Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch Review: The Ultimate Entry-Level Running Companion?

There comes a point in every new runner’s journey when a smartphone in an armband just doesn’t cut it anymore. I remember that moment vividly. Fumbling with a sweaty screen to pause at traffic lights, squinting at my pace under the midday sun, and constantly worrying about battery drain. The data was there, but it was clunky and distracting. I craved something purpose-built, something that would give me the essential information I needed without overwhelming me with a thousand metrics I didn’t understand. The search for a dedicated running watch can be daunting; it’s a market saturated with high-tech gadgets promising to turn you into an elite athlete overnight. But what if you just want to track your runs accurately, monitor your effort, and maybe get a little guidance along the way? That’s the exact problem the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch sets out to solve.

What to Consider Before Buying a GPS Running Watch

A GPS running watch is more than just a timepiece; it’s a key solution for bringing structure, insight, and safety to your training. By accurately tracking your distance, pace, time, and heart rate, it transforms a simple run into a measurable workout. This allows you to follow training plans, monitor your fitness progression over time, and understand how your body responds to different levels of effort. For anyone looking to move beyond casual jogging and embrace running as a consistent part of their fitness routine, a dedicated GPS watch is an indispensable tool.

The ideal customer for a product like the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch is someone who is either new to running or a seasoned recreational runner who values simplicity and core functionality over complex, advanced metrics. They want reliable GPS, accurate heart-rate monitoring, and perhaps some structured workout guidance like that offered by Garmin Coach. It’s also perfect for those who want a lightweight, 24/7 activity tracker with basic smartwatch features like notifications. However, it might not be suitable for elite athletes or data-obsessed individuals who require advanced running dynamics, barometric altimeters for precise elevation data on trails, or triathlon-specific features. Those users would be better served by higher-end models in the Forerunner series or other specialized multi-sport watches.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Comfort: A running watch will be on your wrist for hours, often in sweaty conditions. It needs to be lightweight and comfortable. The Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch comes in two sizes (Large and Small) and weighs a mere 32 grams, making it one of the most comfortable watches for all-day wear and, crucially, for sleeping, if you want to track your rest and recovery.
• Performance & Accuracy: The core function is tracking. How quickly does it acquire a GPS signal? How accurate is that signal in different environments (city vs. open country)? The reliability of the wrist-based heart rate monitor is also paramount for training in the correct zones. The Forerunner 45 boasts a fast satellite lock and a heart rate monitor that we found to be very reliable for its class.
• Materials & Durability: This device will be exposed to the elements. Look for a durable, sweat-resistant band (typically silicone) and a screen that can withstand the occasional knock. While the Forerunner 45’s plastic housing keeps it light, some user feedback has noted potential long-term durability concerns, so it’s something to be mindful of. The chemically strengthened glass on the face holds up well against everyday scratches.
• Ease of Use & Battery Life: A complicated interface can be a major distraction during a run. The Forerunner 45 uses a simple, five-button system that is easy to navigate even with sweaty hands—a clear advantage over a finicky touchscreen. Battery life is also critical; you don’t want your watch dying mid-marathon. The Forerunner 45 promises up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and a very respectable 13 hours in GPS mode, which is more than enough for most runners’ weekly training.

Understanding these factors will help you choose a GPS watch that not only meets your training needs but also becomes a seamless part of your active lifestyle.

While the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch is an excellent choice for many, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models and navigation technology, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing Simplicity and Focus

Unboxing the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch is a refreshingly straightforward affair. Inside the compact box, you’ll find the watch itself, a proprietary USB charging cable, and some quick-start documentation. There are no unnecessary frills. Our first impression upon picking up the watch was its incredible lightness. At just 32 grams, it feels almost non-existent on the wrist, a stark contrast to some of the heavier, bulkier smartwatches and high-end fitness trackers on the market. This featherlight design, confirmed by many users as a key benefit, makes it exceptionally comfortable for 24/7 wear.

The first thing many users notice, and something we must address immediately, is the screen. The promotional images showcase a bright, vibrant display. The reality is a Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) screen that is somewhat muted and “washed out” indoors. However, this is a purposeful design choice by Garmin. This type of screen is exceptionally easy to read in direct, bright sunlight—exactly where you’ll be using it most—and is incredibly power-efficient, contributing to its excellent battery life. Setup via the Garmin Connect app on a smartphone is seamless, and the five-button interface quickly becomes intuitive. It’s a device that feels less like a fragile piece of tech and more like a rugged, reliable training partner from the moment you put it on. Its design philosophy is clear: focus on the essentials and execute them perfectly.

A Deep Dive into the Forerunner 45’s Performance

A running watch lives or dies by its performance in the field. It doesn’t matter how many features it has if the core tracking is unreliable. We put the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch through its paces over several weeks, testing it on city streets, park trails, and treadmills to see if this entry-level contender could truly keep up. The results were, for the most part, deeply impressive.

The Running Experience: Nailing the Fundamentals

For any running watch, the two most critical functions are GPS accuracy and heart rate monitoring. This is where the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch truly shines, delivering performance that punches well above its price point. On our first outdoor run, we were struck by how quickly the watch acquired a satellite signal. Standing on a city street surrounded by mid-rise buildings, it locked onto GPS in under 15 seconds, a speed that many more expensive watches struggle to match. This experience was echoed by numerous users, who praised its minimal delay in getting started. Throughout our runs, the GPS tracking was consistently accurate. When overlaying our recorded routes on a map, the watch traced our path perfectly, even correctly navigating switchbacks in a local park. When tested against a pre-measured 5km course, it recorded a distance of 5.02km, an impressively small margin of error that gives you confidence in the data. One user noted it was “definitely more accurate than my older HR+”, a sentiment we wholeheartedly share.

The wrist-based heart rate monitor also performed admirably. For steady-state runs and long, slow efforts, the readings were consistent and aligned closely with what we’d expect and what a chest strap would report. As with virtually all wrist-based optical sensors, it can experience some lag during high-intensity interval training (HIIT), where your heart rate spikes and drops rapidly. However, for the target audience of this watch—those building a base or training for a 5k or 10k—the accuracy is more than sufficient to guide training effort. The ability to get this level of reliable data in such a lightweight package is a major victory.

Garmin Coach and the Software Ecosystem: Your Personal Trainer

Perhaps the most compelling feature of the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch isn’t the hardware itself, but the powerful software ecosystem it unlocks. Chief among these is Garmin Coach. This free feature within the Garmin Connect app is a game-changer for new runners. You can choose a goal (5k, 10k, or half marathon), select one of three real-life coaches (like Olympian Jeff Galloway), and the app generates a personalized, adaptive training plan that syncs directly to your watch. Before each run, the watch tells you exactly what to do—for instance, “Warm up 5 mins, run 2 mins, walk 1 min, repeat 8 times, cool down 5 mins.” It guides you through every step, vibrating to signal interval changes. It removes the guesswork from training, providing the kind of structure that can be the difference between sticking with a running program and giving up. This feature alone provides immense value, essentially giving you a personal running coach on your wrist. The seamless integration and expert guidance is something you can check out in more detail online.

Beyond Garmin Coach, the Garmin Connect app is a robust platform for analyzing your performance. After a run, the watch syncs automatically via Bluetooth to your phone, and you can dive into a wealth of data: maps of your route, pace charts, heart rate zones, cadence, and more. It also automatically uploads activities to third-party services like Strava, a feature universally praised by users for its convenience. The app also tracks all-day metrics like steps, stress levels (based on heart rate variability), and sleep, giving you a holistic view of your health and recovery.

Everyday Wear: A Smartwatch That Puts Fitness First

While the Forerunner 45 is a running watch at its core, it’s designed to be worn 24/7, and it excels in this role. Its incredibly light weight and comfortable silicone band mean you genuinely forget it’s on your wrist. We wore it continuously for days, including during sleep, without any discomfort—a claim that can’t be made for many larger, heavier watches. The battery life lives up to Garmin’s claims; with about three to four GPS-tracked runs per week, we consistently got 5-6 days of use before needing a charge. This reliability means one less thing to worry about.

As a basic smartwatch, it covers the essentials well. It displays notifications for calls, texts, and app alerts from your paired smartphone. While you can’t respond to messages from the watch, being able to glance at your wrist to see an incoming notification is incredibly convenient, both in daily life and during a run. It also features music controls, allowing you to play, pause, and skip tracks on your phone without having to pull it out. And as mentioned before, that MIP display, while dim indoors, is absolutely brilliant in the sun. There’s no need to shade the screen or stop running to read your pace—the brighter the sun, the clearer the display becomes. This practicality reinforces that the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch is a tool built for the real world of an active user. For those seeking a simple, effective daily companion, it’s worth a closer look at its full specifications.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, user feedback for the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch is overwhelmingly positive, with praise centering on its simplicity, comfort, and core performance. One user, who upgraded from an older model, called it a “definite and seemingly worthwhile upgrade,” highlighting the more accurate GPS and the intuitive button navigation that “quickly becomes second nature.” Another user perfectly captured its appeal by stating, “This is one of those products you can’t live without once you have it,” praising its accuracy and hardy, scratch-resistant face.

However, the feedback isn’t without its critiques, which align with our own findings. The most common point of criticism is the display. A user summed it up perfectly: “If you’re expecting the screen to look as vibrant as the ones in the promotional images then you’re in for a bitter disappointment as the colours are dull and extremely washed out.” While we understand the technical reasons for this (sunlight visibility and battery life), it’s a valid point for those accustomed to brilliant smartwatch screens. A second, less common but important concern, was durability, with one user reporting that the “watch housing cracked after 8 months in used.” This suggests that while it’s built for activity, it may not withstand heavy impacts as well as more premium models.

How Does the Forerunner 45 Compare to the Alternatives?

The Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch occupies a sweet spot in the market, but it’s important to understand how it fits in with other options, both within Garmin’s lineup and for different activities.

1. Garmin Forerunner 255S GPS Running Smartwatch

The Forerunner 255S represents the logical next step up from the Forerunner 45. It is aimed at the more serious runner who has mastered the basics and is now hungry for more data and features. The 255S offers a multi-band GPS for enhanced accuracy, a host of advanced training metrics like Training Status and HRV Status, and dedicated modes for triathlons, including open-water swimming. It also boasts a longer battery life and access to Garmin Pay for contactless payments. Someone should choose the 255S over the 45 if they are training for multi-sport events, are highly focused on performance analytics, and are willing to invest more for a more powerful training tool.

2. Garmin Approach S10 GPS Golf Watch

This comparison highlights the importance of choosing a device for its intended purpose. The Approach S10 is Garmin’s equivalent of the Forerunner 45, but for golfers. It is a simple, no-fuss GPS watch that provides yardages to the front, middle, and back of the green, as well as distances to hazards, on over 41,000 preloaded courses. It does not have a heart rate monitor or track running or cycling. A user should choose the Approach S10 if their primary activity is golf and they want an easy-to-use device to improve their course management. It is not an alternative for a runner, but rather a specialized tool for a different sport.

3. Garmin Approach S60 GPS Golf Watch Black

Just as the Forerunner 255S is a step up for runners, the Approach S60 is the premium alternative for golfers. It builds on the S10’s foundation with a large, full-color touchscreen display, full-color CourseView mapping, and advanced features like PlaysLike Distance, which accounts for elevation changes. It also includes activity tracking profiles for running and cycling, making it a more versatile (and expensive) option. A golfer who wants the absolute best in on-wrist golf technology and also wants some basic fitness tracking would prefer the S60. However, for a dedicated runner, the Forerunner 45 remains the far more focused and cost-effective choice.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch for You?

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch is an exceptional device that absolutely nails its intended purpose. It is, without a doubt, one of the best entry-level running watches available. It strips away the intimidating complexity of high-end models and focuses on delivering the core essentials with precision and reliability. The combination of accurate GPS, a dependable heart rate monitor, incredible comfort, and the game-changing Garmin Coach feature creates a package that offers immense value.

Yes, the screen is not as vibrant as a top-tier smartwatch, and it lacks the advanced metrics a professional athlete might crave. But for the new runner, the person training for their first 10k, or the fitness enthusiast who wants a simple and effective tool to track their activities, these are not significant drawbacks. It’s a watch that empowers you to run smarter, not harder. If you are looking for a straightforward, reliable, and motivating running partner that won’t break the bank, we wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s a product that proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to get serious about your running journey. You can check the latest price and find out more right here.