Customer Ratings & Reviews

Great watch but it broke after 4 months. Customer support was great with Garmin they sent me a brand new one, but the new one also broke after 6 months! Other then breaking it did exactly what is advertised.

Former marathoner/half-marathoner, getting back into running after almost a 10 year hiatus. I used to have one of those huge, earlier model Garmins that was like a huge block on my wrist, but it was awesome for what it did. I always hated chest straps but like to monitor heart rate during runs. I have an earlier model Mio, which is stylish and great for wrist heart rate alone, but no GPS. Had been using my Iphone for distance and pace, but I hate opening my phone case, finding the app, etc. to check during a run. On training runs, I want to see 4 things and really only 4 things: distance, pace, heart rate and time. And I don't want a chest strap any more. So I researched some (not enough) and settled for the Forerunner 45, knowing that the screens were customizable and, from the photos, it "looked" fairly stylish. I was worried the face would be huge on my wrist, but the pictures are deceiving. The watch face itself is not that big at all. In fact, it is quite small and my wrists are not that big. Unfortunately, the watch band is also small - disproportionately small. It therefore is not very stylish for a man. It seems flimsy and just looks a little weird. That said, it's size and lack of weight make it unobtrusive during a run. The controls are not intuitive but if you can read a guide online, you can figure it out. On a test run, the GPS linked up pretty quick. The wrist heart rate seemed pretty accurate, so the measuring functions seemed okay. The distance was about the same as my Iphone measured. However, the BIG drawbacks are: (1) you can customize the data fields on each running screen BUT YOU ONLY GET A MAX OF THREE DATA FIELDS per screen; and (2) there is no auto-scroll permitting you to move through two screens to get that 4th element of data. This is entirely ridiculous because there is plenty of room for 4 data fields, and non-auto-scrolling is just dumb. (for example, you could make two running screens, one distance, heart rate, pace - and the other distance, time, pace, so only the middle value would change during an auto-scroll - but you can't do that - you have to press a button to change the screen). So, in short, if you want to glance down at your wrist during a run and see time, pace, distance and heart rate - you cannot do it without manipulation. The watch is lightly packed with some other "smartphone" features most people who buy it for running will never use. The treadmill setting is totally inaccurate, particularly if you are not swinging your arms the entire walk or run. There is a calibration setting, but I am skeptical. The battery life seems fine. So, in short, the watch works fine, though a little clunky to set up and manipulate (note 5 buttons - I defy anyone to figure out and remember what they all do). However, it is not a "pure" runner's watch like the older Garmins. The wrist band is WAY to narrow for a man's style and disproportionate to the watch face size. For the price, it is what it is, and I will use this for my runs - not ideal but the best for what I have right now. However, I wish I had been a little more patient and shopped around for something more streamlined for running. If you're someone who is not a quasi-serious runner and are looking for something with those functions and is also a wearable, this might fit the bill. But the key features are the wrist heart rate and GPS, which really only make sense for outdoor runs (or walks), and if you're doing that, you're probably more serious of a runner than this is a running watch.

Some steps don’t seem intuitive to accomplish a task. The ‘manual’ has been difficult to follow. I am hoping that over the next few months, the processes will become easier to follow. The price seems to be good for what it should do.

First of all this is a full featured and terrific exercise watch. First, don't be put off by the dimness of the display. In bright outdoor light it is very easy to read. The 2 negatives: 1) the band will not fit on a large circumference wrist. It only fits wrists up to about 8.5 inches and there are no longer aftermarket bands. I had to return mine because of this limitation. 2) The user manual is very, very poorly constructed. I spent hours just figuring out the basics through experimentation. Big waste of time. If you can get past those 2 negatives, it is a super workout watch!

My biggest complaint about this watch is that it takes forever to pick up the GPS satellite signal. I ran today and it took around 2 minutes to pick up the signal. I need to check this some more on a closed track, but it appears that I'm getting different distance readings when running the same distance. On the positive side, although this watch has many features and functions, I only use the time and distance functions for running. It is very easy to start and stop the timer. I'm marking "No" for whether I would recommend this to a friend, but that could change once I confirm that the watch measures distances accurately.

It’s a decent sports watch, good functionality, but it takes way too long to sync up with gps. Not an issue I’ve had with other gps tracking devices.

Nice watch, but too many buttons for this old man to master.

I mean its a sports watch that tells you all the important things you need it to ...but it concentrates on what method of movement; run, hike, treadmill, bicycle,...and if you're trying to get back to the music tab, good luck. I recommend you buy the more expensive Garmin with the Spotify option if you listen to Slayer/KRS-ONE while you enjoy nature.

Nice watch but not that easy to setup. At least for the layman.

I actually returned the 45 and upgraded to the 245 (easy exchange at the store). I needed the custom workout features on the garmin connect app and that's not available on the 45. That makes a huge difference for me. The 245 elevates me to fitness geek status. The 245 interface is a serious level up overall. The 45 is plenty serious for tracking running if that's mostly all you're going to do with it.

It was really cool looking but didn't have touch screen. I should have did more research.

Before I get into my review, this is an honest review, meaning that this is how I felt, the experience may be different in your humble opinion. - Now, this smartwatch is good and all, but it isn't what I wasn't expecting, neither was it worth the $130 I payed. The watch display, the Body Battery wasn't always accurate, the watch often lagged, etc. It just wasn't that great when I had it.

I like the watch, but I regret not buying the higher end watch .

The are just one level above my Fitbit watch I purchased in 2015

It was okay. I did not know much how to use it according to what I wanted but I returned it back and bought Galaxy watch 4

The battery doesn't last all day. I don't know if I did something wrong or not,

Nice watch but difficult to use. Good price butnah