How to choose a GPS running watch? The Garmin Forerunner 45 is a budget-friendly option that provides accurate GPS, wrist-based heart rate monitoring, and adaptive training plans. It’s a reliable tool for runners seeking essential metrics without complexity.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Accurate GPS: Tracks pace and distance using GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellite systems.
- 7-Day Battery: Lasts up to a week in smartwatch mode or 13 hours in continuous GPS mode.
- Adaptive Coaching: Features Garmin Coach for personalized 5K, 10K, and half-marathon training plans.
- Essential Health Metrics: Monitors 24/7 heart rate, stress, Body Battery energy, and estimates VO2 Max.
- Smart & Safe: Delivers smartphone notifications and includes safety features like incident detection.
- Two Sizes: Available in a standard 42mm case or a smaller 39mm Forerunner 45S model.
- Gps running watch with Garmin Coach training plan support.Supported Application:GPS,Fitness…
- Easy to use running watch estimates heart rate at the wrist and features GPS to track your pace,…
- Works with free Garmin coach adaptive training plans that bring expert, personalized coaching right…
- Connected features include smart notifications for incoming texts and calls, automatic uploads to…
- Safety and tracking Features include incident detection (during select activities) which sends your…
Garmin Forerunner 45: Design and Build Quality
The Garmin Forerunner 45 and 45S prioritize comfort and durability. The standard model features a 42mm polymer case, while the 45S offers a 39mm case for smaller wrists. Both are lightweight, making them suitable for all-day and sleep tracking.
Construction is fiber-reinforced polymer with a chemically strengthened glass lens. The watch is water-rated to 5 ATM (50 meters), meaning it can handle swimming and showering. The five-button physical interface provides reliable control in all conditions, unlike touchscreens that can fail with sweat or rain.
The 1.04-inch color display is always-on and highly readable in direct sunlight. You can customize the watch face via the Garmin Connect IQ store. The design transitions seamlessly from daily wear to intense workouts.
Garmin Forerunner 45: Core Features & Performance
The Forerunner 45 delivers Garmin’s renowned accuracy in a simple package. It captures essential running and health data, providing actionable insights for improving your fitness.
GPS and Activity Tracking Precision
The built-in GPS connects to multiple satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo) for fast acquisition and reliable tracking. It accurately records distance, pace, and route mapping for outdoor runs, bike rides, and walks. For indoor workouts, the watch uses its accelerometer to track treadmill runs and indoor walks.
Heart Rate Monitoring and Fitness Metrics
The wrist-based Garmin Elevate™ heart rate monitor provides 24/7 readings. This data fuels key metrics:
- VO2 Max Estimate: Measures your cardiovascular fitness level.
- Stress Tracking: Uses heart rate variability to gauge your stress levels throughout the day.
- Body Battery™ Energy Monitoring: Combines stress, sleep, and activity to show your body’s energy reserves.
These metrics help you understand your body’s response to training and recovery needs.
Garmin Coach and Adaptive Training Plans
Garmin Coach provides free, adaptive training plans for 5K, 10K, and half-marathon distances. Choose a coach like Greg McMillan or Jeff Galloway. The plan adjusts daily based on your performance and goals, delivering guidance directly to your watch. This removes the guesswork from training.
Safety Features: Incident Detection and LiveTrack
During outdoor activities, the Forerunner 45 can detect a potential incident like a hard fall. If enabled, it will send an automated alert with your location to your pre-set emergency contacts. LiveTrack lets friends and family follow your run in real-time via a secure link, adding a layer of safety for solo runners.
Garmin Connect: A Hub for Your Health Data
The Garmin Connect app is the central dashboard for all your data. It automatically syncs activities, heart rate, sleep, and stress metrics. Here you can analyze trends, join challenges, and share workouts. The platform’s depth transforms raw data into a comprehensive view of your health and fitness journey.
Battery Life and Connectivity
Battery life is a major strength. In smartwatch mode, the Forerunner 45 lasts up to 7 days. With continuous GPS use, battery life extends to up to 13 hours, enough for a marathon or long training day. Connectivity includes Bluetooth for syncing with the Garmin Connect app and receiving smartphone notifications.
Smart Notifications and Music Controls
When paired with your smartphone, the watch displays calls, texts, and app alerts. You can read messages and dismiss calls from your wrist. The watch also provides music playback controls for your phone’s music apps. You can play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust volume without touching your phone.
Usability and Interface
The five-button layout is intuitive. The Up/Menu button opens the activity list and widget glance. The Down button accesses music controls and settings. Start/Stop and Lap/Back buttons handle workout control. The interface is fast and reliable, even with wet fingers. The watch supports basic activity profiles for running, cycling, indoor track, treadmill, yoga, and more.
Garmin Connect IQ: Customization
Via the Connect IQ store, you can download new watch faces to change the look and data displayed. The Forerunner 45 supports a wide selection of free and paid faces. This platform allows for personalization, though it does not support third-party data fields or apps like the more advanced Forerunner 55 or 245.
❓ Garmin Forerunner 45: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Garmin Forerunner 45 good for beginners?
Yes. Its simple interface, Garmin Coach training plans, and essential metrics like heart rate and GPS make it an excellent first running watch. It provides guidance without overwhelming complexity.
What’s the difference between the Forerunner 45 and 45S?
The Forerunner 45 has a 42mm case diameter and a 1.2″ strap. The 45S has a 39mm case and a 1.1″ strap, designed for smaller wrists. All features and battery life are identical.
Can I track swimming with the Forerunner 45?
It is water-resistant to 50 meters, so you can wear it for pool swimming. However, it lacks a dedicated swim-tracking mode, so it won’t record laps or stroke type like a dedicated multisport watch.
Does it have built-in music storage?
No. The Forerunner 45 does not store music. It can only control playback on your connected smartphone. For onboard music, consider the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music or 645 Music.
How accurate is the wrist heart rate monitor?
The optical heart rate sensor is accurate for steady-state runs and daily metrics. For high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or maximum precision, pairing a Garmin HRM-Dual chest strap is recommended.
Conclusion
The Garmin Forerunner 45 remains a compelling entry in the GPS running watch market for 2026. It delivers core Garmin functionality—accurate GPS, insightful health metrics, and structured training—in an affordable, user-friendly package. Its week-long battery life and reliable build make it a dependable daily companion.
While it lacks advanced features like a pulse oximeter, full-color maps, or onboard music, it excels at its primary job: being a straightforward, highly capable running watch. For beginners or value-focused runners who want trusted data and coaching without unnecessary extras, the Forerunner 45 is an outstanding choice. Check current pricing, as it often represents one of the best values in Garmin’s lineup.
References
- Garmin Forerunner 45 Official Product Page – Garmin.com
- Garmin Forerunner 45 Review – TechRadar
- Garmin Forerunner 45 Review – PCMag
- Garmin Forerunner 45 In-Depth Review – DC Rainmaker
- Garmin Forerunner 45 Review – Wareable
Last update on 2025-12-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Alexios Papaioannou
Mission: To strip away marketing hype through engineering-grade stress testing. Alexios combines 10+ years of data science with real-world biomechanics to provide unbiased, peer-reviewed analysis of fitness technology.