The Garmin Forerunner 935 was announced last month and as I continue actively training for my first full marathon in June I've spent the last few weeks testing out the Forerunner 935 and comparing it to other GPS wearables.

Lightweight comfortable design; Long battery life; Accurate GPS and activity tracker; Clear and crisp color display; Easy to use interface; Large buttons for efficient navigation; Outstanding software providing all the data you could ever want

Expensive for a Forerunner

It wouldn't exactly make a killer title for a Jeremy Kyle show, but the big question in wearables right now is ‘are smartwatches now good enough to challenge dedicated sport watches'?

Garmin's Forerunner 935 is essentially a carbon copy of the Fenix 5, but with a few sacrifices for the sake of price -and that, ironically, probably makes it a better buy for all but the most hardcore athletes and outdoor trekkers.

The Garmin Forerunner 935 is a compact piece of kit and has managed to improve its looks over previous generations, which were a bit more plastic looking. The 935 features metallic buttons, a linear edging and clear colour display.

So comfortable you barely notice it; Attractive design; Impressive battery life; Multiple training functions; Smartphone connectivity

Thick screen bezel; Garmin Connect app still overwhelming

Buying a Garmin Forerunner 935 won’t suddenly make you lose 20lbs and earn calves of steel, but it is just about the best training buddy you could hope for. It has great battery life, all the tech a sports watch needs, and squeezes this all into a surprisingly slim, comfortable package. Only the Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR and slightly older Polar V800 can compete in terms of features. But neither of these can match the Forerunner 935’s versatility or support for the likes of Strava Live segments and live weather. If you want a professional trainer on your wrist, and prefer your watches to look sporty rather than shiny, it’s one of the best around.

Great fitness tracking; Light and comfortable; Excellent battery life;

No local music playback; Not cheap, is it?;

Great fitness tracking; Light and comfortable; Excellent battery life;

No local music playback; Not cheap, is it?;

This is so much more than a watch. The tri bundle pairing provides excellent metrics on run, bike, and swim, including analyses of running gait, as well as training effects and measures of training load. It syncs seamlessly with Garmin connect app and with Trainingpeaks.

Garmin is an old master in this sports watch arena, with a portfolio that's stuffed with compelling devices. The Forerunner 935 is certainly accomplished, not only with the vast range of features it offers, but how it all hangs together.

Accurate; Great to wear; Refined UI; Vast array of data; Easily expandable ecosystem

No onboard music support; No Garmin Pay

There's nothing better than training with a decent partner - and the Garmin Forerunner 935 promises it can be the very best that you can bring with you.

Varied sports tracking; Amazing battery life; Excellent fitness information

More expensive than most; No onboard music; No Garmin Pay

I have owned this watch for three months now, and wear it 24/7. Great for tracking runs, biking, hiking, and swimming. Sync with your phone and get all the stats on your activities. Having the altimeter is a real plus for hikers and mt bikers.