Garmin 245: Sleep Tracking And Your Health

The Garmin Forerunner 245 is a smart watch with sleep-tracking capabilities. It has been praised for its price point and the range of features it offers, including workout ratings, FirstBeat Sleep Tracking, and Trail Running. However, some users have reported issues with the accuracy of its sleep tracking, particularly in distinguishing between deep sleep and REM sleep. The watch's sleep tracking feature is based on wrist movement, which may not accurately reflect an individual's sleep patterns. Despite this, the Forerunner 245 remains a popular choice for those seeking a balance of functionality and affordability in a smart watch.

Garmin 245's sleep tracking accuracy

The Garmin 245 does track sleep, but its accuracy has been called into question by several users. The device seems to rely heavily on movement to determine whether the wearer is asleep, which can lead to inaccuracies. For example, one user reported that their watch often showed 100 or more steps when they woke up, even if they hadn't left the bed. This suggests that the watch may be interpreting wrist movement during sleep as steps taken.

Additionally, some users have reported that the Garmin 245 does not accurately distinguish between deep sleep, REM sleep, and light sleep. One user noted that the watch almost never showed deep sleep and that when it did, it was only for a few minutes. The same user also reported that their Pulse Ox readings were all over the place, dropping briefly to the low 80s on one occasion. Another user echoed these concerns, stating that they saw no pattern in the device's detection of deep and REM sleep and that it did not seem to correlate with their respiration, heartbeat, movement, or Pulse Ox readings.

In response to these concerns, Garmin has released beta firmware versions for the Forerunner 245 that include long-awaited features and improvements to sleep tracking. These updates include a sleep tracking widget with sleep scores and insights provided by Firstbeat Analytics. However, it is unclear whether these updates have significantly improved the accuracy of sleep tracking on the Garmin 245.

While the Garmin 245 may not provide perfectly accurate sleep tracking data, it can still be a useful tool for monitoring sleep trends and patterns. Research shows that wearable sleep trackers are not 100% accurate in terms of sleep stages, total sleep time, total wake time, and sleep efficiency. However, they can help identify underlying sleep issues such as sleep apnea. Therefore, while the Garmin 245 may not provide precise data, it can still offer valuable insights into your sleep habits and help you make improvements where necessary.

Comparison to other sleep trackers

The Garmin 245 does offer sleep tracking, which is more officially known as Advanced Sleep Monitoring (ASM). However, users have reported issues with its accuracy. For example, some people have noticed that the device starts tracking sleep when they are still awake, such as when reading in bed. It also often fails to register deep sleep, instead showing mostly light sleep interspersed with many short periods of REM sleep.

In comparison to other sleep trackers, such as the Fitbit Charge 3, some users have described the Garmin 245's sleep tracking as a "joke". Specifically, the Fitbit Charge 3 seems to be better at registering deep sleep, which the Garmin 245 often fails to detect. This has led some users to question the accuracy of the Garmin 245's data in general.

Another factor that may impact the accuracy of the Garmin 245's sleep tracking is wrist movement. Since the device is strapped to the wrist, it relies heavily on movement to determine whether the wearer is asleep or awake. This can lead to inaccuracies, especially if the wearer tends to move their wrists a lot during sleep.

It is worth noting that Garmin has released beta versions of its firmware that include long-awaited features, such as sleep tracking widgets with sleep scores and insights by Firstbeat Analytics. These updates may improve the sleep tracking capabilities of the Garmin 245, but it is not yet clear how significant these improvements will be.

Overall, while the Garmin 245 does offer sleep tracking, its accuracy has been called into question by some users. There are other sleep trackers on the market that may offer more reliable data, at least until Garmin addresses the issues through firmware updates.

REM sleep detection

Sleep tracking devices can be useful in helping you recognise patterns in your sleep habits. However, they do not directly measure sleep. Instead, they often measure inactivity as a way to estimate sleep. Most sleep tracking devices make some guesstimates as to how much you’re actually sleeping.

The Garmin Forerunner 245 is one such device that tracks sleep. Users have reported that the device shows mainly light sleep, interspersed by many (8 to 14) shorter periods of REM. However, some users have questioned the accuracy of the device, stating that the REM detection does not seem to parallel respiration, heartbeat, movement, or the pulse ox readings.

REM sleep, or rapid eye movement sleep, is the final stage in the sleep cycle. During this stage, your brain becomes more active and dreams occur. Your brain processes information and stores long-term memories. As sleep progresses, REM cycles increase in length.

There are several methods for detecting REM sleep. One method involves using a single-channel EEG (electroencephalogram) to identify unique features in brain activity during REM sleep. Another method uses peripheral arterial tone (PAT) and actigraphy, which can be recorded with a wrist-worn device to detect REM sleep automatically.

Deep sleep detection

Sleep is vital for one's general well-being, but sleep disorders are becoming increasingly common worldwide. Deep sleep detection is an important aspect of sleep analysis, as it helps identify sleep disturbances and disorders. While traditional sleep labs offer accurate diagnosis, they are often inconvenient and costly. Portable monitoring devices, such as smartwatches and sleep apps, provide a more accessible and affordable alternative for sleep tracking.

The Garmin Forerunner 245 series offers sleep tracking features, including deep sleep detection. However, some users have reported inconsistencies in the deep sleep data, with the watch rarely showing deep sleep or displaying it several hours into the night. This could be due to the device's reliance on movement data, as users have noted that their wrist movements during sleep may affect the accuracy of the sleep tracking.

To improve deep sleep detection, the Garmin 245 utilizes the Firstbeat Analytics sleep tracking widget, which provides sleep scores and insights. This feature is available through a public beta release, allowing users to access the latest sleep tracking capabilities. While it offers insights into sleep patterns, users should be cautious about solely relying on the watch for diagnosing sleep issues.

Deep learning (DL) techniques are being explored to enhance the accuracy of sleep stage classification and deep sleep detection. These methods aim to replicate the expertise of human sleep experts by analyzing various physiological signals. For example, the DeepSleep convolutional neural network analyzes multiple body functions, including brain activity, eye movement, muscle activity, and heartbeat, to accurately detect sleep arousals.

Other sleep tracking devices and apps, such as the Apple Watch, Oura, and Ultrahuman, also provide sleep stage analysis, including deep sleep detection. These tools offer insights into sleep patterns and provide recommendations for improving sleep quality. The combination of wearable technology and advanced sleep analysis algorithms empowers individuals to take a more proactive role in managing their sleep health.

Sleep tracking updates

Garmin has released new features for the Forerunner 245, including workout ratings and FirstBeat Sleep Tracking. The sleep tracking widget and sleep score are now available on the 245, along with insights provided by Firstbeat Analytics. The new sleep tracking features were introduced alongside workout suggestions.

The sleep tracking widget provides sleep scores and insights, and users can also rate the perceived effort and feel of a Run, Bike, or Swim activity. The sleep tracking features are currently in beta, and users must download the beta versions to access these features. The beta versions are available for the Forerunner 245, 745, and 945.

The addition of sleep tracking to the 245 has been highly anticipated, and it is now available as a cut-down version of adaptive training/Daily Suggested Workouts. While the 245 now offers sleep tracking, there have been some concerns about the accuracy of the data. Some users have reported inconsistencies in the data, particularly regarding deep sleep and REM sleep detection.

Garmin is continuously working on improving the sleep tracking features, and they have mentioned that they are testing and verifying the sleep algorithm to provide the best experience for their customers. The company encourages users to provide feedback, which will help them make further improvements and updates to the sleep tracking functionality.

Frequently asked questions