Garmin Forerunner 955: The best running watch reviewed and tested

The Forerunner 955 is an amazing all-rounder packed with features. It performs brilliantly in everything that matters.

The Garmin Forerunner 955’s predecessor was a great fitness wearable. For runners, the Forerunner 9545 was a great choice. It offered the perfect balance of features, comfort, accuracy, price, and style. We loved it.

Garmin knows that ripping up a product like this is not something you want to do. It has not changed the Fenix’s overall approach, but it has made the Forerunner 945 more attractive by updating it just enough.

 What are the benefits?

The 955 is priced at $479 and sits at the top end of the Forerunner line. A Solar version, which can extend battery life during sunny days, is also available for $550.

The new model is $20 cheaper than its predecessor, the Forerunner 945. The price of the new model is currently around $380, but it can be purchased for less.

The Forerunner 955 has a few hardware improvements over its predecessor, the 945. The screen is slightly larger and thicker (1.3in vs. 1.2in), and has a higher resolution (260×260 vs. 240×240). However, the colour memory-inpixel technology is the same as before. The display is excellent: it’s easy to read in daylight, and the backlight illuminates automatically when your wrist is raised. You can disable touch functions on the new touchscreen display.

This watch inherits the multifrequency, multi-GNSS (global Navigation Satellite System) technology that was featured on Fenix 7. This watch promises to be more precise in distance and pacing than the Fenix 7. It also has a multi-frequency, multi-GNSS (global navigation satellite system) that I tested.

A selection of new features, including Training Readiness, Heart Rate Variability Tracking and Morning Report, are included with the hardware updates. You can also view running power on the watch while you’re training and use it in structured workouts. The 955 can also be used as a triathlon watch with customizable triathlon and duathlon modes, and a dedicated swimrun mode.

This adds to an already extensive feature set. This watch is intended to be a running watch, but it also features workout modes for all types of sports, including core cycling, pool swimming, and hiking.

You can track your heart rate and blood oxygen levels, step count, distance, sleep, and pace with a full bank of sensors. The watch can be downloaded Spotify playlists so that you can listen to your favorite music without having to use your phone. It also has maps, which allows you to explore longer distances without worrying about getting lost.

External sensors can be connected via Bluetooth or ANT+. These include heart-rate monitors and cycling power meters. Garmin’s standard toolbox includes fitness analysis, coaching, and race day tools. The Forerunner 955 comes with Garmin Coach and Pace Pro modes, which guide you through a race based upon your goals.

What did we like?

Although all the new features are great, my favorite feature is the Morning Report. It ties together many new features of the watch (including HRV or training readiness) in an easy to understand format. This will help you understand why certain workouts are more difficult than others.

You can either ignore it or make it visible on your watch face when you wake up. Click on it to see your Training Readiness score displayed at the top. This indicates whether your body is ready for difficult or easy training, and then a series other fitness snapshots.

The Morning Report’s unique and wonderful feature is its ability to provide a recommendation for a workout and break it down into the different measurements. This makes it easier to understand the situation. Your readiness rating will show Low if you haven’t had a good night’s rest, or if your HRV is not balanced.

It’s a great system. I used it for about a month and found it to be accurate. I read «Low» when my energy was low and «Ready» when I felt refreshed and ready to go. This was particularly useful as I was still recovering from a bout with Covid and didn’t want it to get out of control. It was easy to call up the report each morning and follow the workout suggestions. I never felt like I was doing too much.

The multi-band, multisystem GNSS works just as well on the Fenix 7X I tried earlier this year. The most accurate option was chosen (all systems, multiband). In comparison testing with my Stryd wind footpod, the difference averaged under 2%. That’s pretty decent. This is a difference of less 200m over a 10km run.

The Garmin Elevate V4 heart rate sensor (the same one used in the more expensive Fenix 7 watches and Epix watches), was equally impressive, if not better. The data from the MyZone MZ–Switch chest belt was compared to the results of the same runs. The difference in average heart beat was less than 1%, and the peak heart rate difference averaged out at 1.6%. The heart-rate traces showed that they were well compared, with peak and troughs at all the right points.

What could be better?

The Forerunner 955’s battery life is improving every year. I am so used to that, I was slightly disappointed. The standard Smartwatch battery life is good at 15 days, but the solar model can last up to 20 days. This is almost as long as the Fenix 7 regular model, which lasts 18 days. The solar model manages 22 days.

It is also slower when it comes to workout battery life. It can track single GPS networks for 42 hours, compared to 57 hours for the Fenix 7, which takes 57 hours. The difference between the solar models is greater with the Forerunner 955 taking 49 hours and the Fenix 7 taking 73 hours. The Forerunner is longer lasting than the smaller Fenix 7, but not by much.

The watch has a good battery life and can be used for up to 8 hours 30 minutes. This is enough time to last most marathon runners and still have some left over capacity.

Garmin hasn’t yet implemented native running power measurement, like Polar and Coros. This is another small issue I have. Running power can be displayed natively by purchasing a compatible Garmin heart rate chest belt or Running Dynamics footpod. However, it is not available on the watch.

You can’t use data from an external running power sensor like the Stryd Wind in Garmin’s structured exercises without downloading an app from Garmin’s app store. Although it’s possible, it’s not as easy as connecting the sensor to Garmin and integrating the data into Garmin’s ecosystem.

Garmin Forerunner 955 review: Verdict

My complaints may seem small or insignificant, but that’s because they are. It was difficult for me to find anything negative about the Garmin Forerunner 955, and that should be a good indicator of how great it is.

This watch is a great fitness watch and does everything. This is the most advanced Forerunner Garmin watch ever created. It’s almost as good as the Fenix 7 series, while being significantly cheaper.

It may not have the same luxury feel as rivals, but it is lightweight and comfortable. And, most importantly, it does everything else right. The Forerunner 955 is my favorite high-end wearable of all those I have tested in the last few years. It offers the best combination of performance, accuracy and flexibility — it is a great fitness wearable.