I love this watch! Until recently, I had been using Nike+ to track my running with a 4th gen iPod nano + footpod, and was using my iPhone 6 Plus with MapMyRuns for biking. My wife can testify that I like to spend a lot of time researching my purchases beforehand, and I spent a lot of time trying to decide what to use to replace my dying iPod, until finally settling on this.
With my iPod nano setup, I liked the Nike+ website with its coaching and encouragements/awards, etc......but I didn't like not having much information other than time, pace, distance ran, etc. I decided I wanted a unit that offered GPS and all the other information that comes along with it, such as route time comparisons, and elevation changes. My phone would have been ideal, because it offers free tracking apps, has built-in GPS, and I can listen to my music while running. However, it's just so darn big! Trying to strap an iPhone 6 Plus to your arm while running is about like taking a laptop for a jog around the neighborhood. Enter the GPS watches!
I researched several watches meticulously to make sure I got exactly what I wanted, and used www.dcrainmaker.com extensively. That guy knows what he's talking about! I looked at the TomTom CardioRunner at first, because it was available, had built-in HR monitoring, and seemingly everything I wanted except that it was, well, a TomTom. I've never been a fan of their GPS units for vehicles, and have always used a Garmin. So, because of that, I looked at Garmin's ForeRunner line and was depressed to learn that none of them offered wrist-based HR monitoring, at least at the time. However, i saw that they were about to come out with the Garmin 225 which offered HR monitoring, so I decided to test my patience and pre-order it.
An agonizing wait! I checked online every day for 3 weeks to see when it might be shipping when, alas (!)...one day I got a glorious Amazon email informing me that it was about to ship! Before this watch arrived, I hadn't worn a watch in years....I always had my phone with me, except when running, so who needs a watch? I had planned on probably only using this when running, but haven't taken it off my wrist since I got it 2 weeks ago, except for showering and sleeping. When I first got it, I wore it while sleeping for a couple nights to try the sleep tracking, but after a couple nights I decided my wrist needed a rest from wearing a watch at night. After all, I obviously know how much I sleep & don't need a watch to tell me. However, the rest of the time, it's on my wrist & I love it. It syncs with my iPhone via bluetooth, all you have to do is be within 30 feet or so of your phone, enter the menu on the watch, and it automatically syncs. The Garmin app could use some work, seems pretty basic, but I guess it does the job. I have found myself using the step counter more than I thought I would! It gives you a new step goal every day based on your history somehow, and I find myself looking at it throughout the day to make sure I've hit it. The other day, my wife laughed at me because I was only a couple of hundred steps from goal, so I paced around the house for a few minutes before bed to make sure i hit that darn goal. At least it made me feel accomplished!
The most impressive thing about this watch, to me, is the battery life so far. I got it just before July 4th, charged it to 100% immediately upon taking it out of the box, and just now plugged it in today....even though I didn't have to. Over 2 weeks later, and it was at 44% charge, even after all the daily activity tracking and going on 3 runs of approximately 2 miles each (don't judge, I haven't been running much lately). It could have easily gone another week probably before absolutely needing to be charged, unlike my wife's FitBit HR which requires charging about every 5 days (probably because it's HR monitor stays on continually, while the Garmin 225 only comes on when running or when you want to check it). Smart move Garmin, seems to make a big difference in battery life!
Enough rambling. 5 stars easily. It has everything I wanted = quick GPS activation, quality HR monitoring on the wrist (who wants to wear a chest strap?), easy bluetooth transfer of data to my phone, great battery life, daily activity/step counter monitoring, wrist strap is comfortable, and it looks good enough for me to decide to wear as my daily watch. And this, coming from a guy who previously hated to wear watches & haven't worn one in years. I'm a medical sales rep & was worried at first about how it would look while I was out wearing my daily dress clothes, but I've received several compliments on it while in the field and had several people ask about it. It doesn't look like a Rolex, but it's still decent looking for a fitness watch.
Here's the other watches I serioiusly considered & why I didn't pick them:
TomTom CardioRunner - as discussed previously, I just never liked TomTom's GPS as much as Garmin. Personal preference. Also, it looked a little more aggressive, and probably wouldn't pass for a daily watch for wearing at work, if I decided to wear it daily.
Polar M400 with chest strap - had good reviews on several fronts, but again....a chest strap. Nah.
Garmin Fenix 2 - more expensive, but better looking & more features. I love to go camping, etc. and the Fenix seemed to be the top-notch GPS watch out there, but I eventually passed because....it's more expensive, heavier, still no wrist-based HR monitor, and honestly it seemed that there were several people in the reviews who had problems with it. Reliability is pretty darn important, so after much consideration, I decided to pass for now & might possibly consider in the future if I liked the 225.
My setup now is ideal...I'm using the FR225 for running along with a newly purchased iPod shuffle. Because the FR225 doesn't work for biking, I take my iPhone 6 Plus with me & just use MapMyRun. I figured, if I'm biking....I'd still bring my phone anyways, so why not just use it as a GPS tracker while I'm at it?
I'm sending my Garmin data not only to Garmin's Connect website, but also I've linked it to my Nike+ account (so I didn't lose all the miles I've accumulated there), as well as MapMyRun & Strava.
Couldn't be happier with this watch, absolutely no issues so far.
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From the manufacturer
Know your zone with Forerunner 225 — the first Garmin GPS running watch with wrist-based heart rate. Now you have the option to run without a heart rate strap because this watch has a built-in sensor using Mio Heart Rate Technology that measures heart rate at the wrist.
Forerunner 225
GPS Running Watch with Wrist-based Heart Rate
- Colorful graphic interface shows your zone and beats per minute at a glance
- Tracks distance, pace and heart rate; activity tracking counts steps and calories all day
- Built-in accelerometer records distance indoors
- Connected features: automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, live tracking, social media sharing
- Compatible with advanced workouts and free training plans from Garmin Connect
Beyond the Running Trail
In addition to using GPS to calculate distance and pace, the 225 has a built-in accelerometer. This allows it to capture distance and pace data when you’re running on an indoor track or treadmill, with no need for a separate foot pod accessory.
Feature Screens
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Graphic HR ZonesA colorful gauge identifies your heart rate zone and beats per minute in real time. |
Activity TrackingDoubles as an activity tracker, counting the steps and calories you burn all day. Plus, it will remind you to move if you’ve been sitting for more than an hour. |
Summary PageProvides accurate distance and pace data. You can also view your run on a map when you upload to Garmin Connect. |
Get Connected
Forerunner 225 offers connected features like automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, our free online community where you can save, plan and share your activities. Just download the free Garmin Connect Mobile app to your smartphone and then pair your watch. When you save your completed run, it will automatically upload when you’re in range of your phone. Additional connected features include live tracking, which allows your friends and fans to follow along and see your stats in real-time. You can also share your activities on your social media sites by posting updates through the Garmin Connect Mobile app.
Reviews with images
Heart rate is not accurate!
I will start off by saying I'm a pretty serious runner and did research on heart rate training so I could take my running to the next level. I was so excited to get the 225 for my birthday this year! It really is a great GPS, and activity tracker, but the wrist based heart rate is where it falls short big time. Now let me first say that the heart rate monitor is fine when your not running, it's when you start running that it is so erratic and inaccurate in it's readings. The first time I went out I knew there was a problem when it said my max heart rate was 212, so I went to the Garmin website and looked up other forums to find out if I was doing something wrong. I tried wearing the watch on the inside on the outside, and I tightened it up to no avail. So finally I came to the realization that wrist based heart rate isn't all that accurate while running. So I Ordered the Vivoactive with a heart rate monitor and went out today with both watches strapped to my wrist so I could compare the results and sure enough the heart rate was low at some points and way to high at other times. At one point I my heart rate was 157 from my chest strap and 180 from the Garmin 225 and when I was doing my cool down my heart rate was slowing going down but the Garmin 225 went right down to 57. Check out the picture attached to see what it looked like.
Top reviews from other countries
U. Maier
Worth the upgrade from a forerunner 10
Reviewed in Canada on November 26, 2015Tony Giantomaso
Superb fitness tracking device. Heartrate, pace, distance features are accurate for even intense exercise.
Reviewed in Canada on September 11, 2015