Last Updated: December 15, 2018 (Refresh Now)
Garmin Forerunner 235 Marsala Certified Refurbished
Last Updated: December 15, 2018 (Refresh Now)
8.1
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
997
Old Reviews
60
Unverified
68
Spam Test
!
1.22 inches
DISPLAY SIZE
Yes
GPS
Yes
BLUETOOTH
Review Analysis - 869 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Heartrate
130heart rate monitor, accurate, hr, hr monitor, forerunner 235
+71%
-29%
" ... Great product, great HB monitor. ... "
" ... I love my Garmin Forerunner 235. ... "
" ... I was most excited about the heart rate monitor, and I am pretty pleased. ... "
" ... Enter in the forerunner 235 . ... I will say though that my separate HR monitor got similar readings to the one that is on this unit so I do not know why people have said it was inaccurate. ... "
" ... this watch is amazing for what it does and the wrist based HRM is heads and tails better than the chest strap from polar, in convenience AND reliability! ... "
" ... I can easily say that is one of the best activity tracker / heart rate monitor and somewhat smartwatch in the market. ... 24/7 heart rate tracking ... "
" ... The syncing and setup with Strava wasn't painful, and it's nice having the heart rate data, but I haven't tried any of the other modes yet besides outdoor running, or specific workouts. ... "
" ... heart rate monitor, step recording, mapping, etc.) ... "
GPS
109garmin, accurate, running, garmin forerunner, forerunner 235
+88%
-12%
" ... With that charge I can do 2 x 1.5 mile GPS tracked walk 5 times a week and 1 x 3 mile run 7 times a week and I will have 10-15% battery remaining. ... "
" ... GPS works like a charm. ... "
" ... The GPS starts up really fast (within 30 seconds every time). ... The battery life really depends on how often you use the GPS. ... "
" ... I really like this Garmin. ... "
" ... After my Garmin 10 finally stopped working I thoroughly researched all the Garmin models from the least expensive to the newest and most impressive multi-sport models. ... "
" ... The GPS is on point and it’s great to track my runs. ... "
" ... GPS performs very well too. ... "
" ... The watch is simple to use for outdoor running and GPS captures the signal in no time. ... "
For Running
108runs, runners, training, runner, marathon
+93%
-7%
" ... I use this watch for walking, biking, and overall daily monitoring of my activity level, Watch is great. ... "
" ... perfect for triatlon training ... "
" ... Perfect for a runner ... "
" ... The perfect running watch! ... "
" ... Works great for running. ... "
" ... This is the best running/fitness watch I’ve tried. ... "
" ... Love this watch and all it has to offer for running. ... "
" ... I've used this outdoor trail running and running on my treadmill, pretty accurate on the pace and distance. ... "
Device Compatibility
104garmin, app, sync, notifications, garmin connect
+65%
-35%
" ... They suggested I update the software and after doing that, the Bluetooth connected immediately. ... I've now had it over a month with no connection problems and it really does work great. ... "
" ... Connection with smart phone was simple to set up. ... "
" ... I use it every day and love being able to read texts without looking at my phone. ... "
" ... The watch does every thing I want it to do, I like the ability to connect it to my phone, it’s simple enough for me to use. ... "
" ... Pairs well with iPhone 6S and Garmin app. ... "
" ... It's so is to hit run on the watch and go, no more fussing with my phone to make sure it's connected to my Fitbit. ... "
" ... Syncs instantly as long as you have Connect app open and Bluetooth enabled. ... I like the notification feature of text for me since I don't need to look at my phone. ... I love how my friends can text me to say WTG on my running. ... "
" ... The Forerunner GPS connects in seconds and the watch syncs w the excellent Garmin app easily via Bluetooth. ... "
Battery Life
92battery life, charge, lasts, days, week
+75%
-25%
" ... Great battery life and very light. ... "
" ... Battery life is about 7 days. ... "
" ... EXCELLENT BATTERY LIFE. ... "
" ... Battery life is about 5 days with daily 1+hour workouts (Crosstrain, weightlifting or running) ... "
" ... The charge on the battery lasts for days too. ... "
" ... This Garmin watch is extremely lightweight (I can’t even tell it’s there most of the time), the battery lasts a long time (5+ days every running with gps daily), and it has all kinds of great functions I never knew I wanted. ... "
" ... The battery is good for 3 runs, each about 1-1.5 hours, on highest GPS settings. ... "
" ... The best feature is battery life. ... "
Apps
88apps, garmin, watch, garmin connect app, data
+85%
-15%
" ... I use strava, so it was really important to me that this device could directly share to my various fitness apps and it does this in stride. ... So what about those "smart watch features" that this Garmin has? ... "
" ... The app is more in depth scientifically than the Fitbit app. ... You can download apps to your watch (I have a stopwatch downloaded) and also different watch faces to use which is so awesome. ... "
" ... Garmin Connect site is also awesome - you can upload your data and it shows you all sorts of statistics and maps of your runs. ... Heck, you can even download Tetris :) ... "
" ... Although it's probably the most negative thing I've read about in reviews for this watch I think the Garmin Connect app is FANTASTIC and I don't have any problem navigating the interface. ... I was debating an Apple Watch 2 just because I have Apple everything, but this syncs seamlessly with iOS for me (also with Nike + and Strava) I have not had any issues in that department. ... "
" ... My favorite feature is the ability to change watch faces through the app ... "
" ... Watch and apps work nicely. ... "
" ... The Garmin Connect app makes this customizable and add value to the exercice. ... "
" ... In the past, I would use RunKeeper, but have found the Garmin application far superior in both function and options. ... "
Product Reliability
88watch, weeks, month, years, refurbished
+53%
-47%
" ... I had the 225 garmin for years. ... "
" ... My last watch lasted 3 years so the 3 years will work. ... "
" ... I've experience zero problems! ... "
" ... No problems in the first few months of use. ... "
" ... Exactly 2 months old, and when I charged it at night to use the next day it was working fine. ... "
" ... It has worked flawlessly since I received it a couple months ago. ... "
" ... There are so many options I have had it for 6 months and have zero complaints! ... "
" ... Worked great for a few months. ... "
Comfort
84wrist, wear, wearing, strap, wrists
+77%
-23%
" ... It is also very comfortable I even wear it to bed. ... "
" ... It's comfortable and light. ... "
" ... I have been wearing a Polar RS300 since 2010 (great watch, by the way! ... "
" ... I wear it almost all the time - it is comfy and looks good. ... "
" ... I wear it for running, every day at work, great move reminder! ... "
" ... My husband really enjoys wearing it. ... "
" ... She has worn it non stop since getting it and loves it. ... "
" ... Wear it for every run and I have had no issues. ... "
Accuracy
66gps, tracking, distance, hr, accuracy
+85%
-15%
" ... I've used it for bike rides and it seems to be accurate. ... "
" ... I only use it for running, so it keeps good pace/time and I hope it accurate. ... "
" ... Forerunner 235 is more accurate, has more options, and the GPS locks on quicker than any other watch I have tried. ... "
" ... She is training for a marathon and she said it is great for tracking her progress and adjusting her training. ... "
" ... Even did live tracking. ... "
" ... The GPS is as accurate as can be. ... "
" ... Accurate heart rate and steps! ... "
" ... The distance tracker seems to be very accurate. ... "
Pedometer
59steps, miles, mile, calories, accurate
+69%
-31%
" ... It tracks my miles, by mile, run and notifies me. ... "
" ... * No barometric altimeter ... "
" ... I am a casual runner, but I love the flexibility the watch gives you in terms of exercise routines and tracking milestones. ... "
" ... I did notice when i tracked an activity it drained the battery quite a bit but keep in mind it was me tracking a walk while i mowed my lawn with a push mower for 3 hours and even then only used about 10% or so so overall the battery life is phenomenal. ... "
" ... It has the features that most runners, walkers bikers etc. ... "
" ... She is training for a marathon and she said it is great for tracking her progress and adjusting her training. ... "
" ... Perfect for people who are runners, bikers or people who are just trying to track their everyday health. ... "
" ... I'm no marathoner but I run about 20 miles a week and am now, after only 3 days of owning this watch, addicted to the data! ... "
Ease of Use
54app, operate, difficult, user friendly, navigate
+80%
-20%
" ... Not touchscreen but very easy to navigate. ... "
" ... The app is clean and easy to use. ... The menu system is not so easy to navigate, but most of the settings can be changed via the app, which is easy. ... "
" ... It a great tool for those that makes of running more than a simple hobby and push a little futher. ... "
" ... Very simple and practical. ... "
" ... I love it, user friendly, very complete stats for no pros. ... "
" ... Easy to use. ... "
" ... - Easy to understand UI. ... "
" ... This watch preforms well and is simple to use. ... "
Band
49wrist, watch, strap, chest strap, hr
+80%
-20%
" ... This is the first Garmin with no chest strap and the wife loves it. ... "
" ... It comes with an extra silicone band for replacement. ... "
" ... I plan to sync with chest band. ... "
" ... The product itself feels pretty good and since I really need this sport watch for my day-to-day training, I made another order, hopefully the 3rd one will eventually work out. ... "
" ... I even got some different colored bands to swap out and keep the look interesting . ... "
" ... Good fit with the band. ... "
" ... I ordered it and a couple of items to go with it, ( extra band and protective face cover) and when ... "
" ... I have loved all that this band does! ... "
Software Platform
48app, apps, garmin, watch faces, connect app
+65%
-35%
" ... Great watch, super interface. ... "
" ... You can download apps to your watch (I have a stopwatch downloaded) and also different watch faces to use which is so awesome. ... "
" ... I was debating an Apple Watch 2 just because I have Apple everything, but this syncs seamlessly with iOS for me (also with Nike + and Strava) I have not had any issues in that department. ... "
" ... Both phone app and web interfaces are available and can be used interchangeably. ... "
" ... The interface is good, the tracking is well done, the app connectivity is on point. ... "
" ... Heck, you can even download Tetris :) ... "
" ... The watch faces available to download are numerous. ... "
" ... - The app has many options to customize the device ... "
Display Clarity
46display, watch, touch screen, dim, bright
+48%
-52%
" ... Too much surface area for a thin glass screen. ... "
" ... Also, the visual aesthetics of the display are downright misleading. ... "
" ... It takes about 5-6 seconds from the point of pressing a button on the main screen to moving to the next screen. ... "
" ... Lags between screens. ... "
" ... 2) The screen backlight is way too dim for me to read, especially while running. ... "
" ... My one complaint is that the display could/should be brighter. ... "
" ... The next morning the screen was dead. ... "
" ... Extremely dim display, so much so that it's basically useless unless you are in bright sunlight. ... "
Charging
45charging, watch, charger, week, battery
+33%
-67%
" ... After 5 months this watch barely holds a charge or even charges. ... I have had it sitting on the PC charging for two days and it is still at 11%. ... "
" ... It was NOT charged out of the box so I had to patiently wait an hour or so before I could turn it on. ... "
" ... I didn't got my charger with the watch. ... "
" ... No charge and other problems. ... "
" ... Will not charge either. ... "
" ... This would not turn on or charge up. ... I left it plugged into a computer for 3 hours and into a wall charge over night. ... "
" ... It would not charge with power. ... I was finally told that new power charging cable would be sent to fix the problem, and it would take 5-7 days to ship. ... "
" ... Watch and Charger broke after 2 months of use. ... "
Design
43look, looks, looking, like new, feels
+81%
-19%
" ... I'm done with this company and will encourage all my running friends to look elsewhere. ... "
" ... I love the feel and fit. ... "
" ... Good looking watch. ... "
" ... and accuracy looks good. ... "
" ... * Plastic looks cheaper than metal and glass ... "
" ... Only bad is that I have really small wrists so the face does look quite large, but I don't mind too much. ... "
" ... The blue color was stunning, and the feel in the hand was sporty and light. ... "
" ... Looks brand new. ... "
Price
38watch, money, worth the money, worth, refurbished
+66%
-34%
" ... Worth the money. ... "
" ... For the price this thing is really hard to beat. ... "
" ... But I didn't pay new prices :) Totally worth it! ... "
" ... I would recommend the certified refurbished route for anyone wanting to save money without compromising quality. ... "
" ... If your on the fence and asking yourself is it worth all the money 100 percent worth the money. ... "
" ... Not cheap, but 100% worth the money! ... "
" ... and a bargain! ... "
" ... but without a $500+ price tag . ... "
Marketplace
38expected, described, seller, refurbished, exactly
+76%
-24%
" ... Excelent product and fast seller! ... "
" ... It's still feels like new. ... "
" ... Exactly what I expected. ... "
" ... I'll recomend the product and the seller. ... "
" ... Works as expected. ... "
" ... As described, loving it so far. ... "
" ... Came in exactly as described. ... "
" ... So that's my review. ... "
Sleep Tracking
35tracking, steps, heart rate, tracks, activity tracker
+77%
-23%
" ... Best watch/activity tracker ever! ... "
" ... Everything has been working as expected: the activity tracking, the heart rate sensor, and the sleep tracking. ... The watch feels comfortable on my wrist and the heart rate sensor doesn't bother me, even when I sleep with it. ... "
" ... Shows sleep patterns and cals burned while sleeping as well. ... "
" ... It tracks absolutely everything (from my running route to my sleep) with ease. ... "
" ... I doubt this will last 2 years, but it's a smartwatch so will be used every day (and night - it monitors your sleep). ... "
" ... Amazing, I buy it for Vo2 max, but finally I love it on my sleep data, calories per day, miles I ran, steps I walk,,,,the only I dont like is the shape, big circle,looks for boy, not fit to wear in office to monitor the data for daytime hours for a major period ... "
" ... It includes day-to-day applications (footstep counter, activity and sleep monitoring), working as a smartwatch too. ... "
" ... It's much lighter than the Android wear watches which is much appreciated while running and sleeping. ... "
Features
32watch, options, smart watch features, smart watch, menu
+97%
-3%
" ... It has great features but I feel the display is too dim. ... "
" ... Features are great as noted by other reviews. ... "
" ... It has awesome features. ... "
" ... In comparison to the 225, it's a little bit sleaker and less bulky without sacrificing features (has more, actually), and the battery isn't quite as good because of all the activity, but it's still good. ... "
" ... Very light weifht ... "
" ... I like the added smart watch features. ... "
" ... lots of options. ... "
" ... It has all the features I want without any unnecessary features to get in the way. ... "
Bluetooth
25watch, connection, via bluetooth, syncs, garmin
+60%
-40%
" ... Connection with smart phone was simple to set up. ... "
" ... Syncs instantly as long as you have Connect app open and Bluetooth enabled. ... "
" ... Bluetooth keeps OS updated which is nice. ... "
" ... Connects to GPS pretty quickly. ... "
" ... When Bluetooth is on, I love receiving phone notifications because I then know if it's an important phone call without having to stop what I am doing. ... "
" ... It pairs with my phone quickly and syncs my data right away. ... "
" ... How about something simple like how to put it into “Bluetooth Pairing Mode”? ... "
" ... Syncs to GPS satellites very quick and I like the BT sync function with phone. ... "
Build Quality
23plastic, lightweight, durable, band, scratch
+57%
-43%
" ... I ordered it and a couple of items to go with it, ( extra band and protective face cover) and when ... "
" ... Great product b tug not for me. ... "
" ... I love the feel and fit. ... "
" ... Plastic=lightweight and perfect for running. ... "
" ... Hopefully it's durable. ... "
" ... I also purchased a protection plan, so I feel very confident that it will continue to be great. ... "
" ... I have a really small wrist and the band fit just fine, there's still like 7 more holes left so I could make it even smaller if I wanted to. ... "
" ... Still going strong. ... "
Controls
22button, watch, push, pressed, back button
+27%
-73%
" ... It is not possible to keep the buttons locked. ... "
" ... Takes way too many button clicks to get anywhere (setting an alarm, changing settings, putting it in "do not disturb"). ... "
" ... Now, back button does not work, intermittently. ... "
" ... I'm having trouble not accidentally hitting the "lap" button in the bottom-right when trying to hit the upper-left button . ... to press that button I have to brace the watch on the opposite side, and that's right where the lap button is. ... I read that certain buttons can be disabled temporarily . ... "
" ... The only way for it to sync back up is rebooting the watch (by holding the light button down at the top left) ... "
" ... But lately the top right button became loose and won’t work anymore. ... "
" ... After a couple of weeks, the heart rate would freeze and the device reaction time when pressing buttons was very slow ... "
" ... Less than 2 months old and one of the buttons is broken already ... "
Returns
22returned, watch, back, item, returning
+9%
-91%
" ... I tried to return the item but I have to pay more than US60 to DHL to put back the product to USA. ... "
" ... I need my money back. ... "
" ... I had to return it. ... "
" ... The return window ran out on the day I was going to return it. ... "
" ... They said I would have to exchange it or get it repaired. ... "
" ... Had to return. ... "
" ... Good watch except I couldn't get the timer (my most important feature) to work properly and had to return. ... "
" ... I sent this back after using it for one day. ... "
Product As Described
20described, exactly, advertised, works as expected, works
+90%
-10%
" ... It does everything as advertised. ... "
" ... Received as expected. ... "
" ... Exactly what I expected. ... "
" ... Was as described ... "
" ... Came in exactly as described. ... "
" ... Works as expected. ... "
" ... As described, loving it so far. ... "
" ... It works as advertised. ... "
For Kids
18wife, daughter, watch, toy, much
+100%
" ... daughter loves it ... "
" ... My boyfriend loves it! ... "
" ... Where is it and how do i give it to my son? ... "
" ... My daughter loves this fitness watch. ... "
" ... Bought it for my husband last year and he is still telling me how much he loves it. ... "
" ... Lol He loves it and EVERYTHING about it. ... "
" ... wife loves it! ... "
" ... Bought for my Daughter. ... "
As Gift
18loves, bought, wife, husband, christmas
+89%
-11%
" ... Originally bought my sister a Fossil and what a disaster of an xmas present that was. ... "
" ... When buying a costly gift for someone, I sure hope I'm making a wise choice and that they will use it for more than a few days. ... "
" ... This was a gift for my daughter. ... "
" ... gift for husband ... "
" ... Granddaughter loved the gift. ... "
" ... Bought as a gift for wife and she liked all the functionality but the face was larger than she liked. ... "
" ... Bought it as a Christmas gift and he loves it! ... "
" ... Bought it for my wife as a birthday present. ... "
Screen Protection
18protector, glass, face, scratches, shattered
+33%
-67%
" ... the plastic watch face smudges, scratches, and actually shattered easily. ... The new watch got a face protector quickly. ... "
" ... The screen its totally black. ... "
" ... Screen shattered when I fell off my bike. ... "
" ... The package was already open and the screen was chipped. ... "
" ... * Plastic will scratch ... "
" ... I would suggest you buy a screen cover as if I didn't have the cover I would have ruined the watch a few times. ... "
" ... Screen came scratched :( ... "
" ... The screen (watch face) is constantly "dirty". ... "
Delivery
17received, box, delivered, refurbished, delivery
+76%
-24%
" ... I bought the Forernner refurb and it was a new device in a different package. ... "
" ... You will run at the new level of knowledge about your physic condition. ... Very fast delivery to Russia (2 weeks only). ... "
" ... Although refurbished, I received this in NEW Condition. ... "
" ... Received as expected. ... "
" ... Perfect out of the box. ... "
" ... I liked the speed of delivery. ... "
" ... Item arrived same day, which was awesome! ... "
" ... arrived in good confition ... "
Setup
14product, instructions, use, step, simple
+64%
-36%
" ... The instructions on how to use the watch were simple and effective. ... "
" ... Setting up the Garmin connect was pretty straightforward. ... "
" ... Simple to set up, simple to use and I just completed my first ride and I'm delighted with what it's able to do and tell me. ... "
" ... Tech reviews said this was the most accurate and I was sold. ... "
" ... Their response was to send the watch for repair. ... They send you a new product no questions asked. ... "
Notifications
14text, watch, notification, email, reminders
+71%
-29%
" ... I can read my WhatsApp messages, email, etc. ... "
" ... I get texts notifications and calendar events right at my phone. ... "
" ... Notifications are fine. ... "
" ... I like the notification feature of text for me since I don't need to look at my phone. ... "
" ... The watch will also give you instant message notifications from your smartphone, when linked. ... "
" ... It has his emails, text messages and so much more. ... "
" ... Vibration alerts are great and work well! ... "
" ... I like the option of getting notifications from my phone to my watch. ... "
Network
14within, miles, places, data, automatically
+71%
-29%
" ... It automatically uploads my runs when I get within range. ... "
" ... even in our woody local park, no problem in keeping the GPS signal. ... "
" ... I ran 3 miles on the treadmill the other day, and the watch said 2.75. ... "
" ... we had one in downtown Chicago buts its gone. ... "
" ... Still going strong. ... "
" ... -VERY fast GPS signal location ... "
" ... A different story. ... "
" ... I run about 25 miles/week and strength train 3-4 times/week. ... "
Water Resistance
14shower, waterproof, water, worn, water proof
+86%
-14%
" ... It's waterproof. ... "
" ... Did I mention it’s waterproof? ... "
" ... It’s light, durable, and water proof. ... "
" ... With that being said there are numerous activities to track from biking swimming running walking and all that good stuff and even the ability to customize, to an extent, how the activities are tracked. ... I've bumped it banged it knocked it around worn it at the beach and in the ocean and comes out just fine. ... "
" ... I use it for Running, Bike Riding and Hiking. ... "
" ... Great running, biking, and swimming watch! ... "
" ... It's water-proof. ... "
" ... Charge also last for about a week so you don’t have to remember to charge it all that often and it is water proof! ... "
Color
10watch, colors, bright, vibrant, screen
+60%
-40%
" ... The blue color was stunning, and the feel in the hand was sporty and light. ... "
" ... I like the size of the face and the colors. ... "
" ... I love the color! ... "
" ... The screen resolution and color is NOTHING like the stock photos. ... "
Fit
10fall, watch, fits, wrists, taking
+70%
-30%
" ... My wrists are the smallest (really small) and it still fits nice. ... "
" ... The watch is lightweight and there are numerous holes on the band where you can easily find the right fit. ... "
" ... Switching from fit bit to Garmin was the best thing I ever did. ... "
" ... I love the feel and fit. ... "
" ... It fits comfortably, you don't have the weird fear that it is going to break and even if they did (which they haven't) the replacement straps are extremely cheap. ... "
" ... It's very fit for me . ... "
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Specifications
Connectivity
GPS: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
Display
Display Size: 1.22 inches