Which forerunner to buy

Broadly speaking, Garmin watches can be divided into six categories. But there are some differences, too. Of these, only some contain built-in GPS the Vivosport and Vivoactive , so be sure to check or you might end up having to piggyback location data from your phone to get accurate workout stats.

As such, it offers most of the same insights, albeit on a bigger screen. The Forerunner range is a bit easier to explain: the brand is chiefly aimed at runners, although you can increasingly use the watches to track a multitude of sports. They all pack GPS, so you can go ahead and leave your phone at home and run without bulk. Further up the Garmin totem pole is the Fenix range, which has all of the features you could want in a more rugged, outdoorsy frame.

It nails all the basics of sports tracking, with built-in GPS, accurate distance and heart rate tracking plus customisable workouts, and it offers 20 hours of GPS tracking from a single charge, which is impressive from such a small device. However, the Forerunner 55 goes well beyond these basics, too, with features like daily suggested workouts, a recovery advisor, race time predictions and an estimation of your VO2 max. Key specs — Screen size: 1. Yes; Waterproof? Buy now from Wiggle. The Garmin Fenix 6 range is full of incredible watches, and there is a case for saying that the 6X Pro Solar is the one to go for if money truly is no object, since it adds the ability to extend its formidable battery life though solar power on top of all the features of the Fenix 6 Pro.

Garmin has packed pretty much everything into the 6 Pro, which has best-in-class sports tracking and training analysis, plus space for music and the ability to sync wirelessly with Spotify Premium accounts , on-board colour maps and NFC payments through Garmin Pay. Key specs — Screen size : 1. Buy now from Garmin. The latest Vivoactive is also especially good for beginner runners and those new to the gym, with training plans for the former and a series of pre-made guided workouts including on-screen animations for the latter.

If you want something a little more discrete, the Garmin Vivosport fitness band is for you. LiveTrack is available — this feature allows friends and family to track your location on a map in real-time, great for trying to find you in big races. The watch is waterproof up to 50 meters, wear it in the shower or the pool. The screen is fashioned out of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to really make this watch durable. It has room for about songs including downloadable Spotify playlists or bring your phone and control music from the watch.

Auto-crash detection does the same thing automatically if you crash on your bike. And you have a choice of two shapes: circular or square. Battery life is also a little better — 11 days in smartwatch mode vs 8 days on the vivoactive 4.

Instead, you have a lot of trickle-down features that were only available in more expensive Garmin watches in the past. Weight and the physical size of the watch decreased… but the display resolution is better with practically the same size screen. Combined with an improved battery 24 hours with GPS vs. This little device provides better and more intrinsic data on your running form. It does this by tracking cadence, vertical oscillation how much you bounce up and down , and ground contact how long your feet touch the ground each stride.

Combined, you get a much better picture of your running form than without the pod. Also new on the safety front — this Garmin comes with an Assistance button. If you need help, pushing the button alerts select friends and family by text and email of your current location. Incident detection takes this one step further by automatically notifying friends and family if you crash on a bike ride.

Navigation and mapping now include a real-time breadcrumb map along with point-to-point navigation. It also includes TracBack which points you back to your original starting point if you get lost. For swimmers, the tracks open water and pool swims. But even though it can track bike rides, there is no multisport that allows you to switch between activities in the same workout. Lastly, like the vivoactive 3 , the Forerunner comes in music and non-music versions.

You can also stream music if you have your phone with you and pause, skip, and control the volume from the watch. Carryover features from the include activity tracking, smartphone notifications, and standard GPS run tracking time, distance, pace, auto-pause, auto-lap, etc.

A solar watch could be a convenient option for those who spend a lot of time outside in the sun, such as trail runners, hikers, or even just avid runners who live in warm places.

This Garmin is built to be durable and withstand outdoor use. The watch is scratch-resistant, fiber-reinforced, and chemically-strengthened. The battery life is an impressive 30 hours in GPS mode, with the addition of 8 hours of battery life with solar charging. An altimeter, barometer, compass, weather function, and TracBack routing make it a well-rounded contender for the outdoors. It also comes in various colors so you can choose one that best suits you and your personality.

The watch is primarily for tracking steps, sleep, and general working out. It also has wrist heart rate for all-day heart rate monitoring. Good battery life with up to 7 days before recharging.

But you can control music from your phone directly on the watch with its nice, clear touchscreen display. But if you have a basic fitness routine that includes outdoor running, the vivosmart is a good option when paired with your phone. When Garmin releases a new watch, the model it replaces is often still available and will be marked down from its original price. Often, the differences between the new and older versions are fairly minor. So if you are in the market for a GPS watch and want a deal, you can find it with older Garmins.

There are, however, a few downsides. Common trade-offs with older versions of watches are: shorter battery use between charges, thicker, sometimes heavier watches, and fewer features. The other main trade-off is likely losing Garmin support in terms of firmware updates. But if you are fine with these and just want a decent watch to track your activities and fitness, older models work just fine. It has a color screen and is straightforward to operate.

The watch tracks time, pace, and distance with GPS for outdoor runs. But it also has profiles to track indoor runs, cardio, walking, and biking. You can program intervals on the watch. It may not be as flashy as other Forerunner models, but the 45 allows you to receive smartphone notifications from your watch. You can read texts, see who is calling, and have the ability to accept or deny each call without lifting your phone. The Forerunner had been the top of the line watch for triathletes until Garmin released the Forerunner Like the fenix 6X Pro, it has tons of features for runners, cyclists, and swimmers alike.

It has an extended battery life designed for long workouts or races — up to 24 hours in GPS mode. In fact, the Forerunner and fenix series are very similar. The biggest difference is the thinner and sleek design of the But the thinner design makes it easier to peel off a wet suit during a tri. For runners, you get advanced metrics including training status and training load. This little device tracks cadence, foot strike, and how much you bounce up and down.

Together, it will help improve the efficiency of your running form. But you can also wear a standard chest strap for more accurate tracking. The can be purchased with stronger heart rate monitors to wear while open or pool swimming. Triathletes can track open and pool swims. Transitions at triathlons are smooth with one-button switching between activities.

For Strava users, the Forerunner syncs with Strava to let you know when you are starting and finishing a segment. It was also its first with music storage. Listen to music on the go while leaving your phone behind. Currently, it supports iHeartRadio, local music stations, and music stored directly on the watch. The Forerunner offers robust music controls, allowing you to play, pause, skip tracks, organize your playlist, and change music all from the watch.

The Forerunner is also a robust running watch. You'll need to download the Garmin Connect App to sync your watch to your phone. It's available on both Android and iOS , and once you've downloaded the app and signed up, you'll be able to connect your Garmin to your phone.

The Garmin Connect app lets you see all your data at a glance in an easy-to-read format. Depending on your tracker, it'll give you deeper insights, such as your body battery based on your sleep data and your fitness age. There are also challenges, and in-depth sleep reports for you to keep an eye on.

As well as this, depending on your watch model, you'll be able to use the Garmin Connect app to use Garmin Coach to download running and cycling training plans and upload them directly to your watch.

To do this, head to more, then training in the Garmin Connect app. You'll then be able to select training plans and download the best one for you depending on your ability and your goals. Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related - from running gear to yoga mats. An avid runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the past four years, so knows what to look for when finding a good running watch or a pair of shorts with pockets big enough for your smartphone.

When she's not pounding the pavements, you'll find Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy. Included in this guide: 1. Finding the best Garmin watch depends on your needs and your budget. Garmin Forerunner Specifications Heart rate monitor: Yes. Water resistance: 50 meters. Display: 1. On-board music: Yes Music edition. Mobile payments: No. Sleep tracking: Yes. Reasons to avoid - Can be hard to navigate. Garmin Venu.

On-board music: Yes. Mobile payments: Yes. Reasons to avoid - Limited features for iPhone users. On-board music: No. Reasons to avoid - No onboard music storage - No interchangeable bands - Only available in one case size.

Garmin Lily. Display: 1-inch MIP. Battery life: 5 days. Garmin Approach S Reasons to avoid - Not for beginners. Garmin Forerunner LTE. Reasons to avoid - Expensive. Reasons to avoid - Battery life could be better. Garmin fenix 6 series. Water resistance: meters. Reasons to avoid - Very large. Garmin vivoactive 4. Garmin vivomove series. Display: 0.