Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar £549

Garmin’s near range-topping Forerunner 955 is not so much an activity tracker as a complete wrist-based diagnostics tool. Aside from tracking your riding, running or whatever activity you wish to partake in, the GPS watch measures a staggering amount of data, via light reflection, to feed back on your recovery, health, training readiness, optimal training zones, stress levels and more. You can also add the altimeter, barometer, compass, pulse oxidation, respiration, sunrise and sunset times, music player controls, race calendar and more.

With regards to our HR measurement the 955 proved reliable. Certainly when road riding, running, walking or motionless it seemed spot on, although the constant shaking when off-road riding appeared to disrupt the measurement.

If you’re in the UK, don’t get too excited about the solar feature, especially during winter. The solar intensity went several months without measuring a single unit of solar charge. However, it’s worth noting that the 955 is available without this feature, bringing the price below £500. The watch comes ready to go with multiple activities. We set ours up with a bike, indoor bike and gravel bike but there’s plenty more from cyclo-cross to mtb, open water swim to golf. All of the data screens for each activity are customisable with a wealth of information available based on time, speed, navigation, power etc.

The clarity of the mapping makes it easy to use and follow. Zoom in and the maps will show bridleways clearly enough to follow when a route splits, and pick up if and when you leave them.

The training status page gives you a running update on where your fitness is and your recovery status. There are eight statuses from detraining through maintaining, productive and peaking to overreaching and strained.

All in all it’s a serious bit of kit that throws out lots of data, aimed at someone who can make use of it all. For us it quickly became our go-to activity tracker and one we favoured over a bike computer. Simon Richardson www.garmin.com

RATING

★★★★★