Garmin - Forerunner 55

I got a forerunner 55 and I love it. Does the basic fitness tracking, no extra stuff I don't need. Hell, it shows me my texts and calls, and I don't even need that lol

Another vote for the Garmin Forerunner 55! I get all the stats I want with none of the features I don’t (I really don’t need my watch to tell me when my workout is “unproductive” or when I’m “detraining” 🙄).

Thanks for the reply. I bought a used FR55. Love the DSW. It's the first time I run on a frequent schedule. Unfortunately, the FR55 keeps freezing and shutting off / deleting data after 50 minutes of exercise. Really frustrating. Thinking of upgrading to a fr265, which would have the above mentioned feature, but there are rumors that the fr275 will be released in Q1 or Q2 this year. So I think I'm gonna wait

My watch is a Forerunner 55. It has everything I need, and what’s important is that I actually use every feature it offers. The big question is are you really going to use all those fancy unnecessary features or not?

Forerunner 55 for the absolute basics. Forerunner 165 is the cheapest with a AMOLED screen. Forerunner 255, 265, 955 and 965 are just discontinued. In my opinion 955 is the most value for money as it includes mapping. 965 is the same watch as the 955, but with an AMOLED screen. If you don’t need mapping, then go for the 265. It is the same as the 965, but without maps. So if you can find a 955 that would be your best bet in my opinion. Forerunner 570 and 970 introduce unnecessary features, such as microphone & speaker, sapphire glass, shiny metal bezels all of which add nothing to running but do increase the price.

Huawei fit 3 > Garmin 55. Been usung fit 3 for almost a year now and so far so good. may lil difference lang sa strava when it comes to distance, but very minimal lang. features are more updated than FR55.

I use a 55 and it’s perfect for everything except for swimming

Got the forerunner 55, wishing I had just worked out a few more bucks for the 265!

I love my 55! I don’t feel like I need any more features than the ones it already offers!

My favorite is the running feature so I can accurately track my pace and mileage. It’s been helpful to see the data all laid out (steps, cadence, how long I walked vs run). I have a heart condition so I have also been relying on the heart monitor and zone feature to keep myself in a safe place while running. Practically, I also like I can see what texts I get on it instead of always having my phone glued to my side.

I have 2 kids, both under 3 years old so I don’t ever use it 😅

I’ve been using the Forerunner 55 for about 3 years now, and honestly, it’s been super reliable for both my runs and cycling stats. When I first bought it, I wasn’t even that health conscious but just wearing it regularly kind of changed things. Tracking my performance each session made me pay attention to my sleep, stress, heart rate, and a bunch of other metrics I never really thought about before. It’s amazing how seeing those stats day to day actually helped me improve my lifestyle and use the data wisely. Overall, I’d rate it a 5 out of 5 and definitely a perfect fitness watch for beginners!

I'm running with Garmin's current budget model. Forerunner 55. It has up to 20hrs in gps mode. I think you're good with any Garmin watch that is somewhat current.

You can setup garmin watch to just show you the time while running. Forerunner 55 is great for beginners 

The 55 has all of the functions that you need.

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.

“Cheap” is a relative term that is going to have different conotations to different people. If you have a price range or specific figure in mind, it is probably best to share it, so folks can help you accordingly. That being said, if you’re looking for an entry level device that can sync to NRC, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is where you would want to start looking. $150 USD seems to be the going rate. One thing that is important to note—NRC is very popular, especially among beginners, for its Guided Runs and Training Plans. Unfortunately, any device by Garmin (or COROS) is not going to support those features, as these devices only push data to NRC *after* the run. If you want to take advantage of Guided Runs and Training Plans, an Apple Watch (if you have an iPhone) or a watch that runs Wear OS (if you have an Android phone) are the *only* options for your wrist. I noticed you mentioned Apple Watch Series 6. A couple disclaimers about older used devices: * Nike has a history of dropping support for older technology. Recently, NRC discontinued the app for Apple Watch Series 3 and earlier (and by “discontinued,” I don’t mean you couldn’t upgrade the app; it stopped functioning all together). Granted, Series 3 was six years old at this point, but the device you’re considering is approaching five years old, so proceed with caution. * I would only consider an older Apple Watch if the battery has recently been replaced. The battery wears out after so many charge cycles, each time being able to hold less and less power. Once this “maximum capacity” is below 80%, Apple recommends a new battery. This is also the point where watchOS may start to limit resources for apps, which can really affect an app that is constantly using Location Services, like NRC. Note this is even when fully charged. Sure, you could always have the battery replaced yourself, but that is going to set you back about $99.

I just upgraded from a forerunner 55 to a forerunner 970 (bday present to myself). I’ve had an Apple Watch. My opinion is if you want barebones and dont mind running with your phone if you need music, a forerunner 55 is good enough. If you want good enough + music, forerunner 165 Music. There are a number of good comparisons online. I got a 970 because I wanted a fancy one. I love it but it does provide some redundant metrics to whoop that dampen the impact whoop has for me

I've been using Forerunner 55 for 2 years now. Very pleased with it

+1 for Forerunner 55 - does what you need, no extra bells and whistles, doesn't cost the earth.

I have a 55 and never really feel like I’m missing out on any features. Will upgrade only if/when it craps out.

I understand you said you’re on a budget but you should invest on yourself! As others stated, I recommend a Garmin Forerunner 55 or any other second hand Garmin.

I have the 165 it’s for what your trying to do. Just set up one of the coaching plans or if you know a coach in person they can send the workouts through the garmin app. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money consider the forerunner 55 it’s like $169

I was happy with my 55 and when it came to getting a new watch, I got the 255 rather than the 165. The 255 does have a few more features that make it worth it. I didn't get the 165 for the same reason. I don't want a touch screen and the 55 series has a better battery life.

I got my first running watch last month, a secondhand Forerunner 55. This is Garmin's most basic running watch and I'm very happy with it. I had been using the Strava app to track my pace while running, but the watch is more accurate (both due to better GPS and because you can view your current pace as well as the average pace for the mile/km you're in). It's also nice not to have to hold my phone throughout my runs! I like having the heart rate data as well.

From one “running gear Luddite” to another, Get the base garmin forerunner (believe the model number right now is 55). Garmin is really high quality and you really don’t need most of the metrics the more advanced models provide. This way you won’t be breaking the bank but you will be paying for quality

Forerunner 55. I wanted a cheap entry watch and it’s been perfect. Route tracking, heart rate monitoring, pace, distance, timekeeping. does everything i need.

I wouldn’t use either for tracking cycling and I actually have a Garmin watch (Forerunner 55). Get a dedicated Cycling GPS unit and wear a heart rate strap. I’ve occasionally used my Garmin watch for recording rides, but it kills the battery. It will only last for 2-3 hours whilst using the GPS function. I use a Garmin Edge GPS for recording my rides, which has a 12 hour battery life. Watch is good for running or even swimming, but not for cycling.

I switched from a Fitbit to a forerunner years ago and was immediately hooked on team garmin! I love the accuracy, stats and better connectivity. I recently upgraded from the forerunner 55 to 165 and there are some added features that are pretty cool. I would say the switch from 55 to 165 was a lot less noticeable than the switch from Fitbit to garmin. The only feature I feel like Fitbit did better than garmin is the sleep tracking sometimes.

I use a forerunner 55, wanted to try out something basic to give it a go, can’t find a reason to upgrade to be honest it does literally everything I need, other than hiking navigation. Although not sure about its waterproof capabilities for swimming

Older Garmin watches work fine, I regularly see runners with the 2015 Forerunner 235 at races. And used models will be fine, albeit older watches may have reduced battery life simply due to age. That’s the nature of rechargeable batteries I’m afraid, and it applies to all brands. I would recommend a Forerunner 45 as the minimum, or a 55, and if you can get a 245 in budget then even better Whichever watch you choose, go to [DC Rainmaker](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/) and search for his in-depth review of that model which typically includes a video. They will tell you all about the functions, how to use it, what it can do etc.

A fine budget watch, will do everything you need. [Here’s an in-depth review with videos](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2021/06/garmin-forerunner-55-depth-review.html)

I had an FR55. As u/mel4nk0i_ said, it's a good watch. I did not have the issues with the battery and I do run in cold (-40\*) weather. It does have sleep tracking and body battery, but not sleep score, which I did find handy. I like to use resting heart rate as an indicator for recovery. I ran 5ks up to 75k with my FR55 without issue. All Garmins sync to Strava.

I made the switch. However, I find the body battery/sleep tracking better on the 55 than my 265. From reading online, I suspect some of the 265s have a faulty sensor. I use an external HRM and I find the training status and performance stats are really good.

My FR55 was a great watch and didn't have any issues with keeping time as an everyday watch and GPS wasn't spotty. The only time it failed on GPS was when running in downtown with lots of tall buildings and the signal bounced around but that was a race day, not daily training. I'm not sure going to another watch will do bc I haven't had the issues you do.

To be honest sounds like you just need a basic Garmin- a 165 or 255 or even 55 would do the trick

garmin forerunner 55 is pretty decent and not too chunky! 

Same boat. I just got a base model FR 55. Mostly to keep my wife from experiencing sticker shock and avoid getting one for herself. I was blown away by the options. Yes all the running capabilities. There are coaching plans that use the GPS and many features I wasn’t expecting. I haven’t been outside much to use the GPS function yet, so I cannot speak to that. There is a golf (app) function that I’m excited to try out. The one caveat being that you need your phone on you for some things, but I’ve always got my phone on me. All in all I’m extremely satisfied with the 55 and would like someone to sell me on an upgraded model once I wear this one out. EDIT: I would also say this watch is extremely light but doesn’t feel cheap in the least.

Edit: why not change the battery of your AW7? Shouldn’t be too expensive normally, and that may help you run the 15k distance without running out of battery. It should still be supported for a few years, so it won’t be obsolete immediately. The FR55,165 and 255 won’t receive any updates anymore, except maybe a bug fix, but don’t expect new features like Apple may still add to WatchOS. I won’t recommend you to get the FR55, it’s just too old and expensive for what it is. Try to look for a 165 or 255, they are more recent and/or have some extra features and better gps (255). https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/s/PoeYUQKgTm And between Garmin and Amazfit, ask yourself if you want a no nonsense running watch or a watch with lots of gadgets and features, which may not all work well or be useful? They’re just 2 different types of watches. Personally I’m still using my FR245 that I got in December 2021, and it’s still working great. I’d love to upgrade, but the most recent version of it, the 570, is just soooooooo overpriced. And I secretly also prefer MiP instead of OLED. 😀

I have 55 does everything I need

I have a Garmin Forerunner 55, which is one of their cheaper watches, but is good enough for all the things you're looking for.

I was a giga denier of smart watches, because I didn't like the style and loved my normal watches. Quickly realized, only really need to wear it while running if I wanted to. Bought it and I would never, never go back. Garmin Forerunner 55, pretty cheap and has everything I need. Sometimes I wear it at night, sometimes I wear it for the day, and the battery lasts forever. Having the control over music or the workout on your wrist makes tracking a hell of a lot less of a pain in the ass.

Garmin Forerunner 55 is a good budget watch that does pool swimming. And it is actually well under $200 unlike some of watches mentioned here.

I sold by old Apple Watch for what I would have gotten from apple anyways (around 100 bucks) and added a bit more and got a garmin. If this is 4 years old especially with apple that’s why, Mine was only 2 yrs old and still terrible battery. Coros also offers very good value for money or a garmin 55 is pretty cheap just no Spotify!

"Cheap" is pretty relative in the running watch world. Even an entry level GPS watch is fairly expensive. One of the more budget friendly ones that is pretty good is the Garmin Forerunner 55, but that's over $150.

Does it track your lifting too? I have the FR55 and there’s no weight training option, have to choose HIIT

I use the 55 and I'm your basic 5k runner. I love tracking my steps, the message notifications, finding my phone feature. Maybe one day I'll upgrade to a fancier version but this suits me fine.

Take a look at the Garmin Forerunner 55 or 165. Both entry-level running watches that have everything you are looking for in a fitness tracker and the Garmin Connect app is decent too.

Fitbit has gotten worse since being bought by Google too! It’s never been suuuuper accurate, but *was* a great beginner one if that’s all that’s in your budget. I’ve upgraded to a Garmin and it has more than most people need (me included) but I saved and got the cheapest one when it went on sale (Garmin Forerunner 55 - I run more than any other activities). Burned calories are not tracked super accurately apparently on Garmin, but I use Cronometer for that anyways and it pulls info from my Garmin to do its own evaluations. Its sleep tracking isn’t as accurate, but is fine for me and is still better than Fitbit. Keep in mind: Apple isn’t a fitness tracker, it’s a smart watch with fitness capabilities Garmin started as GPS company, so they’re beat at distance related activities (run, bike, walking, steps etc.)

I'm also an owner of a Forerunner 55 and also considering a 265. Better looking, better GPS and training readiness are the biggest advantages. I still don't know if that's worth it.

I have a FR55 and got it approx a year ago. It’s my first garmin and I’m really happy with it. Battery life is so much better than my old Apple Watch and there’s plenty of features. Next time I probably would get one of the higher end models, now I know I really like the system etc but I don’t feel like I’m especially missing out on them either. Can’t miss what you’ve never had. As a first garmin, you can’t go wrong, especially if you don’t want to pay £££ for a watch.

Ive ran 2 marathons so not exactly newbie but still generally new to running compared to some others. I have a 55 and absolutely love it. Honestly, im not sure what features others use that i dont have on it besides maybe music capability beyond bluetooth to the phone. I get pace/route tracking, garmin coach, vo2 max, sleep tracking, body battery, etc. I feel like i get a complete picture of my training and health and its hundreds less than other models. Obviously i know there’s value in the higher models, but you wont feel like you “skimped out” going w the 55, esp if you primarily plan on using it for running

Garmin Forerunner 55 is a basic running watch with an older chip. It doesn’t offer other lifestyle tracking features or smart capabilities. If you care for purely running metrics, maybe worth to get it. But personally, other than having a Garmin on your arm, the 55 doesn’t really offer a lot. For a Garmin, I’d probably go for models 165 up. But if you’re looking to use not just for running but for other sports as well, and have some lifestyle and smart features, there are better options like Huawei Fit 3 and the other options you provided. Huawei GT5 also has premium features for a higher price point.

Well, what do you want to track during your workouts? Find a watch that does that. The Forerunner 55 is more than enough if all you want is to track your time and mileage. Bump up to the 265 for better GPS and more coaching options. Not sure why you'd go for the 965 unless you want maps, in which case, sure, that's a fine option. On the Apple Watch, btw, you don't have to look at the stand hours at all. You can turn off all the complications and notifications about your rings, and then you can pretend they don't exist. Not really a problem then, right?

I’ve had a garmin forerunner 55 for a few years. Bought it used on eBay for less than $100. It’s waterproof and has decent battery life when its in standby mode (GPS off).

Any of them will work fine and you shouldn’t be concerned for damage considering it’s inside your glove. I would consider the SIZE of the watch though as that may interfere if you get something larger. Personally I wear a Garmin Forerunner 55 because it’s one of the slimmest models.

Think it’s the 55 now

Garmin Forerunner 55. Cheap but does the job, never missed a beat for me.

I have a forerunner 55 I'm happy with. Think about if you want a chest strap. Also, I switch watch bands using a milanese for daily use and the original for exercise

yeah :( as a comparison, with my old garmin FR55 i just start the guided workout, and basically don't need to look at my watch again because it will beep/vibrate at me to run faster/slower. it's especially useful with something like runna where it's built the workouts for you, so often the first time i'm seeing them is when i'm starting my workout, which is fine because the watch is telling me everything i need to know. with suunto, not so much :(

DCrainmaker gave the previous race s a great review. he even praised the heart rate sensor! i bought mine off the back of that (and other fittech 'influencers') and was totally shocked by how much of a downgrade it was from my garmin FR55 (yes, really). not in the screen and GPS and that kind of stuff, but in the basics of guided workouts and sleep/HR tracking. i feel like these reviewers go through the spec sheet and don't really use it like a 'normal' person. like it was immediate how unworkable the watch was for me, as a runner in training.

I have a Garmin Forerunner 55 that works with the Galloway method.

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.

I use Garmin forerunner 55, for running/cycling only and it uploads data to whoop app. It also uses whoop HR data if you want.

I don't know.about the samsung fit 3 (msntioned below) but most galaxy watch will have 1 to 2 days of battery life. I get 2.5 days with my Galaxy Ultra. My 70 years old dad is not a runner (walk) but I got him a basic and cheap Garmin forrunner 55 instead (he loves it) - 1.5 to 2 WEEKS battery life (my dad won't charge a watch every day) - always on display (reflective display, not amoled) - display phone notifications on the watch - basic vital, sleep tracking, HR, GPS etc - emergency call/fall detection over BT (needs phone nearby, not LTE, which he has with him all the time). - not touch screen, button only, but he prefers that too. Other Garmin (venu series) have amoled touch screen etc and still have a week of battery life. The forerunner was good.enough for my dad's need (long battery, notification,readable screen). https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/741137

Quite conflicted. On one hand, 165 offers better features than the old 55 at only $40 more. On the other, you would not be using those additional features with your mobile on the run, using watch only run and having the ring to track other stats. So if I were you, I would choose 55 as 165 would be an overkill for the use case scenario and spend the rest of a money on an apparel.

For what it’s worth, I’ve had a 255 Music for a couple of years and I love mine – I’d say as an entry-level first Garmin, it’s an excellent choice. I upgraded from the 55 because I wanted open water swimming capability and I’ve have used it for multiple marathons and a triathlon and haven’t had any issues.

Yup since nasa 6k na din naman yung isang nasa cart ni OP. Antay ka OP sa 5.5 baka makachempo ka. Nabili namin Garmin Forerunner 55 nung 4.4 sale P6.7k lang.

Both are the same for pool swimming, while only the 165 has support for open water swimming. I'm not an avid swimmer but I can tell you I've owned both of these watches and the most noticeable difference is just the screen. The 55 has a dimmer MIP display and longer battery life. The 165 has a brighter display that takes some getting used to because it doesn't stay on all the time, and the gesture required to see the time is comically exaggerated, so I've resorted to tapping the watch with my finger to see the time. Or you can leave the screen on all the time for a dramatic battery life loss and the risk of burn in. The 165 has the option (for a $50 upcharge) of adding a music feature. Also, the 55 is slightly lighter and smaller. [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=741137&compareProduct=1055469](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=741137&compareProduct=1055469)

This sub seems to have never heard of the FR55, still a very capable watch. And the FR165 is even better. I dare say - most people will never utilize the features of the higher end watches that aren't already present on the 165.

Best would indeed be one of the Forerunner watches, the Forerunner 55 is the cheapest there is

I had a Garmin 55 and moved on to a Coros Pace Pro for running, biking and kayaking. I go on up to 10 day kayak camping trips. I rarely need to charge the Pace Pro. I average 5 hours of kayaking per day with a day or two of no paddling. I mostly paddle in Canada and GPS is dead on during my trips. The Coros is also bargain priced compared to Garmin.

I have a 55. It replaced a Fitbit. It is a huge upgrade. I will never go back to Fitbit.

I'm a bit on the poor side. I came from a decent mi band watch thing. My friend gave me his old Garmin 55. I love it. It's strong, robust, very water proof. No touch screen so not much to go wrong. Over a week of battery life also. To be honest I could see my self saving up for the slightly more expensive. But that's a long way off. Anyways.

Forerunner 55 sounds like a good option for you. It still does more than you need (eg HR, sleep tracking) but is Garmin's most basic running-oriented watch.

My IS is a black & white MIP screen, non-touch. Altimeter and barometer and compass (ABC). More butch design and more shock, cold, heat dust and dirt resistant. Feature set more for stuff INCLUDING running. More suited backpacking and hiking which I've used it for a fair bit. Great tool watch despite the side-eye from my G-Shocks... FR55 has a bright AMOLED screen, touch, designed with running features (I guess cadence, stride length, recovery etc.). ALSO, I guess more smartwatch-y. My take is that if you're primarily interested in getting to be a better runner then FR is absolutely the way to go. No sane person would call me a "runner"; hence the IS. Mothers' cover their children's eyes when I plod by...

My bad, I think I grabbed info from a source that was wrong. I see it's MIP and non touch, which certainly explains the long battery life.

Haha, sorry I did not see it was you. And I do agree with your initial comment. But also, I'm cheap and enjoy my 55...

My understanding is this: Feature wise: Forerunners are fully equiped Rugged wise: Fenix = forerunner + rugged. Instinct = cheaper forerunner + rugged Lifestyle: Venu Simplest and cheapest forerunner that does all: Forerunner 55. Older model, cheap and pretty cool feature wise: forerunner 255 Full featured forerunner: 570 some cool new shit with training readiness and other stuff for data nerds Most expensive one: 970, 570 but with even more metrics I don't understand and coloured maps

I started with a forerunner55 and loved it - I only upgraded to a 265s because I wanted to start tracking other workouts, I sold mine on eBay for about $100 which was the average of what I saw others selling for

I've recently upgraded from the 55 to Enduro 3. The exercise functions that the 55 doesn't have include: -- No Trail running activity (though you can change it later in Connect) -- No hiking activity -- No maps (I love the turn by turn directions on the Enduro) -- No built in altimeter (the estimated elevation gain that the 55 gives post-run has been way off in my experience and you cannot earn any of the climbing badges) -- Climb pro is great if you are doing long hills -- The V02 max estimate does not take into account trail runs so every time you do a trail run your V02 max drops -- No HRV -- No strength training activity -- Battery life is good, but not long enough for ultrarunning or multi-day backpacking trips -- There is a bunch of other stats (of varying value) that the 55 doesn't do including running power, ground contact time, hill score, vertical oscillation, training effect, and training status. Overall, if you are just doing non-trail runs in town you probably aren't missing much, but if you are doing trails in the backcountry or more hill work than you might get some value from upgrading.

If you can find 255 (more or less same price as 165) that would be better as 55/165 doesn't have gyroscope sensor, so it relies only on accelerometer to detect your stroke. 165 and 255 both have the same heart rate sensor but 55 uses older sensor.

From forerunner 55 to 255 to 265 and currently apple watch ultra 2. With the ultra 2, you can leave your phone since it has lte and can receive calls and txt during your activity (can’t receive messenger calls). You can also listen to podcasts and audiobooks (via audible) without being connected to the phone. With Garmin you get to enjoy the Garmin coach and the daily suggested workout which is a big help para di na problem anong run gagawin mo. You just let the watch choose for you. You can get Runna app if you want a coach sa apple but it’s not free. All in all Im very satisfied with my ultra 2 for my use case. Maybe different from yours as you may want to bring you phone for taking photos which I see a lot of people do nowadays.

Five years is a great run for the 245. If you just want something simple, the FR55 will cover the basics. If you’d like a modern upgrade that feels closest to your old watch, the FR165 is the sweet spot. And if you want something that looks more like a daily watch but still tracks workouts, the Vivoactive 5 is a good call:)

For running, the **Forerunners** win because they’re lighter, have better training tools (readiness, load, recovery, VO₂, etc.), and give you more run-specific metrics. The **Instinct/Fenix** are better for hiking/backpacking since they’re tougher, with longer battery and more rugged features. Animated workouts are more of a nice to have, useful if you like guided bodyweight or gym sessions, but most people don’t rely on them. Daily suggested workouts are hit or miss: they’re good for structure but not something to blindly follow. Maps are genuinely handy if you do trails or long hikes; on runs they’re mostly good for keeping you on a planned route. The 970 only records ECG if you start it manually, it doesn’t passively check like an Apple Watch. Smart features: you’ll see texts and calls, but RCS isn’t supported (just standard SMS/notifications). The mic/speaker are fine for quick replies or answering a call in a pinch, but not something you’d want to use all the time. Why Garmin? Mostly the depth of training metrics, reliability, and ecosystem, Coros and Suunto are good but Garmin still has the most polished data!!

I’d go with the **Forerunner 165** ,it has better sensors, solid sleep and health tracking, and supports readiness and guided workouts. The **245** is still good but discontinued, so future updates might stop soon. The **55** is fine for basics, but the 165 gives you a noticeable upgrade without unnecessary extras like music

And forerunners last forever. Literally still have my first forerunner in my duffle as a backup should I ever need it. Still works beautifully despite being old and taking a beating - still holds a charge and tracks steps/HR/GPS. I run with the 55 for a couple of the newer apps I like having like hydration tracking, but the fact is Garmins are beasts.

Just to clarify - the FR55 has a MIP screen and no touch. It’s the most basic of the running watches that Garmin sells, but is absolutely fine for what OP wants.

\+1 na kuha ko yung fr55 ko ng 6.7k with discount abang abang lang.

I am getting my 55 tomorrow. I decided based on price since it’s discounted at $150 right now. I’ve been running with Apple Watch Ultra and I guess I’m just dipping my toes with Garmin.

Depends on where you run. With the 55 you don't have the option to choose the best GPS mode. When you run in a city with tall buildings or between tall trees I would prefer to use the Gps multibande Option (to make your tracking more accurate ) but the 55 does not have multibande gps

as soon as my trusty FR55 dies out (hopefully in a couple of years) I'll get a 255, excellent device.

my problem exactly, I am 48 years old and it's been challenging for my eyes reading some data in the FR55, in any case I will wait, do not upgrade until you have to is my motto :)

I had a 255, also a similarly slim wrist, and recently "upgraded" to a Vivoactive 6. Upgrade in quotes because I'm aware a lot of people don't consider that an upgrade, but it definitely was for me, for things I cared about, and ultimately it's only things you care about that matters. For me the biggest problem was how big and heavy the 255 was. I believe it's very similar size/weight to the 265, and the 955 is even larger/heavier (by a bit). I am also primarily a runner, but not a super serious one (one or two half marathons a year, a few weeks/months of half-assed training). The tracking and training features on the dirt cheap Vivoactive is more than enough for me, and I don't miss the more advanced features from the Forerunner at all. In fact, I still don't know what those are. I suspect very few people wearing Forerunners really benefit from the very specialized running features that the more "lifestyle" Garmin watches don't have, and I regretted falling into that trap and getting that Forerunner a few years ago. Either that or this sub is full of hardcore elite runners. On the Vivoactive, the OLED screen is much more beautiful than the MIP, and the new interface is so much more intuitive to use. The size also looks much less comical on my wrist. It's also much lighter, which I didn't really appreciate until getting this one. It "only" has 10 days battery life, but I just charge it when I notice it going below 20% when sat at my desk, and it really doesn't bother me at all. The 255 was purely a training tool. The Vivoactive gives me joy to wear and look at, in addition to being just as good a training tool for me. But that's a very subjective thing. If you don't like the Vivoactive aesthetic, there's also the new Venu 4/4S that looks more premium. So I think it mostly depends on whether you actually need the additional features. The map is the only feature I would care about in the 9xx, but I wasn't going to pay so much for that, when I never do long runs in unfamiliar places without my phone anyways.

Basically any Garmin watch can do all that, so you have to decide what other features you prefer. Vivoactive 6 is very cheap and pretty, with most functions you'll want in a smart watch (besides talking to it). Also nice and light. The only major limitation in exercise tracking is that it doesn't have triathlon mode. Otherwise it will have all the running metrics you care about. Forerunner 55 is probably the cheapest but very barebone. Forerunner 255 has a theoretically more accurate GPS (if you run in environments under a lot of tree cover or buildings), and some very advanced running features that you aren't going to need unless you take running extremely seriously. MIP screen which saves battery life and is marginally more readable under direct sunlight, but isn't pretty. Forerunner 265 is basically the same as 255 but has a pretty screen (and slightly worse battery life). Most of these, except for 55 and basic version of 255 (255 has a separate Music version) support music without phone. The forerunners are quite chunky if you have a small wrist, though some have a smaller version (255S, 265S). I switched from a 255 to a Vivoactive 6 and have been really happy about it.

I just picked up the Garmin Forerunner 55, their most bare-bones of the running specific watches, at Sams club for $140. I don’t see them often below 120 in my area on the secondhand market, so the extra $20 or so for easy return was worth it to me, but your area and tolerance may be different. I’m not a watch wearer in my day to day life, and only got it for tracking runs. So far, I really like it! There are a ton of features and capabilities that I haven’t dug into yet, but I already feel satisfied with the heart rate and GPS/elevation data alone.

yes to all your questions. i had the fr 55 for almost 3 years. it does everything you’re looking for and more. great value for money and a great training aid for runners. the only trouble i had with it was the battery degraded faster than other garmin’s i’ve had in the past. approaching the three year mark, the watch couldn’t hold a charge in cold temperatures any more. if i tried to run in sub zero temps (celsius) it would just shut off. i did some googling at the time and it seems not everyone had this problem, so i think my device might’ve been a lemon. A non-issue of you don’t plan to train in cold temps but if you do … that was my experience with the watch

To be honest,you no more than the forerunner 55..it will do all that you need to do and lots more,right up to a very high level. In the future,if you really need high level mapping (and most people don't) you can upgrade then but I really wouldn't spend a lot of money on a high end Garmin when it's absolutely not necessary at the moment. It's about the exercise,not the kit and a 55 will be perfect or a 255/265 music if you really need to listen to music from your watch and again,most people, especially at first take their phones with them on runs so it's not really necessary. I did my first two half marathons using a Garmin 45 (55 predecessor) and it was fantastic with great battery life and all the running features I needed (all Garmin's connect to Strava).

Garmin Forerunner 55. Really basic, not crazy expensive, and tracks the basic things.

I am using garmin forerunner 55. I use it for years. No problem in pool or sea water. But its tracking abilities are not very good actually. Yes it is waterproof but tracking HR, laps, distance is not great.

If you're looking for a cheaper option with good battery life (10% lost over a 3 hour run), Garmin forerunner 55 seems good so far.  I love that it's an older model and has more of a classic interface. 

You can get what you're looking for in an older forerunner 55.  I have it and it's a great watch.  Old school, but has the things you want. Incredible battery life, body battery, etc.  It is an older gps chip, so it's not as accurate in urban environments as more expensive watches.  Idk if the apple watch uses a better GPS 

Get the TREX 3, the FR55 is nothing compared to the Trex you will enjoy the map display.

Have the 55 and I really like it. Has everything you need for running without all the extra Mumbo jumbo

I’m amazed at all the recommendations for 3 and 4 year old models because that’s what they personally own. But yeah- get a Forerunner. they come in all price levels depending on your feature needs. if the last two digits are x55, then it’s an old style MIPS display. the new AMOLED displays are just so much prettier. so, that’s anything that ends in 65 or 70. i.e. Forerunner 165, 265, 965, 570, 970. depending on how much you wanna spend.

All true. the 55 series is 3 years old. I believe that the 55 series is also the first group that have the multiband gps chipset- which has terrific accuracy. (Although i’ve seen some lousy OWS tracks from the 970)

Forerunner 55 is great for me :)

Unfortunate it’s so pricey where you are. I bought that model last week for my 12 yr old and it was $100

Most Garmin watches would do those things. Depending if you want the latest bells and whistles, such as an OLED screen vs a MIP screen from an older generation, a model from an older generation will be more than fine. However, I wouldn't recommend getting a second hand one, but that's just my preference. Take a look models such as the Instinct, the Vivoactive, the Venu and Forerunner 55/165. Those would suit you. I would not recommend more expensive models as the Fenix and the more expensive Forerunners. They would be way overkill and extremely expensive.

I would say, chest strap is not necessary for vast majority of runners — wrist-based sensors nowadays are good enough, unless you are super-serious or having real accuracy issues with wrist-based sensor (because of skin tone, tattoes, hair, wrist shape — all of which are quite rare). The additional hassle of not forgetting / wearing / washing the chest strap is not worth it. Experience: I’ve been using chest straps since 2014 or so (Garmin Forerunner 620), but switched to wrist-based a couple of years ago (Forerunner 55) and never looked back

Used Forerunner 55 is pretty much you answer. If you can find a used 245 for around the same price you can go the route too.

For Hikes, you would probably want maps. In that case I think the forerunner 965 would be perfect. If you don't need maps than the forerunner 55 or forerunner 165 would be perfect.

I have garmin fr55 and it’s fine for the basic things you mentioned!

I bought the Forerunner 55, but after realizing it’s a 2021 model and that the 165 was released just last year, I canceled the order and went for the 165 instead, even with the price difference. I haven’t tried any MIP displays before, but I can say the AMOLED on the 165 is more than good enough. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the watch (got it yesterday and still getting used to it). The only drawback for me is having to keep the Connect app open on my phone to use the Find My Phone feature, which is essential for me, but I guess that’s just how it works. The sensors are better, the display is larger, and it has so many more features than the 55, which is a 4yo model. For runners, the FR165 includes metrics such as vertical oscillation & ratio, ground contact time, stride length, running power, adds a pulse-ox sensor, detailed sleep tracking with score + nap detection, advanced Body Battery, better stress monitoring. The 165 offers elevation gain tracking (altitude), and breadcrumb-style navigation via compass, useful for trail runs and hikes. It also uses multi-GNSS (GPS + GLONASS + Galileo, etc.) for better accuracy vs the simpler tracking used by the 55.

Depends what you want, but if it's just for running then I'd take the FR55 of the FR165.

Just the basic forerunner 55 is fine and enough for almost everything. The only thing I have ever slightly missed is the skip 15/30sec to avoid ads on Podcasts. It just doesn't have mapping or open water swims but that is about it. You can spend 5 times more on the 965 for not much extra features you will use.

100% it’s perfect in my opinion and has everything anyone could need. Anything more it’s excessive people just don’t admit it. I’m a long distance runner and this thing is my bread and butter. Long battery life, amazing gps and activity tracker with a acceptional heart rate monitor along with stress tracking, water proof and v02 max. Glad I bought mine!

Hands down, the 55…unless you are a competitive runner. I just replaced my forerunner45 with the 55, its successor, and I’m very satisfied. I run up to 30 miles a week, and get everything that I need. The other models are “overkill.”

I run 40-50k/week. Vary up my work rate, track my Billat workouts. I think the 55 is perfect. There can be such a thing as too much data.

Garmin Forerunner 55 I got for 150. Its one of the cheapest Garmin watches and I love it!

Forerunner 165 is an excellent watch, and I love it. I upgraded from the FR 55 model. I currently own three FR watches: 35, 55, and 165. I was previously an Apple Watch user.

ive had the fr55 for a year... i exercise everyday alternating btwn 10km walking and 40laps of breaststroke. i only need something simple to track my walks (distance and gps) and help me remember # of laps as i swim. the fr55 is decent for the walking part, fairly consistent results as i almost always walk the same route. but for swimming, sadly it has only ever gotten 1 session correctly (counted exactly 40laps)... somehow it will always get the laps wrong, a couple laps more or fewer. the biggest error was 4 laps Lol

My partner bought me a Garmin Forerunner 55, they go for about $140-$160 I think. Also a complete beginner, my first watch and I love it. It has everything I need and the build quality is great - taken a few falls and still has zero scratches. It's not heavy/bulky and I find it very accurate in the distance and heart rate departments. The battery lasts about 4 days if I use the GPS tracking for a few hours a day on runs, if not it lasts 2 weeks without a charge. Brilliant little thing.

I wanted something very basic so I got the Garmin Vivosmart 5 fitness band (paid about $160). I liked almost everything about it -- except I didn't realize it didn't have GPS, which is a feature I did want. So I then ordered the Forerunner 55, which also has pretty much all the basic functions with a simpler screen/interface than the fancier Garmin watches. I like this one too but I feel like the sleep tracking isn't as accurate, and it doesn't provide a sleep score. I also sleep on my stomach at least part of the night and don't like the feeling of this watch jammed under my wrist, but may not be a problem for you. No reason not to use Garmin to track these things. The battery life is really good. It's worth comparing other options, but these basics work for me and I enjoy them. Some of the watches have a lot more features than that but it's up to you!

For your needs, I think a Forerunner 255 or a Forerunner 55 should be fine. Forerunner 255 has better GPS and some more metrics; most notably sleep score and training status. If you’re not bothered about that, you should be able to pick up a 55 very cheaply and it will do the job.

I've had my 55 for over a year and I'm happy with it, but actually one of the only things I feel like I'm missing out on is the more advanced daily suggested workouts. On the 55 we can only see the DSW for that day, but newer watches show a week in advance. The newer watches can also tailor the workouts towards a race, whereas the basic DSW are just for general fitness.

I've had my FR55 for 2.5 years now, and it's a great basic running watch. $225 seems high though. I don't know where you live, but it was $200 when it first came out a few years ago and seems like it can be found cheaper on sale now.

Yeah, I can second this. I bought myself a forerunner 55 on a deal for around £100 new. I'm currently training for my second marathon and ran almost 2000km last year - there's nothing running related that I feel like I'm missing on my watch.

I have the 55. I mostly like it because it does the basics that i need from it: tracks my runs with a good gps, has decent battery life and is easy to use. I just hated how the HR monitor was often way off and how the sleep tracker didnt really realize when i was asleep and when i was awake. I could sit in the couch at 01:00 and it would start boosting my body battery as if i was in deep sleep. So i started only putting it on for running, but then i also started using a chest strap for tracking my HR because the 55 would often go into cadence lock. I also get my plans elsewhere, so i dont need it to suggest anything. So all i need from it now is the most basic and its good at providing this. If you also only need it for the basics, dont throw money away for a fancier watch, its solid.

Bought the 55 recently and so far I am very happy with it.

it has pool swim

i got the forerunner 55. it's a cheaper model and not touch screen/limited capabilities besides tracking, but it's fine for me as a relative newbie (first marathon but have run a few halfs)

I never see it recommended here, but FR55 has covered everything I've needed for ages and I don't feel I'm missing out on too much!

Thank you for your insight. I've posted this with my existing smartphone in mind when running but yeah thank you and right now mi waiting for my forerunner 55 because it was also on sale hehehhe

Ive got the forerunner 55 as per review it was closely accurate

I also have the forerunner 55. No complaints.

Dont, if you running and want running as core focus, look ate the Forerunner series from 55 (Cheapest) upwards. I started with 55 but upgraded to 255 as it has power, CGT etc, loads of running specific measurements that the venue 2 does not have

I have the FR55, it's good enough for me for running, biking and POOL swimming individually, but it's not working for open water swimming (I still use for timer+heart rate) and there is no combined activity (i.e. no triathlon) settings. Absolutely no problem with the watch itself, it working well with long battery life. context: I got mine for running only and for a good price, I switch to Triathlon now and would maybe get the 265/265s. For pool swimming, you set how long is the line (25m, 50m etc) then the watch detect the change and record the distance, it's not using GPS.

100% agree here. Apple Watches and Oura have been tested and rank higher in terms accuracy in predicting your sleep and stages. The Apple Watch SE is much cheaper and probably a better option! Garmins don’t track sleep stages quite as accurately, but if you’re not going to be using it for the fitness features it’s probably not worth the money. My Garmin honestly doesn’t really get the times I fall asleep very accurately and it’s usually skewed by quite a bit. If you do want a Garmin go for the Vivoactive, Venu or very base model forerunner 55! I can highly recommend Garmin specifically for the amazing battery life.

FR55 does all of the good stuff. The higher end watches have plenty of bells and whistles like a morning report and your training readiness. I have a 55, and it's fine.

Yeah, me too. I look at the morning report and the training status and maps that the higher end watches have and get all jealous.   Even so, the FR55 tracks my runs, and that's what I need.  Besides which, it gives the significant other a nice easy Christmas present for you...

55 was good enough for me as a beginner.

The watch will record a "run" and you changed it to a trail run in whatever app you use. It's a very basic watch. No maps, trail runs, altimeter, open water swims, or other features for a dedicated outdoor sports. It still tracks GPS based altitude though.

Kung kaya mo istretch ng konti pa garmin fr55 pasok din

Sakin naman 6.5k sulit na sulit

FR55 is a 4 year old watch. There's no way it should be considered at that price

I suggest you check out Quantified Scientist's review. HR, GPS type info are accurate. The sensors are pretty solid. The issue is in derived metrics like sleep score and readiness. It's not as accurate as Garmin but it's just a number based on an algorithm. Personally I don't feel it's important enough. The metrics required for improvement are all present and pretty good.

Forerunner 55 or 255 are probably your best best

garmin forerunner 55 is the most basic one for tracking but its really cheap and imo does everything it needs to do for me, i personally only really use mine for running and would not want to spend tons more for one with more features or upgrades i dont need

I switched from an Apple Watch to a Garmin Forerunner 55 ($170 new) and I’m very happy with it. The only feature I wish it had (or maybe it doesn’t and I just haven’t looked hard enough) would be the ability to control my phone’s music from the watch controls.

I've had my Forerunner 55 for 4yrs and the battery has now tanked. If that's any help!

I got the forerunner 55 2 years ago when i started training for a half marathon. I wanted something that could track my heart rate and distance and was easier than using my phone. It was 100% worth it in my opinion. It was maybe £150 but im sure you can find it cheaper now or get a second hand one somewhere. It does everything I needed, has some fun extra tracking stuff. Connects great to runna and strava. There aren't really any downsides to it for me. I dont need anything more than what it does and its lasted me a good amount of time. Hoping to get another year or two out of it before upgrading but would probably only upgrade to the 255 (or equivalent) when it dies

The *55 series is only a year older than the *65 series and has the same generation HR sensor, GNSS chipset, etc. The software is almost the same between the two, including a lot of the recent updates like a meditation activity, passcode, and auto lactate threshold detection. Arguably the FR *55 is more up to date than the Fenix 7 series which is a sore point for Fenix owners. So 955 vs 965 isn't really that big of a difference besides the much higher resolution, much brighter and more colorful screen. Some of the other reason people are recommending older devices is because the difference between high end and mid range is bigger right now than the difference between generations, so for example battery life is better on a 955 vs a 570, or the number of running metrics is higher on a 955 vs a 570. The screen is better on a 570 vs a 955 though so technology advances have brought some good updates to mid range.

My wrist is 18,5cm. I wouldnt want a watch much bigger than this. I did find the FR55 too small though.

Fitness tracker: Garmin Forerunner 55 hands down for best sub $200. Smart Watch w/ Pretty good fitness features: Apple Watch SE 2 around $250 and what I use. If using, pay the $6 for workoutdoors, connect that to strava for auto upload, and thank me later. No subscription and brings all the data in a nice interface and you can set custom notifications (mile, time, pace too fast or too slow, HR etc) and screens on the watch. also can download maps to you're watch that you can access with in a workout just with a glance at your watch even without internet connection. basically makes it feature comparable to a garmin 55 and arguably 265. It'll even estimate running power which the 55 doesn't.

Garmin all the way! Sulit na ang fr 55 for the hr, gps and coaching

try the FR55, it works well in pool swimming

I’ve been very happy with my Garmin Forerunner 55. Heart rate, GPS, time, customizable data fields if you want. That’s it. It’ll estimate your paces after you track your exercise for a while and it’s not bad at accuracy. The Garmin connect app is also good enough at displaying fatigue with “body battery” metrics.

Any of the modern Garmins (Forerunner x55 series, Epix, Fenix 7 or above) - great 24/7 tracking

I have the 165 as my first. Originally bought the 55 but it didn’t do elevation. I think the 255 is an older model?

I have used the Garmin forerunner 55 and currently use the 265S

Best wach ever, i had the garmin fenix 8 47mm solar. Sold it and use my garmin 55 all the time, light, chep, and i will trow it in garbage when battery go bad or scrach. Then buy a new 55

2 years, i used also the garmin 55 moor than the fenix 8.werry happy with garmin 55. No issue with skin. The most importan thing is distance and heart rate. I dont need moor.

I dont now how to activate sleep report on my garmin55, the wach stop after 2-3h sleep

I've been using a Forerunner 55 for running for a year now and I love it. It's very comfortable and it's showing me all the stats I want. Together with Garmin Connect I can set a goal and get a full workout schedule planned automatically which is perfect for me because I don't have to think about it and it's motivating me to get out and run. I'm just wondering how a more expensive Garmin would benefit me. Is there anything cool that I'm missing out on? I'm only using my Garmin for exercising. Otherwise I'm using normal stupid watches.

Is forerunner 55 also for swimming? I have one but not sure if to use it on swimming as I use it only for running so far

I'd keep the 55

Sorry I misread. I thought you already had the 55. The 55 has more than enough features but for the price difference, I'd get the 165. It's bright enough. From DCrainmaker's review: >Inversely in bright light conditions, such as outside on bright sun, the display is more than bright enough. Over the last few weeks I’ve used the watch both in direct Florida sun, as well as on a bright sunny day in the Alps at altitude surrounded by snow reflecting the light – all without any issue.

Garming fr 55 naka 7k less discount pa

i had my fr55 for 3 years now. im having issues with the connectivity and battery for 3 months now. tried factory reset and all. battery only last 4 days from full charge. no gps basic watch face.

Only the high end Garmin will do what you need. Their low end eg forerunner 55 has terrible sleep monitoring capability. Best as a hr monitor.

sagad mo na sa garmin forerunner55

I have my Garmin which is not the newest watch(it's a forerunner 55) and I normally don't use it for swimming bc I do club swimming so I always have my coach, but for my own sessions I like to use my watch and it is really great for tracking pace and distance in a pool

My Garmin Forerunner 55 doesn't have all the bells and whistles but it has treated me well.

In the past there was no Garmin, no super trainers, no super race shoes, no Gu or Gatorade. People ran far, ran fast, trained like beasts. But now people run much further, faster, and train like aliens all due to these improvements. You don’t need these per se, but you’ll lag behind the pack on almost every aspect. Try to get a simple Forerunner 55 at a discount to get started, you won’t regret it.

I've got Runna on annual sub and genuinely do not use it at all. Garmin Coach / Daily Suggestions is also pretty basic IME. What I would do is get a Garmin 55 for £117 (Going via one of the discount links like HealthServiceDiscounts) and then either use TrainAsOne (free version for a few months - after premium free trial - and then if you like it buy the annual sub for £75 on Black Friday), OR, buy a Stryd for £139 with the £8.99 monthly membership for 6 months. If you don't like the Stryd you'll be able to sell it for about £100. I've had a 955 and currently have an Epix 2 and tbh it's only the maps that I really use that I think I would miss in a more basic watch. Some of the stats are sort of fun to look at, but you can get more meaningful and arguably more accurate stats using Runalyze (for free). Oh and get a chest heart rate monitor - a cheap Coospro one will be fine. Edit - actually, you know what, I reckon (check) you could just stick with the Apple Watch and use TrainAsOne and/or Stryd. TrainAsOne will soon be integrating with Stryd AIUI.

I have both, and my 55 is still going strong. You might be waiting a while. 😄 I got the 255 about a year after I got the 55 because I found the screen too small to see well while running.

I had the Garmin Forerunner 55, but upgraded to the 255 mostly just for the screen size. 😅 I find it pretty accurate, though I have to wear a sweatband or gaiter wrapped around my wrist for the HR to read properly throughout workouts. I really like it. Only regret was not getting the music version since I wasn’t really listening to music on runs before, and now I love to. I have to bring my phone for that, which I don’t love.

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

This solely depends on Apple Watch gen. My gen 1 SE was and still is garbage at tracking anything. I bought a FR55 over the weekend and despite the app connectivity giving me slight issues, I don’t let it bug me because not having to charge my watch almost twice daily has been a very nice change, got my forerunner on Saturday and I still have yet to put it on the charger.

For $200, I’d say FR55 is arguably your best bang for the buck. It’s my daily right now until my 7 Pro SS is delivered. Been wearing it almost non-stop since getting in late October last year.

I don’t disagree, but the battery life was my main reasoning for purchase. All data scans have been much more accurate in comparison to my old AW too. Compared it all to my mothers nursing equipment such as bpm, HR, etc and all have only been like +/- 1 off which I found impressive. My fr55 on average lasts 12-13 days on a full charge. Also remember you aren’t just paying for a “smart watch” you’re paying for a fitness watch which smart watch tech. You’re paying for what the watch is able to do, whereas with Apple or Samsungs you’re paying purely for a smart watch with extra data.

For me personally, lack of touch screen, display size and Fenix 7 has like 2x the battery life. Also more fitness stuff and not just cardio specific.

I've had a similar fitness schedule to you without the lifting and I've been using the Garmin Forerunner 55 with good success. I never take any stats from fitness watches as 100% accurate because there's just so many variables that it doesn't take into account like heat, humidity, how much you ate that day, how truly well you slept, etc. I do have to say that the FR55 doesn't have the best GPS or altimeter if you're also interested in elevation, so you might feel it's lacking if you do decide to try it. Garmin does have a 3rd party app for climbing that I use mostly to track what grades I've been climbing and any crazy HR peaks during specific styles. Apparently, I get super nervous on slabs but I have literally NO idea how tall or long the routes are because of the subpar altimeter. I'm not sure if the app works better on other models, but I haven't looked for additional reviews on it. Hope this helps!

The same I was big on the Apple ecosystem and felt like it was a cool watch just because it integrated so well, but I never even downloaded any apps for it. All I ever used it for was timers and reminders and stuff like that and basic fitness tracking, and my forerunner does all the same stuffbut way better. Should’ve switched sooner

There is Garmin Swim (IMHO essentially it is a ForeRunner, but swim has been put in focus; review here https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/10/garmin-openwater-review.html). However, modern Garmin watches are all able to track pool swim as well as gym workouts (you might have to set exercises later in the app if you want to track muscle groups affected). Essentially ForeRunner is for runners mostly, Forerunner 9xx is focused on triathlon, Fenix is mostly for outdoors - but again, all of them can do almost the same. I’d go with Fenix if budget allows.

All true except advanced metrics. They are also present in Fenix (it has even more features for hiking) and Instinct. Forerunner is not more advanced. The rugedness is mostly about the bezel. In fenix and instinct it has a rim which gives extra protection to the screen. But that means rugged watches are more bulky what can be a problem in the gym. The real question is lightness of forerunner vs battery life of fenix /instinct

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 have both and just got the forerunner. I really enjoy the fitness data from garmin. AW is just a superior smart watch and I am coming to the conclusion that I don’t need it any more. At my age I just need to focus more on my health and fitness.

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.

I would personally always take a Forerunner over the Venu series, as I am pretty serious about my fitness. I don't really care much about smart watch features, just need a bare minimum. And the venu series seems to take tradeoffs with fitness features to accommodate the increase in smart features.

Running is just what the Forerunner targets to be the best choice for. It is a lighter watch, with all the GPS accuracy you can get. It doesn't focus on Golf or diving or being "rugged". So yes, a Forerunner would still be a great option for your situation, and it will just be a plus if you ever decide to run.

I second this. My Garmin Forerunner has been going strong 4 years now.

Yes, they’re great. Make sure to download the connect app, that’s we’re all the useful data will be much easier to read.

The only time that I had issues with a Garmin watch they replaced the watch well over the warrant. I got a forerunner that lasted a lot (6 years?) and then I gave it to a friend. I'm sporting an almost 5 year old fenix and I got it second hand. The watches they make are sturdy

Garmin Forerunners are a great fitness watch.

I think if you primarily want to track those workouts and your alternative is not getting an Apple Watch, then it might be overkill in terms of money spent. I was coming from a forerunner and knew I wanted an Apple Watch so was going between an S10 and ultra 2 and don’t regret getting the ultra 2. Like you, I wanted the extra battery life and preferred the more rugged look

You can get a Fenix 7 Pro for less than that from John Lewis at the moment. It depends what you want from the watch. If you want sturdy and looks good then go for a Fenix, if you want lighter then go Forerunner. You won't get a Fenix 8 in that budget but the 7 Pro is still very good for the money.

I've been an Apple Watch user for more than 7 years. Currently have Ultra 2. But I just got a Garmin Forerunner and love it. It's a refreshing change with superior data for me. On a practical note, I can use Spotify in the Garmin and it hasn't glitched on me once. Apple Watch is a disaster with playing music at the same time as running and this has held true for years over several different watches, watchOS versions and headphones. I like to row and the Garmin counts the strokes per minute whereas the Apple watch gives you no data. The built in training plans on Garmin are much better than having to pay for a subscription to Runna or Fitness+. The recovery insights through the day are better for me than Apple and don't require a third party app. The Find my iPhone equivalent feature on Garmin works better for me. Good luck with your AW but I'm enjoying the Garmin experience and I say that as a diehard Apple user.

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

So I train with both the AWU2 and my Forerunner, and I’m a fan of each for different reasons. Never have I heard anyone complain about the GPS accuracy of an Ultra 2 though. I generally find my two watches are very close if I use them together but, if anything, the Ultra is always a bit closer to the mark, especially in areas that challenge GPS. Very odd what you’re saying here.

Where??? I’m really curious. All the reputable reviewers rave about Apple for accuracy of GPS (especially the Ultra, with its dual-band) and HR. Now when it comes to all the other fitness functionality it sucks big time haha. But, on the other hand, the Garmin is far worse from a smartwatch perspective and my AWU2’s cellular connectivity is above and beyond the thing I care most about on long, remote runs.

If you really end up getting into running, I would not suggest Vivioactive 5. The pace shown on the watch is NOT the pace you are running. You won’t see your actual pace until after you run and sync to the app. I’ve learned a way to know “appropriately” what pace I’m running by setting up the watch with .25 mile laps so it will show me the .25 average. Also, I start a separate run activity for both slower warmup and another one for the slower cool down. For weight workouts in the gym, I just use the cardio activity but it’s really just to see approximately how much time and calories I’m supposed earning. Pool workouts are decent for counting laps, just one lap off. Maybe the low-level Forerunner would have been a better option for my running. I’ve only had mine a few months but it’s durable. I’ve worn it doing lots of hiking, over rocks etc. But I’m also a little bit careful.

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

I would suggest any Fenix or even any forerunner over any vivoactive or venu of you're serious about training. Sure you can get by with most basic stuff on those watches but if you get serious about training or want better features you'll have wanted at least a forerunner model

I think it very much depends on what you want from a watch. I’m a big data nerd too and I really do enjoy my Garmin. The other nice thing is that Garmin has a pretty wide array watches that can cater to a beginner or advanced runner. Me personally? I had a forerunner for many years before I upgraded to the Enduro line due to battery life during 100k+ distance races.

Came to say the same… I had an Apple Watch, replaced it with a garmin forerunner for 1 month it was the worst! So inaccurate and when I’d swim in pools it would so often double count my lengths… I went back to Apple Watch

None of the forerunners have a metal bezel. They’re all solid colours. The Venu just looks better period , imo

I’ve worn a lot of watches and trackers. For a beginning runner I would get a Garmin Forerunner. I’ve owned the entry level and the Epix Pro ($1100). Garmin is the most consistent running tool I’ve owned

Update I bought a forerunner and used it a couple times but ended up returning it for the Venu 3. I am happy with my choice!!!

I got the Venu 3s and couldn’t be happier! Tried out the forerunner but hated the way it looked and I feel like their running tools/stats are incredibly similar

I just switched from AWU it FR 970 and it’s really not even a question. I LOVE the forerunner so much more.

Just “downgraded” from a Fenix to a Forerunner (about a month ago) and love it. The battery life of the Forerunner isn’t as great but it’s still good, about 7 days on one charge (using GPS once a day). Forerunner is less bulky. I have zero regrets with the switch.

Go with a venu 3, all the important things is there, it has great accuracy comparable with forerunners, and it's adequate for your running needs, and also the design is more fitting for you.  But yeah, if I have to choose for myself I'd go with Forerunner because as a guy I like Forerunner better design wise, and I like to have all the features even though I might not need it. 

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.

This was my experience, too-- went from Apple watch to Forerunner and I'm glad that I made the leap. The tipping point for me was that the Apple watch battery was draining so fast on my rides that I was losing data, and I was charging it twice a day.

The forerunner is the same internals and same 1.4" OLED screen as all the other high end garmin watches. The heart sensor is elevate 4 instead of elevate 5. Otherwise its the same watch with different styling. You can put whatever watch face on the watch you prefer. You want it to look like any other watch, just use that watch face. Just don't get the extremely outdated MIP screen that the zealots keep pretending is a good choice even though it doesn't save any battery anymore and is only offered on the obsolete watches. Some people can't afford the new OLED screens so they want to say they are inferior, when they are just poor and can't afford current tech that is obviously better. It really comes down to the styling of the watch case, if you want it to be super oversized 51mm or normally only slightly oversized 47mm or you want the colored accents or the flashlight or whatever. Its a personal styling decision at this point, get what makes you happy.

Definitely Garmin, specifically the Forerunner

I don’t know what you’re doing with your Ultra, but mine gets barely 2 days and I have the brightness on the lowest settings and no third party apps installed. My Garmin Forerunner gets 4-5 days on a single charge and if I turn off the AOD, that goes up to 15

Just about all the Garmin watches do what you're looking for. The only thing with the Instinct is that it's a pretty specific look. You're coming from an Apple watch, which is pretty much accepted as appropriate in any setting and with any attire. The Instinct definitely looks rugged and tough. The Forerunner is more generic looking.

Yes you can order plenty of bands online. I started with the Venu 2S and swapped to the Forerunner. They are the same size. Forerunner definitely has sportier bands. But I appreciate more activity modes, more training metrics and better battery life.

Forerunner or Enduro for all around "everything." Weights suck with any watch, but that's not specific to any model.

Don't underestimate the lightness of your watch. Especially 19 hours in, I just get tired of the heavy shit on my wrist. I'd go Forerunner or Enduro every time.

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

I would go Fenix personally if money isn't an issue. Better looking, better build, longer battery, and better (more waterproof) buttons. I really don't like the look of the forerunners so that may also be a big bias for me.

Funnily enough, a lot of people do more than just road running..... a forerunner is not great for swimming, cycling, heavy trail running etc. Ive run multiple half marathons in my fenix no issues as well as doing many other activities without the worry of cracking a plastic watch and having enough battery to do so. I also did say that I was bias towards the look.... but it still remains that I think forerunners look cheap.

Most of the training data is a gimmick anyway. Youll be fine with a venu 3. One of my friends is an ex Olympian Rower. Hè has a venu 3 I have a forerunner. He is in much better shape than I am. The Watch doesnt matter.

Brother gave me a used Garmin Forerunner a year ago as he upgraded. It's been awesome so I'd go second hand/refurbished from reputable source.

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.

Basically any Garmin from the 255 and up. Fenix is the best but pricey so forerunner should be more than enough

I had a forerunner and only switched to an Apple Watch when I had to stop running. Garmin is a superior fitness watch. Especially if you are running every day. You can use both but it will screw your daily stats. You get a few more smart features (eg replying to texts)  in n the Garmin if you pair it to an Android phone as Apple deliberately don’t integrate well.  Oh, and the battery lasts days even when exercising a lot (weeks without excercise). 

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.

...and something good about the Forerunner is that there is one for every budget (unlike other Garmin watch ranges).

the cheaper forerunners and Fenixes are great for this, simple, cheap, reliable and near indestructible

I’ve had both fenix and forerunner. Even as a multi sport athlete ( although primarily a runner) I hands down love my forerunner way better.

Lots of options. Check out the Venu series, Vivofit, and Vivoactive. IMO the value-added aspects of the Forerunner are around running and other aerobic endurance sports. Are those relevant to you?

Forerunner can be a great alternative to Fenix if you're price conscious. Or just last generation Fenix. Do you care about maps?

Forerunner does that stuff too. In general, higher-end Garmins add, they don't take away. Are you serious about any of your sports? Like planning seasons, building for events, that kind of thing?

Changed my mind... I think without an explicit indoor rowing activity profile and VO2max, the extra analysis stuff on the Forerunner won't really work. Not sure if any of the watches have that. I know there are some accepted equations to estimate that stuff, though I think you'd also need a reasonably accurate power meter on your rowing machine. So yeah, Venu or whatever is fine.

My opinion, go with the Forerunner. Check out all the chatter from people moving on from their Apple Watches - I get that some of the newer ones have much better support for running but you say you have an older one. And you're not going to want to carry your phone either. How much running have you done up to now?

If you want a sports watch with superb training feature and battery runtime, get a Garmin (Forerunner). If you want a smartwatch with some sports features, get an Apple Watch.

I tried a Garmin Forerunner but couldn't figure out how to customize it (and I'm pretty tech savvy). Sold it to a triathlete. I'm a Samsung gal and I love my Samsung Galaxy 6. I easily customized it so that getting to the swim app is just one face swipe and a click. It auto detects my strokes pretty reliably and even though I don't do flip turns it knows when I switch direction and gets the distance right.

Probably Forerunner. I did a whole video on picking your Garmin: https://youtu.be/UuSZG52uOrg

Current/recent Forerunners aren't clunky and are a fine everyday wellness watch.

Forerunner. Any model. Any model from last few years up to now. Great range of watches. Loads out there pre-loved as runners do live to upgrade. FR 745 is vastly underrated / undervalued as a device for the non-elite level runner.

I’ve been double wristing it for about a year and a half since I got into marathon training. Garmin Forerunner on the right, rotation of analog watches on the left. It has completely killed any desire for a digital watch on my “nice watch” arm, and I get a question about it occasionally, but otherwise I don’t really think about it

I tried to switch but in the end I came back to Apple watch (I missed it's smart capabilities, it's nice and polished apps and the way it integrates in the Apple ecosystem). I do wear my Garmin Forerunner on my runs though along with my the Apple Watch.

For someone who is new and cares mostly about sleep tracking and GPS activities it’s honestly all kind of the same. You can run with an Instinct and you can hike with a forerunner. Choose based off of look, price, battery life for your particular activities. A Fenix or Instinct pretty much does it all and with great battery life. Doesn’t really matter in the end unless you care about very specific advanced metrics. I personally think most of the Forerunners are ugly so I gravitate towards Instinct because I’m also not willing to overpay for a Fenix when there’s other brands that cover 90% of a Fenix for half the cost. If you want to research alternatives: If you’re looking at an Instinct, check out Coros Nomad. If you’re looking at a Fenix check out Suunto Race 2 or Vertical 2 or upcoming Coros Apex 4.

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

Fenix or Epix and yes they integrate with iPhones. Some fitness apps will connect to Garmin. If you want a slimmer watch you can also go for the new forerunner.

The Forerunner but that is just my preference because I feel that the Instinct is the ugliest watch that Garmin makes. I see several have suggested the MIP solar version of the Instinct - I would say a huge no to that. Unless you are going to spend a huge amount of time outside the solar is useless and the MIP is dull and not great inside.

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

It does not sound like you do running or other outdoor activities, so I d recommend a vivoactive 5 or 6 mate. However, something like a basic Forerunner could also give you all plus some running support for a share of the vivo price. I started my first one with a vivomove HR which only gave me steps and basic gym rep counting (that was 8 years ago) then vivoactive 3 and now a FR965 because I do hike a lot and started running recently plus all the gym.

Go for the forerunner!!! No need for anything else

I’d definitely take a look at the Forerunner line. It’s going to be thinner and lighter than the Fenix, and generally carries most of the same (if not all) features. 

Forerunner if you care about run-specific metrics, the vivoactive 5 lacks them, the vivoactive 6 has some, but forerunner would be the go-to

Yeah every forerunner I’ve owned has been great. Also touch screens on a running watch are really annoying if you sweat a lot

Apple watch is pretty useless by the time you're trying to add sensors to your workouts. Look at wahoo and coros. Garmin forerunner is awesome if you want to splurge.

As a long time garmin devotee…their current pricing is just inexcusable. I’ve been a forerunner guy forever and it’s honestly a joke.

Almost all of the current lineup. Check the specs section on their product pages. Do you need maps or basic breadcrumb navigation? If maps, then 955 / 965, Fenix / Enduro. Otherwise The Forerunner and Instinct series should be fine.

If you want a cheaper option the Forerunner is good. Had two in a row. Heart rate, could record rides pretty accurately.

My forerunner lasts like 3 days 🫠

Forerunner, and the version depends on your bidget

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.

Garmin Forerunner + Playrun App from IQ is working for me pretty smoothly.

I had the same debate - bought the venu & ended up returning it for the forerunner & have been beyond happy with my decision. the extra battery life alone makes it so worth it for me, but I also really love the additional metrics & the daily suggested workouts

Get a garmin forerunner best investment I’ve ever made

I really love my Garmin. I use a forerunner which isnt the most stylish model, but battery life is really good and it has a lot of additional activity features I like (e.g. tracking outdoor swimming, biking , training plans etc). They have a paid subscription model but it is in no way necessarily, you get access to most features as part of the watch.

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.

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.

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.

Had an Apple Watch and currently have Garmin Forerunner Battery life Battery life Battery life Garmin all day.

No smartwatch does swimming or lifting particularly well, imo. The development of swimming software has always been secondary to the watch’s software for biking and running. That said, i do use and find acceptable the swim function on my garmin (I’ve had a swim 2, forerunner, and fenix). I don’t pay attention to stroke detection so I can’t speak to that but it does everything else you’re asking for.  For lifting, paper and pen is still king. I track my lifting workouts on my watch so i get “credit” for them and the workouts help me reach some of the silly little “challenges” garmin has, but it’s too fiddly, prone to errors, and doesn’t provide me the same information I get by writing down my lifts & how I felt. 

if you're trying a lot of new hikes, loading up hikes on the watch is great and I've liked it on my forerunner.

Yeah, the nice thing about the PW is that its user serviceable. You can change out the screen and battery. I hope other manufacturers decide to follow this example. It also has LTE and satellite and okay battery life. On the other hand, the forerunner has buttons which I prefer.

The forerunner is made for runners, it's the obvious choice here.

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?

I was a Fenix guy until I bought a forerunner. I can't tell the forerunner is on my wrist. I love it.

Fourth for Garmin!!!(I have a forerunner) I love it!

Switched 5 years ago. Echoing the comment here: this is **not** a smartwatch, but a **sports/adventure watch.**  You won’t be reading your emails, getting texts, or calling a Uber, and the screen is nowhere near as responsive as the AW. If you’re looking for a phone one your wrist, Garmin is not for you. But if you’re training for a sports race, anything from a 5k to an ultramarathon, or even just trying to stay generally fit, 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, to a Foretunner or Epix or Fenix. Not even getting started on navigation in the mountains, which is really good — if you hike, camp, trail run, cycle, or generally enjoy being out, you will love your Epic or Fenix.

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)

>It's actually not bad, it's just a compromise you MUST take I don't like compromises. So I wear an Apple Watch and a Garmin Forerunner.

I use both, Apple Watch and Garmin (one on each wrist). IMHO, Apple Watch does better health tracking and offers a wider range of devices to contribute data. As well as more apps. Apple really shines in sleep tracking and I have the feeling that Apple’s wrist based HR sensor is better than Garmin’s. I am using a Forerunner, so it’s not the newest Garmin tech, but my Apple Watch is a Series 8, so not the newest gen either). I really like Garmin for training. And the HRM Pro Plus is the best heart rate monitor I ever had.

Yes, serious overkill. Vivoactive is good for general health tracking and logging your runs or you could go for something more running specific like a Forerunner. For more all around fitness at a decent price, you can't beat the Vivoactive series.

Whoops focus during exercise is how much strain you are putting your body through.  I’d recommend getting a Garmin forerunner if you want a fully dedicated running watch! 

Garmin forerunner, Fenix, epix, Enduro. And nothing else matters

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.

The Fenix is much heavier than the Forerunner. I had a Fenix and switched to Forerunner because of the weight.

Whichever forerunner is within your budget is usually best if running is the priority

Garmin forerunner, whichever one you want they’re all good

I have the Fenix 8 amoled which I use for running and hiking, the sapphire glass is great so it doesn’t scratch and I love having topo maps standard. Cons is the price. Forerunner is a good option if price is an issue.

I just got a forerunner garmin after my Apple Watch couldn’t last a day. if you can, I’d definitely recommend getting one, maybe even with the holidays coming up. It tracks my sleep, workouts, stress - a whole lot more than my old Apple Watch!

I have an AWU: it’s a smart watch w/ mostly useless rudimentary fitness tracking metrics that don’t match at all with what training peaks, intervals, Strava, or Garmin Connect give for metrics & stats. Also, battery lasts less than 24 hours if you actually use your watch for tracking rides. I had a Garmin Forerunner: It was a legit fitness tracker that has useful metrics that align w/ 3rd party training platforms and also has some basic useful smart watch features. Seamless integration w/ Garmin Edge bike computer stats as well. When I upgrade watches, I’m going back to Garmin because I prioritize the fitness features more than the often annoying & useless smart watch novelty features that Apple caters towards for the general public. What do you prioritize? Novelty smart watch features (Apple), or useful training metrics (Garmin).

Garmin has the best batteries, forerunner as others said

Vivoactive and Venu (non X1, that thing should have had a name of its own) don't have the advanced running metrics. So it's Forerunner , then check whether the features you want are in Instinct, Fenix, Enduro or Epix if you like one of those better.

I used my Garmin Forerunner and it was perfect. Only charged once after 6 days.

Fenix 7. Skip the screen on the 8 and go with one that holds up better in bright sunlight. HOWEVER, if these are truly your only options I’d say forerunner. Slightly less rugged, but has everything you need for a little less than Fenix series. Doesn’t have a flashlight though

If price isn't an issue check the Garmin line. They have watches for runners, climbers, n daily life. I'm not a runner but I got the forerunner since it matched well with my life style. Just pick the one that u like the most based on its features. Battery life is from 7 days to 15 depending on the watch n use. If price is an issue get the lower end ones, less feats but still very nice battery life

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.

The Forerunner would be a watch I’d recommend for sure. There are a number of different models, so make sure you do your research. It also depends on how much you want to spend.

Depending on how much you want to interact with your watch, the lack of buttons on a Venu might be frustrating. For that reason a Forerunner might be better as you can lock the touch screen during runs and use the buttons.

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

If you move all day, whoop will track it. Whether or not you are doing an activity whoop will count any increase in heart rate towards your "strain", and will give you sleep recommendations and adjust recovery based on that. The automatic activity tracking and auto sleep tracking are great. It's the most hands off device out there. Garmin only adds load when you are tracking an activity, so it can miss a lot if it's not a planned workout. But when you do track activities, it gives you much more information. Whoop is not a good activity tracker. It's a health tracker. You can really only see your heart rate zones for the activity. You can't see progression over time or compare it to previous workouts. For that you need garmin or Strava or something else. From what I can tell, Garmin is amazing at activities and good enough with health, while whoop does great with health but is poor for activities. Not sure if this helps, but it seems like there is no perfect option - Im going to have to make this same decision once my subscription is up.

Get the forerunner it’s definitely more versatile and does the swim as well as the swim 2.. I have owned a Garmin for 20 yrs — have the Fenix 8 now

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.

For concept 2 you can use the forerunner to broadcast HR to a PM5, and have Ergdata sync to Garmin Connect. The HR data works well even off the wrist (I used to find that wrist HR sucked for rowing). I also broadcast HR to my cycling computer.

>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 second this. Exact same use case run 3x/week and weight train 3-4x/week. I found the epix pro gen 2 sapphire to be best utility and bang for buck. I tried the FR but was too run focused and I preferred the more tactical look. The fenix 8 was nice but at double the price with same sensor technology it didn’t felt worth it. You do forgo the mic and voice features but I didn’t need it and didn’t want a true smart watch but prioritized a fitness forward watch. 3 months in and I love my Epix pro gen 2 47mm

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. 😂

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.