Last Updated on December 19, 2023 by Amanda Bowden

Garmin Forerunner 45 vs 55: Choosing the Perfect GPS Running Watch

Find out all about the Garmin Forerunner 45 vs 55. Which is the best GPS running watch for the money?

It can be tricky trying to choose the perfect running watch when there are so many out there! If you’re looking for a decent running watch getting one made by Garmin is a good bet.

The Garmin Forerunner 45 and 55 are both great GPS running watches, and both have lots of fantastic features. You can track your activities, find out your pace, heartrate, and distance travelled in miles or kilometres, and more!

Read on to find out more about each as we dive into the differences between the 2 watches.

Topics covered:

• Design and Build
• Features: Garmin Forerunner 45 vs 55
• Battery Life
• Price
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Design and Build: Forerunner 45 vs 55

Garmin Forerunner 45

The Garmin Forerunner 45 boasts a compact, lightweight design. It weighs 36 grams, which is pretty lightweight for a GPS watch.

If you have small wrists then you don’t need to worry, as the Forerunner 45 also comes in a small version which weighs 32 grams.

It features a 42mm case (39.5mm for the small) and a 1.04-inch display. The body is made of durable materials, it’s very comfortable and easy to wear all day.

The large version is available in two colors, black and red.

At amazon.com the small version comes in two colors; black and white. And at amazon.co.uk it comes in three colors; black, iris and white.

Garmin Forerunner 55

The Forerunner 55 looks very similar! It has the same size watch face and display as the Forerunner 45, with a 42mm case and a 1.04-inch display. It’s also super comfortable to wear all day, and all night, if you choose.

It is 0.2mm thicker than the Forerunner 45, and hence weighs more, but only 1 gram!

There is not a smaller version of the Forerunner 55.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is available in three colors; black, white and aqua.

Features: Garmin Forerunner 45 vs 55

Garmin Forerunner 45

• Built-in GPS: This means you can record your outside activities like runs and bike rides, and it will show you your route afterwards on a map (once you sync your activity to the Garmin Connect App). The GPS also enables the watch to track your pace and distance.
• Heart Rate Monitoring: It offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring, helping you keep tabs on your fitness levels.
• Activity Tracking: Tracks steps, distance, calories burned, and more, even when you’re not running.
• Cadence: Lets you know you how many steps you’re taking a minute while running.
• V02 Max: Lets you know how much oxygen your body uses during intense exercise – monitoring your V02 Max gives you a good insight into your fitness level.
• Safety and Tracking Features: Includes incident detection and assistance features.
• Garmin Coach: Free training plans on your wrist!
• Smart Notifications: You can receive alerts for calls, texts, emails, and app notifications – although if this annoys you and you just want to use it as a running watch you can turn this feature off.
• Sports Apps: Even though this watch is designed for running outdoors you can track other sports too, including cycling, treadmill, cardio and yoga.
• Track Your Stress Levels: Your watch will let you know if you’re having a stressful day, in case you hadn’t noticed! It can give you reminders to chill out and do some deep breathing.
• Body Battery: Your watch monitors your energy levels to help you work out the best time to go for a run.
• Tracks Sleep: You have to wear the watch at night for this feature to work!

These are the main features of the watch, but there are even more! To see the full spec list of the Garmin Forerunner 45 click here.

To see the watch in action and learn more about the features view this really helpful video from DesFit.

As you can see, even though the Garmin Forerunner 45 is one of the cheapest Garmin’s, it still has all the basic features you need in a running watch. But how does it compare to the Forerunner 55? Read on to find out.

Garmin Forerunner 55

• The Garmin Forerunner 55 has all the features of the Garmin Forerunner 45, plus…
• Suggested Workouts: The Forerunner 55 can suggest daily runs based on your recent activity – this feature can really help improve your fitness!
• More Sports Apps: With this watch you can monitor pool swimming too, with metrics like pace and distance covered.
• Pace Guide: If you want to hit certain times on your runs this watch can give you pace advice as you go.
• Women’s Health Features: Record menstrual cycles and pregnancy symptoms via the Garmin Connect app, and get advice on nutrition and exercise.
• Race Times: This fun feature can use your fitness and activity levels to give you a good prediction of how you’d do in a race.
• And Recover: The Forerunner 55 can give you advice on how much recovery time you need before another high effort run.

These are the main features, but there are a few more! If you’d like to view the detailed specs of the Garmin Forerunner 55 click here.

So when it comes to the Garmin Forerunner 45 vs 55 you can see that the Forerunner 55 does have quite a few more decent perks!

Here’s another super video from DesFit, this time about the Forerunner 55.

Battery Life: Forerunner 45 vs 55

There is a major difference in the battery capabilities of these two watches.

The Garmin Forerunner 45 lasts up to a week when you’re using it as a smartwatch, and if you’re using it to record activities using GPS it can last up to 13 hours.

This isn’t bad, as it’s easy to charge. If you’re planning on heading out for a long run just make sure it’s fully charged before you go.

The Forerunner 55 has had a major battery upgrade. In smartwatch mode the battery can last up to 2 weeks, which is twice as long as the Forerunner 45. When using GPS the battery can last a decent 20 hours, plenty long enough for marathons and short ultras.

Related: What Is An Ultra Marathon?

So, there’s a clear winner between the two when it comes to battery life! If you’d like the watch with the best battery and your budget can stretch that little bit further then pick the Garmin Forerunner 55.

Price: Garmin Forerunner 45 vs 55

The Forerunner 45 is normally the cheapest option, although this depends on what offers are available. Sometimes you can get the Forerunner 55 at a bargain price, making it great value.

If you want to grab the biggest bargain lookout for refurbished watches, or make a bid for a second hand one on eBay.

The Forerunner 45 and 55 are both excellent entry-level running watches. And you won’t need to break the bank to get your hands on one.

See what the latest prices are for the Garmin Forerunner 45 below:

And, if you’d like to know the latest prices for the Garmin Forerunner 55, click one of these buttons:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Garmin Forerunner 45 vs 55

1. What is the main difference between the Garmin Forerunner 45 and Forerunner 55?

• The Forerunner 55 has more features! The main ones are suggested workouts, recovery times and race time predictor. Plus it works for swimming too.
• The battery of the Forerunner 55 is far superior.

2. Which watch is better for beginners?

• The Forerunner 55 is best for beginners, as it wins as the better watch! It’s got lots of features that are great for both beginners and more experienced runners.
• However the Forerunner 45 is still a good choice. It has all the basic features you need, and is cheaper, so if you’re tight for cash then it’s definitely worth getting the 45.

3. Can I use these watches for activities other than running?

• Yes, even though they are called ‘Forerunner’ watches they are great for other sports. Both the Forerunner 45 and Forerunner 55 have activity tracking features that monitor steps, distance, and calories burned.
• They both have sports apps that include running, treadmill running, walking, cycling, cardio, and more. The Forerunner 55 also has pool swimming.

4. Do these watches support smartphone notifications?

• Yes they do indeed, both watches offer smart notifications, so you can get alerts for calls, texts, emails, and app notifications directly on your wrist. If you find this feature annoying you can turn it off.

5. Are the Forerunner 45 and Forerunner 55 compatible with Strava?

• Yes, both watches are compatible with Strava and a variety of other fitness apps. You can sync your data via the Garmin Connect App to track your activities and share your achievements.

6. Can I listen to music with these watches?

• No, the Forerunner 45 and Forerunner 55 do not have built-in music storage or streaming capabilities. However, you can control music playback on your paired smartphone through the watch.
• If you want a watch with music you’d need to pay a bit more and go for the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music.

7. Are these watches suitable for swimming?

• The Garmin Forerunner 45 is waterproof enough to swim while wearing it (ATM 5), but it doesn’t have swimming as one of the sports apps, so you can’t measure your swimming speed or distance wearing this watch.
• The Garmin Forerunner 55 has a pool swimming app allowing you to measure your pace, distance and laps. It doesn’t support ocean swimming or surfing though, for these you’d need a more advanced Garmin like the Garmin Fenix 7X Solar Sapphire – but this is quite a lot more expensive!

8. Can I change the watch face and data fields?

• Yes, you can select the data you’d like your watch to show you first, and change the watch face too. Look for more appealing options at the Connect IQ™ store for free.

9. How do I charge a Garmin?

• Both watches come with USB charging cables that attach to the back of the watch, and either a USB compatible plug or a computer. They are super simple to connect and charge.

10. Which watch should I choose if I want longer battery life?

• Definitely the Garmin Forerunner 55, as the battery lasts twice as long as the Forerunner 45 in smartwatch mode. It lasts longer when using GPS too – up to 20 hours, rather than 13.

11. Why are these watches so much cheaper than other Garmin’s?

• Are you thinking these watches sound pretty great, but what’s wrong with them? Why are they so much cheaper? The answer is they are still good watches, but the features they are missing (that add a premium to the price) are touchscreen, maps on your wrist, music on your watch so you can go phone free, and an even longer battery life.
• If you’re interested in finding out more about other Garmin watches have a read of this helpful article: Best Garmin Watch For Running.

Garmin Forerunner 45 vs 55: Which Watch Is Best?

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is undoubtably the better watch. It has more advanced features including suggested workouts, pace guidance and race speed predictor. It also has a far superior battery.

But if your budget won’t stretch that far you’ll still love the Garmin Forerunner 45. You can track your runs and bike rides, measure your pace, heartrate and distance.

The Garmin Forerunner 45 also has a small version (Garmin Forerunner 45S), and if you have a narrow wrist then you may prefer having a smaller watch to the advanced features of the 55.

Whichever watch you choose getting a Garmin will enable you to track your progress as your fitness increases. And training plans on your wrist will help you on your way to meeting your goals.

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