The early morning mist, thick enough to taste, clung to the asphalt as I laced up my Hokas. My usual route, a familiar 10k loop, beckoned. This time, though, something was different. Strapped to my wrist, the new Garmin Forerunner 255. No, not a review, more of a… re-entry.

My relationship with GPS watches has been, let’s say, complex. Years spent battling wrist-worn behemoths, chunky plastic torture devices that felt less like a training aid and more like a shackle. Remember the original Forerunner? Solid, reliable, but about as stylish as a brick. Thankfully, the 255 represents a substantial evolution.

The first thing you notice? The weight, or rather, the lack of it. Garmin’s nailed the slim design, and that full-color display is genuinely bright, even when squinting into the rising sun. I tested this under brutal conditions — full glare, direct sun, the works. It passed with flying colors. It makes the screen on the older model feel like looking through a fogged-up window.

The pre-loaded workout profiles are extensive, but I immediately dove into customizing a plan specifically for lactate threshold training. One of the best features, the race widget, is something that veteran runners will adore. It predicts race times based on your training data, providing a useful reality check (or a dose of motivation, depending on the day). The battery life, Garmin boasts, will keep you going for up to 14 days in smartwatch mode or up to 30 hours in GPS mode. I’ll tell you, charging this device is a rare occurrence.

Now, I’m a stickler for accurate metrics. I’ve seen enough GPS drift in my time to be skeptical. I had a recent bad experience with a different brand, and I’m delighted to say that the 255’s GPS lock-on was lightning-fast, and the accuracy? Spot on, even under dense tree cover. The heart rate sensor also proved surprisingly reliable. This wasn’t always the case with wrist-based sensors, but the technology has matured significantly.

The only slight gripe? The notification mirroring. It works well, but it can get a little frantic with a constant stream of alerts from email and the various social media sites. A simple solution? Set up a “do not disturb” schedule and run in blissful ignorance. That’s what I do.

So, who’s this watch for? For anyone serious about running, particularly those looking to up their game. Whether you are a weekend warrior or a dedicated marathoner. You are going to love this device. Go for it; you will not regret the purchase. Consider it an investment in your performance. You won’t get a podium finish overnight, but this is a solid first step.