7 Greatest Operating Watches 2024 for Each Stage of Runner

The finest operating watch isn’t all the time the costliest one in the marketplace. It’s the one with the options which might be actually going to assist enhance your coaching and suit your life-style and operating wants.

For some runners meaning specializing in the wrist based mostly coronary heart charge, for others it’s elevation acquire on the paths and reminders to gas on lengthy runs, whereas others simply need it to suit into their day with notifications after which observe distance.

Over the past decade of writing articles, I’ve examined a WIDE number of GPS operating watches and my favorites have modified via the years.

If you happen to’re in search of the perfect operating watch, that is the article for you. You’ll discover the perfect operating watches damaged down by classes, in addition to what it’s essential to contemplate when shopping for a operating watch.

Additionally be taught what errors runners make when shopping for so to discover the perfect operating look ahead to you.

Greatest Operating Look ahead to 2025

For 2025 right here’s the place I might put my cash if investing in a brand new operating watch. I’m all the time testing the brand new fashions, so I’ll replace this as issues change, however typically I’m all about getting final years mannequin if it means saving $200!

The perfect operating watches are probably the most versatile health wearables you should purchase. This information’s GPS-enabled operating wearables are greater than merely smartwatches.

There ought to on the very least be an built-in coronary heart charge sensor, in addition to fast GPS and well being and wellness capabilities, in an excellent operating watch. To not point out a wise algorithm that estimates all necessary operating metrics precisely.

Garmin, Polar, Suunto, Coros, and different manufacturers are competing for the title of finest operating watch.

I’ll provide you with a break down by the key classes, however if you wish to do extra digging or examine watches, I’ve finished that for you in a lot of articles:

Greatest Operating Look ahead to Inexperienced persons (and nearly anybody else): Garmin 55

✅On Garmin.com ($199)
Garmin 55 on Amazon ($199)

The most important difficulty I discover for brand spanking new runners is sticker shock once they soar to the high-end watches and suppose that’s what they want. Nope my buddies, 90% of us are most likely positive with what are actually entry degree watches.

They supply GPS, wrist based mostly HR, multi-sport modes, often fairly good battery life, options for intervals, and many extra!

Garmin Forerunner 55 is the place I might begin. It’s light-weight and encompasses a hi-res, shade show.

One of many watch’s key options is GPS, which can be utilized to trace your distance, intervals, and tempo.

Throughout a run, the simple button interface lets you pause the timer or mark a lap even with sweaty fingers. Even higher, the watch has useful controls on your cellphone’s music to make it handy to hearken to music as you run.

This watch additionally comes with a wide range of wellness monitoring features for monitoring day by day sleep, distance, energy burnt, and steps. You may as well calibrate your treadmill runs to verify the information is correct.

You may as well get sensible notifications of incoming cellphone calls and texts proper in your wrist whilst you’re operating.

The Forerunner 55’s battery life is considerably higher than that of its predecessor, the Forerunner 45, lasting practically twice as lengthy in each smartwatch and GPS modes.

It additionally integrated a lot of non-performance features, like respiration charge and girls’s well being monitoring, water reminders, a respiration timer, and many others. That is on prime of the options already included on the Forerunner 45.

This watch is suitable with Garmin Coach adaptive coaching, which supplies high quality, customized teaching in your wrist.

***If I used to be going to leap up a degree, then you definately’ll see the Garmin 265 under which I’ve actually fallen in love with.

Greatest General Operating Watch – Garmin 265

I needed to decide simply 1 watch of ALL the watches I’ve examined, this could be the winner for just about each degree of runner excluding my laborious core path operating buddies.

✅On Garmin.com ($449)
Garmin 265 on Amazon ($449)

Beforehand my advice was the Garmin Fenix  and hear that’s nonetheless an ideal watch (simply learn the overview). BUT I’m now personally sporting my 265 far more than the Fenix and that has so much to do with AMOLED display screen.

After testing this watch, I’m truly prepared to start out altering my advice for lots of runners from the Forerunner 55 to the 265. This AMOLED show is insane and the watch options actually are a step up from the entry degree watch.

It’s the watch I’m requested most about when sharing pictures and the one I’m utilizing about 80% of the time proper now. The opposite 20% is my Garmin Enduro on path runs. Which suggests this has lastly bumped my lengthy standing Polar Vantage V2 from it’s coveted day by day spot. (We’ll see if the HR stays tremendous correct when winter hits, however to this point, proper on.)

That being mentioned, if all you want are the fundamentals of HR, how far did I run and a few tempo information then don’t spend the additional!

As anticipated this extra mid-level watch goes to supply some issues that the 55 doesn’t. Much more operating stats, sports activities, and many others. Also out there within the S model which is for smaller wrists, I’ve the common and it’s giant and in cost.

1. Restoration time
2. HRV standing (debatable how correct HRV is)
3. Coaching readiness, coaching load and coaching impact
4.  Elevation information, stride size, operating energy, operating dynamics
5. Extra correct observe exercises, PacePro
6. Higher biking and swimming monitoring

See all of the specs of the Garmin 265 >>

Greatest Operating Look ahead to HR: Polar Vantage V3

✅ Polar Vantage V3 on Amazon ($575)

If requested which watch I’m in love with proper now and would 100% advocate it’s going to be this one!

Polar Vantage V, V2 and now V3 have probably the most subtle wrist based mostly HR in the marketplace and I’ve discovered it to be insanely correct over many months of testing (together with an Ultramarathon).

I LOVE each so if one is means cheaper in some unspecified time in the future, you received’t be disillusioned getting V as a substitute of V2. It simply has a number of extra upgrades.

Its construct high quality is healthier than the primary technology of the Vantage V and is undoubtedly an enchancment total. It has a wide range of helpful assessments and information for devoted runners and cyclists seeking to enhance their kind and put together for competitions higher.

Even higher, a lot of the assessments and information that the Vantage V2 provides you’ll be able to’t be discovered anyplace else. This makes it much more interesting to athletes who need extra information delivered reliably.

However each fashions are tremendous straightforward when customizing screens, scrolling via information throughout the day, and establishing exercises. I like that it reveals me the climate, and offers on-screen exercises to comply with for mobility or energy

The battery life is unbelievable and when turning on GPS it should let you know simply what number of hours you may get out of it. No extra questioning if it’d make it via a future.

It tracks elevation acquire and descent, together with altitude – so it’s nice for path operating. You’ll be able to load maps to it which is nice for trails or new cities.

Like most excessive finish GPS watches it additionally consists of VO2 Max.

Observe – the Polar Vantage M is cheaper. I don’t prefer it! It doesn’t have the identical HR studying know-how.

Greatest Operating Look ahead to Girls

Are there sure watches which might be truly higher for girls?

For my part, solely from the attitude that some watches are smaller and due to this fact extra snug on a slimmer wrist. That would apply to some males as properly.

As somebody with a smaller wrist, right here is my take:

Garmin’s watches for a small wrist are listed with an S within the identify. (Instance is the Garmin 55s linked above.) The smaller match is good and I do pattern in the direction of these as a result of I’ve had bruised wrist bones with bigger fashions.

Tip if that occurs to you. Put a scrunchie in your wrist in entrance of the look ahead to a bit of padding. It labored properly for me throughout marathon coaching!

• Garmin Join app does additionally include a interval tracker and that information might be very helpful in coaching round your menstural cycle
• Coros Tempo 3 is a really small and really light-weight watch. It additionally packs a punch for the value. Learn my full Coros Tempo 3 Evaluation >>
• Polar Vantage is a really gentle weight watch, so possibly greater than a few of the Garmin S fashions, however doesn’t overwhelm me and the strap provides me loads of room to tighten even additional than I’ve.

FitBit

FitBit will get billed as finest for girls on many websites and whereas it’s smaller, I believe you’re lacking out on lots of the finest options of GPS watches.

And may I say it annoys me as a result of it appears to be selling it as finest for girls as a result of it’s a health tracker… you’re a runner. You deserve a full on operating watch.

I simply can’t justify spending on it versus a extremely high quality GPS watch.

Apple Watch

Sure, they’re sq. and smaller.

The one Apple Look ahead to operating that I like to recommend is the Apple Extremely. All the older variations or day by day variations have very inaccurate GPS and even in my testing of the Extremely, I wasn’t impressed with HR readings throughout runs. I’ve heard from a lot of you that it’s off as properly.

BUT for those who do run via town, this watch goes to present you some distinctive accuracy.

AND let me additionally say, it relies on what you need! So truthfully for those who’re glad together with your Apple watch as a result of you have already got it and it already provides you the essential data about your run, you don’t care if it’s 100% correct to the .1 then rock on!

I might advocate getting a Polar armband to have correct HR readings.

Greatest Cheap Operating Watches

When in search of the most cost effective operating watch, I’m all the time interested by what options do you want and what can be a waste to purchase an inexpensive watch and discover out it doesn’t actually do a lot.

Choice 1: Apps

Use the free operating apps in your cellphone.

• You’ll be able to observe distance and tempo simply positive!
• You’ll be able to even pair a chest strap with lots of the cellphone apps so that you simply’ll have HR information too.

✅Choice 2: Timex Ironman Watch ($35)

If you happen to aren’t excited by GPS monitoring and also you simply need to have the ability to know whenever you begin and cease, congrats that is the look ahead to you.

That is precisely how I skilled from 2002-2007 once I received my first Garmin! Guess what I did half marathons and was half means via my first marathon coaching cycle.

It’s completely potential to make the most of this very fundamental watch and get in nice coaching.

Choice 3: Operating Watches Beneath $200

👉 Garmin Forerunner 55
👉 Coros Tempo 2

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is again once more! As famous it’s what I like to recommend for newcomers as a result of it’s on the finances pleasant facet, however with all the options you want.

One other nice possibility is the the Coros Tempo 2. It goes head-to-head with Garmin’s Forerunner 55, however consists of sure extra ‘high-end’ options that some runners may favor. The Coros Tempo 3 is a MUCH BETTER watch than the two, however technically $229.

The watch weighs solely 29g and is barely noticeable on the wrist, however it nonetheless packs a punch and has lots of options which might be often solely present in dearer operating watches.

Lengthy battery life is, by far, probably the most notable function! It has a battery lifetime of as much as 15 days in smartwatch mode and 30 hours in GPS mode, making it an ideal possibility for long-distance runners on a finances.

Moreover, it offers operating energy information and help for Stryd energy meters, a function that’s uncommon at this worth level.

Coros Tempo 2 can show smartphone notifications, however it lacks cell funds, music storage, and the choice to combine third-party apps, that are all out there on higher-end units.

It comes with a “AI coach” to help you in managing your coaching load earlier than races and occasions. This operating watch’s location capabilities are additionally top-notch due to GPS supplemented by GLONASS and Beidou positioning.

Within the occasion it does lose observe of your location momentarily, for instance whilst you’re operating via a tunnel, the watch will proceed to watch your progress by calculating your cadence and stride size mechanically.

My fundamental disadvantage to Coros is the inaccuracy of the wrist based mostly HR.

Choice 4: Health Trackers

Go for a smartwatch like a FitBit cost or an older Apple watch. Whereas I’ve seen information that makes me marvel in regards to the accuracy of the GPS, for those who don’t want good, go for it.

• These received’t have the identical GPS monitoring high quality because the above operating watches
• Optical heart-rate sensors in Apple are typically excellent now, however are iffy with operating within the FitBit
• BUT these are going to present you LOTS of bells and whistles for much less cash. Like nonetheless together with sport modes and a protracted battery life.

And for a bit of throwback, oh sure this was my pleasure at getting my first ever Garmin…so many, many…many miles in the past.That is how I’ve been running a blog too lengthy…Christmas 2004. Fuzzy  small pictures, random graphics…I had all of it.

Greatest Operating Look ahead to Path Operating

A lot of my path operating buddies LOVE Suunto and Coros watches. I can completely see why from the information supplied. Sadly, I struggled with each fashions because of inaccurate HR information.

I even had my husband attempt sporting the watches throughout completely different actions and he received annoyed watching it hit 180 as we might be mountaineering downhill.

With that mentioned, clearly the answer is to put on a chest strap or not be involved with HR information!

One of many key options for path runners is often how lengthy does a GPS watch final.

Garmin Enduro

A photo voltaic GPS watch in order that I not often have to recollect to cost it?? Depend me in! However there’s much more to the Garmin Enduro, which I believe makes it an ideal path operating watch.

It is a beefy watch and it does swallow my wrist, however I like it. You’ve all seen me sporting it for a number of years now on my weekly path runs as a result of it’s simply so freaking correct and I like seeing the grade/elevation adjustments.

• All of the Garmin options you anticipate with a wide range of exercises, run information, customized screens, and many others.
• Photo voltaic charging implies that you get additional on all of the battery life settings, like as much as 300 hours of GPS!
• Altimeter – extra accuracy on elevation acquire and loss
• Compass and Gyroscope – will increase accuracy of monitoring and mapping
• Accelerometer – helps know if you’re transferring ahead or simply transferring your arm
• Barrometer – to assist monitor climate
• Pulse Ox – measuring oxygen ranges as you begin running at altitude might be actually helpful

Learn the complete Garmin Enduro Evaluation >>

Coros Apex Premium

This operating watch from Coros has some severe battery life, options like blood oxygen monitoring and a lot extra that’s going to attraction to these spending many miles on the paths.

Like I mentioned it’s a much bigger watch on the wrist and you need to get used to the dial to entry information, however that was additionally a LOVED function by many. It’s additionally probably the most price efficient.

The Coros Apex additionally has navigation and monitoring features that allow you add maps right into a grid with compass settings.

That is helpful for those who’re going to try a brand new operating route or take the watch into the woods for hikes and path runs.

Polar Grit X

It will likely be no shock to seek out one other Polar watch that I’m a fan of. Stellar battery life, navy grade sturdiness (and look), identical nice HR because the Vantage, sleep monitoring and different sensible options.

The primary distinction from the Fenix is the standard on the on display screen maps for navigation, it’s simply not pretty much as good. However for those who’re in search of a barely extra inexpensive various to the Garmin Fenix 7, this could possibly be the perfect operating look ahead to you.

I’ve discovered that there are positively private preferences to watches, identical to sneakers. However there are additionally some issues that universally make for a greater watch lately.

I’ve discovered that there are positively private preferences to watches, identical to sneakers.

However there are additionally some issues that universally make for a greater watch lately.

Tips on how to Select the Greatest Operating Look ahead to You

There are a number of necessary issues to consider when selecting the perfect operating watch that matches you. Let’s take a look at what every of those are in additional element:

Present Targets

One of many first issues to think about when selecting a operating watch is your present purpose.

Each runner could profit from a GPS watch, however your calls for will probably be completely different for those who’re operating your first 5K vs aiming for a brand new PR in your subsequent marathon.

A watch that may show you how to create an easy coaching schedule and add variation to your runs is useful for starting runners.

You must take into consideration how a lot you run every week and the way severe you’re about preserving observe of your progress.

Newbie runners could merely want fundamental options similar to GPS and coronary heart charge monitoring. However for those who’re getting ready for a triathlon or an ultramarathon, different options like stride size or water resistance could also be extra necessary to you.

Even for those who’re not following to a particular coaching plan, watches just like the Garmin Forerunner 55 provide exercise suggestions to stop you from changing into tired of the identical routine.

To be able to get probably the most out of your coaching, it additionally recommends how lengthy you must relaxation and get well after every train.

The Polar Grit X, alternatively, screens your fueling technique for lengthy distance races and coaching classes, alerting you when it’s time to eat have additional carbs and water.

Options and Capabilities

Along with your targets in thoughts, work out what you need in a operating watch whereas preserving your finances in thoughts to slender down your choices.

GPS watches with altimeters, barometers, and gyroscopes are designed for hikers and path runners who wish to observe altitude and air strain whereas exploring new trails. However they price a bit extra, so you must take into consideration the place you’ll do most of your coaching.

If you happen to’ll be operating on roads, search for watches with built-in visible maps that will help you navigate unfamiliar neighborhoods or those who observe your detailed operating metrics and create customized exercises for you.

Additionally contemplate what kind of cross-training you’ll be doing together with operating. Some premium choices have greater than 80 athletic modes, together with browsing, snowboarding, biking, and badminton.

Though you should utilize a smartwatch to maintain observe of your runs, a operating watch that’s particularly designed for the aim and has bodily buttons is all the time going to be the higher possibility.

This lets you use the watch with out wanting on the display screen, in addition to to entry its menus and pause and resume exercises with even with sweaty fingers.

Battery Life

One other necessary factor to think about is battery lifetime of the system.

Once you wish to begin your run by hitting the beginning button in your operating watch, the very last thing you wish to see is a low battery signal.

The typical battery lifetime of a operating watch is 5 days, however sure watches together with some Garmin watches are designed to final so much longer. For instance, Garmin Enduro encompasses a battery that may last as long as 50 days!

It’s necessary to take into account that the period of time your battery lasts is instantly proportional to how typically you employ your operating watch and which options you employ probably the most.

In case you are an everyday long-distance runner or for those who want to obtain frequent GPS monitoring and information similar to VO2 max ranges, the battery will drain sooner.

Different Life-style Options

When you’ve narrowed down your choices even additional, contemplate sure life-style and habits associated options you may like. For some runners, Music and contactless funds can turn out to be useful.

It lets you hold your self busy with music or a podcast all through your run after which give you the option cease to purchase a bottle of water or a fast snack for those who’re not carrying your bank card.

These options additionally make your operating watch extra wearable for day by day actions, saving you cash on a second smartwatch for whenever you’re finished coaching.

High GPS Operating Watch Errors

Not solely do I LOVE speaking operating gear with you, however you typically ask me what you really want.

Trying on the listing above, it’s REALLY straightforward to get tremendous excited in regards to the excessive finish operating watches. However do you really need all of these options?

Generally you could find yourself disliking a watch as a result of it’s greater than you want and you may’t simply get to what you need. Otherwise you merely spent means an excessive amount of which suggests much less cash for brand spanking new trainers.

1 ) Shopping for Extra Than You Want

my plethora of watches, I’m the primary to confess I get very excited by all of the gizmos, devices, wickety, wackets that come out every year. After which simply as shortly return to utilizing the options that actually matter to me.

VO2Max:
This is among the options showing on lots of watches now. I’ve written an entire article that will help you use that function, however most of us aren’t.

Further sports activities Metrics:
The Garmin Fenix 5 is among the extra superior watches and consists of options like monitoring our Ski/Snowboarding adventures for velocity, distance, vertical drop and an computerized run counter. In the meantime in golf mode it provides you yardage to the entrance, again and center of the inexperienced for any single course you’ve downloaded.

Barometric Altimiter:
Do you spend lots of time on the paths, mountaineering, operating, biking? Is it potential you’ll get misplaced and must know your actual location?

Then the Suunto Sport is perhaps value the additional cash to get a extra particular marking that GPS altitude. It’s additionally going to let you know the air strain, present storm warnings and temperature readings. And it lets you navigate to a particular focal point, no worries about your cellphone WiFi.

Sleep, meals, life monitoring:
These puppies can do all of it now. And whereas I’m having fun with the day by day step counts, do I wish to sleep in my watch? Do it’s essential to have your cellphone interrupt much more of your life my lighting up your wrist? Debatable.

All nice…however presumably overkill for lots of us.

I imply, I do know if I slept properly or didn’t.

2) Ignoring the HR Perform

Coronary heart charge coaching can present a lot data to reinforce your operating. However first let me say, you gotta ditch the fashions that require the chest strap. I’ve had sufficient scrapping and dipping and dropping of these issues to final a lifetime.

A brand new world of coaching opened up with the development of HR via the wrist strap.

I get lots of questions on wrist based mostly accuracy: I’ve had an ideal luck with it, in sure watches. That’s the important thing, some simply aren’t pretty much as good.

There are positively points in excessive chilly as a result of your blood move adjustments and pores and skin temp could make readings more durable. I had spiking difficulty with all of the chest straps, however not these particular wrist readers.

Why use HR?

• Lets you measure depth
• Lets you measure health progress  – time beyond regulation you must have a decrease coronary heart charge for a similar tempo
• Lets you see whenever you’re overtraining (HR Is operating increased than regular or you’ll be able to’t get your HR up)
• Lets you do issues like a Low Coronary heart Fee coaching plan to construct a greater cardio base

3) Sign Impatience

We’ve all wigged out over ending a race to see our watch present a wholly completely different distance than the one we signed up for, which we will typically blame on tall buildings, operating beneath bridges or different sign interrupters that the majority watches will probably be susceptible to.

Some watches are identified to have higher GPS indicators and monitoring:

• Polar is now utilizing FOUR satellite tv for pc programs which ought to make them very correct
• Garmin is probably the most properly know for his or her number of GPS merchandise
• Suunto has extra instruments inbuilt just like the altimeter to enhance accuracy
• All of those watches are probably extra correct than your smartphone because of their know-how

Whilst you’re standing impatiently hoping from foot to foot together with your arm within the air, your watch is making an attempt to latch on to at the very least 3 of the 24 satellites orbiting Earth.

You’ll be able to assist enhance the accuracy by:

• Guaranteeing you’ve up to date your watch software program
• Giving the watch a full minute to fully join, the extra it connects to the stronger your sign as you move beneath issues. Be at liberty to show it on inside subsequent to a window.
• Save places to hurry up GPS finding (in case your watch permits it)
• Search for a watch with GLONASS for improved accuracy, however presumably shorter battery life
• Add your information – lots of the on-line instruments will truly “clear up” the watch information for improved accuracy.

4) Switching Apps

Every watch comes with their very own App to add your information (and handle the watch), which is nice except you’ve been utilizing one thing else beforehand or are typically a watch hopper like me.

Whereas it sounds minor, belief me after years of operating you’ll want you had your entire data in a single place. It’s extraordinarily useful to see your yr over yr information or to match coaching cycles when making an attempt to see what has labored beforehand or tendencies in accidents.

Having mine in a single place allowed me to place my return to operating submit surgical procedure in perspective and see what’s potential!

Undecided which app to work with?

Checkout these free operating apps >>

5) Pacing

Whereas our watches present a wealth of knowledge and might guarantee we aren’t going out weapons blazing on a 20 mile run, they’ll additionally take away out of your potential to be taught pacing. It disconnects you from understanding what laborious, straightforward and medium efforts really feel like.

And for lots of runners, eh hem like my husband, it causes you to push too laborious wanting each run to be higher than the final. Bear in mind it’s a device and a information, however don’t let it run you.

Learn this on studying to tempo your self and keep in mind to not be caught taking a look at it on a regular basis.

BONUS: The forgotten cost

Make a behavior of preserving your watch charger in the identical spot as your cellphone, you’ll be extra prone to plug it in and guarantee it’s prepared on your subsequent sweat session. As a result of nothing stops an excellent run in it’s tracks like realizing you’re with out a means to measure it!

After all you possibly can run sans watch, however when each run has a purpose that may be simpler mentioned than finished.

Searching for extra opinions to seek out the perfect issues for you run?

Checkout our full web page of my will need to have operating gear opinions and guides to save lots of you time looking and cash! I share what’s labored for me and fellow runners, together with what wasn’t well worth the price ticket.

A couple of widespread requests:

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