Okay, so I’ve been rocking a Garmin Forerunner 255 for a while now, and I was pretty happy with it. But then, the shiny Forerunner 955 caught my eye. I kept thinking, “Should I upgrade? Is it really worth it?” So, I decided to do a little experiment and compare them head-to-head.
Getting My Hands on Both
First things first, I needed both watches. I already owned the 255, so I borrowed a 955 from a buddy who’s a serious triathlete. He swore by it, so I was eager to see what all the fuss was about.
The Initial Feel
Putting them on, the 955 did feel a bit more premium. It’s slightly bigger, with a touchscreen, which the 255 doesn’t have. I’m a button guy myself, but I was willing to give the touchscreen a shot.
Putting Them to the Test
I used both watches for about two weeks, doing my usual mix of running, cycling, and some strength training. Here’s what I noticed:
- Battery Life: The 955, on paper, has better battery life. And yeah, it did last longer, especially when using GPS. But honestly, the 255’s battery is already pretty good for my needs. I charge it every few days, and it’s never been a problem.
- Mapping: This is where the 955 really shines. It has built-in maps, which is super cool for exploring new routes. The 255 only has breadcrumb navigation, which is fine, but not as fancy.
- Touchscreen vs. Buttons: Like I said, I’m a button guy. The 955’s touchscreen was okay, but I found myself accidentally swiping things sometimes. It’s probably just me needing to get used to it.
- Training Metrics:Both watches give me all my data such as pace, heart rate, VO2 max, and all that * 955 has a few extra metrics like “Training Readiness,” but Honestly, I’m happy with the data.
My Final Thoughts
So after all the testing, here I am.
The 955 is a great watch, no doubt. The maps are awesome, and the battery life is a plus. But for me, the 255 is still a solid choice. It does everything I need it to do, and it’s a bit cheaper. I get all the core features and great performance without breaking the bank.
If you’re a serious athlete who needs those extra features like mapping and super-long battery life, then yeah, the 955 might be worth the extra cash.
But if you’re like me, a regular guy who just wants a reliable watch to track my workouts, the 255 is still a fantastic option. I’m sticking with my 255 for now.