While Apple Watches need to be charged at least once a day, the Garmin Forerunner 55 can last up to two weeks before needing to be topped up
Joshua Boyles Tech and entertainment affiliates writer
12:16, 14 May 2025
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This Garmin Forerunner is perfect for those who love fitness.(Image: Boots)
Smart watches have been around for over a decade now, but the main offerings from the likes of Apple and Samsung are mostly useful for those looking for an extension of their smartphone. The Apple and Galaxy watches are able to record workouts and provide reasonable amounts of health data, but they mostly serve to let you respond to notifications more quickly from your wrist.
What if you’re after a smart watch that’s purpose-built to help you get healthier? That’s where Garmin’s line of watches comes in, with the Forerunner 55 the most budget-friendly in the line-up. It just got even cheaper too, dropping from £179.99 down to £129.99 at Boots for a limited time only.
The Forerunner 55 is mostly targeted towards runners with it holding plenty of training features to help runners track their workouts and ultimately improve at running. For example, the included GPS sensor tracks exactly where you go when out on a run, and it’s able to display your running pace directly on the watch to help you achieve those PBs.
It’s not just limited to running though, with plenty of other sports like swimming and cycling also trackable from the Forerunner 55. A heart rate sensor around back lets you know how hard you’re working during each exercise, with that feeding into other metrics like pregnancy and menstrual cycle tracking.
This Garmin model uses a MIP display, which might look a bit old-fashioned when compared to the bright AMOLED displays used on modern smart watches. However, this brings its own benefits, like the screen being perfectly visible in broad daylight.
It also means that this watch absolutely sips battery. While Apple Watches need to be charged at least once a day, the Garmin Forerunner 55 can last up to two weeks before needing to be topped up.
The Garmin Forerunner 55 has a heart rate tracker.(Image: Boots)
When paired with a smart phone, notifications still come through on the watch – you’re just not able to reply to them without getting out your phone. This might be a deal breaker for some folks, but it’s actually a boon for those of us who hate being distracted by notifications while trying to focus on our exercise.
If you’re looking for a bargain on the more premium end of the Garmin spectrum, Goldsmiths currently has an excellent deal on the Epic Pro (Gen 2). It features a metal construction, an AMOLED screen, and it’s currently reduced down to £525 from £899.99.
Of course, you could opt for a more traditional Apple Watch. The Series 10 model is currently on sale for £329, down from £429.
Boots shoppers have given the Forerunner 55 a perfect score, with all the reviews awarding 5-stars. “I’ve had this for a month now. It’s perfect for simple workouts and running. Gets phone notifications, not touch screen but very easy to use, very light and accurate! No regrets at all. Best budget Garmin out there,” says one shopper.
Another review reads: “This is my second Garmin Forerunner – I upgraded from my trusty 35 after 7 years to the 55, and I am not regretting it. I mainly run outdoors and then go to the gym – the variety of different sports options is great. This watch is really lightweight and comfortable to wear – I have a really small wrist and this watch doesn’t look oversized which I was worried about with some of the other models.”
A third shopper wrote: “Brilliant watch, battery lasts and is accurate for running.”
One shopper on Amazon did find that the screen was difficult to read in certain lighting conditions, though: “What I don’t get is how they thought a black face with grey hands and numbers was easy to see. There is no way of making the fonts white, which would probably solve this issue. I find it really difficult to see the steps, the date and the heart rate (all displayed, all the time on the face of the “watch”). In certain light the time is difficult to see too (the black/transparent watch hands are outlined in grey).”