September has been a month that has seen several makers of wearable technology release new fitness trackers and smartwatches. It is now Garmin’s turn to speak. It has made the Forerunner 745 and the HRM Pro chest strap available for purchase today. Because of numerous leaks that have occurred over the past few weeks, both of these were anticipated.
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Forerunner 745
The Garmin Forerunner 745 will serve as our starting point. This model is the follow-up to the immensely successful Forerunner 735XT, which had been on the market for over two years at the time of its introduction and was overdue for an update.
The 745 is a mid-range GPS (GLONASS and Galileo) watch designed for runners and triathletes, just like its predecessor, the 740. It offers a range of modalities, including block exercises, multi-sport workouts, cycling workouts, and running workouts.
There is now a built-in sleep monitoring mode that keeps track of total sleep hours, periods of peaceful sleep, total time spent sleeping, and breathing patterns throughout sleep. It should be no surprise that the device is packed to the brim with activity, health, and performance indicators. Even when the user is submerged in water, the red LED that displays Pulse Ox data on the Elevate optical heart rate monitor will continue to function.
Calculating performance statistics on the watch is accomplished by utilizing the same algorithms found in the most recent generation of Forerunners. The terms “Body Battery,” “Vo2Max,” “Race Predictor,” “Recovery Advisor,” and “Performance Indicator” are included in this category. Elevation and temperature are taken into account in addition to being overlaid atop this data, just as they were with the 945. The ClimbPro mode dissects climbs into their component parts, displaying the grade, total ascent, and elevation profile.
You can use Training Load to determine if you are possibly training too much or not enough. To accomplish this, it takes into account various elements, including those that affect recuperation, such as daily activities, stress, and sleep. Additionally, the watch will provide you with daily training recommendations that are specific to your current Training Load and Status.
You can add even more performance delights to your ride by pairing the 745 with foot pods, speed and cadence pods, power meters, or the new HRM Pro chest strap through either ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart.
In contrast to the Forerunner 945, this watch does not come with any built-in maps. Instead, you will have fundamental GPS waypoint navigation and a function that allows you to return to the beginning.
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Users have the ability to listen to music over Bluetooth, download playlists and podcasts through streaming services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer, and watch videos over the Internet using the intelligent capability. The 745 can store up to 500 songs, so even if you forget your phone at home, you won’t have to worry about being without music. Garmin Pay is an option for making payments, provided that your financial institution enables it.
The life of the battery is acceptable. In smartwatch mode, the 745 can continue to function for an entire week, while it can operate for up to 16 hours while using GPS and for up to 6 hours when using GPS with music. Up to 21 hours of continuous timekeeping are possible in UltraTrac mode.
Forty-four millimeters is the size of the display’s diameter (43.8 x 43.8 x 13.3 mm). People who believe that the 47mm 945 is huge and the 42mm 245/645 is marginally too small might find it to be an ideal size for them here. The straps measure 22 millimeters, much like those on the 945.
Garmin is charging $499.99 for their Forerunner 745, which may be purchased from them. There is not much of a price difference between this model and the 945, but on the other hand, most of the features are the same. It comes in various colors, including black, neo-tropic, magma red, and whitestone.
HRM Pro
Additionally, the HRM-Pro strap was unveiled by Garmin. Since the beginning of this year, there has been much discussion over the possibility of the firm releasing a new heart rate monitor. The HRM-TRI chest strap has been the most advanced model produced by the Kansas-based company up until this point. It is a piece of equipment that was developed with triathletes in mind. The built-in accelerometer provides feedback on six running dynamics. The HRM-Tri monitor can save heart rate data even when the user is submerged in water; this information is then transmitted to the wearable device when the swim is over.
The user interface of HRM pro is also reasonably uncluttered. It includes a strap that can be adjusted in length from 23.5 inches to 56 inches and weighs 59 grams. It has a water resistance rating of 5 ATM.
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The replaceable CR2032 (3 volts) coin-cell has a life expectancy of approximately one year, according to the manufacturer’s specifications. When paired with a running watch compatible with the Garmin HRM-Pro heart rate monitor, users will also have access to the Garmin lactate threshold test. It just so happens that all of this is the same as it is on HRM-TRI, right down to the running dynamics, which comprise Vertical Oscillation and Vertical Ratio, Ground Contact Time Balance, Stride Length, and Cadence.
You now have more alternatives for how to train, giving you the ability to do so either indoors, outdoors, or online, thanks to the latter. The HRM PRO has the capacity to send heart rate data via ANT+ as well as Bluetooth, which sets it apart from the other two options. In addition to ANT devices, Bluetooth enables a simultaneous connection to two BLE devices simultaneously. It is no surprise that the item also features an integrated storage compartment, which can be used when you do not have your sports watch on you.
On the Garmin website, the price of an HRM Pro purchase is $129.99.
