Garmin 245 vs 735xt

What is it you feel like you're missing from the 735xt that the 245 will give you?

As a 735xt user, I can't really see any reason to get something newer...hopefully the next gen will have lte built in, I'd switch in a heartbeat for that.

I'm still using my 310XT from 2009. Data transfer is slow, but I'm not missing any other features.

Why do you feel the need to switch to something like the 245? Check out DCRainMaker's reviews to get a thorough walkthrough on both.

I think music, better smart watch features and pulse-ox are the main selling points.

I'm just not entirely sure what (if anything) i'd be losing. It's hard to decipher on the Garmin page.

DCrainmakers reviews are admirable, but honestly they border on self-indulgence. There's merit in getting to the point...

comparison tool wrote:

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/product-comparison-calculator?type=watch&ids=98016%2C60067%2C97965#results

Well i take it back, DCrainmarker to the rescue haha!

Thats perfect thank you.. much clearer.

Looks like the only real big losses are cycling power meter and open water swimming (if i ever decided to do a tri...) But for just running, seems to surpass the 735xt!

I just made the switch from the 735xt to the 245, for much the same reasons you laid out in the original post. There is one advantage of the 245 that DCRainmaker didn't include on his chart. The 735xt won't use the footpod for distance/pace unless the GPS is off, while the 245 allows footpod use on the treadmill AND outside w/ GPS. I use a Stryd, which gives me more accurate distance/pace than the GPS.

I'm really pleased with the 245. The technology has come a long way, and this generation of 'mid-level' is comparable to the 'top level' a few years ago in a much smaller and more comfortable package.

Urban B wrote:

I just made the switch from the 735xt to the 245, for much the same reasons you laid out in the original post. There is one advantage of the 245 that DCRainmaker didn't include on his chart. The 735xt won't use the footpod for distance/pace unless the GPS is off, while the 245 allows footpod use on the treadmill AND outside w/ GPS. I use a Stryd, which gives me more accurate distance/pace than the GPS.

I'm really pleased with the 245. The technology has come a long way, and this generation of 'mid-level' is comparable to the 'top level' a few years ago in a much smaller and more comfortable package.

Based on your last sentence, even ignoring the footpod functionality, you feel it was a worthwhile upgrade?

Do you have to do anything special to get the 245 to take pace/distance from the footpod when outside with GPS on? I've always found it annoying when running on city streets that GPS is way off

I do think it's a worthy upgrade, especially if you're not going to pursue triathlons. It takes some research to figure out the new menu layouts, etc, but that's always the case when making a change.

You do need to tell the watch to use the footpod for pace and distance. From the manual:

1 From the watch face, hold UP.

2 Select Settings > Sensors & Accessories.

3 Select your foot pod.

4 Select Speed or Distance.

5 Select an option:

• Select Indoor when you are training with GPS turned off, usually indoors.

• Select Always to use your foot pod data regardless of the GPS setting.

If you decide to use a Stryd, you will also want to disable auto-calibration (also in the Sensors & Accessories settings), and either leave it at 100, which is pretty good, or find a track and calibrate it. Stryd provides instructions on how to do that.

Which is better 735xt or 245? I’m a little annoyed the 245 doesn’t have an altimeter lol