Garmin Forerunner 55 Review
- Jorge
- May 19, 2024
- 7 min read
Welcome back to Unexpected Abundance! I’m so happy you’re back for today’s conversation. Before we start, I wanted to express my gratitude to all of you that’s read my posts. I know you all are busy with your schedules, but the fact that you just swing by the site means a lot to me. I hope I can provide some insight and you’re able to take something from these posts.
We have another product review post today! From experience, these posts were the most helpful for me when I’m in the market for a new running product. If you’re like me, you’ll have somewhat of an idea of what you want, but yet you’re indecisive. You’ll then turn to product reviews for validation that your choice in mind is the best decision for you. Trust me, I’ve been there. While it can be overwhelming, coming to a final decision and purchasing your product is a relieving feeling.
Today, I’ll be reviewing the Garmin Forerunner 55. If you’re in the market for a new watch and have this watch in mind, hopefully this review can provide clarity and insight into the watch and the different features it has to offer. To avoid boring you with an advanced technical review, I’ll be focusing on three key items: price, top features, and design feel.
Price
I’ll preface by saying that I didn’t want to spend more than $250 for a new watch. I spent $120 for my Garmin Forerunner 35 and it lasted me four years, so I was looking for something similar. After doing research, I narrowed my search down to the Garmin Forerunner 55 and 255. Both were on sale on the Garmin site, with the 55 on sale for $170 instead of $200 and the 255 on sale for $250 instead of $350.
I went back and forth between watches and decided to purchase the 55 for the price of $170. After taxes and shipping, it was about $190. In the end, although the 255 had a ton of great features, the 55 had all the features I needed for a great price. I also compared the prices without the discount, and that was the ultimate factor in terms of pricing.
I’d suggest setting a budget that includes price you would be willing to pay. For example, if you want to pay under $200 but are willing to pay up to $250, then set the price limit to $250. You might see a watch that catches your eye and has a feature that you determine is necessary for your training, but it’s a little over the price you want to pay.
Top Features
I think it’s important to note that the features you want in your watch may drive the price that you’re willing to pay. If you want more features, you’ll likely pay more. It’s important to do your research and see what different features you want your watch to have. Most watches track basic data like heart rate, pace, cadence, but any other features may end up costing more.
1. Multiple workout types
As I continue to get more races under my belt, I feel the urge to try new sports. I’ve flirted with the idea of doing an Iron Man race (run, bike, and swim), but I know that will be a long way down the road. Besides running, I occasionally lift and do some other cardio. Although my main sport is running, I enjoy having the flexibility of tracking other types of workouts when I do them. I was limited with my Forerunner 35, as it only tracked runs, walks, and cycling. With the Forerunner 55, it tracks over 15 different workout types, from running to yoga. It doesn’t include strength training as a workout type, but you can select “other” when beginning the strength training session, and change it to strength training once you sync your watch to the Garmin Connect App. I like having the different workout types because the watch does a better job of tracking the different workouts efficiently, and it’s nice to have them available if you’re not in the mood to run.
2. Suggested Programs & Workouts (Garmin Coach)
When you set up the Forerunner 55, it’ll ask for basic information such as height and weight, but then it’ll ask you if you’re training for a specific event. The watch will then give suggested workouts when you’re ready to begin a run. I’ve done a few of those suggested workouts whenever I don’t know what workout to do. As you continue to run more, the suggested workouts will change to match your volume of training.
Another great feature is the Garmin Coach. You can search for upcoming events and the Garmin Coach will develop a training program that’s tailored for you. You can choose between different coaches depending on your experience level, and each coach will have a quick video breaking down their training style and how long their program is. The programs are designed to be between 16-20 weeks, so if that is something that interests you, you’ll have to pick a race with enough time for prepare. For example, if you pick a race that’s 8 weeks out, Garmin won’t be able to create a program because it’ll be too close to race day to build out a structured plan. Your watch will also send notification reminders that race day is approaching.
For new runners, I find this feature to be extremely helpful. I’m not an expert by any means, but I do have some experience with running and race prep. There will be times when I’m not sure what run to do, or quite frankly, I’m not feeling the scheduled run and want to do something else. The Garmin Coach features does come in handy and will only supplement your training.
3. HR Tracking
Tracking your heart rate is a great way to know whether you’re running too easy or too hard. Most watches track heart rate, but I enjoy how the Forerunner 55 tracks your heart rate. When training for a race, I’ve focused on improving my Zone 2 heart rate training, meaning that I want to be able to run for longer distances without getting fatigued. With my old watch, I had to go back and forth between different screens to see my heart rate and I’m not the biggest fan of having to look at my watch every few seconds. With the Forerunner 55, you can create workouts based on your heart rate. For example, you can create an easy 30 minute workout and set ranges for where you want to your heart rate to be. If you go below or beyond the range, your watch will notify and tell you if your heart rate is too low or too high. With this feature, you can focus more on the run and slow down or speed up, depending on the guidance your watch gives you. To others, this feature may not be so exciting, but I absolutely love it.
4. Body Battery
I noticed this feature after using the watch for a couple of weeks and I was surprised at how accurate it was. I will preface by saying you need to wear your watch while you sleep so it can factor how many hours of sleep you get into calculating your body battery. The body battery is dependent on multiple factors: exercise, steps, sleep, breathing, and stress level. Mine usually falls within 90-95 in the morning when I wake up and is usually in the single digits by the end of the day. This won’t be accurate all the time, especially if you don’t wear your watch during sleep. It doesn’t take into account if you have a desk job like myself where you physically may not feel tired, but you feel mentally tired. I think it’s a good snapshot of where your energy levels are at, depending on the factors I mentioned above.
Design/Feel
After the technical things are out of the way, you’ll need to pick a watch with a cool design. After all, you’ll be rocking this watch during your runs and trust me, having a cool watch on makes you run faster, or at least it makes you think you run faster! I like the design of the Forerunner 55, along with how light it is. It has a comfortable feel, and the band is flexible for all wrist sizes. As of this post, there are three different colors available: white, black, and aqua.
Final Review
I’m really happy with the Forerunner 55. It’s a great watch for new runners who are looking to get into running, and for experienced runners who have a few races under their belt. Not to mention price is good for everything it can do. If you’re in the market for a new watch, here are my recommendations to make the shopping experience a little easier. Set a budget, determine what features you want, and pick the coolest design based on the first two baselines. You’ll still feel a little overwhelmed and indecisive, but those baselines will help you come to what is hopefully the right decision for you.
Understand that if you’re a new runner, you may not want to spend an absurd amount on the watch because there’s a chance you may not like running. Try out a lower end watch, see how it feels when you run, and as you get more experience, then purchase a more expensive watch. Shopping for watches doesn’t have to be hard! Just remember budget, features, and design.
That does it for today's post! I'm currently in the offseason, as I wrapped up the 2024 OC Half Marathon last weekend, so I should have more time to write about more technical topics and what I'll be focusing on with my training over the summer. As always, thanks again for stopping by. I’m having so much fun writing these posts and hopefully you’re learning something. If not, I appreciate the company 😊
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Until next time, happy running!