The Garmin Forerunner 745 is a purpose-built device designed for athletes in training. This smartwatch offers a wide range of features and sensors to help track physical performance and aid in race preparation. The sensors include a heart rate monitor, VO2 Max, and blood oxygen measurement (available for all-day and in-sleep monitoring, as opposed to spot-checking). The software also provides daily workout suggestions, a performance condition rating, animated on-screen workouts, a cycling power rating, a sleep score, and menstruation tracking. The watch also allows for the creation of round-trip courses and features Garmin’s Trendline routing feature for popular routes.
The Forerunner 745 offers feedback on training load and status, a “Body Battery” energy rating, recommended recovery time, and Garmin Coach, along with a race time predictor. With a compatible accessory, the watch also allows for the analysis of running dynamics. Although the settings menu may be more complicated than other simpler devices like the Forerunner 45, a home screen update released in 2020 allows for easier navigation and more data points on the 1.2-inch screen.
The Forerunner 745 is available in four colours and is easy to read in direct sunlight. Weighing in at 47g, the watch is lightweight and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Garmin rates the battery life at up to seven days or up to 16 hours with GPS use, dropping to six hours with GPS tracking and music playback. In testing, the battery still had 88% after three hours of GPS use and a 35-minute run only reduced the battery capacity by 2-3%. The watch also showed quicker GPS signal acquisition than older Forerunner models, even in areas with challenging signals.
In addition to advanced running and cycling features, the Forerunner 745 also offers smartwatch features such as Garmin Pay and the ability to store up to 500 music tracks. The watch also mirrors smartphone notifications, provides calendar and weather widgets, and allows for contactless payments.
For those who do not need as many smartwatch features, there is the Forerunner 245, which offers many of the same training features for a lower price. On the other hand, for those who want even more features, there is the Forerunner 945 LTE which adds built-in LTE connectivity, holds 1,000 songs, and features preloaded maps and golfing features. Ultimately, the choice between the Forerunner 745 and other models will depend on the needs and preferences of the individual.
