Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Nowadays, almost all smartwatches have the ability to track your steps. Monitoring walking and running has become one of the most basic fitness features that a smartwatch should have.
However, this doesn’t mean all of them can suit your needs. Some aren’t accurate enough or don’t come with the extra features you had in mind, and some overload the watch with unnecessary features for runners.
Garmin has all sorts of smartwatches for runners, from entry-level to highly advanced. If you want something in between that suits an intermediate runner, read on.
What to Look for When Buying a Watch for Running?
Depending on your needs, you’ll have to consider multiple factors when it comes to a running smartwatch.
Firstly, if you want to use the device as both a running watch and an everyday watch, the appearance and overall design become essential.
If you’re fairly new to running, look for a smartwatch that offers simple training plans. The GPS sensors, which are essential in a running watch, will help plan your route and give your runs some variety. Accurate heart rate monitors and step counters are also basic vital features.
Ease of use, battery life, and comfort during runs are a must. Cellular service and Wifi compatibility are nice to have so you can receive and send text messages and calls from your wrist and access your phone apps.
If you’ll be running on the roads, it’s a good idea to get a watch with built-in visual maps. If you want to navigate new routes through the wilderness, you’ll want altimeters, barometers, and gyroscopes to help you monitor altitude and air pressure.
If you’re interested in participating in other sports, you’ll have to look for a multi-sport watch that can track your workouts, cycling, hiking, swimming, and so on.
If you’re looking into improving your running form, you’ll need more advanced features like calculating VO2 max levels, cadence, sleep tracking, and fueling strategy that lets you know when to drink and eat and how long to rest and recover.
Additional tools like music storage and contactless payment options may come in handy. If you wear gloves or have sweaty hands during running, a smartwatch that allows menu navigation with buttons rather than a touchscreen would be best.
When shopping for a smartwatch for sports, aim for one with more advanced features that you need right now, because sooner or later, you’ll want an improvement.
3 Best Garmin Watches for Intermediate Runners
Garmin Forerunner 55
- Easy-to-use running watch monitors heart rate (this is not a medical device) at the wrist and uses GPS to track how far, how fast and where you’ve run.Control...
- Battery life: up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode; up to 20 hours in GPS mode
- Plan your race day strategy with the PacePro feature (not compatible with on-device courses), which offers GPS-based pace guidance for a selected course or...
Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is the perfect smartwatch for beginners and intermediates. This small and powerful watch has all the features you’ll need for a good run and some extras to help you improve better.
The Garmin Coach will help you with adaptive and free training plans, including 5K, 10K, and half marathon races.
You’ll get the daily workout and run recommendations considering your fitness level, training history, and recovery time. The activities are customizable, varying in intensity.
The GPS and wristband heart rate is pretty accurate. Other helpful training tools include cadence alerts, recovery advisor after each workout, race time predictions and finish time estimates, intensity minutes, fitness age, safety and tracking features, stress tracking, sleep tracking, energy monitoring, and so on.
The Forerunner 55 connects to your phone to receive notifications and control the music. The watch’s battery can last up to two weeks in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode.
The watch also has built-in activity profiles for other sports, including cycling, Pilates, pool swim, track run, virtual run, breathwork, and so on.
Pros
- Multi-sport smartwatch.
- Light and comfortable.
- Customizable and free training plans for runners.
- Accurate GPS and heart rate monitor.
- Multiple additional training tools.
- Smart notification and music control.
- Connects to Garmin Coach and Garmin Connect.
- Good battery life.
- Affordable and best value.
Cons
- Low-resolution display.
What Do the Reviews Say?
Although the Garmin Forerunner 55 has gotten 4.8/5 stars on Amazon, there aren’t many customer reviews available. From those present, almost everyone is satisfied with their purchase.
The Forerunner 55 is an advanced version of the Forerunner 45 that’s more of a beginner’s watch. The 45 is Amazon’s choice and has gotten hundreds of happy reviews.
One can only imagine more features that make the Forerunner 55 an even better watch!
Garmin Vivoactive 4/4S
- GARMIN AUTHORIZED - Includes Full GARMIN USA Protection
- Garmin Vivoactive 4S - GPS SMARTWATCH BUILT FOR YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE | Tune in to your body, and tone up with a smartwatch that can track it all and help you...
- Keeps track of your body energy levels with, blood oxygen saturation with Pulse Ox (this is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or...
Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Garmin 4 and 4S are made for athletes that value the design as well as power. With Garmin Coach and free and customizable training programs, you have a great running assistant on your wrist.
The watch uses GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO navigation systems to guide you. It has access to multiple apps for other sports like swimming, cycling, golf, and so on.
If you’re interested in Garmin watches for golf, read our guide.
The heart rate monitor and VO2 max indicator are accurate. Various additional features will help you improve your running abilities, including respiration, hydration tracking, stress, body battery, and sleep tracking.
The Vivoactive 4 and 4s are a few watches that come with preloaded animated cardio, strength, yoga, and Pilates workouts that you can play on the screen.
You’ll have smart notifications and phone-free music by connecting the watch to Spotify or Deezer. Battery life will last up to 8 days in smartwatch mode and 6 hours in GPS mode.
Pros
- Fashionable and durable design with touchscreen display.
- Customizable and free training plans for runners.
- Multisport smartwatch.
- Accurate GPS navigation systems, heart rate monitor, and VO2 max tracker.
- Multiple additional training tools.
- Smart notification and phone-free music.
- Access to Garmin Coach, Garmin Connect, and Garmin Pay.
- Affordable.
Cons
- The battery drains fats with GPS and music on.
What Do the Reviews Say?
The Vivoactive 4/4S has gotten 4.3/5 stars on Amazon, and if we put the battery life aside, customers are satisfied with the watch’s abilities and design.
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
- GPS running smartwatch with music advanced training features, Lens Material:Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Bezel Material: fiber-reinforced polymer, Strap...
- Battery life: up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and 6 hours in GPS mode with music
- Evaluates your current training status to indicate if you’re undertraining or overdoing it; Offers additional performance monitoring features
Last update on 2024-04-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is the ultimate smartwatch for intermediate and advanced runners, especially those on a budget.
This watch uses the adaptive training plans from Garmin Coach, Running Dynamics feature, wristband heart rate monitor, VO2 max indicator, and accurate GPS to provide you with the perfect running experience.
You can get daily running recommendations, evaluate your exercise history, monitor the training effects, get recovery time advice, and more.
Other additional features include built-in sports apps, intensity minutes, body battery monitoring, smart notifications, downloadable music, Spotify and Deezer sync options, live and safety track feature, and so on.
The battery will last for up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and 6 hours in GPS mode with music. You can navigate the menus with soft buttons.
Pros
- Very Comfortable and lightweight.
- Customizable and free training plans for runners.
- Multisport smartwatch.
- Accurate GPS, heart rate monitor, and VO2 max tracker.
- Multiple additional training tools.
- Running Dynamics feature provides cadence, stride length, ground contact time, and balance monitoring.
- Smart notification and phone-free music.
- Access to Garmin Coach and Garmin Connect.
- Best value for the price.
Cons
- Short battery life.
What Do the Reviews Say?
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music has 3551 ratings on Amazon from happy customers, and it’s gotten 4.7/5 stars, which it deserves. Other than the short battery life, all the other features seem to satisfy the athletes and runners.
Final Thoughts and Best Pick
The best Garmin running smartwatch for intermediates is the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music. You’ll pay a reasonable price, and you’ll get all the features you’ll need for a flawless run.
The additional features will let you improve to an advanced runner, and it can even help you as a professional runner!
If you’re interested in running indoors on treadmills, you’ll benefit from the best Garmin watches for Treadmill.
