screen protector or not?

I bought 2 of them off amazon for $8.00 and think that it makes a difference. In the first week I hit something and it scratched the screen protector and not the glass and the company I bought from sent me a replacement as they are supposed to be scratch proof. Much rather have it scratch that than my screen. I did not have one when I have my VA and I did get some scratches on it.

I've seen glass screen protectors for sale on varies websites, does anyone use those?

I do.

If so what are your experiences with them?

A little hard to apply, had to watch out not to get it dirty and to make sure the display surface is perfectly clean. After proper application it is not visible at all, but this might depend on the type of protector. There are several types of them, some of them with enhanced impact protection, others with anti-glare.
I use an ultra-hard type which should give good protection against impacts, and so far my watch's display remains scratch-free.

What are thoughts/experiences in general about how easy or not the watch gets scratched?

Being a plastic watch it gets scratched relatively easy.

totally must do it. biggest thing for me is when swimming in crowded lane I'll sometimes hit the buoy dividing line - screen protector saves the face of the watch

Had the protector for a day. Threw it away. To me it looked cheap and it dimmed the screen, which is pretty dim in the first place. While swimming I'm hitting the buoys often - no scratches. I'm with the DCR on this - completly unnecesery thing. Even if you do get the scratch the 735 could only get more character.

Not worth risking IMHO. Apparantly the garmin plastic is quite soft.

the glass ones from Germany (for sale through amazon) are great, cant remember the name, something like brotect or something are great.
genuinly cant tell its on there. Dead easy to fit and no air bubbles any of the 3 times I've done it.

The cheaper ones are a bit cheaper, but but wont be as nice.

There are various threads on the 235 forum.

the glass ones from Germany (for sale through amazon) are great, cant remember the name, something like brotect or something are great.

Also available from http://protectionfilms24.com directly, with free shipping to Australia (and to the Netherlands), which works out cheaper for me than to buy from Amazon – especially with the additional discount code offered on the packing slip from the previous order. I have been buying from that site for years now, and have no complaints about the products whatsoever.

I'm using screen protectors I bought from it on my FR630 and my FR235. Not the Brotect AirGlass, even though I also bought two of those on my most recent order (a month ago), but matte ones because I prefer to run when the (harsh Australian) sun is out, and cutting out glare is my number-two concern after physically protecting the screen.

genuinly cant tell its on there.

As you can see from the [url=photos, it does make the display appear a little dimmer. The one on the FR235 has been on for over a year now, and I wore the FR235 mostly 24×7 for twelve months (until I gave it to my girlfriend to use since February). So far, there's not a scratch on the screen (protector) that I can see.

Dead easy to fit and no air bubbles any of the 3 times I've done it.

Yep, no problem applying the sticky matte ones I'm using either, but I tend to be pretty careful (and anal) about such things, so I don't know how ‘easy’ it is for others.

Ah, thanks for the tip on the brotect glass protectors and that site... Just ordered 2 myself.

For now I only had the film ones, did order some glass protectors from china but they were about half the size of the watch :P But indeed, it's easy to bump into something and the screen doesn't feel too scratch-resistant so it does feel better to have a protector on there.

Wish I'd had one

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?371718-Screen-crack

On my 235, same screen, I first had the films and hated them. Went to a cheap (<$10) tempered glass bought off Amazon. It went on amazingly easy without seeing bubbles, dust specs, etc...and the best part it fits so well I'd challenge anyone to even know it was there. Perfectly clear and since the watch face sits slightly recessed, once the glass protector is on it then sits slightly outside. If someone didn't "know the watch", no way they would know something non original was on it. I have films on the way for my F5 that arrived yesterday just waiting until some tempered glass ones are released.

Thanks for all the input.
I've ordered one.
Good to hear they stay on while swimming... wondered about that.
I guess it can be taken of easy enough if I don't like it anyway.