Garmin Forerunner Buying Guide

In June of 2022, Garmin released its newest versions of the Forerunner GPS watches: the 955 Solar, 255 (255 Music), and 55, each bringing several welcome upgrades. Some of these new features were previously only available on the high-end Garmin Fenix watches, but now you get to experience them in various models of the Forerunner as well.

While each of the new Forerunner watches is specialised with a different array of features, Garmin has included four handy upgrades in them all:

• Body Battery - shows daily energy levels based on activity, stress, and recovery
• Garmin Coach - personalised training plans for 5K, 10K, and half marathon
• Incident Detection - notifies your emergency contacts in case of an accident
• Improved Satellite Tracking - GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo for better accuracy

Main Distinctions For Models

Take your running to new levels and dominate your next race with the help of the new Garmin Forerunner 955 GPS Watch. The newest addition to the industry-leading Forerunner line, the Garmin Forerunner 955 GPS Watch is an invaluable training tool for the devoted runner with new features like Morning reports, race widgets, and daily suggested training plans, all designed to help runners maximise their running efforts and better maintain their overall health. The 900 series indicates the most advanced running and triathlon watches in the Garmin Forerunner line. They offer advanced running dynamics and a lengthy battery life, and can seamlessly track multiple sports such as running, cycling, and swimming, as well as the transitions between them. The Forerunner 955 is an updated version of the Forerunner 945, and if you've been keeping tabs on the latest Garmin technology, you will recognise a lot of the new features from the higher-end Garmin Fenix series.

The Forerunner 255 (and 255 Music) builds upon the previous version of the 245, which has quickly become the standard GPS watch for the dedicated runner and track athlete alike. The only difference between the 255 and the 255 Music is the ability to store up to 500 songs directly on your wrist for an additional $70. This makes the 255 Music an ideal watch for runners who love to listen to their favourite songs while training but don't want to carry their phones. Simply sync the watch with a pair of safety-approved Bluetooth headphones, like the SHOKZ OpenRun and SHOKZ OpenMove, and you can leave your phone at home.

Compared to the 955, the 255 foregoes some of the luxuries like preloaded maps, a barometric altimeter, and other elevation-related statistics while offering a more affordable price point. If you aren't planning on using those features anyway, then stick with the Forerunner 255. For most runners, this watch provides everything necessary for daily running and race training.

Bringing loads of new features, the Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS Watch offers an easy-to-use training tool for the straightforward runner. Highly accurate GPS tracks your location, pace, and distance, while built-in sensors record steps, heart rate, sleep, and more. Some of the most notable updates include an increased battery life from 13 to 20 hours, PacePro for staying on pace during a race, Track Mode for accurate pacing and distance around the track, suggested daily workouts, and predictive race times based on recent training and recovery.

As with the previous version (Forerunner 45), the Forerunner 55 includes a full-colour display, Garmin Coach with free training plans and adaptive guidance for the 5K, 10K, and half-marathon events, as well as wellness features like Body Battery that provide personal training advice based on your daily energy levels.