If you’re ready to take your running performance up a level, one essential that you can’t afford to skimp on is a good running watch. These specially designed sports watches can track each stride, record metrics such as pace and heart rate and analyse insights to help you set goals. When you know exactly how fast you’re running, or even how heavy you land on the floor, you can gradually increase your performance to avoid going too fast too soon and getting injured.
In our busy lives, we only have a specific amount of time available to train and a good running watch will help make every second count. During the run you can check how fast you’re actually going and step up the pace if you’re plodding too slow. And a watch helps you to pace yourself and stay consistent so you run each mile in a specific number of minutes rather than starting out like a speed demon and crashing and burning.
Top-quality running watches act as coaches on your wrist, giving you data that shows you what’s going on with your body as you take your strides. The most basic watches can cover heart rates and calories burned but the more advanced models will record your VO2 max, so you know what your body’s capable of, estimate your recovery time after each session and allow you to set race fueling alerts.
Like music to pace your tempo? Most running watches also offer smartwatch features such as compatibility with Spotify or Amazon music and the ability to receive text and WhatsApp notifications. Some of them even allow you to use your phone like a wallet and simply tap your wrist to pay.
Until a few years ago, Garmin and Fitbit dominated the market when it came to running trackers but if you visit any sports retailer today you’ll see the likes of Coros and Polar competing for amateur athletes’ attention. And that’s not to mention the sports functionality that’s been developed for smartwatches by Apple and Samsung. Prices can range anywhere from £70 to £800 upwards.
To help you navigate the running wristwear jungle and find the right watch for your needs, we’ve tested out some of the most well-known brands over the high and low end of the price bracket and the list below features the best of the best for all budgets
How we tested
We spent hours setting up the watches, trying to sync them with both an Apple and an Android phone and scrolling through the features to find exactly what they were capable of. After playing with them inside, each was tested outside to record performance over distances from Park Run to over 10 miles.
We rated each watch for usability – i.e. how easy it was to find the key statistics – as well as accuracy of GPS, app support and comfort on the wrist. We also tested the watch in daily life, assessing how it looked and felt over 24 hours.
The best running watches for 2023 are:
- Best overall running watch – Polar pacer pro: £289, Polar.com
- Best running watch for accuracy – Garmin forerunner 955 solar: £550, Sigmasports.com
- Best running watch for analysing biomechanics – Coros pace 2: £179.99, Decathlon.co.uk
- Best running watch for value for money – Fitbit inspire 3: £84.99, Currys.co.uk
- Best running watch for simplicity – Fitbit versa 4: £164.93, Amazon.co.uk
- Best running watch for competitive athletes – Garmin fenix 7s: £689, Wiggle.co.uk
- Best running watch for android users – Samsung Galaxy watch 5 pro: £329, Samsung.com
- Best running watch for an intuitive interface – Polar pacer: £199.50, Polar.com