Expect some big updates, including multi-band gps and improved training advice
It’s a big month for Garmin fans with the release of both the Forerunner 955 and the Forerunner 255 series. Both add a number of new features designed to improve training advice as well as offer additional data for users.
The Forerunner 255 Series
At the cheaper end of the scale is the Forerunner 255 series, an upgraded version of the previous Forerunner 245 that comes in the form of the Forerunner 255, the Forerunner 255 Music (both 46mm) and the smaller 41mm Forerunners 255S and 255 Music.
New features added to the Forerunner 255 series include:
- Morning report, which gives customisable updates on the weather, daily workout suggestions and information on your previous night’s sleep and HRV (when paired with a smartphone).
- Full triathlon support with triathlon and multisport activity profiles.
- A race widget feature that gives a race day-specific performance prediction, race day weather and a countdown clock. It will also suggest daily workouts adapted to your training plan.
- HRV status tracks heart rate variability while sleeping for a better understanding of recovery and wellness.
- Garmin Pay contactless payments.
- Multi-band GPS for better accuracy.
- Native running power to receive real-time metrics when using a Running Dynamics Pod or HRM-Pro.
That all comes alongside a full suite of Garmin’s existing training features covering daily workout suggestions, Garmin Coach, built-in sports apps, Pace Pro, and metrics from Garmin Firstbeat Analytics like VO2 max, acute load, training status, training effect and more.
You’ll also get Garmin’s health and wellness insights such as wrist-based Ox3 monitoring to give insights into sleep, Body Battery to help manage energy levels along with the optimum time for activity and rest, and women’s health features focussing on pregnancy and menstrual cycle tracking.
The Garmin Forerunner 255 and Forerunner 255S cost £299.99/$349.99, while the Forerunner 255 Music and Forerunner 255S Music are £349.99/$399.99. Click here to find out more.
The Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
The Forerunner 955 is Garmin’s performance watch designed for athletes training at a higher level, featuring a selection of tools and features aiming to deliver training guidance for runners focusing on performance.
The Forerunner 955 Solar is also Garmin’s first dedicated running smartwatch with solar charging and gives athletes up to 20 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 49 hours in GPS mode.
Updated features include:
- A touchscreen interface that can be used to navigate screens including maps and stats.
- Multi-band GPS
- Training readiness uses sleep, recovery time, HRV status and additional metrics to monitor the body’s capacity for activity.
- HRV status tracks heart rate variability while sleeping for a better understanding of recovery and wellness.
- Morning report, which gives customisable updates on the weather, daily workout suggestions and information on your previous night’s sleep and HRV (when paired with a smartphone).
- A race widget feature that gives a race day-specific performance prediction, race day weather, a countdown clock and will suggest daily workouts adapted to your training plan.
- Real-time stamina insights to track exertion levels in real-time during a run or ride.
- Native running power to receive real-time metrics when using a Running Dynamics Pod or HRM-Pro.
Those new features come alongside Garmin’s existing performance benefits including Garmin Coach and Firstbeat Analytics like VO2 max, training load, performance conditioning and training effect. You’ll also get daily workout suggestions covering a week of guidance based on training on fitness levels and overall wellness.
The Forerunner 955 also has built-in maps that include turn-by-turn guidance, route planning through Garmin Connect using Trendline popularity routing, pints of interest and ClimbPro.
Other features include health and wellness tools like wrist-based Pulse Ox monitoring and Body Battery, as well as menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking.
You’ll also be able to download up to 2,000 songs from playlists on Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer – if you have a premium subscription, and use Garmin Pay to make contactless payments.
The Forerunner 955 Solar costs £549.99/$599.99 and you can also pick up a non-solar charging version, the Forerunner 955, costing £479.99/$499.99. Click here to find out more.
