Whether you're a beginner tackling your first 5k or a veteran prepping for a marathon, buying a running watch can help you hit your goals.
Top running watches are more than just about tracking pace and distance; they're now designed to tell you how to train and when to rest, as well.
Luckily for you, we've reviewed all of the best running watches on the market - from cheap options to feature-packed alternatives for athletes – and compiled a roundup of our favorite picks.
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Below, you'll find both our quick recommendations, advice on how to buy the right running watch, and more in-depth details about the latest and greatest releases from the likes of Garmin, Polar, and Coros.
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is slim, lightweight, and simple to use, and it doesn't complicate things with too many bells and whistles. It hooks up to Strava, has a strong suite of sleep and wellness tracking, and comes highly recommended for those just starting out.
The AI Trainer, advanced metrics, and top battery life make the Coros Pace 2 excellent value, with its sub-$200/£200 price tag. For runners that are starting to train for longer events and building speed, it's a savvy purchase.
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For those who want a powerful running watch to power their training and recovery - and one that also branches out to other disciplines - the 265 is the best choice. It may be a mid-range device in the grand scheme of Garmin's offerings, but it has more than enough features to warrant the loftier price tag - and it looks superb, too.
The first consideration when buying a running watch should be battery life. How far do you run – and what kind of distances would you like to run in the future?
Some smartwatches with running watch features will struggle to last 5 hours while tracking GPS, thus might not last a full marathon.
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Likewise, many of the most expensive running watches offer 100 hours of continuous tracking, which is overkill for people that just do a weekend 5K. Consider what you need.
So you like running – but do you want your watch to track other workouts too? Most running watches will track swimming and cycling too – but what about things like golf or HIIT? For swimming, check the waterproof rating (5ATM should be the minimum) and ensure that pool metrics are up to scratch.
Many running watches will have guided training plans built in, which is useful if you’re looking to structure your session – or have a specific goal in mind.
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More advanced running watches can tap into your body to reveal things like VO2 Max (the purest score of your fitness), recovery advice, readiness, fuelling, and even nutrition.
There are plenty of running watches that can store music, so you can run to the beat and leave your smartphone at home. Check out our special guide to sports watches with music playback.
The Forerunner 265 is one of the best running watches we've ever tested, combining accurate tracking, superb insights, and a very attractive design.
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Its predecessor, the Forerunner 255 - only released in 2022 - offers essentially all the same features, but the big upgrade offered through the 265 is the AMOLED display.
Once reserved for Garmin's mega-expensive models, the technology has now trickled down to the company's mid-range Forerunner - and it's a real difference maker.
Battery life has taken a bit of a hit compared to the 255 because of it, but you'll still be able to receive around four days of heavy use with the always-on display turned on. We think the trade-off is absolutely worth it - especially since you can always tweak settings and extend the battery life to closer to 7-10 days.
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The rest of the experience, as we say, is similar to the last generation. There are still two case sizes to choose between, Garmin's Multi-Band GPS is again on board, and music streaming from the likes of Spotify is still an option.
On the run tracking front, Garmin's Race Day mode is also carried over - something that helps you count down to your next big race, with Suggested Workouts, Garmin Coach plans also there to help you make it to the starting line in prime condition. Even wrist-based Running Dynamics - which delivers metrics like vertical oscillation and ground contact time - is on board.
If you want a running watch where you want more data, useful training, and analysis feature wrapped up in a light design, the 265 ticks the key boxes and more. And if you want to save a little bit of cash, the 255 is still a great alternative.
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Coros is a relative newcomer to the GPS running watch world, but it's quickly made a name for itself – and that's best represented by the Coros Pace 2.
It has all the tools to make it a formidable running watch without having to pay a premium. The screen isn’t world-beating, but the 1.2-inch, 240 x 240, 64-color LCD puts it in line with Garmin devices.
All the key sensors and running profiles are on-board, plus will let you pair additional sensors like Stryd's foot pod and external heart rate monitors.
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Using the built-in heart rate sensor the Pace 2 can tap into its recovery metrics courtesy of its AI Trainer. This shows you a Stamina percentage and aerobic/anaerobic training effect to show how recovered you are. Coros EvoLab also offers the kind of training insights and a race predictor for runners that you'd expect to find on pricier watches.
Coros has now also added strength training features that will count reps, let you build workouts, and will show you whether you're focusing as much on your legs are you are bulking up your upper body.
It works with third-party apps including Strava and then there's battery life. It pretty much wipes the floor with equivalently priced Garmin and Polar watches for GPS battery life numbers.
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If you want a running watch that goes big on tracking, training, and analysis features - and wraps that all up in a compact and premium design - then cast your eyes on the 965.
We still believe the 2022 Forerunner 955 is an excellent running watch, and those looking to save a bit of cash should absolutely consider it, but the improvement to the display means the new 965 is our clear favorite.
The new UI it enables is modern and sharp, and the extra detail available when using offline mapping is invaluable. Though it offers pretty much all the same features as last year's model, the AMOLED screen means this feels like a totally new way to track your training efforts.
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There's really no better watch to track them from, either. Features that debuted through the 955 are all still here - such as Training Readiness, HRV Status, and Morning Report - and are now bolstered by native Running Dynamics and Running Power.
All the usual training-specific features, such as Training Status, Race Predictor, and Garmin Coach plans, are backed up by much-improved sleep tracking and smart features like offline music streaming, as well.
Considering the move to AMOLED screen tech, the battery life also remains exceptional. It's not quite as long-lasting as its predecessor, but, from our testing, we've found it can consistently track a full week of outdoor workouts with the always-on display turned on. And if you want it to last longer, there are plenty of settings you can tweak, too.
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Our only real issue with the 965 is the durability. The design is premium and lightweight, which is ideal for training, but it's not especially durable.
We've experienced a number of scratches on the titanium bezel and display without really partaking in any rigorous outdoor exercise, so those requiring something rugged and hard-wearing are still better off with the Fenix/Epix watches.
The Forerunner 55 boasts a low-profile and minimal design, and it's brought on board some of the more insightful training and analysis features usually reserved for pricier Garmin watches.
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The watch case itself measures just 42mm, which creeps up slightly in thickness coming in at 11.6mm thick compared to the 11.4mm sized body on the 42mm Forerunner 45.
Front and center is a 1.04-inch, 208 x 208 transflective, always-on display, which offers strong visibility in all conditions, and is a lot kinder on battery life.
The Forerunner 55 promises up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours of GPS battery life and that's what we experienced in our testing. That's more than good enough for those embarking on half and full-marathon training programs.
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When it comes to racing, a key addition is PacePro, which helps you target race pace with gradients taken into account, VO2 Max estimation, and race predictor data on finishing times based on your fitness.
There's Garmin's Elevate optical heart rate monitor to track heart rate continuously, during exercise and unlock features like Garmin's Body Battery Energy monitor and the improved recovery advisor.
You do also have the option to pair up external heart rate monitors to improve accuracy in measuring effort levels during runs.
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