The Garmin 225 and 955 are still the best fitness watches, and they are always offered for sale

If you are looking for a Garmin clock at an affordable price, the latest drops of the Forerunner 570 and 970 are an excellent news – not because you should pick up these models (you are okay), but because the older generations of Forerunner, who stay excellent watches, now achieve lugally low prices.

The earlier models, the 265 and 965, are great, but you can go back to another generation to 255 and 955 – published in 2022 – and save Hundreds of dollars without affecting larger functions. In view of the prices we see at these two, I really cannot imagine a fitness clock that is currently a better offer: currently 247 US dollars for the Forerunner 255 and 373 US dollars for the Forerunner 955, the updated version with maps and some additional training functions.

Why do I recommend three -year -old watches? I will enter into the following specifications, but the important context here is that Garmin's forerunners have a serious longevity. The Running App Strava publishes year-end trend reports, in which older forerunners appear among the nation's most popular running watches and the world's most popular runs. For example, the latest report had the Garmin Forerunner 245 in third place after the Apple Watch and the Apple Watch SE. That is a Five -year -old regard. Not too long ago the Forerunner 235, then one eight-Ment old clock was the most popular worldwide. These things take!

What is missing 255 and 955 compared to newer models (not much)

The numbered models can become confusing, but I promise that you can participate. All watches that start with a 9 are the first -class forerunners (the 955 was replaced by the 965 and finally the 970).

The 9xx series has on boarding passes with which you can see exactly where you are and where you are going. The 2xx watches have a breadcraped navigation that shows them the general form of the route that they have already taken. If you need a card on the wrist, you probably want to decide a 9xx.

I wrote about the latest models here so that you can see what the 970 has about the 965 (and what the 570 has about the 265). The large feature is that the 570 and 970 support voice calls and language texts and the 970 have an integrated LED flashlight. If these functions are not must-havees for you, take a look back at the next generation.

The 265 and 965 are excellent watches with important functions such as dual-band GPS. you can Read my review of the 265 here:, and note that the 265 is my personal running clock that I bought with my own money because I love it. The 265 has a lot of great functions for runners. Some are concrete and functional: physical buttons, many options for data screens and a dual band GPS for additional location accuracy. Others are more software-y, but still useful: training status, every day suggested workouts. The battery also takes between one and two weeks, depending on how many workouts you do.

The 965 contains all of this as well as on boarding passes so that you can see where you are in relation to streets, water bodies and so on. There are also a few additional training statistics, such as endurance evaluation and a thermal climate.

The 255 and 955 have all of these functions. The only features that distinguish between the X55 and X65 series sensibly are:

• The 255/955 have the older one, always on MIP screenWhile the 265 has an amoled screen in a smartphone style. I have more about the difference between these types of screen.

• The 255/955 have no touchscreens. You use the up and down buttons on the left to scroll through options.

• The 255 cannot save musicUnless you buy the 255 music version. The 955 has music storage, just like the 265 and 965.

• The 255 has no willingness to trainBut it has a training status. (Personally, I never use the willingness to train, so this is not a big loss. You can always see your HRV trend, which the watch also reports if you want a feeling for how you have recovered every morning.) The 955, 265 and 965 are willing to train.

For the detailed list of everyone Smaller function that varies between the two. You can check out This comparison page on Garmins Site.

Which forerunner 255 version should you get

There is only one forerunner 955, but there are four versions of the 255 and two versions of the 265.

• The regular Forerunner 255 is the larger size (45.6 mm) and has no music memory.

• The Forerunner 255s is the smaller size (41 mm) and also has no music memory.

• The Forerunner 255 Music is the larger size (45.6 mm) and does Make music stores so that you can play melodies from the clock while leaving your phone at home.

• The Forerunner 255s music is the smaller size (41 mm) with music memory.

Personally, I always have my cell phone with myself when I run, so I never found the independent music function very helpful. If you believe that you could use it, it is usually an upgrade of $ 50, but currently only an upgrade of $ 20 for the larger size of the watch.

To decide them, the photo above shows the difference in screens between the Amoled 265s (left) and the MIP 255 (right). It also shows the size difference between the smaller and larger models; The 265 links are 41.7 mm, very close to the 255s at 41 mm.

How old is the 255 anyway?

The 255 is only one year older than the 265. They were released in 2022 and 2023. Previously, the publication of Forerunner tends to be three to four years apart. The quick turn between 255 and 265 makes sense if you find that you are basically the same watch with a different display.

So I would not expect a 255 to feel out of date soon. The main question you have to ask is: how do I feel on a MIP screen? I have written More about the difference between MIP and Amoled here. MIP screens do not light up, although they have a backlight that can occur automatically if they increase their wrist. They are “always on” in peace, in the sense that they always show somethingSo you will never look down on an empty screen. They are also brightly reflected in sunlight.

AMOLED screens are more of a smartphone screen with bright pixels and watches usually switch off the display if you do not use it to save energy. (You can activate an ever-set setting, but it eats battery.) The general battery life for both watches is similar in default settings, the activities for the 255 and 13 days for the 265 are not counting.

Some people prefer the MIP screens, and if they contain this, this is a child's play: Saken the 255 or 955. You can even get one Renovated version for $ 179.99What makes this the cheapest Garmin watches any Line.

The end result (review of the prices)

The prices for forerunners have fluctuated lately, so I hesitate to give every dollar-for-dollar comparisons, but here is what I see at the moment in which I write it. Garmin officially sells the 255 and 265 at the same price, $ 349.99. The 955 and 965 have the same price, $ 499.99. At these prices you can just as well receive the Wache -65 version you prefer.

But at Amazon I see the prices of up to 247 US dollars for 255 and 373 US dollars for the 955. This means that a 255 is the same price as the anemic foreruner 165 (it is okay like a budget clock, but there are no many features that have the 255/265) and the 955 is the same price as 265! Check the prices to determine whether these offers are still live until you read, and ultimately decide on the basis of functions.