The sweat dripped, blurring the already-faded mile markers. Thirty-three kilometers. My watch, a crusty relic of a bygone era, sputtered and died just as I hit the worst part of the trail – a sun-baked climb that felt like a personal Everest. Today, though, the Garmin Forerunner 955 would be my shadow.

Right out of the box, this thing feels premium. Light, surprisingly so, for a device packed with sensors. The always-on display? A game changer. No more frantic button presses just to steal a glance at my pace during intervals. The sun, usually my enemy, did nothing to dim the crisp colors. I could track every statistic, from vertical oscillation to ground contact time, without squinting. Seriously, you need that clarity when your legs are screaming.

Speaking of stats… the multi-band GPS. Absolutely crucial for trail runners like me. The older models, the ones that still rely on singular GPS signals, often got lost in the tree cover. The 955 locks in fast and stays locked in, even under the thickest canopy. It’s a win, plain and simple. This matters because a bad signal can destroy your run. Your data isn’t right. And then what’s the point?

Comparing this to the older Garmin Forerunner 945 is like comparing a bicycle to a rocket. The 945 was good. This is leaps and bounds better. Battery life? Phenomenal. I ran for hours, leaving it on, and still had juice left over. The built-in maps are a godsend, saving me from printing out paper maps (which always disintegrate in the rain). It even gives you suggested workouts based on your training load, which is excellent if, like me, you’re prone to overtraining.

But… and there’s always a but. The touchscreen, while responsive, can be a little finicky with sweaty fingers. Minor quibble, really. A quick wipe on your shorts or a quick glance at the buttons on the side solves that problem.

So, who is this watch for? If you’re a serious runner, a triathlete, or someone who spends a significant amount of time outdoors and demands accuracy, the Garmin Forerunner 955 is a worthy investment. If you’re just starting out, maybe give it a beat and learn what metrics matter to you first. The price tag is hefty, but if you’re serious about your performance, it’s a necessary tool. Now, go find some trails!