You do the running. Forerunner 245 Music does the thinking. It even gets to know you, mile after mile and song after song. This GPS smartwatch has storage for your favorite tunes, so you can keep moving to the music without having to lug your phone along. It also tracks your stats, crunches the numbers and gets to know all about your performance, your running form, your training history and even your goals. All you need to focus on is putting one foot in front of the other.

Wirecutter

This well-rounded running watch offers dependable on-the-run data and handy smartwatch features. But compared with the Coros Pace 2, it has pokier GPS acquisition times.

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The 245 and the 745 likely fit the bill best for your needs. I've got a 245 now and it's a great watch.

I'm hoping to migrate back to Garmin from a  Garmin 35 but not sure which to choose. I've narrowed it down to the three in the title. I've had Forerunners 305 and 405 in the past and loved them.  
My main use case is for running and cycling. Otherwise, I want a solid smart watch that allows me to receive WhatsApp, control my Spotify when running, get notifications and hopefully a steady battery life. I currently also have a Samsung Galaxy watch since my 35 and I think it's a hopeless running watch. Not to mention how useless the Samsung fit app.
Out of the three, which is the best?

245 v 745 v Venu

 Heart rate was also pretty good. You'Ll see some inconsistencies here, but for the most part it was pretty darn close to three other external heart rate monitors now for mountain biking. The 245 did really well at tracking distances, as well as average and the maximum speed good to go there, and then the GPS tracks were also very solid, even round switchbacks, whether they're going high speed or low speed. However, heart rate for mountain biking was pretty much on par with what I experienced with most wrist based optical heart rate, sensors, and that's generally, not so good

 Training is about the same as mountain biking, where again, you're gon na have a lot of wrist, flexion and movement, and you can see here that the 245 didn't necessarily do that. Well, now, for indoor rowing, it's going to collect your total number of strokes. Your average stroke rate maximum stroke rate, as well as attempt to collect your heart rate, and you can see this both after your workout as well as in Garmon connect. But you may have noticed

 Then you can access. Your playlists recently played curated playlists like made for you as well as workouts and then podcasts. So let's go ahead and download a playlist and what you'll notice is that it will use Wi-Fi to download the playlist and then it'll also prompt you to plug it into your charger and to be close to your Wi-Fi connection. Point for the best performance and you'll notice that I actually don't have the Fort 2:45 plugged in at all

 The one tip is to wear your watch on the same side where your Bluetooth or receiver is gon na, be on your headphones. So if the receivers on your right side try to wear your watch on your right wrist and then Garmin actually does have a page on the website where they have a list of tested, compatible devices so check that out and then, when you're, transferring your own tracks. You'Ll use the included charge and sync cable to hook it up to your computer, and then you can manage the music on your device using Garmin Express when it comes to battery life. Garmin advertises that you should be able to get about seven days out of it

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music // The Fitness Review

I have not dropped, banged or otherwise mistreated this product. It has not been exposed to extreme weather nor conditions but a year and a half into use and this strange dot appeared on(in) the screen and today it just froze , can't turn it off - nothing. For the cost of this watch i expect better.

some disappointments

  I think it may be that some features, like the Pulse Ox (which is fairly inaccurate), cause the battery to drain faster.  Garmin's Connect app encourages you to wear this watch all the time, even when sleeping, to get better fitness data.  That's another reason the battery drains so fast.  Good thing is that it charges quickly

  That's another reason the battery drains so fast.  Good thing is that it charges quickly.  I need a watch that does less things for a longer time between charges.

Bad battery life

 However, now I feel like maybe the Garmin FR 245 Music would be a better choice for me. The most basic functions I need are GPS and the ability to download music from Spotify for phone-free runs.

 Or honestly you don't even need a watch if you're comfortable running without technology. There is definitely a freedom to running without anything on you.

I typically don’t run with phone/headphones on my normal routes around town. But I started trail running and doing some stair/gym work and having some music would be nice. I made an impulse buy at Walmart for one of the upper arm holders and it’s pretty terrible. Mostly I just feel like phones have gotten too big. Thing feels like I’m carrying a gun on my arm instead of my hip. And it is very uncomfortable. Anyone use something they recommend?

<div class="md"><p>I typically don’t run with phone/headphones on my normal routes around town. But I started trail running and doing some stair/gym work and having some music would be nice. I made an impulse buy at Walmart for one of the upper arm holders and it’s pretty terrible. Mostly I just feel like phones have gotten too big. Thing feels like I’m carrying a gun on my arm instead of my hip. And it is very uncomfortable. Anyone use something they recommend?</p>
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With smartphones constantly getting larger, What are your current favorite smartphone holder products?

 I ended up getting the Forerunner 245 because of that I just need a watch for running every day and training for my Marathon, occasionally I will use for cycling. The 245 can do the job for me. Of course, the 945 also has the same features and even more but I don't want to wear a big watch every day when I am not running. I am on my computer for almost 8 to 10 hours a day

 It is a major upgrade for me and worth, especially I got a 30% discount from my company. The Forerunner 945 and Forerunner 245 came out at the same time and I did a lot of compare including features and the size of the watches. I ended up getting the Forerunner 245 because of that I just need a watch for running every day and training for my Marathon, occasionally I will use for cycling. The 245 can do the job for me

 I don't know if this is just my watch issues. If I don't have to deal with this annoying process turn on and off of my watch every day, I will give five stars for this review. By the way, one thing I want to mention, the Garmin Express is not working well. Every time I use it, I have to plug-in and plug-out the connecting USB cable five to six times to make connect work

The feedback of my Forerunner 245 Music

  Really this should be the same price as the vivoactive 3, and serious runners who don't want a touch screen, garmin pay, stairs climbed counting, and want extra running metrics would buy it. Most people still wouldn't. After using it I don't see why its 100 dollars more. Runners pay more money for watches?

Update: got an American version of the watch. And I absolutely love this watch. Tried out the vivoactive 4. It is a tradeoff of stairs climbed, respiration and all day pulse ox on the va4

 which is important to me cause I have apena. But I'm not sure the extra price tag for the supposedly better HR sensor and pulse ox and battery score are worth it in my case. This watch may be worth it to serious runners who want the extra running metrics. But Even then it seems very overpriced

 I ordered the watch from amazon.com as seller this time. and STILL GOT A SOUTHEAST ASIAN VERSION OF WATCH!!!!! and again I can't update to the latest firmware!!!!  after 4 days the sync'd data started geting buggy. It started confusing the total sum of active calories from my activity workouts as the past history step amount

AMAZON KEEPS SENDING ME SOUTH EAST ASIAN VERSION OF THE WATCH!!!!!!

INTERFACE: It's very fast and I like the new menu interface a lot. It's almost the exact same as the 945, excluding some Firstbeat analytics. My only annoyance is that it's missing Hotkeys, which I actually used on my other watches. I hope that it's just an oversight and not an intentionally-stripped feature

 Syncing with headphones was difficult and buggy. Downloading playlists was often a challenge. Worst of all, many headphones receive in the right earpiece while right-handed watch wearers will typically wear on the left wrist, this meant that audio was choppy on runs. Both the 945 and the Fenix had the same issue

COMFORT: It's super light and reasonably small. I forget it's there. I didn't measure them but it seems smaller than the 945, and MUCH smaller than the Fenix. The band is fine, it's the same as the 945

BATTERY LIFE: It's terrific. Way better than I expected since Garmin typically ups battery capacity as you go up the product line. It depletes only about 2-4% per day as a watch, with a 45 minute GPS + GLONASS (1-sec tracking) knocking off 10-15%. It charges very, very fast

It's great

 This sends an email to whoever you’ve listed, or all of your connections, with a link to a tracker. I love this as a woman who often goes on runs alone early in the morning or at night. There is also a feature on this watch where if you press a button 3x it sends a text to your emergency contacts and it will also do this if it notices anything unusual (you stop suddenly, etc). Probably my favorite features

 If my hands aren’t at the right angle while I am running, it is game over and I have to reconnect or deal with a patchy connection. At this point, I just don’t bother to use the music on my watch. I am hopeful an update will fix this but I’m not holding my breath. I find mine struggles with auto-sync on the Garmin app occasionally as well

 I think you have to make sure your phone is connected to the same wifi. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I received this as a surprise gift from my husband about a month and a half ago. Both my husband and I are avid Garmin users and have been for several years. For context, these are the Garmin watches I have owned in the past: Forerunner 15, Vivosmart 3, and Vivomove HR

 I do think Garmin listened and made changes with the updates or maybe it was just user error all along???? I honestly don't know lol. I've had this watch for 8 months now and I freaking love it. I now know how to update the music via wifi and I do think the connectivity on my runs has improved. How well it connects to Garmin connect has also improved

Ok, Garmin. I love this watch!

 Also, Garmin customer support has been outstanding!  Cons: I’ve had issues with the watch accurately tracking pace, mileage, and VO2 (hence the above interaction with Customer support). Seems like some updates from Garmin Express may have resolved these, but it’s annoying that I have to plug this watch into a computer every couple weeks to check for software updates when I sync it with the Garmin Connect app on my phone multiple times a day. Seems like software updates through the mobile app would be standard functionality…

I just got back into running and got this watch to help track mileage in prep for an ultra this summer.  Pros: the watch is lightweight, functions for this model meet basic needs for running activity tracking with some data analysis that’s helpful for dialing in my runs. Also, Garmin customer support has been outstanding!  Cons: I’ve had issues with the watch accurately tracking pace, mileage, and VO2 (hence the above interaction with Customer support). Seems like some updates from Garmin Express may have resolved these, but it’s annoying that I have to plug this watch into a computer every couple weeks to check for software updates when I sync it with the Garmin Connect app on my phone multiple times a day

Happy with Garmin, had some issues with the watch

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The Fenix 6 Multisport GPS Watch brings cutting-edge design and performance to your fast-paced lifestyle. It’s contoured for a trimmer, more comfortable fit on your wrist, with easy-to-access features that include enhanced wrist heart rate (The data and information provided by this device is intended to be a close estimation of your activity and metrics tracked, but may not be precisely accurate), built-in activity profiles, Vo2 Max estimates and more. Plus, you can see how your hard work is paying off with performance metrics and training load balance readings. Satellite navigation and tracking functions combine with a 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter to give you confidence on and off the beaten path. This Watch eases from workout to work day with smart notifications (when paired with a compatible smartphone) to keep you connected and Garmin Pay contactless payments (not all countries and payment networks are eligible) to free you from carrying cash or credit cards. Customizable power Manager lets you see and control how various settings and sensors impact battery life, so you can make battery-extending changes on the fly.

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I bought the Garmin Fenix 6 last year about 9 months ago I reckon. What it did for me was quantify my training into something I could track better than any app I already had because now I have heartbeat data. Watching myself improve over the last 9 months gradually with numbers getting better was such a boon to keeping me motivated. Also knowing what HR zone I was in really took away any anxiety I had when I was less in shape

I’ve never worn one. I have an old fitbit that I sometimes wear for fun and to track how far I walk. I use my phone for navigation. I kind of want a GPS watch like a Garmin Instinct Solar, but I’m not sure I can justify the price. For those of you who use one for backpacking trips and thru hikes, what do you like about it? Why should I get one?

<div class="md"><p>I’ve never worn one. I have an old fitbit that I sometimes wear for fun and to track how far I walk. I use my phone for navigation. I kind of want a GPS watch like a Garmin Instinct Solar, but I’m not sure I can justify the price. For those of you who use one for backpacking trips and thru hikes, what do you like about it? Why should I get one?</p>
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For those of you who wear a fancy watch, what are the benefits?

 I really dislike carrying my phone everywhere, so this was a must. While other Garmin models also offer this feature, what made me buy the Fenix was battery life, button control (I dislike touch screens on watches) and the solid feel of the watch. Not to mention the default watch face is gorgeous. I also like the ability to customize power modes or to put it into power saving mode very quickly

Exceeded my expectations

 The app store for this thing has a whole new world of little apps and widgets (Spotify, beer tracking?!) that you can play around with. 9/10  I think this was a great purchase. The battery life is fantastic. Five days without a charge and it still goes strong – and when you do charge it, it only takes 30 minutes to an hour to get back up to halfway/fully charged

 I bought the 6X Sapphire edition in the hopes of avoiding scratches and also in the hopes of rivaling G-Shock, his original favorite. Sapphire specifically was important to me in a watch face, because sapphire, after all, is a 9 out of 10 on Mohs hardness scale. The only thing harder than a 9 is diamond, which is a 10. This reduces the chance of scratches significantly

 The battery life is fantastic. Five days without a charge and it still goes strong – and when you do charge it, it only takes 30 minutes to an hour to get back up to halfway/fully charged. My main concern before buying was water damage and shock damage, but both have passed rigorous tests and this watch has proven to be very strong and durable. Also, it comes with an automatic one year limited warranty

SEE BOTTOM FOR ONE YEAR UPDATE

 Nothing like seeing a notification that says unproductive when you’re in the middle of your warm-up. If you do trails, and don’t turn off your VO2 Max calculation it will immediately affect your overall VO2 Max. If you’re buying into this whole pulse ox sensor BS it’s almost completely useless at sea level. If you want to conserve battery life you need to turn it off or use it while you’re sleeping

 After doing tons of research on other watches and devices I do think this is one of the best options on the market. It works really well when it comes to tracking and being consistent. If you’re into structured workouts coming from training peaks it’s phenomenal. One thing that the videos don’t cover very well is how you can create a structured work out and it will actually tell you if you’re low or high on your pace during the activity/interval

 The Strength activity section of the app is really cool, but doesn’t work well at all. It basically never tracks your reps correctly. A great concept, but really frustrating. Spotify it is pretty clumsy, and not as easy to get to as it is on the Apple Watch, but it does download a lot faster and I never had any issues with music playback

 This watch also interacts really well with my Tacx trainer, you can broadcast your heart rate, or completely control the trainer with the watch.  Things that I’m not a fan of: GPS is not as accurate as the Apple Watch, if you don’t crank down the band you’re going to have trouble getting an accurate heart rate reading. The training metrics can get pretty annoying. For some reason it’s set up to give you an effort level at the first 3/4 mile of your run

I bought this Garmin watch because I was training for triathlons. Switching from an Apple Watch Series 4 to the Garmin was a bit of a transition at first. Honestly, I hated it for about the first week. Once you get used to the button and menu lay out though it becomes more apparent that the device is really good at what it does

Apple to Garmin

 Hopefully at some point I step up my game to a point that I'll use all the features and I do hope that with firmware updates the vibration and heart rate tracking become a little more consistent.

 This happens often enough to be concerning, especially considering how much I paid for the device. Another complaint I have is whilek try to use the breathing app, I constantly am missing vibrations for my breathing timer because the vibration just isn't strong enough. I'd I want to use it effectively I have to actually watch my watch face to tell me when to breath, hold breath, etc, kind of defeating the whole purpose of the exercise which is to focus on breathing. Again, this wouldn't be that concerning if I hadn't spent so much money on this

 I'd I want to use it effectively I have to actually watch my watch face to tell me when to breath, hold breath, etc, kind of defeating the whole purpose of the exercise which is to focus on breathing. Again, this wouldn't be that concerning if I hadn't spent so much money on this. When I purchased this device it was with the understanding that the premium price that I was paying was for THE smart/activity tracking experience to end all experiences. On cheaper devices these inconsistencies would be overlooked but at this price point it's unacceptable

  I do love the device even with my several concerns and don't have buyer's remorse per se, but I definitely could have opted for a cheaper device given what I need it for. Just make sure you really need this and check out their other devices before jumping on this one. Hopefully at some point I step up my game to a point that I'll use all the features and I do hope that with firmware updates the vibration and heart rate tracking become a little more consistent.

Only Buy if You Really Need All the Options

 My biggest gripe is with the display. Ironically (or not), I bought and returned the Instinct for the same reason. As Garmin's flagship watch and this being 2020, it is hard to imagine any company releasing a tech device at this price point with a lousy 260 x 260 pixel display, a roughly 8% improvement over the 5. As a device that I am wearing and that I am interfacing with throughout the day, I'm really put off by a company's top of the line model sporting 10 year old technology

So first off, I will say that my review is based on the $800 price tag. This is a decent watch and appeared to do the things it claims but for the $800 I was expecting much more. My biggest gripe is with the display. Ironically (or not), I bought and returned the Instinct for the same reason

Not worth the money.

I never write reviews. But wanted to give a heads up to others. If it everything worked as stated I woulda kept it. But

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