Garmin Forerunner 255 GPS Running Smartwatch Advanced Insights Long-Lasting Battery Slate Gray

This is a great watch. I've had it for over two years now and just getting around to writing a review because I wanted to see if it stood the test of time. It does. Pros: it's not too big, all the features work flawlessly (music, gps, etc), and most importantly the battery life is spectacular and has not degraded in the years I have owned it. I wear this watch every day and I only charge it maybe once a month. The GPS is accurate, but I did not use it as much as I thought I might (I am a geology student and have to take coordinates regularly, real coordinates, not something on a navigation app). The thing is my iPhone is just as accurate (using specialized geology apps) and much easier to use. I don't use any of my real GSP units either. Guess that is the state of the art of GPS. Cons: I think the rubber band they ship it with leave much to be desired. I bought an aftermarket band with a velcro closure and problem is solved. And, It really does take a while to figure out how to use everything. It is not exactly intuitive and I still get lost in the menus. I'd buy it again. Read more

I LOVE this watch. I've been debating buying a running watch for so many years now and finally decided to do it. I have been doing marathon training and this watch has aided me plentifully. It has cool features when you record runs where it'll tell you every time you finish a "lap" which you can set the distance for - so during a long 10 mile run I have it set to tell me every time I finish 1 mile and what pace I finished it at. It also has cool badges you unlock when you run certain distances, and it will notify you every time you recorded a new personal best mile, 5k, 10k, half marathon, etc. during any long run. It displays a very accurate heartrate as well which I've tested multiple times and it's always within 5 of what I measure manually. You have to download Garmin Connect and Garmin Connect IQ on your phone which can then be used to download your favorite music app right to your watch (I use Spotify). From there, you can download your music/playlists/podcasts/audiobooks right to your watch. You can leave your phone at home then for long runs and just have your watch and your headphones with you; which is a lifesaver personally lol. The second you get back home from a run, it'll connect back to your phone and send the data over immediately. On your phone you can then see all your runs, as well as the pace, average heartrate, calories burned, and a few other cool measures. It can also record your sleep and give feedback on the quality of it, length, etc. but I have yet to use this feature. I sleep like a rock and can easily tell how well I slept when I wake up haha. I highly recommend this product. If you are on the fence as I was for so long, GET IT Read more

Great watch, great battery. The heart rate sensor is accurate, lightweight. Read more

I am not a runner but I have been considering a Garmin watch for a long time because I am usually an active hiker. I haven't been as active for a while and I feel like the wellness tracking this device offers is helping me back on track. This has been one of those purchases that I wish I had pulled the trigger on sooner now that I have it. Combined with the web app I really love the amount of detail that I can get and the variety of things I can easily track. I've found the GPS tracking on my longer walks to be very accurate so far. I also enjoy the variety of customization options both native to the watch and through Connect IQ score. I know that the sleep, stress, body battery, etc, are not the most accurate, but they are still a great tool for getting a rough idea of where I can improve. For me, being called out by something as neutral as data is very helpful and I appreciate being able to see trends and make note of things that I could change for the better. I do have to take some of the body measurements with a grain of salt because of medications that I take, like the HRV-based stress readings (always high for me), so you should take that into consideration if you are prescribed any kind of medication that either stimulates or sedates. I am so glad I went with the smaller model, I am a petite person and it feels like the perfect size for my wrist. I don't find it to be obtrusive at all. I don't love the silicone band and went with an alternative that looks better at the office and doesn't bother my skin as much. Read more

I would like to say I came over from using a Apple Watch Series 6, and wow the difference in incredible. The display you can see at any time of the day, and the quality is amazing. The battery life lasts up to 10 days for me at a time, and I can barley tell I'm even wearing it sometimes from how light it is. Before the weight of my apple watch prevented me from comfortably sleeping with it, whereas the weight of the garmin makes it so easy to have it on without realizing you have it on. The OS is also very fast and it looks great when paired with any athletic outfit. Great value for money especially in comparison with all the competitors on the market. Read more