Why Is the Garmin Forerunner 235 Still a Great Choice?

Among Garmin’s watch collection are some gems that are still worth buying. The Garmin Forerunner 235 is one of these. Despite being over four years old, we still think it’s worth getting your hands on one.

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The Forerunner Family

Garmin’s Forerunners were first released in 2003 and the range has only got better and better since. The range is focused on providing sports watches that give triathletes and runners the information they need to improve their performance. Most of the models offer GPS and measure a range of information that will help athletes.

The first models were the 101, 201 and 301. The current model is the 945, released in 2019, with all the functionality expected today. Read our review of Garmin ladies watches alternatives and also the new Fenix 6.

The Focus of the Forerunner 235

The Garmin Forerunner 235 was released to give athletes the ability to track their progress and see the results in real-time on their watch face. It’s stood the test of time because it offers users features that they need rather than gimmicks that fall out of fashion as quickly as new watches are introduced.

If you want to get a powerful watch and one that is budget-friendly then you’d be mad not to consider this older model. While it may not be new to the market it is still very capable of holding its own against the competition!

What Features Does the Forerunner 235 Have?

The Garmin Forerunner 235 was ahead of its time when it was released and can compete today.

Some of its key features are:

A 24/7 heart rate tracker that works directly from your wrist. Consequently, you are always aware of your heart rate.
Feedback on your heart rate over four hours with highs, lows, and averages. Furthermore, a seven-day chart to help you see your full overview. This is great to see how many times you’ve been in the fat-burning zone.
Includes a VO2 max reading that allows you to see the level of oxygen that you are using. This is personalised to your body weight so that it is as accurate as it can be.
GPS that can track where you have been and the pace, distance, and speed covered. This ensures you know how you performed at each stage of the journey.
Calorie counter so you can work out how you have burned through each day or per workout.
Step counter so that you know how far you’ve gone even when you aren’t training. The steps also convert into distance travelled for your information.
Inactivity bar so that you can see how long you have been sedentary for on the watch face.
Sleep tracking that will share insights into how well-rested you are. It will also tell you whether there are any moments in the night where you were restless.

The Face of the Forerunner 235

The colour screen was a revelation when it was released. The 1.23-inch screen is still crisp and clear today so you won’t have to squint to find out what is going on.

Five buttons navigate you through the watch and this is a great option for the touchscreen haters out there! The menu is easy to work through and the buttons add reliability.

The watch comes with a silicone strap that is comfy to wear, even on the longest runs and it isn’t too heavy. It does, however, have a sensor that can irritate as it presses into your wrist after a long exercise session.

How Good Are Garmin Batteries?

The great thing about the Forerunner 235 is the battery life; it can go for a full 11 hours in GPS mode or up to nine days with GPS turned off. In reality, it should cope with a week’s worth of training sessions before it needs a charge.

Unfortunately, Garmin supplies a specific charger for their watches. You will need to pack it whenever you are nearing charging time or risk running out of juice before you can next power it up. It may be a small thing to get over but it does require you to be organised and keep your battery life in your mind so that you are never caught out.

In a Nutshell

The Forerunner 235 is a great choice if you are happy to forego all the modern gizmos that come with smartwatches today. It’s a solid watch that will accurately track your training and it looks good on your wrist.

Despite being launched four years ago, the Forerunner 235 is still a good smartwatch to have, especially if you are a keen athlete! It has stood the test of time and we predict it will still be a popular choice in a couple of years!