Best running watches: 10 best smartwatch options in 2025

Running watches have come a long way since they first came to market. They’ve evolved to become even more intuitive, closely monitoring your activity to create a digital profile of your fitness.

Running watches can sync seamlessly to your phone, giving you access to calls, notifications and music on your wrist. Most models are designed to be worn all-day, with long battery lives and screens that are visible in direct sunlight.

So, for casual runners and serious athletes alike, read on for our picks of the best smartwatches and fitness watches for running in 2025.

If you’re a Garmin fan, we’ve already listed our favourite Garmin watches for runners.

Best running watches at a glance

• Best for all-around performance: Garmin Fenix 7S | Buy now from Garmin

• Best budget running watch: Coros Pace 3 | Buy now from Decathlon

• Best watch for multisport: Polar Grit X Pro | Buy now from Polar

Best running watches to buy in 2025

Garmin Fenix 7S

Best for performance

• £519.99 / $499.99

The Fenix 7S is a smaller-sized, touchscreen fitness watch in Garmin’s popular range of wearable sports tech. The watch has 24/7 health monitoring, covering all bases from heart rate to blood oxygen saturation and sleep.

There’s an impressive amount of tech in the Fenix 7S. The multisport watch, with a battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 37 hours in GPS mode, has GPS tracking, training features and sports apps.

There are preloaded activities for a number of different sports, and runners will love the advanced performance and training metrics that can track even your trail running adjustment and exertion levels.

Read our full review of the Garmin Fenix 7 Solar to discover more about its features and performance.

Suunto Race

• £389 / $449

The Suunto Race brings plenty to the table when it comes to running features, and is the brand’s top offering for athletes to date.

Its usability shines with a combination of a touchscreen and three physical buttons, paired with a robust set of features.

One key highlight is heart rate variability, a valuable metric that drives several other training tools found on sport watches, including sleep tracking, training stress scores, and monitoring of overall training load.

The watch also includes mapping capabilities, with 16GB of storage on the steel model and 32GB on the titanium version, both easily managed through the intuitive Suunto app.

As expected, it offers an extensive selection of sport profiles to monitor and supports power meters.

Battery performance is remarkable, providing up to 40 hours in GPS mode—more than enough for multiple long workouts, a marathon, or even a full Ironman race.

Read our full Suunto Race review for more.

Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar

• £519.99 / $599.99

The Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar uses solar charging to deliver a massive battery life of up to 20 days in smartwatch mode. The watch has a well-lit touchscreen that promises to be highly responsive, as well as traditional on-the-side buttons for those who prefer them.

The multisport watch includes advanced health monitoring (including VO2 max, heart rate variability, sleep, recovery), smart features and activity tracking.

Additional features that are perfect for runners include running power (when using a compatible device), Training Readiness, suggested workouts, PacePro (which helps you stay at your desired pace) and full-colour built-in mapping.

Up to 2,000 songs can also be downloaded onto the watch, which can be connected to your headphones for phone-free listening.

Read our full review of the Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar.

Coros Pace 3

Best budget running watch

• £219 / $229

The third version of the Coros Pace lineup is another notable release and great news for athletes seeking budget-friendly gear.

This edition keeps the familiar single button and rotating dial, but introduces a touchscreen, which is a welcome addition.

With its lightweight design at just 30g (only 1g more than its predecessor) and compact 1.2-inch display, it feels barely noticeable on your wrist.

The LCD screen is reasonably good, and the battery performance is impressive, offering 38 hours in GPS mode or up to 30 days in standard use.

Although it lacks full maps, it provides turn-by-turn directions and a breadcrumb trail for navigation. However, we found creating routes in the Coros app to be a bit challenging.

You can select from 20 activity profiles, including triathlon and various swim, bike, and run combinations. It also offers 4GB of internal storage for music.

Read our full Coros Pace 3 review here.

Garmin Epix Gen 2

Best high-end running watch

• £899.99 / $799.99

A powerhouse watch with a price tag to match, the Epix Gen 2 delivers premium performance for runners, with all of Garmin’s top-tier features.

It boasts a wide range of sport profiles (including triathlon), along with tools like Training Status, Training Load, and Real-Time Stamina tracking.

Housed in a rugged and sizable design (there is a choice of case size though), it doesn’t skimp on style, thanks to its stunning AMOLED display. The screen offers exceptional clarity, vibrant colors, impressive brightness, and a spacious viewing area.

However, the inclusion of this high-quality display does impact battery life, which, while still solid, isn’t as long-lasting as some of Garmin’s other flagship models. It provides up to 42 hours in GPS mode and a maximum of 16 days in standard use.

See our full Garmin Epix Gen 2 review for more.

Polar Vantage V2

• £449.99 / $499.95

Polar has been producing multisport watches since the early days and the latest ranges are loaded with useful fitness features. The Polar Vantage V2 packs all of these features into one premium smartwatch that’s aimed towards athletes and tailored for high-performance and endurance sports.

Running performance tests and and leg recovery tests are two features we love, along with Polar’s Hill Splitter that detects uphills and downhills using GPS tracking. The Vantage V2 also helps you to maintain the balance between training and recovery, giving you guidance to avoid overtraining.

Read our full Polar Vantage V2 review here.

Apple Watch Nike SE

• £219 / $249

Smooth compatibility and seamless data transfers make this a decent option for iPhone users. Your health data syncs up with the iPhone’s built-in Health app, and all of your calls, notifications and music can be accessed via the watch.

The Nike band has been designed for exercise, with holes in the wrist strap to provide more breathability. Built into the smartwatch is the Nike Run Club app, along with a compass and a load of safety features.

Garmin Forerunner 945

• £399.99

The Garmin Forerunner 945 can closely track your activity and performance, being able to detect when you’re training productively, peaking or overtraining.

The smartwatch’s navigation is tailored for runners. It’s designed to be seen at a glance, and the map can provide navigation when you’re road running and when you go off path.

See our full review of the Garmin Forerunner 945 here.

Polar Grit X Pro

Best watch for multisport adventures

• £484 / $559.95

The Grit X Pro is a great choice if you’re looking for durability, as Polar promises that the fitness watch is built for adventurers. Precise heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, 100m water resistance and a training guide make this a stand-out watch for runners.

Battery life is around 40 hours in GPS-mode and there are a range of physical fitness tests. These include a VO2 max test, a leg-recovery test and an orthostatic test based on heart rate and heart rate variability data. There’s also turn-by-turn directions with a basic breadcrumb-style map

Read our full Polar Grit X Pro review here.

Garmin Forerunner 55

Best lightweight running watch

• £179.99 / $199.99

If you’re in the market for an easy-to-use running watch that won’t break the bank, the Forerunner 55 is worth considering.

Unlike some higher-end Garmin models featured in this lineup, it doesn’t include a touchscreen, built-in music storage, or contactless payment options. It’s also only 37g, though, bringing on similar ground to the Coros Pace 3 when it comes to weight.

However, the Forerunner 55 compensates for its lack of advanced features with a 14-day battery life, a waterproof design, and a variety of health monitoring tools.

It supports tracking for multiple sports, including running, and provides insights on calories burned, breathing, hydration, sleep patterns, and menstrual cycle tracking. It also offers recovery tips and pregnancy monitoring.

For those who need workout tunes, you can play music via your phone and control playback directly from the watch.

How we tested

The smartwatches reviewed here have been carefully tested with a focus on running capabilities by 220 Triathlon’s experienced gear testers, who collectively have over 50 years of expertise evaluating sports and outdoor equipment.

Each watch underwent at least a month of rigorous testing, with many being used extensively for even longer periods.

During testing, we took the watches on numerous runs of varying intensity, including intervals, long-distance runs, and recovery sessions, to assess their ability to handle changes in pace and heart rate tracking.

The tests spanned diverse environments—urban areas, open countryside, and forest trails—to evaluate GPS performance and accuracy. Recorded routes were compared against other devices and meticulously analyzed on a map to ensure reliability.

Heart rate accuracy was benchmarked against our standard chest-based heart rate monitor, providing a reliable baseline for comparison.

In addition to run-specific metrics, we assessed battery life during extended use, the watch’s ease of operation, the quality of its companion app, and how seamlessly it integrates into daily life.

What to look for in a running watch

GPS accuracy

Reliable GPS signal is essential for tracking distance, pace, and route. Look for running watches that capture signal and perform well in various environments, including urban areas and trails.

Heart rate and biometrics

Opt for a watch with accurate wrist-based heart rate tracking, or the ability to pair with chest HR straps for more precise data. All of our recommended watches on test provide accurate heart rate monitoring.

Battery life

Consider the battery’s longevity, especially for longer runs. GPS mode and biometrics tracking drain more power, so ensure it meets your training and racing needs.

Comfort and fit

Comfort comes down to personal preference. Look out for watch face sizes and strap lengths, matching with your wrist size. Lightweight watches tend to be more comfortable, especially if you’re using sleep tracking.

Training-specific features

Run training features could include interval timers, training load score, VO2 max analysis, and recovery suggestions. All of these aim to give you the tools to optimise your run performance.

Connectivity and synching

A good companion app makes it easier to analyze your runs, set goals, and track progress over time. Ensure compatibility with your preferred platform, most watch brands these days will have a free companion app that also syncs to apps like Strava.

Durability

Choose a running smartwatch that can withstand sweat, rain, and the occasional scratch and drop onto the floor, with a water-resistant rating suitable for outdoor use. Some watches will have additional durability features, like the indestructible, sapphire-cased watches.