Great vid mate. I find my 955 perfect for me cos I can use it for training, cycling, running, and hiking. It makes me happy that I have two options for controlling and navigating the watch, the buttons, and the touch screen. Besides, it has all the sensors that Fenix does and still, it's lighter in his weight and not so bulky as Fenix. I am also glad that it has all the maps :)
@@fabriglas yes I am, actually better than I thought, but I have the solar version. Try running on GPS only to extend battery life. Music also drains the battery fast.
Same problem here. My pretty old Garmin watch just died. Epix is great but I don't think the price is fair. 955 is almost the half of a price, has the same features. Solid deal. But I would like to have the amoled at a understandable level. Maybe something arround 650 €.
Garmin Recently released a beta firmware update for the 955 that adds a bunch of functionality to it including some of the latest features found on the Epix and Fenix Pro models!
First review about a 955 that doesn't drone on and on and on about minutia. Really appreciate the brisk, well informed review. I'm going to wait until the fall race season kicks back into gear to buy my 955.
I copped the 955 just because it's the only Fr model that comes with the touch screen feature , I really liked the venu 2 plus with all the smart phone like features but when I heard about a possible new announcement of a new line of products I decided wait a little. The instinct 2 caught my attention but overall the fr955 seem to capture a lil bit of everything that I wanted.
The only reason why I can't get this watch is the lack of basic freediving features. I want to know how deep and how long I've been diving. Otherwise I would switch my Descent G1 for this 955 😍
Thanks for the in-depth review. I ordered the 955 to replace my 935 and Whoop 4.0. I decided to upgrade for better GPS accuracy, the pace pro feature, training readiness + HRV tracking to replace my Whoop, and maps. I'm excited for the new experience!
Can’t justify spending the extra for the amoled screen on the 965. I had settled on the fr 955, but is it me or did Garmin just increase the price on it from $399 to $499. My guess is people aren’t lining up to spend the money for what is essentially an updated screen, that people have mixed feelings about anyway.
Just got a 945 LTE at a great price. After seeing this review I’m happy with my purchase, doesn’t seem to be too much difference, and I like the small form factor of the 945 LTE.
@@ChaseTheSummit Great info and review... after the firmware update is applied. Will the key difference between the 945 LTE and 955 be that the 945 LTE won't have touch screen? anything else I am missing?
great review! I own a fenix 5plus, which does the job quite well so far. Unfortuantely it feels a bit bulky and I am looking for a more lightweight model. Also gps accuracy is important and battery life could be better. If I change to the 955 the only downside is the missing saphire glas, but I dont want to spend more money for a sports watch which will get upgrades in a few years. In your opinion, is it worth to upgrade just because of these reasons?
I ordered a 955 and I’m looking forward to trying it out as for the “LTE” component personally I do NOT appreciate it, I have an Apple Watch series 7 and I’d like a device that’s disconnected from “the grid” while I bike or run
Thanks for this great review! Will be waiting for better options. I am not totally convinced about the durability of the Forerunner 955 for trail running and I definitely would want wrist based power.
Oh man! Just bought the 945 LTE half a year ago and now I feel the need to upgrade! 😅 One question Dave: Does the solar model have any other additional features (besides being solar) over the standard model? Find the increase in battery life is just negligible and not worth a 100 bucks extra. What do you think?
The screens/design og the watchface isnt exactly the same, for me the solar ring looks nicer than the absence of it. Without the solar ring it looks like it has more black space between the screen and the bezel
OK, I bought one, and I might be alone in this, but I'm not happy with this heart rate "accuracy'. Not at all. I bought this thing specifically because it's rated so high, and the heart rate monitor was apparently great. But after having tested it against my polar arm band and a wahoo chest strap, it's just not, but the weird thing is, not all the time. I wear my watch all the time. That way i can get some sort of number on all those metrics which require an extended period of time to get. The problem is, when my watch isn't actually recording a specific activity, the heart rate monitor doesn't do much. One example: Wearing my polar arm band on Zwift, my heart rate says 166. I look at my watch and it says 110. However, if I go into the watch mode to select indoor ride and hit "start", it almost instantly catches up and they match. It's great that it does match, but I didn't buy this watch specifically for workout tracking. I have other things for that. I wanted this as a daily diary of sorts to use in gauging fitness. And honestly, with accuracy like that it's just turned out to be a waste of money. it's too bad, because I genuinely like the watch. It's much lighter than my old Fenix 5. Nice vid
I was trying to decide between the Fenix 6S Pro and the 7S Pro and a friend told me to watch this. I was so excited until I realized how much bigger this is. I’m a petite woman and this seem s so big compared to my 645 🤦🏼♀️
Great video. Honestly am torn on this one. I have the 945 LTE and love the watch. I would totally get the 955 if they offered an LTE option, but for now, im going to have to wait to see if that upgrade comes.
The good news is that Garmin told me that the 945 LTE will get a firmware update to add most of this stuff. The 945 LTE isn't being replaced by the 955.
I'm hoping the new features (training readiness and such) get ported to the Fenix 7/ Epix Gen 2. They do look useful, especially the upcoming race widget you showed. I'm supposed to be in the tapering phase of an upcoming race and my watch isn't happy with the reduced training load, constantly putting me in recovery or maintaining at best..
Now I'm torn between the 255 and the 955. For $100 more you get the touch screen, maps, a barometric altimeter, DX Gorilla glass instead of Gorilla glass 3 and a tiny bit bigger battery. I Just don't like how it's thicker.
@@fendermon I did see that thank you. Apparently the 255 is replacing the 755 pretty much. The 945 also has training ready status that the 255 doesn't. I want to try them both on and as long as the 955 isn't too thick and I can sleep with it I'm going with that one.
If you want maps, navigation, climb pro, longer battery life, and the training readiness feature go for the 955, if you don't need maps go for the 255. They're very similar.
The black border between the edge of the screen and the bezel is even thicker than Angelina Jolie’s lips, which makes Angelina sexier but makes this watch uglier. Hey Garmin, are you inspired by Polar Pacer Pro ?
lol, I think their decision with the bezel was driven by the Solar model. They needed extra real estate for the photovoltaic cell. On the non-solar they just filled that area in black. On the upside, these bezels are still slimmer than the original 945.
Garmin hasn't formally stated that. but there's not much a 7xx series watch could offer between the $399 Forerunner 255 and $499 Forerunner 955. Seems like they've bridged that gap with these releases.
My one and only issue - it's too damn big. I know a smaller watch means making sacrifices in battery life, and probably in antennae placements, but it's just Too Damn Big. Doesn't matter if it's the best garmin watch ever if I'm not going to wear it. I've been meaning to upgrade from my VA4S (gifted, not chosen), which is honestly borderline in size, so I'm guessing I'll end up with the FR255S purely based on size, but I don't want to, because I want the touch capabilities. On a somewhat related note, does the 2/955 have the breathwork activity? Garmin's site says no, but the 55 does, so that might be a product page oversight? (it sounded really gimmicky when I got the VA4, but I've ended up using it so much it isn't even funny)
@@Ilovethisaccount500 mainly because the f7s weighs like 60% more than the VA4s, and I know people say you get used to it and don't notice it after a while, but I dunno. I tried the fenix in store, and it seemed very heavy to me. (should note, I am a Small human being, funsized some would say)
It would have been cool to see a 955s similar to the Fenix 7s with a plastic build. Maybe next time! Personally though I really like the size of the 955. It feels much smaller than the Fenix even though it's almost the same size since it's lighter and feels lower profile.
You are my first stop when new watches drop. Another great review. I had hoped the 255/955 upgrades would support Stryd as seamlessly as the Coros integration as I find my 945 LTEs handling of Stryd ponderous. Thanks for taking the time to share this info with us. Happy trails!
Thank you! Unfortunately Stryd is still not supported natively. Only the HRM Pro and RD Pod work with the built in Power stuff. Stryd can be used but you'll need to download the datafields and widgets.
Nice review, thanks!. I thin You will do another video with FAQ for FR955? ;) I have two: 1. Is it working with Basceamp PC like FR945 and is it working with Garmin Explore like FR945 :)
I'm getting 33g for the 945 LTE and 30g for the 955 without the band on my scale. My 945 LTE does have a screen protector on it though which may make up the difference.
Just that little detail you said about the sensor and that you can't put your palm on the watchface to turn off the backlight, those little things for me is why I watch your videos more often then other reviewers, not to take anything from anyone else because everybody doing their best, but that was I thing for me that I can be annoyed at, so I'm going for a fenix 7s instead 😅
@@pjohansson89 I have the F7, it goes only dark if I touch the whole screen, stays on if I cover it with a piece of plastic or don't touch the screen when covering it with my hand.
Perfect review. Thanks, Dave. One question - how do the maps compare between this and Fenix 7? I’ve noticed in the past the 945 did not have the level of map detail compared to the Fenix 6, for example.
I bought the Epix 2 recently and my friend bought a Fenix 7 - on a hike last week we noticed that the trail we were on was not shown on the F7 but was clearly showing on my Epix. The extra level of detail definitely helped us find the trail that we were looking for, and made me happy that I’d paid the extra for the Epix.
Check out the “Active Ideas 955 vs Fenix 7” video! Looks like there were some differences for hikers if they’re are looking to use the compass 🧭 features or scroll around the map with touch 👍🏽
I absolutely love my 955. However, the phone notifications no longer display when I get a whatsapp or messenger or a call. But, when I get that working again, I can't say enough good about this. I live in a country where no one uses tap to pay but when I was visiting the US this summer, I used it all the time. I use the find my phone feature at least once daily. The heart rate without having to wear a strap. I changed the watch face and I love the customization features. I was using the 910XT before and this just blows the pants off that.
The venu series typically doesn't get any of the advanced training tools for a variety of reasons. However, I think the HRV Status would make sense on Venu 2. I guess time will tell!
Ordered one last night. Will not have to carry phone for music anymore and looks like the HR monitor is finally good enough for use on bike so no more chest strap. Also looks like they finally put the biometrics in a useable format.
Currently using a Coros Apex Pro getting around 20 days of battery. Considering upgrading to the FR955. I generally do not sleep with a watch on and mostly stay on the roads. The maps feature and better HR interest me. Do you think it is worth the upgrade? Great review!
Bought the Fenix 7S for about a month ago, now I feel screwed over by Garmin. The 955 offers all the same features + better battery life, bigger screen and more features, for a lower price...
@@hueything228But that does not solve the issue here. The 955 still have more battery life and a bigger screen, and is the Fenix 7S superior for a lower price.
The Fenix 7 will get all of these features soon. In terms if display and battery life you chose the 7s which is the smaller model which has less battery life because... it's smaller. If you wanted more battery and a bigger screen the Fenix 7 47mm model may have been a better choice. The 955 is the same size as a Fenix 7. Enjoy the 7s! It's a great watch!
Is there way to look back and see what battery precentage you had left AFTER an activity ?? Ive a 100k coming up. Im just not sure if the battery will last. I did 63km a few months ago, the battery lasted but not sure how much i had left. The 100km race will take about 15- 16hrs. Would it last that long on the 955???
Not really without digging into the fit file data. You could try DC Rainmakers Analyzer tool which does dig up the battery data. I'm planning on running a 100 miler this weekend with a 965 and I think it will make it. But I'm carrying a charging cable just in case!
Might end up getting this watch. Was debating on getting a coros pace 2 but I feel like I will make use of all the features on the 955. Thanks for the great review
Great video man. Quick question, I am new to fitness watches. My main sport is MTB and that's basically all I do. Zero running! I have noticed this watch has the MTB profile which is awesome but since its a forerunner and Garmin advertises this as a running watch, should I stay away from it and look for something else because I do not run?
The 955 is a great all-around sport watch. It can handle Mountain Biking as good as any other sport and does support navigation, power meters, and other cycling accessories if you want to add on to it.
@@ChaseTheSummit hey man, thank you for getting back and good thing you said that because I actually placed an order for one haha, and it should be here on Wednesday. Hey quick question, is there any way you could make a video or explaining here the difference between the 955 and Fenix 7 in terms of Navigation, turn by turn navigation, loading course, etc..? Thanks in advanced
How it the situation with software (maps) right now? I'm replacing my vivoactive4, mainly for the maps and battery life, and I cant decide if I should go for Fenix7pro or FR955. I'm mostly using it for hiking, so maps and battery life are the most important for me. I just think, FR955 should be nicer to have all day and night on. Fenix seems too big. Also Fenix is now around 200 - 300€ higher than 955. Not concidering AMOLED, because I hate turnig it on by tapping or gestures, also the battery life is worse.
Out of all the watch channels this is hands down the best. I'd love to have a Fenix or this 955. I think Garmin Fenixs are the most beautiful watch ever made but as a single parent with two children living in a region time has forgot & inflation making things even worse I can only dream of having one but I enjoy watching your videos & thinking maybe one day my dream watch will find me lol. I'd love love to find a 6X used for a decent price but seems Garmin's hold value super good. Makes me want to cry.
Hi from Greece... I have the fenix 6x pro which is a unique watch in all its features, the only problem I see when I run is the gps accuracy, on the map it shows me running on the roofs of the houses and the route is not a straight line but a zig zag .... I'm thinking of buying the forerunner 955 new, only for the multi band GPS. or, garmin fenix 7 sapphire solar (used 3 months in the same price as the forerunner 955....550 euro )... Has Garmin finally fixed this bug with the maps? this problem is very serious, is the GPS accurate in this models ? or like 6x pro ? ... what's your opinion is it worth it? or should I stay with the 6x pro...buying the forerunner 955.... or the fenix 7 sapphire solar (used ???) Thank you very much, I appreciate your opinion and I await your advice
Can someone tell me whats wrong please. I wore my fr 955 last week and did a 16km run. Then yesterday i did a 12km run, and right after that the watch said ""this is your longest run."" Even though its saved last weeks 16km run and all.. Anyone know why it did that ???
Hi Chase The Summit I have had my 955 a month now. I had my Galaxy Watch 4 classic 46 4g. I have been walking the past few weeks and the stats compared to the smart watch 4 are far different. The 955 is about 10 per cent lower than the galaxy. I did my first swim with the watch and it was amazing. It clocked in 269 kcals burn on 12 lengths (300 Meters). The lengths were not fully correct but I could edit the whole workout if I wanted. The galaxy does not have this feature, my stats on the galaxy were 444 and 20 in length. So the Garmin clocked in at 12. I just need to do an indoor bike ride to get the final workout. I can not wait till I get a full 1 month of working out to get a full system breakdown. Your video is amazing. I just have one question about the steps to clarify count when not in active mode. I do 2000 to 3000 steps not on active mode and the calories are not counted, is there a way to track this In the Garmin app ?
Hey Dave, step count way off after recent update. Updated software last night woke up went on a short interval run this morning, a little over a mile approx 4000 steps. Made breakfast, took a shower looked down and shockingly saw I’m at 17,219 steps. I’m sure they’ll send out an update but I can’t wait to see how many goals get crushed this week.
Thank you so much for your review! I had 255S, and I returned them and ordered 955. Unfortunately I forgot that they are only 46 mm, too big for my wrist. Upsetting, I was able to buy them for the same price as 255. even though they are better than 255, due to my size wrist probably will return them. IS there anyone that who still wears them even with small wrist?
Well for me i started looking into this watch because of a friend who does marathons as for me i train in the Gym, with other activities also work at a hospital and had 2 G shock watches. Needless to say broke after buy 2 purchases within a 3 year period maybe because I never took the watches off used it for everything. What's driving me to this watch is durability and functions it can provide. It would be my first smart watch. I am very curious if the app or GPS mode can give real time GPS while being moved. I havnt dug to deep into it but if anyone wants to chime in I would like to know. Maybe another question is warranty and customer service should the watch needs repairs ect... If it's possible to repair with company which I also havnt asked yet. I will pull the trigger soon but thank you for sharing the video and being very open to accepting comments if we had questions.
Now someone tell me how I can justify the increased cost I paid for a similar, heavier watch by buying the fenix 7 solar sapphire. I don't care about the sapphire glass, and I only bought it because this edition is lighter than the standard plus it gives you 32 gb of storage instead of 16.
Justifying it is hard but I'd say if you're happier with a sleeker, lighter watch, with more internal storage then... it might be worth it. Only your wallet can tell you the answer to that!
@@ChaseTheSummit I mean compared to the forerunner 955. If I knew it was coming out and with such features I would buy that instead of the heavier fēnix 7
Really tough call. I LOVE the Epix 2 and was wearing it daily since launch. However, the 955 is so light weight and comfortable I feel I'm drawn to that. I do worry about scratching up the glass though. Truth is, they're all basically the same watch. Your decision lies within the build quality and display. If you don't mind heavy watches the Fenix 7 / Epix feel a bit more premium on the wrist and less likely to be damaged.
It would be nice if Garmin would take women into consideration. If we want a watch for thinner wrists that has these features we're forced to buy the fenix 7s. Why can't they make 2 size options?
I have a similar dilemma. 3/4 of training is running, 1/4 is cycling. In winter, almost only running. I don't really need super accurate multi-band and 15h more in Fenix sounds good. On the other hand, 99% of us will not really feel any difference in the battery. My main concern is the battery in the cold. In my old FR 735, the battery normally lasts 10 hours of GPS, but in a light frost only 2-3 hours because I always have the watch on my jacket or bicycle handlebars. Which watch will perform better in light frost - F7 or FR 955? PS I would prefer a clearer font on the data screen because I have poor eyesight.
i got stuck with my Fenix 5 Sapphire. Watching your great reviews made me feel so excited to get a new one. Unfortunately, can't really afford one now. But thanks for the great reviews. More Power to your channel.
I think the best deals are fenix 6 and forerunner 945 these days. As these are last year models there is lots of discounts available and they are more than enough for most people.
Just came across a random small channel (Active Ideas) who pointed out many not so obvious, but important issues with the 955, compared to other Garmins. Watch his video if you really want to make an informed purchase decison (and why maybe wait with the 955). Not much more than marketing speech and specs reading here.
The 255 strikes an awesome balance of features/price. The nice thing about plastic watches is that they don't show scratches like Fenix since they're the same color all the way through. I do wish they offered the Forerunner 255/955 with a sapphire lens though. That's nice for peace of mind but a screen protector can do the same thing.
Hi! Great video as always! :) Let me ask you please, how soon we will be able to see comparison between 955 and Fenix 7? I'm deciding which one to get... As far as I'm aware the difference is gonna be mainly in tiny little details in the software apart obvious things. And I also hope Fenix range will get software update with all new things that are present in Forerunner 955 like morning report and more that are missing in Fenix. Take care ;)
I wasn't planning on making a video about that but I might! Yes, the differences are very subtle. There are tiny little details throughout the software like horizontal scrolling in graphs, double tap to zoom in maps, etc... that aren't present on the 955. You'd only notice this stuff if you had both watches side by side. Other than that... It's all about the build quality. Plastic, vs metal!
@@ChaseTheSummit Do you think Garmin will "fix" or it's better to say up to date those features on the 955 with that scrolling in graphs and in maps with double tap etc? Trying to calculate is the cost difference worth it?
@@ChaseTheSummit it is doing the job. But comparing it to today's new models it is clearly outdated. And the battery life on new models is just amazing, you can tackle any distance with no worries! Great tool to have.
@@markosajn5776 I have the same 735!. It does look a little outdated and I've been wanting a new one for a while. The biggest grip I have is that there is no music! I do love my garmin watch but I have been eyeing the epix
Thanks for the video! I wonder if the map details of the 955 are the same as the ones from the fenix 7, since they share the same size of the display now?
Great video Dave! Enjoying the standard 955. By chance, the 955 Solar was out of stock when I went to buy, so I just went with the standard 955 but looking back I feel good about the decision. What I’ve always wanted was a 745 with better battery life, maps, and golf maps. That’s now a reality! And at the 745 price point! (When it was first released) Solar would have been more of a luxury, but at 15 days battery life with the standard version, that’s more than I will ever need. Until solar versions can give a greater boost, I don’t think it’s something I necessarily have to have. Plus the cleaner look of the standard version is a bonus (not a fan of the red ring). Couldn’t be happier with the 955 so far. I’ve finally shelved my Apple Watch and this will probably be the first garmin I use as a daily driver in about 5 years! Unless apple comes out with something in the fall that changes my mind, it’ll probably stay that way 😜
I tend to agree that the non-solar is a good choice for most people. Especially since Garmin didn't cripple the non-solar version like they do on some other models! Personally, I don't find myself out in direct sunlight all that often as I'm typically under tree cover so the Solar model doesn't make a ton of sense. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!
@@ChaseTheSummit I think I jinxed myself, Dave. Caught the apple keynote today and the new Apple Watch metrics are very tempting! Are you planning on making a video covering them?
Maybe I'm just unlucky, received my FR 955 non solar two days ago. Used in the past FR220, GTR 3 PRO (still using) Pros: Bluetooth Music is awesome in combination with Samsung Buds, much more stable than GTR 3 and my mp3 player Cons: 1. After 2 nights no sleep tracking recorded, reason is unclear. 2. Yesterday afternoon my step tracking dead on 7040 steps, today I am still on 0. All possible Activity Tracking options enabled in Garmin Connect 3. The last one, today during the morning run I noticed approx. after 1 km that my HR Gouge is on 73. Actually looks like my HR monitor is dead as well Tomorrow I will return this watch to the store
Something funky is going on there. Do you have any other Garmin products linked to your Connect account? It sounds like you might have another device set up as your "Primary Activity Tracker" which would ignore any secondary data collected by the 955.
Thanks for the detailed review. As a 945 user, I really don’t see the point in this upgrade given the cost; maybe this is for someone who doesn’t own a Garmin but wants to dip into the Garmin territory and they will get a great watch with many cool features and superb build quality. Or better still, they can get a 945 at a discounted price!
The price of the 955 is actually quite impressive considering the 945 was $599 when it launched 2+ years ago and this new 955 starts at $499 for the non-solar version. It also has a better heart rate sensor, and multi-band GPS along with a larger display and thinner bezels. That said, the 945 is still an amazing watch if you can get one at a discounted price. It's just unlikely to get new features via firmware moving forward.
Great video but crappy watch in the long run. Bluetooth stopped working after about 6 months so now it can't sync with my phone. Tried to get help from Gramin but only get new sets of instructions that won't work. Feels like they´re trying to avoid a repair/replacement by exhausting me. Very disappointed, especially given the price....
@ Chase the Summit and Anyone with 955 Solar.. I got one and charged it up. I turned everything off but the heart monitor. Installed a simple watch face. 2 days later I am at 80% battery is mine a lemon or is the 14 days really optimisitic? 100% battery /14days = 7% per day any feedback would be great....
Is the watch face third party from Connect IQ? What's your brightness / timeout settings? Do you have PulsOx turned on? All of these things effect battery life.
Awesome video!. At same price? 955 or fenix 7 standard? i can get both for 477$ (445 € here in Spain) Right now I have a fenix 5s and I want to change. I'm a little worried that the fenix 7 is going to be too big for me and it also annoys me to miss out on the multiband. I will wear it all day and I usually do running, trail and sometimes swimming
I have a 955 and I cannot believe 255 have quick fit bands while 955 doesn't. I guess Garmin did this on purpose. "If they are gonna pay for 955, they are also gonna pay for quick release bands" . I mean, this is a triathlon watch. There are many people who pop their bands out and put the watch on an accessory on their bike. Quick release is a necessity for this watch.
Dave, returning to the comments to say thanks again for your work on the channel. After the Apex 2 and 2 Pro release underwhelmed me, rewatched this and a number of your other videos and treated myself to the 955 for my birthday last month. I am so impressed with the maturity of the Garmin training tools, particularly the time and energy Garmin invested to put the metrics in plain English. Thanks for everything you're doing to help the community make choices that meet our needs.
Great vid mate. I find my 955 perfect for me cos I can use it for training, cycling, running, and hiking. It makes me happy that I have two options for controlling and navigating the watch, the buttons, and the touch screen. Besides, it has all the sensors that Fenix does and still, it's lighter in his weight and not so bulky as Fenix. I am also glad that it has all the maps :)
It's a great middle ground!
Just pick up my 955 and now Im more excited after watching this vid. Kudos
Great review! I’m going for the 955 Solar for two reasons: much lighter than my F6 and amazing battery for long ultra runs.
Nice! Enjoy it!
are you getting the battery life thats quoted?
@@fabriglas yes I am, actually better than I thought, but I have the solar version. Try running on GPS only to extend battery life. Music also drains the battery fast.
Yo bro, is the PowerGlass better than the GorilaGlass?
Doing an overall review of a big new product is hard and you totally nailed it!! Thanks for the hard work, your channel will grow big!! 💯
Thank you! This one took a lot out of me lol.
Wow it's Yuanyuan! I follow you separately. What a coincidence. But I guess not so much since you're into techs
@@mehxsquared thanks 😂 i’m into tech and also into running!! I’m also using Garmin ☺️
The Epix's fantastic AMOLED screen for $100 premium over the Fenix 7 seemed reasonable, but at a $500 premium over the 955 it seems hard to justify!
Yep! An OLED 955 would be pretty neat though!
Same problem here. My pretty old Garmin watch just died. Epix is great but I don't think the price is fair. 955 is almost the half of a price, has the same features. Solid deal. But I would like to have the amoled at a understandable level. Maybe something arround 650 €.
One year later and you just buy the 965 for the same price.
I hold the FR 920xt long enough. I think it's time to upgrade. I love Garmin and their durability and reliability.
its sad that the 955 hardware is so capable but they hold its software back to make you buy a a more expensive model like the fenix
Garmin Recently released a beta firmware update for the 955 that adds a bunch of functionality to it including some of the latest features found on the Epix and Fenix Pro models!
Just ordered to replace my Fenix 6, the skin on my wrist will thank me!
Nice!
First review about a 955 that doesn't drone on and on and on about minutia. Really appreciate the brisk, well informed review. I'm going to wait until the fall race season kicks back into gear to buy my 955.
Glad it was helpful!
I copped the 955 just because it's the only Fr model that comes with the touch screen feature , I really liked the venu 2 plus with all the smart phone like features but when I heard about a possible new announcement of a new line of products I decided wait a little. The instinct 2 caught my attention but overall the fr955 seem to capture a lil bit of everything that I wanted.
The only reason why I can't get this watch is the lack of basic freediving features. I want to know how deep and how long I've been diving. Otherwise I would switch my Descent G1 for this 955 😍
That would be nice to see but unlikely on the Forerunners since they only have that 5ATM water resistance.
I’m going to upgrade from 745, I like the touch screen, maps and better battery life
Thanks for the in-depth review. I ordered the 955 to replace my 935 and Whoop 4.0. I decided to upgrade for better GPS accuracy, the pace pro feature, training readiness + HRV tracking to replace my Whoop, and maps. I'm excited for the new experience!
How is the watch now??
Just ordered a 955 solar! Been holding out for this for about 7 months so very excited :) thanks for the review
Nice! Enjoy it!
Can’t justify spending the extra for the amoled screen on the 965. I had settled on the fr 955, but is it me or did Garmin just increase the price on it from $399 to $499. My guess is people aren’t lining up to spend the money for what is essentially an updated screen, that people have mixed feelings about anyway.
Just got a 945 LTE at a great price. After seeing this review I’m happy with my purchase, doesn’t seem to be too much difference, and I like the small form factor of the 945 LTE.
I asked Garmin about the 945 LTE and they plan on updating the firmware to get a lot of these features so fear not! Enjoy it!
@@ChaseTheSummit Great info and review... after the firmware update is applied. Will the key difference between the 945 LTE and 955 be that the 945 LTE won't have touch screen? anything else I am missing?
@@shanedavis7928 Double GPS
@@shanedavis7928 solar!
Looking forward to the software update for these features in my Fenix 7X!
You'll get them in due time!
Will the Fenix receive these updates?
Is there a timeline / ETA for the Fenix 7 update? Thanks
I think Garmin as a company would be a lot better if the focus was in developing better software instead of having 10 different watches.
Maybe!
great review! I own a fenix 5plus, which does the job quite well so far. Unfortuantely it feels a bit bulky and I am looking for a more lightweight model. Also gps accuracy is important and battery life could be better. If I change to the 955 the only downside is the missing saphire glas, but I dont want to spend more money for a sports watch which will get upgrades in a few years. In your opinion, is it worth to upgrade just because of these reasons?
I'd say you'd probably be happy with your purchase. The 955 is a great watch.
Hi, thanks for the perfect video, again! Will HRV status also be released on the fenix models?
Fenix 7 and Epix should see this widget soon in Beta and a full release within a couple of months.
I ordered a 955 and I’m looking forward to trying it out as for the “LTE” component personally I do NOT appreciate it, I have an Apple Watch series 7 and I’d like a device that’s disconnected from “the grid” while I bike or run
Damm such a thorough review! 👍👏
Thanks for this great review! Will be waiting for better options. I am not totally convinced about the durability of the Forerunner 955 for trail running and I definitely would want wrist based power.
Thanks for sharing. I was hopeful for wrist power this time around... Maybe next time!
Oh man! Just bought the 945 LTE half a year ago and now I feel the need to upgrade! 😅
One question Dave: Does the solar model have any other additional features (besides being solar) over the standard model? Find the increase in battery life is just negligible and not worth a 100 bucks extra. What do you think?
My understanding is that the only difference is the Solar feature. Everything else is the same.
@@ChaseTheSummit Just placed my order on a... *drum roll*... 955 Solar! 😅 I thought I better go the whole hog.
The screens/design og the watchface isnt exactly the same, for me the solar ring looks nicer than the absence of it. Without the solar ring it looks like it has more black space between the screen and the bezel
I’ve been waiting for this watch to drop! Will be upgrading from my 235 that I’ve had for 5 years. Thanks for the great review!
Awesome! Enjoy it!
OK, I bought one, and I might be alone in this, but I'm not happy with this heart rate "accuracy'. Not at all.
I bought this thing specifically because it's rated so high, and the heart rate monitor was apparently great. But after having tested it against my polar arm band and a wahoo chest strap, it's just not, but the weird thing is, not all the time.
I wear my watch all the time. That way i can get some sort of number on all those metrics which require an extended period of time to get. The problem is, when my watch isn't actually recording a specific activity, the heart rate monitor doesn't do much. One example: Wearing my polar arm band on Zwift, my heart rate says 166. I look at my watch and it says 110. However, if I go into the watch mode to select indoor ride and hit "start", it almost instantly catches up and they match.
It's great that it does match, but I didn't buy this watch specifically for workout tracking. I have other things for that. I wanted this as a daily diary of sorts to use in gauging fitness. And honestly, with accuracy like that it's just turned out to be a waste of money. it's too bad, because I genuinely like the watch. It's much lighter than my old Fenix 5.
Nice vid
"Its good to see that inflation hasn't affected everything" 😂 😂 😂
Just got my 955, big upgrade from my Venu and polar grit X. Loved the X but it sucks for swimming
I was trying to decide between the Fenix 6S Pro and the 7S Pro and a friend told me to watch this. I was so excited until I realized how much bigger this is. I’m a petite woman and this seem s so big compared to my 645 🤦🏼♀️
It's got a bigger foot print but it oddly "feels" smaller than the numbers suggest due to its light weight. Tough call!
Great video. Honestly am torn on this one. I have the 945 LTE and love the watch. I would totally get the 955 if they offered an LTE option, but for now, im going to have to wait to see if that upgrade comes.
The good news is that Garmin told me that the 945 LTE will get a firmware update to add most of this stuff. The 945 LTE isn't being replaced by the 955.
@@ChaseTheSummit thanks! That’s great news!
@@ChaseTheSummit including duel frequency GNSS?
Just bought my first fitness watch and loving the 955 so far!
I'm hoping the new features (training readiness and such) get ported to the Fenix 7/ Epix Gen 2. They do look useful, especially the upcoming race widget you showed. I'm supposed to be in the tapering phase of an upcoming race and my watch isn't happy with the reduced training load, constantly putting me in recovery or maintaining at best..
It will be in due time. I'm sure we'll see it in beta within a few weeks and a full release shortly after that.
Now I'm torn between the 255 and the 955. For $100 more you get the touch screen, maps, a barometric altimeter, DX Gorilla glass instead of Gorilla glass 3 and a tiny bit bigger battery. I Just don't like how it's thicker.
255 has an altimeter. They might as well called it a 755.
@@fendermon I did see that thank you. Apparently the 255 is replacing the 755 pretty much. The 945 also has training ready status that the 255 doesn't. I want to try them both on and as long as the 955 isn't too thick and I can sleep with it I'm going with that one.
@@ericgonser1544 Sleep is a big deal. A nylon strap helps a lot. Enjoy
If you want maps, navigation, climb pro, longer battery life, and the training readiness feature go for the 955, if you don't need maps go for the 255. They're very similar.
The black border between the edge of the screen and the bezel is even thicker than Angelina Jolie’s lips, which makes Angelina sexier but makes this watch uglier. Hey Garmin, are you inspired by Polar Pacer Pro ?
lol, I think their decision with the bezel was driven by the Solar model. They needed extra real estate for the photovoltaic cell. On the non-solar they just filled that area in black. On the upside, these bezels are still slimmer than the original 945.
Great videos for the 955 and 255! With the 255 now offering more than the previous version, does this mean the 7XX series has been discontinued?
Garmin hasn't formally stated that. but there's not much a 7xx series watch could offer between the $399 Forerunner 255 and $499 Forerunner 955. Seems like they've bridged that gap with these releases.
Great review. I now have both the Fenix 7 sapphire solar and the Forerunner 955 solar. I deeply wish the forerunner 955 had a sapphire model.
My one and only issue - it's too damn big.
I know a smaller watch means making sacrifices in battery life, and probably in antennae placements, but it's just Too Damn Big. Doesn't matter if it's the best garmin watch ever if I'm not going to wear it.
I've been meaning to upgrade from my VA4S (gifted, not chosen), which is honestly borderline in size, so I'm guessing I'll end up with the FR255S purely based on size, but I don't want to, because I want the touch capabilities. On a somewhat related note, does the 2/955 have the breathwork activity? Garmin's site says no, but the 55 does, so that might be a product page oversight? (it sounded really gimmicky when I got the VA4, but I've ended up using it so much it isn't even funny)
It would have been cool if they made a 945s similar in form factor to the Fenix 7s with a plastic build. Maybe next time!
what about a small fenix 7?
@@Ilovethisaccount500 mainly because the f7s weighs like 60% more than the VA4s, and I know people say you get used to it and don't notice it after a while, but I dunno. I tried the fenix in store, and it seemed very heavy to me. (should note, I am a Small human being, funsized some would say)
I’m so bummed the 955 is not significantly smaller (width and depth), given there is no “S” version.
It would have been cool to see a 955s similar to the Fenix 7s with a plastic build. Maybe next time! Personally though I really like the size of the 955. It feels much smaller than the Fenix even though it's almost the same size since it's lighter and feels lower profile.
You are my first stop when new watches drop. Another great review. I had hoped the 255/955 upgrades would support Stryd as seamlessly as the Coros integration as I find my 945 LTEs handling of Stryd ponderous. Thanks for taking the time to share this info with us. Happy trails!
Thank you! Unfortunately Stryd is still not supported natively. Only the HRM Pro and RD Pod work with the built in Power stuff. Stryd can be used but you'll need to download the datafields and widgets.
Nice review, thanks!. I thin You will do another video with FAQ for FR955? ;) I have two: 1. Is it working with Basceamp PC like FR945 and is it working with Garmin Explore like FR945 :)
Great idea on the FAQ! I'll work on that within the next week or so.
😎👍 to your videos! 🤔 One Question: could you please tell me the weight without the strap in comparison to the 945LTE and Fenix 7s? Thanks!
I'm getting 33g for the 945 LTE and 30g for the 955 without the band on my scale. My 945 LTE does have a screen protector on it though which may make up the difference.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thank you! 😎 Then is the 955 bigger and nearly the same weight!
Just that little detail you said about the sensor and that you can't put your palm on the watchface to turn off the backlight, those little things for me is why I watch your videos more often then other reviewers, not to take anything from anyone else because everybody doing their best, but that was I thing for me that I can be annoyed at, so I'm going for a fenix 7s instead 😅
That's not done by any additional sensor that's the touchscreen doing that. So a software feature.
@@donnawetter1513 he said that it was a sensor thing? But I think you're right then
@@pjohansson89 I have the F7, it goes only dark if I touch the whole screen, stays on if I cover it with a piece of plastic or don't touch the screen when covering it with my hand.
Brilliant review! What do you think about transfer of new widgets to fenix7? Will it happen? Or now it’s something exclusive of FR9xx-series? 🤔
Fenix 7 and Epix will get all of these new features in time. I'd expect to see it in beta within a few weeks and a full release shortly after that.
@@ChaseTheSummit thx for great news ^_^ 'cause, actually, I was a little bit jealous ;)))
Great channel
Perfect review. Thanks, Dave. One question - how do the maps compare between this and Fenix 7? I’ve noticed in the past the 945 did not have the level of map detail compared to the Fenix 6, for example.
Thanks! The maps are nearly identical. I don't see much of a difference if any at the same zoom level.
I bought the Epix 2 recently and my friend bought a Fenix 7 - on a hike last week we noticed that the trail we were on was not shown on the F7 but was clearly showing on my Epix. The extra level of detail definitely helped us find the trail that we were looking for, and made me happy that I’d paid the extra for the Epix.
@@curtisgoodwin8962 Epix is the king of maps 👍
Check out the “Active Ideas 955 vs Fenix 7” video! Looks like there were some differences for hikers if they’re are looking to use the compass 🧭 features or scroll around the map with touch 👍🏽
I absolutely love my 955. However, the phone notifications no longer display when I get a whatsapp or messenger or a call. But, when I get that working again, I can't say enough good about this. I live in a country where no one uses tap to pay but when I was visiting the US this summer, I used it all the time. I use the find my phone feature at least once daily. The heart rate without having to wear a strap. I changed the watch face and I love the customization features. I was using the 910XT before and this just blows the pants off that.
Hi, wanted to check if you get any sort of sound notification from calls/messages or the watch only vibrates ?
I wish Garmin would implement some of these features into the Venu 2. They could easily do it since most of them are on the software side of things..
The venu series typically doesn't get any of the advanced training tools for a variety of reasons. However, I think the HRV Status would make sense on Venu 2. I guess time will tell!
Ordered one last night. Will not have to carry phone for music anymore and looks like the HR monitor is finally good enough for use on bike so no more chest strap. Also looks like they finally put the biometrics in a useable format.
It's an excellent watch! Enjoy!
Great video ! Do you know if Garmin plans to release a 955 LTE version ?
No idea. I hope so?
Currently using a Coros Apex Pro getting around 20 days of battery. Considering upgrading to the FR955. I generally do not sleep with a watch on and mostly stay on the roads. The maps feature and better HR interest me. Do you think it is worth the upgrade?
Great review!
The 955 is better in just about every way except for 2 things. Build quality, and battery life. It depends which features are important to you.
now im kinda regretting buying the fenix 7 sapphire solar
The Fenix 7 is still the flag ship and will get all of these new features soon. They're currently in beta if you want to try them now!
Bought the Fenix 7S for about a month ago, now I feel screwed over by Garmin. The 955 offers all the same features + better battery life, bigger screen and more features, for a lower price...
You are going to get all the new software features from software update. That's why you pay the Fenix premium
@@hueything228But that does not solve the issue here. The 955 still have more battery life and a bigger screen, and is the Fenix 7S superior for a lower price.
The Fenix 7 will get all of these features soon. In terms if display and battery life you chose the 7s which is the smaller model which has less battery life because... it's smaller. If you wanted more battery and a bigger screen the Fenix 7 47mm model may have been a better choice. The 955 is the same size as a Fenix 7. Enjoy the 7s! It's a great watch!
Yea they totally should have not released the 955 yet so you did not get personally offended. No hate but your comment makes you appear childish.
Thanks for the video! It might be good to see these features in epix2/fenix7 line watches.
They'll be coming. It takes time for Garmin to port them over and go through the Beta program.
Nice Job Dave. I feel like a sucker for buying the fenix7 now haha. I might pick this up this fixes my biggest issue w/ Fenix. the size and weight.
Fenix 7 is still the top dog!
Bought it! Just opened and fiddling around with it while watching you! Thanks!
Is there way to look back and see what battery precentage you had left AFTER an activity ?? Ive a 100k coming up. Im just not sure if the battery will last. I did 63km a few months ago, the battery lasted but not sure how much i had left. The 100km race will take about 15- 16hrs. Would it last that long on the 955???
Not really without digging into the fit file data. You could try DC Rainmakers Analyzer tool which does dig up the battery data. I'm planning on running a 100 miler this weekend with a 965 and I think it will make it. But I'm carrying a charging cable just in case!
Might end up getting this watch. Was debating on getting a coros pace 2 but I feel like I will make use of all the features on the 955. Thanks for the great review
The 955 is a huuuuge step up from the Pace 2 (which is still an awesome watch). Hope you like it!
Great video man. Quick question, I am new to fitness watches. My main sport is MTB and that's basically all I do. Zero running! I have noticed this watch has the MTB profile which is awesome but since its a forerunner and Garmin advertises this as a running watch, should I stay away from it and look for something else because I do not run?
The 955 is a great all-around sport watch. It can handle Mountain Biking as good as any other sport and does support navigation, power meters, and other cycling accessories if you want to add on to it.
@@ChaseTheSummit hey man, thank you for getting back and good thing you said that because I actually placed an order for one haha, and it should be here on Wednesday. Hey quick question, is there any way you could make a video or explaining here the difference between the 955 and Fenix 7 in terms of Navigation, turn by turn navigation, loading course, etc..? Thanks in advanced
955 or epix2?
Dave, do you use any display protection for your watches? And if not, do you have any problems with scratches?
I typically use screen protectors on gorilla glass watches like the 955. Unfortunately they do scratch if hit hard enough.
How it the situation with software (maps) right now?
I'm replacing my vivoactive4, mainly for the maps and battery life, and I cant decide if I should go for Fenix7pro or FR955.
I'm mostly using it for hiking, so maps and battery life are the most important for me.
I just think, FR955 should be nicer to have all day and night on. Fenix seems too big. Also Fenix is now around 200 - 300€ higher than 955.
Not concidering AMOLED, because I hate turnig it on by tapping or gestures, also the battery life is worse.
Out of all the watch channels this is hands down the best. I'd love to have a Fenix or this 955. I think Garmin Fenixs are the most beautiful watch ever made but as a single parent with two children living in a region time has forgot & inflation making things even worse I can only dream of having one but I enjoy watching your videos & thinking maybe one day my dream watch will find me lol. I'd love love to find a 6X used for a decent price but seems Garmin's hold value super good. Makes me want to cry.
They're pricey! But you may find a second hand Fenix 6 for reasonable prices these days!
@@ChaseTheSummit wheres the best place to look for pre owned....swappa?
Hi from Greece...
I have the fenix 6x pro which is a unique watch in all its features, the only problem I see when I run is the gps accuracy, on the map it shows me running on the roofs of the houses and the route is not a straight line but a zig zag .... I'm thinking of buying the forerunner 955 new, only for the multi band GPS. or, garmin fenix 7 sapphire solar (used 3 months in the same price as the forerunner 955....550 euro )...
Has Garmin finally fixed this bug with the maps? this problem is very serious,
is the GPS accurate in this models ? or like 6x pro ?
... what's your opinion is it worth it? or should I stay with the 6x pro...buying the forerunner 955.... or the fenix 7 sapphire solar (used ???)
Thank you very much, I appreciate your opinion and I await your advice
Best review of all reviews (5 others) I have watched so far!
Thanks!
Can someone tell me whats wrong please.
I wore my fr 955 last week and did a 16km run.
Then yesterday i did a 12km run, and right after that the watch said ""this is your longest run.""
Even though its saved last weeks 16km run and all..
Anyone know why it did that ???
Hi Chase The Summit I have had my 955 a month now. I had my Galaxy Watch 4 classic 46 4g. I have been walking the past few weeks and the stats compared to the smart watch 4 are far different. The 955 is about 10 per cent lower than the galaxy. I did my first swim with the watch and it was amazing. It clocked in 269 kcals burn on 12 lengths (300 Meters). The lengths were not fully correct but I could edit the whole workout if I wanted. The galaxy does not have this feature, my stats on the galaxy were 444 and 20 in length.
So the Garmin clocked in at 12. I just need to do an indoor bike ride to get the final workout. I can not wait till I get a full 1 month of working out to get a full system breakdown. Your video is amazing. I just have one question about the steps to clarify count when not in active mode. I do 2000 to 3000 steps not on active mode and the calories are not counted, is there a way to track this In the Garmin app ?
Does anybody have issues with the calories being too low on actor?. And the step seems to be too high. I don’t know if I go to bed model
Hey Dave, step count way off after recent update. Updated software last night woke up went on a short interval run this morning, a little over a mile approx 4000 steps. Made breakfast, took a shower looked down and shockingly saw I’m at 17,219 steps. I’m sure they’ll send out an update but I can’t wait to see how many goals get crushed this week.
Thank you so much for your review! I had 255S, and I returned them and ordered 955. Unfortunately I forgot that they are only 46 mm, too big for my wrist. Upsetting, I was able to buy them for the same price as 255. even though they are better than 255, due to my size wrist probably will return them. IS there anyone that who still wears them even with small wrist?
Well for me i started looking into this watch because of a friend who does marathons as for me i train in the Gym, with other activities also work at a hospital and had 2 G shock watches. Needless to say broke after buy 2 purchases within a 3 year period maybe because I never took the watches off used it for everything. What's driving me to this watch is durability and functions it can provide. It would be my first smart watch. I am very curious if the app or GPS mode can give real time GPS while being moved. I havnt dug to deep into it but if anyone wants to chime in I would like to know. Maybe another question is warranty and customer service should the watch needs repairs ect... If it's possible to repair with company which I also havnt asked yet. I will pull the trigger soon but thank you for sharing the video and being very open to accepting comments if we had questions.
Now someone tell me how I can justify the increased cost I paid for a similar, heavier watch by buying the fenix 7 solar sapphire. I don't care about the sapphire glass, and I only bought it because this edition is lighter than the standard plus it gives you 32 gb of storage instead of 16.
Justifying it is hard but I'd say if you're happier with a sleeker, lighter watch, with more internal storage then... it might be worth it. Only your wallet can tell you the answer to that!
@@ChaseTheSummit I mean compared to the forerunner 955. If I knew it was coming out and with such features I would buy that instead of the heavier fēnix 7
Have others found the 955 display also has better contrast (less blue?). I’m wondering if it’s only better on the solar model, or all 955’s?
Not in my experience. In fact the Solar model is likely to be more washed out since it has an additional solar voltaic cell layer in the glass.
Oh no, you have the same ultra thick lime colored band from ebay that I got!
Mines from amazon. Brand is "Ancool" I think?
Oh then it's different, but very similar.
Ok, money no object what is your favorite…955, Fenix 7 or Epix 2?
Really tough call. I LOVE the Epix 2 and was wearing it daily since launch. However, the 955 is so light weight and comfortable I feel I'm drawn to that. I do worry about scratching up the glass though. Truth is, they're all basically the same watch. Your decision lies within the build quality and display. If you don't mind heavy watches the Fenix 7 / Epix feel a bit more premium on the wrist and less likely to be damaged.
The 955 is currently the same price of the on sale Fenix 7 .... coming from a Fenix 5 - worth the upgrade?
It would be nice if Garmin would take women into consideration. If we want a watch for thinner wrists that has these features we're forced to buy the fenix 7s. Why can't they make 2 size options?
They make 2 size options of a lot of their watches for instance the Instinct 2s, Forerunner 255s, Venu 2s, Fenix 7s. There's a lot of options!
Great video! I will definitely be checking out this watch.
Am I the only one that noticed that big bezel? And btw, my 6x PRO is obsolete (all new things in 955).
The bezel is there to accomodate the Solar ring on the Solar model. Unfortunately the non-solar model just filles this area in black.
@@ChaseTheSummit I wish they just made it smaller because Solar is useless
Will upgrade from 945 to 955 because of multiband gps! 🧐
Its just sad that you cant track stryd power anymore.
I have a similar dilemma. 3/4 of training is running, 1/4 is cycling. In winter, almost only running. I don't really need super accurate multi-band and 15h more in Fenix sounds good. On the other hand, 99% of us will not really feel any difference in the battery. My main concern is the battery in the cold. In my old FR 735, the battery normally lasts 10 hours of GPS, but in a light frost only 2-3 hours because I always have the watch on my jacket or bicycle handlebars. Which watch will perform better in light frost - F7 or FR 955? PS I would prefer a clearer font on the data screen because I have poor eyesight.
How is this compared to Apple Watch 7 that’s what I have . What features I will be missing?
Will the new training readiness feature come to F6? How about the running power?
I wouldn't expect it but time will tell. Fenix 7 and Epix should see all of these new features soon. Fenix 6 may not.
i got stuck with my Fenix 5 Sapphire. Watching your great reviews made me feel so excited to get a new one. Unfortunately, can't really afford one now. But thanks for the great reviews. More Power to your channel.
The 5 Sapphire is still a great watch!
I think the best deals are fenix 6 and forerunner 945 these days. As these are last year models there is lots of discounts available and they are more than enough for most people.
That's pretty much always the case with tech in general. The 945 and Fenix 6 are both still very solid options!
Just came across a random small channel (Active Ideas) who pointed out many not so obvious, but important issues with the 955, compared to other Garmins. Watch his video if you really want to make an informed purchase decison (and why maybe wait with the 955). Not much more than marketing speech and specs reading here.
Marketing speech? I tried to share my subjective opinion on most of the new features. Could you elaborate on this issue you speak of?
Got to say I'm leaning towards the 255 after watching that review. But might struggle with the build coming from the Fenix 5
The 255 strikes an awesome balance of features/price. The nice thing about plastic watches is that they don't show scratches like Fenix since they're the same color all the way through. I do wish they offered the Forerunner 255/955 with a sapphire lens though. That's nice for peace of mind but a screen protector can do the same thing.
Hi! Great video as always! :) Let me ask you please, how soon we will be able to see comparison between 955 and Fenix 7? I'm deciding which one to get... As far as I'm aware the difference is gonna be mainly in tiny little details in the software apart obvious things. And I also hope Fenix range will get software update with all new things that are present in Forerunner 955 like morning report and more that are missing in Fenix. Take care ;)
I wasn't planning on making a video about that but I might! Yes, the differences are very subtle. There are tiny little details throughout the software like horizontal scrolling in graphs, double tap to zoom in maps, etc... that aren't present on the 955. You'd only notice this stuff if you had both watches side by side.
Other than that... It's all about the build quality. Plastic, vs metal!
@@ChaseTheSummit Do you think Garmin will "fix" or it's better to say up to date those features on the 955 with that scrolling in graphs and in maps with double tap etc? Trying to calculate is the cost difference worth it?
In reviews I like the horizontal scrolling on other watches. Can you easily scroll through that data in the app?
Do you think they will come out with a smaller version? 955s?
Well i still use FR 735xt. Dont really have money to buy something like this. But i like to watch reviews. Great this one. Good work!
735 XT is still a great watch!
@@ChaseTheSummit it is doing the job. But comparing it to today's new models it is clearly outdated. And the battery life on new models is just amazing, you can tackle any distance with no worries! Great tool to have.
@@markosajn5776 I have the same 735!. It does look a little outdated and I've been wanting a new one for a while. The biggest grip I have is that there is no music! I do love my garmin watch but I have been eyeing the epix
Same and I can't seem to justify the price for the 7s, and the 955 is too big I think. So for now sticking with the 735 xt.
Thanks for the video! I wonder if the map details of the 955 are the same as the ones from the fenix 7, since they share the same size of the display now?
Yes, they seem identical.
Great video Dave! Enjoying the standard 955. By chance, the 955 Solar was out of stock when I went to buy, so I just went with the standard 955 but looking back I feel good about the decision. What I’ve always wanted was a 745 with better battery life, maps, and golf maps. That’s now a reality! And at the 745 price point! (When it was first released) Solar would have been more of a luxury, but at 15 days battery life with the standard version, that’s more than I will ever need. Until solar versions can give a greater boost, I don’t think it’s something I necessarily have to have. Plus the cleaner look of the standard version is a bonus (not a fan of the red ring).
Couldn’t be happier with the 955 so far. I’ve finally shelved my Apple Watch and this will probably be the first garmin I use as a daily driver in about 5 years! Unless apple comes out with something in the fall that changes my mind, it’ll probably stay that way 😜
I tend to agree that the non-solar is a good choice for most people. Especially since Garmin didn't cripple the non-solar version like they do on some other models! Personally, I don't find myself out in direct sunlight all that often as I'm typically under tree cover so the Solar model doesn't make a ton of sense. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!
@@ChaseTheSummit I think I jinxed myself, Dave. Caught the apple keynote today and the new Apple Watch metrics are very tempting! Are you planning on making a video covering them?
Maybe I'm just unlucky, received my FR 955 non solar two days ago. Used in the past FR220, GTR 3 PRO (still using)
Pros: Bluetooth Music is awesome in combination with Samsung Buds, much more stable than GTR 3 and my mp3 player
Cons:
1. After 2 nights no sleep tracking recorded, reason is unclear.
2. Yesterday afternoon my step tracking dead on 7040 steps, today I am still on 0. All possible Activity Tracking options enabled in Garmin Connect
3. The last one, today during the morning run I noticed approx. after 1 km that my HR Gouge is on 73. Actually looks like my HR monitor is dead as well
Tomorrow I will return this watch to the store
Something funky is going on there. Do you have any other Garmin products linked to your Connect account? It sounds like you might have another device set up as your "Primary Activity Tracker" which would ignore any secondary data collected by the 955.
Did you try out the spectator messaging? Was it available on the 945 as well or just the LTE edition?
It's only available on the 945 LTE for now.
Can you do a review between Tactix 7 Pro and Enduro 2?
Thanks for the detailed review. As a 945 user, I really don’t see the point in this upgrade given the cost; maybe this is for someone who doesn’t own a Garmin but wants to dip into the Garmin territory and they will get a great watch with many cool features and superb build quality.
Or better still, they can get a 945 at a discounted price!
The price of the 955 is actually quite impressive considering the 945 was $599 when it launched 2+ years ago and this new 955 starts at $499 for the non-solar version. It also has a better heart rate sensor, and multi-band GPS along with a larger display and thinner bezels. That said, the 945 is still an amazing watch if you can get one at a discounted price. It's just unlikely to get new features via firmware moving forward.
Great video but crappy watch in the long run. Bluetooth stopped working after about 6 months so now it can't sync with my phone. Tried to get help from Gramin but only get new sets of instructions that won't work. Feels like they´re trying to avoid a repair/replacement by exhausting me. Very disappointed, especially given the price....
Waffling
@ Chase the Summit and Anyone with 955 Solar.. I got one and charged it up. I turned everything off but the heart monitor. Installed a simple watch face. 2 days later I am at 80% battery is mine a lemon or is the 14 days really optimisitic? 100% battery /14days = 7% per day any feedback would be great....
Is the watch face third party from Connect IQ? What's your brightness / timeout settings? Do you have PulsOx turned on? All of these things effect battery life.
Awesome video!. At same price? 955 or fenix 7 standard? i can get both for 477$ (445 € here in Spain) Right now I have a fenix 5s and I want to change. I'm a little worried that the fenix 7 is going to be too big for me and it also annoys me to miss out on the multiband. I will wear it all day and I usually do running, trail and sometimes swimming
They're both great options. If you want a more rugged build go Fenix 7. If you want something lighter and less noticeable on the wrist... 955.
I have a 955 and I cannot believe 255 have quick fit bands while 955 doesn't. I guess Garmin did this on purpose. "If they are gonna pay for 955, they are also gonna pay for quick release bands" . I mean, this is a triathlon watch. There are many people who pop their bands out and put the watch on an accessory on their bike. Quick release is a necessity for this watch.
They're pretty easy to swap out. You can also find lots of third party options on Amazon for far less money than the Garmin branded bands.
Dave, returning to the comments to say thanks again for your work on the channel. After the Apex 2 and 2 Pro release underwhelmed me, rewatched this and a number of your other videos and treated myself to the 955 for my birthday last month.
I am so impressed with the maturity of the Garmin training tools, particularly the time and energy Garmin invested to put the metrics in plain English.
Thanks for everything you're doing to help the community make choices that meet our needs.
Glad it was helpful!