For the athletic folks out there who have an upcoming marathon in the books, don’t make the mistake of turning up with the wrong smartwatch in tow.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Apple Watch just as much as the next guy (I’m currently wearing the Apple Watch SE 2), and while it’s great for smart features like NFC payments and directions, it’s probably the last smartwatch I’d ever take with me for a marathon.
For a better battery life and improved understanding of rest and recovery, the Garmin Forerunner 255 is your best bet, particularly as it’s just dropped down to only £205.94 on Amazon, having originally sold at £349.99.
This is the one Garmin watch to get right now
Need a new fitness tracker for your next marathon? Not only is the Garmin Forerunner 255 massively reduced, but it can last for up to two weeks at a time, track your recovery and play your favourite music offline and away from your phone.
Because of the standard 18-hour battery quoted for every Apple Watch (except for the Apple Watch Ultra 2), it’s all too easy to run the risk of having your wearable reach a dead battery before you’ve even finished the race, which is why most smartwatches pale in comparison to the longevity that Garmin provides.
The Forerunner 255 can last for up to two weeks on a single charge, and up to 30 hours in GPS mode which is more than enough to see you through a marathon, and still have a decent chunk of battery left in the tank.
When you are out on a run, you won’t have to worry about needing to siphon your phone’s battery for music playback either, as that’s possible entirely on the watch itself. Just download the relevant app for your chosen music streaming service and you can download albums and playlists to listen to offline via the Forerunner 255. This means that, if you really want, you could even leave your phone at home to avoid being weighed down.
While the Garmin Forerunner 255 doesn’t have quite as many smart features as big brand counterparts, it does have a crucial feature in the modern age: NFC payments. Thanks to Garmin Pay, you can pick up a post-run refreshment all with the watch itself, you just have to load your chosen card to the watch via the Garmin Connect app.
As a final point, one of my favourite Garmin features is the Morning Report which lets you know the second you wake up whether or not your body has had the chance to rest properly, and if it’s ready to take on another workout. It all goes a long way towards avoiding the risk of injury.
With a massive £144 reduction on its original price, the Garmin Forerunner 255 is an instant bargain for runners everywhere.
