How To Find the Best Running Watch
Photo by Marques Jackson Photography. I have the Garmin Forerunner 55 running watch and love it.
By Marnie Kunz,
NASM-certified trainer, USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach
A great running watch can take your training to the next level, doing everything from tracking your pace and weekly mileage to telling you when to change your running shoes. If you’re looking for the best running watch, it can be overwhelming with all the choices on the market. On top of that, learning to navigate all the high-tech features that running watches offer can be mind-boggling. In this post, I will break down the features available on running watches and cover the top running watch brands. I also want to offer my insights as a running coach and owner of many GPS running watches over the years. I am not getting commission from any running watch brands for this post, so this is my unbiased advice to help you find the best running watch for you.
What Is A GPS Running Watch?
I have had many Garmin watches and they work well for me. If you find a running watch brand you like, stick with it.
A GPS running watch uses GPS coordinates to track your running pace and location so you know the speed and distance of your runs. Many running watches now offer smartwatch features and can link to your text messages and social apps, play music, monitor your heart rate, track your sleep, tell you the weather, and much more. Depending on how many features you want in a running watch, you can pick a more expensive running watch with smartwatch features or you can keep it simple and streamlined with a running watch just for tracking your runs.
Some other running watch features to consider are having a lap function for speed workouts, how quickly and accurately the watch can determine your GPS location and the battery life of your watch. Some watches also offer daily step counting, making them great for people working on weight loss goals.
Top Running Watch Brands
When you set out to find a running watch, the most popular running watch brands that will probably come up include Garmin, Nike + Apple, Polar, Fitbit, and Coros. Garmin is one of the oldest and most well-known brands for running watches, while corporate giants Nike and Apple have teamed up to offer their own running watches that sync with the Nike Run Club app. Fitbit has become a common fitness tracker in recent years, while Polar has been in the heart rate monitor business since the 1970s and creates high-tech running watches. Coros watches are known for their long battery life and high functionality.
If you have a running watch brand you’ve done well with in the past and you like its interface, I recommend sticking with that brand. I have had several Garmin running watches over the years and find them pretty easy to use with good battery lives, so I have stuck to Garmin watches. I currently run with the Garmin Forerunner 55 and love it.
Within each brand, there will be a range of options, from simpler, more economical choices to more expensive models with smartwatch capabilities. In my case, I wanted a running watch with advanced training stats since I am a running coach, but I did not need a lot of smartwatch functions because I hate being interrupted by text, calls, etc on my runs. I chose the Garmin Forerunner 55 because it has advanced training and health stats and excellent battery life and is less expensive than many of the advanced Garmin watch models. I am happy with the watch and recommend it as a great mid-level running watch with a lot of health data, including sleep monitoring, heart rate monitoring, step count, lap function for running, and is waterproof enough to run in the rain without issues.
Running Watch Functions
Some functions to consider for your potential running watch include:
Battery life. How long does the running watch battery last without having to charge? I currently have a Garmin Forerunner 55 and have been very impressed with the battery life (20 hours in GPS mode or 2 weeks in smartwatch mode), and it charges super fast (if only my iPhone lasted so long!). If you do ultra running or a lot of running around without access to charging, you will want to make sure you get a running watch with a long battery life.
GPS accuracy. Not all running watches are created equal, and some have more accurate GPS detection than others. Check out running watch reviews to make sure the watch you have in mind has accurate and quick GPS features. The last thing anyone wants is to be waiting around to start a run because the GPS can’t find a signal.
Analytics. As a running coach and health nerd, analytics are one of the most important running watch features to me. A watch with advanced analytics can tell you your weekly run mileage, and break down your mile splits on each run as well as offer insights into when you should take a recovery day and when to push up your workout intensity. I like to monitor my sleep and stress level with my Garmin 55 watch. The watch even tells me when my stress level is too high and advises taking deep breaths to relax.
Wi-Fi. If you want to be able to access smartwatch features, Wi-Fi is important. If you want a basic running watch to tell your run times and pace, you may not need Wi-Fi.
Navigation abilities. If you want to be able to see maps of your runs or follow maps, you will want a running watch with a built-in map system.
Smartwatch features. Some running watches have the ability to offer smartwatch features, such as text messaging, phone calls, social network access, and weather updates. If these features are important to you, you’ll want to find a running watch with smartwatch capabilities.
Cost. Cost is an important factor for most runners. Do you want to invest in an advanced running watch that will last a long time or do you want a budget-friendly option with streamlined features? Do you need a watch that has more than running capabilities or do you want to keep things simple with miles and perhaps step counts? A running watch with smartwatch capabilities will increase the price by up to a couple hundred dollars.
Design. What kind of watch designs appeal to you and how important is the style of the running watch? Choose a model that has an appealing design to you and resist the urge to get something too complicated if you won’t be able to operate it well. Also, resist the urge to go for a watch based on it being a trendy brand. A trendy watch doesn’t mean it’s a good running watch (I had an Apple watch with a horrible battery life that had to be charged twice a day. Hopefully Apple Nike watches have improved in the years since then…).
Interface. The running watch interface is important because you want a running watch that is easy for you to navigate and suits your preferences. Do you want a touch screen or prefer buttons? Will you use an app with the watch or will you log in to the watch brand’s site to monitor your training stats? Are there any apps that you want to be able to sync easily with your running watch? I use Garmin Connect and sometimes sync it to Strava but I mostly keep my data private with Garmin. I use the Garmin Connect app to sync my iPhone with my Garmin 55 watch and find it pretty easy to use.
Heart rate monitor. If you do heart rate training or you want to know your heart rate when resting or working out, make sure you choose a running watch with a heart rate monitor.
Music. If music is a must for your runs, there are many running watches that offer music functionality.
Easy to use. This is one of the most important because if you don’t know how to use your running watch, you won’t get much out of it. It’s easy to get caught up in the bells and whistles of modern technology and popular watches, but make sure you also pick a watch that is user-friendly and not hard to figure out. Any running watch will have a learning curve when you first get it, but you should be able to figure out the basic on/off, start, stop functions pretty quickly to get started. Then you can look up more complex features over the first week or two. It took me a while to adjust to using my Garmin 55 running watch and learn to use the different functions, but since it is pretty easy to use with the Garmin Connect app, I can easily Google any features I am not sure about.
Waterproof. If you run in the rain, or if you are a triathlete and want to measure your swimming, a waterproof running watch is necessary. There are degrees of waterproofness so go with a watch that suits your needs.
Cross-training functionality. Speaking of triathletes, you may want a watch that measures your cycling and swimming or other workout activities in addition to running. Look for a sports watch that can track all your activities and then you won’t have to worry about multiple tracking devices or apps.
Where to Buy a GPS Watch
There are many options on where to get your running watch. You can shop online directly on the brand’s website or you can go to a running store and check out the watch selections and perhaps even try on different options. If you want to know what a running watch looks like in person, your local running store is your best bet.
Do you have a running watch you love? Share your faves in the comments. Get more training and fitness tips by following Runstreet on Instagram. Happy running to you!
Related Posts: Garmin Running Workout Guide, How to Find the Best Running Shoes, Dynamic Stretches for Runners, 10 Tips for A Beginning Runner
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Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified personal trainer, USATF and RRCA-certified running coach, and the creator of Runstreet. She is a Brooklyn resident, Akita mom, and writer. She enjoys staying active, traveling, art, and exploring NYC.
