Running requires commitment and you need a watch that keeps up with your training goals without draining your wallet or dying mid-marathon, and the Garmin Forerunner 255 delivers exactly that combo of reliability and performance. Amazon dropped the price to just $279, down from the usual $349, which makes this one of those rare moments where a premium running watch becomes accessible. The Forerunner 255 brings serious training tools that adapt to your performance, recover alongside you, and guide you through race preparation with the kind of intelligence previously reserved for much pricier models.
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The battery life alone distinguishes this watch from the sea of devices that require charging every other day: You get 14 days of smartwatch use in between charges, which means you can spend more time training and less time looking for cables. That goes up to 30 hours of continuous GPS tracking in GPS mode so ultra-runners and adventurers can take on the longest events without battery anxiety setting in.
Your Body Knows When It Needs Rest
Recovery drives performance just as much as hard training does, and the Forerunner 255 tracks that balance through HRV Status monitoring. Heart rate variability measurements happen automatically during sleep, analyzing how your body responds to training stress and daily life. The morning report consolidates everything into one snapshot when you wake up – your sleep quality, recovery status, and a personalized workout suggestion based on where you stand.
The fourth-generation Elevate optical heart rate sensor is more accurate than its predecessors, and reads directly from your wrist with fewer random spikes or dropouts. Multi-band GPS technology uses signals from multiple satellite frequencies to calculate your position with much better precision, particularly in demanding environments such as dense city blocks or forested trails. Tests showed this dual-frequency approach corrects signal bounce issues that plague standard GPS watches, keeping route maps accurate even when buildings or trees surround you. At 49 grams for the 46mm version (39 grams for the smaller 41mm model), it’s light enough during a run that you tend to forget you’re even wearing it but with enough heft to feel durable.
Training plans change according to your real performance and do not follow a rigid schedule without considering how you feel: The Forerunner 255 offers personalized daily workout suggestions that adjust after each run based on your completion times, effort levels and recovery needs. Race predictions estimate your finish time for 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon distances by looking at your current fitness level, typical training paces and even weather conditions on race day.
The multisport profiles transform this from a running-only device to a triathlon companion. Swimming metrics include stroke detection and SWOLF scores for pool sessions while open water swimming tracks your path across lakes or ocean. Cycling profiles record power data when paired with compatible meters, and the watch automatically detects when you transition between sports during brick workouts or races. Water resistance extends to 5 ATM (50 meters) so showers, pool sessions, and rainy runs pose no threat to the electronics.
This is our favorite early Black Friday deal on a smartwatch, it might run out of stock very soon.
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