What is the Garmin Forerunner 55?
It’s a sports and heart rate monitor for budget-conscious people who have just dipped their toes in the training world, or who just want something cheap without a lot of advanced features – such as the Forerunner 945.
- 1-inch color screen (not touch screen)
- All basic training functions
- 2 weeks battery life in smartwatch mode
- Heart rate measurement and sleep measurement
The Garmin Forerunner 55 has a 1.04-inch color screen. It is not a touch screen, but instead the training watch has several buttons to control all functions. There are three on the left side and two on the right side.
Below the screen is a GPS with which you can measure distance, speed and intervals. There is also a heart rate monitor and the entire design is water resistant so you can swim with your Forerunner 55.
Forerunner 55 is both a training watch and a smartwatch
You simply get the most basic features at a reasonable price tag. Perfect if, for example, you are new to the running track and want a simpler training watch to keep track of your training sessions.
In addition to the training-oriented functions, the Forerunner 55 is also a simplified smartwatch.
For example, you receive SMS and emails, see notices from social media and see incoming calls to your mobile phone. You can also measure sleep, keep track of menstrual cycles and also see how often you rest during the day.
The Garmin Forerunner 55 has a battery life of approximately 20 hours in training mode, ie when using the built-in GPS. If you only use it as a smartwatch, the battery life increases to about two weeks.
The Forerunner 55 has apps and an adjustable dial
Just like many other smart and training watches from Garmin, there is support for apps and extra dials.
With Garmin Connect IQ – which is Garmin’s equivalent of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store – you can find thousands of apps and dials; both free and premium variants for a few tens.
To synchronize apps and dials, as well as all training statistics, the mobile app Garmin Connect (PC, Android and iOS) is used.
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is available in black, white and turquoise. The approximate price is SEK 2,199 including VAT.
Noteworthy about the Forerunner 55
- Uses an older generation heart rate monitor (Garmin Elevate V3) that does not support PulseOx (oxygen saturation in the blood).
- The sleep measurement is done completely automatically – you do not need to do more than have the training watch on you when you go to sleep.
- 18 different training programs – including Run, Virtual Run, Treadmill, Track Run, Bike, Walk, Bike Indoor and Cardio.
FAQ
Up to 20 hours in training mode
Up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode
Yes, there is built-in support for sleep measurement. The measurement is automatic and you can see statistics in Garmin Connect on your mobile or computer.
Yes, there is a built-in heart rate monitor. It is an older variant, but the reputable website DC Rainmaker says that it is excellent anyway.
Yes, the construction is really waterproof and you can even swim with the training watch.
The approximate price is SEK 2,199 including VAT.
