Started running once or twice a week ever since my company signed up for a corporate 5K and I’m interested in tracking progress and pacing myself without pulling a phone out (I use a Garmin bike computer when cycling).

I’m not looking for a full featured smartwatch, just a cheap way to track pace and distance, possibly a map option if I decide to spend a bit more. What are your recommendations for a beginner watch?

Thanks!

  • @[email protected]
    3•11 months ago

    Lots of great options from Garmin. The Forerunner 45/55 is going to be your most basic and cheapest option. Still reliable, good battery life, accurate, etc. This is what I’d recommend if your buying new.

    But if you can find a forerunner 245 on the used market (last gen device) or discounted at a retail store, I’d look for one of them. It’s a pretty solid upgrade over the 55. The 200 series is basically Garmins default best value line. The 245 specifically knocked it out of the park in price to performance and is probably their best selling model.

    Of course the newer 255 is “better” but unless you got FOMO, there’s not a lot of reason to pay more for it.

    I wouldn’t look at anything higher than the 200 line. The 600s are targeted towards long distance marathoners, the 900s towards multi sport triathletes, and the fenix/Epix towards hikers/rugged sports and people with more money than sense. And I can say that while wearing an Epix.

    The Venus are comparably priced to the forerunners I recommended but are targeted more at people looking for a smartwatch first.