Garmin - Forerunner 301
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Feb 24, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
29
1
"it has a lot of additional activity features I like (e.g. tracking outdoor swimming, biking , training plans etc)"
"the load tracking and suggested workout feature alone is worth it. ... The battery of data signals you get to tailor and improve your training is worth the switch alone"
"it fully replaced all the recovery metrics I was using whoop for"
17
3
"Oh, and the battery lasts days even when exercising a lot (weeks without excercise)."
"Battery good enough to withstand long run in winter (AW tended to have problems in 30+ km runs in cold, not Garmin) ... Forerunner asks me if to go to power saving mode, when there are "just two days left" :)"
"I get close to a month from my forerunner on standby - about 2 weeks with daily workouts. ... the battery life lasts a really nice length of time ... As a fitness wearable Garmin... destroys Apple on battery life. ... There’s really no sensible person running Tris or Marathons using an Apple Watch. The battery life is too poor to last reliably. If you go to the starting like of a marathon you’re really only going to see actual fitness brands on wrists due to battery life alone."
11
0
"I can't tell the forerunner is on my wrist. ... It took me a while to get used to the heft of the fenix. It it noticeable while running or any activity in which your hands swing."
"if you buy something lighter like venu, forerunner or fenix S version it will not interfere with the game at all."
"Forerunners are much lighter weight and therefore much more comfortable to wear."
5
0
"touch screens on a running watch are really annoying if you sweat a lot"
"Five buttons! AW tended to behave erratically when sweated with long sleeve. Not Garmin. ... Or swimming workouts are accurate thanks to those buttons and drill log mode."
"button operation ... Apple needs really to learn that touch screen operation isn't ideal when you do certain sports."
4
2
"near indestructible"
"I had a forerunner for many years"
"I got a forerunner that lasted a lot (6 years?) ... The watches they make are sturdy"
Disliked most:
2
3
"I had it for 3 years, and the plastic bracket that holds the wrist strap pin broke. ... The part the oin fits into snapped off."
"worry of cracking a plastic watch"
"garmin's QR mounts are prone to breaking and the little metal inserts can fall out when changing straps."
1
5
"the Garmin is far worse from a smartwatch perspective ... my AWU2’s cellular connectivity is above and beyond the thing I care most about on long, remote runs."
"if you have to take your phone anyway, there's a much better device on you for making calls. ... apple watches can have sim cards and place calls *without* having your cellphone on you. that's a real use case -- go for a run, leave the bulky phone at home."
"I missed it's smart capabilities"
1
5
"hated the way it looked"
"My forerunner is ugly and plasticky ... If you’re not into fitness I wouldn’t necessarily recommend people buy a Garmin since they’re ugly and that will be an issue for most"
"I really don't like the look of the forerunners ... I think forerunners look cheap."
1
7
"I tried a Garmin Forerunner but couldn't figure out how to customize it (and I'm pretty tech savvy)."
"the screen is nowhere near as responsive as the AW."
"I missed it's nice and polished apps"
1
2
"I used to find that wrist HR sucked for rowing"
"wrist HR with F8 is also faulty for me like 30% of the times, could be because of a wrist or a strap. But i did not see any with F8 improvement compared to F6 or older forerunners"
Castledangerman 1.0As someone who has used Garmin on and off since the forerunner 301 and who has owned multiple AWs, what data can you get on Garmin that you can’t from Apple Watch + app ecosystem? I currently just switched from a Garmin 965 to an AWU3 (having had the AWU1 previously). I run 50Ks and looking to do a 50 miler next year. Battery life for LONG (14+ hours) events and more physical buttons would be the only reason to use a Garmin IMO.
gorcbor19 0.2I can remember running before GPS running watches came about, but I wore my candybar garmin for years! Wish I wouldn't have given it away, because it was still working great when I decided to downgrade to a smaller/newer model. I usually keep mine until they break or die. I spend enough on shoes every year, I'd hate to have to buy $500 watches more often than I have to. My current Garmin is going on 7 years. Still works great, still wear it as my daily and running watch. Replaced the band a couple of times, but still holds a great charge.
OS2-Warp 0.1Ultra and Cadence.app (you have to pay subscription, of course). But in my opinion, Garmin is better option for cycling and I’ve tried both - Garmin needs no subscription, has offline maps and more and better metrics. And somewhat can export to Apple Health too :)
I switched. 1) no need to subscription (I'd have to pay for at least three apps to just remotely mimic what garmin does out of the box - cadence, bevel or athlytic and fitify) 2) ability to connect and use all my gear (I tend to use Engo Eyewear AND Stryd Duo pod together, which is hardly achievable on AW (I never managed to do it). 3) Garmin just works. No fiddling with apps like AW, just select the activity and go. 4) Five buttons! AW tended to behave erratically when sweated with long sleeve. Not Garmin. Or swimming workouts are accurate thanks to those buttons and drill log mode. 5) Battery good enough to withstand long run in winter (AW tended to have problems in 30+ km runs in cold, not Garmin) Forerunner asks me if to go to power saving mode, when there are "just two days left" :) 6) it is iphone independent. I can freely choose whatever phone I like 7) Garmin connect has bad UI, but the data trove is great. 8) ANT+ - lots of gear uses it 9) maps are in the watch offline, no need for data connection, like AW
Quercia13 0.0i second that. wrist HR with F8 is also faulty for me like 30% of the times, could be because of a wrist or a strap. But i did not see any with F8 improvement compared to F6 or older forerunners
bonmorning 0.0I use a Garmin Forerunner watch, and it displays heart rate while tracking activity. The reading is pretty visible to me even with slightly foggy goggles but ymmv. They have a lot of models with this capability, so maybe you can find one with a bigger screen. The default heart rate screen also has a colored Zone indicator, if that's easier to see & you're not looking for exact numbers https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=kbOXNev7NS4DQcc3IjAV49
Gurnug 0.0I use Garmin forerunner watch, sync Strava with Garmin Connect and sync Komoot with Strava. It works like a charm.
JonRedBeardFF 0.0I got a Garmin forerunner watch and on the mats I use the Garmin hrm pro. Had no complaints while rolling. Just makes it feel like you have a hard sternum
QTPie_314 0.0I 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.
These-Appearance2820 0.0A Garmin head unit. You could buy used to reduce the cost. I do ride wearing my forerunner watch, however it is purely for heartrate (linkeded to display on headunit) In reality you could buy the headunit and an inexpensive chest heartrate monitor such as magene. I do however like that my watch provides lots of other daily data such as resting heartrate, steps and so forth. There is benefit to headunit + basic level sports watch.
VincebusMaximus 0.0Runs 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.
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