How happy are you with your 745?

I owned a 245. A feature packed model - loved it as a initial model. 

I stepped up my game in running and I gave myself a 745 as a 'gift' :) Reasons to buy: good price for my used 245, wider strap, training suggestions, newer model (hoping for the latest features through software updates) and sleep analyses (but that's still not ready in software).

Other than battery life (i get 4-5 days on avg), i love it.

Feels good on the wrist, and performs great. Has all the activities i want and more... 

Maybe the HRV tool could be a bit better... otherwise would be also great to have that sleep widget they've marketed with it. 

Except for the battery that lasts with me for only 3 days using gps every day for 1 hour, sleep monitoring is horrible, you can't even consider it. I bought it because I had seen the new sleep widget, but garmin later deleted it due to errors. The promise was until December / 20 but until now nothing and not a forecast. Shame.

Yes. I'm absolutely enthusiastic about my 745. I hope for some improvement soon (sleep widget, training status for swimming, auto rest mode more accurate for swimming), but it is a really great product.

- Battery life: with my setting, more than seven days. More than enough (but I don't use much the gps).

- Building quality: solid, resistant, minimal, very comfortable. Amazing. And for me, extetically, it is the most beautiful Garmin.

- General performance: great. I've had some problems with stress widget, but now it seems okay. The connection with iPhone is also very good.

Batería muy corta (2 días y medio) con pulsioximetro y dos actividades solamente, sin nada adicional como wifi activados. Por lo demás muy contento

Thank you guys for your feedback. I have seen so many different reports on the battery life and that is still worrying me. I run like 1 hour per day and wonder how long the 745 will last without the fancy stuff like pulseOX on. 

I charge my 745 about once per 6 days. I run 3x a week + some cycle/walk sessions. I'm very happy with battery life.

Pero no le pondrás pulxiosimetro por la noche, tendrás gesto desactivado y sin iluminación de fondo no? 

I'd also consider the 645m. This too is really good for smaller wrists. It also looks a bit less plasticky with a metal bezel. 

Although it's been discontinued from Garmin the 645m is still available from resellers for less than £200, about half the price of a 745.  And what do you get for that doubling in price?

You get open water swimming, parachuting, triathlon mode, ANT+ SRAM/Shimano gear shifting, track recognition, blood oxidation and not much else - all pretty niche if your main interest is running. You also get the new body battery and improved sleep functionality but again much of that is quite gimmicky.

Compared with the 245m, which is selling for about £250, the 645m even has more features. For less money, you gain Garmin Pay, which I can't now live without, and other potentially much more useful things like running power, temperature (if not on wrist) and Strava live segments.

At the other end of the spectrum, it's pretty hard to recommend a 745 when you get so much more functionality for the 945 at the same price (both selling at the moment for around £400). Yes, it's true that on the 745 you lose the ugly blank band around the display on the 945 but you also lose a lot of battery life and maps. Again, if looks on a small wrist are your main consideration though, the 645m probably still beats both. 

To give an actual recommendation, it really depends more or what your precise needs are though. 

I'd also consider the 645m. This too is really good for smaller wrists. It also looks a bit less plasticky with a metal bezel. 

Although it's been discontinued from Garmin the 645m is still available from resellers for less than £200, about half the price of a 745.  And what do you get for that doubling in price?

You get open water swimming, parachuting, triathlon mode, ANT+ SRAM/Shimano gear shifting, track recognition, blood oxidation and not much else - all pretty niche if your main interest is running. You also get the new body battery and improved sleep functionality but again much of that is quite gimmicky.

Compared with the 245m, which is selling for about £250, the 645m even has more features. For less money, you gain Garmin Pay, which I can't now live without, and other potentially much more useful things like running power, temperature (if not on wrist) and Strava live segments.

At the other end of the spectrum, it's pretty hard to recommend a 745 when you get so much more functionality for the 945 at the same price (both selling at the moment for around £400). Yes, it's true that on the 745 you lose the ugly blank band around the display on the 945 but you also lose a lot of battery life and maps. Again, if looks (and battery life) on a small wrist are your main consideration though, the 645m probably still beats both. 

To give an actual recommendation, it really depends more or what your precise needs are though.