Best running watches 2024: Top picks for sprinters, marathon runners and triathletes

Running watches are not created equal. While some smart wearables are focused on providing data-heavy insights into your running routine — such as the Garmin Enduro 2 or the more wallet-friendly Garmin Forerunner 965 — others are intended for a more general use. For example, the Apple Watch Series 8 offers plenty of apps and features that can come in handy outside of the running track. Either way, running watches can be invaluable to achieving your fitness goals. 

"A good running watch not only lets you know how far, or how fast, you've been running, but it gives you a whole range of insights that you can use — along with your awareness of your body — to guide your training and monitor your fitness progress," Kieran Alger, an ultramarathon runner, told Live Science. You can read more about running watches in the Running watches FAQs section down below.

However, there are plenty of running watches on the market, and picking the right model is not an easy task. So to help you make the best choice possible, we have tried and tested some of the best running watches out there. We have looked at their design, battery life, tracking accuracy, and ease of use, as well as smart features and connectivity with third-party devices. Scroll down to the How we test section to read more about our testing protocol. 

The quick list

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The best running watches we recommend in 2024: Fully tested by the Live Science expert team with real-world experience

The best running watch overall

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The Garmin Fenix 7 is our all-time favorite running watch — for many reasons. 

To start with, this rugged smartwatch is the easiest of the brand’s wearables to recommend thanks to its mix of a classy design with a wealth of fitness features. It has a metal chassis, so it is very durable, and the display is impressively bright at all times – ideal for running at night, or glancing at your wrist in bright daylight.

That display is “Always On” too, and still hits an impressive eighteen days of battery life (or up to 57 days with the battery saver switched on). Thanks to built-in GPS and onboard storage for music, you can also leave your phone at home. Even better, the Fenix 7 can download a chunk of map data to help with navigation when you are out and about.

During our Garmin Fenix 7 review, we were also impressed by the accuracy of its heart rate sensor. The pulse readings were free of overshooting spikes and other minor errors that blight fitness trackers. We also liked its extensive sleep tracking and 'body battery' score — features useful for tracking your recovery status.   

The only downside is that it is a pricey option, starting from $699 for the 42mm version. Still, it is an ideal choice for an intermediate runner looking to train harder and faster, and it works for cycling too.

• Read our full Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar review

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Best budget running watch

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The Coros Pace 2 is a great running watch that focuses on a core set of features that will not trouble the most expensive players, but certainly offers plenty to consider.

For one, it is relatively affordable — it costs around $199. Secondly, the Coros Pace 2 offers 20 days of battery life, blowing the Apple Watch right out of the water. It still has a built-in GPS, which lasts up to 30 hours (making it suitable for marathon or ultra marathon runners) and it is lightweight too, with a comfortable nylon strap.

During our Coros Pace 2 review, we tested it alongside the Apple Watch Ultra we use daily, and found its heart rate and fitness data (including the likes of step count and calories burned) to be in line. That is impressive given it costs around a quarter of the price of Apple's premium watch.

Sadly, you can’t play audio directly from the device and information from the Coros app does not sync with health apps on Apple or Google. Still, it is a good-looking device, that's a great budget option for beginners.

• Read our full Coros Pace 2 review

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Best value running watch

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If the Garmin Fenix 7 is (understandably) a little too pricey, the Forerunner 965 is an excellent alternative. You lose the metal back (the Forerunner 965 is mostly plastic), some water resistance and other features, but it is still a great running watch and arguably even better for newer runners.

The Garmin Forerunner 965 combines our favorite bits of traditional best Garmin watches, with the gloss of more smartwatch-style tech. It is a good combo. Our take on the design is that, despite the shift to a fancy bezel, this is pretty much classic Forerunner watch design. It is less rugged-feeling than either the Epix 2 or Fenix 7, with less of a built-up screen surround.  

It also lacks a couple of the most shiny, smartwatch-like bits of the Garmin Venu 2  Plus. There is no support for Alexa here, or a built-in speaker beyond a little beeper. We do not miss either, although some might like the idea of a Garmin announcing their performance at each kilometer of a run, through a built-in speaker, as some Huawei and Amazfit watches do. 

Still, it is well worth the investment — and we can vouch for it. During our Garmin Forerunner 965 review, we were impressed with the accuracy of its measurements and the sheer range of its available features.

• Read our full Garmin Forerunner 965 review

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Best budget Garmin running watch

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The Forerunner 265 is a Forerunner 255 with OLED. It is a Garmin Epix alternative that puts much less of a dent in your savings. Or it is a Garmin Venu 2 that trades in a little design gloss for some more advanced fitness features. 

We think it is a killer combo. The model we tested in our Garmin Forerunner 265 was the smaller Forerunner 265S, but there were none of the usual battery life compromises common to smaller watches here — official figures suggest it actually lasts slightly longer than the larger Forerunner 265, making it one of the best fitness trackers on the market.

The screen is the main event here. It is a 1.1-inch 360 x 360 pixel OLED, or a 1.3-inch 416 x 416 pixel one in the Forerunner 265. While it does not fill out the front of the watch like the Apple Watch Series 8’s display, this little screen has everything we are looking for. 

It is very sharp, super-colorful, and easily bright enough to work for outdoor exercise sessions on sunny days. This screen’s job is to make an argument for itself over the Forerunner 255’s transflective screen, and it is pretty persuasive, particularly when it is a touch display too. The Forerunner 255’s is not.

• Read our full Garmin Forerunner 265 review

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Best Apple Watch

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The Apple Watch Series 8 is not only a great all-rounder for iPhone users, but also a reliable running watch — as long as you do not plan to run multi-day ultra marathons. 

The Apple Watch Series 8 is not a huge upgrade on the Series 7, with temperature sensors to help with fertility tracking and crash detection functionality the only truly new features. Still, that is not necessarily a bad thing since the product line is far beyond the capabilities of its competitors.

With its own version of the App Store with hundreds of Apple Watch apps, and the option to use third-party running options like Strava, it is also got a large, bright display and an endless variety of strap options. During our Apple Watch Series 8 review, we were also impressed by its reliable GPS and accurate heart rate monitoring — and these two features can make or break a running watch.  

However, the biggest issue is its battery life. While Apple has added a new low-power mode, you will tend to get between two and three days if you are not using it often or switch the “always-on” display off. That is some way short of the competitors on this list.

• Read our full Apple Watch Series 8 review

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Best premium running watch

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The Garmin Enduro 2 is not for newcomers to running and is squarely focused on the most hardcore cardio enthusiasts, with a price tag that starts at $1099 – twice that of the Apple Watch Series 8.

For one, it can last for longer than a month, and more than 40 days with solar charging. Despite its slate of features, it is surprisingly compact and comfortable on the wrist – although those with smaller wrists may want to look elsewhere. During our Garmin Enduro 2 review, we were also impressed by its GPS tracking, reliable heart rate monitoring and detailed sleep tracking (it can, however, fail to detect wakeful moments at times). 

It offers both buttons and a touchscreen, excellent map support, and a “super bright” LED torch to help signal or keep an eye on what’s in front of you. If you are new to running, it is not for you, but if you are preparing for an ultra-marathon or something just as challenging, you will find a lot to love.

• Read our full Garmin Enduro 2 review

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Our expert consultants

James Rodgers

James Rodgers is a running coach and marathon runner with over 20 years of racing experience and a 10K PB at an impressive 31.13 minutes. Certified by the United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy, he helps his clients step up their running performance. James told Live Science about the benefits and accuracy of running watches. He also commented on his favorite models.

Kieran Alger

Kieran Alger is a fitness editor and writer on all things tech, running, health & fitness. He is an ultramarathon and marathon runner and cofounder of The Run Testers, who review the best and latest running products after putting them to the test in the field. We spoke to him about how to choose the best running watch.

Best running watches: Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose the best running watch for you

The best running watches for some may not be the same for others, and there are a few things to consider when purchasing one.

Firstly, if you’re new to the hobby, you’re going to want to consider your budget. There are all-singing, all-dancing options that break the $1000 mark, but that doesn’t mean you should go all in. Naturally, if you’re a keen runner and want to get all of the features on offer, you may find a reason to go a little bigger.

Secondly, not all running watches are built equally, and while you’ll no doubt find an array of basic features across all of them (step and calorie tracking and heart rate monitoring), some add more data or more features than others. For example, if you’re planning to run a marathon, you may want something that offers a longer battery life, as well as built-in coaching to help you reach your distance or pace goal.

As Kieran Alger, an ultramarathon runner, told Live Science: "A good running watch not only lets you know how far, or how fast, you've been running, but it gives you a whole range of insights that you can use — along with your awareness of your body — to guide your training and monitor your fitness progress."

You may also want a watch that writes its data to third-party apps, like popular running app Strava, or that features a built-in GPS so you can leave your phone at home. Many even offer storage so you store music to play when you’re out and about.

If possible, it’s always helpful to try on a watch, too. Some are larger than others or come in multiple sizes, and users with smaller wrists may want to check strap sizes. This can often affect the display size, so be sure to pick one that’s easily readable in all conditions.

Finally, there are some watches that only work on Android or iOS, so your choice of phone could have a big bearing on the best running watch you can pick up.

How we tested these running watches

How we test the best running watches

Finding the right running watch isn’t an easy task, with these complex bits of fitness kit now packing more innovative features than ever before. So, we made it our mission to simplify the process for you.

To do this, we got our hands on some of the best running watches on the market and set about testing them. As you’d expect, we made sure each one had all the metrics you need to track your runs; from pace and cadence to continuous heart rate tracking and an in-built GPS. We also checked any other features on offer, with many modern running watches (like the Garmin 6X Pro Solar) offering multi-sport tracking and health monitoring alongside the usual sport-specific running feedback. 

After assessing everything each watch had to offer, as well as practical aspects such as their comfort and design, each one was awarded a score out of five stars. 

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