Great first look and review Des. Been waiting for the 255 and knew you would be the man to go to for an early review. I really think your channel is one of the best for fitness tech. Keep up the good work.
I’m new to running, and to the Garmin stratosphere (traditional Apple user). After realizing my Apple Watch was not accepted for my first virtual race, I purchased a Forerunner 55. It was awkward getting used to buttons, instead of a touch screen, but I actually like it during racing/training. After watching some reviews, I went ahead and ordered a Forerunner 255/music. I appreciate your review of the major features of both trackers!
Touchscreens definitely have their place but I'm glad you discovered that buttons tend to work better for workouts! 🤩 Enjoy your new 255 - it provides a lot of running features and thanks!
Great review and similar situation In considering replacing my Apple Watch. I wear it on my right wrist. Will this inhibit any features or ease of use?
These are normally early morning releases. You are really hot off the presses. I think the 255 will hit the sweet spot for most people. Great job as always, Des!
I am so disheartened right now with my Apple Watch 6, I deeply regret I ever wasted my money buying it. Basically all the health tracking apps have been outsourced, and you can't buy them, you have to subscribe. I should have done a better research. Garmin seems to be the better option.
Wow, really? What do you mean by outsourced health tracking apps? I tried Garmin and Coros and found that once I was done working out, those watches were like a Timex - No value at all. I returned to Apple Watch and find that the frequent charging requirement while annoying is a small price to pay.
@@chrisking6448 a small (recurring) price to pay on top of the huge price we already paid for the watch. Like back in the day when Apple made crap headphones, but teamed up with Bose. You paid a small fortune for an iPod, then you had to pay some more for decent headphones.
Ok….Garmin is certainly tempting me away from Apple with their new lineup however one concern I have about Garmin is support for older devices. Three years down the road and many Garmin users are left with no updates/features. I’m also very curious to see if this rumoured Apple Watch Pro launches in Sept. if it comes with multi-day battery life, I’m in.
@@chrisking6448 i still use my vivoactive 3 from 2018 and it’s doing great. Battery got slightly weaker ( charge it every 4-5 days instead of 7-9 days back then)
@DesFit is this watch still worth getting in 2024? I read somewhere you only get security updates for 2 years. I like the 265 but I don't want to spend too much money on a watch I'll be replacing every 2 years.
Hello! :) Wondering if there is an option where I only receive call vibration notifications from whatsapp and regular calls? I don't wan't to receive a vibration notification of messages on my phone because I receive too many and it's a pain if I get those on my watch too... I don't mind to receive them as far as they don't vibrate, but calls should vibrate... Thank you so much :)
anybody else noticed the 65535 day streak for step goal? That's almost 180 years! Probs to you, didn't think you were that old ^^ But jokes aside, great review as always!
bro, I am more confused with the many options out there, not to mention the fact that once you buy a new watch, in a few months a better smartwatch will leave the others behind. Hate that.
Cheers Des, I bought the 255 Music - awesome watch buddy! Does far more than I require. Your video helped me decide, if anyone else is in the market watch this video, it helped me a lot. 🙏
Hi! Thanks for the review, as usual enjoyable and informative, as the sisters review of the 955, waiting for the comparison video also! It's some time I don't see reviews of watches which are out of the garmin-polar-suunto-coros realm, which is a pity... Competition is coming! How about trying the Huawei gt runner or GT3 pro, they really seem to have nailed the required accuracy together with plenty of sports/health metrics...
Thanks, great review as always. It really is an amazing upgrade, even though my 245 is still very capable with the software updates. Still, they insist on offering the nicer looking colors only in the music versions - come on Garmin!
Despite of connection to the electricity nest or computer, the watch does not always respond with charging. It also looses USB connection with a computer. Sometimes I leave it to charcmge to see that after 30min battery status didn't change. Sometimes everything goes as it suppose to. I have it for 3 years and only recent month it became so problematic.
Great reviews but a lot of reviewers are referring to these watches as plastic, but they are polymer. Yes it feels and looks like plastic, but it is significantly stronger. And under many circumstances it can hold up to impact much better than stainless steel and certainly better than aluminum.
Well made video! Something i think wasn't answered: Does de 255M support altitude through GPS? If yes, is it possible to display barometric and GPS altitude simultaneously?
Awesome job. Just nailed and perfectly described the full list. 2 question - 1, great point on 745 futility now, and range of prices ($400 here and $500 955) seems to cut it out of any 755 releases. Thoughts? Maybe they’ll covert the 755 to the FR variant w AMOLED next year or something? At $550? 2, tell me you beat that tall lanky runner (DC) in the race yesterday!
Hi Des, Great Review. Can you tell me if the Forerunner 255 will also suggest daily cycling workouts based on training load and training effect and not just daily running workouts based on training load and training effect?
Thanks for getting this up so quick Des! I'd be interested to hear how you'd compare the 255 vs Venu2 plus now we've had this update as theyre compariable price.
They different watches with different purposes. The venu is more a smart watch with good sport capabilities. Nicer screen and touch. The 255 is now a really good sport watch with all the features and the extra accuracy with the all new gps settings/features
I would also love to see this video. The purposes might be different but I am still not sure which one to get. I do love me some sports data but I would really like to know how far the sports features of the Venu 2 plus go with current firmware compared to the 255 🤔
Same here. I'm in the market for a new watch and wanted to go for the Venu 2 plus. Now I'm not sure anymore. I mainly do cycling as a sport but I love data and numbers. It seams the 255 has a whole bunch of new training features that are not on the Venu 2 plus (yet?).
Visibility in sunlight is one of the highlight features of a MIP/transflective display such as this, along with the benefit of long battery life. The 255 doesn’t have a touchscreen whereas the 955 does. Hope that helps. Thanks!
I've just ordered the 255 music. I'm using a forunner 45 ATM so hoping the extra features will come in handy like no phone and 4 data screens instead of 3 and live tracking for events. Great informative review 👍
Hi I have the 35 and thinking of buying 255 Music. Not sure on size for my wrist (lady here) have you had problems with the Music syncing ? I am doing my 3rd half and wanted one so didn’t have to take mobile phone out. Many thanks toss up between 255 or 255 music
Thanks for the review! The 255 just got a really deep price cut recently to compete with the Pace 3, and I am seriously considering it. Does the model’s better GPS accuracy translates into better real-time pace accuracy? I heard there can be a 10 second delay. This can be an issue in a race if someone is pursuing a certain finish time. Thx!
Does it display the total elevation gain thus far while you are still doing your activity? Or does it only show the final total after activity is completed?
Great review, thanks so much! I am considering buying this watch but wanted to ask first what you thought of its capabilities and accuracy of GPS for open water swimming and what metrics it tracks in that mode - did you look at that at all? Keen to hear your thoughts. :) Thanks so much.
The Garmin 245 music is now on sale for £188 while the new 255 music is currently at £349. For my first fitness watch, I think the best option is to go with the older 245.
Hello,.Des, Thanks a ton again for your video ! I saw this again after getting my FR 255 ! A great watch !! Does FR 255 have something called 'pace pro' that was mentioned in FR 245 ?
Hugely informative. Coming from a 245 would the normal choice be the regular size or the smaller S? I’m guessing the regular as it’s only slightly larger but no where near as big as the 955 right? Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the review. Do you know if the new daily suggested workouts, showing what's to come over the next days/weeks will be updated onto the Forerunner 55?
Great informative video. How does this compare to Polar V series for a amateur runner looking for good training programmes and basic metrics? Is it worth considering a switch?
Hey, I've got a question which I couldn't find through googling. When I put my finger over the HR sensor like you did at 3:33, both of the green lights flash as well, but then after I remove the finger, the upper part of top sensor is constantly blinking green light, it doesn't stay turned off like in your video. Do you or anyone else know why is that so?
BRO, for the 255s is this meanth for smaller wrist? Do you have 255s review? I have a smaller wrist. I saw some article mentioninh 255s have a pink wording and pink stips, etc?
Did you have a chance to test out the music/spotify features? I bought a 245m primarily for this feature and its been frustratingly bad - bad sync issues with spotify and a well known issue on the forums of the bluetooth chipset connecting with most headphones. I've felt that as soon as another watch brand makes a watch that can sync from Spotify I'd abandon Garmin, but maybe they've fixed it now? An easy test is to wear the watch on the opposite wrist from the headphone received (Jabra 65t receiver is in the right earbud, so watch on left wrist) and do things like stretching or even just a different arm motion as you would when running down a hill will take the watch out of range!
Hello mate, how do you think which one will stay longer by one charge Coros Apex 2 or Forerunner 255, i know that the apex 2 has 45 hours in gps mode which is 15 more hours than 255, but in just smartwatch mode it's only 3 day longer?
Thanks for the detailed video. How do you get the display contrast look so crisp? Or is it the color correction of video footage? In reality, the black levels and saturation of display looks very washed. Is there an option to tweak that? I can only find settings for brightness. Cheers!
I may of already asked this question but on this watch, does the HRV and 7 day load. Will that all give me information if I only swim, or does it have to be biking or cycling. Kinda like how the vo2max works. It can only give info from running and cycling.
Can I see the elevation profile while using navigation in a running activity to see how much i still have to climb? I know it doesn't have climb pro but foe example, on instinct series i see the elevation profile to have an idea what is coming up. Thanks!
I've never owned a fitness watch so would be grateful for your insight: I'm leaning towards the 255s due to smaller form factor; it appeals to me that I will just forget I have it on, (particularly useful during sleep) and I would use all its features on the connect app of my phone. Is this realistic, or does one have to interact with the watch face itself? I'm not a runner, more into gym/bodybuilding, and want to use the watch for stress tracking, and overall fitness tracking over time. Thank you!
Thanks for the video. I’m looking to get the 255 / 955. Confused about the maps/navigation part to decide between the two. Basically, I have the all trails subscription, I’m looking to download the maps and upload to the watch that I can use to navigate in trail runs. Could you please recommend if I can do this with 255 or I need to get 955? Thank you.
I would like to ask the owners: do you also have the backlight turning itself on in certain cases (e.g. payment, blood oxygen measurement, outdoor activities: cycling, running, walking) even though everything (keys, alerts, gestures) is set to off in the settings?
I do have a questions for you because you tested a lot of smart watched and stuffs, what do you think about how accurate or well the calories burns is ? The Apple Watch over calcule A LOT in terms of calories area … so witch smart watches seems to be accurate to your opinion ?
As always, simple and straightforward, but very informative. Perfection. Picking your brain: being mostly a mtb rider with a few weekly spinning sessions + some functional training in the mix, I find myself divided between the Instinct 2, this new 255 and a wild card, the Suunto 9 Peak. Which would you recommend me? 😋😎😉👍🏼
Between this and the Instinct 2x solar, what would you recommend for a light user, no heavy activities. But i need the health data accuracy thus these over other name brands like samsung etc
How come the 255 seem to have a bigger on screen black circle than the 245? I don’t know if it’s me but the 245 still looks like the newer model or an upgraded form 255?!
Nice review! Could you do a comparison between the 255 and the instinct 2? They are in the same price range and I'm having an hard time deciding which one is better
Help me make up my mind please, I am looking for a smartwatch for Android phone, I am leaning between the Samsung Galaxy 5 pro and this Garmin Forerunner.
Only 1 question, do you get picture previews on text messages? The 245 refers you to the phone. Thats a feature worth the upgrade to me. That and garmin pay.
one major downgrade when switching from 245 to 255 is "back to start" is "tracback" only. Missing direct to start point feature massively. Also, no option for widgets view, just glances.
Right now fenix 6 pro goes the same price as 255. I can't choose, could you share your opinion on that, please? Now I have instinct, but I want these running recommendations.
Hi, I am thinking of switching from Garmin Vivoactive 4 to Forerunner 255/955, but I have concerns about the possibility of using all the functions related to the training status and measurement of effectiveness. Therefore, I am asking for your support in this regard. Until now, I have not used the Vivoactive 4 to record my runs. I will also add that I do not have a power meter in the bike. I have used the Vivoactive 4 watch for swimming, cycling (without a power meter), hiking and fitness. I'm not a runner - I don't like it. However, I want to receive more statistics provided by the new Forerunner 255/955 models: it is about measuring performance and training status (e.g. stamina, performance measurement, training status, load, training readiness, rest time, body battery, acclimatisation, etc.). I read in the manual that this data depends on the VO2 MAX. In the new models, you can independently perform the VO2 MAX test (on request) with running or cycling (with a power meter is required). However, in Vivoactive only the march was enough to make estimation; there was no need to run. Can the new forerunners also estimate VO2 max from walking? In addition, I read on Garmin's website support ("What Is VO2 Max Estimate and How Does It Work?) that if VO2 Max is not estimated from running or cycling with a power meter, VO2 max can be estimated from walking (as in VIVOACTIVE 4) or from all day heart rate. Have checked if this also apply to the forerunner 255/955 watches? I did not see any writings of this in the manuals. After two weeks of only swimming (no running, no cycling, no walking), will my VO2 max be estimated from heart rate? Will this value be taken into account for statistics related to the measurement of effectiveness and training status?
Hi! Congrats for your videos :) I bought a Forerunner 255 S Music and I noticed something: the pedometer works even if I'm stationary but moving in the car. Does this happen on your tbh? Or is it a bug in mine?
That can happen - it’s basing steps on movement so if the car is bouncing a bit due to not smooth roads, it can trigger those as steps. The same can be said for pretty much all watches. Thanks!
