Forerunner 255S

Nice choice! The 255 Music is solid and honestly perfect for getting into serious running. I've got the regular 255 (non-music) and it does everything you need - the pace/distance tracking is spot on and battery life is great. 255 euros sounds like a decent price too The 965 is nice but probably overkill if you're just getting started with outdoor running. You can always upgrade later if you get really into it, but the 255 will handle anything you throw at it for a good while

You'll never get 100% accurate heart rate tracking from a wrist based heart rate tracker, but Garmin Forerunners get pretty close. I use the forerunner 255, and it's pretty fantastic. Basically everything that you've asked for, including Dual Band GPS. The only thing is that you basically need a chest strap heart rate monitor for actual accurate heart rate tracking. I've found that wrist based one can be off by as much as 20 BPM.

Do you want a smartwatch with some fitness tracking, or a fitness trakcer with smartwatch features? There is no good watch for tracking lifting. Garmin is probably the best fitness tracker of the bunch, with a couple of smartwatch features. Depending on the model, the battery life typically lasts anywhere from 5-14 days. Apple watch is the best smartwatch out of the bunch. It's also a decent fitness tracker. But the battery life is only going to be about 2-3 days.

Again, there is no watch that will track your lifting well. You will spend more time fiddling with the watch between sets compared to just using a spreadsheet on a phone or something. The metrics that smartwatches best track are cardio-related, unfortunately. Regarding recommendations, I will always recommend the most basic and cheapest Forerunner that you can get. Small, light, has basically everything that a more expensive one will have other than multi-band GPS. But unless you're running or cycling a lot, it's really not a big deal.

Probably 255 or 955 depending on your budget. Still a great battery life for both. Stable and tested software, this cannot be said for newer models, looks like the new OS garmin is testing still needs a few years to iron out.

I'm going into my third year with a 255 having done 3 70.3 and multiple Olympics. Not feeling like I really miss a feature.

If you are ok with non Apple Ecosystem Integration, bugs in every new firmwares, stutters in UI and so slow topomaps, the Garmin Fenix 8 is a good watch. I just couldn't stand the stutters in UI just by browsing glances and the slow rendering of Topomaps that kept me waiting in the middle of my trek, so I sold my Fenix 8 and bought a FR255 for marathon training. With the remaining money, I bought an AWU3. The Bevel app is now free and I bought the Workoutdoors app. Now I'm not expecting much from the FR255 (use it just for training but it excels in its price) and the AWU3 is lightning fast compared with the Fenix 8. The speakers and mic are also wonderful unlike with the Fenix 8. I can navigate using the Workoutdoors app or the Apple maps. If you have the money to spend, stay with the 2. If not, sell the Fenix and buy a cheaper Garmin that will suffice with your training program. Fenix 8 is a beautiful watch but for me it was not worth the price unfortunately. Good luck!

FR 255 is the best value right now. Breadcrumbs navigation, dual band GNSS and MIP always on screen and the lightness are superb. Maps on the Epix/Fenix 8 is unfortunately so slow. FR255 for 150€ was the best deal for me. The FR955 retails for 450€, no way it is 300€ more expensive for the offline music storage and maps. I sold my Fenix 8 (bought AWU3 for smartwatch) and I don't miss the Fenix 8. FR255 has 95% of Fenix 8's functions for my usage as I don't plan to dive.

If you want a good Garmin at that price range, search for refurbished or used Garmins. 3 year old models are the sweet spot. My Forerunner 255 was 150€ (new but returned item) and it's more running watch I could ever need right now. So much metrics and entices me to move and it's so light weight. MIP screen is also good for sports usage. Venu 3 is around 300€.

I considered the 165 (200€) and 265 (380€) also, but MIPS is a lot better for sports. Gesture mode is such a hassle and AOD on Amoled screen burns in and eats a lot of battery life. I tried the Epix Pro Gen 2 and Fenix 8. Forerunner 255 is such a good watch for the price.

FR255 or FR265 and no 165 for marathon training. 255 for MIP always on display but no touch screen. 265 if you’re ok with clumsy wrist gesture screen on (need to wait and not instant) and/or burn in with AOD. 265 is also much more expensive.

I use my AWU3 daily and FR255 for sports tracking. I sold my Fenix 8 because it was buggy, map function is laggy I rather use my phone, and the interface is also laggy almost always. It was frustrating. It really needs an update of processor for the Fenix 9. I will say keep both and only use the Garmin if you run an ultramarathon.

Forerunner 255. I had the Fenix 8 Amoled and the wrist gesture was a hassle and AOD is hard on the battery and of course the fear of burn-in is there. The Maps function in the Fenix 8 was so slow and needed 5-10 seconds to draw in every pan and zoom. So I always bring my phone out always on hikes. The MIP screen is a wonder as it is always on. Better as an every day watch as it is also lightweight. FR255 has 95% of Fenix 8’s functions for me for activity and health tracking.

I would recommend the FR255 as it has triathlon mode in case you‘ll need it. It is a step above FR165 but comes with MIP screen and no touch screen. But you buy the Forerunner for the 5 buttons set up. Touchscreen is only a nice to have.

The problem with Garmin is when you’re not training like on a vacation. It functions only like a laggy watch. AWU is very useful for traveling. I also sold my Fenix 8 for the AWU3 and a FR255 for longer GPS trainings.

I can recommend the 970 if Garmin finally updates the processor of their higher end models. The Maps on the Fenix 8 is so slow to pan and zoom with the current processor. For activity/run tracking, the FR255 or FR265 are already enough for OP.

We have the same experience. I had the Epix Pro Gen 2 then Fenix 8, now the FR255. It is so much lighter (good for sleep tracking), has the better for sport MIP screen and much much cheaper. The metrics for runners are plenty enough. I mostly do runs and the maps on the Fenix 8 is so slow. 10 seconds to pan and zoom. Crazy for its price. Breadcrumbs navigation suffice and I just plan my route with my phone.

Buy a MIP model and keep the AWU2. I have AWU3 (smart and 5G) and FR255 for marathon training. Garmin watch does not have enough smartwatch functions coming from an Apple Watch. It can’t install camera shutter for the built in camera app and no digital car key.

I have my training plan from Fenix 8 and continued it with FR255. Fenix 8 was just lagging all over the UI. I bought it for the maps for trekking. It was unfortunately painfully slow at that so I sold it. AWU3 is much faster and charging is super fast to compensate for its 2 days battery life. Workoutdoor App has also map and is infinitely faster than the Fenix 8.