 used for sure. Can pick one up on Facebook marketplace pretty reasonable

I run everyday and have been very happy with the Forerunner 255, bought it Nov 2022 for $370 (eek). It has worked out great. The GPS tracking for runs has been solid. I don't need any more fancier features, so once this watch bites the dust, I'll upgrade to whatever is the latest model. Hoping this watch lasts a bit longer.

My forerunner 255 does HR zones automatically, pairs to pm5 to broadcast heartrate, detects SPM with =<1 accuracy using accelerometer, and has GPS pacing. Indoor and OTW rowing are listed as separate activities on the watch so no automatic erg rowing detection. That caveat doesn't really matter as the concept 2 logbook can link to your garmin connect app and automatically pushes logged indoor activities over to it. That being said, I am forced to use the logbook because pm5 refuses to broadcast all metrics to my watch, (SPM and time but no watts/pace, very frustrating)

Everybody’s motivation level varies so much. For me the Garmin is to collect, analyze data so I can run faster during the races. 255 is an excellent runners watch that can grow with you all the way to marathons. But if you want it just for occasional training and are more into smartwatch like features, Apple does an excellent job there. With Garmin, you get excellent battery life, great support for running and other sports but not much else. I ran with a Garmin and Apple Ultra at the same time so I don’t have to carry the phone. Good luck in your decision

The Garmin Forerunner 255 works great for: Surfr (live jump height), Woo, running, swiming and biking. It’s not heavy at all and the screen has a decent size. Battery life about a week when doing gps activity’s. You can pick one up for about €200 second hand. I think Surfr did a comparison between this watch and de Apple Ultra and all jumps were in the same range.

I think I have done about 60 kite sessions at sea with my current second hand 255. The watch literally has never let me down.

I'm not sure of anything in the $150 range, but it looks like the Garmin Forerunner 55 (I have the 255s and love it) is [on sale for $180](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/garmin-forerunner-55-gps-smartwatch-42mm-fiber-reinforced-polymer-black/6466525.p?skuId=6466525&extStoreId=1104&utm_source=feed&ref=212&loc=20217063318&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwILbgbWbhwMVXJaDBx1g8QtSEAQYAyABEgJuy_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds).

Screen: 255 has color vs instinct bw Battery: instinct 28days vs 255 14 days GPS: slight edge to 255 Training readiness: instinct has it, 255 doesn’t. I wouldn’t base a purchase on this, though. Waterproof: instinct 10ATM, 255 5ATM Durability: instinct is gonna be significantly more durable if you’re beating it up Nap detection: 255 has, instinct doesn’t Outside of these it’s mostly aesthetics. I like the minimal black and white approach of the instinct with maximum battery but the 255 is also a great watch.

Really depends on your budget but I can suggest the one I have, the forerunner 255. Was thinking about getting the swim 2 but I think the forerunner has all the features the swim has but also many more for about 50$ extra. Plus it got me into running because there are many many features for running.

FR265 / FR255 But personally I find the HIIT, cardio and strength activity tracking underwhelming with Garmin.

I have both watches now and am testing them both out. I have found the heart rate tracking is the same on both on my treadmill today. Sleep stages a very close and sleep timing are both the same. Galaxy watch does stress tracking during the day but not at night like Garmin does. It's unfortunate because that is how I tell if what I ate, drank or late exercise affects my sleep. I don't need to answer the phone or messages on my wrist so I don't care much about that. The energy score does not change all day on the Galaxy but does on Garmin body battery which is nice. The sleep apnea function only uses 2 nights and the shuts itself off. It does not monitor every night. I didn't know this when I purchased the watch. I'm gonna try an outdoor walk and a strength training session this evening. The Garmin app is stronger in that you can get better coaching plans, find an event and have the watch suggest training for it as the event draws near. There are also suggested running plans each day based on your metrics.

I have a FR255 and I don't run at all. It's great for most sports, sleep tracking, fitness and recovery. It's crap at weights, auto rep count no longer works but I track my lifts elsewhere.

The 255 supports multisport (Tri) and would probably be a better option than the 55, also the newer instinct would be a good option if you like the Gshock look.

I've forerunner 255 and it is excellent. You can create customized workouts and track that way or just start the activity and track under a single set. But yes, it is great for tracking timing, heart rate, training effect, nutrition and hydration, workout details (in case of multiple sets) body battery and charts.

I have a Garmin 255 and was hoping to get a Garmin 97X when it was released but it's just too much money and pair that with their subscription being pushed I am now waiting to see if Coros announces the Apex 3 in June... Edit: the 255 has been great for running and trail running

You'll only truly understand after trying onw for a couple weeks. I recommend the 255 or 265

Well, it is not necessary, but definitely it helps. I’d recommend you to buy at least some basic Garmin Forerunner - it doesn’t cost much, has a decent battery life and is light. Regarding AW, for marathon, you should buy ultra, which is a lot of money. Whoops is more an add-on than running tracker. It’s not very comfortable to run with a phone and the watch shows live metrics, which is very useful. So yes, you should.

There should be, but it isn’t. I have 255 and it’s great, capable, light watch, but it has weak display and no touch, changing straps is a hassle. So I waited long for 975, but I’ll go the Fenix way very, very soon :) Maps are definitely better on the 965 than on 255, navigation there is really rather basic.

whatever you do dont get the Forerunner 255, the MiP screen ruins it, I bought it and returned it for an apple watch Ultra all within 48 hours. I don't think I have ever had a worse product experience in my life. It was the first thing I returned since 2011 when my copy of Fifa on Xbox 360 was defective. If you get any garmin just ensure its the amoled screen because for $350 in 2024 there is no justification for a calculator screen.

I have a 255 now as well. I used to have a fancier one but the novelty wears off pretty quickly. All I really wanted was GPS, distance, timer, and heart rate. I don't use the more 'advanced' features. I'm probably in the minority but I also prefer the old-school MIP screen to AMOLED. And it seems to be on sale onAmazon (in the US anyways) [https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/675B188D-FBE3-4FF4-9DD0-E48E4A2C888D/search?ingress=2&visitId=5f3bd459-5638-48ab-8f4b-a1d936161cd3&ref\_=ast\_bln&terms=255](https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/675B188D-FBE3-4FF4-9DD0-E48E4A2C888D/search?ingress=2&visitId=5f3bd459-5638-48ab-8f4b-a1d936161cd3&ref_=ast_bln&terms=255)

Garmin Forerunner 255 is available at that price point if you look. It's a good watch, will easily do everything that's needed. 

Garmin Fēnix looks sharpish but costs $$$($?). But you can buy a midrange watch like a Forerunner 255/265 and wear a different watch when dressing up, or just leave it off altogether. Not having all your data for a few hours will be fine. 

I have the fr255, it should have much the same performance as the 165. Lap detection is generally pretty good especially with a good push off the wall. It basically adds extra lengths only if I'm oblivious and suddenly realise I'm behind someone and about to swim into them so decelerate suddenly; if I'm as aware as I should be and swim around them out even just slow down gracefully the watch handles that fine.  It identifies my front crawl as front crawl and by breaststroke as breaststroke, that's all I do.  No idea how any of this compares to the Fenix 5 though. 

> How has your experience with the Forerunner 255 been so far? Have you used it just for swimming, or for other sports as well? I've been very happy with it! I use it for swim/bike/run as well as miscellaneous stuff. 

255/265 are the lowest model with a full triathlon mode. I'd say the 965 doesn't have anything with the extra money if money's tight

Forerunner 255 does everything I need it to do for it to be my only device. That said I do have a heart rate strap and cycling head unit (Wahoo Roam). 

No complaints. Never had trouble with visibility and the battery life is great. 

Ehh, you pay a lot of money for extra features on the higher-end models that realistically just don't matter. My FR255 does everything I need it to. 

Garmin FR255, Wahoo Roam v2, spider power meter (Magene P505), intervals.icu The tech is nice but all you really need is a phone. Don't even need a source of heart rate, rpe is sufficient (and for best results on race day understanding your rpe is importantly so get started now).  If I had to start over, I'd get in order: 1. watch: sufficient for heart rate[1], sufficient to record power 2. power meter 3. bike computer[2] [1] this is contentious, but IME it's good enough. Out riding/running I don't need my exact heart rate because I'm going by feel, and back home I don't need my exact heart rate because I'm looking for trends: did I plateau my HR during intervals or was it still rising at the end? My current watch actually tracks against my chest strap very well but my previous watch didn't so much and I still got good data out of it. Plus it's really nice being able to go out with just the watch and not feel like I'm missing anything.  [2] for riding for fun I'd get this first because navigation 

Calories burned won't be accurate no matter what the watch. That said I've been happy with how my Garmin Forerunner 255 counts laps, it's currently on sale for $230

Garmin! A 255 is enough, but feel free to treat yourself to more watch.

How do you use your watch during workouts? Do you turn it on at the start and then turn it off at the end, not touching it in between, or do you interact with the watch throughout? Do you like the touch AMOLED or the non-touch MIP screen more? The Forerunner 255 has multi-band GPS whereas vivoactive 5 does not - it has multi-GNSS (but not multi-band). If you plan to run or cycle in urban areas with lots of tall buildings you will get better accuracy out of the 255. In addition, depending on how you use your watch, physical buttons are far superior to touch or swipe gestures during workouts (think sweaty hands or gloves during the cold season). Pressing physical buttons can be done without even looking at the watch, whereas touch gestures require a high degree of dexterity. The big difference is the screen, GPS accuracy, and buttons vs touch. Sleep tracking, heart rate, HRV metrics will be the same because it's the same sensor that is used in both models. The Forerunner does not have as vibrant and beautiful of a screen as the Vivoactive, but as a result has a much longer battery life.

Breadcrumb navigation isn’t awesome on it from my experience if that’s something you plan to use. The display area of the screen is just too small. If you care about that and want to get a Garmin at a similar price point, the Forerunner 255 is a good option.

255, unbeatable bang for buck imho

Garmin forerunner 255 but it’s really bad for swimming. Paces are all over the place, misses laps and often tells me I’ve burnt 6500+ kcals in 20minutes. I’ve heard some reports of similar issues but equally it also seems to work well for plenty of people so potentially a bit hit and miss.

I’d also recommend going for a Forerunner. Forerunners are built for running and can be used for swimming. An Instinct 2 lacks for example Garmin Run Coach, which the Forerunners have.

IMHO Apple does fitness tracking better than Garmin. Esp. sleep tracking is more accurate, plus you get ECG on most Apple Watches. In the US, blood oxygen tracking is currently disabled for new Apple Watches. Btw. I am wearing both, Garmin and Apple (I like redundancy for marathons, plus my Apple Watch has LTE, while my Forerunner does not)

255 is great if you can do without maps (at least it can show a track that you upload to it). 955 has full blown maps. Do you dislike straps in general, or just chest straps? Because Polar has really good arm straps. Like the Polar Verity Sense.

For me, Garmin watches were one of the best investments in my life. I was never a sporty person, but with age, having regular activities becomes a pleasure and necessity. I started running more than fifteen years ago, and an old Forerunner 305 (not even a "smart" watch) was a better companion than a smartphone. Then I switched to Forerunner 235, a good watch that just worked and didn't require charging more often than once every few weeks. Five years ago, I bought an Apple Watch, and I was negatively surprised how it sucks for running and fitness tracking in general - a one-hour run drains half of a day's battery, sleep tracking doesn't work automagically - you need to have a sleep schedule, and if you fall asleep during the day, the watch doesn't catch it. Also, I had to charge this watch daily. In general, maybe it's stupid to stop running because of the watch, but I stopped because there were too many inconveniences with the Apple Watch to continue. As for the smartness, the Apple Watch was not as smart as I expected—yes, it had good integration with the iPhone and Mac and some nice features, but even these integrations have gotten worse over the last few years. So when this year, the battery of my Apple Watch finally died, it became the best event for my health in many years because I bought a Forerunner 255 (which is 5x cheaper than the Apple Watch, BTW) and started to run again. The results since April: VO2 max—from 41 to 45, lactate threshold—from 6:23min/km to 5:40min/km, and overall better quality of life.

Garmin Forerunner 255s. The s was a slightly smaller version, but I think it’s been discontinued. The newer version Forerunner is a similar size, I believe. There are fancier versions of the Forerunner, but the features weren’t necessary for me.

I upgraded from a Fitbit to Garmin Forerunner 255, and I can't say enough good things about it.

For me it helps a lot to have insight into your performance and your progress. It also really motivates me to continue running because every run generates more data and your insight gets better and better. But whether it also motivates you is of course impossible for us to estimate. I started with an FR55 and because of all the insights I switched to the FR255 and then a Fenix ​​7 Pro. I can guarantee you that the FR255 is a very good watch that you will absolutely not regret.

Garmin doesn't have affordable watches. FR255 is the cheapest (it has HRV tracking). But then again, you can't track weight lifting in a sane mode with a smart watch. Why? Because what matters? Duration? Not so much. Heart rate? Not at all (weight lifting is pure anaerob), meaningless to track. Sets and repetitions? It's a hit and miss and you end up editing on the watch A LOT.

Pick up a fr255 when they go on sale. That’s more than you need and can be had at a reasonable price

Was there any reason you were drawn to the 9 series watches? You mentioned not overspending and the things you seem to be looking for would be easily covered by the Forerunner 255 which is considerably cheaper. I was recently torn between the 255 and 265 but decided the amoled screen wasn’t worth the cost difference for my use case

I have a garmin forerunner 255, it’s made for running yes but it works for rowing, battery lasts forever, and I love it

I prefer it much more compared to the new oled Garmins. Great battery life, fully visible in the sun, and not as hard on your eyes. I’ve got enough time in front of the LED/OLED screens on my day to day basis.

To each their own. I’ve run for 38 years, about 7k runs and 44k miles. There was one time when I needed a ride because I stupidly twisted my ankle getting too close to a sewer drain. Other than that I’ve always made it home or wherever it was I started. I don’t ever carry a phone. It’s too heavy and I would probably drop it. I have had several polar watches but I like Garmin better. More intuitive and easier to learn. I currently use a 255 and it is a good runners watch.

I like the 255. It is primarily a running/cycling device and I spend a lot of time doing indoor rowing, especially when the summer comes around. Garmin isn't great about developing metrics for these other activities even if they are just a different level of endurance training. I live near a military base and their GPS can't stand up to that so having multi-band hasn't helped much in terms of course accuracy. It's not a huge difference but most of my courses are about 2% longer than the Garmin show which impacts pace. Not a big deal but if you are a stickler for accuracy it's at least something to consider.

The 255 is better than the 265 anyway, for the price. Definitely worth it as a motivational and training tool

I found my Garmin helped me start running. Not sure about other activities. Decent battery life, good 'plans', accurate GPS, app has a good amount of data to look through. Ultimately, it is up to you to do the thing. A $1500 or a $200 watch will get you moving, you have to do it. Set a goal and research how to get to that goal. Your phone most likely has decent fitness tracker, can you use that? Fitbit works, Apple Watch works, writing down on a piece of paper works.

Forerunner 255. Has done the job for me but I am primarily running.

Not a Venu if you are serious about running. There are running metrics the FRs have that the Venus don't But not wearing modern training watches 24/7 will not get you training related data, only single activity related data. So a 255 would be the most expensive I'd recommend.

Try to see the 265Music more precise on the GPS with multi band, Before I had an AW series 9 and I really don't regret switching to Garmin I have the 255 MIP screen but it really doesn't bother me at all AW you recharge it 24/7 you're always distracted by notifications plus the touchscreen I find it not optimized for running And really what is data is a watch so it should be taken with a pinch of salt all the same.

Those models are so expensive. The middle of the road FR255 has all of those functions and swim workouts. Had it 2 years now, swim and shower with it on. Not drowned yet. I'm not sure your watch drowned. Did you try Garmin support? Can you send it it for repair?

I have had both watches. The forerunner main extra features are training status, training suggestions, race predictor (helpful to see your progress). It also gives you feedback on what to work on ie low aerobic and high aerobic. The Vivo is basically a lifestyle watch. You will forget about the touchscreen about 30mins after you put your forerunner on.

Oh yes the battery. Huge difference

I have the 255 which was excellent for marathon training.

I have and use a coros pace3 and a Garmin forerunner 255. The coros has great post activity stats and data. The Garmin has the daily suggested workout and the better coaching options. As for battery life coros is highly configurable so if you turn it to minimal satellite updates and turn off the features you don't use it will last for ages. If you turn on dual band satellite GPS and drop the HR refresh rate then it will use more battery. With my setup I get about a week out of my pace 3 and 10 days from the Garmin.

I had Huawei band 4 pro ( Almost the same as your MI ) not bad used it for 2 years .... Now I have forerunner 255. My wife got that Huawei band from me after I switched and now she has 255 too :)... Neither of us are looking back. But it's just a watch you must still run by yourself regardless of brand :D

The 2x5 line is much better for running than the 165, so I wouldn't recommend the 165. I find that Garmin watch are pretty bad at handling audio content (music, but especially podcasts and audiobooks). Coming from running only my Apple Watch, I switched to running with my 255 and my phone. So personally, I wouldn't recommend getting the music version. As for the 955, it does have maps and little more over the 255/265. It really comes down to how much you like to run in new places where maps are needed (and even then, the breadcrumbs map on the 255 can be handy).

I have it too and it’s a mess for me as well. I thought about a swim2 but do I really need 2 watches.

As someone who just rotates the same 4-5 locations for runs, I have exactly zero need for maps. 255 for the win

if you need maps buy 965, if not go for 265. If you even do not need OLED go 255. If you need battery go for the one with more battery capability. Don’t get fooled by fancy metrics you’ll never use. I have a 955. Very happy with it. I was happy also with my 245 without mapping and using the preloaded tracks. Only reason I upgraded was screen size e possibility to have 5 fields on the screen. Other than that it was perfect, and I still miss how it was disappearing on my wrist in terms of weight, bulkiness and band size. Consider used to try it out or go to a local shop to play with it and see how it feels at your wrist. Also consider a nylon band (ultrafit by garmin or a similar amazon one) since it is mor stretchy, secures better, breaths better then silicon.

if you need oled no maps go 265. If you need no oled no maps 255. If you need maps and oled 965, if you need maps no oled 955. Must say I was also happy with my 245 using preloaded tracks to follow (you just do not have tha background image only a track. I switche to 955 because I needed more fields on my screen (fr245 had only 4) and I do trail running. I am happy with my 955 but I dont really am a fun of maps, I still use my phone for that. I could have been ok with the slicker and lighter 255. I still miss how the 245was disappearing on my wrist in terms of weight, bulkiness and band size. Consider to buy used to try it out or go to a local shop to play with it and see how it feels at your wrist. Also consider a nylon band (ultrafit by garmin or a similar amazon one) since it is more stretchy, secures better, breaths better then silicon. Trust me, you dont need touch screen on a sport watch. Garmin one is also bad in my experience. Also dont get fooled by fancy metrics you will never use.

For the record the 265 also has chronic and acute load since I see them on my 255.

Another vote for the FR255. Take the money you save instead of buying a 9xx or a 265 and buy a HRM dual and/or another pair of running shoes.

I have a Garmin 735 XT and a Garmin 255. They are good. Of course there are other more advanced models now (935 Xt for example). However, I mentioned the two that I know.

Forerunner 255, 165 or 265. Not Venu 3, it lacks in data pages (you can only see 1 for swimming) and there is not drill mode.

Forerunner 255 or 265 if you prefer AMOLED screens Most bang for your buck

Same story for me, mostly lifting but recently increased my running so I switched from an Apple Watch to a FR255. I was worried about missing a touchscreen too, but that hasn’t bothered me one bit since I got it. The FR255 is a great watch with everything you need to track your runs. And the battery lasts well over a week.

Can confirm. Have FR255 and works great for both

I have fr255 and can confirm

I use a garmin forerunner 255, in your price range, the battery lasts forever it seems. It's extremely accurate in that all the races I've run it agrees with the distance set on the race minus my obvious weaving going around people etc. I have no complaints and would purchase again

Couldn’t agree more, jumpin’ from FR55 to FR255 was a huge step up

I lift and run and I got Forerunner 255. Good value, has everything you want and more.

Yes, gives me good enough idea about my sleep.

Forerunner 255s or 265s etc. S for small.

I'd take advantage of a sale on the Epix 2 or Fenix 7. Garmin's last, and think of it more as an investment and not a purchase. I'm not sure what your long-term fitness goals are, but a Forerunner or Fenix/Epix model will be able to cover anything you throw at them long-term. The biggest thing I've been telling my friends is, if you ever have dreams of doing a triathlon, get a Forerunner 255/265 and above since that's when the multi-sport/triathlon mode starts.

Garmin - They have a lot of watches at different price points. There is built-in GPS and the battery lasts for several days, unlike a smart watch that you typically need to charge every night. The Garmin app easily syncs with other fitness apps, if that's important to you. If you have a smaller wrist, go for the "S" models that will look and fit better.

Ive had a few Fenix versions, they are great/ top of the range. Last few years ive been using forerunners which have all the functionality - 9xx series is great, or 2xx for something easier on the pocket. My activities include trail running, hiking, triathlons (and running/swimming/riding only), golf/disc golf. Navigation and battery are good, and glass is strong. Lifestyle is great for sleep, general hr tracking, step counts, tap to pay. The 955 i have also has great multimedia (music). Cant go wrong with a forerunner (solar if you are doing ultra's or multiday). Fenix is a nice splurge

I use Garmin forerunner watch, sync Strava with Garmin Connect and sync Komoot with Strava. It works like a charm.

I have a Garmin Edge bike computer and chest based heart rate because I like to see my speed on the handlebars rather than having to look at my watch. It also navigates for me on more adventurous rides and race courses I'm unfamiliar with. For local social rides I just track on my Garmin Forerunner watch.

Runs are the same concept as rides. Personally, I use purpose-built devices to record: Garmin Edge bike computer, Garmin Forerunner watch (they also both do navigation, connect to heart rate sensors, watch does music, etc.). When I stop an activity and hit save, it's uploaded to Strava before I can even get the garage door open. I don't want to carry my phone on a run, and I don't want to run down the battery on all-day rides.

I actually prefer my old Vivoactive to the Forerunner. I'm a slow jogger, and this Forerunner is demotivating because it tells me how much I suck.

I’ve had and loved garmin forerunners and a coros pace. Slight preference for coros over garmin for battery life. Slight preference for garmin for multi-app interoperability.  I’m actually planning to buy an Apple Watch because it’s fine as a fitness tracker and has better health tracking capabilities on top of the fitness stuff. 

I was doing gym work exclusively, got a Forerunner. Somehow ended up a runner .. you’ve been warned lol The daily suggestions of going for a run brainwashed me I think! But there are worse things to happen in life

Mine’s always been quite low, I have asthma, asthmatic Garmin users seem to say just ignore it Just in case it doesn’t improve and you feel dejected like I did, have a read online, plenty of stuff like this https://uphillathlete.com/aerobic-training/max-vo2-myth/ it probably doesn’t mean as much as the faith we place in it! But good luck in your training!

Not having a screen doesn't really seem like much of a selling point. It's nice to have the watch function and access to other data bits on the screen. I have an older Garmin Forerunner that I've used for about 8 years.

Garmin Forerunners are a great fitness watch.

Garmin Forerunner does a great job. I like the Apple Watch, but the battery life kills me. With my Garmin, I can use it to track swims, runs, and bike ride and I still only need to charge it once a week.

I had a Vivoactive for years that died and I switch to a forerunner a few weeks ago. I am super happy, much better battery, I love the training analysis features it pushes me to work on my cardio as I am more into strength.

My Garmin Forerunner does a decent job tracking lap swimming. It struggles with open water but I do'nt do that very often.

Coros or garmin pace or forerunner, if you like music while running get the garmin, if your more minimalist (smaller screen, simpler interface) get the coros

I turn it off on my garmin forerunner as it drives me mad and once it’s off you never get notifications. Even after system updates and stuff. Easy peasy

As the other comments here say, Forerunner or instinct. It will not give you the equivalent experience to a Samsung watch, as they are sport/activity focused by design. It has all the basic functionality of a smart watch, Bluetooth connection, notification alerts (some just say you have a notification, others will aloow you to read and respond, so do your research). Forerunner is the entry level fitness device, so it may be best for you, and the instinct is a little more 'I just want a watch that's also connected' vibes. The vivosmart is a half step down from the Forerunner, and yes, super basic, will probably be in the category of just letting you know you have a message, but I'm not sure, as I don't have one. Forerunner also has built-in GPS, which vivosmart does not.

I've got a Forerunner that I wear to keep an eye on hearth rate, but that's about it. I generally mark beginning and end, and sometimes when there's a big change in the section of the sequence - from standing/balancing to seated/prone sections. I'll also often hit the pose button if it's been one of those days and I need to tap out to hero/corpse. The problem you're going to find is that the watch would have to sense very specific motion and velocity to figure out when a pose has changed. I can't think of a watch anywhere with that much sensitivity.

I have a Garmin Forerunner, hopefully soon to upgrade to Fenix. Anyway, it has the quickfit watch strap, so I have an orange band on it all the time, and for formal occasions I have the chestnut leather band, takes all of 30s to swap them over 👍🏻

I’d check Facebook Marketplace for a used Garmin Forerunner. They are good watches for running and biking, and they also have good sleep-tracking if you decide to wear it 24/7.

Garmin all the way if you are using android The tracking is really quite good and the features arent exactly advanced for a beginner, it walks you through basically everything Ive seen a few forerunners or vivoactive go on sale for slightly over 200. Abit higher than your budget but imo worth it, it will last you even when you are no longer a beginner

get a low digit garmin Forerunner, they do what you are looking for

I have the forerunner and I haven’t as it’s not rated for that kind of temp. However google searching has people going into the sauna with their Garmin without issue so it’s really a personal risk / reward scenario.

For a long time, I only ran with my phone and used the Map My Run app, and then switched to Strava. I used live tracking on the apps as I ran, but I didn’t have a watch to see how it was going in real time. Both apps have voiceovers that tell you when you hit a mile and your pace.  I ran my first half marathon and had no clue what my heart rate was, which is what made me get a little more serious afterwards. I got a cheap Garmin forerunner to start with, and moved on from there! So you don’t necessarily need anything, but if you get more serious with it, a watch is nice to have! A running belt like Flipbelt or SPI belt is handy to carry your phone.

It depends on your goals. If youre wanting to squeeze the most out of each session then more data will allow you to do that. If youre not that fussed and just happy to be doing some cardio and you can gauge your effort based on feel then that would be fine too. I use a garmin forerunner for HR zones during running and cycling (+ chest strap monitor), and as a stop watch when swimming. I dont bother to monitor anything else as Im not hoping for a podium nor do I change my training depending on any data in particular. Edit; It should also be noted that its only worth tracking data if you actually know what to do with the information

Dammit I loved my Forerunner, I pool swam, ran, trail ran, hiked, OWS, you name it, and the watch is awesome. It holds music so I can run with just the watch. Tracking was great. The numbers were big enough to read I had it for 3 years, and the plastic bracket that holds the wrist strap pin broke. I am using my sons Google watch and I curse every time I have to look at it. I keep thinking I'll get used to it and eventually love it. Nope I hate it every day. So now I run with 2 fitness trackers, the Garmin without a strap, in my pocket and my every day Google watch on my wrist. Buy the Garmin

Forerunners are much lighter weight and therefore much more comfortable to wear.

I have a Garmin forerunner and it’s great for fitness tracking and everything else, I wear it all day every day. It will give you yardages to front middle and back, and it’s pretty accurate. I mainly use my range finder though so I don’t often use the watch for golf. I was thinking about making the switch to a more golf forward version and the epix pro is the top of my list. It has unbelievable golf functionality but is also a great fitness watch. The only better “golf feature” garmin is the S62 or similar, but they aren’t as convenient for fitness tracking IMO. Garmin kicks ass though, I highly recommend it. The site DC rainmaker is a good resource, that dude has reviews on every damn garmin product I think

Garmin forerunner for sure. I got myself a Garmin venu 3 and it’s good but there’s a few features the forerunners have that I miss. I use that combined with Strava for community, Garmin connect app for stats, and Runna app for training plans. They all connect together. Runna automatically sends runs to my watch, then the watch sends the stats back to all three apps when I’m done 👍 Edit: it also all sends the data to my Apple health and my Lifesum dieting app which updates my daily calorie intake based on activity level

I use my Garmin forerunner Yes it's fine with chalk, though the buttons used to go smoother Yes it gets scratched but hey, so do I

Apple Watch will do fine for a long time - only got a Garmin last year. However once you go to only having to charge your watch once every two weeks you just can’t go back to Apple. I have a Garmin Fenix (on the $$$ side) but I wear it every day as my normal watch too and have had zero issues making the switch. However there’s heaps in the range, I love accuracy, maps, long battery and lots and lots of data so I can overthink every run - so Fenix it is! The forerunners are great and the vivoactives are a good mid range model. There’s other brands like Suunto, Polar etc. For true accuracy on any wrist watch you may need a chest monitor. But if you really like your Apple Watch I found it pretty good unless you’re somewhere with not much reception

You can’t respond to notifications with it. I have the S and I’m in love with it!

The Vivoactive 4s or the forerunner are my favorite intro garmins. That being said, the Venu 3 is probably the best intro at the moment since it has more accurate sensors (I just prefer the transflective displays as opposed to the amoled displays) The main reason I got a Garmin was due to the metrics at the start of covid. That being said, now I often use it to track metrics when walking the dogs, or as a way to see the watch readings if I’m feeling off. As an example, when I got covid I was able to use the readings to check my recovery metrics, which was nice.

I use Garmin Forerunner. But I am not interested in smart watch stuff, and only fitness (though you can still pick calls, change music), so it works for me and it lasts for weeks. However, if you want something more straightforward it also probably isn't for you. It has tons of data and some of it is hard to read unless you go out of your way to learn what it is.

If you want to get healthy and get phone notifications and *maybe* do music or something, get a Garmin. Instinct 2 (gives music controls but requires a phone for the music itself) or a used Forerunner (I believe they're done of the cheapest models that do on-board music, Spotify, etc.) or what have you. If you want to do smartphone stuff on your wrist and *maybe* get healthy, go Samsung.

Get a garmin forerunner best investment I’ve ever made

I have all phone notifications disabled on my Forerunner and on my Garmin Edge. So it works just as you expected - it records my activities and syncs them to Garmin Connect / Strava afterwards.

To add to everyone else’s comments - mines have lasted very well. My first Forerunner works after a decade, I just replaced it with a Fenix a few years back. After four years it’s never had any issues. Yes they aren’t the cheapest but it is worth the investment.

My wife has the vivoactive 5. She recently started running and finds it rather basic compared to the running metrics and functionalities I get from my forerunner. The things she would like to have the most, that are not on the Vivoactive, are Daily Suggested Workout and breadcrumb trails.

I have a Whoop band that I really like for tracking activities. It’s not a watch - doesn’t have a face to it at all - but I think it does a good job tracking sleep/activities and horse riding is an option for activity on it. You don’t pay up front for it - it’s a $35/month service fee. So while not a big expense up front, it obviously adds up over time, which is not necessarily for everyone.  I wear a garmin forerunner on my other wrist too. I like that as well, but I have to say I prefer the app and the data provided by the whoop. I basically only use my forerunner for the actual watch face at this point.  Edit: I just checked whoops website and they do offer a $399 up front fee for 2 year membership. 

The forerunner line is geared towards running and triathlon. They are excellent watches. You can get them relatively cheap used.

The forerunner will meet and exceed all your needs except one. What type of integration are you requiring? Basic smart notifications?

used Garmin like Fenix or forerunner, or just used Apple Watch 6 they are like 70-$100

Basically any modern smartwatch will do this. Your axes of choice are ecosystem, battery life, and price. The basic Apple Watch will do what you want, but because you’re using the GPS, the battery will be dead mid-day. I do not recommend any Apple Watch but the Ultra for an athlete or active person because of the awful battery life. If you want something cheaper than the Ultra, I’d look at the Coros Pace and cheaper Garmin Forerunner options. They’ll both cost about half and are really good products with roughly 5-10x battery life vs the basic Apple Watch.

Oh wow I didn’t know the Ultra 2 also had that issue. Honestly after getting a garmin watch, I don’t think I can go back.

Garmin forerunners have hrv, you don't need a special app. But again, sleep tracking isn't great

I use Strava and the Whithings app, paired with one of their smart scales and a few add ons. Apple Health can pull from both, and while I don't care about my daily steps (for example) they automatically pull from my watch (forerunner) into the various apps as well.

Can't go wrong with Garmin imho. I've had a fenix and a couple of forerunners, and they've all worked great.

I have been trying to get going as a runner for a few years but kept getting injured... anyway I've had a Garmin Forerunner for a few years as well and I am happy with it. It's useful as an everyday watch but also has built in training programs. I'm going through one right now for a half marathon in May and it's going well. I did six miles yesterday (the farthest I've ever ran in my life) and I feel great today. It is durable, has great battery life, and for the money is a pretty good bargain imo. I would suggest it to anyone.

Three things to consider that comes to my mind. 1. If you are only looking to track runs(no use for daily health metrics) then you can just wear the running watch during the run, and then put the watch away after you are done. That is what I do with my Garmin Forerunner. I do my run with the watch and then after I come back home the Forerunner gets turned off and put away. 2. Alternative option is to just use your phone's GPS data to track run data. Personally I tried this method, and I wasn't a fan because the phone GPS would struggle to find me sometimes and I'd end up with a weird run distance and times. Non watch style fitness tracking device would likely also have this issue where the GPS function is either non-existent or not as accurate as the watch style running watches. 3. Lastly, I'd just run by time and effort without any tracking if you are just starting out. Time on feet will likely matter more for your progress than accurate distance or speed measures. Set a timer on your phone and run until the timer goes off, then turn around and run back to the starting point. Slowly increase the time on the timer over as you get better. This is more or less what I did when starting out, and I still use this method when going for an easy run.

If you don’t wanna get a dedicated computer like the Garmin edge. Then get a forerunner or fenix.

That's what I did, I had a Forerunner and when it was time to upgrade, went ahead and upgraded to Fenix.

People have to stop comparing these. These are for two different people. I would never wear an Apple Watch based on battery life alone. I specifically got the Garmin for a wrist based gps and mapping tool to track and orient myself. You buy an Apple Watch to use smart features and be connected to your phone. Garmin has never been in that market. It’s a whole company based on gps systems for outdoor activities . You buy an Apple Watch to have Apple ecosystem. you can’t use half the feature of the fenix on an iPhone bc they only want you to use their watch… Garmin are all specifically made for their audience even down the the model . Apple watches are just to keep you plugged into your phone and have no bearing on actual outdoor activities despite calling it ultra. The Millitary has been orienteering with Garmin wrist based gps systems forever. You’d never catch an Apple Watch on patrol in Afghanistan. 😂