The best running watches for a medal-worthy PB
GQ's best running watches will track your key metrics and help you get the most out of your training. Here are our favourites from Garmin, Polar and more
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Anybody who takes their running seriously will constantly be looking for ways to improve their time and distance during training, whether they’re pounding the pavement or simply putting in the hours on the treadmill. Most of us can’t afford the absurd assistance that top runners like Eliud Kipchoge or Mo Farah get, but you can get a significant amount of help from some of the best running watches.
Keeping an eye on key metrics such as your total calories burned, heart rate, and splits per kilometre are vital to shaving seconds off your PB. And while even the most basic fitness trackers can manage those stats, our favourite models can give you inch-perfect GPS tracking, barometric altimeters, your VO2 max readings, and even some of the fancier features you’ll see on dedicated smartwatches like contactless payments and notifications.
In fact, the top-draw options will be your ultimate running companion, capable of music playback, sleep and sports tracking and a more holistic view of your health and fitness.
But which one do you go for? There are dozens of top options from the likes of Garmin, Polar, Suunto, Apple, and Samsung, and it can be a tricky decision to make for beginners and pro runners alike. Which is why we’ve pulled together the very best running watches you need to know about, whether you’re an iPhone or Android fan. And, if you're after some more gear to help achieve your personal best, feel free to also check out our pick of the best running shoes and fitness gadgets.
What's the best running watch?
Garmin's latest premium tool watch is a dedicated beast for fitness fanatics, with next-level tracking across mountains, densely packed woods and bustling cityscapes, with on-display widgets to give you only the vital info as you smash your PBs.
Love hiking? Love Apple? Allow us to introduce you to your match made in heaven. The Watch Ultra is a supremely well-designed fitness watch, with an upgraded, durable case for the hardcore lifestyle of a long-distance runner, but with all the useful smart features we've come to appreciate from the biggest tech company in the world.
For the everyday runner, Garmin's Forerunner 955 offers the most versatility, functionality and guidance for improving your running times without blowing a huge hole in your bank balance. The solar-powered model stretches the battery to herculean levels, and it's a lightweight, comfortable fit for endurance training.
- Best mid-range running watch: Garmin Forerunner 955S - £545 at amazon.co.uk
- Best Apple running watch: Apple Watch Ultra - £819 at amazon.co.uk
- Best smart running watch: Apple Watch Series 8 - £419 at johnlewis.com
- Best luxury running watch: Garmin Marq Athlete - £1,599 at jurawatches.co.uk
Is Apple or Garmin better for running?
While there are plenty of different brands that offer decent stat tracking and GPS for your training, the two most famous brands are arguably what you’d expect them to be: Apple and Garmin. But which is best? Well, that’s largely down to personal preference, but there are a few things you need to consider.
First off, if you’re looking for something more than just a fitness watch, then Apple’s smartwatches might be better, as those wearables offer a whole lot more functionality outside of just judging your fitness regime. Instant, always-on connectivity to your iPhone, downloadable apps like Uber and Audible, control of your wireless headphones and notifications of your calls and texts are excellent reasons to invest in Apple’s top-spec smartwatches. Downsides? This increase in features will be a drain on your battery and they might not be the most stylish options in the world.
However, Garmin’s offerings are far superior in the fitness department and will be a lot better for those who take their training seriously. The fitness features are unparalleled in almost every aspect; from the inch-accurate GPS tracking in most environments to the long battery life, ability to track your stress levels and advise you on the perfect time of day to get the optimum workout in, there really aren’t many better options out there.
But when it comes to the other smart stuff like taking calls or ordering takeaway, Garmin falls short, so you’ll have to work out what’s most important for you.
What is the best watch for a marathon?
Taking your running sessions seriously? If you’re training for a specific goal, like the 2024 marathon or another long-distance race, then you’ll want to find a fitness watch that can go the distance, track every stride with accuracy, and give you all the metrics throughout your training to help you optimise your route to your fastest pace.
In all honesty, all the picks below can do a good job of keeping you on track for the perfect pace, but if it’s perfection you’re after, Garmin’s runner-friendly Marq Athlete tool watch is arguably the ultimate option. It’s a luxury timepiece for sure, but if you’re looking for supreme guidance to get the best results, then you can’t get much better.
What do you get? A 12-hour battery, one of the most accurate GPS trackers available, altitude measuring, real-time marathon time prediction and performance metrics, and advice on the best running routes near you. It’s hand down the best option but costs well over a grand, so might not be an option for everyone.
For a more affordable option, Apple’s Watch SE is an excellent budget-friendly alternative with incredibly detailed metrics and pin-point GPS so you can brag about your training online with confidence.
What are the pros and cons of a running watch?
GPS running watches are a lifesaver for anyone looking to upgrade their training regime this year, but there’s a lot to wrap your head around to get the most out of them. It’s not just a case of strapping it to your wrist and heading out for a run, there’s a bit of prep involved and a lot of technical metrics to understand.
Over the years, the amount of fitness data you can access has grown to professional-grade levels, including your gait, blood oxygen levels, how stressed you are and how well-rested you are ahead of a race. And while we don’t think you really need a degree in sport science to get the most out of it, there are a lot of complex charts and graphics that can make it a little hard to find out whether your running sessions are actually any good.
This is the sort of info that the likes of Eliud Kipchoge get when hunting for world records, but if you just want to get around the marathon in under five hours, then a lot of it will be wasted on you. In simple terms, beginners will be interested in split times, distance covered and tracking your progress with a detailed map.
More dedicated runners will want to look for watches that can measure in-depth stats like your heart rate and breathing during your running, your stride length and frequency, and your water intake before, during and after a race. Make sure to do your research before you buy to make sure you’re not overpaying for a watch that offers more than you’re likely to need.
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Shop GQ's edit of the best running watches...
1/17Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Pros: Great design | Durable | Lightweight
Cons: Weak battery life | Only useful if you have a Samsung phone- Battery life: Up to 24 hours
- Weight: 33.5g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
We're all for owning a bit of drip on our wrist as we work out, so when we see Samsung's eye-catching Galaxy Watch 5 out in the wild, there's always a nod of respect to the sartorial standards among runners. But the Galaxy 5 is more than just a pretty watch face, as it's packed full of excellent running features, with dedicated workout guides, advice on when and how to go running, genuinely helpful metrics for your performance, and one of the best sleep measuring systems available.
It might not be as comprehensively built as Apple's offerings, and it's fairly useless if you don't own a Samsung, but if you do, then it's a great option to compliment your handset. £429. At samsung.com, argos.co.uk, amazon.co.uk & currys.co.uk
2/17Apple Watch Ultra
Pros: Exceptionally long battery | Premium design
Cons: Very expensive | Bulky and heavy- Battery life: Up to 46 days
- Weight: 70g
- Waterproof rating: 100m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
Who is the Apple Watch Ultra for? Ultramarathon runners? Extreme sports aficionados? Eccentric rich folk who like to pretend they enjoy cross-country running? We’re not entirely sure ourselves who Apple is aiming the Ultra at, but it’s an incredibly well-armed fitness tracker if Garmin is not your gig.
This is a supremely priced and well-equipped wearable, with a huge, durable case with a bright display, a customisable crown button for worming around the menus and an attempt at a longer battery life (that is still not as lengthy as we’d like it to be). Enjoying the same features you’ll find on the Series 8 above, it’s basically a super-charged edition of the best Apple fitness watch around, but the bulky design and steep price tag make it a questionable purchase for most people who haven’t got several long-distance runs marked down in the calendar. £819. At amazon.co.uk, ee.co.uk, johnlewis.com & currys.co.uk
3/17Garmin Instinct 2
Pros: Tough chassis | Decent battery
Cons: Map visuals are hard to see when running- Battery life: Up to 28 days
- Weight: 43g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
Marathon running is all well and good but what if you’re into the more extreme forms of endurance racing? Mountain running and trailing are growing in popularity among hardcore runners, but if you need something that can cope with a more rugged environment, your best bet is the Instinct 2. It’s got class-leading fitness tracking and GPS for running through trees or rougher terrain and a tough, durable chassis that’s hardier than other options.
There are Solar editions for a few quid extra that can extend the battery life way beyond the already impressive levels, but we still reckon the standard edition is worthy of your time and money. £259. At garmin.com, currys.co.uk & amazon.co.uk
4/17Garmin Forerunner 255S Music
Pros: Supreme Triathalon trainer | Built-in music tracker
Cons: No option for a solar model- Battery life: Up to 12 days
- Weight: 39g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
Forget marathons, if you’re all about the triple threat of running, swimming and cycling, the ultimate choice for you comes in the shape of Garmin’s Forerunner 255S. Unparalleled triathlon training support will seamlessly transition between activities, giving you useful, real-time metrics alongside the other excellent Garmin tracking software.
The week-long battery is a welcome addition to a solid line-up of smartwatch features, including music playback, phone notifications and real-time weather warnings. £299. At garmin.com & amazon.co.uk
5/17Garmin Marq Athlete
Pros: One of the best dedicated running watches around | Durable build
Cons: Incredibly expensive | Price tag doesn’t match up with sub-luxury design aesthetic- Battery life: Up to 21 days
- Weight: 85g
- Waterproof rating: 100m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
Garmin’s latest Marq tool watches are some of the most premium, top-spec absurdly luxe fitness trackers around, but it’s possibly a little hard to argue that they are good value. This is a statement wrist piece. It’s a fitness watch that says something about you, with a dazzling design, a dizzying array of fitness tracking features and on-display widgets that keep you on pace for your best runs, especially when you utilise the built-in workout guides, training readiness metrics, and real-time race predictors based on your current performance and history.
The Marq Athlete was designed to offer literally everything you need to learn about your pace and where to improve. However, it costs over £1,500, and most runners won’t be investing so heavily in their running gadgets unless they are deadly serious about it. Casual fitness folk will likely be bamboozled by the sheer quantity of stats this watch has to offer. £1,599. At garmin.com, jurawatches.co.uk & beaverbrooks.co.uk
6/17Polar Pacer Pro
Pros: Affordable
Cons: No full-colour option- Battery life: Up to 43 days
- Weight: 41g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
Sometimes affordable pricing and mid-range specs are just what you need, and if you’re on a budget and still want a marathon-ready wearable to keep you notified of your step count, split time and time spent running, then Polar’s Pacer Pro is an excellent choice.
The built-in GPS is exceptionally adept at figuring out where you are and where you’ve been, even in some heavily-wooded areas we headed out to this past year. It’s a shame the display isn’t fully coloured all the time and there’s no music playback (prompting you to buy one of those annoying phone arm straps to listen to playlists on the go). It won’t win awards for its recommended activity tracking and there aren’t any suggested workouts available, but it’s a solid performer. £259. At polar.com & amazon.co.uk
7/17Garmin Vivoactive 4
Pros: Affordable alternative | Built-in music streaming
Cons: Incomplete fitness metrics compared to pricier models- Battery life: Up to 8 days
- Weight: 50.5g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
Marathon training is already a drain on your energy but it certainly doesn't need to be a drain on your resources, and Garmin’s budget-friendly activity tracker is a great choice for penny pinchers who still get out to hit the track. Given its financially kinder price, you do miss a few specs that can be found on the premium Garmin models (namely the training load monitoring, which notifies you of how hard you’re working in any given session), but the rest of the training features will guide you to a faster race time, and the on-board music playback will keep you motivated – just make sure you cultivate a banging playlist first. £219. At garmin.com, johnlewis.com & amazon.co.uk
8/17Apple Watch Series 8
Pros: Instant interactivity to your iPhone | Pin-point GPS tracking
Cons: Lacklustre battery life | Not much use if you don’t have an iPhone- Battery life: Up to 22 hours
- Weight: 51.5g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
Apple’s latest smartwatch/fitness tracker is its best so far. Still, that’s only because it’s a minor upgrade to the already excellent Series 7, which is about as good as you can expect from an affordable wearable that can do everything from guide you to marathon glory to check out which stars are out in the night sky.
This is the least-ambitious upgrade Apple has attempted so far in the Watch series – and if you’re of a mind to save cash then we’d advise glancing your eyes further down the list to check out the Apple Watch Series 7 or SE – but the simplicity in which can manage your day-to-day life, almost replacing your iPhone entirely, makes it an absolute winner for us. £419. At johnlewis.com, argos.co.uk, currys.co.uk & amazon.co.uk
9/17Garmin Enduro 2
Pros: Exceptionally long battery | Premium design
Cons: Very expensive | Bulky and heavy- Battery life: Up to 46 days
- Weight: 70g
- Waterproof rating: 100m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
The clue is in its name: the Enduro 2 is built for ultra-endurance racing, with a battery that will almost certainly outlast you, a sturdy chassis and next-level route-finding if you plan on running off the beaten track. Yes, the price is high here, but it’s well worth it if you spend longer than a couple of hours a week training at intensely long distances.
Headline improvements over the older model include a proper colour touchscreen, topographical maps for hiking and additional storage space for loading in your workout motivational playlists. It’s a smidge too bulky for our liking, but it’s among the best wearables around. £929. At garmin.com
10/17Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
Pros: Solar powered | Massive battery | Big, colourful touchscreen
Cons: Buttons are a bit unnecessary with the touchscreen- Battery life: Up to 20 days with solar
- Weight: 53g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
Garmin’s Forerunner 955 Solar is one of the most comprehensive wearables available, especially at this price point. We all know the merits of Garmin’s tracking software, but with the added bonus of solar power to keep the watch going for several marathons back to back if you’re so inclined.
Touchscreens should be a staple part of a decent fitness tracker, but the huge display gives you plenty of data for you to glance down at as you run; a particularly impressive addition when using the full-colour maps and live navigation that keeps an eye on you with frightening accuracy. £545. At amazon.co.uk & garmin.com
11/17Polar Vantage V2
Pros: Accurate GPS tracking | Decent battery
Cons: Lacklustre display quality- Battery life: Up to 40 hours in training mode
- Weight: 52g
- Waterproof rating: 100m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
Polar’s high-end watch is a godsend for data lovers and serious trainers alike. Built to operate on land and in water (to a body-bending 100m), it's got everything you need to track running, cycling, swimming, diving and more, tapping into logged workouts and heart-rate sensor readings to help better optimise your training. A good battery life should keep you working out for at least a week before a recharge, and plenty of sleep-tracking software should speed up recovery time so you can head out and perform even better next time. £429. At amazon.co.uk and polar.com
12/17Polar Ignite 2
Pros: Affordable | Looks great
Cons: Loses several great features from the V2 | Weak battery life- Battery life: Up to four days in watch mode
- Weight: 35g
- Waterproof rating: 30m
- SP02 tracking: No
The Polar Ignite 2 serves up some of Polar’s best heart-rate monitor tech, along with GPS (including GLONASS) to accurately track outdoor runs and rides to the nearest metre – a useful feature if you're being specific with your fitness goals.
A significant step down from the Vantage V2 in cost, it still offers lots of top-spec running features including recommendations on new workouts based on your training history, tips on how to increase running power, and a handy Nightly Recharge feature that shows how well you're sleeping to reduce recovery time, along with a FitSpark feature that matches the correct training load to your energy levels. £129. At polar.com & amazon.co.uk
13/17Garmin Fenix 7
Pros: Supremely accomplished fitness tracker | Durable | Huge battery
Cons: Pricey | Might have a lot of features you'll never use- Battery life: Up to 18 days in smartwatch mode
- Weight: 73g
- Waterproof rating: 100m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
The Fenix 7 is a runner’s best mate, packed full of the cutting-edge tech you expect to see in a wearable at this price. With personalised built-in coaches handing out tips and running schedules as you train in the weeks leading up to race day and the much-lauded Galileo satellite GPS mode keeping an eye on you with pinpoint accuracy, this should be your top choice if you want to smash your running records.
Admittedly, the overall quality of the tracker as a smartwatch leaves a lot to be desired, with a less-than-ideal pixel touchscreen display to navigate, but the absurd 18-day battery life makes that small wrinkle easy enough to deal with. And if you're looking for more adventurous exercising away from the track, it can survive a dunk up to 100m for deep-sea diving, and has built-in measurements of mountain ranges to help guide you on your hike. £599.99. At garmin.com, johnlewis.co.uk, currys.co.uk & amazon.co.uk
14/17Garmin Forerunner 945
Pros: Exceptional running watch for dedicated trainers
Cons: Not particularly useful outside of running- Battery life: Up to two weeks in smartwatch mode
- Weight: 35g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
It may have “runner” in its name, but this watch is built firmly with triathletes in mind. It features everything sports- and fitness-focused found inside of Garmin’s pricier Fenix range above, but inside a slimmer, lighter case. This includes new training analysis tools and a pulse oximeter sensor to aid cardio training at altitude. There's a dedicated triathlon mode to better track transitions and splits, and it will break down the data into useful insights on the Garmin Coach companion app. When you’re not slipping on a tri suit, check out the mapping support to explore new training routes and the music player to take your Spotify playlists away with you. From £499.99. At garmin.com & amazon.co.uk
15/17Garmin Venu Sq
Pros: Great smartwatch features | Big, bright display | Affordable
Cons: Not as good as Apple's Watch series at similar prices- Battery life: Up to six days in smartwatch mode
- Weight: 37.6g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: Yes
Garmin's roster of running watches is numerous but if you're after something a bit more budget-friendly, consider the Venu Sq. It won't blow your mind, but it's perfected all the basic health-tracking stuff while looking handsome in the process. It'll manage all the fitness data you're likely to need with Garmin Coach, and also arrives with additional day-to-day features, including Garmin Pay and music storage. This, coupled with its great-looking square build and GPS skills for holding onto your runs and cycles, makes it a great choice for casual users. £129. At garmin.com, amazon.co.uk, argos.co.uk & johnlewis.co.uk
16/17Apple Watch SE
Pros: Affordable | Great entry-level smartwatch/fitness tracker
Cons: No blood oxygen tracking- Battery life: Up to 18 hours in smartwatch mode
- Weight: From 30.5g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: No
The wallet-friendly version of the flagship Apple Watch 8 is a solid choice for a running watch, with plenty of other sports-tracking smarts thrown in to boot. The Watch SE can track your heart rate and routes while measuring your improvement over time, keeping hold of your progress into fun graphs and charts to see how far you've come, all while offering the slick design that Apple fans love.
It might be missing an always-on display and SPO2 tracking from the pricier models, but they should be far from deal-breaking omissions for most people. Anyone who wants a good-looking, affordable smartwatch with some great running features, look no further. £249. At apple.com, amazon.co.uk & currys.co.uk
17/17Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
Pros: Light | Decent battery life
Cons: A little cheap and scratchy | No Garmin Pay- Battery life: Up to seven days in smartwatch mode
- Weight: 38.5g
- Waterproof rating: 50m
- SP02 tracking: No
If you’ve stepped up from running around the park to chasing some medal bling, the 245 makes a pretty formidable training companion. It’ll dish out core running metrics to nudge you in the right direction to improving your PB and you can upload training plans to the watch from expert coaches for that added prep before a big race. There's also the means to dip into Garmin’s app store to add more features and the built-in music storage means you can leave your phone behind and have more bag space for a few more energy gels. £299.99. At garmin.com & amazon.co.uk
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