tldr; Excellent runner's watch around $250. MIP display trades looks for battery life. Button-only interface loved by athletes.
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Best praise vs top criticism for Garmin Forerunner 255
“FR255 music certainly covers your requirements - the only but's I would have on it is: 1) its transflective MIP which I personally don't think works great in the UK , and has no ambient sensor, so if not enough light you cannot see the watch face and will need to press a button to light up the backlight to provide enough light for the screen to show up (there is a wrist gesture option after sunset, but on dreary days as I am sure you know it can get darker sooner than that, plus if lights not on indoors - not enough light - if there is a John Lewis, Currys or even a Samuels or similr jjewelery store near you - try and pop in to see if they have a model so you can check out screen - if no FR255 a FR955, fenix 7 or fenix 8 (MIP version) would give you an idea of what a MIP screen looks like; 2) no touch. Alt options would be vivaoctive 5 - but training metrics are basic. A FR165 music would be an option as amoled and has touch, but slightly fewer training metrics than the FR255, but does offer same running training features including the Daily suggest workout (DSW).”
“Offline spotify on garmin - so looking at Vivoactive 5 / venu 3 / forerunner 165 music '/ FR255 music / FR265 / FR955 / FR965 and the Fenix/ Epix variants. Note that garmin currently doesn't offer any simple coaching for swimming - for running, cycling and strenght sure - but not for swimming. However you can use a 3rd party site like swim.com. You pull in your training and do that on the watch and its syncs back the activity - the only meh part is that instead of having all your data in one place you have your swim tracking analysis on the swim platform and all your data (including the swimming) on the connect app. Or you can just create your own workout on the connect app/web and sync it to the watch and then run it on the wach (just make sure the model you choose allows for this as not all do). Cheapest option is the VA5 - but mainly touch operated, so if main focus is swimming may not be ideal; in which case FR165 music or maybe FR255 music (but MIP screen and no touch) - is your best option as 5 buttons; however note that the fR165 is a bit limited when it comes to outdoor recreational tracking so defintiely worth check what actiities each watch can track. If you want drill mode (for tracking when using kickboards, one arm strokes etc) you need to check teh watch has that functionality (tends to be on higher end FR or Fenix/Epix models).”
201 Reddit opinions analyzed • Last updated 2/24/2026