Garmin Forerunner 55 Power Bundle Review: Conditional Yes
A runner summed up the appeal in one sentence: “it’s a simple watch” — but the long-term story is more complicated. Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS Running Smartwatch (Black) Power Bundle earns a 7.9/10 based on cross-platform feedback: strong basics (GPS running metrics, ease of use, lightweight comfort) with recurring friction around battery aging, screen/band nitpicks, and a few sharp complaints about accuracy.
Quick Verdict
Conditional Yes — a good pick if you want a basic, button-driven running watch with Garmin’s training ecosystem, but expectations should be tempered around long-term battery and occasional GPS/metrics frustrations.
| What stands out | Evidence from users | Who it helps/hurts |
|---|---|---|
| Easy, beginner-friendly running watch | Best Buy reviewer “tvfan” said: “you barely need the manual… set up within 5 minutes… very intuitive.” | New Garmin users, runners who dislike touchscreens |
| GPS and run stats often praised | Best Buy reviewer “tarko ma” said: “The gps accuracy is impressive.” | Runners focused on pace/distance consistency |
| Battery is a major selling point… at first | Reddit user (no username provided in dataset) said: “in the beginning could last you almost 2 weeks… today i can maybe get 5-6 days out of it.” | Heavy users, long-term owners |
| Comfort is strong, but the band can be disliked | Best Buy reviewer “lauren on the run” said: “watch band is super uncomfortable and stiff — immediately replaced the band!” | Sensitive skin, all-day wearers |
| Screen feels dated to some | Best Buy reviewer “tarko ma” said: “display resolution could be better — it feels a bit outdated.” | Anyone expecting modern smartwatch visuals |
Claims vs Reality
Garmin’s messaging repeatedly frames the device as an “easy-to-use gps smartwatch” with “up to 2 weeks” battery life and strong running essentials. Digging deeper into user reports, the “easy-to-use” part shows up consistently in real ownership stories, but the battery headline and accuracy narrative get more nuanced once you factor in time, expectations, and edge cases.
Claim 1: “Easy-to-use” (buttons, simple training tools).
In day-to-day accounts, setup and navigation are a core win. Best Buy reviewer “tvfan” described it as a continuity upgrade: “my forerunner 35 lasted over 10 years… everything works just like before… set up within 5 minutes.” That same “basic, but exactly what I wanted / needed” framing appears again when people contrast it with more “techy” watches.
Another Best Buy reviewer “jacobw” pointed to why the button interface matters: “it’s very good for what i do because it’s not touch screen or cellular.” For runners who want fewer distractions and fewer apps, these stories suggest the watch’s “less is more” identity lands as intended.
Claim 2: “Up to 2 weeks battery life.”
The marketing line is clear: Garmin pages emphasize “up to 2 weeks of battery life,” and Amazon specs cite “battery average life 20 hours” (GPS mode) plus longer smartwatch mode. User stories partially match that—especially early in ownership—but time changes the experience. A Reddit commenter shared a progression: “the battery in the beginning could last you almost 2 weeks but after a while, it drops… maybe get 5-6 days out of it.”
Best Buy reviews often land in the middle: one reviewer (no username provided for that specific quote block) said, “battery lasts me at least 4 days,” while “mauricioa” called it “amazing compared to apple watch.” The gap isn’t necessarily “marketing vs. reality” as much as “best case vs. lived routine,” plus battery aging.
Claim 3: Reliable GPS and performance metrics.
A recurring pattern emerged: many buyers describe “impressive” GPS, yet a small cluster reports dramatic failures. Best Buy reviewer “tarko ma” praised accuracy, and another Best Buy reviewer (no username provided for the quoted block) said “gps accuracy for runs is about +/- 0.01.”
But Garmin Forums shows a worst-case narrative that’s hard to ignore. A forum poster wrote: “my gps was so off it show i run on water,” and also flagged improbable speed readings: “it says max speed 65 km/h.” That kind of account clashes with the “accurate stats” promise and suggests occasional device/firmware/environmental issues can heavily sour trust for certain users.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
The clearest cross-platform throughline is that Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS Running Smartwatch (Black) Power Bundle succeeds when used as a straightforward running companion. People who want pace, distance, heart rate trends, and Garmin’s coaching ecosystem tend to describe the watch as “reliable” and “easy,” and they use that simplicity as the reason they stick with it.
For beginners or “stats people,” the Garmin Connect ecosystem becomes part of the value story. Best Buy reviewer “lauren on the run” said: “i love the stats! use with garmin connect app for graphs and maps… long battery life, easy to read and use.” That’s not just feature praise; it’s a workflow: run → sync → review graphs/maps → stay motivated.
Training nudges also show up as a motivational hook rather than a gimmick. Best Buy reviewer “tarko ma” highlighted “race time predictor” as “a great motivator,” and also praised “daily suggested workouts.” Another reviewer, “lisag,” tied their satisfaction to coaching tools: “it tracks all the important info i really need!! i love the garmin coach!” For runners who struggle with consistency, these features translate into structure without needing a complex smartwatch.
Comfort and “wear it all day” practicality get repeated endorsements too. Best Buy reviewer “tarko ma” described it as “lightweight and comfortable… even during long runs.” Another reviewer (no username provided in that quote block) framed it as an always-on device: “very comfortable i wear this 24/7… washes easy and i forget its on my wrist.” That’s especially relevant for people who want sleep tracking and stress metrics alongside running.
After those narratives, the praise clusters around a few consistent themes:
- Ease of setup and button navigation (Best Buy)
- Strong running metrics and training motivation (Best Buy, Reddit)
- Lightweight comfort for all-day wear (Best Buy)
Common Complaints
The most repeated “slow burn” complaint is battery performance over time. The marketing and many early owner stories emphasize long endurance, but Reddit’s long-term account suggests degradation can be noticeable: “in the beginning could last you almost 2 weeks… today i can maybe get 5-6 days out of it.” For marathon trainees or travelers who buy specifically to escape daily charging, that shift can feel like a broken promise—even if it’s a natural outcome of battery aging.
Display quality and brightness show up as a smaller, but recurring, friction point. Best Buy’s summary notes customers are “highly rated” for battery/performance/ease of use, with “only concern mentioned… screen’s brightness.” On the individual level, “tarko ma” called the display “a bit outdated,” which frames the issue less as unreadable and more as “this isn’t a modern smartwatch screen.”
Accessory and hardware annoyances also pop up in sharper language when something is missing or poorly designed. On Fakespot’s summarized review snippets, one complaint reads: “the button that was supposed to adjust the light was missing.” Another buyer gripe from the same source: “this proprietary power connector is terrible.” Those aren’t universal problems, but they matter because they directly affect daily interaction: charging and visibility.
Finally, for accuracy-related complaints, the tone shifts from nitpick to regret. The Garmin Forums post is the most severe: “only thing this watch can tell acuratly is time… i made big mistake taking this over suunto.” That kind of feedback suggests a subset of users experience confidence collapse when GPS/VO2max/speed outputs don’t match reality.
After those narratives, the complaint patterns look like this:
- Battery life can shrink for long-term owners (Reddit)
- Screen can feel dim/outdated to some (Best Buy)
- Occasional harsh GPS/metrics dissatisfaction (Garmin Forums)
Divisive Features
Sleep tracking and recovery insights land in the “good enough for many, questionable for some” bucket. Reddit user feedback is positive on capability: one commenter said: “it definitely tracks rem sleep.” But a Best Buy reviewer (no username provided for that quote block) described sleep timing as inconsistent: “sleep tracking is spotty usually 20 minutes off.” That’s a meaningful divide for users who want clinical precision versus those who just want trends.
The watch’s “basic” nature is also divisive depending on what sports someone expects it to recognize. Reddit user feedback praised core activities—“tracks running, walking, and bike riding perfectly”—yet added: “i sometimes wish it would track more things like tennis and weight lifting.” For runners who dabble in gym work or court sports, that limitation becomes a recurring itch that nudges them toward an upgrade.
Trust & Reliability
Trust signals get messy when third-party review analysis tools raise flags. Trustpilot data here is represented through a Fakespot page that explicitly warns: “our engine has profiled the reviewer patterns and has determined that there may be deception involved.” That doesn’t automatically mean the product is bad, but it does suggest some review pools may be noisy, so the most useful evidence comes from identifiable retailer reviews and community problem reports.
Longer-term reliability stories lean in two directions. On the positive side, Best Buy reviewer “tvfan” anchored expectations in durability history: “my forerunner 35 lasted over 10 years… the 55 model is the upgraded replacement.” On the caution side, Reddit’s battery-aging story (“today i can maybe get 5-6 days”) suggests longevity may hinge on usage patterns and time.
When reliability goes wrong, the frustration is intense and specific. The Garmin Forums poster described near-daily issues: “almost everyday i have problem,” culminating in GPS anomalies (“run on water”) and suspect performance metrics (“max speed 65 km/h”). These reports are not the majority tone, but they’re important because they show the failure mode: once trust is lost in GPS/VO2 estimates, the watch’s core purpose feels undermined.
Alternatives
The only explicitly named competitor in user data is Suunto. The Garmin Forums complaint compares directly: “my friend have suunto peak 5 ( cheaper and way better ) have gps guide , more running data.” That’s a stark statement from a dissatisfied owner, and it frames Suunto as a value-and-data alternative for someone who wants richer running metrics and guidance.
Within Garmin’s own ecosystem, upgrade temptation is also part of the story. A Reddit commenter said they “sometimes consider upgrading… for additional features like nfc payments,” but hadn’t been convinced they “need to.” That suggests the Forerunner 55 hits a sweet spot for runners who don’t want the complexity (or cost) of higher-end models, even if they occasionally eye extras like payments or broader sport profiles.
Price & Value
Value perception depends on where you buy and what you expect. Best Buy lists it at $169.99 in the provided data, and Best Buy reviewers repeatedly frame it as a strong “price point” option. One reviewer (no username provided in that quote block) said: “price is great for quality assurance… if you’re looking for a watch in this price point it does not disappoint.”
Resale and bundle pricing show wide variance on eBay: a new “power bundle” listing appears at $219.99, while another listing shows a standalone Forerunner 55 at “gbp 114.99” (with shipping) in a different market. That spread implies a practical tip: the “Power Bundle” premium may be worth it only if you truly want the included extras (screen protectors/charger/earbuds depending on the listing), not just the watch.
Community buying behavior also hints at accessory priorities. Fakespot’s snippet advice says: “spring for a screen protector… if you ever drop it or crash on a run or on the bike.” That aligns with buyers who treat the watch as an outdoors tool rather than a delicate gadget.
FAQ
Q: Does it track REM sleep?
A: Yes, at least one Reddit user explicitly confirms it. Reddit user (name not provided in dataset) said: “it definitely tracks rem sleep.” Another Best Buy reviewer (name not provided in that quote block) cautioned accuracy can be imperfect, saying sleep tracking is “spotty usually 20 minutes off.”
Q: Is the battery really “up to 2 weeks”?
A: Sometimes, especially early on and with lighter usage, but many users describe shorter real-world results. Reddit user (name not provided) said it “could last you almost 2 weeks” at first, but later dropped to “5-6 days.” Best Buy reviewers commonly report several days of use.
Q: Is the Forerunner 55 good for beginners who just run, walk, and bike?
A: Many owners describe it as ideal for basics. Reddit user (name not provided) said it “tracks running, walking, and bike riding perfectly.” Best Buy reviewer “kirkm” called it “perfect basic fitness watch” for “bare essentials,” and “tvfan” said it’s “basic, but exactly what i wanted / needed.”
Q: Are there common comfort issues?
A: The watch is widely described as lightweight, but the stock band can bother some people. Best Buy reviewer “tarko ma” called it “lightweight and comfortable,” while Best Buy reviewer “lauren on the run” said the “watch band is super uncomfortable and stiff” and they “immediately replaced the band.”
Q: How reliable is GPS accuracy?
A: Many reviews praise it, but there are notable outlier complaints. Best Buy reviewer “tarko ma” said: “The gps accuracy is impressive.” In contrast, a Garmin Forums user reported severe issues: “my gps was so off it show i run on water,” plus unrealistic metrics like “max speed 65 km/h.”
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re a beginner-to-intermediate runner who wants a button-driven Garmin that’s “basic” in a good way—easy setup, strong running stats, Garmin Coach, and a battery that usually lasts days instead of hours. Best Buy reviewer “tvfan” captured that use case: “looking for a basic gps watch to register your runs?… a great option.”
Avoid if you’re highly sensitive to GPS/metric accuracy anomalies or you’ll be furious if battery life declines over time; the Garmin Forums complaint (“run on water”) and Reddit’s battery drop (“5-6 days out of it”) are the warning signs.
Pro tip from the community: protect it early—Fakespot’s snippet advice says: “spring for a screen protector… you’ll be glad you got it if you ever drop it or crash on a run or on the bike.”
