Garmin 235

[Lordi]

Is the Garmin 235 still the "go to" running watch for value for money etc? I'm getting fed up of carrying my phone with me (and I don't listen to music) but want to still record how far I've run for Strava upload. I assume the Garmin will sync with a Garmin phone app when data needs to be captured? What have users found to be good/bad about the 235? Any feedback would be most appreciated. The price seems to have dropped a lot recently...

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

I have a Forerunner610 ...it syncs with Garmin Connect and Strava. I find it brilliant. Good price too

[Hidden]

Hubs has the 235 and on him the heart rate is about 30 beats too fast but on me it is fine. Otherwise it is a good watch. I have the more basic forerunner 10 which is great but the cadence and heart rate would add extra value.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Also look at the garmin 30 and 35 for comparison at lower price.

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

How do you know that it is 30 beats too fast -- and when is this, when at rest or working hard?? I am interested because I bought an el cheapo chinese wrist based HRM to see how it would work on my aged weather beaten hairy arms and it seems quite accurate when resting but goes crazy when working hard. I have read of this happening on the Garmins and other expensive models too.

[Lordi Graduate10 in reply to Bazza1234]

That's something I also need to look into as I've read that the wrist/light hrm systems are affected my heavy perspiration. Chest band ones not so much Anyone have experience?

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Lordi]

As long as I am breathing and my heart is beating.. I am happy

[SlowLoris in reply to Lordi]

The chest bands are accurate. Unfortunately the wrist based HRM uses a different system and is only really reliable when keeping relatively still. You can use a Garmin chest strap with the 235 and with the older (and cheaper) 230.

[Hidden in reply to Bazza1234]

You can feel your pulse and count the number of beats in a minute whilst at rest or exercising then compare to the reading on the watch. Hubs is consistently 30 out!

[Realrunner]

I got the 235 for Christmas present and am very pleased with it. So far it has held its charge well and I have got it to sync in with Strava. It is so good not to have to carry my phone around.

I like the screen size and have found it easy to use. I did turn off the “move” function after the novelty of the first couple of days.

[Lordi Graduate10 in reply to Realrunner]

Does the hrm work ok? Or do you think you will need to get a chest strap accessory? I'm sorely tempted to get the 235 as a late Xmas prezzies from Lady Lordi!

[Realrunner in reply to Lordi]

It certainly records the heartbeat, but I have no way of judging whether the figures given are accurate! I use it to give me a picture of what is happening and also to look at recovery time.

I chose it after looking at everything else that was available and so far am very happy.

[Millsie-J in reply to Lordi]

Lordi, Lady is very generous, 😃

[Lordi Graduate10 in reply to Millsie-J]

I agree. She did said if the device registers a heart beat she'd be surprised!

[Millsie-J in reply to Lordi]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Lordi Graduate10 in reply to Millsie-J]

Forgot the smiley face

[HeleneCorsa Graduate10]

I guess a lot depends on how accurate you want or need the heart rate etc to be. I have a Garmin Vivoactive which is marketed as more of a general fitness tracker but does all the stuff the Forerunners do. I'd intended to use it only for running as I have a lovely watch I am very fond of but oddly I've hardly ever taken off the Garmin since I got it. I find things like the notifications of calls and messages to be useful at work, for instance.

I have had some stressful weeks and have had many moments of sensations of panic etc., and have been surprised at how well the Vivoactive is picking up all this.

In any case the Garmin system is great and GarminConnect is a very good platform.

[MarkyD Graduate10]

I have FR235 and am very happy with it. Good balance of battery life, customisable screens, metrics and cost. Also, it looks like a watch and not a wrist-worn gadget.

On the topic of optical heart-rate via a wrist sensor... these are very complicated technical things, and the performance is dependent upon contact between your skin and the sensor. I've run from sunny conditions into fog, and the difference in air/skin temperature was noticeable on the readings. Ultimately it is looking for blood flow in the outside of your wrist, and this is notoriously difficult to find. And of course you are moving your arms when you run, so there is never ideal sensor-to-skin contact.

But I find that peoples' expectations of OHR are unrealistic. "It always misreads" or "It doesn't say the same value as the sensor on my treadmill". I think what is important is not the absolute reading "my heart-rate is 161 bpm" but the trends over time ("this week I ran parkrun and my heart rate was lower than 3 months ago") or "I did a long, slow run and kept my heartrate in zone 3".

OHR sensor on FR235 is perfectly suitable for this type of use.

[Lordi Graduate10 in reply to MarkyD]

Thanks for that considered reply. Sounds sensible! Yes, it's just a relative number- that makes sense. I think I will go for the Garmin then as everyone seems positive. Many thanks to all.

[martinhermanus]

You must buy something with a chest strap. I have heard too many sad stories using a watch only. Missing or adding 30 beats is way off for me. I run to gather information on heart beats per km as that is what I find interesting. I also enjoying being fit and what my body responses to become fit. Running a race is hardwork like tomorrow's parkrun at 22 degrees.

[Lordi Graduate10]

Well I did the deed and bought the 235. I have a trusty Polar hrm so may do a comparison exercise to see what the difference is. I'll buy a 60€ Garmin chest strap if the hrm is too way out. Again many thanks to all and I'll put any feedback here on this thread. Run!

[Gabby08 Graduate10 in reply to Lordi]

I have the 235 and I absolutely love it. I find the hrm a little bit out but not hugely so. Enjoy testing it. I’m pretty sure it’s capable of doing the washing up for me - I just haven’t found the right button yet! 😂

[Lordi Graduate10 in reply to Lordi]

Wore my Polar chest hrm and the Garmn 235 at the same time just hanging about at home and they seem to agree. Maybe they will diverge under heavier exertion. Will test that too...

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

I have the 225 which I love although I had a blip recently but turned out I needed to upgrade my phone app. It has a built in HR too. Mine syncs with Strava, MFP and the gym app so it’s fab. Some say a suunto is better. I’m keeping my eye out for one on eBay !!

[Lordi Graduate10]

Been playing around with my new 235 and found a very surprising feature the " Race Predictor" that estimates probable future race times (based on the metrics the watch collects). The figures it is giving me look totally unattainable at my present fitness level ( 5k 23:40 and 10 k 49:07) so does the algorithm add 10% -15% to your performance to account for race day adrenalin or something? It would have to be downhill all the way to get anywhere near thise times!