Why We Like The Forerunner 255S Music
Situated right in the middle of the Forerunner lineup from Garmin, the Forerunner 255S Music smartwatch is a low-profile option that helps us dial in our running and training gains. Designed to mirror the Forerunner 255’s feature set, the 255S has a slightly smaller display and lighter design that’s perfect for smaller users or dynamic exercise. This smartwatch boasts pace management features, settings to regulate our nutrition intake, and even race-specific training regimens. Plus, it has a wide range of adventure-ready features like a multi-band GPS, submersible design, and preset profiles for disciplines ranging from paddling to backcountry skiing. This Music version of the Forerunner 255S lets you change tunes without your phone.
Details
- Mid-tier smartwatch for optimizing our running and training efforts
- PacePro feature provides grade-adjusted visuals for accurate pacing
- Bluetooth, Garmin Connect, and ANT+ connectivity
- Submersible rating of 5ATM for watersports
- Corning Gorilla Glass 3 offers resilient durability
- Convenience features include Garmin pay and Connect IQ store apps
- Sleep score data lets you know when you’re at your best
- Smartwatch mode offers a 12-day battery life
- Please see size chart for complete list of technical features
- Item #GRMF03O
- Housing Material
- fiber-reinforced polymer
- Strap Material
- silicone
- Face Material
- Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- Movement
- digital
- Odometer
- barometric altimeter
- Altimeter
- barometric altimeter
- Barometer
- wrist-based, constant
- Technical Features
- see size chart
- Wireless
- Bluetooth, ANT+, Garmin Connect
- Date Indicator
- yes
- Weekday Indicator
- yes
- Alarms
- alarm clock
- Battery Type
- lithium ion battery
- Battery Life
- [smartwatch mode] 12 days, [GPS-only GNSS mode] 26 hours, [all-systems GNSS] 20 hours, [all-systems GNSS mode plus music] 5.5 hours, [all-systems GNSS plus Multi-Band] 13 hours
- Includes
- charger
- Claimed Weight
- 1.4oz (39g)
- Submersible
- 5 ATM
- Face Size
- [diameter] 1.1in (27.5mm)
- Manufacturer Warranty
- 1 year
- Activity
- running, training, travel, casual, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, road cycling, mountain biking, swimming
Reviews
Q&A
Overall Rating
4.5 based on 36 ratings
Review Summary
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageDecember 5, 2023
My First Garmin!
If you're a runner, the Apple Watch isn't comparable to the 255s Music. The two main features I use the 255s music for is keeping my current pace and listening to music. It's nice not having to take my phone but still feeling safe having the gps feature. I also love looking at my morning report in the morning. It tells me my sleep score along with a lot of other helpful information. One of my only qualms with this watch is - I lose my phone a lot, and to be able to ping my phone I have to have the Garmin Connect app open on my phone (which I hardly ever do because I like to close all of my apps to save battery). It also only syncs to my phone when I have wifi, which isn't a huge deal but is slightly inconvenient sometimes, not sure if there's a way to get around that one. Highly recommend this watch for beginner to intermediate runners!
Originally reviewed on Garmin
October 10, 2023
AMAZING WATCH!
I researched a replacement watch to my Apple Watch and went with the Forerunner 255S Music. This watch has helped me train, recover, and pace myself in coaching Cross Country, and training for races. I am so impressed with the accuracy, features, durability, and light-weight design of this watch!
Originally reviewed on Garmin
June 2, 2023
Features great, but setup is no intuitive
I received the Garmin Forerunner 255S as a birthday gift, and I honestly almost returned it the same day. The setup was not intuitive, and I could not get it to work without a lengthy Support session. No real instructions are included, and the online instructions were not easy to find and then once I did, were not always right. I also found the number of apps required to support the watch baffling. Why can't it all be managed through a single app? So why the 4 star review? Because now that I have it set up, it's awesome! I can easily download music to my watch and go for runs without my bulky phone. The built in adaptive training is very cool, and the Training analysis will help me up my game.
Originally reviewed on Garmin
April 22, 2023
Great watch for exercise and everyday activities!
My husband convinced me to finally get a Garmin and I am loving it. Being able to run without my smartphone and still being able to listen to music? All the stats are amazing. It's been helping me to understand more about my fitness condition! Also, the challenges are good for motivation! Only one thing would make this watch even better, if my Garmin could measure BBT to accurately track menstrual cycles, it'd be awesome. Hands down as soon as any Garmin watch is able to do it, I'm buying it!
Originally reviewed on Garmin
March 27, 2023
Does everything I want!
I upgraded from a vivoactive 4s and am really enjoying the training plans offered on the Forerunner 255s music. I appreciate the lack of a touchscreen especially while wearing it at night. I love the audible beeps while running. The morning report is a nice treat. The battery power is superb!
Originally reviewed on Garmin
March 26, 2023
Great watch. Great functions.cc
I purchased my 255S about one month ago and really appreciate all the information beyond pace and distance it can provide. The details regarding sleep have been particularly enlightening. I've yet to actually use the music function but I do look forward to getting it set up. I was excited to get a smaller watch, but as a petite 5 ft woman I honestly would have liked it even smaller. Still, I'm loving the watch!
Originally reviewed on Garmin
March 10, 2023
Nice Appearance
I bought this to replace my Forerunner 645 music so I could have the Pulse Ox and HRV features. I'm a small person so the "s" models look better on my wrist. While Garmin is the best fitness watch for my needs other than the Apple watch (I don't use Apple products), I don't find them very intuitive and user-friendly for finding features and changing settings. It's a decent fitness smartwatch for people who run and do other exercises like Crossfit and gym workouts with multiple differing repeat intervals. It would be nice if there were a way to program multiple types of exercises specifically, such as intervals of running and weightlifting, rather than having to use the "Other" option that only has "Go". I don't like that some features can only be customized on the watch and not in the Garmin Connect app. That's a bit of a pain. Overall, I would say Garmin watches work for what I need and could be improved.
Originally reviewed on Garmin
March 7, 2023
Cool watch
I don't use many features, but what i use it for works well. Battery is great!
Originally reviewed on Garmin
March 2, 2023
The small was pink
I bought the smaller 255 thinking it was a mild red but when I received it, it was clearly pink. I loved the watch and all the features, just didn’t want pink so returned it. I hope in the future they’ll put the colors in the description for instances like this.
Originally reviewed on Garmin
March 2, 2023
Excellent product!!
Everything I need…. great quality and awesome features. Very happy with my 255.
Originally reviewed on Garmin
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This product can expose you to chemicals including Lead which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.