Garmin Forerunner 245 Easy to Use Lightweight GPS Running Smartwatch, Running and Training Guidance, Safety and Tracking Features included, Up to 7 days Battery Life, Slate

Firstly I am not a member of any review programme and purchased this with my own cash. I have also waited 6 months to give a review after a decent amount of ownership.I moved from Fitbit to Garmin after a number of years of frustrating Fitbit ownership. Their software and hardware is so buggy. I had the app on both Android and iOS and it was awful. Not to mention devices that wouldn’t connect, GPS totally inaccurate, and numerous product replacements due to them dying and strap failures. In contrast my Garmin software has been completely stable and the device is built like a tank. Literally I have repaired the car whilst wearing my Forerunner 245 (covered it in oil and grease plus bashed about) with not a mark on it! Obviously I washed it down afterwards but it still looked like I had taken it out the box on day one. My Fitbit would have been scratched to pieces had I done the same, I once tapped it against a wooden door frame and it scratched the screen.So my 245 I use mainly for running and as a heart rate device while cycling. I say as a heart rate device because I put it into heart rate broadcast mode while cycling and it pairs with my Garmin Edge 830 bike GPS device (the Edge does the tracking/activity recording). The pairing works without fault every time and the battery lasts well too. I believe it is ANT+ in this mode so may well connect with other devices as a HR receiver.Modes on the 245 are: Run, walk, trail run, bike, breath work, pool swim, cardio, bike indoor, walk indoor, treadmill, row indoor, other, virtual run, track run, indoor track, strength, yoga, pilates, elliptical & stair stepper. You can also make your own activity if it is not one listed by default.The 245 does not have Garmin pay but don’t let that worry you as it is useless in the UK (just like Fitbit pay) with only Santander supporting it. If you really must pay by watch then Apple and Android watches are better for payments.iPhone notifications work brilliantly albeit with iPhone you can’t reply to messages. This is Apples restriction and not Garmin. You can however answer and end calls from the watch. I believe if paired to Android then you get pre defined text responses too. You can see all of a text message on the watch as well as clear the notification from your phone. My diary also syncs nicely to my watch with calendar and system notifications working just as well as texts, and stuff from all other phone apps. You can configure what notifications you receive and also put the watch into ‘do not disturb’ mode.As for health tracking it does loads of stuff: pulse oxygen, heart rate, stress, respiration, body battery, active minutes, sleep and more. They all seem to be pretty accurate with loads of metrics to play around with on the Connect phone app.The battery in the 245 comfortably lasts a week and that is with usually 3 x 5K runs, 1 x 10K run and a four hour bike ride in HR broadcast mode. Compare that to the Apple Watch that barely lasts a day! I never suffer battery anxiety and can easily go away for a few days minus the charging lead.GPS is fantastic and really accurate considering this is a watch. I have also used the Komoot app with it and the arrow direction guidance was very accurate meaning that I did not get lost at all on my run. You can also use the device to save your parking location and navigate back with an arrow. On the subject of finding things if you lose your phone you can make it play a sound at full volume. If your phone is on silent the 245 will show Bluetooth signal strength to guide you to where your phone is hiding. You can also do it in reverse from your phone if you have lost your 245.For offline music storage you need the 245M. The 245 will control playback from your phone only. It works very well with the following features: play/pause, skip forward/back, volume up/down, track title.Other features are available in the Garmin Connect App Store such as Starbucks card, watch faces, compass, data fields etc. There are loads of extra apps, widgets, watch faces and data fields.If you need a Garmin with on screen maps then you will need a Fenix device. If your primary focus is golf you need a Approach device. If you are a swimmer a Swim or Descent model. If you are a cyclist and runner like me then the Forerunner range is excellent.Don’t let the lack of touch screen put you off. It is so easy to use and I don’t miss a touch device at all. There are no accidental screen activations while exercising with this thing (especially in water), but if having a touch screen is important to you then you might like the Venu or Vevoactive range. The screen is backlit (configurable to work when raised, during darkness etc.) and the screen is very clear in full sun. It might not be as pixel perfect as an AMOLED screen but it is very clear, very battery friendly and always on.I could go on about the many features of this watch. I suppose it is important to add that the straps are watch industry standard so any of the correct width will fit (not stuck with Garmin only), it is waterproof to 5ATM, charges with a short proprietary to USB-A cable, and the Garmin standard UK warranty is 2 years from date of purchase.In summary I highly recommend Garmin products especially this Forerunner 245. All the Garmin stuff I have works a treat, is way more stable/accurate than Fitbit, and the battery life blows Apple Watch out of the water.

Bought this watch after watching/reading countless reviews as it's a relatively big purchase at this price point, so wanted to get this right.. Previously I have been using a Galaxy watch active which has been great, but I wanted to take the next step with purchasing a forerunner. Initially was going to go for the 55 but the 245 was reduced in black Friday so went for this. Anyway, on to the watch itself...My first impressions are really positive (only had for 1 week) and I love this watch. Yes, the screen resolution isn't up there with the likes of apple/Samsung, however I didn't buy this watch for that. As a running watch, the display is clear, easy to ready and actually looks great with a traditional LCD display.The watch itself is light, comfortable and the battery life is amazing, really. It's lasted 5 days so far and still have over 60%!!!! Garmin have created a fantastic app (garmin connect) which is super easy to use and is nice to look at. What's really good is that you can see a snapshot of your daily stats (heart rate, stress, body battery) etc on the watch itself, or, you can access the app for a more detailed overview. The daily suggested workouts are a really nice touch and really mix up your running routine which makes it fun to use. What I didn't expect is how good this watch is as a day to day smart watch, as notifications are displayed really clearly and its quick and easy to respond to texts etc. So far, I have no complaints and if you are considering purchasing this watch, you won't be disappointed. Highly recommended!!

Only had the Garmin forerunner 245 for a few days and the battery is amazing! On 63% in 3 days and I've got heart rate on constantly and bluetooth to my phone. Not used for gym yet but walking and getting everything set up ready to start doing weights in the gym with rep counter and sets.Setting favourites so I can select it quick before the exercise to log it.Also be using cross trainer later and see how that is. To say the battery is only that us good cause its still evening out, I read the watch will use more for the first week till it settles down with my needs.It's bright enough, I first thought it wasn't but you get used to it. Using for work on 12 hours at a steelworks and it's fine.Got weather, temperature, heart rate, time, steps, date, battery percentage, miles walked all on one screen face.You can customise for free on the Garmin Qi app. Brilliant. Right down to the colour of each thing.I would advice getting a cover for the face of the watch and added warranty, I got 3 years for £15.The covers are on amazon for like £6 for 3.The only con is the strap, I think I'm allergic to the rubber abit as I got wrist burn abit when at work so ordered another stap that's nylon. No big deal.Love the watch, glad I got it. You can link your fitness pal app to it too.I use it for sleep to track and steps. Had a fitbit years back and the steps would mount up cause I was driving so that put me off.Not tried it under water yet as its waterproof upto 5 metres I bealive.I like the push buttons instead of touch screen.Light watch but tough also by how it's made.Messages and calls appear on the interface which is good so I can read the whole message on my watch instead of opening my phone and I can make my own short pre message to replay quick if I'm working out. Glad I went to Garmin instead of samsung. My sister has the samsung watch and she says every couple of days it's dead and it's new.Why should you have to disable features to save battery??You want the most out of the watch.Sister is looking into getting one of these now, good all around and I'm not a runner but a gym guy that walks abut and wants to track sleep and respiration, heart rate. It's perfect.I'll update if my mind is changed.