“What’s the best running watch?” That’s a question I get asked all the time. As a journalist with a passion for fitness and running tech, I’m in the fortunate position where I get to test most of the new running watches released by Garmin, Polar, Suunto, TomTom and Co, so you’d think it’d be a question I could answer very easily. However, finding the best running watch, one that works perfectly for your running needs, is much like hunting out the right pair of running shoes, it’s a very personal thing. The choice is also huge. There are fitness trackers that also clock mileage, smartwatches with running apps, multi-sport watches that let you swim-bike-run and ultra trail-friendly options for those who like to run longer, get higher and go off road. There’s a running watch for almost every discipline, level and almost every wallet.
So where do you start? To help you shop smarter – and maybe even save money – I’ve pulled together a check list of the things I look at when I’m reviewing a running watch. Your perfect running partner is out there, here’s how to find it.
Do I need a running watch?
This is the first question you need to ask, and while it might sound a bit silly, the truth is that not everyone needs one. If you run with your phone already and you’re happy to carry on doing so, then there are some things to consider before you splash out. For a start your phone’s GPS is likely to be better than your watch. Granted you can’t see your current pace with your phone tucked in a pocket or strapped to your arm but if you run with music, read outs over your headphones solve that problem. Finally, there are plenty of superb running apps that provide enough data for most runners’ needs. If you’re a little more serious and you want to dig into more detailed running dynamics then read on.
Reliable GPS for real-time pace
I don’t just look for a running watch that provides a reliable distance read out once I finish my run, it’s important to have accuracy during the run too because this underpins your pacing stats. If your real time pace readouts lag and lurch by 15 seconds per mile here and there, it’s a problem. The best running watch should respond as quickly as possible to subtle changes in pace so that you can run a smooth race, confident that you’re not breaking a threshold or losing too much time.
Heart rate tracking
Chest straps are more accurate than wrist-based optical heart rate sensors so if you want optimum heart rate data, buy a watch that pairs with a chest sensor. However, if you’re just looking for a convenient but loose guide to effort, a watch with built in heart rate tracking might just do.
The problem with heart rate accuracy isn’t that the heart rate sensor in your watch might consistently read your heart rate at 5BPM below a chest strap, the real issue lies in fluctuations that sometimes read high, sometimes read low. Here’s why. Most runners use heart rate readings in conjunction with pace to either control the effort of a session, or after a run to see how hard they worked during the workout. If the readings are consistently wrong in the same way, it’s still possible to build a picture of your progress, because even though the readings aren’t EKG accurate, you still have a consistent and relative benchmark to work from.
For example, if you ran 6 miles at 8 min/miles and your average BPM was 155 in week one but in week two it was down to 145, that’s enough info to show progress.
Good battery life
Whenever I’ve written for Wareable.com on what runners want most in a future running watch, everlasting battery life is always somewhere near the top of the wishlist. But until someone creates a watch that can charge from movement or the sun, or sweat, we’ll always be faced with trying to work out how much battery life is enough to see us through.
So what does good battery life look like? To give you an idea of what you can expect, I’ve rounded up the official quoted battery life for some of the most popular running watches you can buy right now. These represent a watch’s stamina when it’s in running mode with GPS and heart rate tracking being used.
Polar M430: 8 hours
TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music: 9 hours (drops to 5 hours if you use the music)
Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR: 10 hours
Garmin Forerunner 235: 11 hours
Garmin Forerunner 645 Music: 12 hours (drops to 5 hours if you use the music)
Polar V800: 13 hours
You need to consider two things here. The first is how far you can run on a single charge. All the watches above have enough juice for most people to complete a marathon. The Polar V800 and Garmin Forerunner 645 would also last long enough for some faster runners to see off a 100km ultra.
The second thing take into account is how long the watch will go during a week before it needs a charge. Ideally you want a device that’ll see you Monday to Sunday on a single charge, including everyday wear when you’re not using GPS plus a couple of 10km runs and a 2-3 hour long run Sunday.
Bear in mind that the more bells and whistles your watch offers for the everyday wear bit – and we’re seeing running watches start to be increasingly smart – the less run time you’re likely to get. Things like continuous heart rate monitoring and smartphone notifications all drink power.
Rapid charging
While battery life is very important, something that people often overlook is how long it takes a running watch to charge. Picture a familiar scene, you’re kitted up and ready to do your run commute home or your long Sunday run, you grab your watch only to realise it’s dead. You’re faced with that impossible choice: run without it or wait for it to suck up enough juice to cover your run. Some watches charge faster than others, the Polar M430 that I use can juice up to 30% in 15-20 minutes, long enough for a good hour’s run.
Easy to operate when fatigued
Before I ran the Marathon des Sables, while I was fretting about what kit to take, a friend of mine offered me some great wisdom. If you can’t use a piece of kit with ease when you’re sat on your sofa then it’s not the right kit. The theory being that things don’t get any easier in a harsher environment so if you can work it on your couch, forget it. The same is true of your running watch and tiredness.
When fatigue kicks in you need something that’s going to be easy to find your way around, that last thing you need are fiddly controls. I personally find touchscreen watches fall short here. The number of times I’ve been 14 miles into a run and tried to take the ‘Where are you?’ call from my wife on my Apple Watch but failed to use the screen to answer. I much prefer physical buttons and I avoid watches with complicated menu structures like the plague. If you can’t navigate the watch without opening an instruction manual when you first put it on, there’s a good chance it’s not the watch for you.
A good partner app
A good range of tracked stats during a run is one thing but what happens after? If you care about diving into your data post-runm, it’s well worth downloading the partner app for a brand you’re considering to see what the stats look like. It won’t cost you anything other than a bit of time and some smartphone memory, but Polar Flow, Garmin Connect and Suunto Movescount tend to be marmite. This quick check will stop you being saddled with a watch you love but a companion app you hate.
Does it sync to Strava?
Yes? Good. That’s all you need.
How much should I spend on a running watch?
You can spend anything from £30 to £700+ on a running watch and how much you cough up will depend on how serious you are, or to put it another way, how many stats you really want your watch to provide.
Budget running watches (up to £100)
If all you want is pace and distance where you can see it on your wrist, then you can get that on the cheap. These watches also tend to be light and can be a bit more durable because there’s less to go wrong over time.
Mid-level running watches (£100 to £250)
This is where I’d recommend most ‘average’ runners look first. If you run for fitness but also like to chase the occasional personal best or challenge yourself to organised races, then many watches at this price range should have enough to cover your needs. You should expect a good range of features such as solid GPS, heart rate tracking and zone training, general activity tracking, some training, recovery and fitness progress features.
Top-end running watches (£250 – silly money)
Once you hit this bracket you should start to expect athlete-level running analytics including: VO2 Max estimates, hear rate variability, training loads, recovery times, cadence, vertical oscillation, race time predictions. You should also get multi-sport modes, extra sensors such as an altimeter, waterproofing, smartphone notifications, on board music storage. The list goes on.
Best running watch to buy right now
My current personal favourite for a reliable training and race watch is the Polar M430. It’s mid-range, simple to use and the GPS is spot on. It has wrist-based heart rate tracking that’s a good guide and there’s a no-frills feel to it that I like.
However, if you want to weigh up the other options here are a couple of good places to start your research.
- Best running watches on Techradar.com
- Best GPS running watches on Wareable.com
- How to understand your running watch stats: Wareable.com
More Manvmiles: Why the Polar M430 is the best running watch for a marathon
