This is one of those posts whose title perfectly sums up the meaning of everything you will find written in it. And, although it might sound like it, it is not hyperbole at all. After more than a month of using the
Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
I have not been able to find anything that is missing, that I wish was different, or that could be improved.
Let me explain: it is not just a matter of new individual features (of which there are many), but how they all work together, integrate and are “translated” to give you a perfect snapshot of your condition at all times; before, during and after training.
The
Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
is a device designed specifically for those who do a lot of sports and do not go “down” with any endurance sport. Two elements are most surprising: the accuracy of the sensors (the new cardio on the wrist is very accurate) and how the data is translated by the software. It feels like having a geek on your wrist telling you in real time how you are doing, how you are performing, how much you can train, and how it will go. It might sound irritating, perhaps, but in my case he did not miss a prediction.
You wake up in the morning…
… and 955 presents you with a beautiful report on how you’ve slept, how much energy you have, how you’ve recovered, and what kind of training is appropriate. With my sleep problems there were days when he recommended rest, and I defied him by training anyway. The result? A brown workout that was better if I stayed on the couch and watched a TV series.
The Training Readiness function is very interesting because it combines sleep, recovery time, HRV Status, recent training load, sleep history, and stress history. By cross-referencing all this data the
Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
is able to let you know with a single “little light” what condition you are in for training. They range from red (let it go!) to purple (go for it!).
It is easy, intuitive and reliable. And it is precisely the concept of technology that I like: totally transparent that translates complexity into an easy-to-understand message.
In addition and building on all this, 955 also suggests what training to do. But more on this in a few days.
During the day…
Of course, like its predecessor, the
Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
monitors daily activities, steps, floors climbed, and, by constantly monitoring your heart rate, when you are in a particularly stressful moment, it alerts you to suggest a time to relax. Why? Obviously because stress is one of the parameters that can affect your training (and quality of life).
Then off with a few minutes of controlled breathing to regain calm and balance. And this is not only useful for training, believe me.
Then it’s off to training….
And you get lost in the wonder of Stamina(here I explain in detail how it works). The Stamina feature alone is probably worth the purchase of the
Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
because it really allows you to express yourself in training and racing at 100% of your possibilities and potential.
As I wrote earlier, whether you train by running, in the pool, in open water, in the gym, on a bike (indoor or outdoor), on a mountain bike, the 955 is always perfect: light, clear, with the battery that never fails you. For trail running probably the best choice will be the
Fenix 7
for its rugged qualities, but the 955 is certainly not a second choice for off-road runners-in fact, I really appreciated its light weight.
In the coming weeks I will go into detail about some particular features that may be more interesting to delve into–I’ve already exceeded 600 words and I don’t want to turn this review into a treatise–but the comprehensiveness of the activities offered by the Forerunner 955 undoubtedly positions it to be the perfect companion for anyone who does a lot of sports, even beyond running.
What about the triathlon?
If you’re as passionate about technology as I am, you know that the Forerunner “9 series” is, all along, dedicated to triathlons-especially long distance; half and full distance, to be clear. So far I have not mentioned it directly, probably because I almost took it for granted.
Two aspects are very surprising on this specific aspect: the accuracy and the amount of data offered to the athlete. In all three disciplines you are always fully in control of what you are doing.
Swimming, whether in the pool with accelerometers or in open water with GPS, is always very accurate. Even in training, references help you keep track of performance. Even for those who, like me, do not have great swimming skills. ;-)
On the bike, beyond the size of the display, the Forerunner 955 provides the same quantity and quality of metrics as the more specific Edge series.
And the running, well, as you might have guessed, it’s just perfect.
The only difficulty I have is to find some discipline where the 955 is not in its ideal terrain. Maybe the trail, but only if you go for very demanding “ultra” distances.
A few additional comments
The battery is almost infinite. In normal use–on the wrist 24 hours a day plus workouts with GPS active–you will serenely exceed 2 to 3 weeks’ duration. Clearly, it depends on many aspects (duration of sun exposure for Solar charging, active sensors, GPS settings), but battery life is undoubtedly an astonishing feature, especially for such a compact and lightweight device. The only problem is that it lasts so long that you might forget to recharge because you have the perception it is infinite.
Another point we had discussed here in the newsroom was the absence of the QuickFit strap in favor of a traditional one. Personally, I prefer the traditional strap because it is softer and fits the wrist better due to the absence of the metal insert that limits its flexibility a bit near the case. If anything, if I have to find fault, I would have preferred a more traditional solution with screws for attaching the strap instead of the spring-loaded attachment that makes strap replacement a bit more complicated. But can it really be considered a flaw? I don’t think so.
Conclusions and advice
As you may have guessed, for me the
Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
right now is the state of the art of technology in sportwatches: it has everything and is the perfect companion for a sportsman’s life.
The price is clearly aligned with the high positioning of the device and we are talking about 649.99 euros for the Solar version and 549.99 euros for the traditional version. Is that 100 euros worth the difference? In my opinion, yes, solar charging really takes away any thoughts about battery life.
And, if I were you, I would take it white. ;-)