By the way, you are a reference that cannot be missed when it comes to GPS watches, your reviews are very clear and you always present the most important of each watch.
Great vídeo !! I totally agree with you ,I had a 245 before and he is in fact a great watch for who only make street running. I changed to the Garmin 645 a couple of months after because the the lack of the altimeter on the 245 and for people who make some trails make a good difference . Recently I upgraded to the 745 and is a hell of a watch , really accurate like you said in your videos 😊 keep the good work
Hi The altimeter is why I'm also looking at the 745 because I want to run the Athens marathon which has alot of elevation. Can you tell me if the 745 has some sort of function that can let you know the slope and length of upcoming hills? Thanks
Great video, thank you very much! I bought the 245M 1 year ago and I loved it, its lightness is fantastic however I think it falls short as it does not have an altimeter. Your channel is a success and you are a great person. Thanks again!
I own a 245M as well for 1,5 years. Its great but yea, the lack of altimeter is noticeable. When I run hill reps with my friends at a local spot their 945 or Fenix watches show about 350m while my 245 shows 9m. Not just once, every time. At other locations it seems more ok. So it has big problems in certain places. I think that a runner caring at all about altitude should get a altimeter.
I have a 245M. I used to have a Fenix 3HR Sapphire. The 245M is a great watch, much underrated, has almost every feature that I need and In a great form factor, I also use it with my RD Pod. Now you can get it in the UK for £200 which is a bargain!
My Garmin FR 630 just died and I am comparing the 245 and 745. I hike a lot and also cycle and do pilates. I think that the 745 will be better for this overall, but I wanted to make sure that I wasn't paying extra for the 745 when the 245 could do most of those things. However, the lack of hiking as an activity annoyed me since I had that on my FR 630, so I think it's gonna be the 745. Thanks to your video and other people's comments here.
It's strange how they limit what activities go on what devices when they're essentially just a copy/paste of eachother. Realistically you could just track your hikes as walks and re-name them after the fact. Glad you found the video helpful!
I’ve got the 245, awesome watch, am mainly a runner and dues everything I need.. also tracks my cycling activities with great accuracy so would definitely recommend fur runners and cyclists..
@@toadlguy if you’re using a power meter you’d really want a proper head unit anyways, IMHO. I also use the 245 for cycling as well as running and strength training and while it’s true that there’s not a multisport activity, it works very well otherwise and is obviously much cheaper.
@@mikewilson0 is it good for strength training, like weight lifting etc? I like running and going to the gym so would it be enough for me? I am talking about 245 here.
@@Iwaans I use the 245 for strength training at the gym. Most of the time it automatically detects the correct activity (bench presses, squats, lat pulls, sit up's) except for ones where your watch doesn't move (like leg presses) - - Those you have to input manually.
The absence of barometrics on the 245 is actually a nice feature because we don't have to manually adjust elevation corrections in the Garmin Connect and Strava which would be ridiculous to do that after every run or bike.
Great Video. I've tried nearly as many watched as you have reviewed 😁. I love the current range of Garmin products. I just wish all the sports watch manufacturers would put some effort into apps for wheelchair users. It's a huge untapped market.
Haha! Time to start a RUclips channel! That's an interesting demographic. It's kind of bizzare that none of the bigger brands (especially Garmin) hasn't honed in on that. I could imagine a lot of marketing could be done around the Olympics!
Yeah ! And ppl suffering from arthritis too ! They MUST move to stay away from stiffness... and so, a Garmin watch helps you move! I just wished Garmin's altimeter to be more accurate ...
Thanks a lot! I really liked the "Who is this for" section. I only run, 245 it is. I started running a year ago and I am using an hybrid watch (Withings Steal HR Sport), but always found it annoying to carry my phone. I'm looking for a GPS watch as well as having a running plan rather than just freestyling, I wasn't considering the 745 (too expensive for me), but your opinion of the 245 convinced me it's how I should go to consider rest, battery life to optimize my times.
I've had my 245M for a few months now and *really* enjoy it a lot (was using the Forerunner 25 prior to it, so quite an upgrade for me...). Granted, I would love to have an altimeter for more accuracy, but the in- & decline numbers it takes from GPS data don't seem to be too far off (at least not in my city, somewhere deep in the woods is probably a different story). Maps would be cool too, but I recently tried breadcrumb navigation with a pretty complex course I premade in the Garmin coursemaker and it did work out really nicely. I also enjoy the customizability of the 245, not very common that price range I think. I'm sure it will serve me well for a while. The 745 is cool for sure, but for me the only reason to upgrade from the 245 would be full map navigation (and an altimeter). Ah btw, one feature you forgot to mention for the 745 is Garmin Pay. Some people care for that. :-) Thx for the informative comparison!
Great comparison! So you don't swim a ton, have you been enjoying that 245 for the most part? Great video! I think this is going to help a lot of people. 👌
Yeah, the 245 is pretty sweet. It's essentially a 745 with more battery life at the sacrifice of less sports profile for less money in a nutshell. Thanks for watching Matt! (Happy Birthday as well!)
Started researching for my next running watch and stumbled onto your channel. Your reviews are very detailed and you cut to the "chase"...pun not intended...and helped me to narrow my choices. Thanks.
Thanks for really informative video. I've been a runner for years and 245 is very decent companion. Now I'm getting more into trail & ultra run, and probably swim, I want to get advance gear. Many suggest me go to fenix but that line of watches come with big size and way heavier. Also considering 945, still too big for my wrist. Guess am taking 745 instead :)
Thanks for the great comparison Chase! I can get either for roughly the same price, both have too many features but for the same money I'm getting a 745, which is totally above my needs but why not.
I got the 245 music for a steal lightly secondhanded for 150 bucks. Use it for cycling, MTB, running, trailrunning, walking, and at the gym. I like it!!
Simple and straighforward content! Thank you! Since you battled so much on confort and size, could you please review and compare the FR45?I had one and found it so much confortable and also so much bang for the buck. And it seems it kinda gets passed.
I've considered checking out the FR45 but haven't yet. Seems interesting but at that price point I kind of feel like the Coros Pace 2 would be a better value!
As always, great video! If you're interested in a suggestion, what I haven't seen up to date (that doesn't mean it might not exist, just I haven't found it) is a comparison between breadcrumb navigation models used in different brands. For example, what are the differences (if any) between Coros and Garmin breadcrumb navigation? Or between Polar and Suunto? Or between all of them? For me it's kind of important, because if one loves trekking but does not wish to splash the cash for a full-map watch, then there is really no way to compare which brand would give him/her better navigation (more accuracy, more features etc) or which one is just not missing key features. Cheers!
Garmin is the most polished experience in terms of navigation. You can easily design a course on your phone or computer and sync it to the watch complete with waypoint support. It's really easy to set up and use. There's also dedicated navigation pages that can be customized on the watch and a bearing page that displays an arrow to keep you on course. Coros and Suunto are kind of on the same level in terms of navigation with an edge going to Suunto because it has a native course maker in the phone app. The Coros navigation feature requires a GPX file made by a third party (like Gaia GPS). Not a huge deal but it's an extra step. COROS navigation is good though and can utilize the touch screen on some of their devices. In last place would probably be Polar. They utilize "Komoot" navigation which is decent but the map view on the watch is quite limited. Hope that helps!
The 245 supports cycling as well as pool swimming and provides all the data you could want for those activities. Your full of it in that it's only made for running. Now I wish it did have a dedicated multisport mode. But there are apps available that can help with that.
Hey Jacob, for sure it can track cycling. My comment was towards more advanced cyclists as the Forerunner 245 is not compatible with Power Meters and other cycling accessories like Radars. This is typically a deal breaker for hardcore cyclists (I probably should have mentioned that in the video). Thanks for watching.
This is exactly what I was looking for!, thanks!, I already have an Apple Watch, but want a more training oriented watch that is not pricey but could provide more details metrics and all reviews led to the 745 which is pricey.
IT's still a great watch. Just a bit limited because you can't pair a cycling power meter to it or access multi-sport mode. If those don't matter to you it's totally functional.
8:34 "If you swim, if you ride a bike... the 245 is not the watch for you" Why? I thought it tracks riding a bike and pool swimming, too, doesn't it? Or does the 745 give you more data when cycling for example?
The 245 will work for basic cycling activities. However it cannot be paired with a speed/cadence or Power sensors and it doesn’t support multi sport mode for triathlon. For riding around town it’s more than enough though. Thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit great video! Specifically for the Speed/Cadence sensor though, I'm not sure if the 245 was just recently updated or what, but as of this comment writing, the 245 does support speed/cadence sensors.
I'd say, if you run in mostly flat areas, roads and city marathons, go for the 245. If you do more trail running, cycling, areas with elevation and cycling, go for the 745. Plus, the 745 has Garmin Pay and the 245 not. Nowadays you can get the 245-music for less than 300EUR for sure.
For sure, but at the same time at the price of the 745 I feel like there's better options for trail running and cycling. They've really positioned that 745 in a weird spot while also having less battery life than the 245!
Thanks for the consistently quality content! Love these comparisons. I'm getting into distance running, and my goal is to ultimately do ultra marathons. I also backpack, snow shoe/ski, and ride my bike occasionally. I've been interested in the Fenix 6 for its durability and multi sport features (as well as others like maps, music, body battery, and solar option.) but the price is a big deterrent. Do you think that this watch is the right fit given my preferred activities? Or is it overkill, and could I get by with a 245 or 945? I'm happy to spend the extra money if it's for a quality piece of gear that will last years. Also, if the Fenix is the right move, I'm leaning towards the sapphire. I originally wanted to go solar, but I think the screen durability outweighs the occasional burst of battery I'd get from the solar feature. I saw your Fenix 6 solar comparison video and it looked like it definitely aided battery life, but since that was in 100% direct sun, I'm not sure if it's totally worth it. Let me know what you think about all this when you have a chance. Thanks again!
@@ChaseTheSummit If price weren't a factor, would you still go with the 945? I saw your video comparing it to the fenix, and it looks almost identical when you look at their features. Seems like the biggest difference is the metal case.
I never really understood the positioning of the 745 especially at this price. It comes closer in price to the 245 with some local vendors but then I don't understand the weaker battery. Also, how come the 245 couldn't get a bloody hike profile? Weird things ✌️
Yeah they made some strange choices with both watches haha. Limiting activity profiles bothers me because it's a simple software thing all of the watches are capable of.
I am looking at picking up a Garmin watch for myself to replace my gear S2 and I was wondering which direction I should be looking? Love your videos btw super helpful 😁
@@ChaseTheSummit I mostly do a lot of weight training with some biking thrown in there too. I'm a gymnastics coach so I'm trying to find something that can keep up with me haha
Great video, Dave (as usual)! Thank you for the information! Also, do you plan doing a review on the new G-shock GSW-H1000? Wear OS and Casio's ruggedness seem like an interesting combination.
@@ChaseTheSummit fingers crossed! My daily driver is the GWG-1000 Mudmaster and having the same level of protection in a smart/fitness watch will be awesome if they manage to pull it off and not have the same issues as the GBD-H1000.
I like the 255, but it is small I have a hard time seeing the letters & numbers, the larger version it too big for my wrist. I have the 245 & wanted to upgrade, why isn't the 255 the same size as the 245, why does it have to be smaller?
I've just sold my wahoo roam and going to use 245 watches for cycling as well. I do no have a power meter so this should work fine, I didn't fully get the point why one can't use 245 for swimming and cycling.
Fantastic and straightforward comparison. There's a Like! I picked up the FR245 here in India but sadly we're a few update cycles behind and still don't have features like Suggested Workouts. Off topic:- what are those blue Shoes you're wearing at the end of video? And are you on Strava?
Hi! Your videos are extremely comprehensive and informative. I’ve been using an Apple Watch series 4 and am looking to upgrade to a garmin. My primary use case will be running and strength training. In terms of firstbeat analytics which ones are missing out in the 245 vs 745 and which ones will be ported down to 245 in updates ? Considering my use case which would you recommend ? Are the missing firstbeat analytics worth ponying up the difference in cost?
The good news is that a lot of the 745 features are going to come to the 245 soon as they just updated the beta firmware. The bad news is that the 245 still won't get Body Battery, or the new sleep tracking metrics that are on the 745/945. Aside from that you still get a training load, training status, recovery advisor, Race predictor, and V02 Max estimate. Hope that helps!
Hey, Thanks for all the work done on these reviews. I'd just like to comment that I recently got 245M after tons of research. Frankly I think for the price tag the 245M provides the best all round package. If anyone is willing to pay higher than a 245 best go for a Fenix or 945 anything in between that is not worth it in my book.
Hi I’ll buying my first garmin but i’m not sure which one I should pick. I basically started running in the past 2 month and will use most for running but I’m not sure the training load focus that is available on 745 is worth the upgrade, what would you suggest?? Thanks in advance!!
My 745 still hasn't been updated to include the new Sleep Widget / Algorithm so I'm not sure if there is a difference. I know that Garmin plans to roll this out to the 745/945 eventually. Do you have a source for this info?
@@ChaseTheSummit I do. On Garmin's website it says that the 745 has the sleep score, if you check it's specifications. But if you don't have it, it must not have rolled down to this model then.
@@johnmanley4528 It's strange because I've seen other early reviewers mention the updated sleep tracking but my 745 certainly doesn't have it. I've also checked firmware. It seems other users have been confused by Garmin's marketing as seen in threads like this: forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-745/239811/sleep-widget
@@johnmanley4528 Mines a production unit and has the latest firmware. It seems that Garmin had some issues with Sleep tracking and held the release of the new widget. I'm sure it will come eventually. You can find a lot of talk about this on Garmin's forums.
It's on my "to-do" list but there's a lot of things I'm working on. The 245 is so similar to the 745 that this could essentially be the review. Thanks for watching!
I was waiting for the 245 review. It would be great if you could put the distances comparisons as well when comparing the watches to see accuracy. As the autopause feature, have heard complaints about it. 745 accuracy is luring. Great video.
Great video. Thanks. One question where you may help - I am thinking to buy the 245 music. Mainly for running purposes. But in winter I am doing usually total 10 days or so skiing. There is no profile for skiing on the 245, but you can manually add a profile and name it ski, showing your pace, distance, hr etc. Do you think the 245 music would be enough for me? Or should I go for the 745? Thanks 🙏
The 245M will do the job but as you said doesn't have a ski profile so you won't see laps/runs and all of that other data. The 245 actually has better battery life than the 745 though. Kind of up to you what features are worth the money.
Great review and info, very timely too. I have been looking at both watches as well as other brands (upgrading from the 235 at some point) and this answered a lot of questions I had. I'm glad that they both include basic navigation as that will come in handy for some of my trail runs. I also like to swim a few times a week and have been using a widget to track this but it doesn't seem to sync correctly so I am now leaning towards the 745 when the time finally comes to renew. My only frustration is that I can't buy it without the music, I never run outside with headphones on and in the gym I generally have my phone with me, is there an alternative?
I think in the future all of Garmin's $200+ watches will come with music by default as it's kind of become standard practice for them at this point. But we shall see! Another option for runners in the $200 price range is the Coros Pace 2 which is solid!
I was going to buy the 245 if I didn't watch your great analysis and it would've been a disaster bc I'm not a runner at all. I do skiing, hiking, cycling and mostly Cardio and bodybuilding. What would you recommend to me if you had like a 300-400€ budget to spend? Appreciate your answer.
Maybe the older Garmin Forerunner 935. It can be found on sale currently for $299 or $399 with the Tri Bundle. You could also check out the Coros Apex. Hope that helps!
But I saw you can still ad elevation field on the 245, even if it will Not be that accurate since it doesn’t have barometer. But you can see the elevation isn’t it?
I was set on getting the 245 until I saw this video. I do many sports but I do not run. So now I am unsure what to do. I want music on the watch. So is the 745 really worth the extra $? For tracking weights, pool swimming, walks, yoga etc. Im a basic level guy doing multible things for fitness and fun. I have a good setup on my bike so thats not an issue. Good video but it made me even more confused 😂
Hi, You are doing great job. Thanks for and answerig the messages. I start running 3 months ago and doing cycling aswell. I have wahoo bolt on my bike. I want to join triathlon races but im not sure 245 is enough or i should go for 745. Recently garmin made a discount on 745 and it's 400$ for now. What do you suggest for me? Thanks for your answer already.
Have you considered the Wahoo Element Rival? It would work with your Wahoo Bolt for transitions if you like that ecosystem. It's not quite as full featured as the Garmins but the price is right.
I already have an Edge 830 to track all my cycling activities and I also plan to use it as a handheld mapping device while hiking and trail running. I want to get back into running but aren’t sure which watch to get: Forerunner 245, 745, or Vivoactive 4? I would mainly do trail and road running, with some sporadic hikes.
I’m trying to find a list of which Garmin watches have (or will get) the new track run functionality (like the Coros). Do both of these watches do that in the latest firmware?
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks. I was hoping maybe they would add it to the VA 4 or some of the earlier Forerunners (you know, to compete with Coros 😉) but I guess that is too much to ask 😞.
Do the Garmin watches have silent alarms? I don't want to wake my wife in the morning so I like having the silent/vibrate alarm clock. I'm leaning towards the 245, although I want to look into the 45s, but I need my watch to have the silent alarm function.
I'm not really a cyclist but they both have similar features for cycling. The main advantage to the 945 is that it has real maps and significantly long battery life.
Hi , ı started to run one years ago and ı used Apple Watch until today. Now ı Want to get hrm Pro and garmin forerunner watch. I looked all videos but ı dont know which one ı must get. May u help me? I want to use it for cycling swimming and running. May be after ,training season, ı wıll enter triatlon race
Both of these would do the job. The 745 has a dedicated triathlon mode while the 245 does not. Do you intend to participate in multi-sport events? That might make the choice easy.
It does, it just doesn't support external power sensors which is important for serious cyclists. For the occasional casual ride the 245 is perfectly capable.
if i get a forerunner 45 or 245 if my run includes uphills and downhills track , as both 45 and 245 do not have altimeter . connecting the data to strava will rectify the elevation gain or not ? pls clarify as 745 is out of my budget . pls suggest the most accurate gps watch with accurate gps, HR, SPO2 and an altumeter pls suggest.
Elevation data will still be shown in Garmin Connect and Strava using GPS elevation data. The only downside to not having an altimeter on board is that you can't see your elevation data in real time during the activity and you can't utilize Garmin's "climb pro" feature.
@@ChaseTheSummit that means the data given by garmin 45 in uphill runs would be accurate given in the app or it will be giving inaccurate readings as I dont want to see the data in real tine but study it later on . so should i go for the garmin 45
@@ashishm5763 They will all be pretty accurate. GPS elevation data isn't bad at all. The only limitations of not having an altimeter is real time elevation data.
Me fue mal con mi compra de garmin Frunner 55, No es un buen reloj, lo compre hace 3 meses y tiene problemas en la marcación de pulso cardiaco entre 15 y 20 pulsaciones por encima, el autolab no funciona, el reloj muestra una información y las graficas otra,, la retroiluminacion es mala y los números MUY pequeños para una persona mayor a los 50 años, tal vez otras referencias mas costosas sean mejores. Hoy en Bogotá es 11 de marzo de 2022.
My Garmin 245 suffered from the dreaded white spot on the dial. A common problem and obviously a manufacturing fault. Garmin no help whatsoever for the only reason that I do not live in the US. Pretty disappointing as otherwise a great watch. Does the 745 have a history of the same problem.
By the way, you are a reference that cannot be missed when it comes to GPS watches, your reviews are very clear and you always present the most important of each watch.
Thank you!
😊😊😊
Thinking of getting a new Garmin and you seem to have compared every version I think of...love it! Thanks so much!
Glad you find it helpful!
Great vídeo !! I totally agree with you ,I had a 245 before and he is in fact a great watch for who only make street running. I changed to the Garmin 645 a couple of months after because the the lack of the altimeter on the 245 and for people who make some trails make a good difference . Recently I upgraded to the 745 and is a hell of a watch , really accurate like you said in your videos 😊 keep the good work
Awesome! Glad you're enjoying it!
Hi The altimeter is why I'm also looking at the 745 because I want to run the Athens marathon which has alot of elevation. Can you tell me if the 745 has some sort of function that can let you know the slope and length of upcoming hills?
Thanks
Great video, thank you very much! I bought the 245M 1 year ago and I loved it, its lightness is fantastic however I think it falls short as it does not have an altimeter. Your channel is a success and you are a great person. Thanks again!
Thanks for watching! Yeah, the lack of altimeter is a bummer! But for a lot of people they won't even notice that missing.
I own a 245M as well for 1,5 years. Its great but yea, the lack of altimeter is noticeable. When I run hill reps with my friends at a local spot their 945 or Fenix watches show about 350m while my 245 shows 9m. Not just once, every time. At other locations it seems more ok. So it has big problems in certain places. I think that a runner caring at all about altitude should get a altimeter.
I have a 245M. I used to have a Fenix 3HR Sapphire. The 245M is a great watch, much underrated, has almost every feature that I need and In a great form factor, I also use it with my RD Pod. Now you can get it in the UK for £200 which is a bargain!
That’s a great deal!
Thanks. I'm buying the 245
My Garmin FR 630 just died and I am comparing the 245 and 745. I hike a lot and also cycle and do pilates. I think that the 745 will be better for this overall, but I wanted to make sure that I wasn't paying extra for the 745 when the 245 could do most of those things. However, the lack of hiking as an activity annoyed me since I had that on my FR 630, so I think it's gonna be the 745. Thanks to your video and other people's comments here.
It's strange how they limit what activities go on what devices when they're essentially just a copy/paste of eachother. Realistically you could just track your hikes as walks and re-name them after the fact. Glad you found the video helpful!
I’ve got the 245, awesome watch, am mainly a runner and dues everything I need.. also tracks my cycling activities with great accuracy so would definitely recommend fur runners and cyclists..
Thanks for sharing! It's a solid option for those who don't need multi-sport support!
The 245 does not support power meters for cycling, though.
@@toadlguy if you’re using a power meter you’d really want a proper head unit anyways, IMHO. I also use the 245 for cycling as well as running and strength training and while it’s true that there’s not a multisport activity, it works very well otherwise and is obviously much cheaper.
@@mikewilson0 is it good for strength training, like weight lifting etc? I like running and going to the gym so would it be enough for me? I am talking about 245 here.
@@Iwaans I use the 245 for strength training at the gym. Most of the time it automatically detects the correct activity (bench presses, squats, lat pulls, sit up's) except for ones where your watch doesn't move (like leg presses) - - Those you have to input manually.
The absence of barometrics on the 245 is actually a nice feature because we don't have to manually adjust elevation corrections in the Garmin Connect and Strava which would be ridiculous to do that after every run or bike.
I’m not sure what you mean? Why do you have to adjust your elevation gain so often?
@@ChaseTheSummit it gave me error reading on elevation
Straight foward content, love it
Thanks!
Great Video.
I've tried nearly as many watched as you have reviewed 😁.
I love the current range of Garmin products.
I just wish all the sports watch manufacturers would put some effort into apps for wheelchair users.
It's a huge untapped market.
Haha! Time to start a RUclips channel! That's an interesting demographic. It's kind of bizzare that none of the bigger brands (especially Garmin) hasn't honed in on that. I could imagine a lot of marketing could be done around the Olympics!
Yeah ! And ppl suffering from arthritis too ! They MUST move to stay away from stiffness... and so, a Garmin watch helps you move! I just wished Garmin's altimeter to be more accurate ...
Thanks a lot! I really liked the "Who is this for" section. I only run, 245 it is. I started running a year ago and I am using an hybrid watch (Withings Steal HR Sport), but always found it annoying to carry my phone. I'm looking for a GPS watch as well as having a running plan rather than just freestyling, I wasn't considering the 745 (too expensive for me), but your opinion of the 245 convinced me it's how I should go to consider rest, battery life to optimize my times.
Glad it was helpful! The 245 sounds like the right tool for you!
I've had my 245M for a few months now and *really* enjoy it a lot (was using the Forerunner 25 prior to it, so quite an upgrade for me...). Granted, I would love to have an altimeter for more accuracy, but the in- & decline numbers it takes from GPS data don't seem to be too far off (at least not in my city, somewhere deep in the woods is probably a different story). Maps would be cool too, but I recently tried breadcrumb navigation with a pretty complex course I premade in the Garmin coursemaker and it did work out really nicely. I also enjoy the customizability of the 245, not very common that price range I think. I'm sure it will serve me well for a while.
The 745 is cool for sure, but for me the only reason to upgrade from the 245 would be full map navigation (and an altimeter).
Ah btw, one feature you forgot to mention for the 745 is Garmin Pay. Some people care for that. :-)
Thx for the informative comparison!
Woops, should have mentioned Garmin Pay! Truth is I rarely use it on my watch but I'm sure there are plenty others that do.
Great comparison! So you don't swim a ton, have you been enjoying that 245 for the most part? Great video! I think this is going to help a lot of people. 👌
Yeah, the 245 is pretty sweet. It's essentially a 745 with more battery life at the sacrifice of less sports profile for less money in a nutshell. Thanks for watching Matt! (Happy Birthday as well!)
@@ChaseTheSummit - Thanks!
Started researching for my next running watch and stumbled onto your channel. Your reviews are very detailed and you cut to the "chase"...pun not intended...and helped me to narrow my choices. Thanks.
Glad you found them helpful!
Nice comparation! Thanks
Best regards from Croatia.
Thanks for watching!
OMG Thanks for this, I remember requesting for this video a while back. 👌👌👌
Thanks for the suggestion and for watching!
Thanks for this comparison. You saved me!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for really informative video. I've been a runner for years and 245 is very decent companion. Now I'm getting more into trail & ultra run, and probably swim, I want to get advance gear. Many suggest me go to fenix but that line of watches come with big size and way heavier. Also considering 945, still too big for my wrist. Guess am taking 745 instead :)
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the great comparison Chase!
I can get either for roughly the same price, both have too many features but for the same money I'm getting a 745, which is totally above my needs but why not.
This is what i've been looking for. Nice review. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
I got the 245 music for a steal lightly secondhanded for 150 bucks. Use it for cycling, MTB, running, trailrunning, walking, and at the gym. I like it!!
Great deal!
Thank you so much for the comparison!
My pleasure!
Simple and straighforward content! Thank you! Since you battled so much on confort and size, could you please review and compare the FR45?I had one and found it so much confortable and also so much bang for the buck. And it seems it kinda gets passed.
I've considered checking out the FR45 but haven't yet. Seems interesting but at that price point I kind of feel like the Coros Pace 2 would be a better value!
Really good video, thx for the recommendations :)
I got a forerunner 245 Music thanks Dave!!!
Nice! Enjoy!
Very good video, helped me a lot
According to Garmins site the 245 supports speed and cadence sensors.
Yes, just not power sensors. Thanks for watching!
As always, great video! If you're interested in a suggestion, what I haven't seen up to date (that doesn't mean it might not exist, just I haven't found it) is a comparison between breadcrumb navigation models used in different brands. For example, what are the differences (if any) between Coros and Garmin breadcrumb navigation? Or between Polar and Suunto? Or between all of them? For me it's kind of important, because if one loves trekking but does not wish to splash the cash for a full-map watch, then there is really no way to compare which brand would give him/her better navigation (more accuracy, more features etc) or which one is just not missing key features. Cheers!
Garmin is the most polished experience in terms of navigation. You can easily design a course on your phone or computer and sync it to the watch complete with waypoint support. It's really easy to set up and use. There's also dedicated navigation pages that can be customized on the watch and a bearing page that displays an arrow to keep you on course. Coros and Suunto are kind of on the same level in terms of navigation with an edge going to Suunto because it has a native course maker in the phone app. The Coros navigation feature requires a GPX file made by a third party (like Gaia GPS). Not a huge deal but it's an extra step. COROS navigation is good though and can utilize the touch screen on some of their devices. In last place would probably be Polar. They utilize "Komoot" navigation which is decent but the map view on the watch is quite limited. Hope that helps!
@@ChaseTheSummit Very, very helpful, thanks a lot! I get the big picture. Any difference over off-track notifications?
Awesome! Finally 245 review😁👍🏼
Hope you like it!
thanks. your review really help me a lot
Glad it was helpful!
Better than all other videos comparing these two watches since you're the only one who seems to have tested them both yourself lol
Thanks!
Great video first time viewer
Thanks!
The 245 supports cycling as well as pool swimming and provides all the data you could want for those activities. Your full of it in that it's only made for running. Now I wish it did have a dedicated multisport mode. But there are apps available that can help with that.
Hey Jacob, for sure it can track cycling. My comment was towards more advanced cyclists as the Forerunner 245 is not compatible with Power Meters and other cycling accessories like Radars. This is typically a deal breaker for hardcore cyclists (I probably should have mentioned that in the video). Thanks for watching.
Thanks - appreciate your reviews
Glad you like them!
This is exactly what I was looking for!, thanks!, I already have an Apple Watch, but want a more training oriented watch that is not pricey but could provide more details metrics and all reviews led to the 745 which is pricey.
Hope it was helpful!
Great comparison
I like the style of your videos , keep it up
Man talks fast 😂😂😂
Thanks!
@Dave Rombedza I don't want to waste your time 😉
Wow, I wish I saw this video first before I buy. I am more into cycling and the 245 is already on the way :(
IT's still a great watch. Just a bit limited because you can't pair a cycling power meter to it or access multi-sport mode. If those don't matter to you it's totally functional.
@@ChaseTheSummit To determine power output is quite necessary. Can I use it for navigation though? thanks for your response.
Another option for multisport is the Vivoactive.
For sure.
thanks so much..good info mate
Glad to help!
Awesome review
Thanks!
Thank you!
Sweet simple - thank you
You bet!
Great video. Keep it up.
Thanks!
great video thanks
Glad it was helpful!
8:34 "If you swim, if you ride a bike... the 245 is not the watch for you"
Why? I thought it tracks riding a bike and pool swimming, too, doesn't it? Or does the 745 give you more data when cycling for example?
The 245 will work for basic cycling activities. However it cannot be paired with a speed/cadence or Power sensors and it doesn’t support multi sport mode for triathlon. For riding around town it’s more than enough though. Thanks for watching!
Can wear f245 for swimming at sea?
@@ChaseTheSummit great video! Specifically for the Speed/Cadence sensor though, I'm not sure if the 245 was just recently updated or what, but as of this comment writing, the 245 does support speed/cadence sensors.
@@mohdyaserr it does not have open water swimming option, only pool swimming. Open water swimming reserved for the higher end watches
@@rajendraabella thanks ! 4 the answr ma bro
I love my 245
I'd say, if you run in mostly flat areas, roads and city marathons, go for the 245. If you do more trail running, cycling, areas with elevation and cycling, go for the 745. Plus, the 745 has Garmin Pay and the 245 not. Nowadays you can get the 245-music for less than 300EUR for sure.
For sure, but at the same time at the price of the 745 I feel like there's better options for trail running and cycling. They've really positioned that 745 in a weird spot while also having less battery life than the 245!
Thanks for the consistently quality content! Love these comparisons. I'm getting into distance running, and my goal is to ultimately do ultra marathons. I also backpack, snow shoe/ski, and ride my bike occasionally. I've been interested in the Fenix 6 for its durability and multi sport features (as well as others like maps, music, body battery, and solar option.) but the price is a big deterrent. Do you think that this watch is the right fit given my preferred activities? Or is it overkill, and could I get by with a 245 or 945? I'm happy to spend the extra money if it's for a quality piece of gear that will last years.
Also, if the Fenix is the right move, I'm leaning towards the sapphire. I originally wanted to go solar, but I think the screen durability outweighs the occasional burst of battery I'd get from the solar feature. I saw your Fenix 6 solar comparison video and it looked like it definitely aided battery life, but since that was in 100% direct sun, I'm not sure if it's totally worth it. Let me know what you think about all this when you have a chance. Thanks again!
I think the best value is the Forerunner 945 at todays pricing. It's got it all!
@@ChaseTheSummit If price weren't a factor, would you still go with the 945? I saw your video comparing it to the fenix, and it looks almost identical when you look at their features. Seems like the biggest difference is the metal case.
Please compare the 55 and 245 🙏🏻
Thank you!
The 745 is for me cause of cycling
Nice!
4:28 The 245 can't actuallly count your stairs climb as it has no built in altimeter ;)
Yep, I got ahead of myself
Chase the Summit No problem mate! Your vide are awesome! By the way, have you heard about a 255 coming out or sthing ?
Coros Pace 2 has entered the chat.
I’ve got some Pace 2 comparisons coming!
I never really understood the positioning of the 745 especially at this price. It comes closer in price to the 245 with some local vendors but then I don't understand the weaker battery. Also, how come the 245 couldn't get a bloody hike profile? Weird things ✌️
Yeah they made some strange choices with both watches haha. Limiting activity profiles bothers me because it's a simple software thing all of the watches are capable of.
I am looking at picking up a Garmin watch for myself to replace my gear S2 and I was wondering which direction I should be looking? Love your videos btw super helpful 😁
Kind of depends which activities you do. Thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit I mostly do a lot of weight training with some biking thrown in there too. I'm a gymnastics coach so I'm trying to find something that can keep up with me haha
love those beats in the intro! who's the artist?
Ah, I forget. I use royalty free music from SoundStripe, Epidemic sound and Artlist for my videos.
Great video, Dave (as usual)! Thank you for the information! Also, do you plan doing a review on the new G-shock GSW-H1000? Wear OS and Casio's ruggedness seem like an interesting combination.
Thanks! I saw that new release from Casio. I'd love to check it out but they haven't responded to my email 😂
@@ChaseTheSummit fingers crossed! My daily driver is the GWG-1000 Mudmaster and having the same level of protection in a smart/fitness watch will be awesome if they manage to pull it off and not have the same issues as the GBD-H1000.
I like the 255, but it is small I have a hard time seeing the letters & numbers, the larger version it too big for my wrist. I have the 245 & wanted to upgrade, why isn't the 255 the same size as the 245, why does it have to be smaller?
Great video, thank you very much! I need only to pratice swimming pool and running. Do you think 245 is appropriate?
It will do the job, but if you ever want to track a "multi-sport" activity like a triathlon the 245 doesn't do this.
Great videos.. which ecosystem do you prefer for runners (and maybe triathlon), Polar, Garmin, something else? Thanks for sharing!
I'm partial to Garmin only because I'm so used to it. I like Coros and Polar as well though.
You should cover the Amazfit Trex pro. It looks like a pretty solid sport watch for less than $200.
It's on my list!
I've just sold my wahoo roam and going to use 245 watches for cycling as well. I do no have a power meter so this should work fine, I didn't fully get the point why one can't use 245 for swimming and cycling.
Nice! Glad to hear you're enjoying the 245
Fantastic and straightforward comparison. There's a Like!
I picked up the FR245 here in India but sadly we're a few update cycles behind and still don't have features like Suggested Workouts.
Off topic:- what are those blue Shoes you're wearing at the end of video? And are you on Strava?
Blue shoes are Altra Escalante's! Yup! Follow me here: www.strava.com/athletes/17359116
Hi! Your videos are extremely comprehensive and informative. I’ve been using an Apple Watch series 4 and am looking to upgrade to a garmin. My primary use case will be running and strength training. In terms of firstbeat analytics which ones are missing out in the 245 vs 745 and which ones will be ported down to 245 in updates ? Considering my use case which would you recommend ? Are the missing firstbeat analytics worth ponying up the difference in cost?
The good news is that a lot of the 745 features are going to come to the 245 soon as they just updated the beta firmware. The bad news is that the 245 still won't get Body Battery, or the new sleep tracking metrics that are on the 745/945. Aside from that you still get a training load, training status, recovery advisor, Race predictor, and V02 Max estimate. Hope that helps!
Hey,
Thanks for all the work done on these reviews. I'd just like to comment that I recently got 245M after tons of research. Frankly I think for the price tag the 245M provides the best all round package. If anyone is willing to pay higher than a 245 best go for a Fenix or 945 anything in between that is not worth it in my book.
Thanks for sharing! The 245M is certainly a solid value.
Nice comparison....but holy cuts!
Once I learn how to talk better there will be less cuts. 👍
Hi I’ll buying my first garmin but i’m not sure which one I should pick. I basically started running in the past 2 month and will use most for running but I’m not sure the training load focus that is available on 745 is worth the upgrade, what would you suggest?? Thanks in advance!!
Both will do the job. Load focus is a nice tool. The 245 has significantly longer battery life though.
What would you say about accuracy of real time temp on 745 is it shows good, or it has some delays?
The 745 has First Beat sleep analytics while the 245 does not. Did you notice better sleep tracking with the 745?
My 745 still hasn't been updated to include the new Sleep Widget / Algorithm so I'm not sure if there is a difference. I know that Garmin plans to roll this out to the 745/945 eventually. Do you have a source for this info?
@@ChaseTheSummit I do. On Garmin's website it says that the 745 has the sleep score, if you check it's specifications. But if you don't have it, it must not have rolled down to this model then.
@@johnmanley4528 It's strange because I've seen other early reviewers mention the updated sleep tracking but my 745 certainly doesn't have it. I've also checked firmware. It seems other users have been confused by Garmin's marketing as seen in threads like this: forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-745/239811/sleep-widget
@@ChaseTheSummit Maybe you have a demo model and not one with finalized software? That's strange.
@@johnmanley4528 Mines a production unit and has the latest firmware. It seems that Garmin had some issues with Sleep tracking and held the release of the new widget. I'm sure it will come eventually. You can find a lot of talk about this on Garmin's forums.
Can you do a full blown review of the 245? Orwas this really kind of the review
It's on my "to-do" list but there's a lot of things I'm working on. The 245 is so similar to the 745 that this could essentially be the review. Thanks for watching!
I was waiting for the 245 review. It would be great if you could put the distances comparisons as well when comparing the watches to see accuracy. As the autopause feature, have heard complaints about it. 745 accuracy is luring. Great video.
Distance between both were identical or within 1/10 of a mile on all test runs. Thanks for watching!
Great video. Thanks. One question where you may help - I am thinking to buy the 245 music. Mainly for running purposes. But in winter I am doing usually total 10 days or so skiing. There is no profile for skiing on the 245, but you can manually add a profile and name it ski, showing your pace, distance, hr etc. Do you think the 245 music would be enough for me? Or should I go for the 745? Thanks 🙏
The 245M will do the job but as you said doesn't have a ski profile so you won't see laps/runs and all of that other data. The 245 actually has better battery life than the 745 though. Kind of up to you what features are worth the money.
@@ChaseTheSummit thanks I think I will go for the 245M. It’s the best fit for me
Great review and info, very timely too. I have been looking at both watches as well as other brands (upgrading from the 235 at some point) and this answered a lot of questions I had. I'm glad that they both include basic navigation as that will come in handy for some of my trail runs. I also like to swim a few times a week and have been using a widget to track this but it doesn't seem to sync correctly so I am now leaning towards the 745 when the time finally comes to renew. My only frustration is that I can't buy it without the music, I never run outside with headphones on and in the gym I generally have my phone with me, is there an alternative?
I think in the future all of Garmin's $200+ watches will come with music by default as it's kind of become standard practice for them at this point. But we shall see! Another option for runners in the $200 price range is the Coros Pace 2 which is solid!
@@ChaseTheSummit thanks for the reply. Would it be possible to do a comparison between that the 245 and/or the745?
I was going to buy the 245 if I didn't watch your great analysis and it would've been a disaster bc I'm not a runner at all. I do skiing, hiking, cycling and mostly Cardio and bodybuilding. What would you recommend to me if you had like a 300-400€ budget to spend? Appreciate your answer.
Maybe the older Garmin Forerunner 935. It can be found on sale currently for $299 or $399 with the Tri Bundle. You could also check out the Coros Apex. Hope that helps!
But I saw you can still ad elevation field on the 245, even if it will
Not be that accurate since it doesn’t have barometer. But you can see the elevation isn’t it?
Yes, there's a connect IQ field for it but it's not very accurate.
I was set on getting the 245 until I saw this video. I do many sports but I do not run. So now I am unsure what to do. I want music on the watch. So is the 745 really worth the extra $? For tracking weights, pool swimming, walks, yoga etc. Im a basic level guy doing multible things for fitness and fun. I have a good setup on my bike so thats not an issue.
Good video but it made me even more confused 😂
Maybe check out the Foreunner 945? It can be found at a great price these days and brings the best of both worlds!
Unfortunately the 245 doesn't seem to have the suggested workout function.
It does now! The latest firmware update includes it as well as some other features like Trail Run VO2 Max. Hope that helps!
Hi! May I ask what activity profiles can I copy to become hiking activity in 245? Thanks a lot
Any of them, walking would probably make the most sense.
Hi! Which would you suggest between FR245 and FR745 for running, hiking and mountain biking?
That's kind of what this video is all about! I'd say if you're not doing multi-sport activities the 245 is more than enough.
The 745 comes with multiport out of the box but can you download multiple activities to the 245?
There are third party apps on Connect IQ that do multisport. It's just not native.
U have a rly cool hat. what is it? is it good for running? I'm looking for a hat that will be good for running and not look like s..t.
Check out the merch store! store.chasethesummit.com/
@@ChaseTheSummit thx❤️
I'm torn between a 745, a 945 and a Vantage V2 right now.
So many options! I hope these videos help!
@@ChaseTheSummit The videos help a lot, yeah. My only worry if there's like a new 955 coming out soon or something. :D
Hi can you see cycling speed on both when you are cycling or just after your cycling?
You can see cycling speed during activities on both.
Thx for the quick answer
Hi,
You are doing great job. Thanks for and answerig the messages. I start running 3 months ago and doing cycling aswell. I have wahoo bolt on my bike. I want to join triathlon races but im not sure 245 is enough or i should go for 745. Recently garmin made a discount on 745 and it's 400$ for now. What do you suggest for me? Thanks for your answer already.
Have you considered the Wahoo Element Rival? It would work with your Wahoo Bolt for transitions if you like that ecosystem. It's not quite as full featured as the Garmins but the price is right.
I already have an Edge 830 to track all my cycling activities and I also plan to use it as a handheld mapping device while hiking and trail running. I want to get back into running but aren’t sure which watch to get: Forerunner 245, 745, or Vivoactive 4? I would mainly do trail and road running, with some sporadic hikes.
I'd probably go for a Forerunner so you have the ability to pair with a power sensor if you opt to skip using your cycling computer for the day.
So the FR 245 can pair with a power sensor? That’s a huge plus!
I’m trying to find a list of which Garmin watches have (or will get) the new track run functionality (like the Coros). Do both of these watches do that in the latest firmware?
I can confirm that "Track Run" and "Indoor Track" are on the Forerunner 245, 745, 945, and Fenix 6. Hope that helps!
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks. I was hoping maybe they would add it to the VA 4 or some of the earlier Forerunners (you know, to compete with Coros 😉) but I guess that is too much to ask 😞.
Tempted by the 245 - however, isn't it due to be replaced this year?
Probably, but I have no idea when.
Do the Garmin watches have silent alarms? I don't want to wake my wife in the morning so I like having the silent/vibrate alarm clock. I'm leaning towards the 245, although I want to look into the 45s, but I need my watch to have the silent alarm function.
They do, and I wish my wife would use hers every morning 😂
Is your verdict still the same after all the updates?
Both the 745 and 245 have some new features in beta testing. The 745 gets a few more than the 245. Both are still great options though!
Does the Garmin 745 have an indoor climbing profile?
Yup
@@ChaseTheSummit and the 245 music?
Can you make comparison between garmin instinct solar and garmin fenix 6?
I do some comparing in my Instinct Solar review but it might be worth doing a direct head to head! Thanks for the feedback!
The Instinct is one of the few Garmin watches that doesn’t support ConnectIQ. So no addl. watch faces, data fields, widgets or apps.
Garmin FR 745 or FR 945 FOR A CYCLIST?
I'm not really a cyclist but they both have similar features for cycling. The main advantage to the 945 is that it has real maps and significantly long battery life.
@@ChaseTheSummit thinking to choose Garmin fine 6 base or coros apex
Hi , ı started to run one years ago and ı used Apple Watch until today. Now ı Want to get hrm Pro and garmin forerunner watch. I looked all videos but ı dont know which one ı must get. May u help me? I want to use it for cycling swimming and running. May be after ,training season, ı wıll enter triatlon race
Both of these would do the job. The 745 has a dedicated triathlon mode while the 245 does not. Do you intend to participate in multi-sport events? That might make the choice easy.
@@ChaseTheSummit yes in few months ı will goin to start swimming and cycling. After one year ı want to try the triatlon race...
So does the 245 not support biking as an exercise/ activity?
It does, it just doesn't support external power sensors which is important for serious cyclists. For the occasional casual ride the 245 is perfectly capable.
@@ChaseTheSummit ohhh ok. Thank you so much for that clarification, it really helped
if i get a forerunner 45 or 245 if my run includes uphills and downhills track , as both 45 and 245 do not have altimeter . connecting the data to strava will rectify the elevation gain or not ? pls clarify as 745 is out of my budget . pls suggest the most accurate gps watch with accurate gps, HR, SPO2 and an altumeter pls suggest.
Elevation data will still be shown in Garmin Connect and Strava using GPS elevation data. The only downside to not having an altimeter on board is that you can't see your elevation data in real time during the activity and you can't utilize Garmin's "climb pro" feature.
@@ChaseTheSummit that means the data given by garmin 45 in uphill runs would be accurate given in the app or it will be giving inaccurate readings as I dont want to see the data in real tine but study it later on . so should i go for the garmin 45
@@ashishm5763 They will all be pretty accurate. GPS elevation data isn't bad at all. The only limitations of not having an altimeter is real time elevation data.
@@ChaseTheSummit thank u so much man you saved me a lot of bucks . hope u reach a million subscribers soon . ur the best. cheers
@@ChaseTheSummit any inside news if garmin gonna enable pulse ox on the 45 ?
Dwmaps offers mapfield, which basically means one can get breadcrumb mapping on the 245 as well. I have that on my Vivoactive 4.
The 245 actually has native breadcrumb mapping but that's a good tip for vivoactive users!
The 245 has no bike profile?
It's got a bike profile and indoor bike profile but no Triathlon/multisport mode and cannot pair to power sensors for cycling.
Me fue mal con mi compra de garmin Frunner 55, No es un buen reloj, lo compre hace 3 meses y tiene problemas en la marcación de pulso cardiaco entre 15 y 20 pulsaciones por encima, el autolab no funciona, el reloj muestra una información y las graficas otra,, la retroiluminacion es mala y los números MUY pequeños para una persona mayor a los 50 años, tal vez otras referencias mas costosas sean mejores. Hoy en Bogotá es 11 de marzo de 2022.
Lamento escuchar eso. Quizás un reloj más grande ayudaría con la visibilidad.
My Garmin 245 suffered from the dreaded white spot on the dial. A common problem and obviously a manufacturing fault. Garmin no help whatsoever for the only reason that I do not live in the US. Pretty disappointing as otherwise a great watch. Does the 745 have a history of the same problem.
Oh no. That's interesting that Garmin didn't help I've had really good customer service from them.
Any word on forerunner solar edition?
Nothing yet!