Best running watches 2024: GPS wearables for runners

T3's roundup of the best running watches to help you train more efficiently

Best running watch 2024: Quick links

Coros launches Pace 3 running watch

(Image credit: Coros)

00. Top 3↴
01. Best overall: Garmin Forerunner 965
02. Best affordable: Coros Pace 3
03. Best for small wrists: Garmin Forerunner 255S
04. Best for beginners: Apple Watch Series 8
05. Best for music: Garmin Forerunner 945
06. Best for pace tracking: Huawei Watch GT Runner
07. Best for battery life: Kiprun GPS 500
08. Best for recovery: Polar Pacer Pro

The best running watch is the most versatile fitness wearable money can buy if you're a runner (this is probably obvious). These GPS wearables are more than expensive smartwatches – top-tier running watches from brands such as Garmin, Polar, Suunto, and Coros can help you run and work out better, faster and more efficiently.

If you've only used the best fitness trackers and best smartwatches for tracking your runs before, getting even a beginner running watch will feel like you've supercharged your training, even though the gap between GPS running watches and fitness bands is closing. To put it bluntly, you'll need a running watch if you take running training seriously.

For slower movers who want to know where they're going, we recommend investing in the best hiking GPS instead. Triathletes better peruse our best triathlon watch guide, although admittedly, there is an overlap between the two. Finally, we have a dedicated best Garmin watch guide and a definitive list of the best cheap Garmin deals roundup if that's what you're after.

The Top 3

Best running watches to buy right now

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Best overall

Garmin Forerunner 965 reviewT3 Awards 2023 Logo

(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Best running watch overall

Specifications

Battery life: 31 hours in GPS mode, up to 23 days in smartwatch mode
Weight: 52 grams
Screen size/resolution: 1.4" / 454 x 454 pixels
Water rating: 5 ATM

Reasons to buy

+
Amazing, bright AMOLED display
+
Long battery life
+
All the features and sensors that made the Forerunner 955 the top multisport watch are present
+
Lighter and thinner than its predecessor

Reasons to avoid

-
UI has garish colours
-
Some teething issues with software

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is everything we hoped the Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar would be and more. The Forerunner 965 uses the same sensors and features as its predecessor, but it's lighter and thinner, which is ideal for a performance wearable professional athletes will use for training. The titanium bezel is a nice touch, as are the different colourways, allowing people to buy the best Forerunner in colours other than black.

The AMOLED display is bright and responsive, and the glance view is as good as it's always been. If you need an accurate running watch and have enough disposable income to justify the price, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is a must-have. Thank you, Garmin, for rolling out such a significant hardware update soon after the Forerunner 955 Solar launch. We love it.

Read our full Garmin Forerunner 965 review.

Best affordable

Coros Pace 3 review

(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Best affordable running watch

Specifications

Battery life: 30 hours in GPS mode, up to 20 days considering average usage
Weight: 29 grams with nylon band
Screen size/resolution: 1.2" / 240 x 240 pixels
Water rating: 5 ATM

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent screen
+
Long GPS battery life
+
Measures running power on the wrist
+
Featherlight

Reasons to avoid

-
Usual optical wrist-based HR sensor inaccuracies, especially at the beginning of the workouts

We're in a very easy position with the Coros Pace 3. It's a terrific smartwatch for runners that offers upgraded sensors and tons of performance and recovery features for not a lot of money. It's more than accurate enough for training at whichever level and easy enough to use, especially for those who are familiar with the Coros ecosystem. And there are more and more of those people.

It's not the sexiest of wearables, and the touchscreen operation isn't the smoothest. However, Coros' core audience won't care too much about these things, and neither do we, as we wouldn't buy the Pace 3 for its looks or smart features. If you're on a budget and need a reliable training partner to monitor progress and recovery, you can't go wrong with the Coros Pace 3.

Read our full Coros Pace 2 review.

Also consider: the predecessor Coros Pace 2 is the spitting image of the Pace 3 but used older sensors and GPS unit. Fully loaded with useful training features, the Pace 2 is almost irresistible to runners on a tight budget.

Best for small wrists

Garmin Forerunner 255S on stone

(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Best running watch for small wrists

Specifications

Battery life: 30 hours in GPS mode, up to 14 days considering average usage
Weight: 39 grams with nylon band
Screen size/resolution: 1.1" / 218 x 218 pixels
Water rating: 5 ATM

Reasons to buy

+
Triathlon sport mode
+
Updated heart rate sensor
+
Multi-band multi-GNSS system
+
Tracks heart rate variability

Reasons to avoid

-
No solar charging
-
Needs an external sensor to track running power

The Garmin Forerunner 255S is the smallest Forerunner to date, yet it offers more functionality than most running watches. In fact, we can't call the Forerunner 255S a running watch anymore – thanks to the addition of the triathlon sports mode, it's now a full-fledged multisport watch. And the smallest of those, too.

Heart rate variability stands out among all the new features; it adds another layer to the extensive recovery and training features already included on the Forerunner 255S. Not to mention the Race Widget and the triathlon mode mentioned above; the Forerunner 255S is tiny but mighty wearable.

The best thing about the watch is that it enables people with small wrists to access pro workout features without compromise. You can train like a pro using a small wearable and a heart rate monitor – and that's worth the hefty price tag.

Read our full Garmin Forerunner 255S review.

Also consider: the updated Garmin Forerunner 265 offers long battery life, dozens of helpful training and recovery features, exciting colour options, and a pretty AMOLED touchscreen display to boot. It probably isn't worth the upgrade for those who bought the Forerunner 255 Music, but the watch has plenty of new features and better sensors to justify the price for owners of older Garmin watches.

Best for beginners

Apple Watch Series 8 review

(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Best running watch for beginners

Specifications

Lens material: Ion-X glass/Sapphire crystal
Display size: 1.57-inch/1.73-inch LTPO OLED touchscreen display
Display resolution: 352 x 430/396 x 484 pixels
Weight: 32.0g/38.8g or 42.3g/51.5g (41/45 mm, titanium vs stainless steel case, case only)
Battery life: up to 18 hours

Reasons to buy

+
New workout modes and metrics are helpful
+
Improved sleep-tracking capabilities
+
WatchOS 9.2 introduced some seriously good running features

Reasons to avoid

-
Much shorter battery life than most watches in this guide
-
Only works with iPhones

The Apple Watch Series 8 surprised us with its running prowess during testing. It allows you to train using personalised Heart Rate Zones based on your estimated max heart rate and resting heart rate saved in the Health app (you can also manually create zones).

Personalised heart rate zones can help you train better and understand the strain on your body more easily. It's been used in the best running watches for a while, and it's nice to see the Apple Watch offering it, too.

The WatchOS 9.2 update also added the Race Route feature, which notes the routes you run or cycle most often and allows you to do battle with your own personal best (like racing the ghost of your best time in Mario Kart). Pacer is another new feature that allows you to set a goal for distance and time and prompts you to go faster or slower to meet that target.

The only downside of the Apple Watch Series 8 – always been – is battery life. A full charge will only give you 18 hours of use, although you can boost it to around 24 hours using Low Power mode. For longer battery life and additional features (such as Apple's Precision Start), you might want to consider the Apple Watch Ultra.

Read our full Apple Watch Series 8 review.

Best for music

Garmin Forerunner 945 on its box outsideT3 Award

(Image credit: Future)
Best running watch for music

Specifications

Lens material: Gorilla Glass
Display size: 1.2" (30.4 mm)
Display resolution: 240 x 240 pixels
Weight: 50 grams
Battery life: GPS mode with music – up to 10 hours, GPS mode without music – up to 36 hours, Smartwatch mode – up to 2 weeks

Reasons to buy

+
Completely revamped hardware
+
Uses Garmin's new Elevate HR sensor
+
Garmin Pay ready
+
Gorilla Glass
+
Sony GPS chip

Reasons to avoid

-
Some features are redundant for runners (e.g. Xero widget)

The Garmin Forerunner 945 isn't the latest performance wearable from Garmin – it was launched in April 2019 – but thanks to the numerous updates the company rolled out over the years, it's still an excellent choice for athletes who like listening to music while tracking their workout accurately. 

You get many additional features to help you train and recover more efficiently, like PulseOx, Live Event Sharing, accident detection and assistance, Body Battery energy monitoring, Training Load Focus and many more. Plus, you get offline maps, Garmin Pay, and additional navigation tools. A brilliant wearable overall.

Read our full Garmin Forerunner 945 review.

Best for pace

Huawei Watch GT Runner displaying VO2 max estimationT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Best running watch for pace

Specifications

Lens material: Hard-coated PMMA laminated lens
Display size: 1.43-inch (AMOLED)
Display resolution: 466 x 466 pixels
Weight: 38.5 grams, excluding the silicone strap
Battery life: 14 days (smartwatch mode)

Reasons to buy

+
Lightweight
+
Fast and accurate GPS
+
Responsive touch screen
+
A great option for those with visual impairment

Reasons to avoid

-
Data fields are small
-
It's best to use running headphones to listen to the feedback to the AI Running Coach when running
-
Large watch case might not fit well on smaller wrists
-
It would be better to have music storage on-board

With the Watch GT Runner, Huawei is after the big dogs of the running watch market. The company's first foray into specialised performance wearables is built on the Huawei Watch GT 3 platform.

The wearable is chock-full of sensors and running-specific features, such as the AI Running Coach, which is similar to Garmin's Running Coach. But unlike Garmin's version, Huawei's visual coach is more communicative during running, offering you information about everything from pace to heart rate in a clear and easy to understandable fashion.

Read our full Huawei Watch GT Runner review.

Best for battery life

Kiprun GPS 500 review

(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Best running watch for battery life (also, pretty cheap)

Specifications

Lens material: Glass mineral
Display size: 1.2-inch
Display resolution: 240 x 240 pixels
Weight: 48 grams (with strap)
Battery life: 30 days in smartwatch mode and 25 hours in GPS mode

Reasons to buy

+
Super accessible price point
+
Accurate GPS and sensors
+
More than enough functionality for beginners
+
Long battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
No touchscreen
-
All-plastic construction doesn't radiate longevity
-
Distinct lack of smart functionality

It might not be the most innovative running watch, but what the Kiprun GPS 500 is supposed to do (i.e. track runs), it does well. It won't recommend specific daily workouts, but it'll tell you your training load and how long you must wait to recover. It might not monitor sleep, stress or heart rate variability, but beginner runners might not need those features anyway.

Get the Kiprun GPS 500 if you need a no-frills, affordable multisport wearable with a long battery life. If you want to buy the Forerunner 255S but buy this watch instead, you can get the On Cloudmonster (one of the best running shoes for training) and still have money left over. Need we say more?

Read our full Kiprun GPS 500 review.

Best for recovery

Detail shot of the Polar Pacer Pro on a laptopT3 Award

(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Best running watch for recovery

Specifications

Lens material: Gorilla Glass 3.0
Display size: 1.2" (30.5 mm)
Display resolution: 240 x 240 pixels
Weight: 41 grams with the wristband
Battery life: Up to 35 hrs in training mode (GPS and wrist-based heart rate) or up to 7 days in watch mode with continuous heart rate tracking

Reasons to buy

+
Screen is visible in broad daylight
+
GPS picks up comparatively fast
+
All the tests from the Vantage V2 are present (minus the Orthostatic and Leg Recovery test)

Reasons to avoid

-
Design and UI feel dated
-
Battery life is not mind-blowing (for a MIP watch)

The Pacer Pro is one of the best Polar watches, especially if you aren't too keen on touchscreen operation. The new screen is bright and easy to read in broad daylight. The Pacer Pro also works faster than the Vantage M2, its closest predecessor, which is evident in screen transitions and load times. The addition of extra features, such as running power and the different tests, was also a good call from Polar and further increased the 'getting your money's worth' appeal of the Pacer Pro.

Sadly, once you zoom out and look at the broader running watch market, things will immediately look less rosy for the Pacer Pro. There are numerous AMOLED running watches for the same price (e.g. Huawei Watch GT Runner) or cheaper MIP wearables with a more robust training ecosystem (e.g. COROS Pace 2) – why would you choose the Pacer Pro over these? On the bright side, the Pacer Pro is a decent mid-range multisport watch, so if you're on the market for one of those, by all means, get the Polar.

Read our full Polar Pacer Pro review.

How we test the best running watches

T3's running watch test is a labour-intensive process, especially considering
that modern running watches have a slew of features including sleep/SPO2/respiration tracking, contactless payment, smart notifications and stamina measurements, just to name a few.

Hence why we like to test running wearables for at least a few weeks to make sure we have a clear picture of how precisely the sensors and features work and how they perform under rigorous training circumstances.

As well as all this, we examine the companion apps the watches use to check compatibility. And, of course, we compare the running watches to other watches on the market in terms of value for money.

For more info on how we test at T3, read the linked article now.

How to buy the best running watch for you

For the record, you don't necessarily need a running watch to log indoor or outdoor activity. You can use your smartphone's GPS to track your geolocation and a heart rate monitor to track the activity itself.

However, running watches provide heart rate sensing and GPS tracking on your wrist and thanks to their screens, you can keep an eye out on all the data in real-time. On some models, you can also check the map and your exact position on the watch itself as you run without consulting your phone.

Probably the best advice when shopping for a sports watch is to buy one that's a bit more advanced than you currently need it to be. If you've literally just hauled yourself off the sofa for the first time in a decade, you might well think you'd rather not know your heart rate, but in nine months, after you mastered the art of how to lose belly fat fast, you may feel very differently.

Likewise, if you've been running for a while, you may be heading towards that point where you'll want to know more about your cadence or lactate threshold.

If you're only going to use your watch in the gym, you may be able to get by with just heart-rate tracking and the ability to time intervals. How about cyclists? More casual pedal pushers can make do with GPS and the ability to track time, speed and distance. But as you get more into it, you could be swayed by the ability to link to power meters and the rest of the Lycra warrior's arsenal of ANT+ and Bluetooth paraphernalia.

Almost all of these watches sync with their respective mobile apps (Garmin Connect, Polar Flow etc.) and third-party apps, like Strava. These let you dig deeper into the details, create and download pre-planned coaching lessons and set up goal-specific training plans to help you achieve your running and fitness goals.

FAQ

What watches do professional runners use?

Pros often use watches from brands they are affiliated with. For example, Desiree Linden, Eliud Kipchoge and Kílian Jornet are COROS athletes, and Garmin and Polar also sponsor a bunch of top-tier athletes that use their watches for training and racing. Jan Frodeno, Alaister Brownlee and Jim Walmsley are using Wahoo watches.

What is the best running watch?

Our favourite running watch at present is the Garmin Forerunner 225S because it represents a good balance between price and functionality, and it's versatile enough for runners of all abilities as well as powerful enough to satisfy stat-hungry semi-pros as well. Garmin makes more running watches than anyone else, and – in our opinion – the best of them are the finest running watches you can buy.

For off-road adventures, you can choose the Suunto 9 Baro or the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro: both have excellent battery management options, and they are also more rugged, a feature that might come in handy when exploring the wilderness. For the same reason, they are also a bit heavier than some of the other models on the list.

If you have less than £200/$230/AU$399 to burn, you can get a Fitbit Versa 3; this smartwatch is aimed at casual users but can track all the key body metrics. It's also comfortable enough to wear for sleeping and has a pretty AMOLED screen.

Alternatively, the Polar Ignite 2 is a good entry-level fitness watch/fitness tracker with great functions and a decent touch screen. Talking about Polar: the Ignite might not be the best Polar watch, but it's pretty decent, nevertheless. Just like the Suunto 7 is not the best Suunto watch but you should buy it anyway, as it has received many updates since its launch.

Matt Kollat
Section Editor | Active

Matt Kollat is a journalist and content creator who works for T3.com and its magazine counterpart as an Active Editor. His areas of expertise include wearables, drones, fitness equipment, nutrition and outdoor gear. He joined T3 in 2019. His byline appears in several publications, including Techradar and Fit&Well, and more. Matt also collaborated with other content creators (e.g. Garage Gym Reviews) and judged many awards, such as the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance's ESSNawards. When he isn't working out, running or cycling, you'll find him roaming the countryside and trying out new podcasting and content creation equipment.