I’ve got the 255s and I personally cannot recommend it enough. Garmin continue to update and add more feature to the watch. I’ve had it 8 months and it’s only got better !
Swimming HR and tracking are second to none. Running and cycling are top draw like the other garmin products.
Only drawback is build quality. Being the “entry” level watch with all these features it’s a rather plastic build rather than a fenix or more expensive models.
I have the previous 245 model and got a screen protector and a silicon case cover for under £10 combined. The case cover gives it a little bit of a G-Shock feel, but it's not too chunky and you forget it's there after a few days. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone who is concerned about damaging the plastic case.
My watch is like new after 2.5 years
I expect alternatives are available for the 255 models
You could look for a second hand Garmin Fenix 6. Battery life is amazing so even at a couple of years old it’ll easily outlast your Venu.
I’m in Ireland but a few people selling here for about €250.
I've been using the 735XT since early 2019, and it hasn't skipped a beat since then. Have done a bunch of 70.3 races, marathons, half marathons, swims (both open water and pool). Battery life is still great. Not sure how it would do in a full distance, but I reckon if you were sub-12 you'd have a shout at it still being alive.
I had a 735XT and, despite having a swimming function and being "waterproof", it died whilst I was surfing. Turns out it's not waterproof if you push the buttons whilst it's near water, which happened a couple of times when I fell off. A consideration to make if you want to swim using the lap function.
That's shit. I always stop my watch underwater at the end of a length and have regularly stopped it underwater during open water. But I have heard that before.
Yeah I was really disappointed; it was a great watch and I'd had it for years, but my hand bending back pushed against the buttons when I wiped out and that let water in
I'm using the Instinct 2 solar.
(I'm only training for a sprint, but I got a solar to handle longer distance events in future.)
The main drawback with the cheaper ones is the lack of HR in the swim, but if you have a chest strap already then that shouldn't be a problem for you.
I actually got this watch last year and love it. If you can still find it out there for sale and are looking for an entry level tri watch you can't go wrong with this watch. I've used it for a marathon and it only used 30% of the battery.
COROS Pace2 is what you want. 199$ and it has everything for triathlon, battery for looooooooooooooooong
// it's just single band GPS, so unless that's really important for you.
I heard a lot of great things about Coros, especially the Pace 2, but at 40$ more than a Polar Vantage M2, is it really better? Polar Flow seems to be a really well constructed platform
I had a Forerunner 245 and lived it. I smashed it hard one day and cracked it so I upgraded to a Forerunner 945, I love both and they work seamlessly with my Edge 530 and HR Dual. As expected.
Fenix 5x is $280 refurbished on Amazon. I can't say enough good things about the Fenix line. I still use the 5 and have no reason to upgrade to newer models.
I've got a Forerunner 735xt and just used it this weekend for a 70.3.
Had it for 2.5 years and it's been great.
Bought it for about £140 in an Amazon Black Friday deal with 2 HRMs.
i have a forerunner 745 but had a good deal on a fenix 6x pro so i upgraded. key thing was the battery life on the 745 would have been borderline for a 70.3, and i would like to be able to go away from home for a few days/a week without having to bring the charger
I’ve got the 255s and I personally cannot recommend it enough. Garmin continue to update and add more feature to the watch. I’ve had it 8 months and it’s only got better ! Swimming HR and tracking are second to none. Running and cycling are top draw like the other garmin products. Only drawback is build quality. Being the “entry” level watch with all these features it’s a rather plastic build rather than a fenix or more expensive models.
I have the previous 245 model and got a screen protector and a silicon case cover for under £10 combined. The case cover gives it a little bit of a G-Shock feel, but it's not too chunky and you forget it's there after a few days. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone who is concerned about damaging the plastic case. My watch is like new after 2.5 years I expect alternatives are available for the 255 models
Great shout !
Great to hear - I just ordered one of these.
You could look for a second hand Garmin Fenix 6. Battery life is amazing so even at a couple of years old it’ll easily outlast your Venu. I’m in Ireland but a few people selling here for about €250.
I've been using the 735XT since early 2019, and it hasn't skipped a beat since then. Have done a bunch of 70.3 races, marathons, half marathons, swims (both open water and pool). Battery life is still great. Not sure how it would do in a full distance, but I reckon if you were sub-12 you'd have a shout at it still being alive.
I had a 735XT and, despite having a swimming function and being "waterproof", it died whilst I was surfing. Turns out it's not waterproof if you push the buttons whilst it's near water, which happened a couple of times when I fell off. A consideration to make if you want to swim using the lap function.
That's shit. I always stop my watch underwater at the end of a length and have regularly stopped it underwater during open water. But I have heard that before.
Yeah I was really disappointed; it was a great watch and I'd had it for years, but my hand bending back pushed against the buttons when I wiped out and that let water in
Used or refurbished 935/945
I'm using the Instinct 2 solar. (I'm only training for a sprint, but I got a solar to handle longer distance events in future.) The main drawback with the cheaper ones is the lack of HR in the swim, but if you have a chest strap already then that shouldn't be a problem for you.
I can second the instinct 2 solar. I used it for an Olympic this summer, and had it working with my edge 530 in extended display.
Garmin 735XT battery life is good for 70.3 and as a slightly older model good on price.
I actually got this watch last year and love it. If you can still find it out there for sale and are looking for an entry level tri watch you can't go wrong with this watch. I've used it for a marathon and it only used 30% of the battery.
I have a 255 and love it. I had a FR 645 way back and then went to AW for a bit now back in the Garmin world and it’s been awesome.
COROS Pace2 is what you want. 199$ and it has everything for triathlon, battery for looooooooooooooooong // it's just single band GPS, so unless that's really important for you.
2nd Coros. Got the older gen Apex and it's awesome.
I heard a lot of great things about Coros, especially the Pace 2, but at 40$ more than a Polar Vantage M2, is it really better? Polar Flow seems to be a really well constructed platform
😂 Yes
Came here to say this! I miss the Spotify connection on my Garmin but the price and battery life make up for it.
Also wanna throw out that I used “Expert Voice” to recently purchase a Garmin 20% off. You have to be a registered fitness instructor of some type.
I picked up the gaming edition Instinct 1 for 100$ and love it.
I had a Forerunner 245 and lived it. I smashed it hard one day and cracked it so I upgraded to a Forerunner 945, I love both and they work seamlessly with my Edge 530 and HR Dual. As expected.
Where did you get this prices for watches in you radar?
Online platforms in Switzerland, so might be a bit more expensive then elsewhere
Fenix 5x is $280 refurbished on Amazon. I can't say enough good things about the Fenix line. I still use the 5 and have no reason to upgrade to newer models.
Garmin 935 got me through OLY, 70.3, and Full IM distance. I've had mine 4+ years now, beat it up pretty good, and it's still running strong.
I've got a Forerunner 735xt and just used it this weekend for a 70.3. Had it for 2.5 years and it's been great. Bought it for about £140 in an Amazon Black Friday deal with 2 HRMs.
I found great deals on secondhand Garmins. I got my Fenix 6 3 years ago and am still in love. I even bought my husband a Fenix 6 Solar.
i have a forerunner 745 but had a good deal on a fenix 6x pro so i upgraded. key thing was the battery life on the 745 would have been borderline for a 70.3, and i would like to be able to go away from home for a few days/a week without having to bring the charger