Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS Running Smartwatch, Black
Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS Running Smartwatch, Black
Daily suggested workoutsTake the guesswork out of training with suggested workouts of varying intensities based on your training history, fitness level and recovery time
” data-position=”triggerHorizontal” />Track how far and how fastEasy-to-use running watch monitors heart rate at the wrist and uses GPS to track how far, how fast and where you’ve run
” data-position=”triggerHorizontal” />Advanced wellnessTune in to your body with advanced wellness features, such as intensity minutes, fitness age, all-day respiration and more
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Comparison Table
 Forerunner 55 |  Forerunner 45S |  Forerunner 45 |  Forerunner 245 | |
| Daily Suggested Workouts | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
| PacePro | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
| Recovery Time | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
| Race Predictor | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
| Built in GPS | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced Sleep Monitoring | Yes – In App | Yes – In App | Yes – In App | Yes |
| Body Battery | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Intensity Minutes (Improved) | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
| Connect IQ Store | Yes | Watch faces only | Watch faces only | Yes |
| Wrist Based Heart Rate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dimensions: | 4.2 x 4.2 x 1.2 cm; 37 Grams |
| Model: | 010-02562-10 |
| Batteries Included: | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. |
| Manufacture: | Garmin |
| Dimensions: | 4.2 x 4.2 x 1.2 cm; 37 Grams |
| Origin: | Taiwan |
Excellent motivato
This has revolutionised my running.
I bought it because I’ve never been very good a pacing myself, but I’m blown away by how useful the other features are.
I love the Garmin Coach feature that gives you a bespoke training programme tailored to your availability, and your goals.
Great for tracking runs/steps
I also was a fitbit girl but I’ve taken up running so wanted a watch that could help me track my runs. This watch is prefect for that and also gives great data on my stress levels, weight management, running training plans and so much more. Really love the watch and I’m fully converted to the garmin life
Exactly what I wanted
Simple and easy to use. Perfect for someone who runs a few times a week and doesn’t take it too seriously. Battery lasts over a week without GPS and generally a week even with GPS. Connects to phone with no issues.
Super watch!
Got this as a gift for my daughter who is into running and other sports. She tells me it’s perfect for monitoring her stats and it’s comfy to wear with it being lightweight and with a large screen, it does exactly what she wants and she’s very happy with it.
Good value GPS tracker watch
Relatively easy to use and also great for tracking pool swimming as well as outdoor walks, runs and cycling. General stats are small on screen- so need reading glasses- so not great to read when out and about but start/stop function etc not a problem.
My wife loves it!
The watch requires quite a bit of detailed reading of instructions. Just 4 buttons control everything. But once my Mrs had sat down for an hour or so with the manual she is very happy with it indeed.
Use it more than I thought I would
Bought to track running and walking, but I have been sucked in to the other features. Easy to use once you have experimented. I feel it should come with a cover for the charging point, as I can see dirt getting in there and causing an issue.
Great value for money
Perfect watch for exercise, I bought this so I did not have to take my phone when I go running. Very easy set up lots of information on the app which is easy to use. Lightweight and comfortable. Only downside I find the gps a little slow to connect.
Very useful for keeping a track of my activity
Initially I had problems understanding the instructions. The instructions for switching on and navigating the various applications assumes that you are already aware of the meaning of the different icons etc. I became completely lost in the process and had to call my daughter for her help.
It is all set up now for what I end to record but dread the day I need to select any other applications.
I am now comfortable with the use of it.
Excellent product but don’t expect any help from the enclosed paperwork
The product itself is excellent and now we have it up and running it works very well. However this was after a lot of research on YouTube and the Internet. The actual instructions themselves are useless, hence only 4 stars.
This is a good quality device, although it provides far more functions than I will ever need. I really like the choice of activities, so that I can choose walking or biking. Also like the calorie burn reading. Only downside is the time it takes to latch onto GPS. This can seem a long time when you are itching to go on a ride but I suppose this is affected by cloud cover etc.
Very good
I bought a new gps running watch,to get me up and running again.it is very good.have only used function for running with gps,but there is so many more functions.definately buy a Garmin agai
Easy to use
I had my Garmin Forerunner 235 for 7 years and it was a great watch but the battery life was not great so wanted something easy to use nothing fancy. The Garmin Forerunner 55 is perfect and was a good price
After many hours of researching for the best running watch I eventually settled on the Garmin Forerunner 55. I am so glad I went for this watch as it is fantastic and it performs like it’s a watch that is of a far higher value!
It is the size of a standard watch and is very easy to connect to your phone when setting it up with the Garmin Connect app.
The watch speed is very quick and there seems to be no delay whatsoever when scrolling through the menus on it either which is great.
The watch isn’t touch screen, however after a short while of using the buttons it becomes natural and very easy to use the buttons.
I have used the watch to record runs, walks and gym workouts so far, so it is very versatile and overall just brilliant! I’d highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys sport and recording their workouts/exercises.
EXCELLENT X2
First of all, I have not left a star rating for the apps as I have only had the phone for a couple of days so I can’t give an honest rating. However, the few I have played about with seem to work fine.
As for the watch, it’s awesome very well made and works great with the Connect IQ store to get more apps, as it happens I have already installed 3 new apps and they seem to work great. The buttons all seem well-made and should take a lot of use, and the screen is strong and should not scratch easily.
The strap on the watch is very well made and very soft however, I did not like the feel so I purchased a different strap. But to be fair I do have sensitive arms lol…
At this time (Excuse the pun) I only have one issue with the watch THE BACK LIGHT even at 100% is bloody poor to say the least, but you can see the face. Now during day light the face is very clear.
The GPS accuracy is far better than my old Garmin Vvosport. Battery life is 12 days with normal usage (around 30min/day on GPS mode). I like the feature that I can switch off the step counter if I need. You can download more “watch faces” from Garmin’s app and alot of other widgets too. I like this that the watch doesn’t have a touchscreen. Buttons are more effective when running in the rain. Display is amazingly readable on a sunny day.
This is my first fitness watch and has been a game changer for me as a beginner runner/gym goer.
The watch itself looks clean and simple, it’s comfortable to wear and is easy to use. The device gives me enough data for what I need.
Syncs up well with the app, which has some great features, and a lot more data to keep track of things. I have done some of the coach plans which have helped me out a lot with a good routine and structure for my running. Also syncs with Strava easy enough too.
The GPS works well and accurate from my experience.
I’ve used the watch while swimming etc and have had no problems what so ever.
Decent battery life, for me lasts between a week – 2 weeks.
Excellent runners watch at a very reasonable price. Yes, you could have more functions but at a considerably higher price. If you are not someone who tries to overthink their running then this is for you. It tracks your run. Shows distance, pace, time (you can change the screens for other parameters) and you can review in Garmin connect. What else do you really need for an uncomplicated run?
Easy to use and battery life seems really good.
Average runner of 30+years.
The Forerunner 55 is an entry-level running watch that’s designed for those who are starting to take their workouts more seriously, or taking a step up from a basic fitness tracker and is particularly suited to new users. The workout suggestions are also a great addition for beginners, as are the recommended rest times at the end of a workout. If you’re starting to get serious about working out, or want to upgrade from a basic fitness tracker, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is perfect. It’s thoughtfully designed with new runners in mind, with tools such as a race time predictor and training suggestions to use if you’re not following a specific plan. Even the best Fitbit doesn’t offer the same features as a dedicated running watch, but if you’re making the switch then the Forerunner 55’s lack of a touchscreen might take some getting used to. However, the set of five physical buttons are easy to operate on the move, while wearing gloves, or with sweaty hands, and are clearly labelled to avoid confusion. The company’s GPS accuracy is hard to beat. It’s a great entry point to the wonderful world of sports wearables — not to mention, one of the best cheap smartwatches right now.
I’ve had the Garmin Forerunner 55 for a little over 2 months at the time of writing this review. I purchased to replace a higher end smart device from a few years back (Huawei GT 2 PRO) which had compatibility issues with IOS and poor GPS tracking. I wanted something lightweight, comfortable and easy to use while running.
Whether you’re running on the road or hitting the trails, the watch provides reliable and precise tracking of your distance, pace, and route. This is essential for tracking your progress and analysing your runs.
It includes a heart rate monitor, allowing you to keep an eye on your heart rate during your workouts.
impressive battery stating up to two weeks in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode – I’ve not scientifically tested but I’ve been getting a good week and a half or so with regular 6-10k runs in.
Sleep tracking also feels accurate when reviewing the data in the app vs how I feel that day. Its nice to be able to keep a track of hours slept/recovery.
The Garmin connect app is also the best I’ve used with lots of insightful data from step tracking, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, body battery & setting running plans. You can also sign up to challenges and earn badges which adds a nice competitiveness if you have friends/family on the same platform.
My personal favourite feature is having a physical start stop button – its a simple one but being able to hit start/stop when getting to a road junction and it working every time vs my old touch screen watch is really nice. Also helps with accuracy of running times.
Overall, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is an excellent GPS running watch for those who are looking for a reliable and affordable device to track their runs. With its accurate GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, customizable display, and extensive training features, it provides all the essential tools to help you reach your running goals. While it may lack some advanced smartwatch features, its impressive battery life and user-friendly interface make it a solid choice for runners of all levels.
Good value, features and battery life. If you done want maps this should be on your shortlist.
Bought this after 3 years happy life with the Forerunner 45. What has been noticeable is good battery life, almost a week. Generally the same functions but it seems better at tracking sleep, body battery and sleep. Can’t really fault but haven’t yet used all features.
Perfect Smart Watch
I bought this watch as I have planned a skydive next month, so wanted to see how my heart rate would increase during the jump. It has some incredible features including measuring your stress levels, sleep pattern and also tells you when you need rest. Very good purchase and 50 cheaper than Argos. Winne
Bought as a gif
Gave this to my partner for Christmas as he is traning for a marathon and the fitbit was picking up extra steps while brushing his teeth!
He loves it, it’s a smart little device that accurately picks up his heart rate, co2 levels, sleep quality and more.
The only thing he says is that it’s training him for only half a marathon, the watch measures in miles where the app measures in KM but these aren’t important.
Looks great and has his football mates wanting to buy the watch as its so accurate at monitoring his game.
Bright screen, long battery, easy to handle
Good screen visibility. Relatively long battery life (ca. 7 to 10 days including 3 to 4 GPS tracked runs). Good stats on my mobile phone. Very light (35 gr.), hardly feel it on my wrist! Sleep function interesting (tells time spent in deep, light, no sleep). It took me maybe 1/2 hr. to set up everything up and 2 runs to get used to it.
Great feature rich watch for a very competitive price. Garmin build quality and light enough that my wife loves it. Great Amazon delivery. Can’t go wrong here.
It's a game changer for a beginne
It’s a game changer for a beginner for a first smart running watch, go for the suggested runs and it steady builds your base fitness level over a few months then incorporates more challenging runs to up your speed and endurance.
I can’t praise it enough.
What a watch this is !!!
Bought back in February 2022 because I was feed up with my fitbit versa. This watch has been perfect for me the battery life is 2weeks between charges even with gps runs in that time. For a entry level Garmin I was not expecting much but the feature are amazing. The training coach on the app is brilliant and the pacepro feature is extremely helpful. if you just want to track steps this isn’t the watch for you but if you want to start running I couldn’t recommend it any higher.
Great gps running watch
I have owned several gps watches the battery life on this one is excellent compared to all previous ones.
It does all the usual stuff and send it to the garmin app (connects to phone using blue tooth). It can record several sports eg cycling however it is a running watch and it seems to ignore other sports when calculating recovery etc.
The buttons are used to access menus etc which I have found in practice to be better than a touch screen.
Super Happy
I was a little sceptical about this product and was worried it would stand up to my previous Garmin 735xt. But I have been pleasantly surprised. It does everything that I need it to do and more (I am a distance runner) and the battery life on this is AMAZING!
I definitely would recommend this watch, maybe more for ladies as the size suits smaller wrists. Happy Custome
Excellent running watch
Much better in every way than the Fitbit Charge 4 that it replaced.
Great produc
It’s a great product. Much better than my fit bit watch and cheaper. Long battery life good app and it looks good
Great first GPS watch.
I paid 100 smackers for it. It’s a great watch for the price. If you are getting into running and want something that tracks you distance, the. Look no further. It tracks many other useful things as well. It’s light weight and small for the people who don’t want anything big and clunky. I’d only up grade from this if I wanted something for long runs like ultras.
Motivating
I bought this as an upgrade from a forerunner 35, and it is a game changer! Such fun. As is to be expected it takes a while to navigate the folders on the watch, but YouTube helps with that. The mobile app is really easy to navigate, and I love that my activities download automatically onto my phone.
The only negative is that the indoor swimming function is not so great, It counts laps by counting turns( and therefore undercounts by 1), and you have to input the length of the pool, which is a bit of a fiddle.
All in all it is great, thouroughly recommended, and more attractive than its competitors.
Smart Watch
Great Watch, just what i was looking for. This watch has great with its diffrent activitys pre loaded. Strong plastic watch strap with a clear LED screen.
Would recomend this to anyone wanting a smart looking watch.
Grea
Really nice watch good features does what I need it to do. I would definitely recommend
I was previously a fitbit user but I’ve been converted. The watch interface is better, the app is more expansive and detailed and there is not a paywall for certain key features, the GPS component is excellent, its battery life is HUGE in comparison (i only need to charge it once ever 2 weeks, if that!). The only things I can critisize at all are the sleep tracker. (In the evening, if I sit still, lay down or read a book for a few minutes it thinks I’ve fallen asleep and it’s terrible at recognising when I wake up in the night and the next morning. But, that can be manually amended so, not a deal breaker.) And the wrist band isnt that comfirtable in my opinion. I never had issues with my previous rubber watch stap, but the one supplied with my Garmin isnt the most comfortable (the holes going all the way around the band are the issue, a solid strap would be better). This is just a preference thing though and I’m sure I can find an alternative strap design that will be more comfortable for me.
Overall, I’m converted. Why did I ever buy a Fitbit? I’ve been missing out on so much.
Great watch
Great watch although there are lots of features I haven’t figured out how to use them all yet – and am not sure how useful they will be anyway – I’m sure some people will like them
Accuracy
Before this Garmin I had a product from a major competitor that never recorded sleep before midnight and counted steps while driving my car. I am so much happier with this Garmin, it is worth every penny
If you need a running watch that doesn’t confuse you with stats that you don’t need .
Well laid out watch , clear reading , pretty easy too use .
Really impressed with this watch , I bought it for cycling and it has been excellent giving me everything I need , speed, heart rate, ascent , route distance, time ….
I was worried it would be a bit big for my thin wrists but it’s the perfect size . Battery life is very good .
All in all a very good buy , it exceeded my expectations.
Likes i
My husband thinks this watch is brilliant . Battery life much better then the older version he had which suddenly refused to pair with his iphone
Good for price
Not a fancy watch and not touchscreen but it’s very accurate giving you options for various sports. Great battery life
Love , love , love this watch. Bought one for my hubby too as he was jealous.
So much better than my old GPS fitbit .
I was debating between this and the Apple watch, this is hands down the winner for fitness insights. Can programme Propace which means it will keep you in check when running, stops you from going to fast/slow.
Loads of additional features, watch fronts can be downloaded from Garmin store for free. Automatically adds run to Strava.
I got the white one and jazzed it up with a cheap colourful strap from a well know auction site, super easy to change.
Love , love , love this watch. Bought one for my hubby too as he was jealous.
So much better than my old GPS fitbit .
I was debating between this and the Apple watch, this is hands down the winner for fitness insights. Can programme Propace which means it will keep you in check when running, stops you from going to fast/slow.
Loads of additional features, watch fronts can be downloaded from Garmin store for free. Automatically adds run to Strava.
I got the white one and jazzed it up with a cheap colourful strap from a well know auction site, super easy to change.
As a first time user of garmin I absolutely love this product. So light, it doesn’t feel like your wearing anything on your wrist. So simple to use. Battery life is fantastic! One of the best decisions I’ve made. You wouldn’t be disappointed.
Very good basic watch
Very good for one of the more basic GPS watches available with a great battery life.
My son bought this in the sales and he loves it, true multi sport watch, does everything he wants and more.
great for the price
Quality watch for running, walking , whatever. Good GPS tracking. Buzzes on every mile you cover.
Seems to be very accurate. Battery lasts almost 2 weeks. Pretty comfortable to wear and syncs easily with iPhone.
Best fitness watch
I used fitbit for years and now I am wondering why I waited so long to change. This watch has an amazing battery life, so many functions, its comfortable, lightweight and would do for any jogger, walker or runner.
Got this is a present for my father – he really liked it; it was very light and comfortable. I was able to change its settings so that the display and notifications were to his liking as well. Battery seems to be good too so all looking good!
Small faced watch not bright attal having said that it’s OK no arguments very comfortable to wear so all in all 8.5 out of 10
Watch is light and powerful. Easy to use and battery life is amazing!
It’s the best watch to date. Can’t think of anything else I’d want it to do. Maybe make a left handed version would be grea
previously had a couple of different fit bits but they kept breaking and battery life was terrible. the battery for this lasts ages and with it not being touch screen I dont have to worry about the exercises stopping half way through. Button control is easy to use. the app is also very straight forward to follow. would definitely recommend.
Great tracking while running and hiking, plus comfortable fit too. Different functions are easy to use and manage. The free app is clear and user friendly.
I’ve been using a Fitbit Charge 4 for a year tracking my runs, changed over to the Garmin Forerunner 55 two weeks ago, so much better for the important things that you need to know, if you want Garmin without paying 300- 500 plus this is a great entry level device
Bought this watch for my wife for her birthday. She is delighted with it. Great battery life. Picks up GPS really quickly. Looks great.
Great product had my old garmin for over 10 years and highly impressed with the upgrade. Great fit on the wrist, covers all the basics I need pace, time, distance. Steps for everyday use. Recommends recovery and workouts. Used on both road and trails for running.
I really like this watch having not used a GPS watch for a few years the development in functionality & battery life has come on leaps & bounds in this period. There’s a huge you can do which might be easy to forget some aspects. I wanted to know how far I have run & speed. The watch quickly picks up a signal & the battery last around 3 or so days until another charge is needed.
Good GPS, fast satellite tracking, not really impressed about classes manage!
This is a good sports watch, for the money. It has a brilliant design, a user-friendly interface and great battery life. I run or workout every day, and the I make it to 9-10 days where it is at 12 percent. Some of the features life compatibility with Zwift and race predictors to name a few are what you’d normally find in some of Garmin’s mid to high end watches. I must say, I’m not a fan of the chunky bezel and if you’re coming from something like a Garmin Forerunner 245, you’ll notice the screen won’t be winning any awards. I’m also disappointed that there isn’t an activity for indoor rowing or strength training. Overall, this is a good watch with great functionality and easy to use.
I used this for a few weeks to assess:
* Did I need a fitness tracker and would I use it?
* Would I get much use out of the mobile app, and would I like it?
* Would using this improve my health?
I can say for definite, yes on all counts. The main thing I got it for though was to track my cycling, as I have a new mountainbike that I wanted to use to get fitter, and I’ve used that, but Garmin offer a freebie coaching programme which can get you from couch to 5k, or improve your running if you’re a runner already, or to train you for a 10k race or half marathon etc. I’m emphatically not a runner – I’ve had asthma most of my life & I’ve always avoided running, but I thought “Why not” and started the programme. I’m now on Week 3 of the couch to 5K programme, and I’ve just jogged 2.5k to the shops and back & I’m not out of breath. This is really good. However, I noticed a few things about the Forerunner 55:
1 – the watch’s screen is *tiny*. It’s a small area within a small watch face, and it’s not very bright or sharp. As a 51 year old man I find myself constantly having to peer over my glasses at it.
2 – it lacks some features found in the more high-end watches, like SpOx (blood oxygen).
Small things, I know, but I got this watch to see if Garmin was for me. It is, and I’ve upgraded to a Garmin Venu 2 45mm, and given the Forerunner 55 to my wife, who’s really enjoying using it.
What’s lacking on the mobile app: there’s no widgets for the phone. Previously I was using Google Fit, and Garmin Connect doesn’t seem to sync with that despite connecting my Google account to my Garmin account. These are things I hope Garmin fixes in the future – interoperability between fitness apps on the same phone is a big deal, and it’s these small annoyances that lead me to give it 4 rather than 5 stars overall.
I used this for a few weeks to assess:
* Did I need a fitness tracker and would I use it?
* Would I get much use out of the mobile app, and would I like it?
* Would using this improve my health?
I can say for definite, yes on all counts. The main thing I got it for though was to track my cycling, as I have a new mountainbike that I wanted to use to get fitter, and I’ve used that, but Garmin offer a freebie coaching programme which can get you from couch to 5k, or improve your running if you’re a runner already, or to train you for a 10k race or half marathon etc. I’m emphatically not a runner – I’ve had asthma most of my life & I’ve always avoided running, but I thought “Why not” and started the programme. I’m now on Week 3 of the couch to 5K programme, and I’ve just jogged 2.5k to the shops and back & I’m not out of breath. This is really good. However, I noticed a few things about the Forerunner 55:
1 – the watch’s screen is *tiny*. It’s a small area within a small watch face, and it’s not very bright or sharp. As a 51 year old man I find myself constantly having to peer over my glasses at it.
2 – it lacks some features found in the more high-end watches, like SpOx (blood oxygen).
Small things, I know, but I got this watch to see if Garmin was for me. It is, and I’ve upgraded to a Garmin Venu 2 45mm, and given the Forerunner 55 to my wife, who’s really enjoying using it.
What’s lacking on the mobile app: there’s no widgets for the phone. Previously I was using Google Fit, and Garmin Connect doesn’t seem to sync with that despite connecting my Google account to my Garmin account. These are things I hope Garmin fixes in the future – interoperability between fitness apps on the same phone is a big deal, and it’s these small annoyances that lead me to give it 4 rather than 5 stars overall.
Picked up one of these elsewhere but thought I’d stick a review in as there doesn’t seem to be any yet
It’s a small watch, smaller than I expected actually. Comfortable on the wrist, very light. Straps are industry standard 20mm quick release so no probs customising to your hearts content.
Battery – I have been getting around a week battery with roughly an hour GPS every day tracking a workout. Decent enough, I wear the watch 24/7 and track sleep etc too. But I don’t use it for notifications other than phone calls
Display – A real disappointment. Brilliantly readable in sunlight when working out but indoors it’s hopeless. I get this is why battery is so good but I also don’t expect to be able to see individual pixels on a screen this small. Pretty poor but it does the job I guess. The backlight works fine
Interface – if you haven’t had a Garmin before then it will take some getting used to but as I have, I am used to the 5 button layout and find it quick enough to get around. The new “widget glances” are much nicer than the previous widget pages.
Sleep tracking – I wear this all day every day and night and it does track my sleep but I have to say, it always has me down as being asleep hours before I am so I’m really not convinced
Body battery and stress – great little features I hadn’t seen before and give an overview of how your feeling and how ready your body is for exercise. However as the sleep tracking doesn’t seem to be too accurate, i take it as a gimmick that I just enjoy looking at
I’ve used the watch to track running, walking (there is no hike option on this particular model) and swimming. And I’ve been pleased with the accuracy on all 3. You can customise lots of data fields and even add fields from ConnectIQ when it actually wants to work
I’ve also used Garmins training plans and programmed my own workouts for running and these just work excellently every time. It’s almost worth recommending just for these alone.
Accuracy – heart rate and GPS almost identical to my Apple Watch se that I tested it alongside and I’ve been reasonably happy
Overall I think this is a good entry level running Watch that will suit a lot of people. I wish it had a slightly better screen but having access to Garmins connect app and training plans etc at this price is really good. You can really go into depth on all your workouts and compared to an Apple Watch which I was using, I do prefer this. A Smartwatch it isn’t but an activity tracker or running trainer it most definitely is. A fairly big step up from the forerunner 45