27.7.2017

Let me start by saying that I wasn't looking for a running watch when I bought this - I was after an activity tracker with sleep tracking. I wanted one with a heart rate function and ideally also GPS. I also wanted a garmin as I already use another garmin watch and so wanted to keep everything on the same software (garmin connect, etc) for simplicity. I ended up buying this watch as well as the vivosmart HR plus on prime day for £120 and £110 respectively. I assumed the vivosmart would win outright, but I was wrong. I found it uncomfortable and bulky from the off. This watch on the other hand turned out to be a bit of a gem. Why?...Firstly, it's a very comfortable watch,easy to wear as an everyday watch and low profile enough to wear even with shirts and cuffs/cufflinks (try that with the vivosmart!). I wanted a watch I could wear all day and all night (see below on sleep tracking) and it delivers. It has a very easy to see in all-conditions screen, with the time clearly displayed as you'd want moment to moment. It's really light too - barely notice it. It also does the add-ons that are nice, including smart notifications from your phone (messages, diary reminders, incoming calls, whatsapp, etc, etc), weather app connection (needs phone) and a great battery that lasts several days, even when using GPS a bit for activities.Secondly, even though it's a "running watch" it makes a great activity tracker. It's got a steps tracker that sets your daily target and all that good stuff, it tracks your heart rate regularly and it has the all-important get off your bum bar ("move" bar I think, technically) on the home screen. It syncs effortlessly with garmin connect so you can see your more detailed stats whenever you want on your phone too. Sleep tracking was important to me and it does that very well. Garmin connect is relatively basic in sleep stats (at least from what I can see so far), but analysis of deep sleep vs light seems to correlate to how I feel the next morning and the start and finished sleep points have been pretty accurate. I knew it would confirm I'm not getting enough sleep, but somehow having the stats build it helping me work on that (and work on what stops me getting more deep sleep - phone by the bed's on the list ofcourse!).So that's all the ways I wanted to use it that it wasn't labelled as. How does it work as what it actually says it is then - a running watch? The answer is pretty damn well. I have a garmin forerunner 920xt which is a (significantly more expensive) higher end watch for running, cycling, swimming, triathlon, etc. You need a separate heart rate strap with it (generally still considered to have better accuracy than wrist based heart rate sensors) and it's been my training watch for a year and a half now. I love it. So I expected the forerunner 35 to pale against it, less useful and less accurate. It certainly can't do all the same stuff (no swim option, doesn't work with other bike sensors like cadence I believe) but on a like for like for what it can do the 35 performs really well. I've used it on a few runs and it's accurate on distance, pretty responsive on heart rate (I'd read it's slow, but don't find it bad at all, at least not for a pretty steady effort which is what I tend to do most of) and just easy to use. It picks up GPS quickly too. I used it side by side with the 920xt on a bike ride and the stats were the same (average HR exactly, distance was slightly different but I only paused one when we had a break which could explain). I'll invariably still use the 920 for most things, but for running I could well use the 35 going forwards. I also love that you can set this up to transmit HR via ant+. meaning if you have another exercise computer (like the 920 or more likely a cycle computer) you can use this for HR instead of the chest strap if you like.I really can't find many faults with this. I think the main one (and the drop of one star) is the look. As others have noted it's pretty damn fugly. There's no real need for that. It looks like it wants to be like the apple watch but couldn't really be bothered. I've bought another colour strap to jazz it up a bit, but am also happy to go function over form (the vivosmart it's much more designed, but fell over on the comfort as a result).Apart from that I really do like it. Yes, it's not touchscreen but I prefer that - buttons mean it does what you want, when you want it to. It's also monochrome screen, which falls a bit with the above point but again it doesn't affect anything and better that than be more expensive to add colour. Would I like it as much at full RRP? Now there's a question. Probably not is the honest answer. At that stage the vivoactive HR becomes an option and packs in a lot more than this watch, but at the discounted price from prime day, and I'm sure again before long, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.So a star off for looks and (full) price. Otherwise pretty hard to fault.Who should get this? A few others have given a pretty good answer to that, but to add my 2 pence worth I'd say it's great for anyone wants to get active, or is and is run focussed.

17.7.2018

Got my son one for speed skating and cycling, bang on ... liked it so much I got myself one in prime sale.Does everything you need including sleep tracking steps etc and screen excellent both outdoors and in.Comfortable weight, size and original strap very supple ... big / easy to read data elements and texts for those of us with less than perfect vision.I cycle lots and use an edge 520 for that, so this is mainly going to be used as an additional tool for all the other stuff I do, and at the deal prices Amazon is doing, I would suggest it is fantastic value and the bang for buck is hard to beat.I previously tried a Garmin 735XT and found it very lacklustre and somewhat "wanting" especially the screen which was lacking contrast and data elements/texts just too small to be legible ...the 235 uses a similar screen size etc so not really any improvement.Garmin do a rather annoying thing though - they hide data they could easily show to users of "lower end" kit in the Garmin connect app ... eg time in heart rate zones should be visible to users of Garmin 35's, similarly they could calculate training effects, stress, recovery time, etc ... however they choose not to show this and instead market it as a feature only available on higher end models like 735 or 935 where it is visible on the watch as well as in the Connect app. Understandable I guess to a degree but a little cheap/frustrating as the data is actually recorded on the watch and stored in the fit/gpx files (only diff really is that it would be shown after the event and not in real time on the watch as it is with higher end models)No major issue if you have other apps or software (eg strava) to do this kind of data analysis for you, but a little narrow minded of Garmin to think their users so stupid not to see this as a bit of a marketing "con".Other notable thing that is missing ... a simple stopwatch/countdown timer. You can do manual laptmes with all GPS HRM analysis on a button press during in activity, but boiling an egg accurately after a workout is not possible.Pairs with ant+ devices including speed and hrm from other manufacturers like wahoo and sigma, Sigma works fine however I had a drop out on first use with wahoo so need to do more testing to see whether that was a blip or something worse ... doesn't log power meter data and will not connect to my quarq qzero power meter to log just cadence (I use the edge 520 for that, so no stress).My daughter will borrow this to track her running, fit or gpx files can be exported and imported from Garmin to other apps like strava with very little hassle ... just requires a little manual work to remove her runs from my own activities in Garmin Connect or I need to manually upload and import them to her Strava account or set her something up in Connect.Oh yeah ... 50m waterproof too ... whilst it doesn't do swimming, and the optical wrist based HRM is probably useless in water, you could use the watch with a "cardio activity" selected and use a waterproof HRM strap to do "open water swimming" or maybe even indoor pool swimming (depending on the building the gps might pick up through the roof), then you can simply change the activity once in the Connect app to whatever swimming profile you use. Essentially similar for all activities ... ie if you log a "cardio activity" on this watch it can be anything (we've tried it for go karting, take-off and landing on a plane at 520kmh, skating, etc ...) then later you can re-classify it in the Connect app.Edit: optical hrm gets a bit inaccurate once to up your heart rate to more than 130bpm ... noticed this on mine and my son's data. I was clocking 150bpm on heart rate strap and edge 520, 35 was only showing 131bpm. This kind of thing is standard with optical hrm, so not a criticism of 35 and i imagine would be same for most wrist based optical hrm watches.Another reference in case it helps ... gps speed tracking on 35 very close to the figures shown by a calibrated garmin speed sensor linked to my edge 520.So in summary, the main difference between this and more expensive Garmin watches (apart from the looks) is how much real time data you want or can see whilst doing an activity ... you want more bling and data elements then buy a higher end watch, you want a more general but very capable sleep, fitness, cycling and running watch to log your steps, tell you to move and record whatever other activities you do in life and maybe as a second device ... then you should give this a whirl.

18.11.2016

Who are you?What are your current reasons for buying this watch?What are your intentions for the next 12 - 24 months?These are the questions you need to ask yourself before you spend your money. If you are just getting off the couch and want to measure, running, walking, cardio and general activity, then this is the watch for you.However:If you want to add pool swimming into the mix then it may not be for you.If you are a heavy sweater, like me (you sweat from places you didn't even think was possible) then you might become frustrated because the heart rate monitor might start reading erratically.If your arms go through a lot of fast motion when you exercise then ditto for the above problem.Youwant a touch screen and some more metrics (if you don't understand what I mean by metrics then stay with the Forerunner 35).Maybe you should look at this instead Garmin Vivoactive HR GPS Smart Watch with Wrist Based Heart Rate - Regular WW, BlackIf you are planning on going sea swimming (ie you are in fact a closet tri-athlete) as well as all of the above, and you need razor sharp heart monitoring accuracy, then the watch you need is: Garmin Forerunner 920XT GPS Multisport Watch with Running Dynamics and Connected Features - White/RedAs you can see from the above, you came shopping for a watch, but the choice you make now determines how well you have spent you money divided by your long term or end requirements.I only say all of this because one thing leads to another, and before you know it you are entering triathlons!So let's wind (groan!) this back to the watch in question: the Garmin Foreruner 35 GPS - if you have decided, after reading all the of the above that this the watch for you, then this is a little cracker and I'm enjoying wearing it. Like many other devices, this can help you improve your fitness and more importantly track those changes. I knew I had become a bit of a couch potato, favoured some wrong foods etc. I had a couple of niggling health issues, nothing major but enough to make me think - CHANGE. (For the record I achieved my goals to date using a Garmin Vivoactive: Garmin Vivoactive Black (Certified Refurbished) and on my bike, a Garmin Edge 1000 Garmin Edge 1000 Touchscreen GPS Bike Computer with Premium Heart Rate Monitor, Speed and Cadence Sensors - BlackWith the help of my Garmin kit and buckets of sweat, I now have a resting heart rate of 49. This is down from 74. At the age of 49, I'm now more active than I have ever been and it's all to do with tracking the success and improving.The Garmin Forerunner 35 watch key features are (as the Garmin blurb tells us):Lightweight and easy-to-useHi-res sunlight readable displayGPS tracks time, distance and pace (it prefers to be outdoors for the GPS as indoors is not great)Wrist-based heart rate technology (can be skittish so could frustrate those that need accuracy but you also link it to a heart strap)Activity profilesInterval trainingRun/walk featureVibration alertsAudio promptsActivity trackingSmart notificationsLiveTrackMusic controlAutomatic uploads to Garmin Connect (so can push data to Strava via Garmin Connect)Heart rate monitor compatibleIt's water proof (but remember it will not track your swimming)If you are in two minds because you are not sure if you will move enough to warrant the cost then think of the following:What is your vice or what are your vices?How much do you spend per day/week/month/year on them?How does that cost compare with this watch?I'll have a tenner bet with you that it's more expensive to keep your vice than it is to buy something like this which could help prolong your life?I have used a picture of me as an example of what happens when you track your health with technology. You become competitive. You try to beat your last time or distance. You try to improve. You might join a club with like minded people - yes they might all be further ahead than you but they will know how to encourage you and will offer tips.This is a great watch for the person starting to get active that has no interest in swimming.Is this you?

30.12.2017

I got this Garmin Forerunner 35 watch to replace my old Garmin VivoActive watch and whilst that was a good watch, I wanted a wrist-based HR monitor to track daily activities and monitor health, and this Garmin seems like a great choice. However, this does lack the swimming activity (although it is 50m water resistant) and does not have any watch face customization, both of which I do not use.The design of the watch is, well, understated, which I like. It's lightweight and extremely comfortable to wear. This uses a basic non-touchscreen monochrome display with a resolution of 128x128 - It's not going to win any awards for quality and I'm unsure how Garmin can call this "high-res",but it is adequate with on-screen information easily readable in bright conditions. Using this in lower light does prove a bit more awkward, but the backlight can be set to be switched on permanently or briefly when the buttons are pressed. Navigation is reasonably straightforward using the buttons on the sides of the watch.Activity tracking supported in this watch includes indoor running (using the accelerometer), outdoor running, walking, cycling, and cardio. Even though this is predominantly a running watch, I've been using this to track my cycling rides and it works fine. Despite missing GLONASS GPS support (for increased accuracy), I found the accuracy to be good and not too dissimilar to my brothers "Wahoo Elemnt". Activities are synced automatically to the Garmin Connect app - you can also sync to third-party services, including Strava, MyFitnessPal etc. I have my Strava account synchronized and it works great.Aside from tracking sports activities, the watch monitors daily health and performance, including steps, sleep, heart rate, calories burned, and weight. The watch also automatically sets personal daily goals and conveniently prompts you to get moving if the goals are not reached. Like most wrist-based HR monitors, heart rate tracking can be somewhat hit and miss at times, but generally, it does a decent job and is only a few beats different from my Wahoo TICKR. Sleep tracking is another nice feature to have, monitoring both light and deep sleep and detects when you're awake. This doesn't detect REM sleep, unlike the Fitbit Charge 2.Notification support is excellent and the music controls are handy to have. I've noticed everything from text messages, instant messages from apps like Facebook and WhatsApp, emails, phone calls, as well as other social media apps, like Twitter, are pushed to the watch. There's also a useful "find my phone" option, which I've used numerous time.Battery life on this watch is an estimated 9 days with HR tracking and notifications enabled and GPS disabled. With GPS enabled and tracking an activity, you get around 13 hours of battery life. Turing off all tracking and monitoring keeps the watch going for around 2 weeks. After using this for over a year, it's never failed me so far.The Garmin connect app has everything you need to monitor and analyse data. The app is reasonably well designed and easy to use, although I would have to say that Fitbit has the slight edge with their slightly cleaner interface.Overall, This is a solid watch for everything other than swimming. It's perfect for daily use and I have no problems recommending it.

28.12.2018

I have used the forerunner 15 for over 3 years - it is still working well.I had some 'spare' (sic) money and decided to invest in a new running watch. Why and why the forerunner 35?• The 15 drains the battery in 3.5hrs (approx)• It doesn't measure anything else• It doesn't have Bluetooth connectivity and it can only be connected to the Garmin app by connecting to a PC.I wanted• Longer GPS life• Waterproof (resistance)• More measurements• Connection to a smartphoneBut• Not so much information, complication as to make me not want to use it.• Value for Money.It took me weeeeks to decide. After 1 or 2 false starts etc I chose the Forerunner 35.• Claims 9 + hours of GPS (enough for 95% of whatever

18.12.2016

When I got this to review I passed it to my step daughter as she is a bit of a runner. Her partner is a soldier who is a trainer in the army so is ultra fit. Between them they gave this a right good workout and the review is a mix of their respective views. They were quite impressed.I’m a big fan of this watch. The Garmin Forerunner 35 is a comprehensive bit of fitness kit which allows you to monitor a whole range of your daily activities. It enables you to record: daily steps taken, intensive exercise - how fast, how far and the route you ran via built in GPS tracking. It also enables you to monitor your calorie intake (when paired up to My Fitness Pal app)

25.1.2019

Although this has a few basic smart features (i.e. connecting with your phone and showing calls, texts etc.) this is very much a watch for tracking sporting activities.As such it does a pretty good job. There are a few profiles to choose from - Run, Run Indoor (no GPS), bike, cardio and walk. I would have liked to have seen swim added to this too, but this is left to more expensive watches, along with the ability to combine sports for a duathlon or triathlon.The GPS performance is OK. I pick up a signal within a minute or two most times. The track seems reasonably accurate, but I've seen better. I often find corners are cut or I'm shown running alongside the road,

8.1.2018

I was a smart watch guy before, but then the continuous contact with my phone where I received the same notifications made me rethink this passion. Although, I do a lot of sports, and since I work in the office I wanted to have some watch what can track my movements and I can use as well during running and doing other sports.The look is not to classic, you will not show up with this bad boy, but maybe this is the only down side of the product.I run, going to a gym and ride my bike the most. Next to these I wanted to have something what tracks my movements and also measures my pulse and should not be too expensive. Oh and it MUST BE durable. Well I have to say,

19.6.2019

For the first couple of days I found this watch to be uncomfortable to wear - it actually made my wrist sore. I think that the shape of the watch is designed to keep a good contact for heart rate measurement.As usual; with this type of device the instructions are just about good enough but lacking in some details. For example, there is an icon on the watch which isn't in the instructions and an icon in the instructions which isn't on the watch. However, I have been able to muddle may way through getting to know the watch without reading all the way through the instructions.I was able to use Garmin Connect easily because I already had an account with my Garmin Edge cycling computer.

4.1.2018

Thought long and hard about buying this watch. I wanted in a run and ride tracker mainly, rather than a lifestyle/fitness watch, so was keen to get one that had built in GPS and heart rate monitoring and something that would operate independently from my phone (I hate carrying a phone when I am running). Was intially concerned by some of the one-star reviews complaining about the complete inaccuracy of the HRM and how long the watch took to locate GPS satellites. I can honestly say my concerns were unwarranted and I cannot really comment now on other people's issues, but the GPS has so far taken a matter of seconds to locate the satellites it needs (sometimes when I am still indoors!)

26.2.2021

Garmin Forerunner 35 is the perfect choice to accompany you on runs and other outdoor adventures. It represents superb value for money.The Forerunner 35 offers more or less everything you’d want from a sports watch. It can track running, cycling and walking via GPS and there’s also a mode for indoor activity. Like all Garmin’s fitness wearables, it’ll also count your steps, calories burned, “intensity minutes” and distance travelled throughout the day. An optical heart-rate monitor keeps tabs on your pulse both during exercise and at rest; wear it overnight and it’ll log your time spent in different sleep stages.There’s also a few specialist running features that not all GPS-enabled trackers offer: you can set a virtual pacer,

10.1.2019

Bought the watch exclusively for running, but loved the smartphone notifications once I got it, replacing my old beloved Pebble Kickstarter edition (RIP buddy).Physically it's not very attractive, pretty blocky, doesn't easily slide under a shirt sleeve. My wife hated it and wouldn't let it anywhere near the bed.Buttons are super intuitive and it couldn't be easier to use. Heart rate function is a bit questionable, I doubt my resting heart rate is really 46bpm; HR goes up to more accurate level when I make the watch so tight it's uncomfortable.The Connect app is where it all comes together though, it's really slick; great analytics, records over certain distances, competition with your friends (and strangers),

31.1.2017

I recently transitioned from a Garmin Forerunner 305 to a 35. Obviously these are streets apart in terms of capability, in particular the connectivity for uploading which is like a breath of fresh air having spent a good year or so battling with the charging cradle on the old 305 whenever I wanted to upload a run.Some positives to begin with, which ought to have earnt it 5 stars:Battery life seems good. I ran a 5 hour race at the weekend and it only dropped to 2 bars of battery from 4.The steps counter is actually kinda cool and I have tested it out to find it reasonably accurate. I have become a little bit obsessed with my target now despite never having bought it for this.The HRM is very cool.

20.11.2016

Out of the box this requires a full charge, so I plugged in the USB lead supplied to my laptop and the battery was full within a couple of hours.Setup was a breeze, assuming you pair this to a smartphone. I paired it via Bluetooth to my iPhone and the date and time were set instantly. The phone pairing also sends information to your phone about your levels of activity, routes run, etc. And on the flip side my phone also started sending alerts to my watch, such as news, sports and football score updates - which is neat. The downside is that when paired 24/7 with a phone the watch battery is drained pretty quickly.I also tried setting up the watch without pairing,

12.11.2019

Bought for running rather than daily use. Fast GPS pick-up even when arriving in another country. Step counter is more accurate than my son's fitbit which significantly over estimates. Has all the basic functions you need for running. Basic settings for other sports, but look for higher models if this is a requirement.Pros* Battery life is around a week with 4-5 hours on active GPS and some casual everyday use* Backlight and display is clear with large digits* Vibrate alarm works well with 7 presets* Configurable options for most features* Robust and fully waterproof allowing for worry-free use, but it doesn't track swimming dynamics.* Strap is secure and has lasted well.

Garmin Forerunner 35 - Reviews

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