Garmin Forerunner 245 GPS Running Watch, with music
Garmin Forerunner 245 GPS Running Watch, with music and advanced training features, Black with Black Band
Reach your goalsAccess advanced workouts and get free training plans, or create your own custom workouts at Garmin Connect.
” data-position=”triggerHorizontal” />Battery LifeUp to 7 days in smartwatch mode and up to 24 hours in GPS mode.
” data-position=”triggerHorizontal” />Garmin ConnectThe tool for tracking, analyzing and sharing health and fitness activities recorded by your Garmin device.
” data-position=”triggerHorizontal” />
Comparison Table
 Forerunner 245 Music |  Forerunner 245 |  Forerunner 55 |  Forerunner 45 |  Forerunner 45S | |
| Daily Suggested Workouts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| PacePro | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Recovery Time | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Race Predictor | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Built in GPS | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Wrist Based Heart Rate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced Running Dynamics | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Training Load | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Training Status | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Connect IQ Store | Yes | Yes | Yes | Watch faces only | Watch faces only |
| Dimensions: | 4.3 x 1.27 x 4.3 cm; 38.5 Grams |
| Model: | 010-02120-30 |
| Batteries Included: | 1 CR5 batteries required. (included) |
| Manufacture: | Garmin |
| Department: | Unisex-Adult |
| Dimensions: | 4.3 x 1.27 x 4.3 cm; 38.5 Grams |
I wear this all day but mainly use this for running, the gps locks in quick and is pretty accurate in town and on the country lanes, the stats available through the app as standard features are great, I love it and highly recommend.
Battery life (with the settings I have) is amazing, at about 10-days between charges.
It has physical buttons around the crown, which provides a comforting analogue feel.
Works great for swimming and running.
I wear this everyday and run with it 4-5 times a week. Without using the gps the battery has lasted about 3 weeks, doing a normal running week the watch still has plenty of charge for my long run, I tend to charge it when I come back but it isn’t flat.
Love the features and heart rate tracking.
I don’t like music when I run so went for the non music to save a few , love it. Will buy again and might even save my pennies for the next level up
Much better battery life than Forerunner 45. Good features such as sPO2. Easy to use and set up
Tracks runs in all different locations with no issues and the battery life is very strong, lasting one week between charges. Super watch and links to strava in seconds of the run completing.
Seems excellent watch so far and great for running and fascinating for statistics. However, perhaps foolishly, I bought this believing I could play music via bluetooth when swimming. Tried it with two types of ear bud and it doesn’t work which is sad for me. Independend articles say you should be able to but I now assume that depends on the ‘strength’ of the bluetooth.
735XT is bigger, battery last longer (>14 days in watch only mode), the strap is longer and therefore easier to put on, etc.
245 is smaller then some people might find this as an advantage. The GPS accuracy of 245 is better. Looks like in GPS mode the 245 uses less battery than 735xt. 2 hours in GPS mode and battery is down 11% (as opposed to 10% for every hour on 735xt).
Charging is really fast: 66% to 100% in less than 20 min.
245 has a brighter screen than the 735xt and the notifications are displayed better.
Great running watch, great price, fulfilled by Amazon in 24 hours. Just ace when my old Garmin gave up the ghost and I run every day!
Then when I decided to start jogging and realised I needed something better to log my distances. After much web browsing I decided on the Garmin 245. No, it doesn’t have the fancy Rolex look alike watch faces, but it does the exercise stuff really well. I’ve been using Strava and Adidas Running apps and it’s been mapping my daily excursions since the original lockdown began.
I went with one of the standard watch faces as it had all the information I need at a glance. The battery lasts for aaaaages and charges quickly too, so it’s always on my wrist. Am I any fitter? No, because it seems I have a heart condition that requires major surgery in the near future, so that was a not pleasant surprise, but it’s keeping me healthy enough.
This version also comes in a different model, Forerunner 245 music that has a bit more memory to store mp3s so you can listen to bluetooth streamed music while you hike, cycle, run, etc. I use my Samsung A52s with wired headphones, so didn’t need the extra functionality.
It’s one of the cheapest watches in the Garmin range and it’s perfect for me. Just buy a screen protector for it before you start wearing it, as I found the glass does scratch (somehow).
Then when I decided to start jogging and realised I needed something better to log my distances. After much web browsing I decided on the Garmin 245. No, it doesn’t have the fancy Rolex look alike watch faces, but it does the exercise stuff really well. I’ve been using Strava and Adidas Running apps and it’s been mapping my daily excursions since the original lockdown began.
I went with one of the standard watch faces as it had all the information I need at a glance. The battery lasts for aaaaages and charges quickly too, so it’s always on my wrist. Am I any fitter? No, because it seems I have a heart condition that requires major surgery in the near future, so that was a not pleasant surprise, but it’s keeping me healthy enough.
This version also comes in a different model, Forerunner 245 music that has a bit more memory to store mp3s so you can listen to bluetooth streamed music while you hike, cycle, run, etc. I use my Samsung A52s with wired headphones, so didn’t need the extra functionality.
It’s one of the cheapest watches in the Garmin range and it’s perfect for me. Just buy a screen protector for it before you start wearing it, as I found the glass does scratch (somehow).
I do love my watch. Had it for some time now and it is great value for money. Don’t really use as a smartwatch, mainly to record my runs, hikes and walks. The battery time is excellent I think. Used it last August for a 2 day hike in the Scottish mountains and used the navigation feature – uploaded the gpx file onto the watch. The GPS was on for 8-9 hours both days and it survived it (1% left). Normal days I don’t need to charge the watch often, like once in 2 weeks or so – depends on the GPS usage of course.
I do love my watch. Had it for some time now and it is great value for money. Don’t really use as a smartwatch, mainly to record my runs, hikes and walks. The battery time is excellent I think. Used it last August for a 2 day hike in the Scottish mountains and used the navigation feature – uploaded the gpx file onto the watch. The GPS was on for 8-9 hours both days and it survived it (1% left). Normal days I don’t need to charge the watch often, like once in 2 weeks or so – depends on the GPS usage of course.
I wanted a 235 but had to settle for this. I am so glad I got it. This is a stress free no hassle set up and fairly intuitive to use. I hate tech but this and my Garmin 530 are changing my mind. All my devices talk to each other and record far more data than I wanted. I’m saying that I’ve now started using a lot of features I didn’t know I needed
I wanted a 235 but had to settle for this. I am so glad I got it. This is a stress free no hassle set up and fairly intuitive to use. I hate tech but this and my Garmin 530 are changing my mind. All my devices talk to each other and record far more data than I wanted. I’m saying that I’ve now started using a lot of features I didn’t know I needed
Worked out of the box as a straight replacement for my previous Garmi
Music doesn’t work with Amazon music , so you will have to have Spotify or apple music. It’s brilliant at a running watch it’s got more data and analysis than you’ll ever need unless your at a elite level. Overall a brilliant running watch where you can leave your phone at home
Music doesn’t work with Amazon music , so you will have to have Spotify or apple music. It’s brilliant at a running watch it’s got more data and analysis than you’ll ever need unless your at a elite level. Overall a brilliant running watch where you can leave your phone at home
As my passion for running is growing i need to find a replacement for ky Vivosmart 4 which was a great companion to my weight loss programe. After reading so many review of so many diffirent running watches and model, i decided to stay with Garmin. I have read somewhere the review about accuracy of this Garmin GPS when runing in the woods made me a bit nevous, i asked the question to the community here but no feedback. I couldnt wait any longer then I had to place the oreder, 3 weeks in i have nothing to complain about this watch, so happy with it! Highly recommend !
As my passion for running is growing i need to find a replacement for ky Vivosmart 4 which was a great companion to my weight loss programe. After reading so many review of so many diffirent running watches and model, i decided to stay with Garmin. I have read somewhere the review about accuracy of this Garmin GPS when runing in the woods made me a bit nevous, i asked the question to the community here but no feedback. I couldnt wait any longer then I had to place the oreder, 3 weeks in i have nothing to complain about this watch, so happy with it! Highly recommend !
As my passion for running is growing i need to find a replacement for ky Vivosmart 4 which was a great companion to my weight loss programe. After reading so many review of so many diffirent running watches and model, i decided to stay with Garmin. I have read somewhere the review about accuracy of this Garmin GPS when runing in the woods made me a bit nevous, i asked the question to the community here but no feedback. I couldnt wait any longer then I had to place the oreder, 3 weeks in i have nothing to complain about this watch, so happy with it! Highly recommend !
As my passion for running is growing i need to find a replacement for ky Vivosmart 4 which was a great companion to my weight loss programe. After reading so many review of so many diffirent running watches and model, i decided to stay with Garmin. I have read somewhere the review about accuracy of this Garmin GPS when runing in the woods made me a bit nevous, i asked the question to the community here but no feedback. I couldnt wait any longer then I had to place the oreder, 3 weeks in i have nothing to complain about this watch, so happy with it! Highly recommend !
Got it at 100 off the recommended price which made it the same price as a Garmin Forerunner 55 which offers rather less, although most of the extras are not exactly crucial. A simple thing, I love the strap, which will fit even the tiniest of wrists. There are lots of videos on YouTube showing you how to set it up and use the many things that it can do.
Got it at 100 off the recommended price which made it the same price as a Garmin Forerunner 55 which offers rather less, although most of the extras are not exactly crucial. A simple thing, I love the strap, which will fit even the tiniest of wrists. There are lots of videos on YouTube showing you how to set it up and use the many things that it can do.
Very happy with this product. I hesitated about splashing out on a garmin but its been great. Good battery life requiring charging only once a week and it takes 10 minutes. Links to Strava easily. Great product.
Good product, can be tailored to suits any sport and gives any information you want from your workout. Battery life is good, and fully charges within and hour or two. Fully changeable interface keeps it interesting, and adaptable. Only slight issue I have is that it can be complicated to interchange some data fields but it soon becomes clear. Really good purchase, I’d recommend one. Can’t imagine workouts without it now.
Good product, can be tailored to suits any sport and gives any information you want from your workout. Battery life is good, and fully charges within and hour or two. Fully changeable interface keeps it interesting, and adaptable. Only slight issue I have is that it can be complicated to interchange some data fields but it soon becomes clear. Really good purchase, I’d recommend one. Can’t imagine workouts without it now.
Very accurate and has all the features I need. Easy to use and great quality. Only slight negative is it takes a while to get a gps signal. A good bit slower than it’s predecessor the 235
Excellent tool for safe training (running, cycling, strength, etc.). Useful metrics, easy to use, super customisable, light and comfortable, best in my series of Garmins (FR 35, FR 235, FR245).
I’m familiar with Garmin watches and this was to replace a 7 year old 225 that could just about maintain 90 minutes charge (fortunately my regular run is around an hour) in “active” mode.
The new Forerunner 245 was 20 cheaper than I paid for the old Garmin, it’s less than half the weight and half the height with probably double the features. I’ve used it for my first run but am back to using it as my daily watch, it’ll be interesting to see what battery life is IRL. It still has the odd Garmin foible of not immediately picking up satellite GPS but I’ve found that to be mostly influenced by weather conditions, having said this it’s perfectly accurate and fits my needs well. Barely know it’s on my wrist and can use it to turn my iPhone’s music on and off.
I’ve never had a problem with my Garmin watches so haven’t had to navigate any customer services.
I’m familiar with Garmin watches and this was to replace a 7 year old 225 that could just about maintain 90 minutes charge (fortunately my regular run is around an hour) in “active” mode.
The new Forerunner 245 was 20 cheaper than I paid for the old Garmin, it’s less than half the weight and half the height with probably double the features. I’ve used it for my first run but am back to using it as my daily watch, it’ll be interesting to see what battery life is IRL. It still has the odd Garmin foible of not immediately picking up satellite GPS but I’ve found that to be mostly influenced by weather conditions, having said this it’s perfectly accurate and fits my needs well. Barely know it’s on my wrist and can use it to turn my iPhone’s music on and off.
I’ve never had a problem with my Garmin watches so haven’t had to navigate any customer services.
Have had a Fenix 3 for years but as I now focus on running, bought myself new Forerunner 245. Loving the insights the inbuilt heart rate monitor offers and the Garmin Coach option which is free. Super light and great value.
Highly recommend this Garmin watch (having previously owned a forerunner 35 and Fenix 6S plus, this is by far the best). Bought this to upgrade from a Fitbit Versa (thought I’d try Fitbit after always having Garmin – big mistake), and this is the perfect watch. GPS connects a lot quicker (and is more accurate), it provides enough data to improve your running, but not too much that a beginner/intermediate runner is overwhelmed! Strongly recommend keeping an eye on the prices, as it is an absolute bargain when on offer!
Highly recommend this Garmin watch (having previously owned a forerunner 35 and Fenix 6S plus, this is by far the best). Bought this to upgrade from a Fitbit Versa (thought I’d try Fitbit after always having Garmin – big mistake), and this is the perfect watch. GPS connects a lot quicker (and is more accurate), it provides enough data to improve your running, but not too much that a beginner/intermediate runner is overwhelmed! Strongly recommend keeping an eye on the prices, as it is an absolute bargain when on offer!
Great product had few issues trying to pair with phone but didn’t take long to so
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!!
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!!
I initially thought of buying a touch screen watch but I’m so happy I opted for the 245 with 5 buttons. The operation is straight forward with no chance of ghost touching whilst exercising. Have only used it for running so far but it meets all expectations. If you are looking for a sports watch I would fully recommend the 245 if you’re after a smart watch maybe look at other Garmin products.
Bought this watch for running as it has a bigger face so I can see whilst running, easy to use just not worked out all the modes yet, excellent so far.
This is my 4th Garmin and it’s my favourite so far. Battery life is amazing and it’s neat enough to fit on my wee wrists. Bought for running ultras and given that I have only charged it twice in the month that I have had it I think it will be perfect.
Arrived with delivery window, great watch, would recommend, to anyone looking for a decent running and fitness tracking device.
Great service
Bought this to replace both my Garmin Forerunner 35 (which is a great first running watch, but more basic, and blocky in appearance) and my Fibit Charge 4 (which looks smart, but I find useless for running due to the small text and touch screen).
Really pleased with the appearance, and how comfortable it is to wear all day. (I even wear it all night without noticing it, which lets me use the sleep analysis function too.) Loving it for running, as I can easily see all the stats I want, and control everything with good sized buttons.
Lots of extra functionality that I’m still learning more about (eg recovery time), but also more basic functions easily visible that the Forerunner 35 seemed to lack (eg viewing and monitoring Heartrate all day, even when not triggering exercise modes).
I have it hooked up to my Polaris arm strap to monitor heartrate during exercise, for better accuracy – which was simple to do. It also paired very easily with my Garmin connect phone app using Bluetooth (which links to Strava, showing mapping of runs from the device’s GPS data), and seems to be getting software updates from Garmin directly from Garmin Connect. (Another plus point, as my older Forerunner needed hard wiring to my PC to get software updates.)
So far, I’m very impressed by the battery life, which seems far better than either device it’s replacing – despite it monitoring more things.
All in all, a great, robust, watch for everyday wear as well as for running/exercising. (And I’m enjoying no longer feeling I have to constantly switch between 2 watches!)
Bought this to replace both my Garmin Forerunner 35 (which is a great first running watch, but more basic, and blocky in appearance) and my Fibit Charge 4 (which looks smart, but I find useless for running due to the small text and touch screen).
Really pleased with the appearance, and how comfortable it is to wear all day. (I even wear it all night without noticing it, which lets me use the sleep analysis function too.) Loving it for running, as I can easily see all the stats I want, and control everything with good sized buttons.
Lots of extra functionality that I’m still learning more about (eg recovery time), but also more basic functions easily visible that the Forerunner 35 seemed to lack (eg viewing and monitoring Heartrate all day, even when not triggering exercise modes).
I have it hooked up to my Polaris arm strap to monitor heartrate during exercise, for better accuracy – which was simple to do. It also paired very easily with my Garmin connect phone app using Bluetooth (which links to Strava, showing mapping of runs from the device’s GPS data), and seems to be getting software updates from Garmin directly from Garmin Connect. (Another plus point, as my older Forerunner needed hard wiring to my PC to get software updates.)
So far, I’m very impressed by the battery life, which seems far better than either device it’s replacing – despite it monitoring more things.
All in all, a great, robust, watch for everyday wear as well as for running/exercising. (And I’m enjoying no longer feeling I have to constantly switch between 2 watches!)
Great watch , for me it proved way better than Vivoactive .
Looked at lots of garmin models and other brands, settling on the 245 as it gives me everything I need as a runner. Stylish, lightweight, easy to use with plenty of really useful data. For the price it’s perfect for me.
Works great. Loads of features, great face designs, GPS is faultless. Very easy to use and collects far more data than I need as a 30 mile a week runner.
I run 4 times a week minimum and wear the watch 24/7. I find I’m charging the battery every 6 or so days.
I’ve had a Fitbit for several years, it’s started to disconnect from the app a lot. Read reviews for a new fitness/running watch and the Forerunner 245 got a lot of good reviews, I’ve only had it for 3 weeks but find it comfortable, easy to use and accurate on mapping my runs.
This watch is accurate, lightweight and easy to use. Coupled with the app, it makes a user friendly way to track your fitness progress. A bit of an industry standard.
Great colour and easy to use. Clear details of how to set up with phone & on line with garmin. Charges well and doesn’t take forever. Nice touches with training suggestions and you can track HR, O2 sats. ( but obviously you know how your feeling in terms of breathless, even with a pulse oxymeter they are not 100% accurate)
Great up grade from a 235.
This watch does everything I need it to! It’s great but the only thing I found strange for a new watch is that it had previous recorded workouts???
omtom sparks finally died so replacement needed .. well what can i say about this forerunner 245 that hasnt been said before .. charge it up and put it on erm and go..easy peasy lemon squeezey.. just buy one its now under 200 get i
Brilliant gadget. Absolutely love the coaching programme, body battery stats, sleep data. Reliable, great GPS and battery life (nearly a week and I run most days). No regrets buying this at all.
Great bit of kit to get me out and running!
Great running watch to help with your training.
Easy to use, accurate GPS, long lasting battery, with training programs available via the app
Charges really quick also and doesn’t need charging every day like my Apple Watch. Personally I find this helps with my training, not only running but also strength and gym work. Find it syncs well with the app and so far no issues
Amazing running watch with a huge number of features and great battery life. It is great for tracking other sports as well. I have used this watch for a year now to track everything from running, MTB, swimming, kayaking, strength workouts etc. and it has worked flawlessly.
Great all round runners watch, good battery life, plenty of features. Love this watch
Bought to replace a more basic Garmin, pleased with battery life, clear display, looks good.
Great watch! Worth every penny! Love the features and for someone who has very small wrists I was greatly surprised as clock faces are always an issue. Brought a pack of 3 protective screens with it!
Battery life is good on long runs, as long as you are not using all the alerts . Really comfortable to wear and very happy with everything it can do
Recently bought the garmin 245 after using a Apple Watch for several years. I wasn’t sure I was going to take to the garmin being a huge Apple fan but wanted better battery life and stats on my running. I’m so glad I decided to go for a garmin watch the battery life is so much better than my previous watch and the added info about training and stats all seem accurate as I want to start taking my running into longer distance. The one issue I have is treadmill run is massively inaccurate and you need to change the run every time but I’m hoping it’s going to become more accurate when I start running outdoors and the longer I use it but I’m still impressed with the watch and I’m willing to change my distance on treadmill if I need to so it’s not a dealbreaker. The watch easily links with your smartphone and is quite easy to use once you have got used to it.
Recently bought the garmin 245 after using a Apple Watch for several years. I wasn’t sure I was going to take to the garmin being a huge Apple fan but wanted better battery life and stats on my running. I’m so glad I decided to go for a garmin watch the battery life is so much better than my previous watch and the added info about training and stats all seem accurate as I want to start taking my running into longer distance. The one issue I have is treadmill run is massively inaccurate and you need to change the run every time but I’m hoping it’s going to become more accurate when I start running outdoors and the longer I use it but I’m still impressed with the watch and I’m willing to change my distance on treadmill if I need to so it’s not a dealbreaker. The watch easily links with your smartphone and is quite easy to use once you have got used to it.
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.
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.
Love this watch, does everything I want it to do
Battery life definitely a lot better than the 235 (which had a life of about 7 hours GPS usage), the 245 is exceedingly better.
Other pros: very lightweight; smart looking; wider range of activities available; love the range of options already installed in the watch rather than having to download from Garmin Connect.
Cons: takes far longer for GPS to connect than any of my previous Garmins; annoyingly, buttons are not positive – have to visually double-check the selection has been made; button labels are illegible, far too small and font lacks contrast to the dark coloured bezel; display is frustratingly dark; sleep monitoring & stress levels are way off! (don’t find them accurate or useful so will just ignore them!!).
Overall, happy with the purchase & am sure I’ll get used to the buttons!
Battery life definitely a lot better than the 235 (which had a life of about 7 hours GPS usage), the 245 is exceedingly better.
Other pros: very lightweight; smart looking; wider range of activities available; love the range of options already installed in the watch rather than having to download from Garmin Connect.
Cons: takes far longer for GPS to connect than any of my previous Garmins; annoyingly, buttons are not positive – have to visually double-check the selection has been made; button labels are illegible, far too small and font lacks contrast to the dark coloured bezel; display is frustratingly dark; sleep monitoring & stress levels are way off! (don’t find them accurate or useful so will just ignore them!!).
Overall, happy with the purchase & am sure I’ll get used to the buttons!
This watch is just what I need for my marathon training
Firstly I will say that I would prefer to have the music version of this watch, however I got this one on sale and I couldn’t justify the extra cost. I would say to go for the music version if price is not an issue for you.
I was going to purchase this watch after I had already completed my couch to 5k program, however I saw that it was on sale so I bought it very early in to the program. I ended up finishing my c25k program a few weeeks early and that is a hundred percent down to having the feedback on my wrist on how far I’d travelled. Having such a small and accessible device which gives you useful information like your heartrate, your time running, your pace and your distance really helps you to push yourself that extra bit at the end of your run to round off your distance. I also enjoy the mapping features that the phone app offers, it’s lovely to go on a jog with your c25k buddy, take a nice picture, then use the garmin app to put your stats over the picture to commemorate hitting the milestones.
I love the training programs inbuilt in to the garmin app, they don’t just give you a running program, they also tell you useful information about running, fatigue, posture and mindset along the way. I have found this useful as a new runner. This all comes for free with the app (I say this because I jog with someone who uses a fitbit, and they have to subscribe to have access to the content on the fitbit.)
I have even been walking more since I got this watch, it gives you a nice summary each day of your exercise, your condition, sleep patterns etc. If you are someone who likes feedback I do think a Garmin watch is a great bit of kit to help you to train up to be a runner.
All in all, I really like it. I would not have run my 10k by now had I not gotten my Garmin watch. I would recommend this or something like it to new runners.
Firstly I will say that I would prefer to have the music version of this watch, however I got this one on sale and I couldn’t justify the extra cost. I would say to go for the music version if price is not an issue for you.
I was going to purchase this watch after I had already completed my couch to 5k program, however I saw that it was on sale so I bought it very early in to the program. I ended up finishing my c25k program a few weeeks early and that is a hundred percent down to having the feedback on my wrist on how far I’d travelled. Having such a small and accessible device which gives you useful information like your heartrate, your time running, your pace and your distance really helps you to push yourself that extra bit at the end of your run to round off your distance. I also enjoy the mapping features that the phone app offers, it’s lovely to go on a jog with your c25k buddy, take a nice picture, then use the garmin app to put your stats over the picture to commemorate hitting the milestones.
I love the training programs inbuilt in to the garmin app, they don’t just give you a running program, they also tell you useful information about running, fatigue, posture and mindset along the way. I have found this useful as a new runner. This all comes for free with the app (I say this because I jog with someone who uses a fitbit, and they have to subscribe to have access to the content on the fitbit.)
I have even been walking more since I got this watch, it gives you a nice summary each day of your exercise, your condition, sleep patterns etc. If you are someone who likes feedback I do think a Garmin watch is a great bit of kit to help you to train up to be a runner.
All in all, I really like it. I would not have run my 10k by now had I not gotten my Garmin watch. I would recommend this or something like it to new runners.
Good features: The app is excellent. Battery life pretty good. SpO2 measurement(it sometimes struggles to measure it though).
Not so good: Strap is a bit cheapish. Colours a bit dull. A simple lap timer should be there.
I love it gives me everything in a watch for my running and.more.Also don’t think I have found everything this watch does sleep.tiredness.training plans.the list just goes on.
I needed a replacement for my ageing forerunner 235, this new 245 watch has much more information it’s so easy to use. It has a nice strap too. I absolutely love this. Plus it was cheaper than a new 235. I’d recommend it.
I adore garmin just updated about 4 weeks ago to the garmin 245 best move I’ve made, gives you such much more than forerunner 35, which I had for 2 years but as I uped my training and running I wanted the stats and am only a novice so this is enough for me but I love i
I’ve been using my FR245 for a few months now and I love it. I run 4 times a week, around 2hs each day and the battery would last for a week roughly (I sleep with the watch as well) totally recommended!
Great watch.. 3months in and no issue.. If you’re having issues with battery life, turn off Bluetooth connection with phone and be weary which watch face you use (select one without seconds).. For those reviews whinging about issues with music.. I have no problems whatsoever… If youre connecting to your WiFi, make sure its set to 2.4ghz on your router and not 5.. Hope the above helps.. As I already stated, great watch.
I am not a totally fitty so in a way this watch does way more than I need but it’s fantastic. It just make me think and I now just improve everything a bit as it monitor loads of stuff. Plus the find our phone app is handy
Pros..
+ Good battery life – only needs charging once or twice a week
+ Mostly very quick to locate GPS signals
+ Light to wear and a comfortable strap
+ Nice choice of watch faces
+ Accurate at tracking activities and heart rates.
Cons..
– Sleep tracking is terrible. Not accurate at all. The other night I didn’t get to sleep until 2am and regularly pressed the light button on my watch to check the time. Next morning it said I had been asleep since midnight… must think I press the light button in my sleep!
– Had a couple of instances where it has stopped logging heart rate from the sensor on the back. Note that this is a logging problem, not a measuring problem. When this happens it still shows accurate current HR value (so it’s still measuring), it’s just that the plot showing HR values over the last four hours is empty. Turning the watch off and back on fixes this.
– Night time pulseox values seem very low, and there are a couple of other people posting about this on forums. Garmin says it might happen if you are laying on your arm (cutting off the blood supply).
– Personal records (e.g. 10k fastest time, longest run etc..) sometimes vanish or don’t get updated. To be fair I’m not sure if this is an issue with the watch or an issue with the Garmin Connect app.
Pros..
+ Good battery life – only needs charging once or twice a week
+ Mostly very quick to locate GPS signals
+ Light to wear and a comfortable strap
+ Nice choice of watch faces
+ Accurate at tracking activities and heart rates.
Cons..
– Sleep tracking is terrible. Not accurate at all. The other night I didn’t get to sleep until 2am and regularly pressed the light button on my watch to check the time. Next morning it said I had been asleep since midnight… must think I press the light button in my sleep!
– Had a couple of instances where it has stopped logging heart rate from the sensor on the back. Note that this is a logging problem, not a measuring problem. When this happens it still shows accurate current HR value (so it’s still measuring), it’s just that the plot showing HR values over the last four hours is empty. Turning the watch off and back on fixes this.
– Night time pulseox values seem very low, and there are a couple of other people posting about this on forums. Garmin says it might happen if you are laying on your arm (cutting off the blood supply).
– Personal records (e.g. 10k fastest time, longest run etc..) sometimes vanish or don’t get updated. To be fair I’m not sure if this is an issue with the watch or an issue with the Garmin Connect app.
Really solid GPS watch. Use it on every run. Would be nice for the GPS to sync a little faster though, sometimes takes up to a minute of standing around for it to get signal but all in all a great fitness watch for the price.
Luckily, or not, my old Garmin 310xt finally reached end of like, broken strap and lower charge retension. The FR245 seemed to have battery length and features required for hiking and biking. Also got good deal on Black Friday. Plus app says have fitness of a 20yr old!!
I do alot of running and pacing is very important, there is so much to this 245, one of the best presents ever. Runners you won’t be disappointed.
Purchasing this watch is helping me become fitter and healthier. I highly recommend it.
I ditched my Apple Watch for this and am not disappointed. It’s miles more accurate with regards to VO2 max, The Garmin server has crashed a couple of times though.
I have also used it for hikes and bike rides, both of which it has recorded accurately. The heart rate monitor matches that of the Vivoactive 3 and seems to be very accurate. I have checked my heart rate manually a few times and it has agreed perfectly with my calculations, so I am happy that it is accurate. The information after a ride or walk has been very accurate including the GPS map which was accurate enough even to show which side of the road I was walking on.
Looks-wise, I don’t think it is as nice as the Vivoactive 3 and I suspect the bezel will scratch fairly easily as it is plastic. I have a screen protector and a case on mine to protect it. My Vivoactive 3 just had a screen protector and survived well despite heavy use. I hope this will be as good.
The battery life seems to be good, though I haven’t noticed a big difference from the Vivoactive 3. I like the additional function of the body battery, which appears to be pretty accurate.
One thing that did surprise me though, was the need to plug it into a laptop when I received it, to get the latest software update. I couldn’t do this from my phone or Chrome book. I was also surprised that it had not come installed with a more up-to-date software version. However, once I realised what I needed to do, it was easy enough to follow the on-screen instructions and update it to version 5 rather than the version 2-point-something it had come with. Once that was done, I installed a few watch faces and chose one that I like.
The face is clear, even in low sunlight and without the backlit option. The strap is comfortable and fits without adjustment due to the number of holes running all the way around. There is plenty of adjustment so I cannot imagine that there are many people it would not fit.
All in all, it is a nice upgrade from the Vivoactive 3 which I have been very happy with. The added functions are great and I am pleased with it. At the price, I think it offers a good range of functions and is accurate.
I have also used it for hikes and bike rides, both of which it has recorded accurately. The heart rate monitor matches that of the Vivoactive 3 and seems to be very accurate. I have checked my heart rate manually a few times and it has agreed perfectly with my calculations, so I am happy that it is accurate. The information after a ride or walk has been very accurate including the GPS map which was accurate enough even to show which side of the road I was walking on.
Looks-wise, I don’t think it is as nice as the Vivoactive 3 and I suspect the bezel will scratch fairly easily as it is plastic. I have a screen protector and a case on mine to protect it. My Vivoactive 3 just had a screen protector and survived well despite heavy use. I hope this will be as good.
The battery life seems to be good, though I haven’t noticed a big difference from the Vivoactive 3. I like the additional function of the body battery, which appears to be pretty accurate.
One thing that did surprise me though, was the need to plug it into a laptop when I received it, to get the latest software update. I couldn’t do this from my phone or Chrome book. I was also surprised that it had not come installed with a more up-to-date software version. However, once I realised what I needed to do, it was easy enough to follow the on-screen instructions and update it to version 5 rather than the version 2-point-something it had come with. Once that was done, I installed a few watch faces and chose one that I like.
The face is clear, even in low sunlight and without the backlit option. The strap is comfortable and fits without adjustment due to the number of holes running all the way around. There is plenty of adjustment so I cannot imagine that there are many people it would not fit.
All in all, it is a nice upgrade from the Vivoactive 3 which I have been very happy with. The added functions are great and I am pleased with it. At the price, I think it offers a good range of functions and is accurate.
I chose the non music model over the music version as I use amazon music streaming service and I was told by Garmin the watch only supports Deezer or Spotify.
The watch was lighter then expected, which is good.
Menu and terminology of apps, widgets, data screens can be a little confusing at first, but after a few days you get the hang of it.
After have my watch a little over a week, my battery is currently on 25% and have been on two 5k runs, four 4K rides and have been wearing it constantly.
The watch provides vast amounts of data that has kept me busy following and comparing.
On two occasions the connection between watch and phone has been lost and was unable to sync, but after restarting the Garmin connect app, the connection was restored. So this seems to suggest a bug with the current app and not the watch.