Features:

  • GPS running smartwatch with advanced training features
  • Evaluates your current training status to indicate if you’re undertraining or overdoing it; offers additional performance monitoring features
  • Get free adaptive training plans from Garmin Coach, or create your own custom workouts on our Garmin Connect online fitness community
  • Provides advanced running dynamics, including ground contact time balance, stride length, vertical ratio and more (when used with Running Dynamics Pod or HRM-Run or HRM-Tri monitors (sold separately))
  • Safety and tracking features include incident detection (during select activities) which sends your real-time location to emergency contacts through your paired compatible smartphone
  • Customize with free watch faces, apps and more from our Connect IQ store
  • Battery life: up to 7 days in smartwatch mode; up to 24 hours in GPS mode
Great Evolution in the Forerunner Lineup + Onboard Music Rocks

A bit about me 1. I've owned the Garmin Forerunner 235, Fenix 3 and Fenix 5X (among several older watches from Garmin and others) 2. I run 25-35 miles/week (4x outdoors + occasional treadmill) and bike indoors 1-2x per week on Zwift 3. I use the Stryd Live footpod 4. I sync all of my data to Strava Why I purchased this watch - I've been using the Garmin Fenix 5X for the past year, and it has been a great watch. It's definitely a huge watch (arguably too big) with a lot of great features, some of which I used and some I didn't. However, it doesn't have music, which is a feature that I really wanted. I really don't like carrying around my phone to listen to music on runs, so the idea of having a watch that had that feature was appealing. - However, I wasn't ready to shell out $650+ for the Fenix 5 Plus for the music feature. I had been looking at the Forerunner 645 Music, but it was pricey, and the Vivoactive 3 which was priced right but isn't really a pure running watch. - Enter the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music which was released in late May 2019. What I like about the 245's form factor - Lightweight and barely noticeable on my wrist - Very crisp, high resolution (240x240) display (easier to see than the Fenix 5X despite its smaller size) - Screen is Gorilla Glass 3 (less likely to scratch than some older Forerunner models) What I like about the 245 for running - Uses the same basic interface as all Garmin running watches, so it's intuitive for me to use by now (takes some getting used to for newbies, though) - Running metrics that were in the Fenix 5X are all available (e.g. pace, heart rate, cadence, training effect, VO2 max estimate, etc.) - You can load pre-designed courses (for directions during a run), workouts (for interval training and such) and training plans (5k/10k/Half Marathon plans) What I like about the 245's music features - Can hold 500 songs (~3.6GB available) - Music options include Spotify, Deezer and manual loading of MP3 or AAC files from your computer - Wi-Fi syncing of music What else I like about the 245 - Connecting to my Stryd footpod and bluetooth headphones was quick easy - Sleep tracking (deep sleep, light sleep, REM, awake) - New "Body Battery" feature that measures the amount of energy reserve you have throughout the day - New blood oxygen sensor (Pulse Ox) will probably tell me something interesting (maybe?) What I wish it had - I purposely decided to "downgrade" from the extremely large and heavy Fenix 5X (51mm) to this watch (42mm). While I don't regret the decision, I wish the Forerunners's size was somewhere in between (maybe 45mm). - Battery life for this watch is fine if you're not running ultras (estimated at 6 hours for music + GPS) but I'd be willing to give up a little weight in exchange for a larger battery to keep this one going longer between charges. - Barometric altimeter - not a must have for me in flat Florida, but this allows you to measure elevation and stairs climbed; instead, elevation is pulled using GPS data which may be less accurate - Spotify and Deezer music services require premium membership ($8-$10 / month) - Podcasts don't sync automatically via Spotify; manual syncing required (or there's a paid app call Runcasts, but it has mixed reviews so I haven't tried it) - At some point, I'm going to miss the pre-loaded elevation maps that the Garmin Fenix 5X had; I didn't use them very often, but they did come in handy every now and then - Price point is pretty high at $349 retail --> Garmin can get away with it now because of their strong reputation and advanced features, but I'm not sure they'll be able to get away with such a price premium for much longer Other potential concerns - I've read that some people have issues with the music cutting in and out on Bluetooth headphones. I haven't experienced this when running, but it did start to cut in and out while walking during my cool down. My assumption is that this happens because the antenna on the watch is too far away from my ears when my hands are down by my side while walking (as opposed to closer to my chest when running). This isn't a big deal for me because 99% of the time I'll be running while listening to music. - Potential solution: I have read that one solution is apparently to make sure the watch is on the same side of your body as the antenna for your headset (typically the right side). You might want to try that if you're having the same issue.

Finally, The Camaro of Running Watches is Back!

I run about 2,000 miles a year, give or take a couple hundred depending on goals/setbacks and whatnot. Since 2012, I've had the Garmin 410, 220, 620 and 630. Of those, the 630 was easily the Top Dog. And where the 630 inexplicably reverted to the stone age, the 245 has brought us back to the future! I won't get into the features since there are no less than a dozen in-depth online reviews that do that. I'll just touch on it in general. What I love about the 245 is that the display is crystal clear and the numbers are HUGE. The fonts stand off of the screen almost as if they are 3D. The mile splits are bold and can be seen out of your peripheral vision with little more than a glance. Thank you Garmin! Gone is the touchscreen and in its place a fifth button has been added. This makes navigating the menus a bit perplexing but to their credit, Garmin has given us the ability to rearrange (reorder) the menus and sub-menus to our liking. It still takes some time to get used to and I have inadvertently lapped a split about 4 times already while trying to get around in it, ugh. I wasn't dying to have music on my running watch as I mostly run to the sound of the hustle and bustle of the city, but since they've made it available at a price point that is practical (unlike the 645), I bought in. I had seen where others were having problems pairing headphones with the 245, that wasn't the case for me. I am using the TBI Pro Bluetooth headphones (a solid product in its own right) and the only thing I had to do was un-pair them from my phone and voila, music! Transferring songs from my laptop to the device took a little bit of time but was relatively easy. I suspect those who are frustrated with the process are attempting to do so immediately before their first run, something I would recommend against. Get to know the thing first (I ran with it twice), then add music into the mix. I am an audiophile and the sound reproduction is super clean for what it is. I am actually tickled pink at the whole thing, it's quite amazing actually! In the 245, you have a watch with all kinds of advance metrics that the elite hobby jogger can obsess over, but also a solid device that is simple enough to work great for the weekend warriors as well. All in all, while the Garmin Fenix is the Cadillac Escalade of running watches, and rightfully so for the cost, those of us who just want a "muscle car" will be thrilled with the 245. Garmin has given us exactly what we've been pining for the past 3 years; a RUNNING watch with tons of advanced metrics, customizability, great functionality and reliability at a fair price. Add to that the fact that you can listen to music, audio-books or podcasts and the ante just went up exponentially. Let us all rejoice!

Believe the Hype

If you're thinking twice: don't. This works out of the box with minimal setup. Using this with Jaybird headphones and was up and running - phone free - after just a few minutes of setup. The future is now! Also has all the functions and fitness add-ins you've come to expect from Garmin. Six stars!

If you are thinking about it, just buy it.

I purchased this at a local retailer. I had previously had the FR60 with foot pod and HR strap, purchased a Fitbit Surge and have come back to Garmin. I love it. It's accurate and light, ridiculously light compared to Fitbit Surge. The strap is really soft and pliable. I hymned and hawed over this model, went with the 245 without the music, vs Vivofit or the 235. I went with this model because it had the live tracking, as do the other two, but it also had the ability to send a need assistance alert to anyone you have already preset directly from your watch. You must have your phone nearby in order for this to happen (hence the reason I went with the model without the music) and I normally carry my phone with me in a running belt anyway. The running tracking is amazing and accurate. You can setup the screens however you like. I am still learning the ins and outs of the other wigits that it has such as strength, it can count reps for you automatically but I haven't mastered this yet. It does give notifications to your watch from your phone but I have that disabled as I was not looking for a smartwatch. It does give the weather forecast for the day, which I do like. It can act as a simple activity tracker. As a whole, I am very impressed and highly recommend this item to anyone looking into it.

Major upgrade from Vivoactive 3

This is hands down the best Garmin watch I've ever owned... I've had a 235, a vivoactive 3 and a fenix 5s. (Bubble in photo is screen protector setting) Love the training effect, spO2, body battery and garmin coach features. This is a perfect watch for someone who mostly runs but sometimes does other activities like hiking or biking. This watch had zero bugs which is impressive for a new release. I got slate gray and I love the strap color. It's very lightweight, you forget that it's there. Sleep tracking seems improved, as is VO2Max. So far, battery is lasting me about 6-7 days with 3 GPS runs. Also, my vivoactive 3 watch bands fit this watch. BEST GARMIN WATCH! Edit: I wanted to add that the spo2 monitoring has been showing me concerning numbers. My high overnight is 92% and it drops multiple times to around 82%. With this in mind, I'm going to get a sleep study so Garmin may have shown me that I have sleep apnea!

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