GarminForerunner 745, GPS Running Watch, Detailed Training Stats and On-Device Workouts, Essential Smartwatch Functions, Black

I have four different Forerunner models and the 745 is a favorite. I got it 2 years ago as an upgrade to my 45s and have used it as my main time piece, not just my main fitness tracker or main exercise gadget. The big capability improvement over the 45s was the ability to track strength training, do multi-sport activities such as swimming, cycling, and running; and it also had capability to add various cycling sensors such as cycling speed and pedal cadence. Often the only time I did not have it on was when it was plugged to recharge, which usually was while I was in the shower after a workout. The main outdoor activities I did with it was biking (in which case it was attached to the handlebar, on a handlebar mount, acting like a bike computer), walking, hiking, and running. Indoors I used it with a treadmill, a stationary bike, indoor pool, for strength training, and doing other cardio exercise. The two main metrics that I tracked for every workout was active calories expended and the exercise training load. I then tracked my daily active calories and my weekly training load. In order to “pace” myself during a workout, I used heartrate zones while running, and then speed and cadence metrics while on the bike. I also found the 745 handy for recording my strength training sessions.Every morning I looked at the sleep report, my body-battery level, and the recovery tracker—these 3 together served as my “training readiness” indicator. They tended to correlate, for example if sleep was poor, body battery would be sub-optimal also. The "training readiness" indicator in my new 265s is a 'nice-to-have' because in theory I can look at one metric to tell me if I'm ready for a big workout, but in practice, I still look at sleep, body battery, and recovery.The one thing I would have preferred on the 745 would be a narrower strap. For my 6.25-inch wrist, a 22mm strap is just too wide. And this is not just about aesthetics. I find the narrower band on my more recently acquired 265s noticeably more comfortable.I think the 745’s 1.2-inch (30.4mm) screen size is in the “sweet-spot”. I find Forerunners with 1.3-inch (32.5 mm) displays too big for my wrist (for example the 265) and the 1.1-inch display a tad too small (the one on the 265s). If only there is a Forerunner 265-medium with a 1.2-inch screen size, that would have been the model for me.My dream Garmin Forerunner would be a Forerunner with all the capabilities of the 965 (except the mapping and navigation features), paired with a 20mm band that tapers to 18mm (or even 17mm), sporting a 1.2-inch AMOLED (same size as the 745 display) so that the watch case diameter would be a respectable 43.5mm and not the gargantuan 46.1mm-sized case of the 265 or 47.2mm-sized case of the 965. Garmin can call it the 765 (an upgrade to the 745). A pipe dream, I think; that is because Garmin did not release a 755, so it seems the 745-line may be an evolutionary dead end.For now, my 2-year-old 745 can still hold its own. Sure, I have now switched to the 265s for nighttime sleep tracking and treadmill running, but on the bike, the 745 still beats the newer 265s both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors the huge reflective MIP display works really well in bright sunlight. Indoors, I can set the 745 MIP background light to “always-on” for the entire workout. In contrast to a MIP display, the AMOLED version of “always-on” is to dim the background light after a few seconds, which is disappointing. I want an ‘always-on’ that does not dim, Forerunner MIP displays can do that, while Forerunner AMOLED display can’t do that (at least not just yet).When I bought the 745 two years ago, I really needed the capabilities it had, which my 45s did not have. But now, even with my 265s on hand, there seems to be nothing the 265s can do that the 745 cannot do, and in a particular use-case (placing the watch on the bike handlebar mount) I still prefer the 745 over the newer 265s.To conclude, I think the 745 is a solid piece of kit and in some use-cases can still hold its own against the latest Forerunner models.UPDATE dated Nov 2024. Since my initial review, Garmin has kept on issuing firmware updates to their Forerunner 265s. I'm now using it more than my tried and trusted 745. The Forerunner 745 remains as good as when first bought, solid piece of kit. But since I now do more workouts indoors instead of outdoors, the 265s amoled screen has won me over. When I bike outdoors, the 745 MIPS screen rules - and that is what I have strapped on my handlebars. But I don't bike outdoors all the much now. Instead, I bike indoors using a smart trainer, which provides power data — and I don't have to deal with the weather and dangerous drivers. Indoors, I prefer amoled over mips, so the 745 gets far less exercise time now. 😢

I bought this Forerunner after a mixed experience with a two year old Solar Instinct. While the battery life on the Instinct can be phenomenal (32 days in lower power mode), this Forerunner isn't bad (normal mode) at about eight days. And it does so much more and so much better.This Forerunner linked right up with My Samsung A71 phone. The free Garmin Connect app is working beautifully with it. I'm in my mid 70's and simply trying to keep myself in decent shape. I don't do marathons or any running since I broke both legs in five places six year ago. The Forerunner is giving me all the feedback I need and want: heartbeat, steps, stair climbing, body battery, tracking me in my Hobie pedal kayak as well as on my bike, intensity minutes, sleep tracking, respiration and calories. And it does it well. The older Instinct was awful at counting flights of stairs (important to me since I descend to my dock 70 feet down from my back door on a daily basis and I want credit for it!) This Forerunner hasn't missed a beat.My wife asked for my older Solar Instinct. Now I'm hearing "Hey, it didn't count the last two times I climbed stairs!). I keep saying we should buy a 745 for her. But she's frugal. Given my continuing happy experience with my 745, I expect to win her over eventually. The 745 would even fit her better, being a thinner watch.I've read reviews by folks who like the 745 more then the newer 945. Given the differences between the models and at what cost you get them, I'm certain the 745 was the right choice for me. I'm quite happy with it.My only nit: I got the "red" band. It's more pinkish-orange than red. But I'm getting used to it

Really good!

This watch has nothing on apple, Fitbit, or any other watch. It beats all brands!!! I wear this everyday, and every time I meet others wearing it we can't stop talking about how much we love it!! Monitors heart rate, easy connectivity to phone and other devices, gorgeous watch, and simple and easy use. The only thing I wish was that my bank offered garmin pay but that's not garmin that's my bank

Great