Garmin Forerunner 55 review: The best running watch for beginners
Our Verdict
At first glance, the Forerunner 55 looks no different than its predecessor. But with the improver of advanced preparation tools typically saved for the more expensive options in the Precursor family, the Forerunner 55 is an first-class smartwatch for the new or intermediate runner.
For
- PacePro, suggested workouts, and recovery fourth dimension additions
- Bright screen
- Easy to read stats
- Battery life
Against
- No onboard music storage
- No interchangeable bands
- Only available in one case size
Tom'southward Guide Verdict
At first glance, the Forerunner 55 looks no different than its predecessor. Only with the improver of advanced training tools typically saved for the more expensive options in the Forerunner family, the Forerunner 55 is an excellent smartwatch for the new or intermediate runner.
Pros
- +
PacePro, suggested workouts, and recovery time additions
- +
Bright screen
- +
Easy to read stats
- +
Battery life
Cons
- -
No onboard music storage
- -
No interchangeable bands
- -
Only bachelor in 1 case size
Garmin Forerunner 55: Specs
Size: 42 10 42 x eleven.6 mm
Weight: 37 grams
Brandish size: 1.08 inches
Display resolution: 208 10 208
Bombardment life: Smartwatch Manner: Up to 2 weeks/ GPS way: Up to twenty hours
Water resistance: 5 ATM
Similar its predecessors, the entry-level Garmin Forerunner 55 is a solid choice for those who want a fitness tracker with basic smartwatch capabilities, minus all the frills that tend to drive upwards the price.
It's true that you won't observe a lot of sophisticated features on the Precursor 55 - there'south no onboard music storage, contactless payments, or fancy sensors that discover your blood oxygen levels. Even so with updated fitness features that were previously reserved for higher-end Forerunner models, the Forerunner 55 is a smartwatch that can not only help you begin a new running routine, but can train you to exist a better runner overall. That's why it'southward ane of the best running watches around.
- All-time Garmin watches
- All-time fitness trackers
Garmin Forerunner 55: Price and availability
The recently launched Forerunner 55 retails for $199. Its silicone band comes in three different colors: blackness, white, or aqua. It's available now in the U.Due south. and Canada, and will be available in other parts of the world later this summer.
Garmin Forerunner 55: Blueprint
The Forerunner 55 looks basically identical to the previous Forerunner model, and that's not a bad thing; the sleek, round face of the Forerunner 45 was a huge design upgrade in the Forerunner line, so it makes sense that Garmin wouldn't want to change too much.
Nevertheless, unlike the Forerunner 45 which was offered in either a 39mm or 42mm case size, y'all can only get the Forerunner 55 in ane size (42mm). Despite having a relatively pocket-size wrist, I felt similar the 55's size was appropriate — it didn't look overly beefy or conspicuous. In fact, the 42mm face served me quite well on runs, where I could very easily come across my footstep and distance information without having to contort my arm excessively. Still, it should be noted that I'd oft hit the navigation buttons on the side of the watch'southward face while doing push ups, something that rarely happens with my 40mm Apple Sentinel Series 5.
Speaking of the navigation buttons, in that location are five of them on the Forerunner 55. In contrast to popular smartwatches like the Fitbit Versa 3 or the Galaxy Watch 3, the Forerunner doesn't have a touchscreen display and instead relies on these buttons to perform diverse lookout man functions. I'll acknowledge, at first I thought this was going to be a feature I strongly disliked - I'm used to my Apple Watch, where all it takes is a quick swipe or tap to complete an activeness. But the more I used the Forerunner 55, the more I appreciated being able to start and stop a workout past pressing a button as opposed to swiping a screen and and so tapping a small square. It was a lot easier and more efficient to mark the end of a long run this fashion, peculiarly considering that long runs tin get out me exasperated and prone to making mistakes (I've tapped the incorrect icon on my Apple Scout far too many times to count).
Like the Forerunner 45, the Forerunner 55 doesn't have interchangeable bands. While the black bezel and silicone band of the 55 I tested transitioned well enough from leggings and sports bras to jeans and blouses, I wouldn't necessarily feel like I could article of clothing it to a hymeneals or formal result. If you're looking for a Garmin smartwatch that will pair meliorate with a bridesmaid'south clothes or tux while still tracking your steps and centre rate, check out their Venu line.
Garmin Forerunner 55: Display
Even on the sunniest days, I could see the Forerunner 55'southward transflective MIP display without an upshot. A "light" button would illuminate the watch face if I needed a bit more brightness, merely I very rarely needed it exterior of checking the time in the middle of the night.
Garmin Forerunner 55: GPS
The Forerunner 55 has built-in GPS that can provide pace, distance, and fourth dimension information for runs and other outdoor distance workouts.
I never had to wait more five seconds for the Forerunner 55 to lock on to a GPS signal. This is a vast improvement when compared to our test of the Forerunner 45, which took anywhere between 15-xxx seconds to practice the same. Testing the GPS capabilities in different areas (Brooklyn, Manhattan, and western Long Island) resulted in similar times.
The newest Forerunner continues to offering innovative GPS safety features similar incident detection, which lets users send a message to selected contacts in case of a fall or other emergency. In order to use this characteristic though, you'll need to keep your connected smartphone on you during your runs. If you'd like to run phone-free, the Forerunner 945 LTE is a better choice.
Garmin also offers "LiveTrack" on the Precursor 55, which allows friends and family to encounter your existent-time location during your athletic pursuits (a fun and useful option for your next Turkey Trot).
Garmin Forerunner 55: Run tracking
While the Forerunner 55 is a decent introductory smartwatch for anyone who'southward active, information technology really shines as an option for the beginner or intermediate runner.
Sure, it provides all the standard data that any smartwatch with GPS will — your pace, split times, elapsed time, and mileage. Simply the Forerunner 55 goes a step further with three aspects geared towards improving your workout, which until recently were just found on the more than expensive Precursor models: PacePro downloads, suggested recovery times, and suggested workouts.
For the first time in recent history, I didn't feel similar I'd been hit past a minivan at the stop of a longer run.
As someone who isn't new to running but definitely has a lot to learn, I find one of my biggest hurdles is losing steam after the first few miles of a longer run. In this regard, the PacePro feature was a total game changer. Within the Garmin Connect smartphone app (available for iPhone or Android), users have the pick of either selecting a form and entering it manually, or selecting a race distance. After inputting a goal time and goal stride, yous can create a pacing strategy. Send this programme to your Forerunner 55, and your scout will give you speed and cadency alerts (a gentle but noticeable buzz) if you're running outside of your predetermined rates. Choosing a negative split strategy allowed me to take more than time at the beginning of my route and speed upwardly towards the end. For the showtime time in contempo history, I didn't feel like I'd been hit past a minivan at the finish of a longer run.
Recovery tin can also be a challenge. Mayhap it'south because I accept a hard time accepting that I'm non in my early on (who are we kidding, mid) 30s anymore, but trying to get three runs in a calendar week that yielded the aforementioned speed and perceived effort was starting to get frustratingly impossible. Afterward each run with the Forerunner 55, users are given suggested recovery times. If you effort to embark on a run before your recovery time is complete, the Forerunner will suggest you continue to rest instead (yous can dismiss this suggestion, if yous prefer).
In one case yous've rested, the Forerunner 55 will requite you suggested workouts tailored to your training history, fitness level (measured as Vo2 max), and recovery. Following the recommended balance menstruation and suggested workouts allowed me to feel a lot more refreshed and energized in my long runs, even if I had to skip a training day and get a bit slower than usual. Quality over quantity, as the saying goes.
The Precursor 55'south standard run tracking display shows three of import figures, altitude, elapsed time, and pace, although y'all tin customize the brandish if you'd like to see different metrics. Using the "downward" button to navigate through diverse displays will give y'all lap times, lap step, lap distance, and your current middle rate. Subsequently each mile, the Forerunner 55 volition buzz and give your overall run fourth dimension and your last mile's step.
Other smartwatches like the Apple tree Sentinel will give you a few more metrics on its main screen, only I found that I preferred seeing but the step, elapsed fourth dimension, and distance. However, if y'all're an avant-garde runner who needs more information at your immediate disposal, you lot may find the Precursor 55 lacking.
Garmin Precursor 55: Activity tracking
The Precursor 55 expands its activity profiles with the addition of pool swimming, HIIT, Pilates, and breathwork. Selections like Yoga that used to require an app to add now come up standard, along with elliptical, stair stepper, treadmill, biking, and of class running.
While action profiles on the Precursor 55 are adequate if not expansive, there is one common workout that is sorely missed (and necessary for overall health): strength training. This is unfortunate, given that the Connect app offers several well-rounded strength-based workout routines. You lot can e'er select the "Other" activity contour option if you want to track your time pumping iron, but for defended strength training tracking, accept a look at Garmin Forerunner 945.
Garmin Forerunner 55: Sleep tracking
The Forerunner 55's sleep tracking is relatively basic, but it's useful if getting more sleep is one of your health goals. Like the Versa three and the Apple tree Watch SE, the Forerunner 55 records your time spent in low-cal sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep, and awake, then displays everything on an easy-to-read graph in the Connect App.
While seeing this information was interesting, I wasn't sure exactly how to interpret it - is 2 hours of REM sleep enough? As well much? That'southward where an overall summary (similar the Fitbit Versa 3's "Slumber Score") would bear witness helpful, specially since recovery is a large focus with the Forerunner 55.
The accuracy of Precursor 55's sleep tracking was a fleck off during testing. On 1 nighttime, the watch detected that I went to bed at 8pm and woke at 6:30am. While I often dream of getting ten hours of sleep, I haven't had that pleasure since my high schoolhouse days. However, the app does let you to edit your slumber and wake times if the watch records them incorrectly.
Garmin Precursor 55: Health tracking
In addition to tracking your activeness and sleep, the Forerunner 55 also monitors your steps (and buzzes when y'all've reached your recommended daily step goal), respiration charge per unit, stress levels, calories burned, menstrual cycles, and pregnancy symptoms.
A characteristic exclusive to Garmin watches is the Body Battery, a score numbered from 0-100 that takes into account your Eye Rate Variability (HRV), stress, and action to estimate a user'south free energy reserves throughout the day. Moments of remainder or slumber will "charge" your bombardment, while moments of stress and activeness volition "drain" your bombardment. This is a helpful insight when planning heavy conditioning days, or when trying to decide if you should rampage one more than episode or become to sleep early.
Garmin Forerunner 55: Garmin connect app
All the data your Forerunner 55 gathers is compiled nicely in the Garmin Connect smartphone app. In addition to your daily stats, y'all tin see personal achievements and milestones, join or create challenges, and connect with friends on social media. If you lot've set your sights on a 5k, 10k, or one-half-marathon, the Connect app offers several thorough (and free) preparation plans geared towards your desired distance and completion goals.
The Connect app also offers a fairly comprehensive library of workouts for all levels, from strength and endurance to flexibility and mobility. In that location are several programs available that use only bodyweight, but about require various pieces of equipment. In addition, y'all can also use the Garmin Connect IQ app to download whatever number of additional watchfaces.
The Forerunner 55 can also brandish notifications, calendar alerts, and atmospheric condition — and even control the music playing on your phone — but its smartwatch functions terminate at that place. For instance, it lacks mobile payments, and you can't download music to the sentinel itself.
Garmin Forerunner 55: Bombardment
Co-ordinate to Garmin, a fully charged Forerunner 55 can last upward to two weeks in Smartwatch fashion and xx hours in GPS mode, which is a significant increase from its predecessor's battery life expectations. Those stats are fifty-fifty more impressive when pitted confronting competitors like the Versa iii (6 days, or 12 hours with continuous GPS) or the Samsung Galaxy Watch3 (2 days).
A week'due south worth of 24 hour-a-day tracking sapped nigh half of the Precursor 55's bachelor power. A lengthy run or workout would only deplete the battery past virtually 2%, fifty-fifty in GPS mode. This was a welcome modify from my Apple Sentry Series v, which I normally have to charge every 12 hours to ensure it won't die on me in the heart of a workout.
Garmin Precursor 55: Verdict
Yous may not notice many differences betwixt the new Forerunner 55 and its nigh immediate predecessor, simply the updates that Garmin has made volition make a earth of deviation for the newly initiated runner. This is a watch that's focused on helping the novice learn how to railroad train and rest appropriately, without much attending to the bells and whistles that y'all'd detect with an Apple Scout SE or a Milky way Picket three.
The Forerunner 55 isn't the most versatile smartwatch on the market, but it offers the basics. If you lot're an advanced athlete, you may find a higher-end Forerunner model, similar the Forerunner 245 Music, which lets y'all download tunes to the picket itself. But if you've recently laced upwards a pair of running shoes for the get-go time, and are staring downward the road with a ten-minute mile goal, you'd be hard pressed to notice a improve and more economical choice than the Forerunner 55.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/garmin-forerunner-55
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