I’m not a competing runner (anymore) but I am getting back into it and want to train to run a half marathon and eventually a marathon, so I think the FR245 will be best to help me with that
"if you're an average runner that is running 4-5 miles a day," then go with the Vivo, he says, because the FR, I guess, is for above average runners. This was hilarious to me. If you are running 4 miles a day (28 mi/wk) , you deserve that Forerunner!
basically venu is better for someone who is a varied athlete, someone who goes to the gym, rock climbing, swimming, running, etc. Training status is really only useful for running, as it can't track whether you are being effective in your gym workouts
Thank you so much for reviewing this! I still don’t know what I want! Because I run everyday 5 miles and on the weekends 13 miles but I like that it has more features the Vivoactive 4 and it has yoga ans Pilates!
cheech The 245 has Pilates and yoga and you can download pretty much any sports profiles from the Garmin iq store which is free. I reviewed hundreds of watches before making a purchase. If you have a budge and cannot commit to a Fenix 5 plus, or any of the high end watches, the Garmin forerunner 245 music is the best!!!
Depends on if you want a watch styled around closer to a smartphone because that's what you will get with the venu. Keep in mind the short battery life though. I love my 245, but when they come out with a smartwatch that has it all and a 7 day battery life, Ipl be getting that one for sure!
I prefer the touch screen with my workouts to buttons and i feel like the vivo active 4 is better for different types of workouts and is decent enough for runners pros included . The 245 is more just geared towards runners only with some added stats that i really don't think are essential but a nice have. I just think the better over all watch is the Vivo active 4.
honestly would cost less than nothing for garmin to add those stats and metronome to the va4.... just that they prefer to have 2 good watches for different needs than the best m&€+!f€@%®✓® smartwatch out there 😅
Not having the recovery metrics on the VA4 is a deal breaker for me. Having that with my polar watches has been one of the things that drew me to that brand to begin with. If I just wanted a smart watch I might choose the VA4. I will say though my experience with the VA4 as a fitness tracker was horrible. The heart rate data has been completely off in my experience. I’m not sure if they don’t have as much power to the sensor as in some of the other Garmin watches or what but wearing them at the same time the forerunner keeps a much closer heart rate to my polar OH1+. The VA4 will just have these run away heart rates at times. Even while I’m resting between an interview the VA4 heart rate will keep rising where as the forerunner and oh1 will catch my heart rate recovering. I thought I just had a bad unit but then about 5 days ago DC rainmaker notated something very similar in his review video. The data coming from the sensors was no where near as accurate as the other elevate 3 sensor equipped Garmins from this year.
Great comparison. I'm liking the Vivoactive 4 as a Samsung G3 Frontier user who ran over 600 miles this year and needs a more serious fitness watch. Gear isn't that great with fitness tracking.
The reason I switched from Apple Watch to Garmin forerunner because of the physical buttons. When I have a long run, I have sweat all over my body, I couldn’t operate my Apple Watch with its touch screen.
I typically lift weights 3 days a week and run 2-3 times a week. I just recently started running again and I plan on running a half marathon potentially. Would the vivoactive 4 (or venu) or the 245 be better for me? The increased number of features on the 245 sounds nice, but is it excessive for the amount of running I do?
I run 4 times a week and have the vivoactive 3. I’ve been more than happy with the metrics! Unless you’re training competitively the vivo will be more than enough IMO. Ask yourself: do you need your watch to measure your V02 max and training regimen or do you just need it to track your routes, miles, heart rate, and steps?
One major difference between the two watches that I feel you should have mentioned is that the vivoactive is constrained to the activities that Garmin has decided to allow you, where as you are free to create your own activities on the forerunner. It may not be an issue for the most consumers, but if you happen to train something that is not on the Garmin approved list you are just not able to track it the way you can on the forerunner. A bit sad really as thebvivoactive is in many other aspects a killer watch.
Other comments here suggest activities not preloaded can very well added through the Garmin connect in VIVo and there is no difference on that aspect. Can you kindly clarify more .
Depending where you are Garmin pay is pretty limited. In the UK, there are currently (Ha 2020)only a handful of supported Banks (few of them big names).
Great video, thx. I’m coming from a Fitbit Ionic and I wanted to jump into Garmin since I find the Fitbit app very basic (even if the watch is good). The running analytics of 245 is a big plus....but definitely like the looks of the vivoactive more. How is it to live with the 245 as a smart watch (outside exercising)? How difficult is to see and interact with notifications or setting timers and alarms with only the buttons in 245? I’m worried that coming from Ionic it will be frustrating using the 245 outside exercising
If you are coming from an Ionic I think that you will find the Vivoactive 4 to be a more seamless transition. As for responding to messages and other "smartwatch" type features I personally don't see a huge difference. The Vivoactive has more features on that end, but I don't find the buttons on the 245 to be any more difficult to use on that end. Personally I like the physical buttons, and I thought that I wouldn't when I initially bought the Fenix 5 Plus. I know that my response doesn't help you necessarily decide which is the "best" for you, but if I had to choose one of these watches I think my choice would be for the Forerunner 245 Music.
I've noticed that while the two watches are similarly-priced new, the Forerunner 245 (especially the Music version) is considerably more expensive to buy pre-owned than the Vivoactive 4. For example, from CeX I could buy a B-grade Vivoactive 4 for £165 but a 245 Music would set me back £230. It makes me wonder whether the additional running metrics of the Forerunner would be worth the extra money, given that I'm someone who has recently completed the Bridge to 10k programme and takes about 57 minutes to run that distance (although I'd ideally like to be able to do it in 50 minutes at some point)?
Can the vivoactive be used for interval running? I did a comparison on the Garmin homepage and it says it can't, but quite a few sellers told me it is perfectly possible. Would be grateful for your answer.
I little question regarding the GPS. I don't know if you know the answer, but here goes. I have read several in depth reviews on these two watches and I can't decide on which one to buy. It looks like the GPS on the Garmin Forerunner 245 is better then the vivoactive 4, but don't they use the same satellite services?
Should I get the Forerunner 245 over the Vivoactive 4 or Venu just for Training Status? I don't really care about looks, I do rowing (which Vivoactive 4 natively supports) and running but I´d think the Forerunner would be more useful bc of Training Status?
If you have headphones connected to your watch via bluetooth, can you hear the pace alerts on the headphones? Or are the alerts only heard on the watch itself? Please let me know.
I had to look up who Nate from the Office was, and then watch some of his UA-cam clips then of course.... I don't hear it, but I'll take your word for it.
Hi! I've been wearing the vivoactive 4 for almost a week now and I just wanted to let you guys know that I don't have the issues with the touchscreen. The way I saw you struggling in the video by swiping up to get to the options menu has never even once happened to me. Maybe your touchscreen is faulty? Edit: also, where can I get that watchface, is it in the connect IQ store?
Which one would you recommend for a marathon? I plan to run the marathon on 3:11, my biggest fear is that the battery runs out since its a must have for me. Thanks for your insight
@@donavonhornbeck would the vivoactive 3 or the amazfit Stratos would resist the 4h music and GPS? Or do you think it's worth it to jump into the vivoactive 4?
I would 100% go for the Forerunner 245 - the touch screen of the Vivio is simply not as easy to use as the buttons on the 245 are for a dedicated runner. (I have had a 235 for a year and loved it - just upgraded to the 645 (again button based).
I like doing tempo and interval runs. Do both watches have the ability to create a workout that the watch will chime me through. I currently have the 220 (I know, it's old, that's why I'm shopping 🤣) and I use that interval workout feature a ton. Not all my intervals are the same though so 4 x .5 mi with 2 min rest then 2 x 1 mi with 2 min rest for example. Could both watches do this?
yeah the 245 can definitely do it when you set up a workout. and personalty if your getting it for running getting a watch with physical buttons is worth it over the touch screen
👋 hello , thanks for this video. I have a question, if you would kindly address the same !! Now the current price of Venu is 175$ usd , does that make it more worth the purchase ? Or you’d still recommend the Vivoactive 4 ! Thanks 🙏🏼
You didn't mention the biggest differences, imho - the 245 supports HRM-Run, which adds a lot of running data like vertical oscillation, the Vivoactive 4 doesn't. Meanwhile, Vivoactive 4 has Garmin Pay, FR245 doesn't.
@@wonderfulday4660 It's a heart rate monitor by Garmin made specifically for runners, it gives you lots of additional data for proper running form and better training like ground contact time/ratio, vertical oscillation etc. Not necessary per se, but useful.
@@qwertyCandy well I'd like to learn a proper running form... I need a watch for calisthenics to know did i get enough rest, did i recover, when it's best to go for work out (stress lvl and other stuff from vivoactive 4) and i also need watch to run a sub 3:30 marathon in the future, can't choose between these two watches Also for now i run 3 times a week, once per week 10k, i have mi band 4 with sensor display and i had issues with stopping it by sweaty fingers But i lean towards vivoactive 4 since I want to focus more on calisthenics... What would you recommend?
@@wonderfulday4660 vivoactive is better for calisthenics, i got the venu for that because i found it cheaper on a website compared to the vivoactive. Venu is basically just a VA4 with an amoled screen
I have found the FR245 music great for strength. It auto-detects many exercises but if you aren't satisfied with its occasional mistakes or you do leg exercises, planks and holds, you can program the workout on Garmin connect and sync it to the watch for a more seamless and uninterrupted workout. Unlike in Samsung Health on the Active 2 (which also counts reps), mal-detected exercises can be corrected after the fact and there's no need to stop and put in the next exercises, you just start a new set. Finally, the music version includes suggested workout playlists to download over wifi; these have a set BPM range to get you in the rhythm. I have a Samsung phone and the Active 2 44mm stainless is beautiful, but it doesn't quite hold up to the Garmin for simplicity when working out/listening to music, and I'm terrified of doing anything gritty with it, so it's being returned in favour of keeping the FR245M. I do miss contactless payments but I don't miss the altimeter (which is rubbish on most Garmins and all Samsungs anyway).
Have you moved any of the Samsung Touch Watch on FR 245? What was the Amoled display currency, at it. And how a long time to get used to control the buttons? I still have a fear that I will miss the barometer at FR 245, but it is said to show a cant with GPS ...
Hi, I’m looking for a second watch right now. Apparently I’m getting “Fitness/Health” watch this time. My main activities are light jogging for about 10 minutes everyday and do some bodyweight exercises. I’m thinking Garmin is the best choice, but which model is enough for those activities and reasonable price (not over expensive like the Instinct Solar). Thanks.
Great review and comparison! :) I'm considering buying VA 4s as my first Garmin watch mostly for swimming and cycling. Does anyone use it for swimming? Does it measure the pool lengths accurately? And also I heard that it takes him quite a lot of time to find the GPS signal - is it true?
It doesn't measure the pool length, you enter in the settings for the activity. If it is set wrong, you can correct it afterwards and suddenly your 500m swim becomes 1000m for a pool size change from 25m to 50m. GPS is fast enough.
My screen failed on the Vivoactive 3 after 13 months. I think I will go with the 245m to avoid the touchscreen. I really wish music & podcasts could be more easily transferred using Bluetooth only as opposed to needing to be in WiFi. This is fine at home but syncing the watch to different WiFi’s is a pain
I like my VA4 but having just gotten the HRMPro it miffs me that it's not compatible (for dumping HR info captured when not wearing the watch). Looking at getting the 245 now.(or saving for something more up market).
Have you had a touchscreen running watch? I love my VA3Music. During an activity the screen is locked. I have never had an issue in rain, sweat, even works pretty well with gloves on.
@bravia67 lol you realize that now touchscreens can detect if theres alot of inputs at once (Like from a water drop)? It doesn't register it as input. Even a cheap ass mi band 4 has anti water and shower activation
I am looking for a garmin watch for hiking and good gps can track my trail. I don't necessarily use the garmin map during the trail, but just would like to have all my trails track extracted in my computer. I am a beginner, do this for fun. And also want to record my gym, daily exercise, tennis etc. Which garmin would you suggest? Thanks
Garmin users,....how is it possible for the larger screen NOT to get scratched up? Fitness, exercising, working out, daily usage,,....I'm very active but I need a watch that has a rugged lip protection like the G-Shocks but with smart features too.
@@craigcarrillo5160 I am really torn between the Instinct and FR245. All I really need is my heart rate monitored, calories counted and a record of how did for the week exercising. Floors and number of steps I don't care about. Ugh, decisions, decisions lol
Battery is utter crap on the vivoactive 4, whether or not ox is on or off, whether or not the gps is on. I am charging my one week old watch every three days. Other than that, it’s quite cool!
These watches confuse me a bit. I occasionally do longer trail adventures (ultras) and need something that is good for everyday running, but can go the distance and track me for a race up to 12 hours. This is where my current VA3Music falls short. Garmin site says VA4 gets 8 days regular and 18 hours GPS, whereas 245 says 7 days and 24 hours GPS? Is there more happening in the background on the VA4 which is using more GPS batter?
The reason is because it is it a touch screen smartwatch with a display that takes up more power and also has to recognize movement of wrist to wake the screeen and all the little things that the forerunner 245 doesnt have to worry about
Yes, I just checked and it is available for the 245 Music and is in the Connect IQ store for free. That said, I was just looking at the reviews for the app and they seem to be not great. 2.2/5 There is actually a second option from a 3rd Party developer that has much better reviews called "Period Tracker."
How are the buttons on the Vivoactive? What I mean is can you lock them while working out so that wrist flexion does not press a button and stop recording a workout? This happens all the time on my Fitbit and there is no way to prevent it.
Hmmm.... I've never had that issue on my Vivoactive. I had the VA3 and used it for a long time without that ever happening, and so far it's not happened on the VA4. I guess that might depend on high you wear it on your wrist though as well.
I have a VA3 Music and while generally once you are in the pool it is fine, drops of water on the screen when you're not submerged tend to make the watch think it's being touched and you might wind up in a menu you weren't expecting.
I have 245 and am happy with it during swim, does what it should.. dont know how touch screen works in water though... simplicity wins for me... oh and I honestly cant feel it on my wrist during swimming
I am really struggling on either the vivoactive 4s or the Venu. I currently have Fitbit Versa and I love that I can put my own pics as a watch face. I run about 15 miles a week and I do love the extra data that garmin provides to runners. I’m at a cross roads. Any insight? It has to have the emergency alert but I want something durable as well.
Venu and vivoactive has same feature, however, since venu use amoled screen the alwayson display is not reliable because its only display basic hour. In my opinion go for vivoactive if you want to use for active sport and venu for style. cmiiw
Bought a new Fenix 3 from Amazon. Couldn’t keep it paired or in sync with my phone. I would install and un install with no luck. I’m on iOS 13. Will I have better luck with Vivoactive 4?
How long will last the battery life?! If i use it for indoor swim training 3 times in a week? Also if i take my phone with me while walking, will it use my phone gps or it's personal gps for tracking distance i have walked? Thanks in advance Actually i think of getting the 40mm version!
The watch lasts roughly 3 to 4 days on a charge with moderate usage (which I would consider the usage you described to be moderate). If you go for a walk and use the GPS it automatically uses the watches GPS with or without your phone being with you.
Everyone knows about Pulse Ox now because of Covid-19. I think to get all the features you mention the cheapest option from Garmin would be the Garmin Forerunner 645. The Forerunner 245 has everything but an altimeter (really weird that it wasn’t included IMO, but I think they did that on purpose so they didn’t cut into sales of their more expensive watches).
Ok, so I've been using vivoactive 4 and vivo does not searching for gps that long. But if someone use spotify - that app on garmin is VERY VERY slow and wants to "download" 100% history from app from mobile ..that sucks
Was trying to listen to this comparison while changing diapers. Impossible. 😂 You keep saying "over here" vs "over here" instead of saying "the 245" vs "the vivo". 😉
I found the Forerunner 245 music to be very finicky to navigate, as I came from a Huawei smart watch with touch screen and wanted more fitness apps, plus wanted to listen to music without my phone near me when running. Also, I found the screen on the 245 very dim and hard to read, the light button is almost useless to me. Not sure if I had a model that had a production defect.
I am nor a runner but I do cardio (elliptical) & strengh based training at the gym. I have the Vivoactive 3, I would like the recovery time features and the training effect. My current watch does not feature that, my friend has a Forerunner 735xt and she does have that. Do you know if the Vivoactive 4 has those features? also which one would you recommend the VIvoactive 4 or the Forerunner 735xt? thanks!
I don't know what Garmin is up to. I just bought my wife the Vivoactive 4s. It is super cool but one thing is massively annoying: there is no pause menu. You can stop the activity and resume so it is kinda like pause but it saves the activity after about 5 minutes. This just insane. I'd expect the software to be almost identical or at least similar. Why exactly is this part missing? They claim the FR245 to be a sports watch. Fine, better running stats, hike mode (not on VA4s) but then how come they put a barometer in the Vivoactive? So you don't hike (as there is simply no profile by default) but we give you a barometer? What for? For strolling around in town? In one word if you're on the sporty side go for the Forerunner 245, the style of the watch matters, go Vivoactive. One more thing, for a man's wrist (at least mine) both are just too small. I mean the watch face. I prefer bigger watches. Oh, by the way, what is the watchface used on the Vivoactive 4 in the video? Is that Garmin default? I haven't found it.
Zotmund Szele I do not own a garmin watch myself (yet), but I noticed that the vivoactive watches have an auto pause mode which should automatically pause the exercise when you stop (eg when you are waiting for a stop light during a run or when you stop to catch some breath or to do some stretching).
@@thiesboel3969 That's not a problem, that feature is fine. But if you stop for too long or do a manual pause the activity will be saved. Imagine a hike, you stop for a snack for 5+ minutes and the bloody watch stops the activity. You have to start another one.
I received the VA4s and immediately returned it to Amazon because the buttons were unresponsive to quick pressing. If I long pressed it would bring up the feature menu but quick press nothing. I also did not like the smaller screen 1.1" vs 1.3". I reordered a VA4 (for $199 Black Friday deal on Amazon). Was I doing something wrong or did I get a defective VA4s?
@@singggs0944 Rcvd. VA4 in 2 days from Amazon. Glad I exchanged for the 45mm face. Much easier to read. Frustrating setup. I suggest connect to computer and use Garmin Express to update software before connecting to phone. I think unresponsive buttons on VA4s was caused by incomplete setup by connecting to phone before updating software on watch. After struggling with setup, it seems to be working well. Pairing to earbuds went well. Going for 1st run this morning. Wish me luck.
You really shouldn’t focus most of your direction towards running because a lot of people get these watches for many other reasons. I noticed every comparison you use on all your videos is in someway or another focused or directed towards running. It makes me want to go check other peoples reviews because I cannot relate to the running aspect however I am a weightlifter.
I understand the frustration. I'm annoyed that they didn't put an altimeter in the Forerunner 245, but it makes business sense. If they put all of the Forerunner features in the Vivoactive, it would hurt the market for the Forerunner.
I’m not a competing runner (anymore) but I am getting back into it and want to train to run a half marathon and eventually a marathon, so I think the FR245 will be best to help me with that
"if you're an average runner that is running 4-5 miles a day," then go with the Vivo, he says, because the FR, I guess, is for above average runners. This was hilarious to me. If you are running 4 miles a day (28 mi/wk) , you deserve that Forerunner!
The average "runner" is probably running 3 miles per week xD
@@i.i.iiii.i.i Lol he said "runner" not mom that works out occasionally and runs 3mi a week
My first thought. I was like dang, I thought I was doing good at 5 miles 4 times a week lol
That is not even avg, avg would be like 35-40 miles a week.
@@sebastianwt Not for me. Congrats on being an ass though.
Thank you! Defenitly gonna go with the 245!
I'm happy with my Vivoactive 4. I just try to make sure the body battery is 100 to start the day
basically venu is better for someone who is a varied athlete, someone who goes to the gym, rock climbing, swimming, running, etc. Training status is really only useful for running, as it can't track whether you are being effective in your gym workouts
Very true!
What if I had to choose between the vivoactive4 and the forerunner245? I do rock climbing, track(sprinting), and Cross Country?
What about cycling and weight training? Do these also work for those activities, and which is better?
@@mustafagorkemkoksal dc rainmaker?
@@mustafagorkemkoksal his channel's name is Techy Agent :)
Thank you so much for reviewing this! I still don’t know what I want! Because I run everyday 5 miles and on the weekends 13 miles but I like that it has more features the Vivoactive 4 and it has yoga ans Pilates!
cheech The 245 has Pilates and yoga and you can download pretty much any sports profiles from the Garmin iq store which is free.
I reviewed hundreds of watches before making a purchase. If you have a budge and cannot commit to a Fenix 5 plus, or any of the high end watches, the Garmin forerunner 245 music is the best!!!
@@trystendawson7473 what would you choose between the forerunner 245 and venu?
Depends on if you want a watch styled around closer to a smartphone because that's what you will get with the venu. Keep in mind the short battery life though. I love my 245, but when they come out with a smartwatch that has it all and a 7 day battery life, Ipl be getting that one for sure!
@@trystendawson7473 i agree!!! I went with the Apple Watch! It’s awesome
I prefer the touch screen with my workouts to buttons and i feel like the vivo active 4 is better for different types of workouts and is decent enough for runners pros included . The 245 is more just geared towards runners only with some added stats that i really don't think are essential but a nice have. I just think the better over all watch is the Vivo active 4.
honestly would cost less than nothing for garmin to add those stats and metronome to the va4.... just that they prefer to have 2 good watches for different needs than the best m&€+!f€@%®✓® smartwatch out there 😅
Not having the recovery metrics on the VA4 is a deal breaker for me. Having that with my polar watches has been one of the things that drew me to that brand to begin with. If I just wanted a smart watch I might choose the VA4. I will say though my experience with the VA4 as a fitness tracker was horrible. The heart rate data has been completely off in my experience. I’m not sure if they don’t have as much power to the sensor as in some of the other Garmin watches or what but wearing them at the same time the forerunner keeps a much closer heart rate to my polar OH1+. The VA4 will just have these run away heart rates at times. Even while I’m resting between an interview the VA4 heart rate will keep rising where as the forerunner and oh1 will catch my heart rate recovering. I thought I just had a bad unit but then about 5 days ago DC rainmaker notated something very similar in his review video. The data coming from the sensors was no where near as accurate as the other elevate 3 sensor equipped Garmins from this year.
Great comparison. I'm liking the Vivoactive 4 as a Samsung G3 Frontier user who ran over 600 miles this year and needs a more serious fitness watch. Gear isn't that great with fitness tracking.
The reason I switched from Apple Watch to Garmin forerunner because of the physical buttons. When I have a long run, I have sweat all over my body, I couldn’t operate my Apple Watch with its touch screen.
Yes but vivoactive 4 has 2 buttons
Wonderful Day it is for start and stop
I typically lift weights 3 days a week and run 2-3 times a week. I just recently started running again and I plan on running a half marathon potentially. Would the vivoactive 4 (or venu) or the 245 be better for me? The increased number of features on the 245 sounds nice, but is it excessive for the amount of running I do?
I run 4 times a week and have the vivoactive 3. I’ve been more than happy with the metrics! Unless you’re training competitively the vivo will be more than enough IMO. Ask yourself: do you need your watch to measure your V02 max and training regimen or do you just need it to track your routes, miles, heart rate, and steps?
One major difference between the two watches that I feel you should have mentioned is that the vivoactive is constrained to the activities that Garmin has decided to allow you, where as you are free to create your own activities on the forerunner. It may not be an issue for the most consumers, but if you happen to train something that is not on the Garmin approved list you are just not able to track it the way you can on the forerunner. A bit sad really as thebvivoactive is in many other aspects a killer watch.
Other comments here suggest activities not preloaded can very well added through the Garmin connect in VIVo and there is no difference on that aspect. Can you kindly clarify more .
I believe the vivo active has garmin pay? the forerunner doesn't.
Correct
Depending where you are Garmin pay is pretty limited. In the UK, there are currently (Ha 2020)only a handful of supported Banks (few of them big names).
Great video, thx. I’m coming from a Fitbit Ionic and I wanted to jump into Garmin since I find the Fitbit app very basic (even if the watch is good). The running analytics of 245 is a big plus....but definitely like the looks of the vivoactive more. How is it to live with the 245 as a smart watch (outside exercising)? How difficult is to see and interact with notifications or setting timers and alarms with only the buttons in 245? I’m worried that coming from Ionic it will be frustrating using the 245 outside exercising
If you are coming from an Ionic I think that you will find the Vivoactive 4 to be a more seamless transition. As for responding to messages and other "smartwatch" type features I personally don't see a huge difference. The Vivoactive has more features on that end, but I don't find the buttons on the 245 to be any more difficult to use on that end. Personally I like the physical buttons, and I thought that I wouldn't when I initially bought the Fenix 5 Plus.
I know that my response doesn't help you necessarily decide which is the "best" for you, but if I had to choose one of these watches I think my choice would be for the Forerunner 245 Music.
What did you end up getting?
I've noticed that while the two watches are similarly-priced new, the Forerunner 245 (especially the Music version) is considerably more expensive to buy pre-owned than the Vivoactive 4. For example, from CeX I could buy a B-grade Vivoactive 4 for £165 but a 245 Music would set me back £230.
It makes me wonder whether the additional running metrics of the Forerunner would be worth the extra money, given that I'm someone who has recently completed the Bridge to 10k programme and takes about 57 minutes to run that distance (although I'd ideally like to be able to do it in 50 minutes at some point)?
Same here. What was your decition?
@@guidoc3518 Neither in the end, as I found I could buy a Forerunner 645 for £160.
Fantastic review! Thank you.
Can the vivoactive be used for interval running? I did a comparison on the Garmin homepage and it says it can't, but quite a few sellers told me it is perfectly possible. Would be grateful for your answer.
Yes it can be used, but what you can't do is set interval on watch itself, you need to create an workwount on PC and send it to you watch.
Great video! Made my choice
I can keep rhythm with no metronome, no metronome, no metronome.
Metronome, metronome, metronome
At least somebody got it...a year later:)
Awesome review! Btw 4:32 8 days, not 8 hrs 😉
Fantastic review! Thank you very much!
I little question regarding the GPS. I don't know if you know the answer, but here goes. I have read several in depth reviews on these two watches and I can't decide on which one to buy. It looks like the GPS on the Garmin Forerunner 245 is better then the vivoactive 4, but don't they use the same satellite services?
Should I get the Forerunner 245 over the Vivoactive 4 or Venu just for Training Status? I don't really care about looks, I do rowing (which Vivoactive 4 natively supports) and running but I´d think the Forerunner would be more useful bc of Training Status?
If you have headphones connected to your watch via bluetooth, can you hear the pace alerts on the headphones? Or are the alerts only heard on the watch itself? Please let me know.
You can hear them on the headphones, at least on the 245m.
You sound like Nate from The Office.
I had to look up who Nate from the Office was, and then watch some of his UA-cam clips then of course.... I don't hear it, but I'll take your word for it.
Hello, could you tell me what name the WatchFaces of vivoactive 4 has? Thanks
Ed sky tracker
Does either of them have an accurate heart rate monitor? What about intervals? Can it measure them accurately?
Down a shot of vodka every time he says the word “Run”
Great video. It's helpful thanks
Does the 245 music track gym activity?
FR 245 works great for me!!
Thank you! I just want to know what are your thoughts about hiking tracking? Which one do you think would be better?
Hi! I've been wearing the vivoactive 4 for almost a week now and I just wanted to let you guys know that I don't have the issues with the touchscreen. The way I saw you struggling in the video by swiping up to get to the options menu has never even once happened to me. Maybe your touchscreen is faulty?
Edit: also, where can I get that watchface, is it in the connect IQ store?
The watchface is called SkyTracker - Anti-Aliasing, and it is available on the ConnectIQ Store.
@@donavonhornbeck Thanks! Found it and loving it :)
Which one would you recommend for a marathon? I plan to run the marathon on 3:11, my biggest fear is that the battery runs out since its a must have for me. Thanks for your insight
Personally I like the Forerunner a bit more, but you’ll be fine with either of these in a marathon. Both can easily make it for over a 4 hr. marathon.
@@donavonhornbeck would the vivoactive 3 or the amazfit Stratos would resist the 4h music and GPS? Or do you think it's worth it to jump into the vivoactive 4?
I would 100% go for the Forerunner 245 - the touch screen of the Vivio is simply not as easy to use as the buttons on the 245 are for a dedicated runner. (I have had a 235 for a year and loved it - just upgraded to the 645 (again button based).
I like doing tempo and interval runs. Do both watches have the ability to create a workout that the watch will chime me through. I currently have the 220 (I know, it's old, that's why I'm shopping 🤣) and I use that interval workout feature a ton. Not all my intervals are the same though so 4 x .5 mi with 2 min rest then 2 x 1 mi with 2 min rest for example. Could both watches do this?
yeah the 245 can definitely do it when you set up a workout. and personalty if your getting it for running getting a watch with physical buttons is worth it over the touch screen
Thanks for the great video!
👋 hello , thanks for this video. I have a question, if you would kindly address the same !! Now the current price of Venu is 175$ usd , does that make it more worth the purchase ? Or you’d still recommend the Vivoactive 4 ! Thanks 🙏🏼
You didn't mention the biggest differences, imho - the 245 supports HRM-Run, which adds a lot of running data like vertical oscillation, the Vivoactive 4 doesn't. Meanwhile, Vivoactive 4 has Garmin Pay, FR245 doesn't.
What is HRM-Run?
@@wonderfulday4660 It's a heart rate monitor by Garmin made specifically for runners, it gives you lots of additional data for proper running form and better training like ground contact time/ratio, vertical oscillation etc. Not necessary per se, but useful.
@@qwertyCandy well I'd like to learn a proper running form... I need a watch for calisthenics to know did i get enough rest, did i recover, when it's best to go for work out (stress lvl and other stuff from vivoactive 4) and i also need watch to run a sub 3:30 marathon in the future, can't choose between these two watches
Also for now i run 3 times a week, once per week 10k, i have mi band 4 with sensor display and i had issues with stopping it by sweaty fingers
But i lean towards vivoactive 4 since I want to focus more on calisthenics... What would you recommend?
@@qwertyCandy just checked and in comparison there is pointed that vivoactive had HRM as well
@@wonderfulday4660 vivoactive is better for calisthenics, i got the venu for that because i found it cheaper on a website compared to the vivoactive. Venu is basically just a VA4 with an amoled screen
What do you recommend for a strength based track runner out of all smart watches
I have found the FR245 music great for strength. It auto-detects many exercises but if you aren't satisfied with its occasional mistakes or you do leg exercises, planks and holds, you can program the workout on Garmin connect and sync it to the watch for a more seamless and uninterrupted workout. Unlike in Samsung Health on the Active 2 (which also counts reps), mal-detected exercises can be corrected after the fact and there's no need to stop and put in the next exercises, you just start a new set. Finally, the music version includes suggested workout playlists to download over wifi; these have a set BPM range to get you in the rhythm. I have a Samsung phone and the Active 2 44mm stainless is beautiful, but it doesn't quite hold up to the Garmin for simplicity when working out/listening to music, and I'm terrified of doing anything gritty with it, so it's being returned in favour of keeping the FR245M. I do miss contactless payments but I don't miss the altimeter (which is rubbish on most Garmins and all Samsungs anyway).
Nice review. Its possible to program interval training with the garmin connect to use with vivoactive 4?
Have you moved any of the Samsung Touch Watch on FR 245? What was the Amoled display currency, at it. And how a long time to get used to control the buttons? I still have a fear that I will miss the barometer at FR 245, but it is said to show a cant with GPS ...
Hi, I’m looking for a second watch right now. Apparently I’m getting “Fitness/Health” watch this time. My main activities are light jogging for about 10 minutes everyday and do some bodyweight exercises. I’m thinking Garmin is the best choice, but which model is enough for those activities and reasonable price (not over expensive like the Instinct Solar). Thanks.
I love my vivoactive 3 and would highly recommend the 4. I think the 245 would be too many superfluous metrics for the extra price.
Great review and comparison! :) I'm considering buying VA 4s as my first Garmin watch mostly for swimming and cycling. Does anyone use it for swimming? Does it measure the pool lengths accurately? And also I heard that it takes him quite a lot of time to find the GPS signal - is it true?
Do you recommend It? I'm keen on swimming, cycling, hiking... Sometimes running
@@guidoc3518 would like to know that too if you have any infos.
It doesn't measure the pool length, you enter in the settings for the activity. If it is set wrong, you can correct it afterwards and suddenly your 500m swim becomes 1000m for a pool size change from 25m to 50m. GPS is fast enough.
Thank-you! Did help me.
which is better for cycling?
My screen failed on the Vivoactive 3 after 13 months. I think I will go with the 245m to avoid the touchscreen. I really wish music & podcasts could be more easily transferred using Bluetooth only as opposed to needing to be in WiFi. This is fine at home but syncing the watch to different WiFi’s is a pain
Came across multiple threads with f245 with white spots on screen so probably don't have to base the choice on the screen lol.
I like my VA4 but having just gotten the HRMPro it miffs me that it's not compatible (for dumping HR info captured when not wearing the watch). Looking at getting the 245 now.(or saving for something more up market).
7:21 Thats why you never buy a sports watch with touch screen. Good luck with that if it rains or gets sweaty. LMAO
😂 Just bought the Forerunner 45 and was disappointed it wasn't touch screen but you just made me appreciate the fact that it's not!
Have you had a touchscreen running watch? I love my VA3Music. During an activity the screen is locked. I have never had an issue in rain, sweat, even works pretty well with gloves on.
@bravia67 lol you realize that now touchscreens can detect if theres alot of inputs at once (Like from a water drop)? It doesn't register it as input. Even a cheap ass mi band 4 has anti water and shower activation
@@flighted2513 That's still a problem if you want it to register your input, but there's too much rain or sweat so it just ignored you.
There is a screen lock option in the vivo active 3 . I wonder if the 4 still has that feature.
I am looking for a garmin watch for hiking and good gps can track my trail. I don't necessarily use the garmin map during the trail, but just would like to have all my trails track extracted in my computer. I am a beginner, do this for fun. And also want to record my gym, daily exercise, tennis etc. Which garmin would you suggest? Thanks
Garmin users,....how is it possible for the larger screen NOT to get scratched up? Fitness, exercising, working out, daily usage,,....I'm very active but I need a watch that has a rugged lip protection like the G-Shocks but with smart features too.
Mike L garmin instinct is what I have looks just like a g-shock
@@craigcarrillo5160 I am really torn between the Instinct and FR245. All I really need is my heart rate monitored, calories counted and a record of how did for the week exercising. Floors and number of steps I don't care about. Ugh, decisions, decisions lol
vivoactive 4 has visual guided workouts for pilates, yoga, strength and cardio. This feature can only be found on fenix 6 pro.
I dunno man. Compare the 2 with swimming pool and open water
Is the training load just for running? I don't run, i do sprints and sled work.
Does vivo active 4 match/ sync with IPhone XR ?
Yes they're compatible, but you can't reply to messages on the watch because of Apple's security limitations. Everything else works perfectly.
@Donavon Hornbeck
What prompted you to seek a new watch after owning the FR245 for less than a year?
Battery is utter crap on the vivoactive 4, whether or not ox is on or off, whether or not the gps is on. I am charging my one week old watch every three days. Other than that, it’s quite cool!
What would you recommend for strength training ?
vivo
I go for 245 bcause my hobb is listening the music...🤘
hi, can you please link this two watchfaces used in the video? thank you :)
Great video! Could you tell me the name of the watchface ? Cool!
I´ve found it: skytracker
For trail running, vivoactive 4 or forerunner 245?
Hi mate! Did you face screen scratches issues as some users do report?! Looking forward to your response ))
Hey bud how come on mine the back light comes on but its not blue like yours ?
These watches confuse me a bit. I occasionally do longer trail adventures (ultras) and need something that is good for everyday running, but can go the distance and track me for a race up to 12 hours. This is where my current VA3Music falls short. Garmin site says VA4 gets 8 days regular and 18 hours GPS, whereas 245 says 7 days and 24 hours GPS? Is there more happening in the background on the VA4 which is using more GPS batter?
The reason is because it is it a touch screen smartwatch with a display that takes up more power and also has to recognize movement of wrist to wake the screeen and all the little things that the forerunner 245 doesnt have to worry about
@@GadgetGreg I have the 235 and the VA3. If you want awesome battery life with the VA series, just turn off the wake screen and boom!
On the garmin's website, it says that the forerunner 245 music does menstrual tracking (it's on the Garmin Connect app supposedly...)
Yes, I just checked and it is available for the 245 Music and is in the Connect IQ store for free. That said, I was just looking at the reviews for the app and they seem to be not great. 2.2/5 There is actually a second option from a 3rd Party developer that has much better reviews called "Period Tracker."
How are the buttons on the Vivoactive? What I mean is can you lock them while working out so that wrist flexion does not press a button and stop recording a workout? This happens all the time on my Fitbit and there is no way to prevent it.
Hmmm.... I've never had that issue on my Vivoactive. I had the VA3 and used it for a long time without that ever happening, and so far it's not happened on the VA4. I guess that might depend on high you wear it on your wrist though as well.
Training effort is available on Strava paid version 👌
what is the watchface on the vivo active 4 ? is it a new default one ? or did you find it somewhere ?
I would like to know as well
skytracker
which one would you recommend for swimming?
I have a VA3 Music and while generally once you are in the pool it is fine, drops of water on the screen when you're not submerged tend to make the watch think it's being touched and you might wind up in a menu you weren't expecting.
I have 245 and am happy with it during swim, does what it should.. dont know how touch screen works in water though... simplicity wins for me... oh and I honestly cant feel it on my wrist during swimming
What do you recommend for road cycling?
A Garmin edge 830.
What the name of face on the Vivoactive 4 ?
Can you please review amazfit t rex?
I am really struggling on either the vivoactive 4s or the Venu. I currently have Fitbit Versa and I love that I can put my own pics as a watch face. I run about 15 miles a week and I do love the extra data that garmin provides to runners. I’m at a cross roads. Any insight? It has to have the emergency alert but I want something durable as well.
Venu and vivoactive has same feature, however, since venu use amoled screen the alwayson display is not reliable because its only display basic hour. In my opinion go for vivoactive if you want to use for active sport and venu for style. cmiiw
Bought a new Fenix 3 from Amazon. Couldn’t keep it paired or in sync with my phone. I would install and un install with no luck. I’m on iOS 13. Will I have better luck with Vivoactive 4?
Sleep tracker ?
How long will last the battery life?! If i use it for indoor swim training 3 times in a week?
Also if i take my phone with me while walking, will it use my phone gps or it's personal gps for tracking distance i have walked?
Thanks in advance
Actually i think of getting the 40mm version!
The watch lasts roughly 3 to 4 days on a charge with moderate usage (which I would consider the usage you described to be moderate). If you go for a walk and use the GPS it automatically uses the watches GPS with or without your phone being with you.
Donavon Hornbeck thank you kind sir))
Donavon Hornbeck like to be honest considering to buy that watch orrr maybe apple watch 3 42mm.... can't decide yetttt)
Is there one with more of the vivoactive 4 features like the all day pulse ox and altimeter but without the touch screen?
Everyone knows about Pulse Ox now because of Covid-19. I think to get all the features you mention the cheapest option from Garmin would be the Garmin Forerunner 645. The Forerunner 245 has everything but an altimeter (really weird that it wasn’t included IMO, but I think they did that on purpose so they didn’t cut into sales of their more expensive watches).
Minus altimeter, Do get accurate tracking of running or cycling?
Does this vivo waits for gps that long??
Ok, so I've been using vivoactive 4 and vivo does not searching for gps that long. But if someone use spotify - that app on garmin is VERY VERY slow and wants to "download" 100% history from app from mobile ..that sucks
It could be that the delay is because he's indoors.
Was trying to listen to this comparison while changing diapers. Impossible. 😂 You keep saying "over here" vs "over here" instead of saying "the 245" vs "the vivo". 😉
Next time I'll have to keep the "diaper changing" viewers in mind 😅 I've been known to change a few diapers while watching UA-cam myself 👍
@@donavonhornbeck Still a very helpful comparison. Thanks!
Does the vivoactive 4 navigation has bread clump map as well?
no
which better for ride a bike? only 10km per day
For battery life what I'd you don't use it for running and just using it for notifications and others
Which one have a better or accurate gps? Or it is just the same?
Exactly that's all I care about.
I found the Forerunner 245 music to be very finicky to navigate, as I came from a Huawei smart watch with touch screen and wanted more fitness apps, plus wanted to listen to music without my phone near me when running. Also, I found the screen on the 245 very dim and hard to read, the light button is almost useless to me. Not sure if I had a model that had a production defect.
definitly vivoactive 4
I am nor a runner but I do cardio (elliptical) & strengh based training at the gym. I have the Vivoactive 3, I would like the recovery time features and the training effect. My current watch does not feature that, my friend has a Forerunner 735xt and she does have that. Do you know if the Vivoactive 4 has those features? also which one would you recommend the VIvoactive 4 or the Forerunner 735xt? thanks!
The Vivoactive 4 does not have that feature, but the Forerunner 245, 645, and 945 all have those features.
I don't know what Garmin is up to. I just bought my wife the Vivoactive 4s. It is super cool but one thing is massively annoying: there is no pause menu. You can stop the activity and resume so it is kinda like pause but it saves the activity after about 5 minutes. This just insane. I'd expect the software to be almost identical or at least similar.
Why exactly is this part missing?
They claim the FR245 to be a sports watch. Fine, better running stats, hike mode (not on VA4s) but then how come they put a barometer in the Vivoactive? So you don't hike (as there is simply no profile by default) but we give you a barometer? What for? For strolling around in town?
In one word if you're on the sporty side go for the Forerunner 245, the style of the watch matters, go Vivoactive. One more thing, for a man's wrist (at least mine) both are just too small. I mean the watch face. I prefer bigger watches.
Oh, by the way, what is the watchface used on the Vivoactive 4 in the video? Is that Garmin default? I haven't found it.
Zotmund Szele I do not own a garmin watch myself (yet), but I noticed that the vivoactive watches have an auto pause mode which should automatically pause the exercise when you stop (eg when you are waiting for a stop light during a run or when you stop to catch some breath or to do some stretching).
@@thiesboel3969 That's not a problem, that feature is fine. But if you stop for too long or do a manual pause the activity will be saved. Imagine a hike, you stop for a snack for 5+ minutes and the bloody watch stops the activity. You have to start another one.
I'm pretty sure the barometer is in the VA just to try to count stairs. It doesn't work very well.
I received the VA4s and immediately returned it to Amazon because the buttons were unresponsive to quick pressing. If I long pressed it would bring up the feature menu but quick press nothing. I also did not like the smaller screen 1.1" vs 1.3". I reordered a VA4 (for $199 Black Friday deal on Amazon). Was I doing something wrong or did I get a defective VA4s?
Planning to order that aswell, did you receive you device yet or no? And how is it if
@@singggs0944 Rcvd. VA4 in 2 days from Amazon. Glad I exchanged for the 45mm face. Much easier to read. Frustrating setup. I suggest connect to computer and use Garmin Express to update software before connecting to phone. I think unresponsive buttons on VA4s was caused by incomplete setup by connecting to phone before updating software on watch. After struggling with setup, it seems to be working well. Pairing to earbuds went well. Going for 1st run this morning. Wish me luck.
Thank's
What do you recommended for run everyday?
Both are great watches, but if you specifically want a watch for running, then I prefer the Garmin Forerunner 245.
HI! What do you recommend for running and swimming? For running 10km and maybe swimming once a week?
Nice video, great comparisons, very helpful!
I must say though, 'Buh un' makes me cringe... "button" ;)
👍👍👍
What about the 45
I don't have that one, but a close friend has it. If you don't care about having music and don't mind a smaller watch face it's a great watch.
You really shouldn’t focus most of your direction towards running because a lot of people get these watches for many other reasons. I noticed every comparison you use on all your videos is in someway or another focused or directed towards running. It makes me want to go check other peoples reviews because I cannot relate to the running aspect however I am a weightlifter.
I WABT TO KNOW About SWIMMING Workout's AND OUT DOoR CYCLING GPS
Buy fenix 6......
You pay fucking 330 euros and get not even all of the available modes for running! Wtf is wrong with garmin and their politics
I understand the frustration. I'm annoyed that they didn't put an altimeter in the Forerunner 245, but it makes business sense. If they put all of the Forerunner features in the Vivoactive, it would hurt the market for the Forerunner.
None. You should not buy Garmin.
Why not?
The way you say button is annoying. Sorry.
haha we all have our quirks, i have my own to lol
Sounds like he really pushed your "buh uns"
Would be great if you actually pronounced the letter 'T' occasionally. Painful listening.