Garmin - Forerunner 745
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Jan 28, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
1938
566
"Been using them for about four years working out in my gym, and cycling daily (45+ minutes on a bicycle outdoors)."
"I even washed them accidentally and still worked perfectly fine afterwards."
"I still have the Kirby my grandma bought brand new in 1970."
98
6
"they were so much more comfortable I struggle to even put my Maxwells back on."
"open back is the only way since gaming you get so freaking hot you need the ventilation."
"Thanks to its plastic-plus-aluminum construction, the Dufu is incredibly light. ... Once you find the right set of ear tips, it practically vanishes on your ears without any sense of foreignness or sagging, ensuring excellent comfort even during extended listening sessions."
224
45
"Oh, and the battery lasts days even when exercising a lot (weeks without excercise)."
"Battery lasts me about a week?"
"my battery lasts about a week while using the oxymeter all the time as well as using it for tracking my workouts for about 7-9 hours a week."
32
3
"GPS is way better, on the same track, the Samsung "lost" about 100m after each lap"
"In the end, my running results are much more accurate. ... Over my last three runs, this is what I've achieved compared to the Coros Pace Pro: - 10.51 km and 333 elevation gains (Watch3) - 10.60 km and 344 elevation gains (Coros) - 20.01 km and 630 elevation gains (Watch3) - 20.04 km and 663 elevation gains (Coros) - 21.20 km and 208 elevation gains (Watch3) - 21.09 km and 218 elevation gains (Coros) ... In the end, the GPS track matches my route much better, and the distances are more than accurate. ... So I think the watch is perfectly adequate for amateur running."
"It has been extremely accurate with location and distance tracking. ... It’s been very accurate with paddling"
Disliked most:
3
25
"It's the same nozzle size, but it's also heavier than the red, so it's more prone to falling out of your ears. ... I returned both the red and the mp145 even though they both fit me (to an extent). ... Dont even try the 145 if the red's don't fit."
"They're bulky and heavy"
"I find it heavy, bulky and the wire doesn't curve over my ear well"
25
76
"wtf no time settings in a watch?"
"google's software features and fit-and-finish is lacking for their watch ... there is no option on a pixel watch to just automatically turn on the screen when a notification comes in to view the notification; you have to manually interact with it by either tapping the screen within a few seconds or lift-to-wake the watch, which is very unreliable ... that actually was a dealbreaker for me"
"it does not show new notifications as they come in without some sort of manual action ... unless you tap the screen or lift your wrist when you get the vibration, you don't get to see anything ... 75% of the time my pw2 wouldn't recognize a wrist-raise gesture, so I'd miss whatever the new notification was"
20
47
"I used to find that wrist HR sucked for rowing"
"the hr reading is incorrect. ... 20 dollars band from Samsung does a better job"
"The discrepancy is much higher for HR than running dynamics. ... I think it is straight up irresponsible to rely on wrist-based HR is you’re using HR as a part of training"
2
16
"the UI was so old and slow i grew to hate the watch."
"I tried a Garmin Forerunner but couldn't figure out how to customize it (and I'm pretty tech savvy)."
"Garmin silently stopped feature updates for Fenix 7 and Epix watches it was still selling at high prices, which is much worse than what any other brand did."
0
5
"Garmin's auto rest feature (automatic lap/set vs rest feature) is almost good. The issue is that the motion detection is way too sensitive so if I move my arm at all during rest it thinks I'm still swimming. The algorithm also has trouble with rests shorter than 20s so it's common to see workout sets recorded as one big swim blob with some periods of no movement sprinkled in."
"annoyingly less accurate compared to Finnis goggles and Apple Watch"
"about 20% of my laps are undercounted ... it keeps running up the time well after I stop for a rest - this can even be up to 10 seconds after I stop."
BikeBite 1.0Look for a certified waterproof refurbished Garmin, maybe in the Forerunner family. Personally I would go back as far as the \_55 models (255, 755, 955, etc.).
djferris123 1.0I "upgraded" from a 745 to a 165 and don't regret it at all. While I lost a couple features it was never anything that I really used or care about. The only thing about the 165 is that you need to make sure you buy the music version not the standard version
EvenSplits 1.0I use a four year old Garmin 745. This is the watch that dcrainmaker uses as his base for his watch reviews. It is never overly generous or stingy on my swims that I complete without stopping, fueling, resting, etc. I swim two specific routes (3k or 5k yds) and so far this summer, they are consistent within 2 yds per 1000 yds. When there is a greater difference, it's because of the GPS dance if I have to take a break for whatever reason.
ExactPineapple3039 1.0Forerunner 745 and Edge 540 way to go
Global_Strain_4219 1.0**Do all Garmins do these things?** Most do. **Should I grab a second hand older model? Or did I need a specific newer model to do all of these things?** What you mentioned should work on second hand models. BUT I suggest you pick a model that has the latest heart rate sensor (V5) for better heart rate accuracy. And if you can afford a model that has multi band GPS if possible, this makes the GPS much more accurate. [https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=9NWiPDU4gM0JWMfdWFol7A](https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=9NWiPDU4gM0JWMfdWFol7A) Here is a list of new watches with Multi Band GPS (price starts at $400): [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/running-smartwatches/?FILTER\_FEATURE\_SUBTRACKING\_CONNECTIVITY=multibandGPS¤tPage=1&sorter=price-asc](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/running-smartwatches/?FILTER_FEATURE_SUBTRACKING_CONNECTIVITY=multibandGPS¤tPage=1&sorter=price-asc) To research watches, I do recommend you check out [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/), he has wonderful reviews and videos, very in depth. **Watch recommendations** Since you mentioned you are running. I would suggest a watch that has "Training status". Basically it keeps track of your workouts, and suggest more workouts to you. As a runner I love it. Now it is a bit more expensive, the new watches that have this can be found here: [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/running-smartwatches/?FILTER\_FEATURE\_SUBTRACKING\_RUNNING\_TRAINING=trainingstatus¤tPage=1&sorter=price-asc](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/running-smartwatches/?FILTER_FEATURE_SUBTRACKING_RUNNING_TRAINING=trainingstatus¤tPage=1&sorter=price-asc) But you also have some older models if you buy used, such as Fenix 5 & up, Forerunner 245 & up, Forerunner 745, Forerunner 935 & up.
GregryC1260 1.0Forerunner. 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.
Yes a 970 is overkill but so what? I use a preloved 745. Does everything I need. I can count the occasions over the last decade when I've needed an actual map on the fingers of one finger. I've never needed a watch to suggest a route to me, and I've no need to use a Garmin adaptive training plan at my stage of decrepitude (64 & 98kgs & 188 cm tall.) Probably better to have features you don't use, than buy a watch which doesn't do what you need, like not playing music. (not that I can currently find my BT headphones.)
Harrietgz_ 1.0If you happen to have tiny wrists (like me) and you want the maps (as an avid hiker: you do) your only option is the Fenix S (42 or 43 mm). 7 or 7pro are probably affordable by now. Also, bought it for hiking, but Garmin pay is the most used option for me - works so much better than paying with your phone!
HigherConfusion 1.0It's a very old model, which Garmin priced way to high for it to ever become good value for money. I had an close eye on it and 946lte due to size. I ended up buying 955 when it was released and first long after that, did the 745 and 945lte, but now it was too late and they where outdated
Jynxers 1.0I can't comment on the ring, but I can recommend Garmin lily for sleep tracking. I wear a Garmin Lily during the day and for sleep, and switch to my Garmin Forerunner 745 for workouts. I like that the watches talk to each other through Garmin connect so I never miss steps or double count steps.
LooseQuestion3037 1.0This. I bought a second hand Garmin forerunner 745 and it’s great
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