Purchasing the best running watch can help you achieve your goals, whether you're a beginner running your first 5k or preparing for a marathon.
The best running watches are more than just distance/pace meters. They are now made to instruct you on when to train and when to take a break.
The top picks from our testing have been rounded up after we've analyzed every running watch on the market, from budget-friendly options to detailed alternatives for aspiring athletes.
It really is a comprehensive list, and we made an effort to explain the confusing variety to you.
Our top running watch picks
Best for beginners: Garmin Forerunner 55
Without adding too many bells and whistles, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is compact, light, and easy to use. It integrates with Strava, offers a comprehensive set of sleep and health tracking features, and is highly recommended.
Best value running watch: Coros Pace 2
With a price under $200/£200, the Coros Pace 2 offers outstanding value thanks to the AI Trainer, advanced analytics, and long-lasting batteries. It's an extremely wise investment for runners who are beginning to prepare for longer events and increase their speed.
Best for performance athletes: Polar Vantage V2
The Vantage V2 is a great running watch for people who prioritize peak performance due to its emphasis on recovery and wide range of training, nutrition, and fitness metrics.
Key considerations:
Battery life
When purchasing a running watch, battery life should be the top priority. What types of distances would you wish to run in the future and how far do you already run?
Some smartwatches with running watch functions will have trouble lasting 5 hours while monitoring GPS, which means they might not last a complete marathon.
Similarly, many of the priciest running watches provide 100 hours of continuous tracking, which is excessive for those who only run a weekend 5K. Identify your needs.
More than just running
You obviously enjoy running, but would you also like your watch to record other workouts? The majority of running watches also monitor cycling and swimming, but what about activities like golf or HIIT? Make sure the pool measurements are up to par and check the waterproof rating (5ATM should be the minimum).
Training plans
Many running watches come with built-in guided training regimens, which is helpful if you want to organize your session or have a particular objective in mind.
Deep insights
Modern running watches have the ability to connect to your body and provide information like VO2 Max (the most accurate measure of your fitness), recovery tips, preparedness, fueling, and even nutrition.
Music storage
You can run to the beat and leave your smartphone at home if you choose one of the many running watches that can store music. See our specialized guide to sports watches that can play music.
Coros Pace 2
Key considerations:
- 20-day smartwatch with 30-hour GPS usage
- Run, swim, ride a bike, and go to the gym.
- Strengthening exercises
- stamina and recovery measures from the AI Trainer and Evolab
Coros is a relative newcomer to the field of GPS running watches, but it has swiftly established a reputation, best exemplified by the Coros Pace 2.
It is equipped with everything needed to be a tough running watch without having to spend a premium. The 1.2-inch, 240 x 240, 64-color LCD display puts it on par with Garmin devices even though the screen isn't the best in the world.
Additionally, it will let you pair extra sensors like Stryd's foot pod and external heart rate monitors in addition to having all the necessary sensors and running profiles on board.
The Pace 2's AI Trainer allows it to access its own recovery measures via the integrated heart rate sensor. This displays your stamina percentage and the impact of your aerobic and anaerobic training on your level of recovery.
Additionally, Cross Evolab provides runners with a race predictor and the kind of training insights you'd often get on more expensive watches.
Coros has recently added strength training tools that count reps, allow you to create regimens, and reveal if you're concentrating more on building up your upper body or your legs.
In addition to having Strava support, it also has long battery life. With regard to GPS battery life figures, it essentially destroys watches with comparable prices from Garmin and Polar. There aren't many competitors who provide a better value for your money if you have about $200/£200 to spend.
Pros
- Great sports tracking
- Plenty of metrics
- Big battery life
Cons
- Screen brightness could be better
- Still quite a bland design
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
Key considerations:
- 7 days smartwatch/24 hours GPS tracking
- Run, swim, bike, gym
- Adaptive training plans
- VO2 Max/Training Effect/Recovery advisor
The Forerunner 245 has remained a mainstay in Garmin's lineup of running watches and combines the company's cutting-edge analytics, music storage (including Spotify synchronization), and long battery life in a portable form factor.
It was released in 2019, and the fact that it's still running strong is a credit to its variety of features. However, we do anticipate that a Forerunner 255 will replace it this year, so keep that in mind.
It features everything you'll need, including GPS, some cutting-edge running analytics, and an integrated heart rate monitor, unless you're seeking an extremely long battery life.
It uses the optical heart rate sensor to measure VO2 Max and then analyzes post-exercise oxygen consumption and heart rate variability to estimate Training Load, Training Effect, and Training Status, which are all indicators of your training status.
Additionally, it incorporates Garmin's PacePro technology, which uses GPS data to pace races to targeted finish timings while also accounting for hills.
Although an altimeter and payment support are lacking, overall, it's a wonderful running watch for those searching for music functions as well.
Like other Garmin watches, the built-in music player support functions as intended. You can bring your own music or playlists from streaming services, pair some Bluetooth headphones, and then forget about your phone. The 245 has 500 songs' worth of storage space, which should be plenty for most people.
If you've outgrown simple running watches, this is highly advised.
Pros
- a compact and cozy design
- Player features for music
- excellent training tools
Cons
- three years old and replaceable
- Pricey
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