Forerunner 735XT review

atla walker

Nice review, although I disagree with your conclusion. I really like the 735xt and would highly recommend it. Yes an altimeter would be nice. Glass screen would make it heavier. Backlight is good enough for me.

Nice review, although I disagree with your conclusion. I really like the 735xt and would highly recommend it. Yes an altimeter would be nice. Glass screen would make it heavier. Backlight is good enough for me.

Thanks! It's my subjective opinion that for sure was influenced by direct comparison with other watches that I own (or owned in the past). Personally I wouldn't mind the weight with glass and altimeter. I agree- the backlight is not bad. It's just not as good as the other watches that I've compared 735XT with.

Interesting review although can't really share your conclusions either.
People talk about a lot about missing an altimeter but never entirely sure why as all runners I know mostly just train day to day in "familiar" surroundings and TBH in over 30 years of running I have never once felt I really need to know my exact elevation. It's a nice to have for sure but I have realised that, for me, far from essential.
You state GPS in recent Garmin watches isn't so good but every example you gave looks perfectly fine. I normally now view GPS "accuracy" in terms of whether my watch matches Strava segments on my routes and it nearly always does.
Yes it is plastic but I don't see any obvious scratches on mine and a desire for a more robust shell is a bit like saying my racing flats are too light, I need swop them for heavier ones so I can run slower.
Compared to a 235, I personally use Strava segments, courses, full bike support, running dynamics, more advanced customisation an awful lot and swim support is also there for my occasional splash in the pool or sea. None of which the 235 does. Yeah the 735 does everything the 235 does but so much more. I like to consider myself a "serious" athlete and would take a 735 over a 235 every time.

Out of interest what is your "goto" device?

Mine is now the 735 having moved from a 920 and a 630.

CALLE centro

Interesting review although can't really share your conclusions either.
People talk about a lot about missing an altimeter but never entirely sure why as all runners I know mostly just train day to day in "familiar" surroundings and TBH in over 30 years of running I have never once felt I really need to know my exact elevation. It's a nice to have for sure but I have realised that, for me, far from essential.
You state GPS in recent Garmin watches isn't so good but every example you gave looks perfectly fine. I normally now view GPS "accuracy" in terms of whether my watch matches Strava segments on my routes and it nearly always does.
Yes it is plastic but I don't see any obvious scratches on mine and a desire for a more robust shell is a bit like saying my racing flats are too light, I need swop them for heavier ones so I can run slower.
Compared to a 235, I personally use Strava segments, courses, full bike support, running dynamics, more advanced customisation an awful lot and swim support is also there for my occasional splash in the pool or sea. None of which the 235 does. Yeah the 735 does everything the 235 does but so much more. I like to consider myself a "serious" athlete and would take a 735 over a 235 every time.

Out of interest what is your "goto" device?

Mine is now the 735 having moved from a 920 and a 630.

Hi, thanks for the comment!

The GPS is not as good as in the older watches. Just check the Fellrnr GPS tests. For most of the peoples (including me) it's ok but sometimes in harder conditions (e.g. under heavy tree cover or city with tall buildings) they fail. Got already some comments and messages that e.g. 920XT is rubbish in for trail running once compared to Ambit3 or V800 and I should mention that in the 735XT. Also keep in mind that I've only compared the watch with other newer Garmin watches - but my V800 just arrived:).

I agree that for runners the altimeter may not be so important, especially with the elevation correction from Garmin that works very good. But for cyclists it may be a big deal. And it is for me since a cycle a lot. Not to mention the automatic hills counting for skiing and floors counting for the activity tracker.

I would also take 735XT over 235 every time but it doesn't change the fact that 735 it's a powered up 235 with all the cool software features + Connect IQ 2.x. But if the altimeter and plastic () doesn't bother you then it's fine.

For the "goto" device I think it all depends. If my problems for the 735XT doesn't bother you then it's a "goto" for you. For me not. It's a subjective thing I. My personal goto right now is the 920XT in discounted price:) - I know it's old, Connect IQ1.X and ugly but I just like it. Hopefully the next "goto" device will be the 920XT successor.

As you imply, I think it is important to state in a review what is important to you and what you have personally found.

All GPS devices will struggle from time to time but "fail" is somewhat subjective. Fellrnr tests are interesting but all they really show is how they perform on his one particular test route.

920 is a good device for sure but I now prefer the 735 partly as more watch like and it has my one personal favourite feature of Strava segments.

Pueyo bethnlee

As you imply, I think it is important to state in a review what is important to you and what you have personally found.

All GPS devices will struggle from time to time but "fail" is somewhat subjective. Fellrnr tests are interesting but all they really show is how they perform on his one particular test route.

920 is a good device for sure but I now prefer the 735 partly as more watch like and it has my one personal favourite feature of Strava segments.

Thanks for the feedback! I agree that the reviewer expectations need to be a little bit more clear. I will certainly use that suggestion in my future reviews. Fail also may be a little bit too much:).

Interesting review although can't really share your conclusions either.
People talk about a lot about missing an altimeter but never entirely sure why as all runners I know mostly just train day to day in "familiar" surroundings and TBH in over 30 years of running I have never once felt I really need to know my exact elevation. It's a nice to have for sure but I have realised that, for me, far from essential.
You state GPS in recent Garmin watches isn't so good but every example you gave looks perfectly fine. I normally now view GPS "accuracy" in terms of whether my watch matches Strava segments on my routes and it nearly always does.
Yes it is plastic but I don't see any obvious scratches on mine and a desire for a more robust shell is a bit like saying my racing flats are too light, I need swop them for heavier ones so I can run slower.
Compared to a 235, I personally use Strava segments, courses, full bike support, running dynamics, more advanced customisation an awful lot and swim support is also there for my occasional splash in the pool or sea. None of which the 235 does. Yeah the 735 does everything the 235 does but so much more. I like to consider myself a "serious" athlete and would take a 735 over a 235 every time.

Out of interest what is your "goto" device?

Mine is now the 735 having moved from a 920 and a 630.

I couldn't agree more with every single point that TIMGROSE made.

I also don't need the altitude info during running
I love the low weight because of plastic
No scratches on mine (either on body or screen) although I wear it all day every day
Super small size (even smaller than the 235)
Super legible reflective screen (don't care about the flashlight effect of backlight)
etc etc

I have also used a 630 and a 235 extensively (as well as an A3P, A3P Nepal, A3S, A3V, FR10) but for me the 735xt is the absolute best running watch that has ever been produced by any manufacturer. Not perfect (no watch is), but to me the best out there, period.

I would also agree with TIMGROSE that as a reviewer you need to clearly separate your subjective opinion. For example, I understand you were trying to be funny with the "nail clipper" sound of the buttons, but I would take that over the mushy buttons of my A3P Nepal any time! Also Garmin made the buttons bigger compared to the 235 while reducing the over size of the watch. I can confidently press 735xt's buttons using my cold weather running cloves and still feel a tactile "click", brilliant! The 735xt is a running tool not a fashion accessory.

PS
I guess one additional comment about the lack of barometer would not be that although the knowledge of current altitude is not as important per se for runners, the ability to calculate 3D-speed and 3D-distance (as the newer Ambits do: A3V from the get go and A3* with FW update) can be useful especially if you are into vertical marathons kinda thing ;-)

I couldn't agree more with every single point that TIMGROSE made.

I also don't need the altitude info during running
I love the low weight because of plastic
No scratches on mine (either on body or screen) although I wear it all day every day
Super small size (even smaller than the 235)
Super legible reflective screen (don't care about the flashlight effect of backlight)
etc etc

I have also used a 630 and a 235 extensively (as well as an A3P, A3P Nepal, A3S, A3V, FR10) but for me the 735xt is the absolute best running watch that has ever been produced by any manufacturer. Not perfect (no watch is), but to me the best out there, period.

I would also agree with TIMGROSE that as a reviewer you need to clearly separate your subjective opinion. For example, I understand you were trying to be funny with the "nail clipper" sound of the buttons, but I would take that over the mushy buttons of my A3P Nepal any time! Also Garmin made the buttons bigger compared to the 235 while reducing the over size of the watch. I can confidently press 735xt's buttons using my cold weather running cloves and still feel a tactile "click", brilliant! The 735xt is a running tool not a fashion accessory.

PS
I guess one additional comment about the lack of barometer would not be that although the knowledge of current altitude is not as important per se for runners, the ability to calculate 3D-speed and 3D-distance (as the newer Ambits do: A3V from the get go and A3* with FW update) can be useful especially if you are into vertical marathons kinda thing ;-)

Thanks for the feedback! I agree next time I will try to be more objective and point out more clearly my expectations. I agree that plastic makes it lighter and that's good:). But mine is scratching pretty intensively. Especially the body below the screen and on sides. The comment about "nail clipping" was just to point out my wife view on the watch. But I should point out that either way the buttons are good. Indeed way better than heavy buttons of the Ambit3. 3D distance possibility with the barometric altimeter it's a good point.