Always appreciate the depth in these reviews. I wasn't even aware that this was on Garmin's roadmap. I think Im going to stick with my 245, but this was definitely helpful in case I want to upgrade.
Got a Fenix 6x Pro Solar because of this channel and couldn't be happier. First found out about the HRM Pro as well from here just today. Ordered it and it'll be here on the 23rd. Thanks for the in-depth and honest reviews. Look forward to many, many more.
the 745 in 2023 is in my opinion at least on paper probably the best watch for not just runners but for people with active lifestyles. You could buy a 745 and be happy with it for a while. I currently have a 245 music , and was looking at the new 255 music but at 400 dollars and for all the tech you get, spending the extra 50-100 dollars on a 745 is really no question.
Vo2Max 58! Good job :) Anyway, your conclusion is perfectly correct concerning the gap between 245 and 745. After week long reasoning about the pros and cons, in february I finally purchased a 245M at price of below 280€, not completely convinced bc of altimeter missing. I even had a VA4 for testing some weeks before but I found out that my sports watch needs to have buttons in any case and so returned taht device. Had the 745 been available then, this would have been the device to buy. I'll be monitoring the development of prices closely, especially the gap between 745 and 945. I love my 245 but the feeling that it lacks sth (Altim,Multisport,Segments) never ceased.
thanks for the great review! I like the 945 too but it is way too expensive and I believe the 745 would do a good enough job for me. Good to know. Have a great day!
I had the 735XT for a couple of years and upgraded to the 945 this April. The 745 would be my choice now, since I don’t use maps nor listen to music through my watch. The only real reason to buy a 945 in my opinion is the longer battery life. It will be interesting to see what the price difference will be in 6 months (including discounts).
Made my decision for the forerunner 745 , thank you for the detail review . Getting ready for my first marathon and it was time to graduate from the apple watch . Thanks
Thanks for the review I was deciding between vivo active 4 and the forerunner and I think I will go with the forerunner thanks for helping me see the perks of each
Hello I'm Brazilian, I started watching your videos because of the Apple watch series 6, the now I'm enjoying your other videos even without understanding everything you say, because I don't speak English. But I'm enjoying the videos. Abraf
I know this is 2 years on, but great review. I've got a 735XT which started acting up last week, and is pretty much dying. I've sent it in to Garmin South Africa for assessment, hopefully they'll offer a 745 replacement with a discounted price.
@@DesFit Great Video , wonder if you could help a New guy .. i'm into MTB and enduro , and would love to track my Laps without using the GPS on the Bar . Also do some home Workouts ( still in lockdown ) and has soon i'm allowed some Pool swimming. Wondering what would be the best , balanced watch ( would like to keep the price at low point) watched your review on the instinct and thought to myself .. yeahh that's the one .. but then i didn't had the Vo2 max to calculate estimated recovery . By the way keep up the good work love your videos, clean and simple
VO2 max for cycling is available on Garmin watches that support power meters, so the FR745 and up or the Fenix line of watches. If you’re trying to keep your cost low you could go for something like the FR245, which doesn’t support power meters, but still provides training feedback based on HR. Thanks!
Thank you so much, this might be the most informative and thorough watch review I’ve seen recently (swimming HR 👍). I am a Garmin user and for my second watch I thought about trying a new brand but after seeing alternatives in person I have decided to stick with Garmin for longer. I have no patience for low product standards and high patience for putting in the time to find the right watch for my needs. Barometric altimeter reliability is my biggest requirement. Both accuracy and durability. Did you ever have Garmin Forerunner barometer sensors fail over longer periods of time say 6+ months? I see enough complaints about this on older Garmin watches, not sure if they are trolling or what. If this actually was an issue back then, then I’m hoping it’s no longer an issue now with current models. But I also saw your 945 LTE video earlier and the altitude information didn’t seem reliable. I don’t know why a brand new flagship running model can’t get this right out of the box. Have you tested any of 745, 945, and 945 LTE extensively enough to comment on their barometer accuracy? If they aren’t gonna be reliable for several years I might as well just get the 245. Are barometer sensors expected to degrade over time in general regardless of the brand? I do find Garmin FR barometer location to be peculiar since it will collect sweat and grime more easily. Have you had any issues with the sensor location? Any input would be appreciated Des. I will take all the time I need to find the right watch.
I've found that all barometric altimeters can wander over time but that's mainly due to debris clogging the sensor. You can sometimes clean them out carefully. I still use the original 945 as a reference device for some of my current tests and that watch is nearly 2 years old now and still produces usable elevation data.
Super comprehensive job as always, Des! You forgot high altitude parachute jumps, but oh well. Maybe we’ll see an updated 6 series with a Venu like amoled screen soon? What do you think? Garmin has used the same resolution screen on so many watches. It would be nice to get a bump in resolution with one or two of its watches, particularly ones that have the more advanced training metrics.
Thanks for the review. I was so excited about this model! I’ve been waiting whole year for it. Until I saw a battery life. What is the point to have just 16h when cheaper 245 has 24h with GPS? Cmon Garmin, you can do better😅
Yeah - battery sucks. I wanted to replace my 935 and since i do Ironmans this is too close. When battery gets worse over time i dont want to risk it. My sub 12 time is too close to 16. God damn it Garmin.
Hi Des, first time viewer here. I appreciate that you addressed the GPS and heart rate accuracy. The rest of the review sounds like a reading of the manual, to be honest. It would've been much more productive if you talked about points of contention, like the price and comparison to other models, especialy functionality-wise. There are models on the market that do the same things as (or more than) the FR 745 and have a better price-performance ratio.
Wow @8:55 - what VO2max indoor cycling workout did you do that gave you an aerobic training effect of 5.0 and an exercise load of 317 for a one-hour workout?!? Great review, BTW, and love the channel.
Hi Des, pretty helpful, thanks! I am a gym dude only cares about weight training. I have also checked your review on Coros Pace 2. My budget is anything below $400, but I don't mind paying a little more for some great stregnth training features. What I don't want is to spend more if the $200 Coros Pace 2 can meet all my needs. Based on your opinion, which is the best smartwatch for a weightlifter? I would highly apprecite your opnion; the smartwatch market is too overwhelming!!!
Thanks for this review, super helpful! Do you think the altimeter is necessary? I live in Texas where the elevation drop/gain isn’t a big part of my daily fitness journey. However, when I go to Colorado, etc.. I’d like to have it.
The altimeter can make a difference being able to see accumulated elevation gain and loss in real time during an activity, however, total elevation gain and loss can still be calculated for your activity after you save it based on the GPS data. Hope that helps. Thanks!
Save yourself lot of and get FR945. 745 is super cheaply built. The middle button fell off and garmin did nothing to help except ask me to return this to best buy.. luckily BB took it back as they had extended policy for the holidays. I am glad because 945 ended up being a lot nicer.
Question-For running only and daily body stats - this or the instinct solar? Also Thought about the 45 but altimeter is important to me. Great vid! Thanks!
That's a tough one. The 745 is more current and it's nice and light, but the fenix 5 Plus Ti is a darn nice watch. Functionally they are very similar. It would be a toss up for me as well - I don't think I can help! Thanks though!
Wrist HR during exercise is pretty useless. I only trust the strap. Great video as always. I actually think a rectangular case would be best for sports viewing.
Very cool channel that does in-depth reviews on these watches! Just subscribed! May I check with you how does this fare with 735XT? In my area, 735XT is half the price of the 745. Was just wondering to just get the 735XT
I've had a 735XT and it's unfortunately as of yesterday has now come to end of life. I'm really on the fence to what to go for next. I run, do a bit of swimming and play golf. I don't think I used half the features on the 735XT so not sure if to just go for Venu 2?
It’s based off of distance and heart rate, so if you do a lot of trail running it can be off. In fact, if you use the trail run profile it doesn’t account for that data in your VO2 Max. Hope that helps! Thanks!
@@DesFit So if I record under the regular 'run' profile but my streets have a slight hill, it'll throw off the VO2MAX? The 745 (and 945) has a barometer, wonder why they can't factor the elevation change into the formula...
Slight hills shouldn’t be an issue, more the steep stuff while trail running. I have many hills around my neighborhood and they don’t affect the VO2 Max readings
The screen is sized 1'2 like the 245, 735, 935, 945, Fenix 5, 5s, 5x and so fourth... What's the point in just changing the case size?! The 245 has actually the best screen to body ratio!
Great video! I can't decide if I want FR945 or FR745. I am worried about FR945 future updates when it will be 2 years since it has been released. I like new functions as Workout Suggestions or better recovery estimate. Do you think FR945 is still worth it?
Yup, the 945 is still a great watch. There's always new tech on the horizon but with these sort of gadgets, I'd say just enjoy the toys now. :) Thanks!
Thanks for the video. I recently bought a Fenix 5+. What do you think the chances are of them upgrading the watch software on that to the same level as this on the 745?
HI Sir, Thanks for the great review, Have done two Ultra marathons and three Full marathons till date but by using friend's Garmin 735XT😀, First time going to buy Garmin, Shall I opt for Garmin FR 255, pls guide whether i should go for garmin 745 or 255
Awesome with loads of informations b4 thinking to upgrade mine. I do some HIIT training in d gym, example Tabata with mixture of bodyweight n some weight. Can the strength profile customized such workout???
Also, it's interesting that despite the new 745 has the new sony GPS chipset and a slightly bigger case, it has the same battery life as the old 645. It's stage since other x45 devices all got their battery life doubled from the previous generation as the sony chipset is twice as efficient. I wonder why and suspecting Garmin is handicapping the battery life on purpose to make 745 less appealing.
Did you use Favero duel pedals or just the uno for your test? Also thanks for the in-depth review on the elevation I have Fenix 3 and it’s terrible for elevation! I would also like to see a comparison video between us and the Apple series 6 watch on outdoor swimming.Since they’re the same price and dc rainmaker really liked the series 5 for outdoor swimming.
DesFit [👆us * forerunner 745] Darn, I have the Favero dou pedals lol. I could use an upgrade on my watch and haven’t sprung for the bike computer. I heard you can get those metrics only on ant+ on the Garmin bike computer. Is that true and was the watch synced up on ant+?
Yes, the advanced cycling dynamics are available over ANT+ for the Assiomas but I don’t know off hand if those are available for the Fenix 3. Maybe I’m not understanding your query?
Great video as usual! Been using fr745 for a month, connected it to Strava, no issues while uploading activities beside the Strava doesn't seem recognizing this series yet (strava not showing fr745 as the gear logo in each activity). Have you experiencing the same issue? Appreciate your help. Thank you.
Enjoyed the review. Could you do a comparison between the 645 music and the the new 765? Trying to decide if it's worth upgrading to the new 765 as I currently own the 645 music and is less then a year old. Thank you in advance.
Hello! Off topic but is Samsung watches still horrible with the heart rate sensor on the Galaxy Watch 3? Are you still going to drop a review on that? Keek to get a Samsung watch but it was so bad on your Active 2 review.
The fenix 6s is only £50 more in the UK at least. What would you go with? I understand Fenix has maps too and optional solar though that is much more pricey.
Nice review. As usual. Thanks. A question. If I use my Edge 1030 for cycling and sync this as well as the 1030 to Connect, will my bike rides show up here for the 'load'?
Physio Tru Up seems to be a bit mysterious. As you can imagine I have lot of devices syncing into one Garmin Connect account and sometimes the metrics line up, sometimes they don't. However, just taking a quick look at the devices that I am not currently using, most the training metrics seem to be syncing over to them.
In Garmin's website they mentioned this feature "CYCLE MAP (ROUTABLE CYCLING-SPECIFIC STREET MAP)" I can't see that in the video is that real maps for cycling only
Fantastic review but I do have one question for you. I am currently weighing up purchasing the 745 but I am also interested in the the Apple Watch Series 6. Which one would you recommend purchasing from a running, daily fitness and training perspective? I think the Apple wins the Smart Watch / App argument hands down but would appreciate your view.
It may come down to the training data that you can get from the 745 such as the Training Load, Recovery Advisor, etc... It's really tough - the Apple Watch is such a great smartwatch and actually performs quite well in the fitness capacity, it's just that the native software is a little limited on features.
There were a few features such as the sleep widget, the track run profile, as well as suggested workouts that weren't available on the 945 when the 745 launched, but all those will be making it to the 945 via firmware updates very soon. Thanks!
I have a question about the strength training feature. Can you get a decent collection of data without having to keep pressing the lap button each time before and after a set or new exercise. I like to just keep rolling with my training without the constant stop start distractions of having to constantly press something? I just purchased this watch and This will be my first ever smart watch
I find it very interesting that Garmin took down Forerunner 645 from their website meanwhile, older 735xt is still for sale. I will wait for another product cycle. 745 is an overkill device for 99% of the population whom will use it for their jogging. Get 245, 645 or heck even 735xt and spend the rest of your savings on Theragun. However, if you are a triathlete and have to have a device, then 745 might be a great choice. other than that, 645 is still THE BEST RUNNING focused watch from Garmin to date. Too bad they pulled the production. Get one if you can find one
I don’t get it. So any company introduced in 2020 GPS watch with poor battery life and without running power? I am little bit confused. Doesn’t look like any progress. All of that we had in others devices for years.
GPS will last about 16 hours with stock settings, but you'll be able to squeak out more if you were to lower the display brightness to the lowest setting.
Right now I’m a little conflicted... I love the form factor, data visualisation and watch face of the 745, but I would really like the maps of the 945... which one do you suggest..? (Taking in consideration that right now they are almost the same price...)
Fenix 6(only) or forerunner 745, which watch will give me best gps, HR, spo2, vo2 max etc. accuracy on Running, cycling, swimming and other sport and Gym training etc.? Please answer this question.
Thanks for the review! Wondering for someone getting in to triathlon training (full Ironman next year) and who only wants to use the watch for workouts (wear an Apple Watch the rest of the time) would you suggest this or the Garmin 935? Thanks
@@DesFit thanks man appreciate it. Only time I would need full battery life is during the actual Ironman itself but I suppose this would motivate me to keep it under 16 hours!
@@DesFit thanks for your help. I got myself the 945 in the end and I am loving it although struggle to give up the AW. Currently wearing both during the day with garmin notifications turned off. If I could ask one piece of advice. I currently have an edge 530 alongside this. When doing an outdoor structured workout how do you tend to use the devices. Do you record on both (and if so do you have the structured workout running on both). Do you just wear the watch? Do you use the edge and not wear the watch. Or do you record/ follow the structured workout on the edge while wearing the watch passively. Trying to find the best way to get the data and keep it consistent. My biggest concern is recording on the edge will be best for a structured workout to follow but I don’t a) want it to be out of line with a workout on the watch b) if I use them both to record and just keep the watch version it won’t have the lap breakdown afterwards c) I would like my overall fitness trends to be consistent as I know it doesn’t syncs training status and recovery time between devices. Sorry for the long comment but cannot find the best way to do this!
Also check out the HRM-Pro In-Depth Review! ua-cam.com/video/flYbaBMxRD4/v-deo.html Thanks!
Will you put soon the galaxy watch 3? Can't wait for your review
Yup! That’s the watch I was wearing on my right wrist! 🤙
The helmet light is probably the coolest decoration I’ve seen in a bit
Thanks!!
Always appreciate the depth in these reviews. I wasn't even aware that this was on Garmin's roadmap. I think Im going to stick with my 245, but this was definitely helpful in case I want to upgrade.
The 245 is still a great watch.👍 Thanks a bunch!
245 doesnt support power sensors though
245 is better :) this price is....horrible and the knowledge is almost the same
Got a Fenix 6x Pro Solar because of this channel and couldn't be happier. First found out about the HRM Pro as well from here just today. Ordered it and it'll be here on the 23rd. Thanks for the in-depth and honest reviews. Look forward to many, many more.
Awesome! Glad you’re enjoying your watch and thanks a lot!
Jonathan Diaz Why do you want a 745 in addition to the Fenix?
the 745 in 2023 is in my opinion at least on paper probably the best watch for not just runners but for people with active lifestyles. You could buy a 745 and be happy with it for a while. I currently have a 245 music , and was looking at the new 255 music but at 400 dollars and for all the tech you get, spending the extra 50-100 dollars on a 745 is really no question.
Vo2Max 58! Good job :) Anyway, your conclusion is perfectly correct concerning the gap between 245 and 745. After week long reasoning about the pros and cons, in february I finally purchased a 245M at price of below 280€, not completely convinced bc of altimeter missing. I even had a VA4 for testing some weeks before but I found out that my sports watch needs to have buttons in any case and so returned taht device. Had the 745 been available then, this would have been the device to buy.
I'll be monitoring the development of prices closely, especially the gap between 745 and 945. I love my 245 but the feeling that it lacks sth (Altim,Multisport,Segments) never ceased.
Another great Garmin review! Wish this came out last year but I do love my 245 haha.
Thanks! The 245 is still a great watch.
Great video!
Also, your VO2 Max seems insane! 💪🏽
Thanks!
thanks for the great review! I like the 945 too but it is way too expensive and I believe the 745 would do a good enough job for me. Good to know. Have a great day!
Yup, the 745 still provides a lot! Thanks!
Man, you are the Gerald Undone for the fitness world!!
That’s quite the compliment. Thanks!!
Des, you're a monster. Keep it up bud!
Thank you!
You are the best, Des! Love your reviews!
Thanks so much!!
CAn you do a direct comparison with the 745 and 945 ! I would really like to learn the new features and the best choice. thks
Screen: 1.2in (30.5mm) transflective MIP (240x240 pixels)
Case size: 43.8mm
Case thickness: 13.3mm
Band size: 22mm standard
Weight: 47g
Storage: 500 songs
Water resistance: 50 metres (5ATM)
Sensors: GPS/Glonass/Galileo, compass, gyro, thermometer, altimeter, heart rate, pulse Ox
Connectivity: Bluetooth, ANT+, wifi
The 745 is really really spot on as a sports watch.
I think this could be my next watch.
Enjoy!
I had the 735XT for a couple of years and upgraded to the 945 this April. The 745 would be my choice now, since I don’t use maps nor listen to music through my watch. The only real reason to buy a 945 in my opinion is the longer battery life. It will be interesting to see what the price difference will be in 6 months (including discounts).
Yup, you nailed it.
Can make a comparison between 245 and 745?
That VO2Max 😱
Great review and definetely helped me to make my choice; 745.
Nice! Glad it helped.
Guy excellent video, thanks for your attention with all the details.
You’re welcome and thanks!
Thanks so much for such detailed explanations ❤ it helped me to make a good decision 😅
Happy to help. Thanks!
JEEZUS, what an impressive VO2 Max!
Made my decision for the forerunner 745 , thank you for the detail review . Getting ready for my first marathon and it was time to graduate from the apple watch . Thanks
Sure thing. Best of luck with your marathon! Thanks!
Thanks for the review I was deciding between vivo active 4 and the forerunner and I think I will go with the forerunner thanks for helping me see the perks of each
Sure thing. Glad it helped! Thanks!
@@DesFit thoughts on Venu / VA4 vs this ?
New here, just found your videos. Really like it, awesome video 🤘🏻
Thanks a bunch and welcome!
Hello I'm Brazilian, I started watching your videos because of the Apple watch series 6, the now I'm enjoying your other videos even without understanding everything you say, because I don't speak English. But I'm enjoying the videos. Abraf
Thanks so much for tuning in!
Very good review. I have the 735XT and it is awesome.. but this certainly looks like a good replacement when that day comes.
Thanks! Ya if the 735 still works then that’s great!
I know this is 2 years on, but great review. I've got a 735XT which started acting up last week, and is pretty much dying. I've sent it in to Garmin South Africa for assessment, hopefully they'll offer a 745 replacement with a discounted price.
Thanks for the review. I was wandering if it's for me or not. Keep up the good work!
Glad it helped. Thanks!
Well is it?
@@coonee6953 no. I've gone with instinct.
Awesome review. Thank you!
Sure thing. Thanks!!
Amazing content Des
Keep going at it!
Thanks!
Another awesome review. Thanks 👍
Sure thing!
Great review, very informative
Glad to help. Thanks!
love your helmet lamp! so creative
Thanks!
give its link in the description 🙏🏻
I made it, so can’t really link it! 😁
@@DesFit damn !
it looks functional yet cool ,
appreciate the efforts ❤️👍🏻
video topic:- make a how to make video on it and post it on instagram or so.
Solid video! Answered pretty much all the questions I had about the watch. Looking forward to having this much data about my own condition. 😃
Glad it helped! Enjoy your watch!
@@DesFit Great Video , wonder if you could help a New guy .. i'm into MTB and enduro , and would love to track my Laps without using the GPS on the Bar . Also do some home Workouts ( still in lockdown ) and has soon i'm allowed some Pool swimming. Wondering what would be the best , balanced watch ( would like to keep the price at low point) watched your review on the instinct and thought to myself .. yeahh that's the one .. but then i didn't had the Vo2 max to calculate estimated recovery .
By the way keep up the good work love your videos, clean and simple
VO2 max for cycling is available on Garmin watches that support power meters, so the FR745 and up or the Fenix line of watches. If you’re trying to keep your cost low you could go for something like the FR245, which doesn’t support power meters, but still provides training feedback based on HR. Thanks!
Thanks for the video.
Personally I see no reason to upgrade from the 645m that I have, especially for the price.
Ya if you have a 645 you're happy with I think you're good to go for the moment! 👍
Thank you so much, this might be the most informative and thorough watch review I’ve seen recently (swimming HR 👍). I am a Garmin user and for my second watch I thought about trying a new brand but after seeing alternatives in person I have decided to stick with Garmin for longer. I have no patience for low product standards and high patience for putting in the time to find the right watch for my needs.
Barometric altimeter reliability is my biggest requirement. Both accuracy and durability. Did you ever have Garmin Forerunner barometer sensors fail over longer periods of time say 6+ months? I see enough complaints about this on older Garmin watches, not sure if they are trolling or what.
If this actually was an issue back then, then I’m hoping it’s no longer an issue now with current models. But I also saw your 945 LTE video earlier and the altitude information didn’t seem reliable. I don’t know why a brand new flagship running model can’t get this right out of the box.
Have you tested any of 745, 945, and 945 LTE extensively enough to comment on their barometer accuracy? If they aren’t gonna be reliable for several years I might as well just get the 245. Are barometer sensors expected to degrade over time in general regardless of the brand? I do find Garmin FR barometer location to be peculiar since it will collect sweat and grime more easily. Have you had any issues with the sensor location? Any input would be appreciated Des. I will take all the time I need to find the right watch.
I've found that all barometric altimeters can wander over time but that's mainly due to debris clogging the sensor. You can sometimes clean them out carefully. I still use the original 945 as a reference device for some of my current tests and that watch is nearly 2 years old now and still produces usable elevation data.
Thanks for the video =)
Very welcome!
Super comprehensive job as always, Des! You forgot high altitude parachute jumps, but oh well. Maybe we’ll see an updated 6 series with a Venu like amoled screen soon? What do you think? Garmin has used the same resolution screen on so many watches. It would be nice to get a bump in resolution with one or two of its watches, particularly ones that have the more advanced training metrics.
Ya it will be interesting to see what happens with AMOLED displays in the future, but I still like me some long battery life! :)
@@DesFit They figured out how to get decent battery life on the Venu. Let's see what happens!
Definitely!!
nice Vo2 max mate. Keep it up.
🤙
Thanks for the review. I was so excited about this model! I’ve been waiting whole year for it. Until I saw a battery life. What is the point to have just 16h when cheaper 245 has 24h with GPS? Cmon Garmin, you can do better😅
Yeah - battery sucks. I wanted to replace my 935 and since i do Ironmans this is too close. When battery gets worse over time i dont want to risk it.
My sub 12 time is too close to 16.
God damn it Garmin.
Superb review.
Thanks!!
Hi Des, first time viewer here. I appreciate that you addressed the GPS and heart rate accuracy. The rest of the review sounds like a reading of the manual, to be honest. It would've been much more productive if you talked about points of contention, like the price and comparison to other models, especialy functionality-wise. There are models on the market that do the same things as (or more than) the FR 745 and have a better price-performance ratio.
Sorry
Very good review 👏
Thanks!
Really love your reviews, waiting for the Grit X one.
PinguimPoker i think he did already for grit x
@@emirgundogar79 Not the review, just a overview.
Correct. The in depth is in the works
no other review as deep as yours !
Thanks a bunch!!
A Garmin 745 vs Coros Apex 46mm battle would be nice! :)
Wow @8:55 - what VO2max indoor cycling workout did you do that gave you an aerobic training effect of 5.0 and an exercise load of 317 for a one-hour workout?!? Great review, BTW, and love the channel.
Just a ride on Zwift trying to burn off a bit too much food 😂 strava.app.link/s1GDQsCzW9
Is there a possibility of you doing a suunto 7 or Huawei GT2 Pro? I'm more interested in a smartwatch but do want something with accurate metrics
Hi Des, pretty helpful, thanks! I am a gym dude only cares about weight training. I have also checked your review on Coros Pace 2. My budget is anything below $400, but I don't mind paying a little more for some great stregnth training features. What I don't want is to spend more if the $200 Coros Pace 2 can meet all my needs. Based on your opinion, which is the best smartwatch for a weightlifter? I would highly apprecite your opnion; the smartwatch market is too overwhelming!!!
Hi Sam! I want an answer to this question to!!! Did you get a smartwatch for lifting yet?
I think I just found the replacement for my four year-old Garmin 630.
nice!
Thanks for this review, super helpful! Do you think the altimeter is necessary? I live in Texas where the elevation drop/gain isn’t a big part of my daily fitness journey. However, when I go to Colorado, etc.. I’d like to have it.
The altimeter can make a difference being able to see accumulated elevation gain and loss in real time during an activity, however, total elevation gain and loss can still be calculated for your activity after you save it based on the GPS data. Hope that helps. Thanks!
@@DesFit Yes, thank you!
Save yourself lot of and get FR945. 745 is super cheaply built. The middle button fell off and garmin did nothing to help except ask me to return this to best buy.. luckily BB took it back as they had extended policy for the holidays. I am glad because 945 ended up being a lot nicer.
Professional review as always, but I lack your test for open swimming water..
Thanks! Ya, open water swimming is something I rarely do but hope to do more this year.
Question-For running only and daily body stats - this or the instinct solar? Also Thought about the 45 but altimeter is important to me.
Great vid! Thanks!
For running only the 745 will provide more in terms of features than the Instinct Solar. Thanks!
Спасибо за подробный обзор часов! Удачи!
As always awesome review, thanks. A question, what would you choose Fénix 5 Plus Titanium or 745 both at the same price?
That's a tough one. The 745 is more current and it's nice and light, but the fenix 5 Plus Ti is a darn nice watch. Functionally they are very similar. It would be a toss up for me as well - I don't think I can help! Thanks though!
Wrist HR during exercise is pretty useless. I only trust the strap. Great video as always. I actually think a rectangular case would be best for sports viewing.
It depends on the activity that you're doing but straps are very reliable, for sure.
DesFit can you pair BT straps to AW? Will the fitness app then default to the strap and turn off optical ?
Very cool channel that does in-depth reviews on these watches! Just subscribed! May I check with you how does this fare with 735XT? In my area, 735XT is half the price of the 745. Was just wondering to just get the 735XT
That's a pretty big price difference between the two. The 735XT still is a great watch but is just getting a little dated at this point.
I've had a 735XT and it's unfortunately as of yesterday has now come to end of life. I'm really on the fence to what to go for next.
I run, do a bit of swimming and play golf.
I don't think I used half the features on the 735XT so not sure if to just go for Venu 2?
Very good smartwatch for an experienced athlete, but I´m just starting to run again. What would you recommend for running with GPS and some music?
Check out the Forerunner 245 👍 Thanks!
Nice review, thanks! Do you know if there’s a new 245 model is coming soon?
245 with barometric altimeter would be perfect.... or maybe a 655?
It’s getting late in the year and the chances of more devices being released is getting slim.
Great review! Do you know if VO2MAX calculation factors in hills or elevation changes? Thank you.
It’s based off of distance and heart rate, so if you do a lot of trail running it can be off. In fact, if you use the trail run profile it doesn’t account for that data in your VO2 Max. Hope that helps! Thanks!
@@DesFit So if I record under the regular 'run' profile but my streets have a slight hill, it'll throw off the VO2MAX? The 745 (and 945) has a barometer, wonder why they can't factor the elevation change into the formula...
Slight hills shouldn’t be an issue, more the steep stuff while trail running. I have many hills around my neighborhood and they don’t affect the VO2 Max readings
Wish they had something like the 645 where it looks nice but still a forerunner.
The screen is sized 1'2 like the 245, 735, 935, 945, Fenix 5, 5s, 5x and so fourth... What's the point in just changing the case size?!
The 245 has actually the best screen to body ratio!
Could be for bigger battery
@@farisnordin5945 Sure. $200 the bigger battery? Not even sapphire glass for this price ! 399 would have been fair !
Great video! I can't decide if I want FR945 or FR745. I am worried about FR945 future updates when it will be 2 years since it has been released. I like new functions as Workout Suggestions or better recovery estimate. Do you think FR945 is still worth it?
Yup, the 945 is still a great watch. There's always new tech on the horizon but with these sort of gadgets, I'd say just enjoy the toys now. :) Thanks!
Thanks for the video. I recently bought a Fenix 5+. What do you think the chances are of them upgrading the watch software on that to the same level as this on the 745?
I’m pretty sure the Fenix 5+ range is done in terms of new features.
Any idea if the 955 is happening soon? Should I wait for that?
I'm looking out for the 965 or maybe even wait for the 975
995 FTW!
@@DesFit when is that happening?
Probably 2034
@@DesFit nice, if I begin saving up now maybe I can afford it. At the rate that garmin is going its probably going to cost $8,000 dollars 💵 😳... 😑
Nice T-shirt..
Thanks!
HI Sir, Thanks for the great review, Have done two Ultra marathons and three Full marathons till date but by using friend's Garmin 735XT😀, First time going to buy Garmin, Shall I opt for Garmin FR 255, pls guide whether i should go for garmin 745 or 255
Awesome with loads of informations b4 thinking to upgrade mine. I do some HIIT training in d gym, example Tabata with mixture of bodyweight n some weight. Can the strength profile customized such workout???
Also, it's interesting that despite the new 745 has the new sony GPS chipset and a slightly bigger case, it has the same battery life as the old 645. It's stage since other x45 devices all got their battery life doubled from the previous generation as the sony chipset is twice as efficient. I wonder why and suspecting Garmin is handicapping the battery life on purpose to make 745 less appealing.
When I asked Garmin about this they said that they kept the battery life estimates conservative.
How old are you? what is your skincare routine?
Did you use Favero duel pedals or just the uno for your test? Also thanks for the in-depth review on the elevation I have Fenix 3 and it’s terrible for elevation! I would also like to see a comparison video between us and the Apple series 6 watch on outdoor swimming.Since they’re the same price and dc rainmaker really liked the series 5 for outdoor swimming.
Dual
DesFit [👆us * forerunner 745] Darn, I have the Favero dou pedals lol. I could use an upgrade on my watch and haven’t sprung for the bike computer. I heard you can get those metrics only on ant+ on the Garmin bike computer. Is that true and was the watch synced up on ant+?
Yes, the advanced cycling dynamics are available over ANT+ for the Assiomas but I don’t know off hand if those are available for the Fenix 3. Maybe I’m not understanding your query?
Having a hard time deciding between this and venu 2. Do a lot more crossfit type workouts along with oly and power lifting. Which would you suggest?
Same for me!!! I don’t which to pick this or Venu 2.
would love a comparison between the 745 and vantage m2!
I’ll see what I can do! Thanks!
Great video as usual! Been using fr745 for a month, connected it to Strava, no issues while uploading activities beside the Strava doesn't seem recognizing this series yet (strava not showing fr745 as the gear logo in each activity). Have you experiencing the same issue? Appreciate your help. Thank you.
Hi,
How long hold battery with using GPS in real life after using? Because after some time producers numbers ant users numbers goes away.
The 745 is crazy more expensive than it should be. If it was 50-100 less I’d be all over it. Disappointed to see it come out at such a high price 😞
Garmins usually drop in price a few months after launch, plus, holiday deals are coming soon!
@@DesFitI've just ordered one today for 180 pounds
Enjoyed the review. Could you do a comparison between the 645 music and the the new 765? Trying to decide if it's worth upgrading to the new 765 as I currently own the 645 music and is less then a year old.
Thank you in advance.
The 745 has triathlon/multi-sport modes, an SPO2 sensor, and a newer, sleeker interface than the 645. The 645 is still a great watch though.
Hello! Off topic but is Samsung watches still horrible with the heart rate sensor on the Galaxy Watch 3? Are you still going to drop a review on that? Keek to get a Samsung watch but it was so bad on your Active 2 review.
The Galaxy Watch 3 has been performing better than any Samsung watches I’ve tested thus far. Not perfect but much better. Review coming soon!
DesFit oh thanks a lot for your response. I was afraid I am waiting to be disappointed. Looking forward to your review! 👍
The fenix 6s is only £50 more in the UK at least. What would you go with? I understand Fenix has maps too and optional solar though that is much more pricey.
The Fenix 6S is a more capable device, for sure. The maps are nice if you’re willing to go with the 6S Pro.
Nice review. As usual. Thanks. A question. If I use my Edge 1030 for cycling and sync this as well as the 1030 to Connect, will my bike rides show up here for the 'load'?
Physio Tru Up seems to be a bit mysterious. As you can imagine I have lot of devices syncing into one Garmin Connect account and sometimes the metrics line up, sometimes they don't. However, just taking a quick look at the devices that I am not currently using, most the training metrics seem to be syncing over to them.
In Garmin's website they mentioned this feature "CYCLE MAP (ROUTABLE CYCLING-SPECIFIC STREET MAP)"
I can't see that in the video is that real maps for cycling only
Fantastic review but I do have one question for you. I am currently weighing up purchasing the 745 but I am also interested in the the Apple Watch Series 6. Which one would you recommend purchasing from a running, daily fitness and training perspective? I think the Apple wins the Smart Watch / App argument hands down but would appreciate your view.
It may come down to the training data that you can get from the 745 such as the Training Load, Recovery Advisor, etc... It's really tough - the Apple Watch is such a great smartwatch and actually performs quite well in the fitness capacity, it's just that the native software is a little limited on features.
@@DesFit That's great Des, really appreciate it! It's a tough call but I think it is going to be the Garmin. Cheers, Eoin
@@DesFit Des, qq, would you recommend the Forerunner 745 or the Garmin Venu? re they both similar from a screen resolution point of view?
The Venu has a higher screen resolution but the 745 is easier to use from a fitness and sports perspective since it has 5 physical buttons.
@@DesFit Super, thanks Des, the 745 it is!
Thanks for the great review. Quick question, any feature that 745 has more than 945?
There were a few features such as the sleep widget, the track run profile, as well as suggested workouts that weren't available on the 945 when the 745 launched, but all those will be making it to the 945 via firmware updates very soon. Thanks!
Hi Des. Does Forerunner 945 have sleep tracking widget on the watch too? Just like I saw on 745. 🙂
I have a question about the strength training feature. Can you get a decent collection of data without having to keep pressing the lap button each time before and after a set or new exercise. I like to just keep rolling with my training without the constant stop start distractions of having to constantly press something? I just purchased this watch and This will be my first ever smart watch
I find it very interesting that Garmin took down Forerunner 645 from their website meanwhile, older 735xt is still for sale. I will wait for another product cycle. 745 is an overkill device for 99% of the population whom will use it for their jogging. Get 245, 645 or heck even 735xt and spend the rest of your savings on Theragun. However, if you are a triathlete and have to have a device, then 745 might be a great choice. other than that, 645 is still THE BEST RUNNING focused watch from Garmin to date. Too bad they pulled the production. Get one if you can find one
I don’t get it. So any company introduced in 2020 GPS watch with poor battery life and without running power?
I am little bit confused. Doesn’t look like any progress. All of that we had in others devices for years.
Thanks for the review. Is it possible to use Garmin coach? Thanks
Yup! Thanks!
Do you think the battery life will be enough for a doing a Full ironman with the 745 or do I need to pony up for the 945??
GPS will last about 16 hours with stock settings, but you'll be able to squeak out more if you were to lower the display brightness to the lowest setting.
Right now I’m a little conflicted... I love the form factor, data visualisation and watch face of the 745, but I would really like the maps of the 945... which one do you suggest..? (Taking in consideration that right now they are almost the same price...)
Go for 945.. it is definitely better.. you will not regret it.. better bang for the buck.. if you can afford it..
Ya if they are close to the same price I'd spring for the 945. It's only just slightly larger than the 745
I'm looking at upgrading my forerunner 45. Does this watch give an accurate reading for treadmill workouts? The 45 can be out by up to a mile or more.
Fenix 6(only) or forerunner 745, which watch will give me best gps, HR, spo2, vo2 max etc. accuracy on Running, cycling, swimming and other sport and Gym training etc.?
Please answer this question.
Thanks for the review! Wondering for someone getting in to triathlon training (full Ironman next year) and who only wants to use the watch for workouts (wear an Apple Watch the rest of the time) would you suggest this or the Garmin 935?
Thanks
I’d go for the 745 as it’s a bit more current and is slightly smaller. Thanks!
@@DesFit thanks man appreciate it. Only time I would need full battery life is during the actual Ironman itself but I suppose this would motivate me to keep it under 16 hours!
Garmin is being a bit more conservative with their battery life estimates as of late so the 16 hours should be pretty solid, possibly more.
@@DesFit thanks for your help. I got myself the 945 in the end and I am loving it although struggle to give up the AW. Currently wearing both during the day with garmin notifications turned off.
If I could ask one piece of advice. I currently have an edge 530 alongside this. When doing an outdoor structured workout how do you tend to use the devices. Do you record on both (and if so do you have the structured workout running on both). Do you just wear the watch? Do you use the edge and not wear the watch. Or do you record/ follow the structured workout on the edge while wearing the watch passively.
Trying to find the best way to get the data and keep it consistent. My biggest concern is recording on the edge will be best for a structured workout to follow but I don’t a) want it to be out of line with a workout on the watch b) if I use them both to record and just keep the watch version it won’t have the lap breakdown afterwards c) I would like my overall fitness trends to be consistent as I know it doesn’t syncs training status and recovery time between devices.
Sorry for the long comment but cannot find the best way to do this!
My swim pro said it’s compatible with the for runner 645, but since this took its place, I wonder if would be compatible with my swim pro
745 support hiking? If it's not, which garmin model do u recommend for basic hiking? Thanks
Trying to find just one smart watch that does strength training tracking well but can't seem to pinpoint the one 🙃
Those results are coming soon!
exacly i looking for the same thing
How come 745 have less gps hours than much cheaper model FR245 .
They were conservative with the battery life claims on the 745
Can you please do 745 vs 255?
Hi des. Where did you buy all your t-shirts from all your videos? Rather cool tops. Send me the link please. Thank you. 😁😁
They are from all over the place, but this particular one is from Salomon
@@DesFit hahaha..okay
Is there a list of the best sports watches(Wich is accurate for 2020)?