Garmin Forerunner® 255, GPS Running Smartwatch, Advanced Insights, Long-Lasting Battery, Slate Gray

I am not a runner but I have been considering a Garmin watch for a long time because I am usually an active hiker. I haven't been as active for a while and I feel like the wellness tracking this device offers is helping me back on track. This has been one of those purchases that I wish I had pulled the trigger on sooner now that I have it. Combined with the web app I really love the amount of detail that I can get and the variety of things I can easily track. I've found the GPS tracking on my longer walks to be very accurate so far. I also enjoy the variety of customization options both native to the watch and through Connect IQ score. I know that the sleep, stress, body battery, etc, are not the most accurate, but they are still a great tool for getting a rough idea of where I can improve. For me, being called out by something as neutral as data is very helpful and I appreciate being able to see trends and make note of things that I could change for the better. I do have to take some of the body measurements with a grain of salt because of medications that I take, like the HRV-based stress readings (always high for me), so you should take that into consideration if you are prescribed any kind of medication that either stimulates or sedates. I am so glad I went with the smaller model, I am a petite person and it feels like the perfect size for my wrist. I don't find it to be obtrusive at all. I don't love the silicone band and went with an alternative that looks better at the office and doesn't bother my skin as much.

I really am enjoying this watch. I'll start off by saying it I used to have an Apple watch but no longer have an iPhone so I was looking for an alternative. I've used Fitbit and apple watches and feel they are accurate at tracking things like heart rate and GPS. This watch feels the most accurate out of both of those. The Garmin app isn't as pretty and easy to use as Fitbit but the quality and information is so much better. Also the customization of this watch is insane. From multiple backgrounds to the way you can set up what information you want to see during any given workout is awesome. As you can tell by my watch face there is a great amount of information just by looking at the first screen and more if you scroll around. This is the 46mm case size and I really think it's the perfect balance between being able to see the information and not being too bulky. Obviously the tranflective display is not as pleasing as an AMOLED display like and apple watch, galaxy watch, pixel watch, or Garmins own venu or epix watches but it honestly is not that bad. Also I've heard of bad backlight reviews on the Garmin watches where the screen looks washed out and blue when the backlight is on and I think I got a good one. It's almost been two weeks and I'm still at 67% battery life. I have yet to swim with the watch but it feels like good quality and the gps has been accurate on my runs. I was thinking of getting a Fenix 6 since they are much cheaper now but the features and less bulkiness of this Garmin Forerunner 255 sold me. The gray color is okay but I might end up going with a different band style and color in the future. The video taken with the backlight on is with the brightness at 20%. Take your fitness goals to the next level and get this watch!

I’ve been a Garmin user for over 10 years, and I upgraded from the Forerunner 745 to the Forerunner 255. This is an excellent upgrade and immediately feels like a more refined and capable watch. The 255 is lighter and more comfortable to wear all day, and the battery life is noticeably better than the 745. I’m also seeing improved GPS accuracy and more consistent tracking overall. The updated metrics, including HRV status and the newer training insights, provide more useful data to support training and recovery. Performance is smooth, reliable, and exactly what I expect from Garmin. It keeps everything I liked about the 745 while improving the areas that matter most, especially battery life, comfort, and tracking accuracy. If you’re coming from the 745, the Forerunner 255 is absolutely a worthwhile upgrade. Highly recommended.

I upgraded to the Forerunner 255 from a Forerunner 35 that I had used for about 5 years--I liked the Fr35 even though it did not do a very good job of tracking my HR without a chest band. The Fr255 has the latest 4th generation HR monitor and the wrist-based HR tracking is really very good. The Fr255 also has many additional features that I like--much improved sleep tracking, an estimate of heart rate variability, and O2 saturation, though the latter seems a bit sporadic. It has many more features that I have not and may not fully use, but everything I use works very well. The integration with the Connect app on my phone is very well done also. The battery life appears to be at least as good as the Fr35, surprising since it does so much more--I charge it about every 3-4 days when it is still ~50% charged. In addition, the mapping of the displays has been done with an eye to readability and is very customizable. All in all, I am very pleased with this tracker.

A quality watch that is not too pricey and good for beginners or serious athletes.

used to own garmin 245 Music. switch to 255 as old one lost. bigger screen, and nice apps. turn on bluetooth, and hopefully it can last 9 days.

Todo correcto, ha tardado en llegar 2 dias menos de lo previsto, el reloj perfecto, va como tiene que ir, gps, mapas, etc. muy bien

Good value, encourages exercise

Need to know how to use it first, googling and watching youtube. After a while it’s good to go! Charging was fast. More importantly with my small wrist the size seems good.

The Garmin Forerunner 255 has genuinely exceeded my expectations. I was looking for a watch that could handle both my everyday activity tracking and more serious training, and this one delivers on both fronts. It’s packed with features that are useful for casual workouts as well as more structured training — from accurate GPS and heart rate tracking to detailed performance analytics and sleep insights. I’ve found myself using more features than I expected, just because they’re so easy to access and actually helpful. One thing I really appreciate is the battery life. I can go several days without needing to recharge, even with regular workouts and GPS use. A few of my friends use other brands, like Samsung watches, and they’re always surprised when I tell them how rarely I have to plug mine in. Comfort-wise, it’s been great. The Forerunner 255 is super lightweight and doesn’t feel bulky at all, which makes it easy to wear all day and night. I’ve worn it to bed, on runs, during workdays — and it never gets in the way. I also love that I can customize the watch face and get notifications without it feeling intrusive. The interface is clean and intuitive, which made the transition from my previous watch really smooth. I upgraded from a Fitbit Versa, and the difference is huge. The Forerunner 255 feels much more accurate and reliable when it comes to tracking, and it has way more training tools and features. It also just feels more solid — the build quality is noticeably better. If you’re considering a fitness watch that can do more than just count steps and show texts, I’d highly recommend the Forerunner 255. It’s become an essential part of my daily routine.