I like the idea of being able to tell it when you are paused. I'm so slow that sometimes my watch thinks I must have just given up and had a sit down. :)
I recently bought this and decided to keep it after a few days. There are the only 2 reasons why I almost returned it right out of the box. - The pixelated/low quality screen. - Screen is not bright enough in a relatively dimmed environment. ( it looks great in direct sunlight) not a huge deal though. I figured these 2 things above don’t really affect how well the watch performs. If you can get passed these 2 things, you’ll see how great of a watch FF55 is. The stats, software and Garmin connect app work exceptionally, which is really what I’m paying for and what I need. Not the most fancy high quality looking watch, but it has all a runner needs in my honest opinion.
I've bought it five days ago for 139 euro on Amazon, this is my first sport watch so I don't have any experience to compare it to something else, the screen looks just a bit better than an average calculator (bad resolution, colors and brightness) but good enough to provide info while training. I'm a beginner but it looks precise to me, I'm absolutely surprised on how good the Garmin Connect app is, it's a wonderful service
I would love a new Vivoactive watch. And some more health features instead of more and more sports features. ECG, Temperature, Blood Pressure, maybe Blood Sugar...but all that with the true always on Display Garmin offers on the Forerunner and Vivoactive
Regardless of the age of this watch I'm very tempted to get it. I have a Forerunner 735xt but I run exclusively so I've never needed the other workout types. My other option is of course is the Coros Pace 2 and I'm struggling to decide. I think the most important criteria is the accuracy of my live pace
I've got a Fenix 3 and it's been great since I got it in 2015. I'm anticipating it giving in soon as it's slowing down. I'd like to see something like this 55 with a larger face, there are too many with small screens and thick bezel face.
Why go from a fenix 3 to something like this? Hold out for the fenix 7, bezels will probably shrink again. The fenix 6 series don't have huge bezels like the 5 and 3.
I have had a 945 for a couple years and have pretty much just kept the default settings. This video has inspired me to look into what my watch can do. Thanks for the content!
Hello - would you still recommend the FR 55 in 2023 for a beginner/intermediate runner? My priorities are price, durability, GPS accuracy and run tracking.
This video is pretty good! Lots of details! I still have my Garmin Forerunner 15 Large, it still runs/works pretty well! But one day in the future, it may stop working, and I'll be looking for a new watch. This Garmin Forerunner 55 seems like an amazing one to get! It's not too expensive either.
I think it's always worth to say / show all the activity apps that watches offer. And this is the only (? - correct me if I'm wrong) your review that says something about them.
I don't understand the massive bezel on most of these watches. You get this "appearing to be" a massive screen with a tiny little screen to fit everything into.....what's up with that?
The problem is that Zwift is not providing any support for the virtual run function. The calibration could be improved a lot, Garmin watches have a lot of potential. In fact, I posted on the Zwift forums in the Feature Requests section suggesting a revamp of the calibration system, I leave the link in case you are interested! forums.zwift.com/t/revamp-calibration-system-running/550441/2
Thanks DC, great video as always. Seems as if Garmin is now operating with a (large) core of features that will be present on all of their watches, which is very impressive from them. Do you think its a competition thing, trying to stave off market share being lopped off by Suunto, Polar and the Chinese makers like Huawei and Amazfit? Cheers.
Such awesome to the point reviews. Really clear and informative. I've just upgradd form the FR45 and this has been really helpful in understanding the new features. Thank you so much!
@Takko2sday - INGLÊS NA PRÁTICA I can answer some of these questions :) The bluetooth is pretty stable, I have mine synched with my iphone and set up to receive notifications and test messages but not tried emails. General notifications and txt messages work fine. Sadly you can plot a run course through Garmin connect but I'm pretty sure the F55 doesn't have any navigation smarts including return to start. You need the FR245 or higher for Navigation features. I've had this watch for over a year now and it is a defintle step up form the 45. More features, better display, longer battery life and so far pretty glitch free.
Is it possible to change the workout watch face. Mine is in miles and doesn't show the time of day. Would prefer it in KM and for it to tell me the time
hello, can you do a review on the coros pace 2, would appreciate that. Edit: just bought the coros pace 2 and its amazing watch, big bright screen, easy navigation, more and accurate sensors, better than garmin for the money.
Great review! I’m looking at the 55 to replace my inaccurate Apple Watch 5. One thing I must have is to listen to podcasts but I can’t find a direct answer online. Eg. Playrun does not list the 55 as supported. Thank you for help.
I ordered a Garmin Forerunner 45 right when I realized this came in. I now have to return the 45 and order the 55 since it is what I need and the 45 lacks some features I have in my forerunner 235 which the 55 has. 😶
@@elia.8993 hi, thanks for the reply. I’m sorry but I think I asked the wrong question. I meant to ask what does the 55 have that the 45 doesn’t have? The 55 sounds pretty much perfect for me too, except the little improvements of screen quality and size on the 245 are really attractive. I also heard the 55 is small? What do you think?
Some (new) features mentioned - like recovery time, breathing frequency, time estimations on the standard lengths, but other features too - are on the 245 for a while now, others are (really) new. I have the 245 for little under 2 years now, it becomes slower and maybe battery life becomes less and lesser. I'm doubting of getting the 55, but what i percieve as new features I think would be nice, but is it worth the 200 euro's, since my 245 still works good enough? I can't look into your wallets, and i don't know how much Garmin is putting energy in upgrading the 245 in the future, but if you can afford the extra 50 dollars, I think you're getting the better of the 2 with the 55, looking at product life cycle and feature updates. But those are my 2 cents.
I'm so sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm very new to running and running watches -- but if I were to have the watch on me when I run and leave my phone at home, will my running data still be collected?
245 has basic navigation, pulse ox, higher pixel screen, compass, training status load and effect, race an activity, trail run v02, course guidance, etc. If you okay with the inferior screen and don't need navigational features, the 55 will be a better buy, provided it's cheaper. Some places are offering healthy discounts on the 245.
my 235 is starting to die on me slowly, so I'm looking to replace it soon. I was looking at the Forerunner 55, Forerunner 245, or even the Instinct Solar as I mostly do running, a bit of cycling, and some sports climbing, but since the refresh cycle seems to be 2 years, it feels like a Forerunner 255 might be on the horizon too? what would you say is the better choice for somebody in my position? I value a good HR monitor and GPS tracking over anything else, so in your opinion should I buy FR-55, FR-245, Instinct Solar, or wait for a FR-255?
@@stevenm2949 I’m buying a 55 this week, to keep me entertained until I can check out the running functionality of the upcoming Apple Watch. it’s rumoured to be more geared towards it 🤷🏼♂️
@@EricElsewhere interesting, so you waited the year 😀. Think I will buy the FR 245 music. It’s only $30 more than the 55 (on amazon). Can’t go wrong IMO.
Would the track function work on a generic circular/square route? I don’t have access to a track but a fairly track-like oval-ish route in a local park.
Hi DC Rainmaker, I have this watch and love it. I want to get a Garmin for Runner 955 in a few months. I picked up a Garmin Forerunner 55 on Amazon sale today. I know with Garmin it takes time to build your profile and then all the benefits of Garmin eco system. Do you think the Garmin For runner 55 replace my Samsung watch. I know I will lose the Samsung eco-system features, but can the health and workout features beat the Samsung Galaxy S4 watch. I walk and swim mainly. Is the fitness features better on the Garmin than the Samsung watch?
@ DC Hi, ive got a question, hope you or anybody ele can help! So i've managed to upload some (interval) workouts from the app to the watch. However, whenever i do a workout, i cant get the display right. I only see the time remaining of the lap im doing and the distance ive run, however i want to see my actual pace on the display. Does anybody know how i can change this? If i just start a run (not a workout) from the watch, i do have the actual pace on the display ( i was able to change this)... In other words the displays during a normal run and a selfmade workout run are not the same, the latter missing the pace! Hope to hear from you, thanks!
Hello! Thank you so much for the review. I am looking forward to buy this watch for my father, so he can do his cyclings controlling his heart rate. Can you tell me if it is possible to configure the watch to trig an alarm when the heart rate gets to some predefined limit?
Great video! I’m looking for a Garmin that connects with my cell phone using bluetooth so I can change the volume of music or advance songs from the watch. Will this model work for that?
Looks like a great watch with all the features. Can it send alert notiffications in case of immergency, without having the celular phone with me? I run trails, where i'm from there are venomous snakes. Currently I run with my cellular phone attached to my arm so that i can call someone in case of immergency. It would be great to go running without my phone if the watch can send immergency messages.
so, it's a black on white screen like an old kindle? i have a very pretty and useless battery life Samsung 5 watch with a beautiful display. I get 14 hours out of it on the highest power saving mode, which is all functions disabled. I see recent;y they were giving a buy 1 get 1 free on the website. :( mine was $100 with my Samsung 4 watch trade in. i don't want a B&W screen, but i'd like to get a few days off of a charge.
Do you recommend this for a cycling watch if I have a Garmin 1030 computer, varia radar light, and tacx neo2t trainer? I was using a Samsung Galaxy watch but it quit working.
Ray, this is very useful for my new 55. Thank you. BIG question - once I've finished a run, how do I save what I've done before I begin another run? I can't figure it out. Thank you
Bit off topic but got fenix 6 pro, is there a way to stop the duplicate data. So doesn't show iv done sy 100m ride for the week when really it's 50 but gsrmin head unit and fenix watch both upload same journey but making out my totals double the distance.
Your opinion, this forerunner 55 or vivoactive 4. I'm coming from garmin instinct. Reason I'm looking for new watch, my instinct doesn't track very well. The altitude is off big time, so my workouts say I have been running hills. It needs to be replaced.
Does a Forerunner 55 mean updates for the 945/745 and now effectively over? I want to buy a new Garmin, but the 945LTE isn't coming to Australia any time soon, so is the 745 a safe purchase 8 months after release?
Do you prefer watches like this that use elevation from gps or ones with a built in altimeter? The watches with altimeters seem to always be off. Thanks!
please be honest is the sleep tracking any good ? I have seen 40$ Bands having a great accuracy for sleep tracking is this good for sleep tracking or just for running ?
I want a wrist display to show my heart rate (large) from my ECG strap (H10) in color representing of my target zone, with rapid accurate beat to beat updates (one to three seconds). Will this Forerunner 55 do that? If so, how long will it last continuously in that mode (display on, BT-LE HR, no optical HR)?
hi, your video is very useful. Happy that you are also in LA. I am looking for a long time a fonction to put all trails I did together on one map. can Garmin do this? (either handheld or Garmin 55/245 which has built-in GPS) The purpose of this is to have a record on all the mountains i went to and record the track of my trail/footprints. Thanks
This was super helpful! Does anyone know if Nike Run Club & Strava can be connected to the 55? I use NRC's guided runs and training plans currently on my Apple Watch but not sure if making the switch means I have to forego NRC :)
How do you rate the brightness of the display image? Is it good enough? Is the image dull? Is the display readable in bright sun and at night? Can the backlight be dimmed at night?
Just got this 55 watch a couple days ago, still trying to figure out if I can change the display brightness. It's not bright/visible enough yet, that's for sure! I don't want to have to squeeze a button every time I want to see what time it is; I hope I can figure out a setting that keeps it bright all the time, but so far, no luck .....
@@tkenglander6226 you can fix this by going to system, back light, during activity or not during activity, gestures, on. This will light the watch up whenever you bring your hand up to see the time instead of clicking the button
It's tough, they've both got pros and cons. The Pace 2 has a baro altimeter, running power, and more sport modes (mainly triathlon benefiting), however, Garmin has a more complete app/platform that's a bit more polished - especially around 24x7 type metrics.
