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Home / Features / Best running watch and GPS sports watches in 2024

Best running watch and GPS sports watches in 2024

From sporty smartwatches to premium monitors, the best GPS sports watch will track your fitness and activity 24/7

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Best GPS Sports watch featuring Apple Series 7 Polar Vantage V2 and Garmin Forerunner 945

If you exercise without tracking it, did you exercise at all? Don’t take the risk of missing a discipline: strap the best running watch to your wrist for a guaranteed calorie count while you’re doing sports.

Whether you’re a runner, a lunger or just looking to get a bit fitter, the top tickers offer total fitness assistance. The top options below can analyse your activity, provide detailed training feedback and guide you to a new PB – on the road, in the gym or underwater.

Besides keeping tabs on your sweaty metrics, today’s crop of clever trackers can also monitor your sleep quality, move you with music and steer you down the right path. All you have to do is wear one. And, you know, move. Not sure which is right for you? From sporty smartwatches to premium monitors, the guide below features something to suit every wrist and budget. Plus some handy buying tips to help you pick your perfect ticker.

Why you can trust Stuff: Our team of experts rigorously test each product and provide honest, unbiased reviews to help you make informed decisions. For more details, read how we test and rate products.

Quick list: what is the best running watch?

Best running watch overall

The Garmin Forerunner 945 (buy now) is lightweight but well-built, this fitness-focused watch is packed full of features

Best running/adventure watch

We think the Garmin Fenix 7 (buy now) is the best running watch you can buy today. Rated for up to 89 hours of battery life with full GPS enabled, it offers dedicated sports profiles for an impressive number of activities, with deep-dive metrics for serious athletes to help improve their performance.

Best running watch with Wear OS

The TicWatch Pro 5 (buy now) is one of the most powerful smartwatches around right now, with plenty of functionality to boot.

Best premium running watch

The Huawei Watch Ultimate (buy now) with a liquid metal build and advanced features like ECG and diving functionality, is an expensive, but oh-so-capable smartwatch that performs as well as it looks.

Best Apple running watch

The Apple Watch Ultra (buy now) is by far the best adventure-ready Apple Watch yet and a really great all-rounder, though battery life pales compared to rivals.

Best cheap Apple running watch

The Apple Watch SE (buy now) is an excellent affordable option if you’re just starting out. It features many of the same features as its more expensive siblings, for much less money.

Best running watch for trail runners

The Suunto Vertical (buy now) is the best sports watch Suunto has made in ages, but it still needs to raise its software game both in presentation and performance to better the similarly priced competition.

Best running watch for heart-rate tracking

The Polar Vantage V2 (buy now) is a multi-sport training tool that looks good and has the tracking chops to match.

Best cheap running watch

The Coros Apex 2 (buy now) is great for fitness tracking and general wellness. If you’re looking to save money, this is the running watch for you.

Best running watch for general health tracking

The Fitbit Sense (buy now) is for those interested in wellness as much as running. With ECG, EDA stress scans, temperature monitoring, and sleep tracking.


The best running watches you can buy today:

Best running watch overall

Best GPS sports watch: Garmin Forerunner 945

1. Garmin Forerunner 945

Stuff Verdict

Lightweight but well-built, this fitness-focused watch is packed full of features

Pros

  • Excellent battery life
  • Smooth interface

Cons

  • No Apple Health/Google Fit syncing
  • Limited app support
Garmin Forerunner 945 specs
Display1.2in MIP, 240×240 pixels
Heart rateYes
Battery2 weeks (smartwatch), 10 hours (GPS with music)
Waterproof50m
Case size47mm
Weight50g

Not the sleekest of tracking tools, Garmin’s Forerunner 945 is designed for those who want fitness insights without the extra baggage. And while it’s not the newest release in Garmin’s stable, it remains an excellent GPS sports watch for exercise – and one that’s now available for a little bit less.

Its design clearly favours function over form: its fibre-reinforced polymer plastic shell didn’t win any design awards back in 2019. But there’s nothing wrong with minimalism if it gets the job done, and that’s exactly what this streamlined 50g lightweight achieves.

Sticking with the pared-back approach, there’s no touchscreen. Instead, you’re reliant on sturdy metal buttons. Paired with a dull 1.2in LCD, this approach delivers a respectable 36-hour GPS battery life. But it doesn’t go light on tracking tech: its full complement of sensors includes optical heart rate, GPS and blood oxygen.

It’s accurate, it records everything you need and the partner app is perfect for diving into the data. The 945 can also store offline music from services including Spotify, plus it supports Garmin Pay. There are newer, shinier options out there – and several which are easier to master – but the 945 nevertheless remains a well-built, feature-rich GPS sports watch free from bloat.


Best Apple running watch

Best GPS sports watch: Garmin Fenix 7

2. Apple Watch Ultra

Stuff Verdict

By far the best adventure-ready Apple Watch yet and a really great all-rounder, though battery life pales compared to rivals

Pros

  • Excellent screen
  • Bigger battery life than other Apple Watches

Cons

  • Companion app makes you jump through hoops to set up
  • Limited app support and no music streaming
Apple Watch Ultra specs
DisplayAlways-on 2000nit retina display, 410 x 502 pixels
Heart rateYes
Battery60 hours (low-power settings)
Waterproof100m
Case size49mm
Weight61g

Let’s be clear — the Apple Watch Ultra won’t offer the same longevity as more established Garmin models. But if you’re set on an Apple Watch for your next GPS watch, then the Ultra is the best of the best.

Stunning design aside, it still serves up the best battery life of any Apple Watch to date, with a gorgeous screen that’s a pleasure to behold. Packed with the latest features, it’ll cover the fitness and health tracking needs of practically anyone, with Apple’s well-stocked app ecosystem at your disposal.

Ultimately, if you’re an iPhone owner and want to enjoy the best watch the company has to offer, the Ultra is the one for you.


Best running/adventure watch

Best GPS sports watch: Garmin Fenix 7

3. Garmin Fenix 7

Stuff Verdict

A durable do-it-all adventure watch, this is the best GPS sports watch – now with added solar staying power

Pros

  • Smooth interface
  • Excellent durability

Cons

  • No Apple Health/Google Fit syncing
  • Limited app support
Garmin Fenix 7 specs
Display1.3in AMOLED touchscreen, 260×260 pixels
Heart rateYes
Battery18 days (smartwatch), 57 days (battery saver), 10 hours (all satellite systems with music)
Waterproof100m
Case size42/47/51mm
Weight79g

Garmin has cemented its Fenix series as the top choice for serious athletes in need of a serious tracking tool. And with dedicated sports profiles for a huge number of disciplines – spanning from HIIT to hiking – plus a whole range of training metrics fed by its arsenal of sensors, the Fenix 7 stays true to that template.

Rated for up to 89 hours of battery life with full GPS enabled, the Fenix 7 is equipped to go the distance – and then some. Power Manager offers granular fine-tuning to eke the very most out of every charge. Opt for the top-spec 7X Solar edition and it’ll refuel from the sun.

Built for bossing almost any sport, the Fenix 7 is as handy at tracking daily wellness as it is at providing real-time stamina estimates. Support for contactless payments and offline Amazon Music mean this durable ticker is no connected dum-dum, while support for TOPO maps makes it a navigational powerhouse.

The only fly in this capable ointment? The sizeable price tag puts the Fenix 7 firmly into premium territory. But if your budget stretches (and your pursuits demand it), this is the ultimate combo of tracking smarts and sporting endurance.


Best running watch for trail runners

Best GPS sports watch: Apple Watch Series 7

4. Suunto Vertical

Stuff Verdict

The Suunto Vertical is the best sports watch Suunto has made in ages, but it still needs to raise its software game both in presentation and performance to better the similarly priced competition.

Pros

  • Welcome addition of TOPO maps
  • Good GPS performance
  • Strong battery in tracking mode

Cons

  • Watch software can be laggy
  • Heart rate tracking at intensity is iffy
  • Not a very slick smartwatch
Suunto Vertical specs
Display1.61/1.9in LTPO OLED touchscreen, 352×430/396×484 pixels
Heart rateYes
Battery18 hours
Waterproof50m
Case size41/45mm
Weight32g (41mm, aluminium), 38.8g (45mm, aluminium)

There’s plenty to love about the Suunto Vertical. Bringing the fight straight to the long-established likes of Garmin and co. it provides quality features like mapping support and dual-band GPS for reliable outdoor activity tracking, with an impressive battery life to boot — bolstered by solar charging.

With blood oxygen tracking, sleep tracking, and all the usual sports and fitness modes you’d expect, it ticks all the boxes, including design. If you can get past the software niggles (which are still holding Suunto back from truly matching some high-end rivals), then this is a formidable GPS watch which is crammed with impressive features.


Best cheap running watch

Best GPS sports watch: Apple Watch Series 7

5. Apple Watch SE 2022

Stuff Verdict

Watch SE lays down the gauntlet for its more expensive siblings, offering most of the same experience for a chunk of cash less.

Pros

  • Superb performance, latest-gen chip
  • All the core Apple Watch experience
  • Better value than Series 8

Cons

  • Larger bezels than Series 8
  • Longer battery life next time please
  • Limited choice of finishes
Apple Watch SE 2022 specs
DisplayRetina display, 368×448/324×394 pixels
Heart rateYes
Battery18 hours
Waterproof50m
Case size44/40mm
Weight33g (44mm), 28g (45mm)

In terms of sheer value, the Apple Watch SE (2022 model) is comfortably the best Apple Watch for most people, offering all the key Apple Watch features for a price that’s more palatable than its Series 8 and Ultra siblings.

Despite its lower price, it shares the same latest-gen processor for slick operation, with all the sleep, fitness, exercise and GPS- sports tracking you’ll need.

Throw in its unmistakable Apple Watch design, app support, Apple Pay, and more, it’s clear to see why the Apple Watch SE is regarded to be the best choice for most iPhone owners.


Best running watch with Wear OS

Best GPS sports watch: Garmin Fenix 7

6. Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5

Stuff Verdict

A long-lasting WearOS watch that looks the part and has a big fitness focus – but some software holes remain and long-term support is unknown.

Pros

  • Clever dual screen brings brilliant battery life
  • Consistently quick performance
  • Digital crown makes for easy interaction

Cons

  • Goes overboard on own-brand apps
  • No digital assistant at launch, or WearOS 4 upgrade plans
  • One size and design choice
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 specs
Display1.43in OLED, 466×466 pixels
Heart rateYes
Battery80 hours (normal), 45 days (Essential mode)
Waterproof5ATM
Case size50mm
Weight44.4g

Mobvoi’s TicWatch Pro 5 is one of the most powerful smartwatches around, thanks to the latest generation Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear W5+ processor. All that power makes for a slick and smooth experience, with all the GPS-tracking sports and fitness features you’ll need to keep you in tip-top shape.

With a premium build and seriously impressive battery life (for a smartwatch) due to a clever dual-screen design, it’s one of the best GPS watches around right now, with a suitable price tag to match.

If you can get past its large size and lack of a digital assistant, it’s easily one of the best choices for those looking for an Android-friendly GPS watch.


Best running watch for heart-rate tracking

Best GPS sports watch: Polar Vantage V2

7. Polar Vantage V2

Stuff Verdict

A multi-sport training tool that looks good and has the tracking chops to match

Pros

  • Excellent battery life
  • Smooth interface

Cons

  • No Apple Health/Google Fit syncing
  • Limited app support
Polar Vantage V2 specs
Display1.2in MIP touchscreen, 240×240 pixels
Heart rateYes
Battery7 days (watch), 40 hours (training mode)
Waterproof100m
Case size47mm
Weight52g

Polar’s Vantage V2 might look like just another tracking ticker, but don’t let its polished shell fool you: the V2 is a comprehensive training tool, designed to log your workouts and then guide you through recovery.

While it’s lightweight at 52g, the Polar’s refined curves belie a tough build: fronted by laminated Gorilla Glass, the aluminium casing is waterproof down to 100m. And though its 1.2in display isn’t the sharpest or brightest, it is big and clear enough to be easily readable on the run.

Pursue a different discipline every weekend of the year and the Vantage V2 will still have a mode to track it. You’ll find 130 activity profiles in the Polar Flow app, up to 20 of which can be loaded onto the V2 at a time. Outdoor activities can be tracked using GPS, with a reliable heart-rate monitor logging your effort.

The app provides no shortage of stats to digest, while the watch itself can suggest the right exercises for your active recovery. There’s not much to customise and there’s no app catalogue to speak of. But as a purist’s training tool with a solid 40-hour battery life, the Vantage V2 is a tough GPS sports watch to beat.


Best premium running watch

Best GPS sports watch: Garmin Fenix 7

8. Huawei Watch Ultimate

Stuff Verdict

Made from materials you’d usually expect from traditional watchmakers, the Watch Ultimate is gorgeous – and packed with smarts too. It might be overkill for most, though.

Pros

  • Outstanding materials and build quality
  • Among the best wearables for battery life

Cons

  • Companion app makes you jump through hoops to set up
  • Limited app support and no music streaming
Huawei Watch Ultimate specs
Display1.5in AMOLED touchscreen, 466×466 pixels
Heart rateYes
Battery14 days
Waterproof10ATM
Case size49mm
Weight76g

Ultimate in both name and nature, Huawei’s premium smartwatch offering has a lot going for it. It’s beautiful, for a start, with a zirconium-based liquid metal build that pushes it into luxurious territory unmatched by practically any of its peers.

Build aside, its near-50mm size might be too large for some wrists, but if you can overlook that, then there’s no shortage of features. In addition to all the latest health monitoring like heart rate and ECG, it’s rated for all sorts of diving shenanigans, with key stats like oxygen partial pressure, safety stop times, and more on offer.

GPS tracking is present for landlubbers, while a seriously impressive battery life is another boon. Its only major downside, apart from the lofty price tag, is the fact that you have to jump through a few hoops to download Huawei’s app, and things like contactless payment might not work where you are. If you’re after a truly premium GPS watch experience though, the Ultimate needs to be on your shortlist.


Best cheap running watch

 Coros Apex 2 on wrist

9. Coros Apex 2

Stuff Verdict

A good multi-sports all-rounder and bang-for-buck, the best of the Apex 2 bunch.

Pros

  • Big battery life
  • Compact and light
  • Comprehensive training insights

Cons

  • No turn-by-turn navigation
  • Price hike
  • No music streaming
Coros Apex 2 specs
Display1.2in LCD, 240×240 pixels
Heart rateYes
Battery17 days (GPS 45 hours)
Waterproof50m
Case size42mm
Weight42g

Coros’ Apex 2 impressed us with its larger battery, which should be good for around 17 days of use in between charges, or an impressive 45 hours in GPS mode. It also has improved HRV/ECG skills thanks to a newer sensor, while nailing things on the multi-sports tracking and stat delivery front too.

It has an LCD display rather than a punchier AMOLED alternative, but we can forgive that omission thanks to the aforementioned battery life. It’s always-on too, which means no messing around with wrist flicks or button taps just to see the time.

The pricier Apex 2 Pro edges out ahead for GPS and heart rate accuracy, but don’t let that fool you — this is still one of the most formidable sport watches on our list.


Best running watch for general health tracking

Fitbit Sense on wrist

10. Fitbit Sense

Stuff Verdict

Ambitious with mixed results, the Fitbit Sense is still a fairly well-rounded smartwatch with a few innovative health features

Pros

  • Excellent battery life
  • Smooth interface

Cons

  • No Apple Health/Google Fit syncing
  • Limited app support
Fitbit Sense specs
Display1.58in OLED touchscreen, 336×336 pixels
Heart rateYes
Battery6+ days
Waterproof50m
Case size40.5mm
Weight46g

In a world where your watch is the first line of defence against health complications, Fitbit was the first to ship one with an electrodermal activity sensor, capable of monitoring your stress levels. Add an ECG app and on-wrist skin temperature sensor to Fitbit’s classic all-day activity tracking and the Sense shapes up as a comprehensive wellness tool.

With styling similar to the Versa 2, it adopts a rounded-square face that’s subtle enough to be wearable in the office, but sufficiently unique to have some personality. It’s impressively light, comfortable to wear and benefits from a nice OLED display, although the single capacitive button is a source of frustration.

Getting the most out of the Fitbit Sense requires commitment. If you’re happy to invest vast amounts of health data, you’ll be rewarded with a landslide of feedback and analysis. The app delivers a detailed breakdown of everything from stress factors to sleep scores, but you’ll need a Fitbit Premium subscription to access more advanced insights.

Battery life comes in at a solid six days on average, which only makes the so-so overall performance more disappointing. It’s not consistently smooth in use, often feeling a little underpowered in the processor department.


Also if you’re looking for the best workout headphones, we’ve got a selection for you to check out, too.

How to choose the best running watch for you

Not all activity watches are created equal. Some are sporting purebreds, designed to log your activity data alone. Others introduce a few smart features – think offline music and support for limited third-party services such as Strava – while only the full-fat smartwatches deliver a complete catalogue of apps and connectivity options. That’s where Stuff’s wearable experts come in, to help make your buying decision that little bit easier. Here are a few things to consider:

Route choice
GPS sports watches can log where you jog and track where you cycle. The accuracy and detail will normally depend on which of the standard satellite systems a watch supports; the best options will play nicely with several. Not sure which path to take? A number of the best sports watches also support offline maps and wrist-based navigation.

Tough choice
Most sports watches are built tough to some degree. That usually means waterproofing to at least 50m, plus a case sturdy enough to survive everyday bumps. If you’re a fan of particularly rugged pursuits, it’s worth choosing something more durable. The hardiest wristwear keeps ticking at 100m below the waves.

Multiple choice
Heart-rate monitors feature on the majority of sports watches. But the measurement of other metrics depends on the model in question. The best tickers can track your blood oxygen levels, keep an eye on your heart rate variability and even take echocardiograms, to confirm your blood pump’s tickety-boo.

Cell choice
Battery life varies wildly from watch to watch. Extra skills often come at the expense of battery life, which means smartwatches tend to top out at 24 hours. Models in the middle can offer several days of connected tracking, while pared-back options are usually good for weeks. Certain sports watches now also include solar recharging, for theoretically endless battery life.

If you’re after a more generic smartwatch, check out our guide to the best smartwatches as well, and if you’re looking to completely update your workout gear, read about the best workout shoes and the best running shoes.

How we test the best running watches

Our experienced roster of expert reviewers have put every single GPS watch on this list (quite literally) through their paces. In other words, you can trust us when it comes to recommending the best running watch to buy.

We tend to spend at least a week reviewing GPS watches, which includes testing out the software, features, build, and comfort, as well as real-world battery life.

Given that GPS watches also double up as smartwatches/fitness trackers, we also review those features as well for an overall, reliable portrayal of what you can expect if you decide to pull the trigger on a particular model.

For more information on Stuff’s rating and review process, read our page on how we test products.

Profile image of Chris Rowlands Chris Rowlands Freelance contributor

About

Formerly News Editor at this fine institution, Chris now writes about tech from his tropical office. Sidetracked by sustainable stuff, he’s also keen on coffee kit, classic cars and any gear that gets better with age.

Areas of expertise

Cameras, gear and travel tech