Nowadays, there’s an app, watch or device to track all activities, from sleeping to exercising, so it can be hard to see the wood for the trees.
Running watches have come on leaps and bounds since their earlier predecessors, which focused on step-counts and distance measurements, to offer everything from finding new routes and marking your pace to tracking other sports and monitoring daily activity.
This cutting-edge tech couldn’t be more timely, either. In its Year in Sport 2024 report, Strava found that running, particularly with others, is on the rise. Participation in running clubs grew by 64 per cent in the UK last year; 54 per cent of runs logged in the UK were marked ‘social’; and walking clubs were just behind running with 52 per cent growth globally. Add to that general increased interest in our health and well-being – particularly among Gen Z – and it’s hardly surprising that manufacturers are in a race to the finish line when it comes to catering to this huge (and lucrative) market.
But whether you run solo or together, what should you look for when perusing and choosing the perfect running watch?
GPS running watch v basic fitness tracker
Firstly, decide whether you want a fitness tracker – which will usually monitor basic running data such as step counts, distance and calories – or a running watch, packing all the same features as a fitness tracker with the addition of built-in GPS technology to record and find routes, analyse your performance and optimise your training. Look for styles with dual-frequency for strong GPS even when on the most remote runs where signal is poor.
Heart-rate monitor
The latest running watches boast built-in heart-rate monitors, usually through sensors on your wrist, although sometimes via a separate chest strap, to track pulse and BPM to create more bespoke training programmes. While more expensive, many big brands offer their best models with and without heart-rate monitors to cater to different budgets.
Multi-sport
In addition to recording all of the above, multi-sport watches can adapt to monitoring specific sports, from swimming to running and skiing. Naturally, these are waterproof.
Other considerations
More specifically, look for other features such as battery life – crucial for longer runs, hikes and even marathons – durability for being able to withstand a bit of rough and tumble (a scratch-proof screen, for example) and connectivity for WiFi, Bluetooth as well as Strava and Apple Health. Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of design: if it’s comfortable on the wrist and looks stylish, chances are you’ll stick to your training.
Here are the best running watches to encourage you to get out there, whatever the weather.
Best running watches at a glance
Shop now
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Best for: all-rounder
If it was survival of the toughest, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes out top.
Encased in sturdy (and sexy) black titanium and billed as ‘your perfect running partner’, features include the most accurate dual-frequency GPS in a sports watch, a customisable action button for precise control over your workouts and a battery life that goes the distance (up to 72 hours of normal use in lower-power mode, no less).
Other features include heart-rate zones that use your health data to personalise training, insights that let you see the impact of exercising on your body over time and a pacer that lets you pick a distance and time target for an outdoor run.
Let’s face it: the pavement doesn’t stand a chance.
Buy now £734.87, John Lewis
Garmin Forerunner 265
Best for: long distances
From tracking your statistics to crunching the numbers, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is sleek and lightweight on the wrist with a colourful AMOLED display (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode – in layman’s terms, a screen that offers the best image quality and brightness).
Features include daily suggested workouts and adaptive training plans – called the ‘Garmin Coach’ – to a heart-rate monitor and built-in GPS. We love the metric that evaluates recent exercise to let you know if you’re training productively or peaking – talk about efficiency! – and the advisor that tells you how long to rest before another big push.
Better still, its connectivity means you can manage your life on the move, whether emails or texts, as well as share a live location with friends and family – perfect for keeping you safe.
Buy now £429.99, Garmin
Google Fitbit Versa 4
Best for: casual runners
While Google trackers and smartwatches are generally better for overall fitness tracking, some of the higher-end models – such as the Fitbit Versa 4 – come with built-in GPS so you can track pace and distance on your wrist and leave your phone at home.
At the affordable end of the scale, this design offers plenty of bang for your buck, particularly for beginners who’ll appreciate the easy-to-use interface and relative simplicity of it all when compared to some of its flashier (and sometimes overwhelming) counterparts.
That’s not to say it doesn’t come with plenty of bells and whistles, from heart-rate tracking and fitness-level scoring to various exercise modes and step, distance and calorie measurement. It’s water-resistant, too, meaning you can hop straight in the shower after you’ve smashed another personal best.
Buy now £179.00, John Lewis
Coros Pace 3 GPS Sports Watch
Best for: lightweight luxury
Offering great value without compromising on cutting-edge features, the Coros Pace 3 GPS Sports Watch is proof that the underdog does, sometimes, come out on top.
Efficient data-tracking and an excellent battery life (38 hours of continuous GPS use or 15 days of everyday use) are packaged up in a lightweight and low-profile design together with a built-in dual-frequency GPS and heart-rate sensor. A suite of powerful tools includes tracking the sun and profiling elevations – so you know when that hideous hill is coming – alerting you to deviations and measuring the distance to your destination (although sometimes it’s better not to know).
Better still, a selection of customisable silicone and nylon bands means this watch can be tailored to the wearer, ensuring you can still express your style while you sweat.
Buy now £219.00, Amazon
Suunto Race S Courtney
Best for: touch-screen
A rift on its original performance watch, albeit smaller, the Finnish-designed Suunto Race S Courtney comes with all the same training features. It’s characterised by its signature high-definition AMOLED touch-screen display – sleek and bright – supported by a digital crown that enables speedy and intuitive browsing while working up a sweat. Its battery life is outstanding – enabling you to train for up to 30 hours without losing accuracy – while its technology gives you feedback on your training (from progress to recovery) by measuring your heart-rate. They’ve even snuck in some sneaky AI with a ‘coach’ that supervises your runs and imparts words of wisdom to keep you motivated. Crucially, maps are provided for route-planning – even offline – so you’ll never get lost.
Buy now £325.00, Amazon
Polar Grit X2 Pro
Best for: adventurous runs
Now this certainly looks like the business wrapped around your wrist.
With a rugged frame and chunky dial, the military-grade Polar Grit X2 Pro comprises a dual-frequency GPS that its predecessor doesn’t have, an optical heart-rate sensor that’s infinitely more accurate than many wrist-based equivalents, 43 hours of battery life when in Performance mode, a raft of offline maps and training programmes, plus sleep management for getting the shut-eye you need to smash your personal best.
For those with a taste for adventure, there’s plenty here to keep you on track, from turn-by-turn guidance to route and elevation profiles and even an altimeter. Worth every penny for serious runners.
Buy now £616.55, Amazon
Garmin Fenix 8
Best for: blowing the budget
If money is no object in the mission to optimise your performance, you won’t go far wrong with the Garmin Fenix 8.
Considered the best sports watch in the business with Garmin innovation packed into a single bit of kit, it comes with everything you’d expect of a running watch as standard: think tracking and training to recovery and navigation, plus lots of other bells and whistles.
There is a built-in torch for nighttime runs, an internal speaker and a microphone for voice messaging and up to 29 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. The bold display is as crisp as you’d expect.
Perfect for larger wrists.
Buy now £812.00, Currys
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro
Best for: Android users
Those who run their whole lives via Apple look away now: the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro isn’t compatible with its devices and software.
But fear not – there’s plenty else to shout about here, not least technology that enables you to send and receive communications on the move thanks to the voice-activated Google Assistant. There’s also a new workout feature that lets you import routes from your Android smartphone to your watch so everything is synced; the Track Back feature that helps you pick up where you left off with voice or vibration navigation; and an integrated GPS that doesn’t require an immediate signal to track your run.
Better still, you can download your favourite apps – Spotify and the like – via the Play store. After all, what’s a run without a banging playlist?
Buy now £199.96, Amazon
Polar Pacer Pro
Best for: practical GPS
Ultra-lightweight with an integrated barometer that equips you with everything you need to improve your running and training, the Polar Pacer Pro offers far more than its economical price tag suggests.
Its features are powerful and varied, from planning and tracking your runs to knowing if you’re training too much and improving your performance. On the main screen, you’ll see things like heart-rate, distance, pace and duration, but simple navigation will show you other features such as elevation and music. Sync with the accompanying Polar Flow app on your smartphone for even further insights, training programmes and recovery.
Interestingly, a plastic ring insert on the body of the watch acts as an antenna signal booster for the GPS, meaning you’ll never be lost in the wilderness.
Buy now £299.00, Polar
Kiprun GPS 500 by Coros Smart Watch
Best for: value for money
Powered by Coros technology, the Kiprun GPS 500 offers excellent value for money without compromising on all the features everyday runners would expect.
As the first own-brand sports watch by sports retailer Decathlon, it’s one of the most economical running watches on the market, while still boasting strong GPS strength and the capability to measure distance, pace, speed and heart rate.
It’s multi-sport, so cyclists, swimmers and hikers are well catered for, and the battery life extends to 30 days in standard mode. Sure, it doesn’t have route mapping, but it’s easy to use with just four buttons and is just the right size with a 2.4cm colour screen and comfortable rubber strap.
Buy now £129.99, Decathlon
