Garmin - Forerunner 35

Seems like I am replacing my watch every 2-3 years. Battery is always the reason. Have gone with the base models of the garmin forerunner (35,45,55) then finally upgraded to the 200 series most recently.

>Its a Vivoactive by another name. ironically i've been looking at the FR series to upgrade my old vivoactive. lack of altimeter is deal breaker for me.

I've really liked all of my Garmin watches! Check out anything from the Forerunner line, like the Forerunner 55. And highly recommend getting a refurbished/used one to save money, if that's an issue for you. You can get the 55, 45, or 35 for a pretty good deal refurbished/used.

I would look for a used or refurbished Garmin Forerunner 35 or 45 (whatever you can find for cheapest). Also just to note, GPS is what allows watches to accurately measure distance and pace, so you’ll want a watch either GPS. However for the ultimate cheapest option, if money is really limited, consider just using a running app on your phone instead.

You're welcome! And yeah I agree, using a phone is super cumbersome. Having a watch is so much more convenient! Even though they can be pricey, I think they're a good investment. And the longevity of Garmin Forerunner watches is quite good in my experience. And also they stay fairly valuable as long as they still work, so if you eventually decide to upgrade to different model, you can still sell your old one!

you've been lucky with the battery. The Forerunner 35 is now at an age where the battery capacity is diminishing and the battery isn't readily replaceable. Before buying a used Forerunner 35, be sure and look at a photo of the battery charge indication on the watch face - if you don't see all or almost all the segments lit, don't buy it. My Forerunner 35 now only shows one segment lit after charging

You are me 8 years ago. I went from C25K to Strava on my phone, which got me through my first race. After completing it I bought a Forerunner 35, which I would wear only on runs or long walks. It did everything I needed it to, and I only upgraded it this summer when I decided I wanted a fulltime smart watch. I now have a vivoactive 6, which is much more attractive for daily wear. I think they've discontinued the 35, but the 55 would be equivalent.

I have a Forerunner 35 that I got for free from a friend who upgraded years ago. Still works great and still has a decent battery life (almost too great, I’ve been eyeing new models but can’t justify it when my watch still works). If you want something inexpensive just for running highly recommend an older model garmin. One note. If you want to monitor your HR the watch doesn’t have consistent or good performance. It will connect with a separate monitor.

I'm still on my Garmin Forerunner 35 from 2019.

I use an old cheapo Forerunner 35 which is ancient. I just broadcast heart rate to my bike computer when I don’t wanna wear the strap. Does the job.

I have a FR 35 and a FR 955 both work great. I got the 955 at launch in a contest. It’s a watch that has way more features than I think anyone can use.

A basic Garmin forerunner will do everything you want and many things you haven't thought of yet, lol. A forerunner 55 looks like the current model, but tbh, a refurbished earlier one would also be fine if you really need to budget crunch. Even a 35 will do heart rate and GPS. A 55 gives you more options for features like hydration, body battery, various apps you can add, etc. All the basics a runner could wish for starting out. More expensive models will give you music and more smart features, but I've never wanted/needed those.