Personally I'm happy it doesn't have a touch screen, I never thought a touch-screen could be annoying but on my last Garmin I lost 2 runs with my sleeve/water touching the screen, one of which was a PB!! Promptly sold that watch and haven't had a touchscreen since. Physical buttons all day, everyday for me.
Oh man, I have the Venu 2 Plus. The touchscreen can be annoying and its laggy as f**k. That thing is getting returned to best buy. I ended up fliping that for the Forerunner 255 and it was cheaper than that watch. Yikes. No running power output tracking on the venu 2 plus for the price Garmin is asking for is pretty annoying. $450 for that? Oh well, I get to train with the Forerunner 255 soon enough and have all of the data I need to increase my own performance. Yes, I can still use that as a bike computer since I can still hook up speed and cadence sensors, as well as a chest strap heart rate monitor.
I was gifted a FR255 for Christmas 2023, and I am absolutely loving it... for what I need, this is actually more than enough. Enjoying all the metrics as well. Very worthy upgrade, coming from a Venu SQ 2 which was nice too, but for running, the FR255 is just great. Thanks for all your awesome videos, which helped the decision on this one as well :)
Thanks for making these vids. You really helped me weed through all the different models in the garmin line up which is really overwhelming for the newbie. I have a Tri coming up end of August and just ordered the 255 thanks to your solid review. And good on you for interacting with your audience and replying to questions. Not many creators with your size audience are quite so interactive. Bravo.
Amazing video! Super helpful. I was gonna buy a second hand forerunner 945, but this video definitely changed my mind: the 255 is exactly what I need. Thank you sir.
Contrary to what the video states, the Forerunner 255 actually does come with a barometric altimeter built in - or so the Garmin specs says. What's missing - afaik - is the software part of the equation - but that might come in a later update.
@@tlamb6178 that's a shitty attitude man. This channel is one of the best out there and Dave keeps releasing comprehensive and detailed videos. Criticism is fine, but there's a way to do so.
My Garmin Forerunner 935 has been wonderful for almost 5 years. The main "go" button finally failed, so I went shopping. I got the 255 and you have revealed much that I didn't know --- THANKS! The 935 cost about $500 back in 2018, so I'm delighted that I have given up NOTHING with the 255. In fact, it's a step up -- wowsers. Thanks again.
Great video as always. Love your in depth review, top notch man. By the way, love your podcast, been listening to it all week long. Love to personal touch and hearing what's going on in your life, and how you manage to incorporate RUclips, running, podcast, daily job and 4 kids!!! Unbelievable man. Keep up the great work!
thanks for this video... I just went into my local Garmin shop here in Croatia and swapped my 245 for 255 ( my six months old 245 broke down and instead of receiving a new one in the name of warranty, I decited to pay a little more and upgrade). Main reason being that 255 has open water swimming and thiathlon. Also, screen is a little bigger ( 1.3 vs 1.2 inches on 245). I enjoyed my 245, but now I am excited to explore my new toy... Keep up the good work🙂
I went for a Fenix 7s a couple of month ago, no need to change for a 955 obvously or for 255, less than ever. Anyway my compliments for those 2 videos today, they've been clear and well done as usual. You are still the only one I am able to fully understand without english subtitles😄💪
Pretty solid! The altimeter/baro is confusing to me though. It DOES have it, but it's missing the alti/baro widgets and data fields. Hopefully they add that in a firmware update.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thank you for sharing the information as that's interesting because whilst it is predominantly aimed at a runner, there are times where you want to go on a walk or a hike and the altimeter and barometer fields would be useful. I'm in the market to upgrade from my 245M and both the 255, the 955 and the 7S are all on my radar for various reasons whether it be screen size or value for money or feature set. But it's you. I'm probably not the only one in a similar dilemma.
Enjoyed your review! I bought my father last year a fr745 and it is still working well for him. Going forward, this pretty much eliminates the need for an fr745 for Garmin.
Great analysis, I have a 745 and I wanted to change it for a Fenix 7 or a Epix 2, but now I think that a 955 solar is a chipper and better option, thank you so much for your help.
I just purchased a Forerunner 255 (My Fenix 3HR died after 7 years). You cannot beat the price. You wished that it had touchscreen. I only had one touchscreen GPS watch and I did not like the touchscreen capability. Maybe it is better now but I had troubled navigating through the screens.
I'm happy with my fr255 it's well balance between price and features. One of the best thing its garmin coach I had done two plans and I had improve my marks
I gotta say I’m still on the fence about getting the 255. I have the 245 right now and it’s a fantastic watch and it does everything that I need it to do! I do like the new HRV and the better GPS tracking, great video as always!
I sold my 245M and got the 255. The battery on my 245 wasn’t lasting very much and I really wanted that barometric altimeter for greater accuracy in my trail races. The 245 it’s an amazing watch!
Thank you for the very nice presentation. I just upgraded to a 255 from a old 230. This new watch is great. Light weight, elegant and very powerful. I was thinking about getting the fenix 6 at a lower price since the 7 just came out. But the 255 was definitely the best choice. Thank you also for the advice: I found 2 leather wrist bands on Amazon and ordered them for 17€ each!
I bought my watch (Forerunner 255) and thank you for helping me choose a good running watch. I was stuck between the coros apex 2 and the Garmin. I'm glad you were able to help me choose one I was very confused on what to pick the only watches I knew about were apple and Samsung
This is the feature set I wanted when I bought the 245m two years ago. For me the music was a waste and I use it. The price is just a tad high and I’ll take a closer look at the pace. Both this and the 955 look like amazing upgrades!
Thanks for the review, it's super helpful! I have been comparing appropriate for me models during the last couple of weeks and now looks like I know which one I'm going to buy.
I have the 245 and it is sooo hard to replace. I consider the 255 but I don’t like that the S has 18mm strap and the normal 255 is big with 22mm strap. The 245 was spot on in terms of my preferences for size but the techs are getting out dated. Not that I need a new gadget………I just want it 😃 Great review btw 👍
I’ve been looking at the various models to try to find my next watch. I have a fenix 6s sapphire that I love, but sometimes it’s just a bit heavy. This review really helped me, thank you!
I’ve have actually considered get the 255 but it’s about to be a year since I got my Garmin Forerunner 245! I’m gonna wait a couple more years to get a new Garmin Forerunner watch! I love my Forerunner 245 but I’m gonna wait a few years!
I think the fr 255 and 955 needs to be carried nearly every night and day if you want to take advantage of the analytical features. Everyone should take this into account. Wearing the watch just during training is something complete different than wearing 24 hours a day. The size and the weight is very important because of this argument. The smaller, the better. So reading the display is less important than beeing able to wear it the whole day and night.
Great video! Totally grab the 255 when its arrive in my country to upgrade my almost 3 years 245M. I never use the music tho since i always running with my phone.
great review! picked up the watch and used cts on the playbetter store. The main Garmin 255 page has this watch out of stock for the next couple weeks!
Hi, I was interested in buying a sportwatch, I wouldn't want to exceed €350, I found a Forerunner 255 on offer for €319 and a Forerunner 945 for €299, given the small price difference, what would you recommend? I also took a look at the Suunto 9 Peak and the Polar Grit X Pro, which are also on sale. Please could you give me some advice? I'm not very experienced, thank you P.S. Sorry if I've done some sintax mistake, I'm not english, hope what I've written is understandable
For sure! I like using the Stryd app myself but there are some good alternatives. The fenix still has some advantages like build quality, power modes, battery life, and of course full blown mapping/navigation that the 255 lacks.
Great review and I’m upgrading from a forerunner 645 music. I didn’t like the 245 for lack of altimeter and Garmin Pay and returned that. Also tried and returned the 745. It was just heavy on my wrist. Just ordered the 255s Music, whitestone. I just didn’t like the powder grey and bubble gum pink. Wish there was a 255s in slate grey. With this update, i think garmin somehow read my mind except for the slate grey color.
I've been using my 255 now since december. One thing that bugs me the most is the garmin connect app and the way it presents data. Also, I feel the race predictions are very iffy to say the least. Mine have been going down the whole time my training. Would be interesting to see a comparison with different watches how accurate the algorithms are in the long run. Edit. Just ran 10k with almost 10 minutes faster than what Garmin's race estimation predicted.
Really love how Garmin consistently bring some of the newer features down from their higher-end watches to entry-level ones, albeit a little bit later. Just wondering. I'm using an older FR55 exclusively for casual running and I'm loving it. But one thing the watch struggled with consistently was GPS accuracy, because I live and exercise in an area where there's a lot of buildings. How much of an improvement in gps accuracy would the multi-band mode on FR255 make over the older gps modes. Would it be sufficient to justify and upgrade just on that alone?
If you prioritize GPS accuracy above other features yes... The 255 is way more accurate in even the basic GPS modes. These new multi-band chips are excellent.
Nice video again! Thanks for that! I just got the 745 a few days ago. So you would suggest to send it back and get the 255 instead? Only downside at least for me would be that the 255 hasn't a tennis profile, right? Whereas the 745 has one... And this matters to me :)
I lost my 245 last year, and replaced it with a used 645. I thought this would be an upgrade, but I was very wrong. I rarely wear the 645 because it's a bit heavy, and it's not responsive at all. I would rather wear a Pebble smartwatch than the 645. I pre-ordered my 255 as a birthday present to myself. Having HRV sounds very useful, and the body battery feature with the 245 helped me understand my physical limits in a practical way. I was aiming at getting the Enduro, but I just can't justify spending that much cash on a watch just yet.
Hi! I just found out your channel and I think your videos are really helping me. I just ordered a new Garmin and can’t wait to go for a run with it. I was wondering what kind of software you use in the video, with the satellite images and GPS track (@ 07:20). Thnx a lot!
You once mentioned how you loved your Fenix 6s because the smaller profile made it a good daily driver (which i agreed with). Wondering how you feel about the 255s vs the regarular 255?
I haven't tried the 255s but I've changed a bit over the years since I often wear big watches for testing. The standard 255 feels really nice and low profile since it's so light. I really don't mind the size. BUT, this is all my opinion your mileage may vary.
Barometer is what sold me. You didn’t mention that did you? I wanted a ski and XC ski activity native. With 245 I was doing a “walk” activity for both of those. And missing having elevation on the watch.
My dad gave me his old 945 (He loves any new gadget and never uses them!). I love it but I just wish it had music (or podcasts) for my long slow runs. My phone is too enormous.
Kind of upset I got an Instinct 2. At the time it was a super great value but now I could have gotten a 255 with basically the same features and a better screen.
Thinking of upgrading from my Forerunner 25. I don't need the new features, with the one exception that is selling the upgrade for me; the multi-frequency positioning for greater GPS accuracy when competing at my orienteering races in the woods. This seems to be the cheapest Garmin with that feature, and I'd like to stick with a Garmin watch.
I mostly boxing and weight lifting. Just run 3-4 time a week. Now aiming for a half marathon so I need a "serious" watch to track my running. It's hard to choose between 955 and 255 becoz I like a touch screen. I using Amazfit GTR2 which is excellent except sensors are really bad. But thank for your replies, I gonna choose 255 non-music, for a better price but more than enough for my needs. Sometime, shopping is hard. Hahaha.
Awesome review! Have you noticed any glitches or problems with the watch, with it being a new model? Does it still function as well as any older garmin?
Haven't noticed anything significant so far. There's one little thing I noticed during the "Morning Report" when exiting sometimes it takes 1-2 seconds to get back to the watch face. Other than that it's been pretty rock solid.
I love my 245 music. But barometric altimeter and Garmin pay missing. Would also like to have the detailed sleep tracking on the watch itself (sleep widget). HRV and the overall training status that the 255 brings with the above mentioned missing features of the 245 are all strong reasons to upgrade..you can still sell a used 245 music for decent price due to the popularity and widely applicable feature set for your everyday runner. So I think I'll upgrade. After selling the 245 music I'll be paying similar money to when I bought my 245 music new..so all good. Thanks for the cool vid! Keep it up!
I purchased 255s White version as the black watch is with Pink Wordings. The white version comes with the light blue colour. Garmin is should have use a red or orange wordings and/or a more universal colour for all watch. I have tried 255, and it doesn't fit my small wrist Based on the comparison chart between the old version of 245 v. 255 v. 255s. The 255s dimension is closer to 245, and it is much lighter than 255.
Hi! nice review! do you know which altitude you can register top with the FR 255? (it’s my first watch with altimeter and I wondering if is work for mountaineering) Tks!
Instinct 2 user here. I am very happy with it but I can buy FR 255 for 15 USD more. Is it worth it? I am not a runner, I only ride a bicycle and roller skates. I kinda like bigger screen on FR 255 and Garmin Pay but at the same time, Instinct 2 sturdiness is amazing. Would you go for 255 if you were happy with Instinct 2 or no point in such a swap?
Thanks for the great review, Dave! I have a question if I may: You you tell me what the specific features are that set the 255 apart from a "health & lifestyle watch" like the Venu 2? I like the Venu optics a little better but I don't want to miss out on great features with the 255.
Mainly the training tools like race predictor, VO2max estimation, training load, training status, recovery advisor and also the fact that the Forerunner 255 has navigation features while Venu 2 does not. In short: If you're training/running the 255 is probably a better option. If you want a nice OLED display and more of an "everyday wellness" tool the Venu 2 is a great choice!
I left it out because in Garmin's pre-release press documentation it states that the 255 DID NOT have an altimeter. I did notice the barometer port and that the watch was recording the data but I wasn't certain so I decided to omit it from the video. It does have an altimeter but for some reason the data isn't displayed in the watch yet... Maybe in a firmware update?
Thanks! But.. One of the most asked and popular subjects is competely skipped in this review: sleep monitoring. Exactly the thing i came fore, unfortunately. How is it? Because Garmin doesn't have such a good track record regarding this topic..
I don't dive too deep on that subject because I don't have a great way to scientifically test it's accuracy. To be honest, the sleep algorithm on the 255 seems very similar to other Garmin watches I've tested. In my unscientific opinion it seems "pretty good" where on nights I feel I got good sleep it reflects that. Check out the Quantified Scientist RUclips channel for a deeper dive on the matter but even in his videos he's a sample of 1 so take that for what it's worth!
Great video. Im been Garmin whole time. coros has my interest with battery life. I don’t care about music on watch. Be interested in seeing a video on your thoughts and comparison on Coros pace 2 vs Garmin 255. Sounds like Coros pace 3 might be this fall, have you heard anything? From Seen past RUclips reviews coros is behind on Garmin on app features/layout few other things, while a lot people may not are about that and just want a multi sport watch, with great battery life and simplicity. Coros ahead of Garmin on battery life and slightly lighter. Sounds like coros is working hard to catch up on all little features but keeping with better battery life….. Im trying to decide between coros pace 2 (or wait for coros pace 3 this fall) or get Garmin 255 for my 15 year old and also 13 year old (they are on swim and running team and both are gonna start doing Triathlon this summer. I’m not going to rush into purchasing watches for them. Anyway, Always great videos.
The Pace 2 is probably the best value watch on the market and it does have Running Power from the wrist which is nice. That said, the 255 has a lot of advantages like dual frequency GPS, a better heart rate sensor, breadcrumb mapping/navigation, more smartwatch features, HRV tracking, Body Battery, etc... etc... It really depends on your needs as to which one is a better tool for the job.
Can you do a video compare Garmin Forerunner 255 vs Instinct 2? Maybe even 255s vs Instinct2s , smaller versions. Witch one is better for mostly trail and some road running? Not interested in any other sports. Whole yt does not have a compare video for this same priced watches in 2023.
The 255 just went on a deep sale lately (USD247) to compete with the Pace 3. It was never on my to-get list before, but now I am very tempted. However, one aspect of the watch that very few reviewers seem to have discussed is real-time pace accuracy. I’ve heard that there can be some delay or even outright inaccuracy. Normally this won’t matter in day to day training, but during a race, it’s quite crucial if one is pursuing a certain finish time. Wonder what your thoughts are on this matter? Thx
I've never owned a fitness watch so would be grateful for your insight: I'm leaning towards the 255s due to smaller form factor; it appeals to me that I will just forget I have it on, (particularly useful during sleep) and I would use all its features on the connect app of my phone. Is this realistic, or does one have to interact with the watch face itself? I'm not a runner, more into gym/bodybuilding, and want to use the watch for stress tracking, and overall fitness tracking over time. Thank you!
You can set mostly all of the settings from within Garmin Connect. You'll only need to interact with the watch to start/stop activities or to scroll widgets/info.
I almost purchased the 745 today, there is a big price reduction now, so it costs 60 EUR less than the 255M. The battery life looks for me the biggest difference between them. I plan to use it for hiking and cycling. Navigation is important for me, but looks the same in both. Is the battery life worth the additional cost, is there still some advantage in the 745, which is theoretically a higher class watch? How to choose?
The 255 has a bigger 1.3" display compared the 745's 1.2" display. It's got longer battery life, and it's also got new features like HRV Status, Race Calendar, and Morning Report. On top of that it has better GPS accuracy with Multi-Band and a more accurate Heart Rate sensor with the updated Elevate 4.0 sensor. That said, the 745 is still a great watch. It's really up to you to decide what's worth the money!
@@ChaseTheSummit So I went for the 255. Using it for almost 4 weeks now, no regret, love it! Extra: running features are so fun to use, I started running with a training plan and make good progress. Thank you!
What is your opinion on the pricing of the FR245 and FR255? Seeing the FR245 being sold for 170€ while the FR255 is 350€ I am not sure if the FR255 is really worth double the price.
"Worth it" is subjective. If you've got the money the 255 is superior in just about every way including battery, heart rate accuracy, and GPS. If you're on a budget the 245 is still a great watch but I don't think we'll see any big frimware updates to add anything to it moving forward.
Thanks for the review. Am choosing between 255/255s - I think my wrist is quite slender (170mm circumference). Would be interested to know the circumference of your wrist as a reference point? Also what is the lug-to-lug measurement of 255 please? Thanks.
Hi. will you compare Coros pace 2 vs Garmin 255? And which of these watches do you think is the best to buy now? - the main thing for me is the accuracy of recording the track while running and measuring the distance traveled. -It is also interesting how much better the Garmin heart rate sensor is both during training and just on weekdays for health monitoring 24/7. -and if according to these criteria the difference is minimal among watches, then it turns out there is nothing to overpay for Garmin.
It's kind of an unfair comparison as the 255 is better in just about every way. The only advantage Pace 2 has is it's wrist based running power, and longer standby/smartwatch battery life. The 255 has navigation, better GPS and HR, more smartwatch features, on-board music option, and a slew of training tools the Pace 2 does not have.
With the new ABC functions this new 255 may appeal more to me than a Fenix 7S at double the price I was considering buying... 955 is again a plastic Fenix 7.
Hi, good day. Planning to buy a Garmin watch. If you don’t mind me asking, can I still control music on the 255(not the MUSIC edition)? Like play, pause, next, etc. Assuming that I have my phone in my pocket. Thanks!!
@@ChaseTheSummit sorry I want to add one more detail :). I don’t have both fr255 and coros pace 3, which should I buy at the present? Thank you very much
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Personally I'm happy it doesn't have a touch screen, I never thought a touch-screen could be annoying but on my last Garmin I lost 2 runs with my sleeve/water touching the screen, one of which was a PB!! Promptly sold that watch and haven't had a touchscreen since. Physical buttons all day, everyday for me.
For sure, however I do like the touch screen on the 955/Fenix 7 because you can completely disable it in some situations (like in activities).
Ikr
It's better for maps and notifications. Or when ya need too type. Bit for the most part you can make do without
Oh man, I have the Venu 2 Plus. The touchscreen can be annoying and its laggy as f**k. That thing is getting returned to best buy. I ended up fliping that for the Forerunner 255 and it was cheaper than that watch. Yikes. No running power output tracking on the venu 2 plus for the price Garmin is asking for is pretty annoying. $450 for that? Oh well, I get to train with the Forerunner 255 soon enough and have all of the data I need to increase my own performance. Yes, I can still use that as a bike computer since I can still hook up speed and cadence sensors, as well as a chest strap heart rate monitor.
I absolutely agree with you, I was a bit unsure at first. But now I am so happy I chose the 255, also the screen is amazing.
I was gifted a FR255 for Christmas 2023, and I am absolutely loving it... for what I need, this is actually more than enough. Enjoying all the metrics as well. Very worthy upgrade, coming from a Venu SQ 2 which was nice too, but for running, the FR255 is just great. Thanks for all your awesome videos, which helped the decision on this one as well :)
Just ordered mine to upgrade from my 245 which I’m giving to my sister. Can’t wait
@@aregul12 You will love it. It’s really a great watch, and definitely value for money. Enjoy it 😁
I'm waiting on mine, it will be my first Garmin, and first watch since I was like 8
The best review of the Garmin 255 ever! I've been looking for it! Thanks a lot and regards from Poland EU! ❤
Thanks for making these vids. You really helped me weed through all the different models in the garmin line up which is really overwhelming for the newbie. I have a Tri coming up end of August and just ordered the 255 thanks to your solid review. And good on you for interacting with your audience and replying to questions. Not many creators with your size audience are quite so interactive. Bravo.
Thanks Adam! Glad you found these videos helpful! Good luck at your Tri!
I purchased the FR255S as an upgrade from my FR245. The 255S is a HUGE improvement & I love the smaller size option.
It's a big upgrade!
I have the 255 non music in tidal blue. I love this watch. I’ll really be testing the battery life in October during my 100 miler.
Your review videos are really high quality and well edited. Very enjoyable. 👍🏻
Thank you!
Amazing video! Super helpful. I was gonna buy a second hand forerunner 945, but this video definitely changed my mind: the 255 is exactly what I need.
Thank you sir.
Contrary to what the video states, the Forerunner 255 actually does come with a barometric altimeter built in - or so the Garmin specs says. What's missing - afaik - is the software part of the equation - but that might come in a later update.
Yep! Oddly enough in the press documentation they had stated that there was no altimeter 🤷♂️ Brands are good at making us look bad 😂
@@tlamb6178 I do my best. I also don’t consider those other channels competition. We all have our own take on this stuff. Thanks for watching 👍
@@tlamb6178 that's a shitty attitude man. This channel is one of the best out there and Dave keeps releasing comprehensive and detailed videos. Criticism is fine, but there's a way to do so.
@@ChaseTheSummit I cannot decide between a 255 or a Fenix 6 Pro as they are roughly the same price
My Garmin Forerunner 935 has been wonderful for almost 5 years. The main "go" button finally failed, so I went shopping. I got the 255 and you have revealed much that I didn't know --- THANKS! The 935 cost about $500 back in 2018, so I'm delighted that I have given up NOTHING with the 255. In fact, it's a step up -- wowsers. Thanks again.
Great video as always. Love your in depth review, top notch man. By the way, love your podcast, been listening to it all week long. Love to personal touch and hearing what's going on in your life, and how you manage to incorporate RUclips, running, podcast, daily job and 4 kids!!! Unbelievable man. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for tuning in!
thanks for this video... I just went into my local Garmin shop here in Croatia and swapped my 245 for 255 ( my six months old 245 broke down and instead of receiving a new one in the name of warranty, I decited to pay a little more and upgrade). Main reason being that 255 has open water swimming and thiathlon. Also, screen is a little bigger ( 1.3 vs 1.2 inches on 245). I enjoyed my 245, but now I am excited to explore my new toy... Keep up the good work🙂
Thanks for the feedback!
I went for a Fenix 7s a couple of month ago, no need to change for a 955 obvously or for 255, less than ever.
Anyway my compliments for those 2 videos today, they've been clear and well done as usual.
You are still the only one I am able to fully understand without english subtitles😄💪
Same here for the understanding 😀
I can't believe this also had Garmin pay, Altimeter, thermometer, Barometer, compass too..... this is an incredible package.
Pretty solid! The altimeter/baro is confusing to me though. It DOES have it, but it's missing the alti/baro widgets and data fields. Hopefully they add that in a firmware update.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thank you for sharing the information as that's interesting because whilst it is predominantly aimed at a runner, there are times where you want to go on a walk or a hike and the altimeter and barometer fields would be useful. I'm in the market to upgrade from my 245M and both the 255, the 955 and the 7S are all on my radar for various reasons whether it be screen size or value for money or feature set. But it's you. I'm probably not the only one in a similar dilemma.
I just started using a Garmin 255 , used to use an Apple Watch, day and night differnence. My fav feature is the long battery life and triathon mode.
I just bought the FR255 music because of the Race Widget feature. It motivates me so much!!
Enjoyed your review! I bought my father last year a fr745 and it is still working well for him. Going forward, this pretty much eliminates the need for an fr745 for Garmin.
That's my take. Though, the 745 still has Climb Pro which the 245 does not!
Great analysis, I have a 745 and I wanted to change it for a Fenix 7 or a Epix 2, but now I think that a 955 solar is a chipper and better option, thank you so much for your help.
Nice! I think you'll be very happy with it!
I just purchased a Forerunner 255 (My Fenix 3HR died after 7 years). You cannot beat the price. You wished that it had touchscreen. I only had one touchscreen GPS watch and I did not like the touchscreen capability. Maybe it is better now but I had troubled navigating through the screens.
Thanks for the in depth review. Planning on upgrading to this from the forerunner 45.
I'm happy with my fr255 it's well balance between price and features. One of the best thing its garmin coach I had done two plans and I had improve my marks
I gotta say I’m still on the fence about getting the 255. I have the 245 right now and it’s a fantastic watch and it does everything that I need it to do! I do like the new HRV and the better GPS tracking, great video as always!
The 245 is still a great watch!
I sold my 245M and got the 255. The battery on my 245 wasn’t lasting very much and I really wanted that barometric altimeter for greater accuracy in my trail races. The 245 it’s an amazing watch!
Great and thorough review, as always, Dave!
Thank you for the very nice presentation.
I just upgraded to a 255 from a old 230.
This new watch is great. Light weight, elegant and very powerful. I was thinking about getting the fenix 6 at a lower price since the 7 just came out. But the 255 was definitely the best choice.
Thank you also for the advice: I found 2 leather wrist bands on Amazon and ordered them for 17€ each!
Glad you're enjoying it!
The weight, is it really 49g ? My 255 is almost 90g.
I bought my watch (Forerunner 255) and thank you for helping me choose a good running watch. I was stuck between the coros apex 2 and the Garmin. I'm glad you were able to help me choose one I was very confused on what to pick the only watches I knew about were apple and Samsung
Great video! I find your videos the most relatable for those of us who love running but will never be elite. Thanks for putting in the time to review!
I appreciate that!
This is the feature set I wanted when I bought the 245m two years ago. For me the music was a waste and I use it. The price is just a tad high and I’ll take a closer look at the pace. Both this and the 955 look like amazing upgrades!
Great review, I have forerunner 245, 255 is not available in my region yet, waiting to upgrade soon.
They're unavailable everywhere right now. Coming soon!
Your review is very useful for me to decide for buy very much
Thank you for deep information from your review
Garmin is killing it. Good Video
The 255 is excellent for the money! Thanks!
Thanks for the review, it's super helpful!
I have been comparing appropriate for me models during the last couple of weeks and now looks like I know which one I'm going to buy.
It's a good one!
I have the 245 and it is sooo hard to replace. I consider the 255 but I don’t like that the S has 18mm strap and the normal 255 is big with 22mm strap.
The 245 was spot on in terms of my preferences for size but the techs are getting out dated. Not that I need a new gadget………I just want it 😃
Great review btw 👍
I’ve been looking at the various models to try to find my next watch. I have a fenix 6s sapphire that I love, but sometimes it’s just a bit heavy. This review really helped me, thank you!
Waiting for my 255. Just ordered today, August 2024. Debated for quite sometime between 265 and 255.
I got the 255 it's my first Garmin, i hope it'll work better than my apple watch when i go to swim.
Great review again! Besides mapping this watch makes the old 945 (and 745) absolutely obsolete I think. Even battery life is now nearly on par.
Yeah in a lot of ways the 255 is a 745 killer. The 945 still has some advantages though.
@@ChaseTheSummit but there's no tennis profile on the 255, right?
@@ChaseTheSummit Its better than the 745 for swimming? And multisport? In which aspects they are differently?
What advantages does the 945 hold over the 255? Asking as I can get a new 945 for a bit cheaper than a new 255
@@skrub3761 I think it's mainly full on board mapping (and maybe climb pro). If this doesn't matter to you I'd go for the 255.
I’ve have actually considered get the 255 but it’s about to be a year since I got my Garmin Forerunner 245! I’m gonna wait a couple more years to get a new Garmin Forerunner watch! I love my Forerunner 245 but I’m gonna wait a few years!
Maybe the 265 will suit your needs!
Great review, helped a lot to make decision which model to buy 👍
Super-Dave delivers!🌟
Thanks!
Nice job bud! Very informative.
Had my 245 since day 1 its almost 3 years old has some dead pixels still use ie daily. And yes I will be upgrading to the 255 just because 😂💪
Great stuff as always 👍 I’ve been so impressed by my 245 music I can’t see myself needing a new one for awhile though.
The 245 is still a great watch!
I think the fr 255 and 955 needs to be carried nearly every night and day if you want to take advantage of the analytical features. Everyone should take this into account. Wearing the watch just during training is something complete different than wearing 24 hours a day.
The size and the weight is very important because of this argument. The smaller, the better. So reading the display is less important than beeing able to wear it the whole day and night.
That goes with most fitness trackers. If you don't wear them 24/7 they don't do much in terms of wellness tracking.
Great video! Totally grab the 255 when its arrive in my country to upgrade my almost 3 years 245M. I never use the music tho since i always running with my phone.
Nice! The 255 is an impressive watch for the money!
@@ChaseTheSummit 100% agree… actually i still can’t believe they can make a sport watch this light so i can use it 24/7 👍
great review! picked up the watch and used cts on the playbetter store. The main Garmin 255 page has this watch out of stock for the next couple weeks!
Awesome! Enjoy it!
Hi, I was interested in buying a sportwatch, I wouldn't want to exceed €350, I found a Forerunner 255 on offer for €319 and a Forerunner 945 for €299, given the small price difference, what would you recommend? I also took a look at the Suunto 9 Peak and the Polar Grit X Pro, which are also on sale. Please could you give me some advice? I'm not very experienced, thank you
P.S. Sorry if I've done some sintax mistake, I'm not english, hope what I've written is understandable
I am going to upgrade from fenix 3 to Forerunner 255, I think it will blow my mind!
my 745 is right on Spot most of the time its like 0,25m awy from my Real Position its so good.
Nice!
There’s a 3rd party app for the correct Running Power close to the Coros reading. FR255 is a better option vs the new Fenix.
For sure! I like using the Stryd app myself but there are some good alternatives. The fenix still has some advantages like build quality, power modes, battery life, and of course full blown mapping/navigation that the 255 lacks.
Very cool watch!! I seriously considering the Instinct 2, but this… makes my life complicated!! 😂🤣 Decisions… 😵💫
Tough call!
Great review and I’m upgrading from a forerunner 645 music. I didn’t like the 245 for lack of altimeter and Garmin Pay and returned that. Also tried and returned the 745. It was just heavy on my wrist. Just ordered the 255s Music, whitestone. I just didn’t like the powder grey and bubble gum pink. Wish there was a 255s in slate grey. With this update, i think garmin somehow read my mind except for the slate grey color.
So close! Enjoy the 255!
Great review!!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Bought 255music today at €349.
No 955 because the navigation is not good enough to justify the pricedifferent.
Greets from the netherlands and thanks.
I've been using my 255 now since december. One thing that bugs me the most is the garmin connect app and the way it presents data. Also, I feel the race predictions are very iffy to say the least. Mine have been going down the whole time my training. Would be interesting to see a comparison with different watches how accurate the algorithms are in the long run.
Edit. Just ran 10k with almost 10 minutes faster than what Garmin's race estimation predicted.
Really love how Garmin consistently bring some of the newer features down from their higher-end watches to entry-level ones, albeit a little bit later. Just wondering. I'm using an older FR55 exclusively for casual running and I'm loving it. But one thing the watch struggled with consistently was GPS accuracy, because I live and exercise in an area where there's a lot of buildings. How much of an improvement in gps accuracy would the multi-band mode on FR255 make over the older gps modes. Would it be sufficient to justify and upgrade just on that alone?
If you prioritize GPS accuracy above other features yes... The 255 is way more accurate in even the basic GPS modes. These new multi-band chips are excellent.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks!! :)
Nice video again! Thanks for that!
I just got the 745 a few days ago. So you would suggest to send it back and get the 255 instead? Only downside at least for me would be that the 255 hasn't a tennis profile, right? Whereas the 745 has one... And this matters to me :)
The 255 does not have a tennis profile but it does have "other" which you can use to track anything.
Suber video/review! 255 no doubt; maybe 255s??
Sounded like he was saying, Garmin 400-245, and Garmin 400-255. *I'm watching in a loud area on my phone speaker.
Hmm... I'll try to speak more clearly next time?
@@ChaseTheSummit I was listening on my phone speaker in a loud Taco Bell, music playing, etc... No Big Deal!
I lost my 245 last year, and replaced it with a used 645. I thought this would be an upgrade, but I was very wrong. I rarely wear the 645 because it's a bit heavy, and it's not responsive at all. I would rather wear a Pebble smartwatch than the 645.
I pre-ordered my 255 as a birthday present to myself. Having HRV sounds very useful, and the body battery feature with the 245 helped me understand my physical limits in a practical way. I was aiming at getting the Enduro, but I just can't justify spending that much cash on a watch just yet.
The 255 would be a big step up. Thanks for sharing.
Hi! I just found out your channel and I think your videos are really helping me.
I just ordered a new Garmin and can’t wait to go for a run with it.
I was wondering what kind of software you use in the video, with the satellite images and GPS track (@ 07:20).
Thnx a lot!
Thanks for sharing!
You bet!
You once mentioned how you loved your Fenix 6s because the smaller profile made it a good daily driver (which i agreed with). Wondering how you feel about the 255s vs the regarular 255?
I haven't tried the 255s but I've changed a bit over the years since I often wear big watches for testing. The standard 255 feels really nice and low profile since it's so light. I really don't mind the size. BUT, this is all my opinion your mileage may vary.
Barometer is what sold me. You didn’t mention that did you? I wanted a ski and XC ski activity native. With 245 I was doing a “walk” activity for both of those. And missing having elevation on the watch.
My dad gave me his old 945 (He loves any new gadget and never uses them!). I love it but I just wish it had music (or podcasts) for my long slow runs. My phone is too enormous.
Are you sure it's a 945? Because that does have music storage! The 935 however did not. Great watch either way!
@@ChaseTheSummit Oh, you're right. I'm looking into earbuds that have music storage as a workaround.
Kind of upset I got an Instinct 2. At the time it was a super great value but now I could have gotten a 255 with basically the same features and a better screen.
Same here. Lets hope for some of FR255 features to be added to Instinct 2.
The Instinct 2 is still an awesome watch. It also has WAY longer standby battery life between activities.
@@ChaseTheSummit nah you're right. I just get caught up in the hype. I love my instinct 2!
Thinking of upgrading from my Forerunner 25. I don't need the new features, with the one exception that is selling the upgrade for me; the multi-frequency positioning for greater GPS accuracy when competing at my orienteering races in the woods. This seems to be the cheapest Garmin with that feature, and I'd like to stick with a Garmin watch.
Multi-Frequency is a great upgrade for sure!
I mostly boxing and weight lifting. Just run 3-4 time a week. Now aiming for a half marathon so I need a "serious" watch to track my running. It's hard to choose between 955 and 255 becoz I like a touch screen. I using Amazfit GTR2 which is excellent except sensors are really bad. But thank for your replies, I gonna choose 255 non-music, for a better price but more than enough for my needs. Sometime, shopping is hard. Hahaha.
Thanks for the review! How does the 255 compares to the 745 in terms of size? I love the size of the 745.
255 is bigger, 255s is almost the same size as the 745.
Awesome review! Have you noticed any glitches or problems with the watch, with it being a new model? Does it still function as well as any older garmin?
Haven't noticed anything significant so far. There's one little thing I noticed during the "Morning Report" when exiting sometimes it takes 1-2 seconds to get back to the watch face. Other than that it's been pretty rock solid.
Man I got the 245 music a year ago so this watch has plenty of years and use left. But man does this watch look good
245 is still excellent!
I love my 245 music. But barometric altimeter and Garmin pay missing. Would also like to have the detailed sleep tracking on the watch itself (sleep widget). HRV and the overall training status that the 255 brings with the above mentioned missing features of the 245 are all strong reasons to upgrade..you can still sell a used 245 music for decent price due to the popularity and widely applicable feature set for your everyday runner. So I think I'll upgrade. After selling the 245 music I'll be paying similar money to when I bought my 245 music new..so all good. Thanks for the cool vid! Keep it up!
Sounds like this one will solve most of your problems! Enjoy!
I purchased 255s White version as the black watch is with Pink Wordings.
The white version comes with the light blue colour.
Garmin is should have use a red or orange wordings and/or a more universal colour for all watch.
I have tried 255, and it doesn't fit my small wrist
Based on the comparison chart between the old version of 245 v. 255 v. 255s.
The 255s dimension is closer to 245, and it is much lighter than 255.
Thanks for sharing
Hi! nice review! do you know which altitude you can register top with the FR 255? (it’s my first watch with altimeter and I wondering if is work for mountaineering) Tks!
Great review. Does 255 replace your venu 2 as daily watch?
I've mainly been wearing the 955 lately but I switch pretty frequently lol
Instinct 2 user here. I am very happy with it but I can buy FR 255 for 15 USD more. Is it worth it? I am not a runner, I only ride a bicycle and roller skates. I kinda like bigger screen on FR 255 and Garmin Pay but at the same time, Instinct 2 sturdiness is amazing. Would you go for 255 if you were happy with Instinct 2 or no point in such a swap?
Thanks for the great review, Dave! I have a question if I may: You you tell me what the specific features are that set the 255 apart from a "health & lifestyle watch" like the Venu 2? I like the Venu optics a little better but I don't want to miss out on great features with the 255.
Mainly the training tools like race predictor, VO2max estimation, training load, training status, recovery advisor and also the fact that the Forerunner 255 has navigation features while Venu 2 does not. In short: If you're training/running the 255 is probably a better option. If you want a nice OLED display and more of an "everyday wellness" tool the Venu 2 is a great choice!
@@ChaseTheSummit thank you for your answer!
I think you missed the altimeter/barometer part, which is a huge upgrade from the 245.
I left it out because in Garmin's pre-release press documentation it states that the 255 DID NOT have an altimeter. I did notice the barometer port and that the watch was recording the data but I wasn't certain so I decided to omit it from the video. It does have an altimeter but for some reason the data isn't displayed in the watch yet... Maybe in a firmware update?
I bought the 245 music because it has all the features I need and was cheaper than the 255.
Thanks! But.. One of the most asked and popular subjects is competely skipped in this review: sleep monitoring. Exactly the thing i came fore, unfortunately. How is it? Because Garmin doesn't have such a good track record regarding this topic..
I don't dive too deep on that subject because I don't have a great way to scientifically test it's accuracy. To be honest, the sleep algorithm on the 255 seems very similar to other Garmin watches I've tested. In my unscientific opinion it seems "pretty good" where on nights I feel I got good sleep it reflects that. Check out the Quantified Scientist RUclips channel for a deeper dive on the matter but even in his videos he's a sample of 1 so take that for what it's worth!
Great video. Im been Garmin whole time. coros has my interest with battery life. I don’t care about music on watch. Be interested in seeing a video on your thoughts and comparison on Coros pace 2 vs Garmin 255.
Sounds like Coros pace 3 might be this fall, have you heard anything?
From Seen past RUclips reviews coros is behind on Garmin on app features/layout few other things, while a lot people may not are about that and just want a multi sport watch, with great battery life and simplicity. Coros ahead of Garmin on battery life and slightly lighter. Sounds like coros is working hard to catch up on all little features but keeping with better battery life…..
Im trying to decide between coros pace 2 (or wait for coros pace 3 this fall) or get Garmin 255 for my 15 year old and also 13 year old (they are on swim and running team and both are gonna start doing Triathlon this summer. I’m not going to rush into purchasing watches for them. Anyway, Always great videos.
The Pace 2 is probably the best value watch on the market and it does have Running Power from the wrist which is nice. That said, the 255 has a lot of advantages like dual frequency GPS, a better heart rate sensor, breadcrumb mapping/navigation, more smartwatch features, HRV tracking, Body Battery, etc... etc... It really depends on your needs as to which one is a better tool for the job.
Can you do a video compare Garmin Forerunner 255 vs Instinct 2? Maybe even 255s vs Instinct2s , smaller versions. Witch one is better for mostly trail and some road running? Not interested in any other sports. Whole yt does not have a compare video for this same priced watches in 2023.
Nice review mate. Does the 255 have a barometer widget where you can see the graph for 6/12/24/48 hours? Cheers
Also it looks like the backlight on the 955 is brighter then the one on here if you have the backlight on
The 255 just went on a deep sale lately (USD247) to compete with the Pace 3. It was never on my to-get list before, but now I am very tempted. However, one aspect of the watch that very few reviewers seem to have discussed is real-time pace accuracy. I’ve heard that there can be some delay or even outright inaccuracy. Normally this won’t matter in day to day training, but during a race, it’s quite crucial if one is pursuing a certain finish time. Wonder what your thoughts are on this matter? Thx
I've never owned a fitness watch so would be grateful for your insight: I'm leaning towards the 255s due to smaller form factor; it appeals to me that I will just forget I have it on, (particularly useful during sleep) and I would use all its features on the connect app of my phone. Is this realistic, or does one have to interact with the watch face itself? I'm not a runner, more into gym/bodybuilding, and want to use the watch for stress tracking, and overall fitness tracking over time. Thank you!
You can set mostly all of the settings from within Garmin Connect. You'll only need to interact with the watch to start/stop activities or to scroll widgets/info.
I almost purchased the 745 today, there is a big price reduction now, so it costs 60 EUR less than the 255M. The battery life looks for me the biggest difference between them. I plan to use it for hiking and cycling. Navigation is important for me, but looks the same in both. Is the battery life worth the additional cost, is there still some advantage in the 745, which is theoretically a higher class watch? How to choose?
The 255 has a bigger 1.3" display compared the 745's 1.2" display. It's got longer battery life, and it's also got new features like HRV Status, Race Calendar, and Morning Report. On top of that it has better GPS accuracy with Multi-Band and a more accurate Heart Rate sensor with the updated Elevate 4.0 sensor. That said, the 745 is still a great watch. It's really up to you to decide what's worth the money!
@@ChaseTheSummit So I went for the 255. Using it for almost 4 weeks now, no regret, love it! Extra: running features are so fun to use, I started running with a training plan and make good progress. Thank you!
What is your opinion on the pricing of the FR245 and FR255? Seeing the FR245 being sold for 170€ while the FR255 is 350€ I am not sure if the FR255 is really worth double the price.
"Worth it" is subjective. If you've got the money the 255 is superior in just about every way including battery, heart rate accuracy, and GPS. If you're on a budget the 245 is still a great watch but I don't think we'll see any big frimware updates to add anything to it moving forward.
Thanks for the review. Am choosing between 255/255s - I think my wrist is quite slender (170mm circumference). Would be interested to know the circumference of your wrist as a reference point? Also what is the lug-to-lug measurement of 255 please? Thanks.
Mines 165mm and I prefer the larger 255 but that's my personal preference.
Great review. Which one would you buy, thus 255 music or a used fenix 6 pro zephyr y very good shape?
or even a 955
If you don’t need mapping or the rugged metal/sapphire build the 255 has more accurate GPS/HR and newer features.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thank you very much, I have the basic instinct, but want to upgrade it. I´m sure the 255 is a great option. Thank you again
I love my 245 but noticed battery isnt what it used to be. Struggling to pick a new one. Is this a good one to upgrade too?
Hi. will you compare Coros pace 2 vs Garmin 255?
And which of these watches do you think is the best to buy now?
- the main thing for me is the accuracy of recording the track while running and measuring the distance traveled.
-It is also interesting how much better the Garmin heart rate sensor is both during training and just on weekdays for health monitoring 24/7.
-and if according to these criteria the difference is minimal among watches, then it turns out there is nothing to overpay for Garmin.
It's kind of an unfair comparison as the 255 is better in just about every way. The only advantage Pace 2 has is it's wrist based running power, and longer standby/smartwatch battery life. The 255 has navigation, better GPS and HR, more smartwatch features, on-board music option, and a slew of training tools the Pace 2 does not have.
With the new ABC functions this new 255 may appeal more to me than a Fenix 7S at double the price I was considering buying... 955 is again a plastic Fenix 7.
The odd thing is that the ABC widgets are not available on the 255 despite having the sensors. Hopefully in a firmware update.
@@ChaseTheSummit Here it is ruclips.net/video/o4Frl88YSnY/видео.html
great review! what watch face is this?
It's a default watchface that comes pre-installed.
Hi, good day. Planning to buy a Garmin watch. If you don’t mind me asking, can I still control music on the 255(not the MUSIC edition)? Like play, pause, next, etc. Assuming that I have my phone in my pocket. Thanks!!
Are you certain that the 255 doesn't have a barometric altimeter?
It actually does. Unfortunately my pre-release documentation was incorrect and stated that it did not. Garmin is good at making me look bad 🤦♂️
I just received one.
At 17:45 I wish Garmin would have followed through and provided the on-watch sleep widget for the 245 😴
Yeah, strange move on that one!
Hi Chase, I want to ask a question, now we have new Coros Pace 3 you have just reviewed, should I go for Coros Pace 3 instead of FR 255? Thanks
Stay tuned 👀
@@ChaseTheSummit sorry I want to add one more detail :). I don’t have both fr255 and coros pace 3, which should I buy at the present? Thank you very much
Hi, great review as usual. Sorry but I'm not sure I understand how long the battery really lasts
About 2 weeks as a smart watch and about 30 hours in GPS mode for the bigger model.
@@ChaseTheSummit thank you