Garmin - Forerunner 945

I think you are in a hard spot here! When someone is serious about something, it is difficult to gift them something about that something. In the same way that you cannot gift a mouse to a software engineer unless it's the Logitech Mx 3 or superior, you cannot gift apparel to a serious runner unless it's something really good. My point is, if you want to gift him a watch, it is difficult to recommend you something that is below $300 or $400. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of watches out there that cost less and may work. For example, you can buy the Garmin Vivoactive or Instinct for around $200, or the Amazfit T-Rex Pro for $150 (this is a really good watch for the price). However, if he is really serious about trail running, you may have to consider a Garmin Fenix 6 (between $350 and $400 on Amazon) or a Garmin Forerunner 945 (I just saw it at $319 on Amazon). If he is into both road and trail running, the Forerunner may be a good choice, but if he is getting more and more into trail running, the fenix is the best option. Note: You won't get navigation in budget-friendly watches, but I haven't meet a racer that needed it. Generally, the course is marked and people carry their phones (I have offline maps just in case). Note 2: You can save a lot by purchasing the previous-generation model (that's why I recommended fenix 6 and forerunner 945).

Strictly as a runner and most likely because I’m use to Garmin, but I absolutely love my Forerunner 945 from a fitness tool perspective. Could a AWU persuade me to switch? Maybe but Garmin is so damn good at what it does for me. With that said, I sorely miss the guided runs with Nike Run Club when I started running (I used an Apple Watch at first).

Try to look for a used garmin forerunner 245 or 945! They last a while and that’s a great way to get a good watch for cheap. When I want to upgrade I always just buy used

I see what you mean, I had a Forerunner 945 and upgraded to the 965 and it makes me sad that Samsung keeps copying Apple instead of Garmin. Not being able to add rests in between sets in 2024 is soooo stupid. I don't really care for the raw data of how long I spent training, what I care about is to be consistent on my rest time, and having to use a timer after owning a Garmin is just stupid. BUT, the GW is a lot more useful than my Garming the other 90% of my day. Yes, it sucks to have to charge every two days instead of every week, but I keep training with my Garming and use the ultra for everything else + step counter. I understand that these watches do so much more than Garmins and of course battery life can't be that good, but if only training modes where more focused on fitness focused brands instead of copying the AW's workout app, they would be so much better.

I love my 955. But I've had a 945 since 2020, I've used it an awful lot for swimming, cycling, walking, golf and the map function has got me out of the shit of couple of times. Recently (December 2024) the screen started to delaminate, Garmin sent me a 955 and it's fab. Touch screen is very good, the overnight report is really informative and it even gives you a weather report. I'd say it's a nice size, not crazy big. Well worth it

With your determination and drive, the Garmin Forerunner 945 will push your limits and never let you down! #GameChanger

No, it's just two generations old. You're going to find it lacking a lot of the more recent derived metrics Garmin included that Even the 255 and 265 can provide(training readiness, sleep score, hrv status, body battery,hill score, etc...) at the same price, But without mapping. Just about what features are important to you.

My 945 tracks pretty well, the thing is you need to put the pool size in as gps isn't going to help you measure distance 3 floors beneath a building. Occasionally it misses a lap but generally consistent.

Yeah, in my case I actually stopped using the Fenix 8 MIP and reverted to the 945. I should revise my flair.

Yeah as he said not an insane sale but a reasonable one. The mapping is nice and the battery lasts a long time. (finished a 100 easily with it)

I have both Garmin 945 and Apple Watch and they both get really close. Have doublechecked them against a polar device on my temple and all three were comparable.

945 ever since my trusty 920 cracked beyond repair 4 or 5 years ago. Before tris I used a 610. No dedicated bike computer, I just glance at my wrist every now and then. I would’ve nabbed a 965 on prime day had I caught the fire sale. Maybe next year I’ve always been in the Garmin ecosystem so I can’t give you a comparison but needless to say I’m happy here. Data is fun and that’s what I’m here for tbh. The ability to build/program workouts is pretty nice for run. Can mindlessly aim for targets without using energy counting reps The 945 (and yes the 965) has a lot of features I don’t use but I’m fortunate enough to be able to afford some toys (triathlons, afterall) and I put that toward tech instead of, say, bikes.

I’m not the commenter you replied to - but my husband has a Garmin Forerunner 165, got it for $150, and it has been phenomenal for tracking swimming metrics. I have a hand-me-down Forerunner 945 which is a “fancier” watch (was like $500 new) and his watch does almost every single one of the same things, plus a couple mine doesn’t do. You can get a swim-ready Garmin for under $200 for sure.

I have the 945 and love it. You can’t go wrong with any as long as it has the functions you’re looking for

I’m all in on the Garmin gear. I’m still using my Forerunner 945, although I’ve looked at something a little newer. I use the Vector 3 pedals, and I have their smart scale.

Both my Garmin 945 (which I use as a dedicated swim watch after retiring from daily use), and my Garmin Epix Pro gen 2 seem to have believable heart rate data during swims as long as I wear the watch snug. I remember comparing it to an old HRM-Tri when they first enabled optical heart rate during swims and it seemed pretty close, which was good enough for me. If you want absolute accuracy, you’ll have to get a Garmin watch and an HRM-Swim. You won’t have to pour over an excel file, it will sync the HRM-Swim data with the Garmin watch swim activity.

i have the forerunner 945 and i absolutely love it. upgraded from the 55 during prime week

For your needs, I’d recommend the Garmin Forerunner 945. It’s highly accurate for both running and CrossFit, and it integrates well with heart rate monitors like the HRM-Pro Plus. It also has great features for tracking OCR events, with robust GPS and performance metrics. Plus, its durability is perfect for the varied conditions of OCR races.”

The forerunner 945 is on sale here https://www.walmart.com/ip/Forerunner-945-GPS-Running-Smartwatch-in-Black/219688585?athbdg=L1600&from=/search I love this watch.

Weird mine lasted me for the full Hennepin 100 so 26 hours

I have the 945 and it’s also excellent. Might save you a few dollars whilst being nearly as good.

Gps life not even close to 24 hours for anyone interested. Mine hasn't made it past 12ish hours

Oh damn maybe I got screwed

I've used either a Forerunner 9xx or a Fēnix for about 6 years. If you give it about 5 minutes before you swim to leatch onto as many satellites as possible after it says it has a GPS fix it's pretty good. If you dive in as soon as you get the tick, it's crap.

Ive had a few Fenix versions, they are great/ top of the range. Last few years ive been using forerunners which have all the functionality - 9xx series is great, or 2xx for something easier on the pocket. My activities include trail running, hiking, triathlons (and running/swimming/riding only), golf/disc golf. Navigation and battery are good, and glass is strong. Lifestyle is great for sleep, general hr tracking, step counts, tap to pay. The 955 i have also has great multimedia (music). Cant go wrong with a forerunner (solar if you are doing ultra's or multiday). Fenix is a nice splurge

I use Garmin forerunner watch, sync Strava with Garmin Connect and sync Komoot with Strava. It works like a charm.

I have a Garmin Edge bike computer and chest based heart rate because I like to see my speed on the handlebars rather than having to look at my watch. It also navigates for me on more adventurous rides and race courses I'm unfamiliar with. For local social rides I just track on my Garmin Forerunner watch.

Runs are the same concept as rides. Personally, I use purpose-built devices to record: Garmin Edge bike computer, Garmin Forerunner watch (they also both do navigation, connect to heart rate sensors, watch does music, etc.). When I stop an activity and hit save, it's uploaded to Strava before I can even get the garage door open. I don't want to carry my phone on a run, and I don't want to run down the battery on all-day rides.

I actually prefer my old Vivoactive to the Forerunner. I'm a slow jogger, and this Forerunner is demotivating because it tells me how much I suck.

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 was doing gym work exclusively, got a Forerunner. Somehow ended up a runner .. you’ve been warned lol The daily suggestions of going for a run brainwashed me I think! But there are worse things to happen in life

Mine’s always been quite low, I have asthma, asthmatic Garmin users seem to say just ignore it Just in case it doesn’t improve and you feel dejected like I did, have a read online, plenty of stuff like this https://uphillathlete.com/aerobic-training/max-vo2-myth/ it probably doesn’t mean as much as the faith we place in it! But good luck in your training!

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.

Garmin Forerunners are a great fitness watch.

Garmin Forerunner does a great job. I like the Apple Watch, but the battery life kills me. With my Garmin, I can use it to track swims, runs, and bike ride and I still only need to charge it once a week.

I had a Vivoactive for years that died and I switch to a forerunner a few weeks ago. I am super happy, much better battery, I love the training analysis features it pushes me to work on my cardio as I am more into strength.

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

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

As the other comments here say, Forerunner or instinct. It will not give you the equivalent experience to a Samsung watch, as they are sport/activity focused by design. It has all the basic functionality of a smart watch, Bluetooth connection, notification alerts (some just say you have a notification, others will aloow you to read and respond, so do your research). Forerunner is the entry level fitness device, so it may be best for you, and the instinct is a little more 'I just want a watch that's also connected' vibes. The vivosmart is a half step down from the Forerunner, and yes, super basic, will probably be in the category of just letting you know you have a message, but I'm not sure, as I don't have one. Forerunner also has built-in GPS, which vivosmart does not.

I've got a Forerunner that I wear to keep an eye on hearth rate, but that's about it. I generally mark beginning and end, and sometimes when there's a big change in the section of the sequence - from standing/balancing to seated/prone sections. I'll also often hit the pose button if it's been one of those days and I need to tap out to hero/corpse. The problem you're going to find is that the watch would have to sense very specific motion and velocity to figure out when a pose has changed. I can't think of a watch anywhere with that much sensitivity.

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.

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

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.

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.

It depends on your goals. If youre wanting to squeeze the most out of each session then more data will allow you to do that. If youre not that fussed and just happy to be doing some cardio and you can gauge your effort based on feel then that would be fine too. I use a garmin forerunner for HR zones during running and cycling (+ chest strap monitor), and as a stop watch when swimming. I dont bother to monitor anything else as Im not hoping for a podium nor do I change my training depending on any data in particular. Edit; It should also be noted that its only worth tracking data if you actually know what to do with the information

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

I use my Garmin forerunner Yes it's fine with chalk, though the buttons used to go smoother Yes it gets scratched but hey, so do I

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

You can’t respond to notifications with it. I have the S and I’m in love with it!

The Vivoactive 4s or the forerunner are my favorite intro garmins. That being said, the Venu 3 is probably the best intro at the moment since it has more accurate sensors (I just prefer the transflective displays as opposed to the amoled displays) The main reason I got a Garmin was due to the metrics at the start of covid. That being said, now I often use it to track metrics when walking the dogs, or as a way to see the watch readings if I’m feeling off. As an example, when I got covid I was able to use the readings to check my recovery metrics, which was nice.

I use Garmin Forerunner. But I am not interested in smart watch stuff, and only fitness (though you can still pick calls, change music), so it works for me and it lasts for weeks. However, if you want something more straightforward it also probably isn't for you. It has tons of data and some of it is hard to read unless you go out of your way to learn what it is.

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.

Get a garmin forerunner best investment I’ve ever made

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.

To add to everyone else’s comments - mines have lasted very well. My first Forerunner works after a decade, I just replaced it with a Fenix a few years back. After four years it’s never had any issues. Yes they aren’t the cheapest but it is worth the investment.

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.

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?

used Garmin like Fenix or forerunner, or just used Apple Watch 6 they are like 70-$100

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)

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.

Garmin forerunners have hrv, you don't need a special app. But again, sleep tracking isn't great

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.

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

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.

That's what I did, I had a Forerunner and when it was time to upgrade, went ahead and upgraded to Fenix.

Garmin ecosystem is chocked full of goodness. Since I run and cycle, it’s great for multi sport. A lot of folks who only run seem to love Coros watches and their environment. I think either of those (with Strava integration) would be an improvement over your Apple Watch.

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. 😂