10+ Garmin Forerunner 245 Review Highlights

Is the Garmin Forerunner 245 truly worth its reputation as a top mid-range smartwatch? With so many options on the market, finding the right fitness watch can be overwhelming. The Garmin Forerunner 245 stands out with its accurate GPS, sophisticated health monitoring, and music storage capabilities.

Overview of the Garmin Forerunner 245

The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is a mid-range smartwatch priced around €270, designed to cater to a variety of fitness and health needs. It is equipped with advanced features such as GPS, music storage, health monitoring, and multiple safety functionalities, making it a comprehensive device for both casual and serious athletes.

• GPS Tracking: Multiple GPS options for accurate tracking.
• Music Storage: Supports offline music from Spotify and iTunes.
• Health Monitoring: Tracks heart rate, sleep, stress, and overall body battery.
• Safety Features: Includes assistance mechanism, livetrack, and incident detection.
• Stylish Design: Comfortable and suitable for everyday wear.

The GPS tracking capabilities of the Garmin Forerunner 245 are particularly notable, offering various options such as GPS, GPS Glonass, and GPS Galileo for precise location tracking. This ensures that users can accurately monitor their routes during activities like running, cycling, and hiking.

The music storage feature allows users to upload and manage their playlists directly on the watch, supporting up to 500 songs from platforms like Spotify and iTunes, thus enabling phone-free workouts.

In terms of health monitoring, the watch provides extensive data on heart rate, stress levels, sleep patterns, and overall body readiness through its Body Battery feature. This data helps users make informed decisions about their training and recovery needs.

The safety features enhance user security by offering real-time tracking and emergency assistance, making it a reliable companion for outdoor activities. The stylish and comfortable design of the Garmin Forerunner 245 ensures it is not only functional but also suitable for everyday use, without being too bulky for social or work settings.

Design and Build Quality of the Garmin Forerunner 245

The Garmin Forerunner 245 features a standard sports watch design with a plasticky appearance. It is somewhat thick and chunky, which might not make it the best choice for formal wear. Despite this, the watch is lightweight at 41 grams, making it comfortable for running and other physical activities.

Its display provides clear information on time, pace, and distance, ensuring ease of use during workouts. While the design might not be ideal for all settings, it remains stylish and comfortable enough for everyday wear, without being too bulky for social or work environments.

Model	Weight (grams)	Dimensions (mm)
Garmin Forerunner 245	41	42.3 x 42.3 x 12.2
Garmin Forerunner 45	32	42 x 42 x 11.4
Garmin Forerunner 55	37	42 x 42 x 11.6

Comfort and usability are key strengths of the Garmin Forerunner 245. Its lightweight build makes it ideal for long runs and intensive training sessions, minimizing any discomfort. The watch’s band is adjustable, ensuring a secure and personalized fit.

Users have reported that the watch is comfortable enough for continuous wear, making it a versatile choice for both athletic activities and daily use. Despite its sporty look, it integrates well into various settings, providing a balance between functionality and style.

Garmin Forerunner 245 Features and Functionalities

The Garmin Forerunner 245 is packed with advanced features that cater to both casual and serious athletes, making it a versatile tool for fitness tracking and health monitoring. Its functionalities are designed to provide comprehensive data on performance and well-being, ensuring users can optimize their workouts and stay safe during activities.

GPS Accuracy

The Forerunner 245 supports multiple GPS options, including normal satellite, GPS Glonass, GPS Galileo, and UltraTrac. This variety ensures enhanced location accuracy, crucial for tracking running routes, cycling paths, and hiking trails. With precise GPS tracking, users can confidently monitor their distances, speeds, and elevation changes, aiding in better planning and analysis of their workouts.

Health Monitoring

Health monitoring is a core feature of the Forerunner 245. It tracks heart rate, stress levels, and sleep patterns, offering a comprehensive view of the user’s health. The Body Battery feature aggregates data from these metrics to indicate overall readiness for exercise, helping users make informed decisions about their training intensity and recovery needs. Accurate heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking contribute to a holistic understanding of one’s health and fitness.

Safety Features

Safety is a significant aspect of the Forerunner 245. The watch includes an assistance mechanism that sends a message with the user’s GPS location to an emergency contact. The livetrack function allows real-time tracking by family and friends, enhancing safety during outdoor activities. Additionally, the incident detection system can detect sudden falls or impacts, automatically notifying emergency contacts. These features provide peace of mind, particularly for solo runners and adventurers.

The Garmin Forerunner 245’s blend of GPS accuracy, health monitoring, and safety features makes it an invaluable companion for fitness enthusiasts, ensuring accurate tracking, comprehensive health insights, and enhanced safety during workouts and daily activities.

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Edition

The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Edition is a mid-range smartwatch that integrates comprehensive music capabilities, priced at $349. It caters to fitness enthusiasts who want to enjoy their favorite tunes without needing to carry their phones

• Offline Music Uploads: Supports Spotify and iTunes.
• Music Storage: Can store up to 500 songs.
• Music Management: Managed via Garmin Express.
• Spotify Integration: Requires a premium account.
• Phone-Free Workouts: Enables music playback directly from the watch.
  
• Music storage on the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Edition is robust, allowing users to upload up to 500 songs. This storage capability makes it convenient for long runs or workouts, as users can access their entire playlist without a phone. Music uploads can be managed through Garmin Express, ensuring a seamless process for adding and organizing tracks. Spotify integration offers an additional layer of convenience, though it requires a premium account to sync playlists for offline listening.
• Usability and controls are designed with the athlete in mind. The watch’s interface allows easy navigation through music libraries, and playback controls are accessible during workouts. This ensures that users can quickly adjust volume, skip tracks, or pause music without interrupting their exercise routines. The phone-free functionality is particularly beneficial for runners and cyclists who prefer a lightweight, minimalist setup. Overall, the music capabilities of the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Edition enhance the workout experience, providing motivation and entertainment on-the-go.

Battery Life and Charging of the Garmin Forerunner 245

The Garmin Forerunner 245 boasts impressive battery life, making it a reliable choice for fitness enthusiasts. On average, the watch requires recharging only once a week, even with about 25km of running per week while listening to music.

Without GPS, the battery can last up to 7 days, which means users can enjoy extended periods of use without frequent charging. When using GPS continuously, the battery life is approximately 24 hours, making it suitable for long-distance runs and outdoor activities. For the Forerunner 245 Music, the battery life remains robust at around 24 hours, ensuring that users can enjoy their workouts and music uninterrupted.

• Without GPS: Up to 7 days
• Continuous GPS Use: Approximately 24 hours
• Music Playback: Around 24 hours
• Weekly Running (25km with music): Requires recharging once a week

Recharging the Forerunner 245 is straightforward and user-friendly. The watch uses a proprietary charging cable that connects securely to the device, ensuring efficient power transfer.

Charging from zero to full typically takes a few hours, allowing users to quickly get back to their training routines. The convenience of infrequent recharging combined with a robust battery life makes the Garmin Forerunner 245 an excellent choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who seek a dependable and long-lasting wearable.

User Experience with the Garmin Forerunner 245

The Garmin Forerunner 245 offers an exceptional user experience, combining ease of use with comprehensive features. Both new and experienced Garmin users find the setup process straightforward, making the watch accessible to a wide range of people.

Its design is not only stylish but also comfortable for everyday wear, seamlessly fitting into various social and work settings without being too bulky.

Comfort and Wearability

Comfort is a significant advantage of the Garmin Forerunner 245. Weighing only 41 grams, the watch is lightweight and does not feel cumbersome during long runs or daily activities.

The adjustable band ensures a secure fit, catering to different wrist sizes. Users have reported that the watch is comfortable enough for continuous wear, allowing them to transition from workouts to casual or formal settings effortlessly. The sleek design adds to its versatility, making it suitable for various occasions.

User Interface and Setup

Setting up the Garmin Forerunner 245 is a breeze, even for those new to Garmin devices. The user interface is intuitive, guiding users through the initial setup with ease. The watch pairs seamlessly with the Garmin Connect app, enabling users to sync their data and customize settings quickly.

Navigation through menus and features is straightforward, thanks to clear on-screen instructions and a logical layout. This user-friendly interface ensures that users can start tracking their activities and health metrics almost immediately after unboxing the watch.

Customer Feedback

Customer reviews highlight several positive aspects of the Garmin Forerunner 245. Users appreciate the detailed running dynamics, which provide insights into their form and performance. The adjustability of the band is another frequently praised feature, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit.

Syncing with the Strava app is smooth, enhancing the overall user experience for those who use the platform for tracking and sharing their workouts. Some users have expressed a desire for a touchscreen and higher brightness levels, but these are minor concerns compared to the overall satisfaction with the watch’s functionality and performance.

The Garmin Forerunner 245 stands out for its user-friendly design, making it a popular choice among fitness enthusiasts and casual users alike.

Garmin Forerunner 245 Performance in Different Activities

The Garmin Forerunner 245 is designed with multi-sport capabilities to cater to a wide range of activities. Its functionalities make it a versatile companion for athletes engaged in running, cycling, swimming, and more. Here’s how it performs across different activities:

Running Performance

How does the Garmin Forerunner 245 perform for runners?

The Garmin Forerunner 245 excels as a running watch, featuring structured workouts, training plans, and detailed training analysis. It offers accurate heart rate and GPS tracking, ensuring precise monitoring of distance, pace, and elevation.

The watch also provides recovery advice and breadcrumb navigation, aiding in both performance improvement and route planning. Running metrics such as cadence, stride length, and ground contact time are tracked, providing runners with comprehensive data to refine their techniques and enhance their training.

Swimming and Cycling

Is the Garmin Forerunner 245 suitable for swimming and cycling?

Yes, the Garmin Forerunner 245 supports swimming and cycling, making it a multi-sport watch. For swimming, the watch tracks metrics such as distance, stroke count, and SWOLF (Swim Golf), helping swimmers analyze their efficiency in the water.

Although it lacks open water swimming tracking, it performs well in pools. For cycling, the watch offers accurate GPS tracking and heart rate monitoring, recording metrics like speed, distance, and elevation gain. These features ensure that cyclists can monitor their performance and progress effectively.

General Activity Tracking

What daily activities can the Garmin Forerunner 245 track?

The Garmin Forerunner 245 is equipped to track a variety of daily activities, including steps, calories burned, and sleep. The watch monitors heart rate continuously, providing insights into daily exertion levels and overall cardiovascular health.

While its sleep tracking is functional, it may not be as accurate as dedicated sleep monitors like Fitbit. Nonetheless, it provides useful data on sleep stages and overall sleep quality, assisting users in maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Additionally, the watch supports other activities like walking, yoga, and hiking, making it a well-rounded fitness tracker for everyday use.

Comparisons to Similar Devices

When evaluating the Garmin Forerunner 245, it’s essential to compare it with similar devices to understand its value and features. This mid-range smartwatch incorporates many functionalities from higher-end Garmin models while reducing the price by $100. Such a balance makes it a compelling choice for fitness enthusiasts. To provide a clearer understanding, let’s compare the Forerunner 245 with the Forerunner 45, Forerunner 55, and the Apple Watch.

• Forerunner 245 vs. Forerunner 45: The Forerunner 245 offers advanced running metrics and music storage, which the Forerunner 45 lacks.
• Forerunner 245 vs. Forerunner 55: The Forerunner 245 includes more detailed health monitoring and training analysis features.
• Forerunner 245 vs. Apple Watch: The Forerunner 245 excels in battery life and specific fitness tracking, whereas the Apple Watch provides a broader range of smart features.
• Compared to the Forerunner 255, which was launched in June 2022, the Forerunner 245 has a shorter battery life (seven days in smartwatch mode vs. 14 days for the 255) and lacks multisport capabilities and dual-band GPS. The Forerunner 255 is more suited for athletes who engage in various sports and need extended battery life. However, the Forerunner 245 remains a strong choice for runners and those focused on detailed fitness tracking.
• The Apple Watch, while offering a wider range of smart features such as more apps and better integration with other Apple devices, falls short in battery life and specific fitness metrics. The Forerunner 245 is particularly advantageous for users who prioritize long battery life and advanced running metrics over general smart functionalities.
• Another alternative to consider is the Polar Vantage M, which is in the same price range. The Polar Vantage M provides robust multi-sport tracking and heart rate monitoring but lacks some of the advanced running metrics and music storage features found in the Forerunner 245. This makes the Forerunner 245 a more well-rounded choice for those seeking a dedicated running watch with added functionalities like music storage and comprehensive health monitoring.

Pros and Cons of the Garmin Forerunner 245

Evaluating the Garmin Forerunner 245 involves weighing its numerous strengths against a few limitations. This approach helps potential buyers make an informed decision about whether this smartwatch aligns with their needs and expectations.

• Pros:

  • Advanced running dynamics
  • Adjustable band for comfort
  • Seamless Strava app syncing
  • Reduced price compared to higher-end models
  • Comprehensive health monitoring

• Cons:

  • No touchscreen
  • Lower brightness levels
  • Lacks altimeter
  • No Garmin Pay feature
  • Some users find it bulky for formal wear

Overall, the Garmin Forerunner 245 offers great value for its price point. It includes many features from higher-end models, providing advanced running dynamics and comprehensive health monitoring. Users appreciate the comfort of the adjustable band and the seamless integration with the Strava app, which enhances the overall user experience.

Despite missing a few features like a touchscreen, altimeter, and Garmin Pay, the watch’s strengths make it a solid choice for fitness enthusiasts. User satisfaction is generally high, with the watch meeting the needs of both casual and serious athletes.

Final Words

Packed with features, the Garmin Forerunner 245 stands out for its balance of functionality and affordability. Highlighted by robust health monitoring, safety features, and extensive music capabilities, it supports various activities and ensures a comprehensive user experience.

Despite minor drawbacks such as the absence of a touchscreen, it excels overall in design, usability, and performance across different activities.

For those seeking a versatile smartwatch, this Garmin Forerunner 245 review demonstrates it is a solid choice that offers substantial value.

FAQ

Is the Garmin 245 still worth buying?

In 2023, the Garmin 245 is still worth buying for runners seeking accurate GPS, health monitoring, and music storage at a mid-range price.

Is the Garmin 245 discontinued?

The Garmin Forerunner 245 is not discontinued and remains available through major retailers and Garmin’s official site.

Is Garmin Forerunner 245 only for runners?

The Garmin Forerunner 245 is designed for runners but also supports other activities like cycling, swimming, and general fitness tracking.

Is Garmin 245 old?

Released in 2019, the Garmin 245 is a few years old but still offers competitive features suitable for many users.

What are the features of the Garmin Forerunner 245?

The Garmin Forerunner 245 includes GPS tracking, music storage, heart rate monitoring, Body Battery, and various safety features.

What is the price of the Garmin Forerunner 245?

The Garmin Forerunner 245 is priced around $299 for the base model and $349 for the Music edition.

What is the difference between Garmin Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 55?

The Forerunner 245 offers advanced features like music storage and Body Battery, while the Forerunner 55 focuses on essential running metrics at a lower price.