Garmin Forerunner 55 Review

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is the ideal smartwatch for beginner runners and anyone interested in becoming physically active. This running smartwatch is a major improvement compared to its predecessor, the Garmin Forerunner 45.

It’s packed with impressive new features, like custom running workouts, the Run Track mode, daily suggested workouts and the recovery time feature.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Garmin Forerunner 55.

Design

The Garmin Forerunner 55 has a sleek and modern design. More importantly, it’s comfortable for everyday wear. Since it only weighs 37 grams, you won’t even feel it on your hand, which is crucial when you’re running or engaged in another physical activity.

This Garmin Forerunner smartwatch is available in three colors – white, black, and aqua. The outer bezel has 42mm, just like the previous model. The lens is made from chemically strengthened glass, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally cracking it. The watch is also waterproof, so you can wear it when you’re swimming.

The screen only has 208 x 208 pixels, which might be insufficient for some users. However, since it’s a sport and running watch, the screen’s resolution shouldn’t be a dealbreaker, especially considering the number of advanced features it offers.

Battery Life

The Garmin Forerunner 55 has long battery life. It can last for up to two weeks in Smartwatch Mode. However, if you activate the GPS mode, it will last for up to 20 hours.

Even though 20 hours should be enough for every user, if you want to make the battery last even longer, you should lower the brightness level.

Another factor that could be draining the battery is Bluetooth. If your watch is constantly linked to your smartphone via Bluetooth, however, the battery will drain sooner.

Basic and Advanced Features

Just like every smartwatch, the Garmin Forerunner 55 has your typical timekeeping features. This includes a timer, stopwatch, alarm clock, and similar.

Of course, it also offers various smart features, like the calendar, weather, smart notifications, Bluetooth connectivity, etc. You can connect this Garmin watch with iPhones and Android devices and link it to apps like Connect IQ, Find My Phone, Find My Watch, and Garmin Connect.

This smartwatch has many health monitoring features, and it can measure your wrist-based heart rate, daily resting heart rate, respiration rate, stress rate, and more.

You can even get relaxation and hydration reminders. This Garmin watch counts your steps and calories burned, and it measures how much distance you travel every day.

Another useful feature is the ability to connect your smartwatch with a music streaming app on your phone. You’ll be able to control the music you’re playing with your watch without having to reach for your phone every time you want to skip a song.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 also offers women’s health tracking, allowing women to track their menstrual cycles and pregnancies.

Activity Tracking

Since the Garmin Forerunner 55 is primarily made for runners, it’s important to mention the added Track Running mode. There are various run profiles, like running, outdoor track running, treadmill running, indoor track running, and virtual running. Aside from running, you can also choose outdoor recreation, cycling, swimming, and gym and fitness equipment.

You even have the option to create custom running workouts using the added PacePro feature in the mobile app. The app lets you determine the pacing strategy, uphill effort, goal pace, goal time, and similar details. What’s more, the watch will give you an estimated finish time based on your past stats.

Another useful new feature is daily suggested workouts, which the smartwatch will recommend based on your running profile and past training history.

The daily suggested workouts also take the recovery time feature into consideration, as well as your current fitness level. The recovery advisor is a feature that lets you know how long you should recover after each run.

This running smartwatch is programmed to be your personal trainer. The watch does lack some premium health stats, which you can only get with the newer Garmin Forerunner models.

Sensors

One of the most noteworthy features of this running smartwatch is the built-in GPS, which has satellite support for Glonass and Galileo. You’ll be able to track your movements and plan your running routes.

The GPS is integrated into its safety features, like Livetrack, live event sharing, incident detection, assistance, etc. You’ll also be able to use the built-in GPS to track your time, distance, and pace when you go running.

Another noteworthy sensor is heart-rate monitoring. However, you won’t be able to see your heart rate on the watch, as this kind of data can only be seen on the Garmin Connect mobile app.

Mobile App

As with all Garmin Forerunner watches, you can control and customize this watch using the Garmin Connect app. The app lets your review current statistics such as your heart rate, stress levels, intensity minutes, and similar.

Not only that, but the app offers free pre-designed workout plans and the Garmin Coach tool, which lets you select a personal trainer.

Some features are only available on the app, like maps of running tracks and fitness tracking graphs. The heart-rate monitoring feature is only available on the app as well.

Ease of Use

This running smartwatch is simple to use, and it will only take you five minutes to go through and learn all the options and the menu system. The straightforward interface makes this watch great for those who are new to fitness tracking and beginner runners.

Note that the Garmin Forerunner 55 isn’t touch-sensitive but rather controlled by buttons. There are five buttons in total, two on the right side of the watch and three on the left.

Two buttons on the left are for going up and down, while the third one lets you control the backlight. On the right side of the watch, one button is for selecting, and the other one is for returning to the previous screen.

You also have the option to customize the watch’s home screen with the Garmin Connect app.

The Final Verdict

While the Garmin Forerunner 55 doesn’t have some of the advanced features as the newer models, it’s the perfect smartwatch for beginner runners and those who want to keep track of their health and fitness.

This running watch will provide you with all the necessary features you need to start your fitness journey for an affordable price.

If you need other smartwatch options, you can read some of our other Garmin reviews to explore other available options.