If you’re a runner, you must track your progress. You’ll need to know your heart rate, recovery time, and more.
If you need help accomplishing this, you’ll benefit from buying the Polar M430 or Garmin Forerunner 245.
Read our Polar M430 vs. Garmin Forerunner 245 review to find out which will work best for you.
Polar M430 vs. Garmin Forerunner 245
Polar Company Background
Polar has been in the fitness industry for over a decade.
Today, the company designs fitness watches with an integrated heart monitor, rehabilitation products, weight management solutions, and more.
What is the Polar M430?
The Polar M430 is a running watch for all runners. It has very accurate heart-rate sensors, a suite of advanced running features, and a running program by Polar.
Garmin Company Background
Garmin is a reputable business because the team’s mission drives a vision. The mission is to create top-quality products, and the vision is to be a leader in all markets.
What is the Garmin Forerunner 245?
The Garmin Forerunner 245 is a smart fitness watch that thinks when you run. It constantly tracks stats and crunches numbers until a routine is over.
This is a top-level fitness watch because it measures performance, running form, training goals, and more.
One of the Forerunner’s selling points is its design because it’s sleek and practical.
The designers got rid of the bulk when they designed the Garmin Forerunner 245 in order to improve its aerodynamics.
Head to Head
The Standard Equipment
Both fitness watches are bundled with a few extra accessories. Inside of the M430’s box, you’ll find the M430 watch, a user manual, and a basic charging cable.
The Forerunner’s box contains the Garmin Forerunner 245 watch, instructions, and a data/charge cable.
Because both watches basically have the same accessories, the winner of this battle must be determined by the additional accessories that are sold separately.
In this department, the Garmin Forerunner 245 wins because there are no accessories available for the Polar M430.
If you buy the Garmin Forerunner 245, you could add sensors, cycling accessories, bands, and more.
Winner – Garmin Forerunner 245
Weight
The Polar M430 only weighs 15 grams. It’s not a bulky product because its base is just 12mm thick. The Garmin Forerunner 245 is a bit heavier as it weighs 38.5 grams.
Weight plays a key role when you run fast on a track, which is why the lighter M430 wins this round.
Winner – Polar M430
Battery
A rechargeable battery powers the Polar M430. While the M430’s optical heart rate monitor is activated along with the GPS, the battery will last for about eight hours.
You can extend the duration for up to eight hours if you only activate notifications and the continuous heart rate tracker.
The longest duration is 14 days; the battery can achieve this while the notifications and tracking features are off.
The Forerunner’s battery has two performance capabilities. In the smartwatch mode, the battery has a seven-hour life span.
While the watch is in GPS mode, the buttery supplies power for up 24 hours.
Since its easier to manage how the Polar M430 consumes energy, it wins the battle.
Winner – Polar M430
Design
Four colorways are available for the Polar M430. You can acquire a watch that’s green, peach, white, or black.
In terms of the design, the Polar M430 has a somewhat bulky shape that will cover a large portion of your wrist.
The Garmin Forerunner 245 has five colorways, which include black, white, aqua, gray, and berry. When compared to the Polar M430, the Garmin Forerunner 245 has a more refined design that mimics a traditional watch.
Because the Garmin Forerunner 245 has more colors and a wide selection of designer accessories, it wins this battle.
Winner – Garmin Forerunner 245
Training Features
Many training options are available for Polar M430 users. The M430’s highlight feature is Polar Flow, which is basically the home of all data.
This app tracks activities, measures progression, and more, and it’s compatible with mobile and desktop platforms.
The Polar M430 also gives you access to a featured called Training Benefits.
It’s accessible via Polar Flow immediately after a workout is over if you stay within specific heart rate zones for 10 minutes.
Training Load is another feature that’s available for the Polar M430.
It takes advantage of the M430’s continuous monitoring capabilities, and it uses data to measure the intensity of a training routine and the duration based on targets.
The Garmin Forerunner 245 tracks your training status, training effect, and training load.
The training status app has performance indicators that can help you better understand when you’re peaking.
Training Effect measures your development during anaerobic and aerobic routines, and it focuses on power, speed, and endurance.
The Training Load measures your progress within a seven-day window.
Then it compares the data with your training history.
The training resources for both products can give you an edge during a short or a long workout.
However, since Polar Flow creates charts and graphs and syncs to smart devices, the Polar M430 wins.
Winner – Polar M430
Running Features
In the running department, the Polar M430 has a running program and a running index.
The running program adapts while you run, and it learns your habits from the data.
If you train for a marathon when the training program is activated, it will always consider your current fitness condition.
When you get better, the software will make changes that reflect your development. The running index can also provide benefits before a marathon.
It tracks oxygen intake and generates a report in Polar Flow.
VO2 Max and Running Dynamics are popular features by Garmin for runners. The Running Dynamics mode measures your balance, stride length, cadence, and more.
To activate these features, you’ll need to connect the Garmin Forerunner 245 to a compatible accessory. VO2 Max tracks oxygen intake like Polar’s running index.
However, Garmin’s app is more advanced as it can sense changes that are caused by elements in an environment, such as altitude or heat.
The Polar M430 has more running modes than the Garmin Forerunner 245, and it compiles data on Polar Flow.
Winner – Polar M430
The Standout Features
Polar M430
The Polar M430 has a variety of training apps that can enhance many aspects of your workout on a track. Its standout features include
- A continuous heart rate monitor: The continuous heart rate monitor tracks your heart around the clock, and the Polar M430 provides a comprehensive view of your health.
- An activity guide: Polar’s Activity Guides monitors your daily activities while you work out. If certain conditions aren’t met, the app will break down the requirement to reach the daily goals.
- A calories app: The Smart Calories app has two tracking capabilities. It can track the exact number of calories that you’ve burned during a workout, the total calories according to your personal data, and the intensity of every training routine.
- Activity Benefits: Activity Benefits is a feature that tracks your choices during the day. If you make poor choices, the Polar M430 software will make recommendations so that you can stay healthy. The feedback can be very beneficial on a monthly, weekly, and daily level.
- A fitness test: The fitness test is only accessible while you’re resting. After running this test, you’ll discover your fitness level, and you’ll understand how certain cardiovascular activities impact your health.
- Sleep Plus: Sleep Plus gathers data while you’re sleeping so that you can study your sleep habits. You can review all of the sleep stats on the Polar Flow app.
- Recovery Status: Recovery Status is also available on Polar Flow. Following a training routine, the Polar M430 will estimate how long you should wait before you should train again.
Garmin Forerunner 245
The Garmin Forerunner 245 has standout features in multiple categories. The highlights include
- Garmin Coach: Garmin Coach gives you access to a variety of adaptive training guides and coaches. The training plans are very useful because they will automatically update while you train according to your workout effects and goals.
- A sport app: The Garmin Forerunner 245 has dozens of sports apps. There is an activity profile for running, swimming, cycling, and more.
- A wrist-based heart rate monitor: Garmin’s wrist-based heart rate monitor provides data and alerts. When you’re working out, the hardware will gauge your intensity level, and it will send an alert if your heart rate is too low or high while you’re resting.
- A GPS: The Forerunner’s GPS tracks routes. It also creates stats based on intervals, pace, and distance.
- The Pulse OX Sensor: The Pulse OX Sensor measures oxygen in your blood. It helps you gauge how well you’re absorbing oxygen during the day and night.
- Recovery Time: Recovery Time is a feature that gauges how long you should rest after each training routine. It makes estimates based on a user’s regular sleep habits and all activities that were done before and after daily workouts.
- Smart Notifications: This feature enables notifications and alerts on the Garmin Forerunner 245 while the watch is synced to a compatible smartphone.
- Livetrack: LiveTrack is a tracking solution for family members. It pinpoints your exact location and route.
- Safety features: The Forerunner has a practical safety feature that activates automatically if it detects a disturbance.
Polar M430 Pros & Cons
Polar M430 Pros
- The Running features: The Polar M430’s has dozens of running features.
- Tough and durable: Thanks to a waterproof housing, the Polar M430 works well in a shower and underwater in a swimming pool.
- The upgrades: When compared to previous Polar fitness watches, the M430 has solid upgrades. The highlights include more memory and a new alert system that vibrates.
- The battery: The battery provides more than enough power for weekly workouts.
Polar M430 Cons
- Less sleep tracking features: The sleep on the Polar M430 tracker doesn’t track deep sleep patterns, light sleep patterns, or REM.
- The setup: You may have to troubleshoot while setting up the software.
Garmin Forerunner 245 Pros & Cons
Garmin Forerunner 245 Pros
- Lightweight: The Garmin Forerunner 245 is made of a comfortable lightweight plastic.
- A great display: In direct sunlight, the Forerunner’s display has no glare.
- Custom options: The watch has many custom options that range from unique faces to designer bands.
- Garmin Connect: Garmin Connect has a practical interface that’s easy to use.
Garmin Forerunner 245 Cons
- Music: In order to change songs while running, you must click a button many times if the Garmin Forerunner 245 isn’t connected to Bluetooth.
- Bluetooth: The process of connecting the watch to earbuds via Bluetooth can be a challenge.
The Verdict
Choose the Polar M430 if…
The Polar M430 may be the best fitness watch for your routines if:
- You need a fitness watch that has a large display.
- You need a fitness watch that syncs data to an app.
- You need a fitness device that provides access to a network of athletes and coaches.
- You need a fitness tracker that can adapt to your routines.
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 245 if…
A Garmin Forerunner 245 might be a better product if:
- You need a fitness watch that has a variety of accessories.
- You want access to Garmin Coach and adaptive training plans.
- You need a watch that can gauge your running dynamics.
- You need a fitness tracker that has a long-lasting battery.
Our Pick
The Polar M430 or Garmin Forerunner 245 can help you achieve your fitness goals.
Because the Garmin Forerunner 245 has accessories, Garmin Coach, and a practical design, it has the edge in this battle.
