Best running watches 2025: which one is right for you?

Fall is here, the days are shifting, and it’s the perfect time to set new running goals, whether you’re chasing a marathon PR or starting a fresh 5K challenge. A reliable running watch can keep you on pace, track your progress, and help every run count.

Our team has tested dozens of watches, putting them through fun runs, trail miles, and full marathons. We focus on GPS and heart rate accuracy, battery life, comfort, and the extra features that actually matter, like music storage, training tools, and an intuitive interface.

The recently launched Garmin Forerunner 570 is our current best overall pick, a brilliant all-rounder with crisp AMOLED visuals, advanced training metrics, and consistently accurate GPS. For runners looking for excellent value, the Coros Pace 3 is hard to beat, offering long battery life and smart tracking in a budget-friendly package.

On a quick side note, the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available for preorder now, expected to start shipping on September 19, 2025, and is priced at $799, the same as the Ultra 2. Our full review will follow soon!

Scroll on for the best running watches we’ve tested.

The quick list

Best running watch overall

Our pick for the best Garmin watches is also our top running watch: the Garmin Forerunner 570.The Forerunner 570 combines a bright 1.2- or 1.4-inch AMOLED display with a vibrant, eye-catching design that makes important metrics easy to read on the move. Both sizes remain lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear, while the larger 47mm model provides a bigger screen for easier interaction with features like menus, training stats, and music controls

Accuracy is at the heart of the Forerunner 570, with Garmin’s Elevate Gen5 heart rate sensor delivering precise readings, while the dual-band GPS tracks routes reliably even through city streets and twisting trails. Daily activity tracking includes steps, calories, floors climbed, sleep, and heart rate variability, so that you can get actionable insights alongside Garmin Coach training plans and suggested workouts tailored to your recent activity and recovery.

The sports tracking covers over 23 activities, including running, cycling, and multisport workouts, with customizable data fields and in-depth post-run analysis. The addition of a microphone and speaker allows voice commands, phone calls, and easy interaction with your phone’s assistant. The music storage facilitates up to 8GB to keep your playlists ready without a phone.

While the watch lacks offline maps and ECG readings, its robust training insights, reliable sensors, and runner-friendly design make it an excellent choice for all runners.

Read our Garmin Forerunner 570 review.

Best value running watch

Given its small, lightweight design and relatively low price, the Coros Pace 3 is a remarkably full-featured running watch. It offers reliable tracking, with a more accurate multi-band GPS setting that’s rare to find at this price point, and it lasted five to six days on a charge even with heavy use during our testing.

The Coros Pace 3 is a full multisport watch and has a dedicated track run mode for runners, and while it doesn’t suggest workouts each day like Garmin watches, you can download full training plans for events like 5Ks and marathons from Coros onto the watch, with all abilities and experience levels catered to.

The Pace 3 isn’t the most stylish watch and lacks some smart features found on other running watches, including streaming music support, as you’ll need to manually transfer MP3 files instead. However, when it comes to the essentials runners need, it delivers and does so at a price that undercuts many of its rivals.

Read our full Coros Pace 3 review.

Best running watch for beginners

If you’re starting to get into running, chances are you want a device that’s a step up from a basic fitness tracker but also won’t overwhelm you with too many features. Among Garmin watches, the Forerunner 55 is a clear choice.

At its core, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is an entry-level fitness watch, replacing the popular Forerunner 45. While it looks very similar to its predecessor, Garmin made some important changes, adding some of the more advanced training tools usually reserved for their more expensive watches. The Forerunner 55 has Garmin's new PacePro technology, which gives you gentle speed and cadence alerts on the run. There are also suggested recovery times and workouts, based on your training history, fitness levels, and recovery. This is a differentiator from similarly priced watches such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active or the Fitbit Charge 5 which track workouts but don’t offer custom coaching plans.

It’s worth noting that the Garmin Forerunner 55 doesn’t support music storage, mobile payments, or third-party apps. It also has a relatively small display, at just over 1 inch. If these are must-have features for your Garmin watch, you may want to consider a higher-end device. If you are looking for a cheaper watch, the Forerunner 45 is often discounted following the release of the Forerunner 55, so it's a good time to buy.

Read our full Garmin Forerunner 55 review.

Best running watch for triathletes

The Garmin Forerunner 970 builds directly on the 965 with clear improvements for runners and triathletes. The brighter 1.4-inch AMOLED display makes data easier to read during hard sessions, while the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal adds long-term durability. Its titanium bezel further toughens a watch that still feels lightweight and comfortable enough for all-day wear.

The defining upgrade is the new training metrics. Running economy scores show how efficiently you move, combining data from heart rate, pace, ground contact time, and step speed loss. Running tolerance estimates how much training load your body can realistically handle each week, adjusting for the higher impact of races and fast efforts. Together, these tools give a more complete picture of how your training affects performance and recovery.

Meanwhile, in our testing, the multi-band GPS proved consistently accurate on test runs, and Garmin’s latest Elevate v5 sensor delivered precise heart rate readings. The Mapping and ClimbPro navigation remain excellent for cyclists and triathletes tackling hilly courses, while built-in music, Garmin Pay, and daily reports add useful everyday functionality.

The trade-offs are shorter battery life than the Forerunner 965 and the need for a $169 HRM600 strap to unlock running economy stats. If you can work with this, the 970 is an excellent option for both runners and triathletes.

Read our full Forerunner 970 review.

Best running watch for first time marathoners

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is a fantastic choice for first-time marathon runners that offers a solid mix of training tools and health-tracking features to help you reach the start line feeling confident. It’s lightweight and comfortable enough for long training runs, and certainly won’t weigh you down on race day.

One of the standout features is Garmin’s PacePro, which works like a coach on your wrist, helping you pace your efforts across different terrains. The watch also tracks recovery, sleep quality, and stress levels with Body Battery, giving you a better idea of when to push and when to rest. Alos, safety features like fall detection provide extra peace of mind during solo runs.

During testing, we loved the bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, which stayed easy to read even in direct sunlight. The combination of touch controls and buttons makes it simple to navigate mid-run, even with sweaty hands. With 19 hours of battery life in GPS mode, the Forerunner 165 can comfortably last through marathon day, and its 50-meter water resistance means it can handle rain, sweat, and post-run ice baths without any issues.

Read our full Garmin Forerunner 165 review.

Best Coros running watch

The Coros Pace Pro is the first Coros watch to have an AMOLED display, but it's not just its pretty face that makes it one of the best running watches available. It's also packed with features including offline maps and has a small, lightweight design that's comfortable on any wrist size.

For such a small watch the Pace Pro has outstanding battery life, usually lasting me six days on a charge with the screen always-on and running every day. If you opt for the raise-to-wake display or train less often, it will last weeks.

The GPS tracking has proved reliably accurate throughout my testing as well, which has included a twisting 10K race in the center of Paris, and the maps and bright and easy to follow thanks to the AMOLED display.

While the smart features aren't great on the Pace Pro, with the music storage only extending to MP3 files, it certainly excels as a running watch and also offers good value for such a feature-packed device.

Read our full Coros Pace Pro review.

Best Polar running watch

The Polar Vantage V3 is designed to help serious runners and multisport athletes train, rest and recover. Bursting at the seams with fitness and wellness tracking tech, the V3 also boasts a bright, beautiful touchscreen and fantastic battery life, not to mention, an accurate dual-band GPS.

Training metrics are easy to digest and plentiful, and recovery insights are in abundance: After a run, you can use the Polar Vantage V3 to conduct a Leg Recovery test, which helps you determine how long to wait before your next hard run. Other watches provide recovery recommendations, but metrics specific to legs are unique to the Polar Vantage V3. In addition, the Nightly Recharge feature puts sleep quality in the context of workout recovery.

During testing, one feature we found impressive was the training plans. Plugging workout data into Polar Flow lets you create training plans and share them with personal trainers or coaches, which is another way to help prevent injuries.

If you're after a bargain, the Polar Vantage V2 is also a competent running watch and is likely to be on sale right now.

Read our full Polar Vantage V3 review.

Best Apple running watch

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the best Apple Watch for serious running training. It doesn’t completely overhaul the original Ultra, but it does make some smart improvements.

One of the new and notable features is the Action Button. If you've ever fumbled to pause your watch mid-run with sweaty fingers, you’ll appreciate how much easier it is to lap or stop a workout with a simple press. The 49mm screen is big—no getting around that—but it’s designed for adventure. It’s now brighter, too, jumping from 2,000 to 3,000 nits. The difference is subtle in direct sunlight, but during testing, we found it noticeably clearer than the Apple Watch Series 9.

Under the hood, the Ultra 2 gets a real power boost. The new S9 processor is Apple’s first real upgrade since the Series 6, improving efficiency by 25% and making animations snappier. Battery life is the best of any Apple Watch, lasting 36 hours in normal use and up to 72 hours in low power mode. That’s solid for Apple, but if you need multi-day GPS tracking, recovery insights, or offline maps, a Garmin might be a better pick.

Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review.

Best running watch for adventurers

The Garmin Enduro 3 is built for adventurers who need a watch that lasts as long as they do. If you're heading out for an ultra, multi-day hike, or an off-grid expedition, this watch is designed to go the distance without weighing you down.

At just 2 ounces, it’s lighter than the Fenix 8 and even the Enduro 2, making it surprisingly comfortable for a watch built to handle extreme conditions. The titanium bezel, sapphire screen, and nylon UltraFit band strike a balance between durability and comfort. The built-in flashlight and multi-band GPS are game changers for night runs or deep-wood trails.

Battery life is where the Enduro 3 really shines. With solar assistance, it can last up to 90 days in smartwatch mode and 144 hours in GPS mode. You can focus on your adventure instead of your next charge. Training metrics like endurance and hill-climbing analysis help fine-tune your efforts, making this more than just a rugged tracker.

We also tested the Garmin Fenix 8 and found that while it offers premium features like an AMOLED screen, onboard mic, and diveproof design, the Enduro 3 stands out for its superior battery life, solar charging, and lighter feel. If you need longevity in a watch and fancy saving $100 we recommend opting for the Garmin Enduro 3.

Read our full Garmin Enduro 3 review here.

Best premium running watch

The Garmin Fenix 8 is the flagship sports tracker in Garmin's range, and it lives up to that status by offering more features than any other device, with a new mic and speaker and diveproof design being the main upgrades on the older Garmin Epix Pro.

It's the best sports watch you can get from any brand, but the Fenix 8 does come at a huge price. If that doesn't put you off, you get a choice of three sizes, and either an AMOLED or memory-in-pixel screen, with the latter also offering solar-charging.

We tested the Fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm model, which has outstanding battery life for an AMOLED watch, lasting me almost two weeks even when running every day with the screen set to always-on.

All of Garmin's top features are here as you'd expect, including best-in-class sports tracking, training analysis and navigation, all in an elegant design. That said, those with thinner wrists might need to opt for a smaller Fenix 8, and might prefer the svelte design of the Forerunner 965 in general.

Read our Garmin Fenix 8 review.

How we test the best running watches

We take our testing seriously because runners rely on accurate, reliable data to train smarter, stay healthy, and improve performance. Even today’s entry-level running watches pack in features like GPS, heart rate monitoring, and step tracking, but we go deeper than the spec sheet.

Our reviewers are experienced runners who put each watch through its paces in real-world conditions, including open parks, urban streets with tall buildings, and forested trails. We look at core performance factors like GPS accuracy, heart rate tracking, and battery life, and also assess advanced features such as VO2 Max estimates, recovery time, sleep tracking, and music storage.

To ensure heart rate data is accurate, our tester Nick tests the watch against a chest strap monitor, which is widely regarded as the gold standard for heart rate accuracy, and includes this comparison data in his reviews.

We also consider how intuitive the watch is to use mid-run, how comfortable it is to wear for long periods, and how well its companion app presents and stores training data.

We do the miles so you can make the right choice with confidence.

Features compared

How to choose the best running watch for you

Training Frequency and Goals

The type of running watch you need largely depends on how often you run and your running goals. Casual runners should find they have all they need in a simpler model with GPS and heart rate tracking, while runners and athletes training for marathons or triathlons may need advanced features like interval training, VO2 max monitoring, and recovery suggestions to aid their training.

Features and Metrics

For beginners, basic tracking of distance, pace, and heart rate should be enough to monitor progress and stay motivated. Those who consider themselves as a more intermediate runner looking to improve performance may want watches with metrics like cadence, stride length, and heart rate zones to help fine-tune their training. Meanwhile, for those training for races or aiming for specific fitness goals, advanced features such as lactate threshold, VO2 max, and interval training support can offer more detailed insights.

If you’re a fan of cross-training with cycling, swimming, or hiking, multi-sport modes allow you to track all your activities seamlessly.

Battery Life

Battery life is key if you’re running long distances or doing multi-day events. Watches designed for ultra runners or adventurers can last for days on a single charge, while others may need daily charging if you use GPS and other features regularly.

Style and Comfort

You’ll want a watch that fits comfortably, especially if you plan to wear it all day and get better metrics from your watch . Consider the strap material and whether the design matches your personal style, as some watches are bulkier or sportier than others.

Budget

Your budget will influence the features your watch packs in. Higher-end models come with extras like onboard music storage, route planning, and smart notifications. Mid-range options often strike a balance between advanced metrics and affordability, while entry-level watches focus on core tracking features, such as distance, pace, and calories burned.

FAQs