Garmin Forerunner 745 Red review

?Have you ever wanted a running watch that feels like it understands the quiet architecture of your training—the small increments, the stubborn plateaus, the nights when you should rest but choose to run anyway?

First Impression

When you unbox the Garmin Forerunner 745, GPS Running Watch, Detailed Training Stats and On-Device Workouts, Essential Smartwatch Functions, Red (Renewed), you notice the color first: a bright, unapologetic red that manages to be sporty without shouting. The renewed tag means the price you pay is softer than a new release, and you can feel that in your choices—practical, slightly frugal, entirely committed to getting the job done.

The look that grows on you

At first it sits on your wrist like a piece of equipment. Over the next runs it starts to feel like a companion—an instrument that records more than distance: it records intent. The bezel and screen are compact, and the buttons are satisfying under your thumb; you get the sense it was designed by someone who spends as much time training as they do designing interfaces.

Design and Comfort

Design for a running watch isn’t only about looks. You care how it feels when you hit mile three and your wrist begins to heat, or when you wear it all day and evening. The Forerunner 745 manages that balance in a way that’s almost domestic: unobtrusive in ordinary moments and reliable when you ask it to perform.

Watch face and readability

The display is crisp enough that you don’t have to pause your rhythm to read a stat. In daylight the contrast is clear; at night the backlight is there without being intrusive. You’ll find the screen layout pragmatic—numbers first, extras second—and that matters when you’re breathing hard and need to know pace without thinking.

Fit and feel

On your wrist it’s light, and for longer sessions you barely notice it until you check it. The band breathes, and the case profile doesn’t snag shirts or sleeves. Because it’s renewed, you might expect a scuff or two; more often you’ll find minimal signs of life that make the watch feel used rather than used-up.

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Hardware and Sensors

What’s inside this compact shell is what powers the experience you rely on. You should expect accurate sensors—heart rate, GPS, and motion detection—that translate your movement into meaningful data.

GPS and multiple satellite systems

The Forerunner 745 taps multiple satellite systems to improve fix time and accuracy across environments. You’ll appreciate that in city canyons and wooded trails where a single-system watch might falter. That multi-satellite capability matters when the difference between two tenths of a mile and half a mile changes how you pace a race.

Heart rate and other sensors

Wrist-based heart rate sensing is good enough for daily training and most workouts, and pairing with a chest strap is an option if you want clinical-level accuracy. There are more sensors working quietly—accelerometers and gyros that feed running dynamics, and sensors that help quantify swim strokes, cadence, and cycling performance.

Battery Life and Practicality

Battery is where you’re making a long-term deal with any wearable. The Forerunner 745 promises specific endurance numbers you should weigh against how you actually train and travel.

Battery modes and what they mean for you

Garmin lists up to one week in smartwatch mode, approximately six hours in GPS mode with music, and varying UltraTrac numbers (manufacturer notes have shown up to 21–30 hours depending on settings and firmware). In practice, that means you can go through an ordinary training week without charging, but long multisport events or lengthy GPS sessions with music will force you to plan a charge.

Charging behavior in everyday life

Charging is straightforward, and overnight top-ups fit naturally with your routine. If you travel for long races, pack a small charger and a plan—battery life is good but not endless, especially when you use GPS, music, and advanced metrics concurrently.

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Training Features

This is where the Forerunner 745 reveals its purpose. You don’t buy it for a pretty watch face; you buy it for guidance, structure, and metrics that help you decide when to push and when to rest.

On-device workouts and daily suggestions

You get on-device run and cycling workouts, and daily suggestions tailored to your training load and VO2 max. That means you can wake up unsure and have a plan waiting that’s based on your recent efforts. The recommendations won’t tell you everything, but they will help you keep momentum and avoid overreaching.

Training load, VO2 max, and status

The device estimates training load and VO2 max, and it contextualizes performance with a training status indicator. You’ll see when your load is productive or when you’re edging toward fatigue. That kind of feedback mimics having a coach nearby, and it can change how you approach the next session—less guessing, more intention.

Syncing structured workouts

When you pair the watch with a compatible smartphone, you can sync structured workouts from Garmin Connect or third-party platforms like TrainingPeaks and TrainerRoad. If you already follow structured plans, the watch becomes the executor of those plans—simple, obedient, and precise.

Multisport Capability: Swim, Bike, Run

You may be a runner who cross-trains, or a triathlete who needs seamless transitions. The Forerunner 745 is built to handle the shape-shifting demands of multisport training.

Running dynamics and track running

Running metrics go beyond pace and distance: ground contact time, stride length, cadence. On track runs you’ll notice precision in lap splits and the watch’s ability to parse intervals cleanly. Those numbers are useful when you’re trying to coax seconds out of a time, or when you’re reconstructing what went wrong in a tough interval set.

Cycling and power compatibility

For cycling, the watch handles cadence and speed and can pair with power meters, interpreting your effort into metrics that help you pace long climbs and steady tempo days. The cycling profiles are practical, with quick access to lap, interval, and power screens.

Swimming metrics and pool use

Pool swim tracking includes stroke detection, length counts, and swim dynamics when paired with compatible gear. In the water, the watch is an unobtrusive chronicle—your laps are quietly logged, your stroke type is guessed, and your distance is rarely in question.

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Music and Smartwatch Functions

Your workout soundtrack matters. The Forerunner 745 acknowledges that by letting music live on your wrist, but it also balances that with payment and notification features that remove friction from your daily life.

Music storage and streaming

You can store up to 500 songs on the device and sync with streaming services like Amazon Music, Deezer, and Spotify, though premium subscriptions are required for those integrations. For you, this means you can leave your phone at home on runs and still run with a curated playlist. The convenience is both small and significant: no phone to jostle or worry about.

Garmin Pay and contactless purchases

Garmin Pay lets you pay on the go when your bank supports it; you get the kind of freedom that removes one more small barrier to starting a workout. It’s the modern equivalent of having your keys and wallet in a single, tiny object—efficient and liberating in everyday life.

Smart notifications and daily utility

Notifications from your phone arrive on your wrist, which is useful without being overwhelming. If you prefer silence, you can mute notifications and still depend on the watch for essential training guidance. The watch’s daily utility makes it something you reach for outside of training too—calendar alerts, weather checks, and quick glances at incoming messages.

Data, Analysis, and Coaching

Numbers on a wrist are only as valuable as the story they tell you. The Forerunner 745 gives you a narrative of your fitness that you can interrogate and accept in equal measure.

Advanced metrics and what they tell you

Advanced running, cycling, and swimming dynamics are available, letting you see changes over time rather than single-session quirks. You’ll notice trends in VO2 max, lactate threshold approximations, and recovery times. Those metrics give you permission to be patient, or to be impatient, with your training—whichever you need.

Garmin Connect and third-party app integration

Garmin Connect acts as a repository and analyst for the data the watch collects, and it syncs with platforms you may already use, like TrainingPeaks and TrainerRoad. That connectivity means the watch is a node in a broader ecosystem of coaching and planning rather than an isolated gadget.

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Software Experience and Usability

The software tells you what to do and how to feel about your performance. It’s not flashy, but it’s thoughtful: menus make sense, screens are logically arranged, and the watch respects that you’re often operating it under strain.

Interface and daily use

The interface is button-driven with clear menus that you can operate without looking down for long periods. During workouts you get the information you need and nothing extraneous; after workouts you’re given a clear summary that points you toward recovery and next steps.

Updates and longevity

Because this is a renewed device, the software may not be the newest iteration sold in a store, but Garmin supports firmware updates that can extend functionality and fix issues. If you plan to use this watch for years, occasional updates will be your quiet companions.

Renewed Condition: What to Expect

Buying renewed is a decision that mixes thrift and pragmatism. You’ll want to know the watch’s condition, warranty options, and whether it performs to the level you expect.

Physical condition and inspection

Renewed models should be inspected for cosmetic wear: small scratches on the case or band, minor scuffs on the screen. These are usually superficial and don’t impair function, but knowing what’s acceptable to you will help you decide if the price is right.

Warranty and return policy

A renewed buy often comes with a limited warranty or return window—check the seller’s terms. You deserve the peace of mind that if the heart rate sensor or buttons fail, you have recourse. That security is part of the value proposition when you choose renewed over new.

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Who Is This Watch For?

This watch is aimed at people who take training seriously but value lightness and simplicity. It’s not only for elite athletes with teams of coaches, nor is it for casual users who want a fashion-first smartwatch. You’re likely somewhere in the middle—dedicated, thoughtful, and pragmatic.

The committed runner and triathlete

If you race 5Ks and marathons, or you train for triathlons with structured plans, the Forerunner 745 gives you a toolkit that’s compact but complete. You’ll enjoy the tailored workouts and accurate tracking that help you inch toward personal records without obsessive complexity.

Everyday athletes and multisport lovers

If you swim laps at a community pool, bike for errands, and run on weekends, this watch consolidates your life into one wearable. It’s reliable enough for serious days and discreet enough for casual ones.

Pros and Cons

You like lists because they let you weigh decisions in a tidy, sensible way. Below is a structured breakdown to make that weighing easier.

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Common Questions You Might Have

You’ll have practical concerns that affect whether this watch fits into your life. Here are answered in the plain way you prefer.

How accurate is the GPS and heart rate?

The GPS is reliable thanks to multi-satellite support, and for most training purposes the wrist heart rate sensor is sufficient. If you want clinical precision, pairing with an external HR strap is an easy fix that elevates physiological accuracy.

Will the battery last for a marathon or an Ironman?

For a marathon with occasional music use, yes—charge before race morning. For Ironman distances, plan for charging solutions or consider the watch’s UltraTrac mode and power-saving strategies; long multisport events may push battery limits if you use GPS full-time with music.

Is the renewed model worth buying over a new one?

If you want the same core features at a lower price and you’re comfortable with slight cosmetic wear, renewed is a good value. Make sure you understand the seller’s warranty and return terms to avoid surprises.

Practical Tips for Using the Forerunner 745

You’ll get more utility from the watch if you adopt a few small habits that fit into your days.

Pair it with a phone for full benefit

Pairing with your phone unlocks daily workout suggestions, firmware updates, and easier music syncs. Keep Bluetooth on selectively to preserve battery when you don’t need push notifications.

Use training status to guide rest days

Let the watch’s training status and recovery suggestions inform your rest days instead of forcing sessions that feel urgent but are counterproductive. The watch will nudge you toward balance more often than a human coach might.

Sync playlists ahead of long runs

If you rely on music, sync playlists before you leave so you’re not depending on streaming while you’re offline. A small routine—syncing playlists after your long run—will keep everything current.

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Final Thoughts

You buy a watch like the Garmin Forerunner 745 because you want an honest accounting of your effort and a steady, practical partner in training. It doesn’t overpromise. It gives you metrics that feel like conversations rather than lectures, and it puts the tools you need on your wrist without asking for theatricalism. The renewed model brings that functionality into a price range that makes sense if you care more about performance than brand-new glitter.

If you’re the kind of person who appreciates measured feedback, who wants a device that helps shape long-term habits rather than temporary thrills, this watch will fit the part. It will sit on your wrist through ordinary days and race mornings alike, and you’ll come to rely on its quiet insistence that progress is incremental—and that’s often exactly the perspective you need.

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