Garmin - Forerunner 235 GPS Running Watch - Black/Gray

Name: Garmin - Forerunner 235 GPS Running Watch - Black/Gray
Brand: Garmin
SKU: 4686204
Rating: 4.5 (934 reviews)

Model: 010-03717-54

SKU: 4686204

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Key Specs
- Screen Size: 31.1 millimeters (Size of the screen, measured diagonally from corner to corner.)
- Touch Screen: false (Touch-screen devices make navigating more intuitive. Using a touch-screen display, you can do things such as tap to select, hold and drag to move items, swipe to scroll, and pinch to zoom.)
- Operating System Compatibility: Android, Apple iOS, Windows Mobile
- Operating System: Garmin (The operating system manages all software and hardware, including files, memory and connected devices. Most importantly, it lets you interact with your device and your programs in a visual way; otherwise, you'd be typing computer code to get anything done.)
- App Compatible: true (The product can be connected to a program or software application on a mobile device, which then receives collected data from the product.)
- Global Positioning: GPS (A system of satellites which enables a mobile receiver to determine its precise location based on signals received from satellites such as the US Global Positioning System (GPS), the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), the European Global Navigation Satellite System (Galileo), or the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS).)
- Metrics Measured: Activity vs. inactivity, Calories burned, Distance traveled, Resting heart rate, Hours slept, Steps taken
- Protective Qualities: Water resistant
- Maximum Depth of Water Resistance: 164 feet (Measurement of the maximum depth of water in which the product is able to resist some degree of water penetration.)
- Band Material: Silicone
General
- Product Name: Forerunner 235 GPS Running Watch
- Brand: Garmin
- Product Type: Smartwatch
- Form Factor: Wristwatch (The size, arrangement, and physical configuration of the product.)
- Model Family: Garmin Forerunner 235
- Model Number: 010-03717-54
- Year of Release: 2015
- Color: Black/Gray
Design
- Case Shape: Round
- Band Type: Silicone Band with Buckle
- Band Color: Grey
- Clasp Type: Hook buckle
- Rotating Bezel: false (Rotating the bezel controls the various functions of the device.)
Dimensions
- Case Thickness: 11.7 inches
- Band Width: 22 millimeters
- Minimum Wrist Size: 146.05 millimeters
- Maximum Wrist Size: 228.6 millimeters
- Band Size: Adjustable, 9"
Display
- Display Screen: true
- Screen Size: 31.1 millimeters (Size of the screen, measured diagonally from corner to corner.)
- Touch Screen: false (Touch-screen devices make navigating more intuitive. Using a touch-screen display, you can do things such as tap to select, hold and drag to move items, swipe to scroll, and pinch to zoom.)
- Screen Resolution: 215 x 180 (Screens come in a range of resolutions (measured in pixels, horizontal x vertical). The higher the resolution, the greater the picture quality.)
- Display Type: LCD
- Color Display: true
- Clock Display: true
- Backlit Display: true (Integrated lights allow for visibility of the display in low-light conditions.)
- Adjustable Brightness: true
- Customizable Watch Faces: true
- Screen Material: chemically strengthened glass
Compatibility
- Operating System Compatibility: Android, Apple iOS, Windows Mobile
- Operating System: Garmin (The operating system manages all software and hardware, including files, memory and connected devices. Most importantly, it lets you interact with your device and your programs in a visual way; otherwise, you'd be typing computer code to get anything done.)
- App Compatible: true (The product can be connected to a program or software application on a mobile device, which then receives collected data from the product.)
Connectivity
- Data Plan Required: false
- Bluetooth Version: 4.0 (The Bluetooth specification formalized by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. All versions of the Bluetooth standard are backwards compatible with previous versions.)
- Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (The manner in which a device sends data to another device over a short distance without the use of wires or cables.)
- Wireless Standard: N (The wireless networking protocol used by the device. Each iteration of the protocol is based on the 802.11 standard developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standards Association. Denoted by letters following 802.11 (802.11a, 802.11ac, etc.), each version, published in alphabetical order, encompasses all previous versions.)
Features
- GPS Enabled: true
- Global Positioning: GPS (A system of satellites which enables a mobile receiver to determine its precise location based on signals received from satellites such as the US Global Positioning System (GPS), the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), the European Global Navigation Satellite System (Galileo), or the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS).)
- Mobile Notifications: true
- Alert Type: Vibration
- Music Player: true
- Silent Alarm: false
- Built-In Microphone: false
Activity
- Metrics Measured: Activity vs. inactivity, Calories burned, Distance traveled, Resting heart rate, Hours slept, Steps taken
- Multi-Sport Tracking: false
- Sensors: Accelerometer (Detects stimuli such as heat, light, sound, motion, or pressure and responds accordingly by operating a control or initiating a function of the device.)
Performance
- Protective Qualities: Water resistant
- Maximum Depth of Water Resistance: 164 feet (Measurement of the maximum depth of water in which the product is able to resist some degree of water penetration.)
- Ingress Protection (IP) Rating: 5ATM (A 4 to 6 character code classifying a product's degree of protection against intrusion of solid particles and liquids as well as impact. Each number in the IP Code denotes a level of protection, determined through testing and published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The first digit represents the degree of protection against solid foreign objects or particles and the second digit represents the degree of protection against water ingress.)
Power
- Rechargeable: true
- Battery Strength Indicator: true
- Battery Capacity: 11 milliampere hours (The amount of energy stored in the battery.)
- Replaceable Battery: false
Material
- Band Material: Silicone
- Case Material: Plastic
- Case Back Material: Plastic
Camera
- Integrated Camera: No
Other
- UPC: 753759148829

Garmin Forerunner 235 GPS Running Watch: Make the most of your workout with this watch, which uses a wrist-based Elevate heart rate monitor to calculate your VO2 max and help you predict race times for various distances. Track your activity levels and receive a nudge when you have been sitting for too long, and monitor your steps taken, calories burned, distance traveled and sleep quality and quantity for an overall picture of your physical fitness.

Tracks a variety of health metrics: Including activity vs. inactivity, steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned and sleep quality and quantity. Wrist-based Elevate heart rate monitor lets you calculate run times for various distances.
1.23" LCD screen: Offers clear, easy-to-read text.
Delivers reliable location information: GPS GLONASS ensures location accuracy.
Water-resistant design: So you don't have to worry about getting caught in the rain during a run. Never miss a thing with smart notifications from your compatible Android or iOS device.
Download workouts and training programs: Garmin Connect helps you get the most out of the Forerunner 235. Upload data on your workouts automatically when synced to your compatible device.

Whats Included

Forerunner 235 GPS Running Watch
Charging/data cradle
Owner's manual

Q: Is the GPS built in? Is this watch too large for women? Can it be worn as an everyday watch also?

A: It is not too big for women . I wear my watch everyday

Q: Does the 235 forruneer download music from your phone? Can I use my bluetooth headphones to listen to music?

A: The Forerunner 235 does not have the ability to download and store music. When paired with a compatible smartphone, the Forerunner 235 can control the music player app on your phone.

Q: Is it waterproof?

A: No, but it is water resistant up to 5 ATM. ^DK

Q: The differences between garmin 225 and 235

A: Both models have GPS and built-in optical heart rate monitoring. A few of the extra features that the Forerunner 235 has include additional running features (VO2 Max Estimate, Recovery Advisor, Race Predictor, etc), smartwatch functionality (smart notifications, music controls, etc), Connect IQ app store access, and GLONASS for increased GPS accuracy. -OA

Q: Does it have a bikeing setting or do you have to go to garmen connect and change. I mostly run but mountain bike all so I am looking at the vevoactive hr

A: The forerunner 235 and vívoactive HR both have a cycling profile. This option is best used with our bike speed/cadence sensor. The bike speed/cadence sensor is sold separately. ~JH

Q: How well does this work for hiking? I want to track the distance. I see it can track your run but will the run mode work for hiking?

A: I used this for a 17 mile hike at Killington in VT. It was right on with our map.

Q: Sizing? Is there a size for the Garmin 235? Is it one size fits all? My wrists are tiny... just worried that it will be to big.

A: The watch band is one size. I am petite and have tiny wrists as well, and it's not too big. On its tightest setting, I have 6 additional holes.

Q: Did anybody have issues with a dark screen? I just got mine and can barely read it whether indoors or in the sun, and the back light barely does anything at all. The screen doesn’t look anything like the pics. Old forerunner 25 was brighter.

A: I returned mine for that reason. See my recent review. Marketing photos are very deceptive. I’ll stick with my Apple Watch

Customers are saying

Customers value the Forerunner 235 GPS Running Watch for its long battery life, accurate GPS and heart rate monitoring, user-friendly interface, and affordability. Many runners appreciate its lightweight design and comfortable fit, while others find the screen too dim and the navigation system challenging.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

Customer Images

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Fitness / GPS Watch for Running
I purchased the Garmin Forerunner 235 to track my running workouts. While no item is perfect, I have been very happy with this one. Previously, I was using an iPhone app and carrying my phone when running. That served its purpose for a while, but this has been a huge improvement. The watch is very comfortable and doesn't bother my wrist at all, not even on long runs. The watch band has a lot of holes, which makes it really easy to get a good fit. I also wear it for tracking my sleep as well as for my alarm, and I hardly notice that it's there. With each workout segment, you can set your desired intensity target based on pace, speed, cadence, or HR zone (including custom HR zones). And when you establish a target, the watch will give you alerts when you are outside of this range. Now that I know what the alerts sound like, I find myself not looking at the watch nearly as much during runs. When I was researching different options, I had a hard time determining if you could use third party ANT+ heart rate monitors with the 235. But I was happy to see that this can be done. I didn't have any trouble pairing this with the Scosche Rhythm+. You can disable the wrist HR monitor and only use the external device or you can download a data field from the Garmin IQ store that allows you to use both simultaneously. There are a few things about this item that I believe could be better. First, I have not been able to find any available data screen that will give you an interval countdown. The existing timer options start at 0:00 and count up, not the other way around. Not a deal breaker by any means, but this is one improvement I think that could easily be made. Second, I wish there were more variables that could be configured with certain specific workouts. For example, I use GPS+GLONASS when running at the track, as this seems to provide for more accurate location readings. However, it drains the batteries more quickly and doesn't seem to make a discernible difference on street and trail runs, so I haven't been using it for these. So it would be nice to be able to have certain workouts default to a particular GPS setting. But again, not a deal breaker. Another issue is the accuracy of the wrist HR monitor. I've seen this mentioned and even witnessed it myself on one of my earlier runs. It was a really cold day. I was doing an easy (zone 1) warmup, when it started indicating that my heart rate was close to 190. Once I broke a sweat, it settled into a more accurate heart rate reading. To remedy this problem, I've been using a drop of HR monitor gel before each run. This allows it to maintain better contact with the skin, which seems to result in more consistently accurate readings. In fact, I recorded both the Garmin FR 235 and the Scosche Rhythm+ HR readings this morning. As you can see in the picture, other than a minor peak difference early on, the two were very close. The other thing I wasn't particularly thrilled about was the brightness of the screen. Or I should say lack of brightness. But I soon realized the lighting is basically the opposite of my phone or something like the Apple Watch. When there's no light shining on the screen, it's pretty dim and can be difficult to see. But as long as there's good light, it's very easy to see. So outside during the daytime, there's no issue at all. At night or early in the morning, I've just started wearing a head lamp, which I probably should have been doing anyway. With this on, I can see the screen perfectly well. I'm sure it was done this way to preserve batteries. I should add that the wrist HR monitor isn't the best for tracking weight workouts. Neither is the Scosche Rhythm+. I'm not sure why, but the readings are just way off at times. I'll be out of breath, and it will show my HR to be in the 80's or so. For now, I've pretty well just determined not to worry about tracking my HR on these types of workouts. But for running, the 235 is excellent. I'm not sure about the scientific accuracy of the race predictors, recovery advisor, or VO2 max readings, but changes in these areas at least seem to correspond with improvements in conditioning. Anyway, that's about it for now. While not perfect, I've been very happy with the Garmin Forerunner 235. I look forward to using this for years to come and would definitely recommend it to others.
Posted 6 years ago by TexRunner
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Running watch and more!
I love this watch! The best part is not having to wear a chest strap to track my heart rate. I run 3+ times a week and cross train 3 times a week and use my watch to track all of my workouts. You can set it up for interval training and it also has settings for running indoors, biking outdoors and indoors. I use the other setting for cross training. It's very comfortable. I thought it would seem big at first but I have no problem wearing it. It's very light. The gps syncs up really fast and as long as it is tracking your heart rate before you start your workout it is pretty accurate. If you start your workout without your heart rate recognized, it normally won't pick it up. The only issue I've had is that occasionally when I interval train it doesn't track my heart rate accurately. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. I don't know if I'm moving too much but I'll be totally out of breath and it says my heart rate is 80 or 90 bpm. It will eventually find it, but for a while I know it isn't right.
This review is from Garmin - Forerunner 235 GPS Running Watch - Frost Blue
Posted 8 years ago by runningiowagirl
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great watch for triathletes!
I am taking up triathlons and this watch is great for tracking my training. I like that it uses GPS so I can see my routes and I get my phones notifications on it too. If you are looking for a good watch for running, biking, swimming, or all of them I would definitely suggest this one.
Posted 4 years ago by Hippiechick7