Garmin - Forerunner 745

Forerunner 745 here. Bought a bundle of three for my sons and myself. Got a great deal (<$240 each). The battery life is good if you turn off the smart watch notifications and don’t play music from it. Can go 2-3 days without a charge. Although I usually charge it while I’m in the shower. The rapid charging is great. Have has it 14 months now and am quite happy. Only training watch I’ve ever had. My training APP connect to the Garmin app and feeds my watch the workouts. The watch connects to my Zwift One hub and feeds it my bike workouts.

Honestly after years of training with the 745, which I think has the same display of the 955, I cannot wait to get an AMOLED. With the 745 it's pretty hard to see if you don't activate the light

Garmin Forerunner 745. I like that i can use for swimming too.

I have a Garmin Forerunner 745 and it works well for laps and open water.

I have a 745 and my wife just picked up the 265s. It’s a great watch and plenty of features for 99% of endurance athletes. The 965 is cool, but not necessary unless you’re racing ultra marathons or multi day hiking expeditions where you’re using the mapping features.

I "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

I 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.

I'm a swimming teacher and I'm in the pool 6 days a week, and my Forerunner 745 hasn't let me down once in the two years I've had it now

**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.

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.

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.)

It'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

Not a coach or professional swimmer, so for what it's worth: A sports watch will help you track your workouts, and with some you can plan them, but I'd take lessons to improve form. There are some metrics on watches that could help you improve (stroke per length, stroke per minute, swolf.. ) but they'll only make sense if you know what proper form is, IMO. That being said, if you're in the apple biotope I've heard people are happy with the apple watch. The other main option seems to be garmin, which I have (older model, forerunner 745). If you do other sports, consider forerunner (FR) 265 or 965, or 255 or 955 are both still good watches. The Garmin swim 2 is a watch dedicated for swimming, but lacking in other functionalities, which is why I didn't get that one. Swimming functionalities are pretty much equivalent on FR255, 265, 955 and 965, as far as I can remember. You can compare models on the garmin website.  Some of the more entry models (forerunner 55 for example) also have some basic swimming tracking functionalities, but check that they don't lack the ones you're looking for (heart rate is not tracked in the water for some watches, for example, and you won't get GPS on open water swimming if that's something you (plan to) do. I'm not too impressed by the heart rate monitor on my 745, I get much better readings with an HRM strap synced to the watch - I believe that is due to the technology, not sur light based hr reading is that effective in the water anyway. As a rule, similar workouts never register as having anaerobic benefit if I only use the watch to monitor heart rate. Other redditors may be able to shed more light on this question.  HTH!

piggy backing on this comment because of the HR accuracy comment. I agree. I have a FR745, while I'm happy with the lap tracking, HR results is significantly different between using only the watch, and using it with the Swim HRM chest strap. The FR745 never really records anaerobic effect, only when it syncs with the HRM after the swim do I get a more accurate HR tracking. I'm just a tad annoyed that it only syncs after the swim, at least with FR745, whereas the manual says it should sync when I pause with chest and watch outside the water.. If I had to change watch now, I'd go for FR255 or 265

This. I bought a second hand Garmin forerunner 745 and it’s great

Garmin 745, even counts my laps

*I don’t want my watch to be a mini-smartphone. I already carry my phone everywhere. I just want my watch to nail fitness tracking—runs, recovery, sleep, HR, VO₂ max—and not get bogged down with bloatware or unnecessary “smart” features. Garmin, for me, hits that sweet spot.* \+1, (still) happy 5-year owner of forerunner 745

Uhhh I run a ton and have a 745, 265 will be overkill for what you are doing.

Got the 745. Still going strong 💪

Big agree. Went from Garmin Forerunner to AW, then another AW, then back to Garmin. Apple REALLY treats you like a completely sedentary person. Furthermore, i LOATHE the rings. I found myself "chasing the ring" closures rather than doing exercise for good. That yoga and strength work didn't "count" as "exercise" to the watch made me so livid that my exercise habits actually changed for the worse just so I could "close my rings." It also coerced me into working out on days when I was very sick, with its DOZENS of "streak reminders" and digital insults (like seeing blank spots for when you missed a ring-close-streak) when you missed a day. Apple doesnt seem to understand that recovery is a very important metric. My Garmin actually \*encourages\* me to take more rest days if it sees my HRV isn't recovering as fast or I'm not sleeping as well as usual.

I posted this as a response, but I feel like its worth its own direct comment. I went from a long-time Garmin Forerunner (several versions) to AW, to another AW, then back to Garmin Forerunner 745 and now 965. I LOATHE AW rings. I found myself "chasing the ring" closures rather than doing exercise for fitness improvements. That yoga and strength work didn't "count" as "exercise" to the watch made me so livid that my exercise habits actually changed for the worse just so I could "close my rings." Yeah you can record it as an exercise, but if your HR doesnt go up to whatever level they think it should, then it doesn't close your exercise ring. It also coerced me into working out on days when I was very sick, with its DOZENS of "streak reminders" and digital insults (like seeing blank spots for when you missed a ring-close-streak) when you missed a day. Apple also doesnt seem to understand that recovery is a very important metric. My Garmin actually \*encourages\* me to take more rest days if it sees my HRV isn't recovering as fast or I'm not sleeping as well as usual. I get no "insulting digital scolding" if I don't move as much some days. So my summary? **Apple:** paternalistic parent who doesn't understand what actually fitness is beyond "you should be constantly moving", sets goals for you based on population-level metrics not personalized input that can backfire badly; made for sedentary people who need to move a little more; is basically the same as your phone, nagging you alllllllll the time on your wrist. **Garmin**: fitness coach in a watch who understands that variability and rest are the keys to improving fitness; just a fitness watch with superb biometrics and stats. doesnt nag you all the damn time and just tells you when you're getting a call or a text message but thats about it.

The Garmin 745 is available on Amazon for $230. For the running, swimming, and overall health metrics, it is a very capable watch. As pointed out by others, it probably isn't great navigation on the watch itself. I have the 945 only because it supports golf course distances, so its worth the extra $180 or so. The 965 with the newer touch screen probably is great, just pricy.

Tbh… nothing but disappointment from the Apple Watch I had. Ended up dying a month after warranty. Despite the fact that I took it in before warranty ended and said it was having trouble charging, they said too bad. Went to a garmin 745 worked flawlessly for the last 5 years. I’ll Never buy an Apple Watch again.

Garmin 745 is a great option. Not to pricy does everything, including cashless payments. Isn’t heavy or clunky.  I really like mine.

I have the Garmin Forerunner 745. Really like it, does all the triathlon stuff well inc open water swimming. Had a few cheaper Garmins in the past that had serious limitations, the 745 great tho.

I wouldn’t do that. Having used both Apple and Garmin products for swimming, I’d urge you to go for the Garmin. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with the Apple, it’s just that the Garmin is better and the battery life is a godsend by comparison

Garmin will track your laps (while swimming any style). But if doing drills (FS kicking, one hand FS, BF kick...), you'll have to manually start/end each drill during your current Garmin poolswim session. With an Apple Watch it will track almost every lap, despite doing drills. So depends on what you'll do in the pool. Cheaper versions like a Fitbit , will track your laps no problem. You don't need to go to he GPS smart bands/watches just for swimming.

>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