Ok the instructions that come with the Garmin forerunner are completely wrong, the CD is useless (it has the manual but no software) and the Garmin support website is not much help either. There are all sorts of discussions on the Garmin site for Mac users about ‘it does work with Lion’, ‘it doesn’t work with Lion’ and so on. At one point it even had me downloading a PC .exe file!

The answer is that it  does work very well with OSX but there are two separate pieces of software that need to be installed.

Forerunner® 15 Quick Start Manual WARNING See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the product box for product warnings and other important information. Always consult your physician before you begin or modify any. Garmin®, the Garmin logo, and Forerunner. Use Garmin Express to update maps and software, sync with Garmin Connect™ and register your device. This desktop software notifies you when updates are available and helps you install them. DOWNLOAD FOR WINDOWS DOWNLOAD FOR MAC. Jan 28, 2015  Garmin Forerunner 15 Review The $139 Garmin Forerunner 15 is an affordable GPS running-watch as well as a decent activity tracker, but we wish it offered Bluetooth syncing. Forerunner 35 GPS running watch allows you to automatically upload your stats and runs to Garmin Connect, our free online fitness community where you can review your progress and even share via social media. This free software is available for desktop or on your smartphone with the Garmin.

Forerunner 15 has a water rating of 5 ATM (50 meters), which means it resists rain and sweat and can even join you for a swim. Get Connected. With a simple connection to your Mac® or PC, you can upload your activities to our free online fitness community, Garmin Connect. Here, you can see your run on a map, get more detail on each mile, see a. Getting Garmin Forerunner 305 data on Mac OSX. I recently dug up my old Garmin Forerunner 305 (purchased back in 2008! Apart from trying to maintain my fitness level (thoughts that usually happen in January!:-)), I also wanted to test out the accuracy of the heart rate monitor that came with my 'old' Garmin device! Mac and Forerunner 405: Update software and GPS wirelessly. March 20, 2009. If you’re running a PowerPC Mac, you can expect successful pairing and transfers. Just remember to power down before removing the ANT Stick. Keep an eye on the Garmin blog as Ginger, our Garmin Connect connection, keeps us posted on the latest updates and news!

1. The first piece of software is a Safari/Firefox/Chrome Plugin that lets your browser talk to your Garmin. You can download it from garmin.com under ‘Support’ menu then ‘Software’ then ‘Software for Mac OS’ then ‘Garmin Communicator Plugin‘.

When it’s downloaded you can test it on this test page:Â http://www8.garmin.com/products/communicator/test/

2. The second piece of software is a USB driver that talks to the Antenna. Again, you get it from ‘Support’ menu then ‘Software’ then ‘Software for Mac OS’ then ‘Garmin ANT Agent’. When it’s downloaded you can ‘pair’ with your Garmin device as per the instructions.

Finally if you want you can go to the mac app store and download the Garmin fitness software for free.

Fitness Trackers

We review products independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions from buying links on this page. Terms of use.

Garmin Forerunner 15 Update

Garmin Forerunner Updates And Downloads

Garmin Forerunner 10 Charger

• Pros

  • Expertly designed runner's watch.
  • Great price.
  • Includes step tracking for daily activity monitoring.
  • Clear display.
  • Long battery life, and rechargeable.
  • Includes GPS.
  • Waterproof up to 50m.
  • Simple navigation.
  • Rich data analysis via website.
  • Optional heart rate monitor.

• Cons

  • Overtly sporty design means you might not want to wear it 24/7.
  • Doesn't track sleep.
  • Can't sync directly with phones.

• Bottom Line

  Garmin is one seriously trusted name among When they say yes, I now have a clear answer: Get the Garmin Forerunner 15 ($169.99, or $199.99 bundled with chest strap heart rate monitor).
  The very reasonably priced Forerunner 15 is a proper runner's watch, complete with GPS, but it also counts your daily steps and total miles traveled, even when you're just puttering around your home or office. It's not especially flashy or high-tech in its design, but it works really well. Buttons and menus are all super-intuitive and clearly labeled. The GPS works as quickly as one would expect (even the best ones take 30 seconds or so to find a signal), and the optional heart rate monitor connected easily and quickly to the watch via Bluetooth in my tests. If you're looking for a runner's watch that also counts your daily steps, and you want to spend less than $200, the Forerunner 15 is the device to buy. In that category, it's our Editors' Choice.

  Design and Specs

  As mentioned, the Garmin Forerunner 15 is not the most high-tech watch in terms of design. It looks like a sporty sport watch no matter which color you choose. If you plan to wear it 24/7 to count your steps, the style could be off-putting. With a watch, you can't put it anywhere but on your wrist, which isn't the case with the Fitbit One, an Editors' Choice activity tracker, which tucks securely onto the front of a bra, belt loop, or pocket. Likewise, the Misfit Shine is a better option for the fashion-conscious. But neither of those will do much in the way of helping you train for a half marathon, which the Forerunner 15 can.

  SEE ALSO: Fitbit Charge 4 Adds 'Smart Wake' Alarm, Dynamic GPS

  The screen is inset slightly from the bezel, but protected with a flush piece of clear, hard plastic. Four buttons sit in each of the corners of the watch and have enough give that I wouldn't worry about them jamming up over time, as some watch buttons do.

  The Forerunner 15 comes in two sizes and several colors. The small watch is 1.58 by 2.05 by 0.62 inches (HWD), weighs a nearly imperceptible 1.3 ounces, and has a display measuring 0.81 by 0.77 inches (WH). The small is available in black with green accent, teal with white, or violet with white. The large measures 1.79 by 2.25 by 0.62 inches with a 0.98 by 0.94-inch screen, and weighs a scant 1.5 ounces. The large color options are black with blue accent or red with black.

  In the box, you get the watch, a USB charging cradle, and a compatible Garmin chest strap heart rate monitor if you opted to bundle one with your purchase. The battery lasts about five weeks when in watch mode, and about 8 hours when you're using the GPS to record activity.

  The default screen of the watch shows the time, battery level, and one line of text that changes as you press the bottom left button, cycling through the date, total steps for the day, steps goal, distance traveled so far, calories burned, and a reminder if you have one to 'Move!' That reminder appears when you've sat idle for too long.

  As a consummate button-masher, I have to say that the Forerunner 15 screens were extraordinarily easy to navigate. Tiny icons (a backward arrow, for example, or a running figure) next to the buttons help to remind you what they do. The language used on the menus was clear as well, which may seem like a minor point, but you'd be surprised how often this kind of user interface is designed poorly.

  The clasp is what you'd expect: adjustable with an extra strap for holding the loose end of the band in place. Overall, the watch itself is a bit thick, particularly for petite people, but not terribly so.

  One other big plus is that it's waterproof up to 50m (164 feet). Read more details about the Forerunner 15's specs on Garmin's site.

  Forerunner 15 On the Road

  Allow me to confess: I'm no runner. But sometimes, you have to take one for the team, and to test the Forerunner 15, I did.

  Halfway through my first two-mile jaunt with GPS tracking, the Forerunner beeped to let me know I was striding at 10:18/mile. During mile 2, I nearly maintained that pace at 10:28/mile. Before you laugh at my slowness, let me at least say that I'm an avid walker and cyclist. The Forerunner can't track bicycling, but it did tell me my record in terms of distance walked was about 8 miles. Not too shabby.

  All those details are recorded in the History section of watch itself for several days, but they're also accessible from the Garmin Connect website and mobile app, where you can really dive into your data. Unlike the Garmin Vivofit and some other models in the Forerunner series, the Forerunner 15 does not sync directly with the mobile app for iOS and Android. Rather, you have to sync with your Mac or Windows computer via the USB charging cable and upload your data to the Connect Web account, which then pushes the information to the Connect app.

  I ran a few more times and took a couple of long walks with the GPS enabled. Each time I had more or less the same results. The GPS needed about 30 seconds or so to initialize, but the Forerunner's screen kept me informed with a progress bar while it did so that I wouldn't set out prematurely.

  The heart rate monitor is the typical chest-strap variety, known to be reliable. They're fine, but not as cutting edge as the new wristband-style heart rate monitors. One example is the MIO Link, a very cool heart rate monitor because it has an indicator light that tells you your heart rate zones every so often by flashing a different color. Or consider the Basis Carbon Steel Edition, a watch-shaped activity tracker with a heart rate monitor built right into the backside of the device itself. It reads your heart rate through the skin of your wrist all day and night long. Some users have reported that the Basis doesn't hold up well during high-intensity activities (I never experienced that in testing, for what it's worth), although the MIO Link is specifically made for runners and other athletes.

  The Garmin Connect Web account is deep. The collapsible left menu alone has 17 options. You can manually track sleep, weight, body fat, and so much more. Garmin's site is geared more toward training and fitness than medical health, especially when compared with Withings and Fitbit, which include fields (and in some cases, additional connected devices) for tracking glucose readouts and blood pressure. With Garmin, however, you can enroll in pre-made training plans to help you complete a 10K or a marathon, which you certainly don't get with Withings or Fitbit.

  For Running and Step Counting, Go for Forerunner 15

  GPS-enabled runners' watches have been on the market for a long time. They're often expensive and only worthwhile if you run a lot. Activity trackers or smart pedometers, on the other hand, have really only come into their own in the last three years. The Garmin Forerunner 15 is the first device that pairs the functionality of the two extremely well without sacrificing any of the core data collection that an average runner needs, such as pace and lap time. Hardcore runners (who definitely take more than 10,000 steps—the USDA recommended amount—on an average day) probably don't need a step counter and should look at some of the other options in the Forerunner line. As a device that bridges the gap between activity trackers and runners' watches, the Garmin Forerunner 15 is our Editors' Choice.

  For more, see How to Choose a Fitness Tracker and The 25 Best Fitness Apps.