Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch with Garmin Coach Training Plan Support - Black, Large

I'm an ex-marathon and ultra marathon runner and canoeist who has exercised all my 67 years and made a point of exercising almost daily from the beginning of the Covid pandemic. This is my first smart watch and I've had it for nearly 2 years, and it has been a massively good investment. I am a reluctant tech adopter, but this has been an eye-opener. I've had it for nearly two years now, using it as a daily watch, as well as to track a fairly limited range of metrics- walking, running and, kayaking distances, and weight, heart rate and shoe mileage. Once set up it's been almost perfect, and I never wear my other analogue watches. I know I'm not using it to full advantage- I don't like music while running, I don't even know if I can change "Other" to "Kayak" on the watch face, but I can do it on the Garmin Connect app (which gives me a decent health log too). In short, it is waterproof enough for kayaking, gives me all the info I need while exercising and afterwards, and although pleasingly small and light, is visible enough while doing so. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of my wife's iWatch, but I don't need( or want) calls, messages, music and news when running, walking or paddling though the beautiful countryside in Ireland or South Africa. And the battery life is way better than hers. And having had plenty of resin straps deteriorate, harden, crack and break on sports watches I ordered a spare strap with this one- I'm pleasantly surprised that I haven't yet used it. The best praise I can give an item is to say that if it was lost or stolen I'd replace it with the same (unless they had an update with even better battery life or solar charging like my Citizen Eco-drive- A solar charging Garmin 45, maybe in stainless steel, would be my idea of the perfect watch).

Perfect basic running watch. Replaced my Apple Watch 4 which had dubious gps and woeful accuracy measured against the rest of the running groups and park run results. This thing is really simple but has all the functions I want from a sports watch. Works with Strava, you can choose what metrics to display as you’re running or cycling etc, choose beeps and announcements for distance, can synch with iPhone for messages etc. looks smart enough to wear all the time battery lasts for days and days, heart rate monitor seems accurate and quick. Big enough to look fairly rugged but not fat and annoying under sleeves.

I really loved this watch - perfect for staying motivated through lockdown! Until recently I'd have given it five stars - battery life is decent, GPS track seems very accurate, not too big/weighty.... just seems to work well in use, giving all the information required. I love the fact that you can configure it to get help if it detects a heavy impact (actually happened to me once when I tripped and bashed my head into the ground). I was a bit dazed but it was ready to start messaging my configured emergency contacts with my location until I canceled it. Love the VO2 max measure of fitness also which is great for measuring progress!HOWEVER, my Garmin Forerunner 45 is now two years old (I wear it all the time) but the strap mounting points at the top of the watch have now both broken off. One broke off first and predictably due to the extra load, the other shortly afterward. These are integral parts of the watch (cannot be replaced). I have had to glue the strap on with superglue, which seems to have worked fairly well, but it's a bit of a poor show on a two year old watch. I am not a super athlete by any means - just slow, gentle running, so it's not like it's had a particularly tough life. From what I have read this seems to be a known issue with the watch, unfortunately...Just watch out for that.

I've been running for many years and love a simple, accurate Garmin. Perfect. Love the Connect info and the ease of use of this watch.

My first Garmin product and first smart watch/fitness watch. Got on Prime Day for only £109, absolute bargain for that price. Although this is an entry level watch, it has a lot of functions, is easy to use and very reliable. The Garmin app is great for indepth analysis of HR, sleep, and most of all your workouts. I use this for running, decided to get as my phone with Strava isnt great. The sync between Garmin app and Strava is fantastic so I don’t lose all my historic running data and shared between two apps. The distance tracking is good and the vibration feedback for reaching 1km/1 mile is great. Have already started to see better running results as i can quickly glance at the watch for feedback as opposed to looking at phone. Getting this watch was a great decision (although my Amazon driver stole my first order out of the packaging - not Garmins fault!) and in the future will deffo look at a Garmin if i upgrade!