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Garmin Forerunner 35 GPS Running Watch

Astrart
over 8 years ago
Hello,

currently I have Garmin Forerunner 15 GPS Running Watch. I used it for almost 2 years, from June 2015. Unfortunately, it has began showing signs of age. It resets itself and I loose data if it resets while I am pressing buttons. For example, when I finish the run and press stop, then select save.

Anyway, I would like to purchase a new Running Watch.

Forerunner 15 fulfilled all my needs with one drawback. Connectivity. I knew about it when I was purchasing the watch and consciously agreed with that. However, 2 years later, I know that the technology moved on and I would like an upgrade.

1. Connectivity and 2. charging gadget.

1. I would like my the watch to synchronise via bluetooth. Moreover, I am not interested in pairing it with mobile phone. I have a desktop, netbook and a tablet with bluetooth and would like to pair the watch with each or at least one of them.
2. Charging.
Forerunner 15's charging gadget is cumbersome.
It would be nice if I could charge it from wall socket (using adapter of course) with a box-standard USB cable.

After initial research I stopped on Forerunner 35 but I am open to any suggestions, even if it is more expensive.

Would I be able to synchronise with a computer or tablet via bluetooth?

Why in "Product details" it says:
"Batteries 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)"
Is it any different from Forerunner 15? I didn't have to think about what is inside of it and what battery it comes with. If I remember correctly, the batter was built-in.


There are other Garmin running watches, such as
Forerunner 230
Forerunner 235
Forerunner 630
Forerunner 920XT
Garmin Vivoactive HR GPS Smart Watch with Wrist Based Heart Rate - X-Large

but I think they are overkill for what I need. I have Multiple Sclerosis. All I do (don't know for how much longer before MS destroys me) is either running or walking and I want to monitor distance, time, speed and see my route on the map.

Thank you in advance,
Arthur
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Would I be able to synchronise [a Forerunner 35] with a computer or tablet via bluetooth?


    That would depend on the computer and tablet you have.

    If you have a desktop computer that meets these requirements:

    then, yes, you can sync the watch (via the supplied USB docking/charging cable) with the Garmin Express application running on your computer. Do note that Internet connectivity is required; syncing cannot be done offline.

    Your tablet has to support Bluetooth Low Energy mode (or ‘Bluetooth Smart’) and run a version of the Garmin Connect Mobile app, in order for the FR35 to sync with it. (That means, for example, a Android tablet running Android 4.2 or earlier will not do.) Note again that Internet connectivity is required, both at the time of syncing and when you want to review the uploaded activity data.

    Forerunner 15's charging gadget is cumbersome.
    It would be nice if I could charge it from wall socket (using adapter of course) with a box-standard USB cable.


    You can charge the FR35 using a garden-variety wall USB charger. However, the only way to charge the watch – whether using the USB port on your computer, or a separate charger with a USB port – is to use one of these proprietary USB docking/charging cables:
    " />">
    (one of which is supplied in the FR35 retail package). You aren't going to find many ‘waterproof’ watches ">‑ATM">rated at 5‑ATM that have micro-USB ports for charging (or data transfer).

    Why in "Product details" it says:
    "Batteries 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)"


    The battery is built-in, and neither removable nor user-replaceable.

    Good luck, and take care.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    After initial research I stopped on Forerunner 35 but I am open to any suggestions, even if it is more expensive.

    I want to monitor distance, time, speed and see my route on the map.


    If this is all you need and you don't need smartphone notifications nor optical HR then you might also consider the Forerunner 25, which is way cheaper. It has fewer functions than the FR35 (look at the comparison), but I think it has all you need.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Thanks a lot for the reply.

    A couple of questions.

    1.
    a garden-variety wall USB charger


    What does it mean? Would my Samsung mobile phones or tablets USB wall chargers do?

    2a.
    Bluetooth Low Energy mode (or ‘Bluetooth Smart’) and run a version of the Garmin Connect Mobile app


    I have the app. I will check the type of bluetooth chip I have on the tablet.

    2b.
    sync the watch (via the supplied USB docking/charging cable) with the Garmin Express application running on your computer


    I have the app. My desktop PC has bluetooth connection. I would like to use it instead of wires. The PC is very much up-to-date machine.

    Thanks again.
    Arthur
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    If this is all you need and you don't need smartphone notifications nor optical HR then you might also consider the Forerunner 25, which is way cheaper. It has fewer functions than the FR35 (look at the comparison), but I think it has all you need.


    I didn't think about it as I thought uit was an outdated model like my Forerunner 15. I will have a look at it now.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Interesting.

    FR35: Up to 9 days, watch mode; up to 13 hours in training mode

    FR25: Large: 10 weeks, watch mode; 10 hours in training mode

    In watch mode FR25 far surpasses FR35, on the other hand in training mode FR35 is better than FR25.

    P.S. my tablet, Samsung T800 (2 years old) has Android 6.0.1 and Bluetooth Connectivity Bluetooth 4
    Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, DI, HID, HOGP, HSP, OPP, PAN

    Hopefully, it would be good enough for connection be it FR25 or FR35.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Would my Samsung mobile phones or tablets USB wall chargers do?


    Yes.

    My desktop PC has bluetooth connection. I would like to use it instead of wires.


    That's not an option. Your options are:
    • Sync using the cable with a computer running Garmin Express; or
    • Sync wirelessly using Bluetooth with a tablet or handset running Garmin Connect Mobile.


    Happy to be proven wrong, though, if:
    The PC is very much up-to-date machine.


    … you somehow managed to get Garmin Connect Mobile app for Windows‑10 Mobile running on a PC running Windows ‑10, and connect to the Garmin device over Bluetooth LE. Mind you, even those users who are using the Garmin Connect Mobile app on an actual Windows 10 Mobile handset are finding many issues with syncing over Bluetooth.

    my tablet, Samsung T800 (2 years old) has Android 6.0.1 and Bluetooth Connectivity Bluetooth 4

    Hopefully, it would be good enough for connection be it FR25 or FR35.


    Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Tab‑S will do.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Thank you

    Thanks to all who replied.
    I will order one after I finish this post.
    Most likely FR 35. Price difference is FR35 £145 vs FR25 £100.
    Almost the same but FR35 looks a bit more modern and has a different "docking station". Maybe Garmin has decided to change the design for a good reason? Don't know. Also it allows for longer period when GPS is on.

    That's not an option. Your options are:

    Sync using the cable with a computer running Garmin Express; or
    Sync wirelessly using Bluetooth with a tablet or handset running Garmin Connect Mobile.



    Happy to be proven wrong, though, if:
    The PC is very much up-to-date machine.
    … you somehow managed to get Garmin Connect Mobile app for Windows‑10 Mobile running on a PC running Windows ‑10, and connect to the Garmin device over Bluetooth LE. Mind you, even those users who are using the Garmin Connect Mobile app on an actual Windows 10 Mobile handset are finding many issues with syncing over Bluetooth.


    After thinking about it, I realised that being able to synchronise via bluetooth with tablet (yes, Samsung Galaxy Tab‑S) would be enough.
    Out of curiosity I will try to sync it with the desktop and after I install windows 10 on Samsung netbook, with it as well, but it is not essential.

    You aren't going to find many ‘waterproof’ watches rated at 5‑ATM that have micro-USB ports for charging (or data transfer).

    It never crossed my mind that an odd shape of the charging station is related with the watch being waterproof.

    Thanks again!
    Arthur
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Price difference is FR35 £145 vs FR25 £100.
    Almost the same but FR35 looks a bit more modern and has a different "docking station".


    The single biggest difference is that the FR35 has a built-in optical heart rate monitor, which can be used for both timed runs and 24×7 tracking.

    It never crossed my mind that an odd shape of the charging station is related with the watch being waterproof.


    My understanding is not so much that a micro-USB port will inevitably lead to liquid ingress; my Samsung Galaxy S5‑mini is rated IP67, and supposedly can survive being immersed in shallow water (to one metre) for up to thirty minutes, in spite of having a micro-USB port that is not protected by a rubber flap or seal. The issue is that it's difficult to dry inside a micro-USB port after immersion in water, and if the user connects a power source to it while the port is wet, there is a very high risk of damaging the device. Now, while most people won't make a habit of dunking their mobile phones in water and then charging them shortly afterwards, for watches you'd expect some proportion of users to wear them swimming, and then connect the watch to transfer activity data to the computer – after getting out and cleaning up, without diligently and thoroughly drying the inside of the watches' micro-USB ports if they are present. Zap!
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    The single biggest difference is that the FR35 has a built-in optical heart rate monitor, which can be used for both timed runs and 24×7 tracking.

    My understanding is not so much that a micro-USB port will inevitably lead to liquid ingress; my Samsung Galaxy S5‑mini is rated IP67, and supposedly can survive being immersed in shallow water (to one metre) for up to thirty minutes, in spite of having a micro-USB port that is not protected by a rubber flap or seal. The issue is that it's difficult to dry inside a micro-USB port after immersion in water, and if the user connects a power source to it while the port is wet, there is a very high risk of damaging the device. Now, while most people won't make a habit of dunking their mobile phones in water and then charging them shortly afterwards, for watches you'd expect some proportion of users to wear them swimming, and then connect the watch to transfer activity data to the computer – after getting out and cleaning up, without diligently and thoroughly drying the inside of the watches' micro-USB ports if they are present. Zap!


    I received the watch today. Amazon was surprisingly quick this time. Eventually, I did order FR35.

    If I succeed to properly configure synchronisation with the tablet, I won't have to take netbook when I go on holiday. The sole reason I took notebook last summer was to be able to synchronise morning runs.
    I hope to test FR35 on the coming long weekend.

    Arthur

    P.S. I can imagine that drying up USB socket on the watch would be a problem.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    I'd strongly advise doing your first sync using the cable with your computer running Garmin Express.

    After that, you can pair and sync your watch wirelessly with your tablet nearly exclusively if that's what you want to do.