| Manufacturer | Garmin |
|---|---|
| Type | Multisport MIP GPS running watch with maps |
| Series | Forerunner |
| Released | 1 June 2022 (announced 1 June 2022) |
| Price at launch | Forerunner 955: GBP 479.99 / USD 499.99. Forerunner 955 Solar: GBP 549.99 / USD 599.99 |
| Predecessor | Forerunner 945 |
| Successor | Forerunner 965 |
| Sizes | 46.5mm (medium) |
| Variants | Forerunner 955 (Gorilla Glass DX lens); Forerunner 955 Solar (Power Glass solar charging lens) |
| Colours | Black; Whitestone (both editions) |
Specifications as at launch. Features and activity profiles reflect the latest Garmin software.
Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Quick answers | Further reading
Expert opinion
Who it suits: Serious runners, triathletes and endurance athletes who want advanced training guidance, maps and long battery life.
The Forerunner 955 brings Garmin’s full training toolkit: Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, race predictions, daily suggested workouts and PacePro pacing. Full-colour maps with turn-by-turn directions and ClimbPro make it a capable trail and long-distance partner, and multi-band GPS keeps tracks accurate under trees and between buildings.
The MIP screen is easy to read in sunshine and five buttons work with wet or gloved hands. Battery lasts up to 15 days as a smartwatch and 42 hours of GPS. It is a complete multisport training platform rather than simply a running watch.
Garmin Forerunner 955
Triathlon watch with maps and training guidance that covers everything a serious racer needs.
What’s new versus the Forerunner 945
Hardware
- Touchscreen, added alongside the five buttons
- Dual-frequency (multi-band) GNSS
- Solar edition with a Power Glass charging lens
- Larger display: 1.3″ at 260 x 260 pixels, up from 1.2″ at 240 x 240
- Smartwatch battery up to 15 days (20 days with solar), up from 14 days; GPS-only battery up to 42 hours, up from 36 hours
Software
- Training Readiness
- HRV Status
- Morning Report
- Race widget with race-specific suggested workouts
- Real-Time Stamina
- Acute Load replacing the seven-day training load
Specifications
The Forerunner 955 comes in one 46.5mm size. The Solar edition adds a solar charging lens and weighs 1g more; everything else is shared.
| Specification | Forerunner 955 | Forerunner 955 Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Display | ||
| Display type | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP), solar charging lens |
| Display size | 1.3″ (33mm) | 1.3″ (33mm) |
| Resolution | 260 x 260 pixels | 260 x 260 pixels |
| Colour | Yes | Yes |
| Lens | Corning Gorilla Glass DX | Corning Gorilla Glass DX |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Physical | ||
| Case size | 46.5mm (medium) | 46.5mm (medium) |
| Dimensions | 46.5 x 46.5 x 14.4mm | 46.5 x 46.5 x 14.4mm |
| Weight | 52g | 53g |
| Bezel material | Fibre-reinforced polymer | Fibre-reinforced polymer |
| Band | 22mm QuickFit, silicone | 22mm QuickFit, silicone |
| Wrist fit | 130 to 220mm | 130 to 220mm |
| Water rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | ||
| Sensors and positioning | ||
| GNSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, dual-frequency with SatIQ | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, dual-frequency with SatIQ |
| Heart rate | Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate monitor | Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate monitor |
| Pulse Ox | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature | No | No |
| Other sensors | Barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer | Barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer |
| Connectivity and storage | ||
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
| NFC (Garmin Pay) | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | 32GB | 32GB |
| Music | Yes, music storage and playback | Yes, music storage and playback |
| Maps | Preloaded road and trail maps and downloadable cartography | Preloaded road and trail maps and downloadable cartography |
| LED flashlight | No | No |
| Speaker and microphone | No | No |
| Charging | Garmin proprietary plug charger | Garmin proprietary plug charger |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | ||
Battery life
Solar figures assume 3 hours a day outdoors in 50,000 lux conditions for smartwatch mode, and continuous use in 50,000 lux conditions for GPS modes.
| Mode | Forerunner 955 | Forerunner 955 Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch | Up to 15 days | Up to 15 days (20 days with solar) |
| GPS only | Up to 42 hours | Up to 42 hours (49 hours with solar) |
| All systems + multi-band + music | Up to 8.5 hours | Up to 8.5 hours |
| All systems + multi-band | Up to 20 hours | Up to 20 hours (22 hours with solar) |
| UltraTrac | Up to 80 hours | Up to 80 hours (110 hours with solar) |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | ||
| Internal components | ||
| GNSS chipset | Airoha AG3335M (first used on Forerunner 955 in June 2022) | |
| Battery capacity | 344 mAh | |
| Optical HR sensor | Garmin Elevate Gen 4 (first used on Venu 2 in April 2021) | |
| Component identification from FCC filing teardown photos. | ||
Features
A full breakdown of Garmin platform features is available at Garmin features explained.
Plan
- Daily Suggested Workouts for running and cycling
- Garmin Running Coach (including Running Coach Experts) and Garmin Cycling Coach plans
- Garmin Coach prebuilt cycling plans
- Garmin Coach strength plans
- Strength, HIIT, yoga and Pilates workouts with on-screen animations and muscle maps
- Pool swim workouts
- Race widget and course- and weather-specific race predictor
- Morning Report
- Round-trip course creator and Trendline popularity routing
- Courses with course guidance
Prepare
- Training Readiness, Training Status, Training Load, Load Ratio and load focus
- HRV Status
- Recovery Time
- Body Battery energy monitoring
- Sleep score, advanced sleep monitoring, sleep coach and nap detection
- All-day stress and respiration tracking
- Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation
- Meditation and relaxation breathing
- Health Snapshot
- Heat and altitude acclimation
- Abnormal heart rate alerts
- Fitness Age
- Women’s health and hydration tracking
Perform
- VO2 max for running and trail running
- Hill Score and Endurance Score
- Real-Time Stamina
- Training Effect, aerobic and anaerobic
- Performance condition
- Running dynamics and running power
- Lactate threshold and FTP with a compatible accessory
- PacePro, ClimbPro and grade-adjusted pace
- Up Ahead for points along a course
- Preloaded road and trail maps
- UltraTrac mode
- 43,000 preloaded golf courses
- Advanced cycling dynamics and MTB Grit and Flow with a compatible power meter
- Power meter, Varia radar, Varia lights and Varia Vision compatibility
- Pool and open water swim metrics with underwater wrist heart rate
- Drill logging, auto rest, pacing alerts and critical swim speed
- Multisport auto transition
- Strava Live Segments and Garmin Live Segments
Connect
- Smart notifications, with text replies and notification images on Android
- Garmin Pay contactless payments
- Music storage and playback
- Incident detection and assistance during select activities
- Live event sharing (Android only)
- Compatible with the Garmin Messenger app
- Find My Phone during GPS activity
- Connect IQ Store on the watch
- Large font option
- Garmin Share
- Smart trainer control
Activity profiles
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Ultra Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running |
| Cycling | Biking, Road Biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross, BMX |
| Swimming | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming |
| Multisport | Triathlon, Swimming/Running |
| Gym and fitness | Strength, HIIT, Cardio and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Climbing, Indoor Rowing, Pilates, Yoga, Indoor Walking, Boxing, Mixed martial arts |
| Outdoor | Walking, Bouldering, Hiking, Climbing, Disc Golf, Inline Skating |
| Other | Winter sports: Skiing, Snowboarding, Backcountry Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing, XC Skate Skiing | Water sports: Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking | Team sports: American Football, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball, Basketball, Volleyball | Racket sports: Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball | Motorsports: Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motorcrossing, ATVing, Snowmobile | Other: Mapping, Navigating, Track Me, Project Waypoint |
Garmin Forerunner 955
Triathlon watch with maps and training guidance that covers everything a serious racer needs.
Quick answers
When was the Garmin Forerunner 955 released?
Garmin announced and released the Forerunner 955 and Forerunner 955 Solar on 1 June 2022. Launch prices were GBP 479.99 or USD 499.99, and GBP 549.99 or USD 599.99 for the Solar edition.
Does the Forerunner 955 have maps?
Yes, the Forerunner 955 has preloaded road and trail maps, downloadable cartography, ClimbPro, Up Ahead and a round-trip course creator.
Does the Forerunner 955 have dual-frequency GPS?
Yes, both editions support dual-frequency (multi-band) GNSS across GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou and QZSS, with SatIQ to save battery.
What is the difference between the Forerunner 955 and 955 Solar?
The Solar edition adds a Power Glass solar charging lens, which extends smartwatch battery from 15 to 20 days and GPS-only battery from 42 to 49 hours in strong sunlight. It weighs 53g against 52g.
How long does the Forerunner 955 battery last?
Garmin rates the Forerunner 955 for up to 15 days as a smartwatch, 42 hours in GPS-only mode and 20 hours with all systems plus multi-band.
Further reading
- Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar review
- Forerunner 955 heart rate and HRV accuracy study
- Garmin watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming Garmin watches
Related watches
Successor: Garmin Forerunner 965, the AMOLED version with a titanium bezel.
Also consider: Suunto Race 3S, a titanium AMOLED multisport watch with dual-band GPS and offline maps.
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR1100SE: 1,100 lumens under your Garmin, and up to 46 hours on slow flash.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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