If you are taking your running more seriously and you can’t stomach paying big money for a top-end Garmin, the Forerunner 245 should offer you all you need and give you a solid smartwatch experience too.

Slimmer and lighter design; New training insights; Easy to use music features

Battery drain with music streaming; Missing altimeter; No Garmin Pay

The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is a runner’s best friend, and sets a new bar by which most other running watches will be measured. The watch is small, slim and light. The display is very clear and easy to read.

The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music works well for those who need a fitness watch, which will also show all their notifications, etc. This is not for those who want a fancy smartwatch, but rather a dedicated fitness device with more comprehensive tracking than a simple band and one that is rugged enough...

Replacing the Forerunner 235, this new running watch features a slick new design, an improved screen, lighter weight, and some of the company’s most advanced sensors for additional tracking features.

Highly accurate fitness tracking and heart monitoring; Long battery life; Onboard music storage

No Garmin Pay; No barometric altimeter or gyroscope.

Over the past year or so, I’ve been taking up different activities in a bid to improve my fitness. If you’ve kept up with my fitness tech journey thus far (you probably haven’t), you’ll know that I’ve tried out cycling, swimming—and my personal favourite right now: running.

If you are taking your running more seriously and you can’t stomach paying big money for a top-end Garmin, the Forerunner 245 should offer you all you need and give you a solid smartwatch experience too.

Slimmer and lighter design; New training insights; Easy to use music features;

Battery drain with music streaming; Missing altimeter; No Garmin Pay;

Get the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music if you're a serious runner who likes to listen to music. I've tested a number of running watches over the years, but when it came to actual training and racing, I always went back to the Garmin Forerunner 235.

Bright colorful display, Onboard music storage, Good battery life, Loads of training metrics

Menus can be difficult to navigate

Larger than average screen, Syncs with music streaming services, Smart notification system, Wrist mounted heart sensor, Water resistant up to 30m

Expensive

One of Garmin’s most popular running watches just got an upgrade. The Garmin Forerunner 245 is a step up from the Forerunner 235, bringing improved running metrics, full-color breadcrumb maps, music, and a stylish new design. I’ve been running with the Forerunner 245 to see if these upgrades are as remarkable in real life as they sound on paper, and the short answer is yes — this is yet another well-rounded, though a bit expensive, fitness watch from Garmin. Keep in mind, this is very much a watch for runners and not necessarily the best option for casual athletes — the Fitbit Charge 3 is a much more affordable option for people who don’t need all the bells and whistles, but just want a reliable tracker. Put the Forerunner 235 next to the new Forerunner 245, and you’ll be surprised to know they come from the same family. Garmin did away with with the plastic-y feel and replaced it with a sporty and tough fiber-reinforced polymer casing. It also shrunk down the 245, making it smaller at...

Easy to read screen, maps; Music support, can steam Spotify and Deezer; Helpful notification support; Accurate tracking; Sleek, modern design;

Missing barometric altimeter; No gyroscope; Expensive;

Hard to beat beats