Overall the device is good and provides accurate exercise data (which is to be expected from Garmin) .

If you want to write you own widgets/aps, the APIs and interface looks great and also the data is way more accessible than Fitbit

Like the Pod it also began having issues displaying running dynamics data

Another reason I chose this watch was the ability to use my chest Garmin HRM for more stable/accurate data, same one I use for cycling paired with an 820 computer, works almost flawlessly

Web interface is good and now two weeks in gets better because there is enough data for insight and the Firstbeat stuff to kick in

Anecdotally, in case of my late Tomtom Spark I had to wear it on the right hand to ensure more stable signal reception.

Despite Garmin’s handy table recommending better performance for Backbeat Fit headphones with the watch on the right hand (bizarre) I did not switch my watch to my right hand because I am right handed.

So they recommend wearing the watch on your right hand for certain headphones.

I absolutely recommend this watch for runners who want a smart watch! and running without your phone, while listening to your music through Bluetooth headphones is great!

Sadly, my cheap headphones, which worked with my phone, did not pair, so I bought skullcandy method sport, one of the Garmin recommended headphones

Because I don't always run with music, a last minute decision (music or not) is always easier on the 645.The music does cut out more often than the phone or my Clip, even though I have approved headphones and use it on the correct side

I ended up buying one of the headphones that were listed in the user forum as working, and these new headphones are an improvement over the ones I was using, but they still cut out occasionally when outside, walking, with the Garmin on my left wrist

Despite some of the reviews that have been coming up about the music feature, I was optimistic my trusty headphones would work just fine.

The battery life is somewhat limited, but I've gone on four hour runs with GPS and music with no power issues.

Battery life on the 645 is pretty solid, I get 3-4 days between charges and only charge it when I'm showering after a

Pros:- Smaller, looks like a normal watch on my skinny runner's wrist.- Smart watch capabilities.- Heart rate monitoring is actually useful, always on and seems to measure accurately while running.- Add on "widgets".- Stress monitoring is an interesting idea and works well.- Customizable watch faces.- Battery life is far better than I expected

As it turns out, battery life exceeds the 225 even though I had the heart rate monitoring always off on the 225

Battery life isn't phenomenal, but it is pretty much as advertised.

I had big hopes for this one and was excited for the sharp look and additional features

I really like the look of the watch, it isn't too bulky or heavy (a major contrast to the Forerunner 305) and fits well on my wrist

--I wish the bezel was a little more classy looking, but the ability to switch watch bands easily is great.

I really detest the vast empty ring of space between the bezel and the readable screen because it just screams "Look at how we screwed you over!

I don't listen to music while running so that feature was unimportant to me, however I might have considered it if there was a reliable answer about whether or not you can listen to audiobooks via the music feature (sounds like you can if you don't mind stripping DRM, jumping hoops, and crossing fingers that it will actually work, in other words, don't bet on it)

Because the 645 does not work for outdoor swims, it does not have this feature

Has so many helpful training features and you can download even more

So...useless music feature.

All the other reviews seem to be for the music version and those features are fairly prominent in complaints

BUT, the music part and the FRUSTRATION that it causes because it JUST DOES NOT WORK discounts all the good that Garmin does with the rest of the watch.

This is not the case, essentially the Garmin 645 Music is a mp3 player from the early 2000s, like the original IPods

So in summary, watch is amazing but the music is a gimmick and not really useful

The Forerunner 645 Music has performed well for as what Garmin promises, straps are easy to change, Battery lasts one week while using it with the heart sensor 3 runs during the week of one hour and listening to music

The main problem I have is that the music cuts out mid run (it's not a bluetooth problem).

First, it's the same moronic screen size with the giant ring of despair and emptiness around it.

I mention how much I hate the readable screen size?

If you want a smaller watch (and love stupid small readable screen sizes, then you might like

The size is smaller than most (but still big on a small wrist) and the look of it a bit more refined.

If you want a smaller watch (and love stupid small readable screen sizes, then you might like

In this case, the atomic wedgie is that ratbag small readable screen.

Then again Garmin slapped a 1.2" screen on there and called it

the 645 non-music, after only one day because it is irritatingly too small (both in overall physical size and in readable screen size), the screen is difficult to see in daylight, the buttons are ergonomically awful, and the silver bezel is incredibly distracting and glare producing.

If you want a smaller watch (and love stupid small readable screen sizes, then you might like

First, it's the same moronic screen size with the giant ring of despair and emptiness around it.

Outside of the core running features, the watch is a little above average and definitely needs work, but theoretically Garmin could fix these problems with software updates

If you consider yourself a serious runner, I definitely recommend the garmin 645

So, do not blame Garmin, any watch would suffer from this symptom.

Then again Garmin slapped a 1.2" screen on there and called it

I've been wearing the Garmin Forerunner 645M for about a week now and love it

I much rather move my music manually from the Garmin Express and I was actually able to purchase some nice running playlist in iTunes and without much effort, Garmin Express is able to connect to iTunes and very easily I can transfer the playlist into the watch this way.

I would have been very frustrated if I were out for a hard run, as it made me stop wait for green triangle screen to clear, restart music and make sure my run was still being tracked

Great running watch that has all the bells and whistles

Lap tracking disabled, watch did a restart (shutdown) mid run, although not much was lost as it continued tracking from where it left off (didn't start a new run...), so was just annoying but not totally frustrating.

went to the Forerunner 935 (excellent battery life, big watch, excellent running stats) and loved that watch but wanted music so swapped to the 645M as soon as it was released.

I've been wearing the Garmin Forerunner 645M for about a week now and love it

Also, wait 3-6 months after a new model comes out and let suckers like me sort out the problems

There were two nearly fatal problems that caused me to contact Garmin and start the process of returning it:- it crashed, repeatedly, always in the middle of runs;- the Bluetooth signal is so weak, if my arm is at my sides below the waist, the headphones cut out

It’s a good watch that had some very bad problems that were partly fixed with a couple of firmware updates