Thanks for review -- bought after watching. For others interested, I received mine yesterday -- had it connected to Wifi, then Spotify and a playlist downloaded in 15 minutes. Zero issues whatsoever for me.
Good review. I think this is a great watch. Yes, I’ve had the odd GPS (very rare) and sometimes it’s hard to sync the watch with my phone. But in general, this is an amazing watch. It makes me want to run more and be more active. It’s super light, super comfortable and does absolutely EVERYTHING I would want it to do. In fact, I dont know why anyone would get anything else.
Flashlight, multiband GPS, 28+ days battery, 3s GPS connection, pace and heart rate charts during and in the end of training and a heavy Fenix 7X that I love 😀😀😀😀
I bought this watch in February and it is by far the best fitness watch I have used over the past 8 years. My prior watches were the polar m430 and garmin 620. I hated the gps on the 620 and this warch is superior in every way. My only problem is when doing a preset run with different phases, sometimes I will press the back button to get out of a screen and it jumps to the next phase in the run and there is no way to reverse that choice.
Keep an eye for a white spot, pixels to develop on the screen-its a huge complaint all over the forums-I bought mine last September, ran a marathon and began spring training and last night after charging a white spit appeared-it’s so to appear within the first year. Thankfully, mine should be under warranty-I think I’m gonna upgrade or see if I can get a refund as one person stated it’s happened to 2 different 245s
@@Nancy-nx4yy that happened to mine too. The Ist one was still under warranty so I took it back to the manufacturer. They replaced it with the new one which also developed the same problem. Generally the 245 is good for me ,just that issue that is a problem.
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I'm looking for a watch to replace my Amazfit Stratos and I think I've finally found the perfect watch for me. Great review!
@@EducationProfessional-pc6ep I did, but I actually went for Forerunner 645 Music because of the barometer (which the 245 doesn't have) and more precise measure of altitude. I also got a great deal, so they were even cheaper than the 245. But if you're not sure, whether to pick the 245 or not, I would say there are more things to consider. If it's your first sports watch, I'd say go for Amazfit Stratos, they're amazing, especially for the price they cost. And they have lots of metrics that you will find in many watches that are way more expensive. I went for them at first, because I didn't know, if I want to pay that much money for a watch and I didn't know how much I'm going to use them. As for Garmin, they're more expensive, but you can really feel it, it's defeinitely worth the price, they are reliable, app works great and battery is decent. What I like more is that I can track my strength training, which is something Stratos couldn't do (but every newer watch, e.g. Amazfit T-Rex or Stratos 3 can do it).
@ I really want to go phone free and so the ability to play podcasts is really important. From the reviews I can't workout if Garmin is any good at this? Also I am a big user of strava and the amazfit doesn't seem to sync segments to strava...
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@@EducationProfessional-pc6ep You can listen to podcasts on both of them (Stratos and also with Forerunner 245/645 Music). But you need the Music versions of Garmin devices to have that function, they are little more expensive. I haven't had any problems with segments on Strava and Amazfit, it synced everything without any problems. I've been using Strava only since I got my Amazfit Stratos and I haven't had any problems with it. Hope it helps. :)
Many thanks for this detailed and clear review. I ordered the Garmin 245 without music to spare my nerves. :-) If I should need music while running, I will pack my small second mobile phone (Samsung A20e). Best wishes from Germany
Works great for me, even though I now tend to check my stats in the Garmin app I always like to keep my stats up to date in NRC. Also the challenges, badges are better in NRC, oh and discounts on running gear!
I recently got the non music 245 and it's great! I have it sending heart rate info to my Peloton bike, and syncing data with Strava. Really nice device that is very well suited to the fitness/activity focused user.
The water resistance (5atm) is relative to the water pressure applied. A lot of manufacturers used to (some still do) include this as a depth in metres, based on static water pressure (10m water = 1atm of air pressure). However, since these are not dive watches, the main source of water pressure will be when swimming in front crawl etc where the watch is forced into and through the water. Local water pressure can be much higher than just the static water pressure and be a cause of ingress. Good video but worth bearing in mind for future comparisons - I seem to recall some research showing that a 2atm water resistance was not sufficient to protect against shock water pressures from swimming, which also would explain the increased water resistance ratings of a lot of newer devices.
Great review! I have owned my over a year now. I had upgraded from a Fitbit Ionic. I had Fitbits since they first came out with pedometers many years ago, so there was a huge learning curve going from the Fitbit dashboard to Garmin Connect, and also a touch screen to push buttons. But it was SO worth it! You are so right about the push buttons! I don't miss the touch screen at all! The battery time is great (except when using music and GPS at the same time.) And it is a rugged little watch. I wear it 24/7 and zero scratches now after a year. I did buy a glass protector but seriously, it looks like new. My only glitch/con is the last one you mentioned, about having to restart the watch sometimes when you want to listen to music and it freezes. It was a little bit of a pain getting the music set up in the first place. But it synchs with zero issues every time I charge it at home with my wifi. I have Aftershokz Aeropex headphones and they connect very easily. I find it easier to change the volume on my headphones as there are dedicated buttons.
Thanks, glad you licked it. I had a Fitbit for a short time but couldn't get on with it, I feel the Garmin is a far superior experience. Music and GPS does give the battery a good kicking but that's to be expected. I'm happy with mu AirPods but do wish I could change the volume a bit easier.
I aim to please, glad you found it useful. I just did a follow up video answering all the questions people had from the first one, if you want to check that out its here: czcams.com/video/gKH6N2OVE3w/video.html
Thank you. I may be the difference between someone who has had it on a short test and me who has used it daily for multiple months at time of review and for years at this point.
late comment, but "atmospheres" refer to underwater preassure and depth. the preassure is one atmosphere at the surface, two at 10 meters of depth. and then another 10 meters for each atmosphere. so five atmos mean that the watch is guaranteed to stay waterproof at 40 meters below the surface. Good review! recreational scuba diver looking for a sports watch to help with workout (the descent mk2 was there ,but i don't want my unit to be the same as my dive computer).
Nice review. Im using mine everyday for almost 4 months now, did a dozen syncs, maybe a little bit more, and never got a single sync failed like that you showed, but sometimes the download speed gets slow as hell. The Gps is quite fast, almost all times it takes 20s for me, rarely it takes more then 1min, but from other gps watches I tried before, from cheap to expensive, they all pretty fast and acurrate, but also bug from time to time.
Had mine for about three years now and really like it - works great with my Shokz bone conduction headphones, as there is volume control behind my ear, so no need to fiddle with the buttons mid run. Only problem ive had is the display. After banging the watch a few time while wearing it, I now have a 4mm circle of white pixels showing at all times, but this is my fault.
Nice vídeo. I have a couple of questions about music. 1) Is it possible to heart tracks on Spotify on the watch? 2) While listening to podcasts user can fast forward to skip unnecessary talks in the episodes? 3) Does the tracks listened on the watch be recorded on Spotify listen history? (I'm a Brazilian and my English is not perfect as a native one. I hope you understand what I asked) 👍
I totally agree, its the only thing missing although i'm not a huge fan of the touch controls in general. I previously had Power Beats Pro earphones they had great physical controls but I found them to be very uncomfortable.
Pavol Baraniak I just saw your comment. I ended up getting the Apple Watch which is seamless with AirPods, even if it’s not the optimal running watch it works just fine for what I do.
Great video and advice Chris. Appreciated it alot. I was tossing over a Fenix 5X or Forerunner 245 Music. After many reviews I've decided to go with the 245. Thanks for the review.
Thanks! I'm in the process of replacing a broken Forerunner 235 and I've watched many of your videos. Very helpful. Probably going to get the Coros Pace 2
Thanks. This was the first dedicated running watch I had brought or used and it was a total game changer. Despite trying several since I'm still sticking with the trusty 245.
Problems acquiring GPS signal, problems uploading and playing music...thanks, you saved me a few hundred bucks :) I'll stick with my cheap dumb watch for time keeping and with my phone for everything else.
I have also had music (Spotify) issues, however when it's got the charger connected its always worked perfectly, I have been using it 4 times a week for 3 months now and the music has never dropped out while I am running, I use plantronics backbeat fit 3100 which are really good, if you want music and don't want the hassle of running with your phone this watch I think has everything, definitely worth investing in a screen protector as well, 👍👍👍
Music drop out only happened once or twice when I first got it so no longer seems to be an issue. I now sync without issue as long as I use a hotspot from my phone.
Thank you very much for the video. I was looking for a fitness tracker (running, cycling) with reliable HR measurements and easy to use. Now I know, which one to buy 🍻
Great review. My primary reason for considering this watch is to be able to run without my phone and still listen to music. So I'd say the music problems are quite worrying! Will be continuing my search...
Thanks. I can see why you would be put off but plenty of people have had no issues. My fix is to sync via iPhone hotspot seems to work every time now, i've been testing since I published the video.
Thanks for the Review, i'll switch from my Suunto Ambit2S (for running) and my Garmin vívosport (daily driver) to the 245 non-music version (daily driver + running).
Hwello Chris! thank you for your video. A lot of people say that the watch's screen is dark (indoors). And that brightness cannot be increased. Would love to hear your opinion on it.
Visibility indoors is fine in my opinion, but isn’t the brightest. They are right the lack of adjustment though, there is none. The light is on or off. If you want a comparison then you can watch my epix video here: czcams.com/video/c84YIvxAnGA/video.html I show the screens together.
I owned the watch for 9 months now. I was super happy when Garmin first added the swimming function onto the watch but was disappointed by it. It does not capture my turning at the end of the lap properly (I am not professional in swimming). I really hope that they provide the option for me to lap the laps myself using a button by my Suunto Ambit Vertical that I used previously. Although it can take quite long to get the GPS signal in built-up and cloudy Singapore, I find that it estimates the distance without GPS quite well.
Great video - I'm currently using the VivoActive 3 but want to move up to a Garmin with music storage. It looks like I've found my watch! I'll be sharing my review on my running channel soon! Thanks - you have my support!
Best 245 Music review so far 👌🏻. I owned the Fenix 5S Plus, however it was too bulky with its 15mm thickness (literally unwearable on a man’s wrist!). Considering this 245 even if the vibrancy of the screen is really deem and unusable nights! If it has the same HR than on the Fenix series, then it is a major go for me ;)
@@chrisguess Sure ! I lov'em too. I've bought the ga2100, its so stylish. The ga5600 series are dope too... You are in the Apple ecosystem, so why not considering the Apple Watch?!
13:40 I just want to share what I have observed on my phone. Every time I fly to another city, my phone (google maps) takes a very long time to find me on the map. Especially if I arrive in another country and don't want to turn the cell radio/data plan. It's known that devices can locate by triangulating between cell phone towers. When towers aren't involved (cell radio off) and phone/watch is relying solely on satellites it takes longer. When the location is new, like in a new city, the device can't "see" its old previous location then it takes longer as well.
The more I have looked into GPS fix times the more complex it is and the more things you learn that affect it. I mean it's still very impressive when you think about it, this tiny wrist sized computer can locate you anywhere in the world by sending and receiving a signal from space. Mind blowing really!
I've been looking at the 245 m for a few months. It just dropped a few dollars on AMZ, so I just ordered it. wooo hooo!!! I am hoping I can use the workout feature for some interval training. Thanks for the great review. BTW, I am replacing my old Garmin FR 110 (yes, a dinosaur, lol, but it still works.
Hey there, sorry I got here 3 years late. I have been thinking about the Garmin 255S with Music. I had the TicWatch Pro (1st edition) in 2019. I also like music on the watch. Around Fall 2021, the GPS on my TicWatch went off the rails. Currently, I'm wearing a Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Haven't pulled the trigger yet. The forerunner 265 is kind of out of my price range. I also pretty much do two activities: run and play pickleball. This video is nudging me closer to pulling the trigger on the 255.
Thanks. It is much more reliable now than before, also it seems it may be dependant on your router 2.4g or 5g mine has both and as I understand it the watch only accepts 2.4g signals. This only seems to affect Spotify syncing as updates and activity uploads have no issues. In any case I tend to sync Spotify over my iPhone hotspot which works 100% of the time.
Great review buddy! I just got this watch for a pretty good price. Do you know if you can do interval running with this watch? And if so, if it's any good?
Mike Malloy The sleep tracking functionality is quite inaccurate. Reading or tv watching is very often indicated as sleeping. This is, to my opinion, the only negative item of the watch. I have the version without music for almost one year now and am still very satisfied.
Thanks for the review. I always go running without cash or cards, but find the Garmin Pay an interesting feature (on both 645 and 945). What would be your opinion on the feature?
Yeah I too don't take anything apart from my watch and headphones, it could be useful just check your bank is supported, I had a Fitbit briefly with Fitbit pay but I couldn't use it because my bank wasn't supported. Also what happens if the contactless payment won't go through, sometimes happens, you won't have any back up?
Agree with almost everything said in this video, but the music interface is absolute garbage in my opinion. On top of the fact that it takes 7 clicks to change the volume and get back while running, there isn't compatibility with my powerbeats so I can't use the volume buttons on my earbuds. Would be a perfect watch if I could do that.
Thanks. I can get to the volume in three, change it then back in two, are you using the long press shortcut? Would be nice to have an option for volume on the running screen though. That sucks I had the Powerbeats when I first got the watch but never got round to pairing them before I got rid of them. The volume rocker was the one thing I missed, I just assumed that it would work with the watch.
No volume control compatibility the Powerbeats? Was the main reason i was going to buy them? Do you know is that across all Garmin devices or just the 245 M?
Great review, want to upgrade my Venu so this has been super useful. Before I do, does the 245 have a race predictor setting so I can see what time I’ll finish based on the current pace or what pace I need to increase to finish by a certain time?
Thanks. Yes it does have a race predictor although I would say it’s a little optimistic. It gives you times for 5K 10k half marathon and marathon, no pace though. You have to work that out yourself.
No problem. Yes you absolutely can, in fact you can set it per alarm so some with just sound, some with sound and vibration and some with just vibration.
hey, plese share ur views on following questions: howe is the nightmode? i meant doest it switch the screen off during sleep custome time set? if yes, can we push the button to see the light in middle of night if required and if that light is suttle? Also hows does the alarm vibration feel at morning?
I have Garmin Vivosmart 4 that has the same sensor, so i can comment only on that. Just today i was comparing it to my old Polar FT4 sporttester with chest strap and i was very pleasantly surprised. It is lagging very slightly (seconds) behind the chest strap, as i was running intervals, but 95% time it was roughly the same. The avg and max were off by only one beat. I was considering switching to watch that can connect to some chest strap, but i will probably pass. It is just enough for my tracking needs. For some activities wrist can be problem, like mountain bike or lifting weights, but for that it is possible to buy chest strap and connect to 245.
Thx for great review, pretty sure I will go for the 245 and not the older 645 (even though it have other stuff!) that I also have looked at. One totally other thing I noticed is that the workout result you showed from the Garmin app, it showed that you were almost 100% in zone 5! Did you change the max pulse to your own and not the one where they take 220 minus your age?
Not sure which workout result you mean, but I have left everything in default aside from age, gender, etc. Not sure how I would change the max pulse or what to change it to, should I be??
Around 10:30 when you browse in the Garmin app on phone, you had 190 max pulse and probably you can push it to 200+- Change from clock System, settings, user profile, heart rate set it to your max pulse 😃 VO2 and other stats will be much more realistic if you add correct max and min pulse
Hi Chris, I want to buy a sportwatch like this Forerunner 245. I'm looking for something that follows me 24/7, including during the night for sleeping monitoring. Using it for 2/3 trainings per week do you think that the battery should resist for 4/5 days? Thanks 👍🏻
If you are talking about GPS 24/7 you will never get 4-5 days, but tracking steps, heart rate, sleep etc with a run here and there 4-5 days is what I get.
I do a lot of gym workouts, walking, hiking and cycling . Do you feel that this would be a good choice for me or do you recommend something else? I really enjoyed the video and I would like to see a video on the Garmin app. Thanks
I mainly use the watch for running but it does cover walking, hiking and cycling. Overall this is the best fitness tracker I have used, previous devices are Ticwatch E (android wear) and Fitbit 4. I would defiantly recommend it over either of these devices.
Great review. Seriously considering buying one. Do you have any Bluetooth sync issues? I'm not bothered about spotify as I would rather load my own tracks on the watch. What's the best headphones for sync and will they work in the rain? Much appreciated, thanks!!
Thanks. I have a few occasional bluetooth sync issues but they could just as easily be the AirPods issue, however this is very rare. I run with second gen AirPods, not waterproof by design but I have run with them in the rain several times. Alternative would be Powerbeats Pro, see review on the channel, these are waterproof and have a long battery life.
In terms of wi-fi connection, make sure it has a minimal of 50% battery, otherwise just plug it in.. had mine for 8 months, only have issues when down on battery.
Great review!!! i want to ask about the backlight always on options... understand you can adjust how much time it will stay on. do you know what is the maximum duration?
Thanks. Yes you can, the max is 'No Timeout' i.e. it will stay on all the time other than that you can choose: 8 sec, 15 sec, 30 sec, or 1min and you can set that for both during activity and not during activity separately. I have mine set to 8 sec for normal use and no timeout during activity.
Awesome review mate, nevertheless could I ask if this watch is compatible with Garmin heart rate monitors? Meaning those bands you strap around your chest, I could not find that info, cheers
Thanks. Yes it is compatible with Garmin and some other brands I believe. I haven't tried any but looking at the Garmin site the compatibility is listed on each strap rather than the watch page, although it does show a list of them under accessories on the watch page so I assume all of those are compatible.
Thanks for doing I thought this might be the watch I just been waiting for a watch that would do GPS ,heart ,oxygen and I can listen to music or a podcast when I run before I buy a watch and it seems like they’re almost there
It does all of those and is still my daily running watch. The Apple Watch series 6 now also does all of this if you're an iOS user, but I haven't tested it and it is more expensive.
Good review, very educational, I'm really thinking of buying a 245, I just have one question, how tall is your wrist? Mine 17.5 cm, what do you think, do you think it would look small? Thanks in advance.
I can't remember, but I answered this question and a bunch more in this video: czcams.com/video/gKH6N2OVE3w/video.html there are chapter markers if you want to skip to the answer you want.
Hi Chris, thanks for an excellent review. Just wanted to check whether we can integrate to use it with other third party running app like Strava or Runkeeper. Thanks.
Thanks. You can integrate with Strava via Garmin connect but not with Runkeeper as far as I know, unless there is a connection on the Runkeeper end (this is how Nike Run Club does it).
Thanks. My guess is you wouldn't see much of a difference here depending on which features you most use, however I have never used a Vivoactive 3 so that's just based on a quick look at the specs.
Out of these watches, which one would you say is best? Or even the order... would be much appreciated Garmin vivo 4 Polar M Polar vantage V Or the 245 music? I would be mainly using the watch for runs and gym work. Thanks
It does have a strength activity and although I haven't used it much it seems to count arm curl reps accurately for the arm its on but I couldn't get it to count for the other arm (very limited testing). Walking, cardio etc all works well for me.
Thanks for the video. Does the forerunner 245 have training status/ load / effect metrics for body weight exercises/ gym based exercises. I read it's there for running only. Correct me if I am wrong.
Hi Chris, Badminton and running are my main sport. How is the heart rate tracking when you play Badminton? I have noticed that Garmin takes time to catch up on heart rates during badminton play and you see much lower reading than the actual!
Same as me, to be honest whilst I measure my badminton sessions I don’t study the stats that closely. If you are looking for the most accurate reading you probably need to pair with a chest strap.
@@chrisguess Thanks for your reply Chris. I have noticed that soon after a good rally my heart rate measured via Garmin vivosmart 4 was still on 110 while Apple watch shows 175 or above. After playing badminton, the average workout heart rate on the Garmin shows 135 vs 168 on the Apple watch. I understand that wrist heart rate measurements may not be accurate, but 110 vs 170 is a huge difference. I was wondering whether you see these kinda unrealistic measurement on the Forerunner 245!
Thanks for review -- bought after watching. For others interested, I received mine yesterday -- had it connected to Wifi, then Spotify and a playlist downloaded in 15 minutes. Zero issues whatsoever for me.
My pleasure, glad to hear no wifi issues.
As a owner of a 245 music, I second each sentence you mentioned. Great great review, very honest. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good review. I think this is a great watch. Yes, I’ve had the odd GPS (very rare) and sometimes it’s hard to sync the watch with my phone. But in general, this is an amazing watch. It makes me want to run more and be more active. It’s super light, super comfortable and does absolutely EVERYTHING I would want it to do. In fact, I dont know why anyone would get anything else.
Glad you like it and if it makes you want to run more then that great!
Flashlight, multiband GPS, 28+ days battery, 3s GPS connection, pace and heart rate charts during and in the end of training and a heavy Fenix 7X that I love 😀😀😀😀
I bought this watch in February and it is by far the best fitness watch I have used over the past 8 years. My prior watches were the polar m430 and garmin 620. I hated the gps on the 620 and this warch is superior in every way.
My only problem is when doing a preset run with different phases, sometimes I will press the back button to get out of a screen and it jumps to the next phase in the run and there is no way to reverse that choice.
Good to know. Ah that's interesting I never use the preset runs, maybe I should test it out?
Keep an eye for a white spot, pixels to develop on the screen-its a huge complaint all over the forums-I bought mine last September, ran a marathon and began spring training and last night after charging a white spit appeared-it’s so to appear within the first year. Thankfully, mine should be under warranty-I think I’m gonna upgrade or see if I can get a refund as one person stated it’s happened to 2 different 245s
@@Nancy-nx4yy that happened to mine too. The Ist one was still under warranty so I took it back to the manufacturer. They replaced it with the new one which also developed the same problem. Generally the 245 is good for me ,just that issue that is a problem.
I'm looking for a watch to replace my Amazfit Stratos and I think I've finally found the perfect watch for me. Great review!
Glad I could help!
Did you make the change? How do they compare?
@@EducationProfessional-pc6ep I did, but I actually went for Forerunner 645 Music because of the barometer (which the 245 doesn't have) and more precise measure of altitude. I also got a great deal, so they were even cheaper than the 245.
But if you're not sure, whether to pick the 245 or not, I would say there are more things to consider. If it's your first sports watch, I'd say go for Amazfit Stratos, they're amazing, especially for the price they cost. And they have lots of metrics that you will find in many watches that are way more expensive. I went for them at first, because I didn't know, if I want to pay that much money for a watch and I didn't know how much I'm going to use them.
As for Garmin, they're more expensive, but you can really feel it, it's defeinitely worth the price, they are reliable, app works great and battery is decent. What I like more is that I can track my strength training, which is something Stratos couldn't do (but every newer watch, e.g. Amazfit T-Rex or Stratos 3 can do it).
@ I really want to go phone free and so the ability to play podcasts is really important. From the reviews I can't workout if Garmin is any good at this?
Also I am a big user of strava and the amazfit doesn't seem to sync segments to strava...
@@EducationProfessional-pc6ep You can listen to podcasts on both of them (Stratos and also with Forerunner 245/645 Music). But you need the Music versions of Garmin devices to have that function, they are little more expensive.
I haven't had any problems with segments on Strava and Amazfit, it synced everything without any problems. I've been using Strava only since I got my Amazfit Stratos and I haven't had any problems with it. Hope it helps. :)
Many thanks for this detailed and clear review. I ordered the Garmin 245 without music to spare my nerves. :-) If I should need music while running, I will pack my small second mobile phone (Samsung A20e).
Best wishes from Germany
No problem, glad you liked it.
My story is the same, many years in NRC now, I dont want use my smartphone. I dont use iPhone, FR245 its perfect Im glad to see that works!!
Works great for me, even though I now tend to check my stats in the Garmin app I always like to keep my stats up to date in NRC. Also the challenges, badges are better in NRC, oh and discounts on running gear!
I recently got the non music 245 and it's great! I have it sending heart rate info to my Peloton bike, and syncing data with Strava. Really nice device that is very well suited to the fitness/activity focused user.
That sounds like you have quite the setup, those Peloton bikes are expensive!
Are there any issues you have now??
The water resistance (5atm) is relative to the water pressure applied. A lot of manufacturers used to (some still do) include this as a depth in metres, based on static water pressure (10m water = 1atm of air pressure). However, since these are not dive watches, the main source of water pressure will be when swimming in front crawl etc where the watch is forced into and through the water. Local water pressure can be much higher than just the static water pressure and be a cause of ingress. Good video but worth bearing in mind for future comparisons - I seem to recall some research showing that a 2atm water resistance was not sufficient to protect against shock water pressures from swimming, which also would explain the increased water resistance ratings of a lot of newer devices.
Ah ok, thanks for the detailed explanation well worth knowing.
Does this mean I can’t surf with the watch?
I’m not entirely sure it is salt water certified, which is most likely the stopper rather than the depth rating.
Thanks a LOT! I was looking forward to someone talking about Garmin Connect and Nike Run Club!
I guess not many people are using the two together, but works great for me.
Can you link Strava?
That nike run club sync thing you told ! Made my buy this watch more ! Great review
Great, glad it helped
I’ve found music sync to be more reliable when the watch is plugged in and charging, and when closer to the WiFi router.
Good to know I will give it a go next time.
Great review! I have owned my over a year now. I had upgraded from a Fitbit Ionic. I had Fitbits since they first came out with pedometers many years ago, so there was a huge learning curve going from the Fitbit dashboard to Garmin Connect, and also a touch screen to push buttons. But it was SO worth it! You are so right about the push buttons! I don't miss the touch screen at all! The battery time is great (except when using music and GPS at the same time.) And it is a rugged little watch. I wear it 24/7 and zero scratches now after a year. I did buy a glass protector but seriously, it looks like new. My only glitch/con is the last one you mentioned, about having to restart the watch sometimes when you want to listen to music and it freezes. It was a little bit of a pain getting the music set up in the first place. But it synchs with zero issues every time I charge it at home with my wifi. I have Aftershokz Aeropex headphones and they connect very easily. I find it easier to change the volume on my headphones as there are dedicated buttons.
Thanks, glad you licked it. I had a Fitbit for a short time but couldn't get on with it, I feel the Garmin is a far superior experience. Music and GPS does give the battery a good kicking but that's to be expected. I'm happy with mu AirPods but do wish I could change the volume a bit easier.
I also love the push button interface, I've seen less intuitive button layouts on plain digital watches.
Nike Run Club. I still use it 6 years into running and very glad you spoke about it.
I just can’t leave it after all this time.
Thanks for the great review, I just purchased the non music 245 after watching this last week. I absolutely love it.
Glad it was helpful
The GPS not connecting issue can be minimized by synching the watch with the smartphone using bluetooth and Garmin Connect before a workout.
You just did the most detailed review. Will buy FR245 thanks to your review.
Glad it was helpful!
Glad to see I am not the only one obsessed w Nike run club 😅 been using it for years I can’t let my leaderboard down
Yeah I know this many years in I can’t stop now!
@@chrisguess I am going to add you haha
Very informative, well structured and nicely produced vid mate! Makes the decision much easier.
Thanks a lot.
Thank you. Hope you make the right one…
I love this watch ⌚ its brilliant got this and some airpod pros I love it
Nice combo.
The best most useful review I’ve watched so far! I use iPhone and AirPods so this review is perfect, none of the others mention it as much
I aim to please, glad you found it useful. I just did a follow up video answering all the questions people had from the first one, if you want to check that out its here: czcams.com/video/gKH6N2OVE3w/video.html
@@chrisguess thank you! I’ll watch it now
Amazing explanation, I can't understand why anyone else have given this spectrum of understanding regarding the Garmin watch
Thank you. I may be the difference between someone who has had it on a short test and me who has used it daily for multiple months at time of review and for years at this point.
late comment, but "atmospheres" refer to underwater preassure and depth. the preassure is one atmosphere at the surface, two at 10 meters of depth. and then another 10 meters for each atmosphere. so five atmos mean that the watch is guaranteed to stay waterproof at 40 meters below the surface.
Good review! recreational scuba diver looking for a sports watch to help with workout (the descent mk2 was there ,but i don't want my unit to be the same as my dive computer).
Looks like plenty of people did know, just not me. Thanks
Nice review. Im using mine everyday for almost 4 months now, did a dozen syncs, maybe a little bit more, and never got a single sync failed like that you showed, but sometimes the download speed gets slow as hell.
The Gps is quite fast, almost all times it takes 20s for me, rarely it takes more then 1min, but from other gps watches I tried before, from cheap to expensive, they all pretty fast and acurrate, but also bug from time to time.
Thanks.
Syncing seems fine as long as I hotspot to my phone, for some reason I guess it doesn't like my WiFi!
GPS also seem much faster lately.
Had mine for about three years now and really like it - works great with my Shokz bone conduction headphones, as there is volume control behind my ear, so no need to fiddle with the buttons mid run. Only problem ive had is the display. After banging the watch a few time while wearing it, I now have a 4mm circle of white pixels showing at all times, but this is my fault.
That’s crazy, mine has taken an absolute battering and no screen issues at all. Seems like it’s fairly common though.
Great review, was looking at Fenix 5, however you changed my mind!!!
Thanks, glad I could help!
Nice vídeo. I have a couple of questions about music. 1) Is it possible to heart tracks on Spotify on the watch? 2) While listening to podcasts user can fast forward to skip unnecessary talks in the episodes? 3) Does the tracks listened on the watch be recorded on Spotify listen history? (I'm a Brazilian and my English is not perfect as a native one. I hope you understand what I asked) 👍
Thanks. 1: No, 2: Yes I think you can hold to fast forward, 3: yes when the watch is synced back (which must be done periodically or they time out)
The lack of volume of control from the earpiece drives me crazy about the AirPods! Thanks for a great review.
I totally agree, its the only thing missing although i'm not a huge fan of the touch controls in general. I previously had Power Beats Pro earphones they had great physical controls but I found them to be very uncomfortable.
@Terry Stimac How is the connectivity with airpods. Does it work okay? No issues? Thanks.
Pavol Baraniak I just saw your comment. I ended up getting the Apple Watch which is seamless with AirPods, even if it’s not the optimal running watch it works just fine for what I do.
Wow Chris, your camera work is fantastic! Great review and great channel. Keep making quality vids 👍
Thanks, will do!
Great video and advice Chris. Appreciated it alot. I was tossing over a Fenix 5X or Forerunner 245 Music. After many reviews I've decided to go with the 245. Thanks for the review.
Thanks, my pleasure.
My wishlist! Can't wait to get one!
Thanks! I'm in the process of replacing a broken Forerunner 235 and I've watched many of your videos. Very helpful. Probably going to get the Coros Pace 2
Good choice.I just dropped a new one on the PACE 2 Eluid Kipchoge Edition: czcams.com/video/0DQOLVLW0y8/video.html
i love this guy! perfect review!!! very transparent! well done!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is exactly what i was looking for, thank you
You're welcome
Great review!
I just bought the non-music 245 and it is simply great. I had the 230 and the 245 is really a step up.
All this functionality for 250$!
Thanks.
This was the first dedicated running watch I had brought or used and it was a total game changer. Despite trying several since I'm still sticking with the trusty 245.
Thanks for your review for the music we really appreciated ❤
You’re welcome
Thank you, great review. I liked it because you told cons, too.
I like to give honest reviews. Glad it was helpful!
Problems acquiring GPS signal, problems uploading and playing music...thanks, you saved me a few hundred bucks :) I'll stick with my cheap dumb watch for time keeping and with my phone for everything else.
No problem.
I have also had music (Spotify) issues, however when it's got the charger connected its always worked perfectly, I have been using it 4 times a week for 3 months now and the music has never dropped out while I am running, I use plantronics backbeat fit 3100 which are really good, if you want music and don't want the hassle of running with your phone this watch I think has everything, definitely worth investing in a screen protector as well, 👍👍👍
Music drop out only happened once or twice when I first got it so no longer seems to be an issue. I now sync without issue as long as I use a hotspot from my phone.
Thank you very much for the video. I was looking for a fitness tracker (running, cycling) with reliable HR measurements and easy to use. Now I know, which one to buy 🍻
You are welcome!
Great review. My primary reason for considering this watch is to be able to run without my phone and still listen to music. So I'd say the music problems are quite worrying! Will be continuing my search...
Buy an mp3 like the sansa clip and problem solved.
I bought this watch for the music and I have had absolutely no issues with downloading music even though I have super dodgy wifi
Thanks. I can see why you would be put off but plenty of people have had no issues. My fix is to sync via iPhone hotspot seems to work every time now, i've been testing since I published the video.
A few people have said this, is it really good or really cheap or both?
Thats good, maybe its my wifi, works fine when I hotspot I have since found out.
Thanks for the Review, i'll switch from my Suunto Ambit2S (for running) and my Garmin vívosport (daily driver) to the 245 non-music version (daily driver + running).
Good choice, one device is always preferable to two when it comes to ease of use.
Hwello Chris! thank you for your video. A lot of people say that the watch's screen is dark (indoors). And that brightness cannot be increased. Would love to hear your opinion on it.
Visibility indoors is fine in my opinion, but isn’t the brightest. They are right the lack of adjustment though, there is none. The light is on or off. If you want a comparison then you can watch my epix video here: czcams.com/video/c84YIvxAnGA/video.html I show the screens together.
I owned the watch for 9 months now. I was super happy when Garmin first added the swimming function onto the watch but was disappointed by it. It does not capture my turning at the end of the lap properly (I am not professional in swimming). I really hope that they provide the option for me to lap the laps myself using a button by my Suunto Ambit Vertical that I used previously. Although it can take quite long to get the GPS signal in built-up and cloudy Singapore, I find that it estimates the distance without GPS quite well.
Not much of a swimmer myself, but I can imagine that would be frustrating. When locked on GPS is very accurate.
Does the watch have any problems now??
@@thorvos2827 Since covid starts, i haven't been swimming, hence i am not sure if any of the updates have any impact on lap swimming
@weewee, does it display heart rate in screen while swimming?
@@TheARKADIASUN Yes but not sure if it is accurate
Great video - I'm currently using the VivoActive 3 but want to move up to a Garmin with music storage. It looks like I've found my watch! I'll be sharing my review on my running channel soon! Thanks - you have my support!
Thanks, let me know when it goes live!
This is a fantastic review! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Best 245 Music review so far 👌🏻. I owned the Fenix 5S Plus, however it was too bulky with its 15mm thickness (literally unwearable on a man’s wrist!). Considering this 245 even if the vibrancy of the screen is really deem and unusable nights! If it has the same HR than on the Fenix series, then it is a major go for me ;)
Thanks. I can't handle big watches, I really like the look of Casio G-Shocks and they have a new running one but they are way too big.
@@chrisguess Sure ! I lov'em too. I've bought the ga2100, its so stylish. The ga5600 series are dope too...
You are in the Apple ecosystem, so why not considering the Apple Watch?!
Thanks so much! Fantastic review, I really appreciated your thoroughness.
No problem, you're welcome.
Nice review. Thanks! Helped me decide to purchase.
great, hope you enjoy!
13:40
I just want to share what I have observed on my phone. Every time I fly to another city, my phone (google maps) takes a very long time to find me on the map. Especially if I arrive in another country and don't want to turn the cell radio/data plan. It's known that devices can locate by triangulating between cell phone towers. When towers aren't involved (cell radio off) and phone/watch is relying solely on satellites it takes longer. When the location is new, like in a new city, the device can't "see" its old previous location then it takes longer as well.
The more I have looked into GPS fix times the more complex it is and the more things you learn that affect it. I mean it's still very impressive when you think about it, this tiny wrist sized computer can locate you anywhere in the world by sending and receiving a signal from space. Mind blowing really!
@@chrisguess it is very impressive.
No sending data though. Receiving only.
Ok that makes sense
Hi Chris thanks for sharing FR245 features and looking forward to get one to replace my old Polar M400🏆
You’re welcome
I've been looking at the 245 m for a few months. It just dropped a few dollars on AMZ, so I just ordered it. wooo hooo!!! I am hoping I can use the workout feature for some interval training. Thanks for the great review. BTW, I am replacing my old Garmin FR 110 (yes, a dinosaur, lol, but it still works.
Glad you liked it, hope you enjoy the 245!
I would not buy from amazon. People have said those wont have warranty in usa
Hey there, sorry I got here 3 years late. I have been thinking about the Garmin 255S with Music. I had the TicWatch Pro (1st edition) in 2019. I also like music on the watch. Around Fall 2021, the GPS on my TicWatch went off the rails. Currently, I'm wearing a Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Haven't pulled the trigger yet. The forerunner 265 is kind of out of my price range. I also pretty much do two activities: run and play pickleball. This video is nudging me closer to pulling the trigger on the 255.
Thanks mate, this was a super helpful and well made review. Much appreciated! Did the Spotify syncing get any easier yet do you know? Cheers!
Thanks.
It is much more reliable now than before, also it seems it may be dependant on your router 2.4g or 5g mine has both and as I understand it the watch only accepts 2.4g signals. This only seems to affect Spotify syncing as updates and activity uploads have no issues. In any case I tend to sync Spotify over my iPhone hotspot which works 100% of the time.
@@chrisguess perfect! Thanks so much mate, really appreciate it.
No problem.
I am so tempted to get this watch, but I have a forerunner 230 that works just fine. I suppose I'll get this one in the future
I know plenty of people who still use the 230, if you wait for it to break you might be waiting a while!
@@chrisguess thanks for the info. I’m content with what I have but in future will get different
Great review buddy! I just got this watch for a pretty good price. Do you know if you can do interval running with this watch? And if so, if it's any good?
Yes in running settings in the run screen, but I haven’t tried it.
Thanks for this.. could you provide a review of the Garmin IQ or Connect app
You can watch my Garmin Connect walk through here: czcams.com/video/1MWu-QkOkws/video.html
Great review, well balanced and descriptive - Thankyou!
Glad it was helpful!
Nice review. You didn't talk about the sleep function. Would like to know how accurate that is.
I talk about the sleep function in my Garmin Connect App walkthrough.
Mike Malloy The sleep tracking functionality is quite inaccurate. Reading or tv watching is very often indicated as sleeping. This is, to my opinion, the only negative item of the watch. I have the version without music for almost one year now and am still very satisfied.
Thanks for the review. I always go running without cash or cards, but find the Garmin Pay an interesting feature (on both 645 and 945). What would be your opinion on the feature?
Yeah I too don't take anything apart from my watch and headphones, it could be useful just check your bank is supported, I had a Fitbit briefly with Fitbit pay but I couldn't use it because my bank wasn't supported. Also what happens if the contactless payment won't go through, sometimes happens, you won't have any back up?
Thanks for the review. I like my FR245 ;)
No problem, me too.
An excellent review!! Thank you:) Keep on!
Thanks, will do!
A very nice review. Just bought the watch. Amazing watch!
Glad you like it!
Agree with almost everything said in this video, but the music interface is absolute garbage in my opinion. On top of the fact that it takes 7 clicks to change the volume and get back while running, there isn't compatibility with my powerbeats so I can't use the volume buttons on my earbuds. Would be a perfect watch if I could do that.
Thanks. I can get to the volume in three, change it then back in two, are you using the long press shortcut? Would be nice to have an option for volume on the running screen though. That sucks I had the Powerbeats when I first got the watch but never got round to pairing them before I got rid of them. The volume rocker was the one thing I missed, I just assumed that it would work with the watch.
No volume control compatibility the Powerbeats? Was the main reason i was going to buy them? Do you know is that across all Garmin devices or just the 245 M?
Same with my Galaxy buds.
Yes man! Badminton all the way!
I'd actually be curious to see what kind of stats you get from a badminton match
To be honest I want to look again at what metrics I could measure for badminton, all I get at the moment is heart rate, steps and time I think.
Boooo! Booo! Badmington
Great review, want to upgrade my Venu so this has been super useful. Before I do, does the 245 have a race predictor setting so I can see what time I’ll finish based on the current pace or what pace I need to increase to finish by a certain time?
Thanks. Yes it does have a race predictor although I would say it’s a little optimistic. It gives you times for 5K 10k half marathon and marathon, no pace though. You have to work that out yourself.
Thanks for the review.
One small question. Are you able to set vibration alarms on the watch?
This is an absolutely must for me.
Thanks again!
No problem.
Yes you absolutely can, in fact you can set it per alarm so some with just sound, some with sound and vibration and some with just vibration.
@@chrisguess thanks for your answer!
This sounds perfect for me.
Best!
hey, plese share ur views on following questions:
howe is the nightmode? i meant doest it switch the screen off during sleep custome time set?
if yes, can we push the button to see the light in middle of night if required and if that light is suttle?
Also hows does the alarm vibration feel at morning?
See 245 questions comment
I was wondering how accurate the heartrate sensor on the FR245 is, does it lose heartrate, measure too high etc? Nice video!
From what I've heard it's doing perfectly fine. My own 245 Music is tracking the exact same heart rate as my sister's Apple Watch 5
The only thing I have to compare it to is a watch I am currently reviewing so not too sure yet.
@@magmag4145 if it measures same as Apple watch, it sure has to be perfect.
I have Garmin Vivosmart 4 that has the same sensor, so i can comment only on that. Just today i was comparing it to my old Polar FT4 sporttester with chest strap and i was very pleasantly surprised. It is lagging very slightly (seconds) behind the chest strap, as i was running intervals, but 95% time it was roughly the same. The avg and max were off by only one beat. I was considering switching to watch that can connect to some chest strap, but i will probably pass. It is just enough for my tracking needs. For some activities wrist can be problem, like mountain bike or lifting weights, but for that it is possible to buy chest strap and connect to 245.
@@hryvojta9846 ;-)
OK. I'm sold! Thanks
You’re most welcome.
Thx for great review, pretty sure I will go for the 245 and not the older 645 (even though it have other stuff!) that I also have looked at.
One totally other thing I noticed is that the workout result you showed from the Garmin app, it showed that you were almost 100% in zone 5!
Did you change the max pulse to your own and not the one where they take 220 minus your age?
Not sure which workout result you mean, but I have left everything in default aside from age, gender, etc. Not sure how I would change the max pulse or what to change it to, should I be??
Around 10:30 when you browse in the Garmin app on phone, you had 190 max pulse and probably you can push it to 200+-
Change from clock System, settings, user profile, heart rate set it to your max pulse 😃 VO2 and other stats will be much more realistic if you add correct max and min pulse
Great review. Many thanks. Can u tell me if Garmin connect app can be tied to Runkeeper?
No, as far as I can see there is no support. I have a complete walk through of Garmin Connect if that helps: czcams.com/video/1MWu-QkOkws/video.html
Hi Chris, thanks for the great review. Do you know if the 245 can track your respiration rate whilst running?
Thanks in advance,
Jos
Not sure to be honest, what measurement would that be and I can have a look?
Hi Chris, I want to buy a sportwatch like this Forerunner 245. I'm looking for something that follows me 24/7, including during the night for sleeping monitoring. Using it for 2/3 trainings per week do you think that the battery should resist for 4/5 days? Thanks 👍🏻
If you are talking about GPS 24/7 you will never get 4-5 days, but tracking steps, heart rate, sleep etc with a run here and there 4-5 days is what I get.
The usb part was funny😄Hope they heed towards this
At least one watch I am testing now has.
I do a lot of gym workouts, walking, hiking and cycling . Do you feel that this would be a good choice for me or do you recommend something else? I really enjoyed the video and I would like to see a video on the Garmin app. Thanks
I mainly use the watch for running but it does cover walking, hiking and cycling. Overall this is the best fitness tracker I have used, previous devices are Ticwatch E (android wear) and Fitbit 4. I would defiantly recommend it over either of these devices.
Chris Guess thanks, I will probably give it a try.
a good review. i am getting mine, soon. thanks!
Thanks, Hope you enjoy it!
Great review. Seriously considering buying one. Do you have any Bluetooth sync issues? I'm not bothered about spotify as I would rather load my own tracks on the watch. What's the best headphones for sync and will they work in the rain? Much appreciated, thanks!!
Thanks.
I have a few occasional bluetooth sync issues but they could just as easily be the AirPods issue, however this is very rare. I run with second gen AirPods, not waterproof by design but I have run with them in the rain several times. Alternative would be Powerbeats Pro, see review on the channel, these are waterproof and have a long battery life.
Great review! Concise with all the necessary info, thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
In terms of wi-fi connection, make sure it has a minimal of 50% battery, otherwise just plug it in.. had mine for 8 months, only have issues when down on battery.
Ah that’s interesting, that’s the first time I’ve heard that. It only warns you at something like 10%, more testing required.
Hey Chris. Loved the video! Great review and now it got me thinking to get my hands on it 🤭
Hi, thanks.
Chris Guess got them 2 days ago. So far so good! Enjoying my run and had no issues with the sound 👍🏻
Great review!!! i want to ask about the backlight always on options... understand you can adjust how much time it will stay on. do you know what is the maximum duration?
Thanks. Yes you can, the max is 'No Timeout' i.e. it will stay on all the time other than that you can choose: 8 sec, 15 sec, 30 sec, or 1min and you can set that for both during activity and not during activity separately. I have mine set to 8 sec for normal use and no timeout during activity.
@@chrisguess Thanks a lot
Great review! I also measure the fastness by counting clicks ;)
Thanks.
Is there any other way!
Great review, I'm off to buy a 245 Music!!
Thanks, enjoy.
Thank you for talking about the music!!
No problem 👍🏻
Great review Chris - cheers!
Thanks you’re welcome.
Awesome review mate, nevertheless could I ask if this watch is compatible with Garmin heart rate monitors? Meaning those bands you strap around your chest, I could not find that info, cheers
Thanks.
Yes it is compatible with Garmin and some other brands I believe. I haven't tried any but looking at the Garmin site the compatibility is listed on each strap rather than the watch page, although it does show a list of them under accessories on the watch page so I assume all of those are compatible.
Thanks for doing I thought this might be the watch I just been waiting for a watch that would do GPS ,heart ,oxygen and I can listen to music or a podcast when I run before I buy a watch and it seems like they’re almost there
It does all of those and is still my daily running watch. The Apple Watch series 6 now also does all of this if you're an iOS user, but I haven't tested it and it is more expensive.
@@chrisguess Thanks for replying I have a pair of Oneplus ear buds and from the Garmin website it looks like they are not supported ... Oh well.
That seems strange, although I'm not sure the AirPods are listed either.
Good review, very educational, I'm really thinking of buying a 245, I just have one question, how tall is your wrist? Mine 17.5 cm, what do you think, do you think it would look small? Thanks in advance.
I can't remember, but I answered this question and a bunch more in this video: czcams.com/video/gKH6N2OVE3w/video.html there are chapter markers if you want to skip to the answer you want.
Hi!! I have the same question as you!! I also have 17.5cm wrist. Is the clock not going to be small??
Hi Chris, thanks for an excellent review. Just wanted to check whether we can integrate to use it with other third party running app like Strava or Runkeeper. Thanks.
Thanks. You can integrate with Strava via Garmin connect but not with Runkeeper as far as I know, unless there is a connection on the Runkeeper end (this is how Nike Run Club does it).
Good review, Is it worth it to upgrade from Vivoactive 3 Music to this one?
Thanks. My guess is you wouldn't see much of a difference here depending on which features you most use, however I have never used a Vivoactive 3 so that's just based on a quick look at the specs.
Out of these watches, which one would you say is best? Or even the order... would be much appreciated
Garmin vivo 4
Polar M
Polar vantage V
Or the 245 music? I would be mainly using the watch for runs and gym work. Thanks
I have only used the 245 music so I guess I would have to put that at the top, I’m not sure that helps you though.
@@chrisguess appreciate the quick reply!
I've went with the vivo 4 due to smartwatch features as well!
Can I use this watch for regular walking ? Does it support walking/hiking activity?
Yes it does
Comprehensive review. Thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
Is this watch also good for weight lifting and fitness? Or is it only for running..good video sir
It does have a strength activity and although I haven't used it much it seems to count arm curl reps accurately for the arm its on but I couldn't get it to count for the other arm (very limited testing). Walking, cardio etc all works well for me.
Has something changed with the 4 not to since you upload this video? Great video btw
I answered all the most common questions in a follow up vid, so that might help.
Hello Chris,
can you tell me, what is your wrist size?
just for my reference, thank you.
I can’t remember, but it’s in this video: Your Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Questions Answered
czcams.com/video/gKH6N2OVE3w/video.html
Thanks for the video. Does the forerunner 245 have training status/ load / effect metrics for body weight exercises/ gym based exercises. I read it's there for running only. Correct me if I am wrong.
That I'm not sure, I think it includes all tracked activity.
Hi Chris,
Badminton and running are my main sport. How is the heart rate tracking when you play Badminton? I have noticed that Garmin takes time to catch up on heart rates during badminton play and you see much lower reading than the actual!
Up
Same as me, to be honest whilst I measure my badminton sessions I don’t study the stats that closely. If you are looking for the most accurate reading you probably need to pair with a chest strap.
@@chrisguess Thanks for your reply Chris. I have noticed that soon after a good rally my heart rate measured via Garmin vivosmart 4 was still on 110 while Apple watch shows 175 or above. After playing badminton, the average workout heart rate on the Garmin shows 135 vs 168 on the Apple watch. I understand that wrist heart rate measurements may not be accurate, but 110 vs 170 is a huge difference. I was wondering whether you see these kinda unrealistic measurement on the Forerunner 245!
very usefull review for me as a newbie users
thank you so much
No problem, glad it was of some use.