Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Review: Great Value for Serious Runners

If you know a keen long-distance runners, there’s a great likelihood that they use Garmin GPS watch to help them train.
Although there are a variety of brands of sports watches to pick of, Garmin continues to be considered the gold standard for a lot of runners, including myself.

So that it was when Garmin team gave me the opportunity to test for the Forerunner 245 Music — an upgrade to my previous Forerunner 235 I was thrilled to accept the offer.

It’s not surprising that it’s not surprising that the “music” portion of the model’s title is the one that draws a lot of people to the timepiece (we’ll come back to that later) However, for me it was the 245 Music’s track guidance with turn-by-turn directions that I found the most fascinating.

This article gives a thorough in-depth review of Garmin Forerunner 245 Music, including my opinion on whether it’s worth it.

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Garmin Forerunner 245 music is the Garmin’s cheapest expensive model that comes with the ability to play music.

Alongside the basic features for runners such as monitoring heart rate, distance and pace it also provides:

music is playing
built-in-GPS
Garmin Coach
Course guidance
Tracking and safety features

Priced at $349.99 The model is priced on the higher price point. With all the options it has Many reviewers believe it’s worth the price.

There are some minor variations in the design and battery performance among and the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music and its predecessor that was it was the Garmin Forerunner 235 — the one I used to wear prior to purchasing this model. However, its music playing capabilities and its course-guided feature are the most significant features that differentiate the newer model apart from its predecessor.

2.45 Music 245 Music also has improved heart rate technology, with a new sensor, whereas the 235 has the first-generation technology from the brand.

The watch comes in 3 colors: black white and aqua. Additionally, there are compatible bands that come in a range of vibrant, lively colors available on Amazon.

In comparison to that of Garmin Forerunner 235, the 245 Music is more supple and more round design, even though the five-button layout is similar to the Forerunner 235.

It also features also an LCD transflective display that makes it simple to read in the sun.

You can alter the look of the watch face by altering the layout, color and display of data or download brand new watches through Garmin IQ. Garmin IQ store.

Additionally, the watch has the 1.65-inch (42-mm) watch case that is just a little less one-inch (about 2 millimeters) less than that of the watch of the Forerunner 335.

As previously mentioned as well, the Garmin watch 245 offers many of the same features of for the Forerunner 235, including accurate and detailed metrics for tracking sports.

But, there are many exciting new features to be excited about in the 245 Music. These include:

Training Status: Uses your fitness and activity history as well as level to tell you whether you’re working out efficiently
Training Load: calculates your total 7-day training load
Training Effect: Rates your workouts individually based on their efficiency
Course Guidance: gives detailed instructions on how to input courses

It is also possible to combine the watch with an running dynamics device (sold in separate packages) to gain other running metrics including time to contact with the ground the stride length, as well as the amount of bounce in your stride.

When it comes to metrics In terms of metrics, the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music also tracks:

Steps
calories burned
Exercise
Distance covered
floors that can be climbed
Heart rate, sleep
Maximum VO2
lactate threshold
menstrual cycle

Another feature worth mentioning is an additional feature called Incident Detection and Assistance, which lets you use your watch to reach emergency services in the event of need. It’s worth noting that you are able to use this feature even if you do not sync your watch to your smartphone.

It is also compatible with the following sports: Garmin Forerunner 245 Music also includes the following sports in addition to normal road running:

treadmill
trail running
track running
yoga
indoor rowing
Exercise on the elliptical
stair stepper
cardio training
indoor cycling
Pool swimming
Strength training
walking

Forerunner 245 Music sensors

Alongside GPS as well as a compass it also comes with a compasses and GPS. Forerunner 245 Music is equipped with the following sensors:

Wrist-based heart-rate monitor. You can see the wrist-based heart rate information on your wristwatch using the heart rate widget or through the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone. Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is also compatible with heart rate monitors.
Accelerometer. This sensor can be used to determine the speed of your run, its distance and cadence if the GPS is off, like when you’re on the treadmill.
Thermometer. Based on your body’s temperature, this sensor can detect if you might be overworking yourself or in danger of hyperthermia.
Pulse Oximetry blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) Monitor. The pulse oximetry monitor measures the level of oxygen in your blood. This will show how your body is adapting to stress and exercise. It operates by shining a beam of light through your skin, and determining the amount of light taken up.

In the technological age the majority of runners would like to have access to their information on smartphones which is something Garmin makes simple through its Garmin Connect App, which is free. Garmin Connect Application.

In reality, the first step in setting up the watch you want to set up is sign up for an account on the Garmin Connect account.

After you’ve created your profile then you’ll be asked to pair and sync your device. This allows your watch to automatically transmit data to the app whenever you save your workouts and are connected to wireless or Bluetooth connection.

It is also possible to sync Garmin 245 Music to other apps. Garmin 245 Music to third-party fitness and training apps, such as Strava (which is what I utilize for an individual training log) as well as TrainingPeaks (which my trainer utilizes to review and assign the training I’ve completed).

To charge your device, your watch is equipped with a cable that is Garmin-branded There are also alternative options that are compatible with the watch on Amazon in the event that you require an additional and/or replacement cable.

However, Garmin also offers replacement chargers on its website which are quite affordable.
Garmin Forerunner 245 Life of the music battery

The Forerunner 245 Music offers a battery that lasts for 7 days or more when in Smartwatch mode.

However, using GPS and listening to music can drain the battery more quickly, with the business estimates as long as 24 hours of charge when using GPS or up to 6 hours using GPS as well as music.

Personally, I noticed that the battery drain of the watch is more quickly than my previous Forerunner 235, however 245 Music is able to get back to full power in just 30 minutes.

I’ve been running using an Garmin GPS watch for over 10 years since I made the decision to replace my $10 Timex stopwatch that I was wearing during the first time during my marathon.

I started out with one of Garmin Connect’s most basic models with no frills, Forerunner 110. Forerunner 110, which didn’t perform much more than acquiring the GPS signal and splitting every mile and then uploading my information into Garmin Connect. Garmin Connect desktop program.

In the meantime, I’ve tested two different models I’ve also tried two other models, for example, the Forerunner 620 as well as the Forerunner 235. In general they worked great (at time, those fundamental capabilities are all I require) however, there were some issues.

For instance the 620’s touchscreen could not withstand the force of heavy sweat, and it was frequently difficult to move the screen effectively while sweaty fingers.

As Garmin’s technology continues develop, I soon realized that some models offered features I would like to have such as the possibility of uploading map of courses for turn-by turn directions.

Actually, this was the reason I was keen to test my Garmin Forerunner 245 Music throughout my current marathon training program.

I train in a group for my long runs on Saturdays, that sometimes will take us through areas of the city I’m not familiar with. The majority of the runners within my team are more efficient than I am, so it’s not as easy to solution as staying on top and keeping track of them.

Yes, you could carry my phone along and look up the directions for the planned route however, I prefer leaving my (large weight, heavy and heavy) mobile at home and in my car whenever I go for a run.