A Review of the Garmin Forerunner 735XT

One of my colleagues at work had bought the Garmin Forerunner 735XT and after he showed me its features I was sold immediately. What I was not sold on was the price. Back then it was over 300 Euros. I was lucky though, as Black Friday was around the corner and I managed to grab a bargain for 220 Euros only. Most of my mates were very jealous after they found out, for how much less I got the Garmin Forerunner 🙂

Funny story I’d like to mention, when I first received the watch via Amazon, I noticed that the watch had been stolen, since all I had received in the mail was the empty packaging! I immediately contacted Amazon support and within a few days I received a brand new replacement watch. Brilliant customer support and service, I have to say. Thank you.

A view of the Garmin Forerunner 735XT on my arm.
This is how the Garmin Forerunner 735XT looks on my arm.

Features of the Garmin Forerunner 735XT

I mainly bought the watch to check my pulse, to count my steps and walking distance (GPS), to measure my sleep patterns and as a smart watch. I know that the information collected is not 100% accurate, but it will give me some guidelines and information that can help to monitor my health.

I have had the watch for a good 6 months now and have used it on a daily basis. I only took it off occasionally, while in the gym or when I had to recharge it. I even wore it in the shower all the time. Where do I start? The watch has a ton of features, more than most people will ever really use. I will provide a short run-down of some of its features here: It is described as a “GPS running watch with multisport features”. It has built-in Elevate™ heart rate technology to measure the heart rate at the wrist along with GPS.

Furthermore, the watch lets you switch with ease between activity profiles for running (indoor/outdoor), cycling (indoor/outdoor), swimming (pool/open water), cross-country skiing, paddle sports, trail running, hiking and strength training. As you can see, it does have loads of features. For more information on the watch, click here.

A picture showing the Garmin Forerunner 735XT from the back and the side.
This is how the Garmin Forerunner 735xt looks from the back and the side.

Battery and Build Quality

The build quality of the Garmin Forerunner 735XT is fantastic, it is even shock resistant! I have dropped it, bagged it against doors and walls and I have had no issues so far. The wrist straps are also very durable. I thought that by now I would have ripped it off when I put my NoBull backpack on, as the back straps would always be caught by the watch on my arm. So far it has survived without any issues. Of course you can buy different wrist straps, but I just used the one it came with – straight out of the box.

The Battery Life of the Garmin Forerunner 735XT

It’s battery is really one of its best features. I only use the GPS occasionally and connect the watch to my phone via Bluetooth once or twice a day. So the battery life will differ depending on what you use it for the most. I can easily get an impressive 9-10 days of usage out of my watch. Recharing via USB charger is also very quick and only takes about 45 minutes for a full recharge.

My Usage of the Garmin Forerunner Watch

A picture showing how the Garmin Forerunner 735XT is being charged.
This is how you charge the Garmin Forerunner – it takes about 45 mins to fully charge it.

As I mentioned before, I currently do not use all of the features that the Garmin watch provides. My usage is limited to measuring my pulse, my sleep pattern, GPS etc. and as a durable smartwatch. In order to receive notifications or get live tracking information you will need to connect the watch via bluetooth to your phone. You will also need to install the “Garmin Connect” app to download the information it has collected. Please keep this in mind.

It’s colour display is fantastic, very clear and crisp and as a result you can even use it within direct sunlight without any issues. This seems like a very minor detail but at night I sometimes want to check the time quickly, and the watch lets you switch on the background light via a button. This is really helpful when you are sleep drunken in the dark and you quickly want to know the time or date.

This is how the watch face of the Garming Forerunner 735XT  looks in broad daylight. As you can see it is very clear.
This is the screen in broad daylight, with no background light. You have the ability to download different watch faces. This is what I did here. Yes it has a scratch ;(

The heart rate is measured on your wrist via a built-in laser, which is at the bottom of the watch. I have never really noticed it being there, although it is elevated and sticks out from the watch itself. After six months of usage I never had an issue with the heart rate tracker nor any burnt skin or rashes. I did have that with another watch which turned out to be very unpleasant.

My Verdict and Advice

Overall the watch is very comfortable and very light. You will barely notice the watch on your wrist most of the time. This combined with an amazing battery life and a fantastic screen, along with its outstanding feature makes the Garmin Forerunner 735XT a useful addition to your everyday gadgets. I would buy it again, that’s for sure. If you are a serious runner/athlete or you just need a watch that tracks your pulse or sleep, this is the watch for you.

Pros

  • Fantastic battery life
  • Amazing Screen – even in Sunlight
  • Very Durable
  • Very light – you will barely notice it on your wrist
  • Incredible options and features for all your fitness needs

Cons

  • Expensive


Author: Hagendaz

A dude that wants to progress in life, change matters and walk around with a smile on his face - everyday.

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