Among sports watches, runners’ watches are some of the most in-demand today. Running is the ultimate cardiovascular exercise, letting you burn calories and push your physical limits while also letting you see much of the outside world, from your local neighborhood to the great outdoors.
With that in mind, runners’ watches are crucial for tracking your running time, heart rate and so on. You want a runner’s watch that’s durable, easy to read and has the features you need. It can make your running a lot more enjoyable with a lot less guesswork.
For running enthusiasts out there, here are five of the best runners watches you can find in the market today.
1. Polar M430
From the brand that brought the world the first ever wireless heart rate monitor, the Polar M430 makes for a solid runners watch. Not only can it track your heart rate, but it also has a 24/7 activity tracker and an integrated GPS that can map out your running route. It also has an innovative Polar Fitness Test that allows the wearer to assess their aerobic fitness level hassle-free in just 5 minutes!
If you just need the essential metrics for your running performance and overall health without the hefty price tag, this runners watch should be right for you.
2. Garmin Forerunner 235
The Garmin Forerunner 235 is great for runners who need a brighter display to see the time, their heart rate, and other metrics. It also has audio prompts for connecting it with your smartphone to notify you when you’ve completed a lap. It can also give you smart notifications, so you’ll know if you’ve received an email, a text message or a call.
This watch has a built-in GPS that makes it easy to plan your running route ahead of time. This running watch certainly brings the benefits of a smartwatch right into its design, and it’s no wonder why this model is such a customer-favorite.
3. Garmin Vivoactive 3
$204.88 in stock
8 used from $79.99
Another great runners watch from Garmin is the Garmin Vivoactive 3. If you’re looking for tons of features, this is a good value for a runners watch with its package. You get to personalize this watch with apps and widgets, which are available in the Garmin Connect IQ store. But if you just want the basics, it already has more than 15 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, so it’s good for running and many other sports.
Connecting this with your smartwatch easily notifies you of incoming calls and messages without having to reach for your phone while in the middle of a workout!
4. Suunto Ambit3 Peak HR Running Watch
The SUUNTO Ambit3 is a pretty good runners’ watch for those who like to have basic GPS tracking among the features. It features a pretty basic LCD display, but that means it doesn’t take that much battery life to make up for the power drawn by its main features. It also has a route planner with a topographic map, so you can plan out your run and track your path in real-time.
One feature that we love about this watch is its 100-meter water resistance which makes it a flexible watch to wear not just for running, but for swimming as well.
5. Polar Vantage V
Polar has another great entry on our list, which is the Polar Vantage V. Considered as their best all-around sports watch, this can serve as a great runners’ watch due to its solid design and wide set of features. Not only does this one have long battery life and the patented Polar Precision Prime heart rate monitor, but it also has the Advanced Running Power feature for tracking your progress as a runner and fine-tune your running. There’s also the Training Load Pro and Recovery Pro features that let you see what else you can do to optimize your athletic performance.
Looking for more cool watches for your exercise and sports activities? Check out these reviews of our favorite cycling watches, dive watches and biking watches!
Here are some super useful tips from a runner on getting the best running watch in 2021:
