Need a new running watch? Here are 8 of the very best

Want to take your workout and running routine to the next level? Then, it’s time to invest in a high-quality running watch.

This is because the best running watches provide all of the features and functionality needed to track your progress and make improvements in real-time.

If you’re ready to fine-tune your pace, stamina levels and more, we’ve got you covered. Here, you can shop our editor-approved list of the best running watches for every kind of athlete and budget.

Be prepared to hit your next PR on race day with one of these smart trackers.

Read more: Need new sneakers? Shop classic styles for men

Explore our watch list

Amazfit Band 5 Activity Fitness Tracker with Alexa Built-in

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$38.98 at Walmart

iTouch Air 3

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$49.99 at Amazon

Garmin Forerunner 645 Music

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$399 at Amazon

Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker

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$58.50 at Walmart

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Top running watches for every fitness level

Step into the world of smart fitness with our list of the best running watches. From high-end brands to budget-friendly choices, we've got you covered.

Amazfit Band 5 Activity Fitness Tracker with Alexa Built-in

$38.98

$38.98 at Walmart

$39.99 at Amazon

Specifications

• Material: Silicon

• Size: 6.4 to 9.3 in / 162 to 235 mm

• Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi

• Battery life: Up to 15 days

Pros & Cons

• Includes sleep and menstrual cycle tracker

• 5 atmospheres (ATM) water resistance grade

• Small screen display

The Amazfit Band 5 is an all-around fitness tracker that offers a perfect mix of fitness and smart features. After reviewing it thoroughly, our editors say this is one of the best running watches — thanks to its affordable price, top-tier performance and accuracy. 

Praised for its solid battery life in numerous reviews, this device can stay powered for up to 15 days on a single charge. Whether you're going for a jog or hitting the gym, the Amazfit Band 5 has got you covered with its 11 built-in sports modes that track the distance, speed, heart rate changes and other workout data.

One of the many standout features of the Amazfit Band 5 is its compatibility with Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa. From setting alarms, creating shopping lists, checking the weather, to controlling your smart home devices, you can do it all hands-free. 

This running watch also supports health tracking features like monitoring blood oxygen saturation, 24/7 heart rate and sleep patterns.

iTouch Air 3

You save $45.01 (47.38%)

$49.99$95

$49.99 at Amazon

$59.99 at Walmart

Specifications

• Material: Silicone and metal

• Size: 40 mm

• Connectivity: Bluetooth

• Battery life: Up to 7 days

Pros & Cons

• Compatible with smartphone (Android or iOS)

• Features interchangeable bands

• Some reviewers noted subpar battery life

Offering fitness fanatics the benefits of a health-monitoring device combined with the practicalities of a digital run mate, the iTouch Air 3 is a running watch worth considering. 

The centerpiece of its offerings is its continuous 24/7 heart rate monitor, perfect for expecting mothers to keep tabs on their body's responses during physical activities. On top of this, the smartwatch offers convenient features, such as sports and workout modes, fitness goal setting — and hydration reminders for comprehensive health management.

Whether you're running in the park or taking a brisk walk in the neighborhood, the GPS-enabled functionality allows you to track your distance seamlessly. The device is also water-resistant to 1 meter, so a splash of rain won't stop you.

The iTouch Air 3 boasts high ratings thanks to its versatility, user-friendly interface and durability. Irrespective of your Android or iOS device, this smartwatch is compatible, adding to the convenience factor.

Garmin Forerunner 645 Music

$399

$399 at Amazon

Specifications

• Material: Corning gorilla glass 3, stainless steel bezel, silicone strap

• Size: 42.5 x 42.5 x 13.5 mm

• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, ANT+

• Battery life: Up to 7 days in smartwatch mode, 5 hours in GPS mode with music

Pros & Cons

• Can store up to 500 songs 

• Boasts contactless Garmin Pay function

• Using music function may impact battery life

The Garmin Forerunner 645 Music is not just a smartwatch, but a personal running coach, activity tracker and music player all rolled into one sleek package. 

With support for multiple GPS networks including GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, you're guaranteed accurate tracking during your runs. And it offers advanced running dynamics, performance monitoring tools and wrist-based heart rate monitoring.

The watch is highly praised for accurate satellite tracking, comprehensive activity and sleep tracking, and a highly customizable display. Also, it's a breeze to operate, with multiple button functions that offer an array of features and reports.

The Forerunner's lightweight design ensures you'll hardly feel it on your wrist, whether you're exercising or just going about your day. Despite its myriad features, its battery life is quite impressive, lasting up to seven days in smartwatch mode and five hours in GPS mode with music playback.

Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker

You save $24.92 (29.87%)

$58.50$83.42

$58.50 at Walmart

Specifications

• Material: Durable plastic and rubber

• Size: One size, with an additional strap for larger wrists

• Connectivity: Bluetooth

• Battery life: Up to 10 days

Pros & Cons

• Water-resistant up to 50 meters

• Impressive battery life

• Touchscreen can be finicky

The Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker is an affordable, feature-packed device that is perfect for those wanting to keep track of their health and fitness. This tracker is equipped with 24/7 heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking — and over 20 exercise modes to help you reach your weekly activity goals.

Connectivity is a breeze with Bluetooth. And with up to 10 days of battery life, you won't have to worry about constant charging. Plus, it comes with a one-year premium membership to Fitbit's app, offering health and fitness insights.

Many users appreciate the wealth of data it provides, especially for tracking sleep, exercise, water and calorie consumption. The screen can be difficult to see outdoors, but the accompanying app makes it easy to view your stats on your phone.

The Fitbit Inspire 2 is a valuable tool for anyone looking to improve their health and fitness. Its durable design, long battery life and comprehensive tracking features make it a standout choice for athletes.

Letsfit IW1 Smart Watch

$50.99

$50.99 at Walmart

Specifications

• Material: TPU, plastic

• Size: Adjustable from 5.7 to 8.1 in

• Connectivity: Bluetooth

• Battery life: Not specified

Pros & Cons

• 14 sports modes

• All-day activity tracking

• Some user concerns over strap longevity

The Letsfit Smartwatch Fitness Tracker is a reasonably priced digital companion offering more features than just basic step counting. With its impressive SpO2 blood oxygen measurement, you can gain deeper insights into your health.

The watch consistently tracks your daily activity, including steps taken and calories burned. The Connected GPS feature can be activated on your mobile device to track routes you've traveled during your run, perfect for those after trackable progress. The integrated all-day heart rate monitoring helps you keep a close eye on your cardiac health.

Want to know how well you're sleeping? This watch has you covered. It tracks your sleep patterns and even your blood oxygen saturation throughout the night. The smart notifications feature will keep you in touch with the world, sending messages and alerts straight to your wrist.

One of the watch’s standout features is its IP68 water resistance. No worries about getting wet and enjoy your workouts worry-free – rain or shine. Also, its lightweight design offers a comfortable wearing experience, which users have compared to the top-tier Apple Watch, but at a fraction of the cost.

Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Apple Watch Series 7

$289.99

$289.99 at Best Buy

Specifications

• Material: Aluminium

• Size: 45mm 

• Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi

• Battery life: Not specified

Pros & Cons

• Features blood oxygen and heart rate monitor

• Allows for making instant Apple Pay payments

• Refurbished tech may have minor scratches or smudges

For those who are tech enthusiasts or simply need a running watch with advanced features, the Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Apple Watch Series 7 may be the perfect fit. This watch is not just a timepiece, it's like having a mini iPhone on your wrist with its impressive connectivity options, including Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS.

The watch offers the most sizeable Always-on Retina display in Apple's repertoire, so you can easily see your workout stats when you're hitting the pavement. Durable and more crack-resistant than ever, it's designed not just for runs, but also other workouts such as pilates and yoga, and has a swim-proof design.

You can track your daily activities, as well as your blood oxygen levels, and heart rate, making it an ideal option for holistic health management.  As for performance, this watch has received excellent ratings overall, with users praising its updated features and longer battery life. And you can listen to your favorite music or podcast via the watch while out for a run

The savings you get from buying refurbished is just the cherry on top.

WZWNEER Fitness Tracker Answer/Make Call

You save $34.00 (42.51%)

$45.99$79.99

$45.99 at Amazon

Specifications

• Material: Durable Plastic and Silicone

• Size: Not specified

• Connectivity: Bluetooth

• Battery life: Not specified

Pros & Cons

• Data can be synchronized to your phone for analysis

• Similar aesthetic to the trendy Apple Watch

• Some reviewers complain about charger functionality

The Fitness Tracker Answer/Make Call is more than just a time-telling device. This top running watch comes fully equipped with an impressive array of over 28 sports modes, making it adaptable to many different fitness activities. 

As an added plus, it boasts an IP68 waterproof level, making it suitable for swimming — and it’ll stay protected if you get caught in the rain.

True to its name, this smartwatch defies the traditional scope of fitness tracking by integrating smart notification reminders. So, you no longer need to miss those crucial texts or calls when on a run as the notifications are seamlessly pushed to your wrist.

Another striking feature is the watch's ability to operate round the clock, providing health monitoring. This is especially crucial when taking on high-intensity workouts as it provides real-time metrics on heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. Moreover, it goes the extra mile in sleep tracking, helping you to monitor your sleep in detail.

Additionally, it’s compatible with both iOS (9.0+) and Android (4.4+). Plus, the watch features a 1.7-inch screen that can be personalized to your liking with different watch faces.

Garmin 010-02156-00 Forerunner 45s

You save $68.89 (34.45%)

$131.10$199.99

$131.10 at Walmart

Specifications

• Material: Silicone

• Size: Not specified

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 

• Battery life: Up to 7 days in smartwatch mode; 14 hours in GPS mode

Pros & Cons

• Compatible with Apple iOS, Windows Mobile and Android

• Easy to operate 

• Does not support indoor biking

Garmin Forerunner 45s is an incredibly versatile GPS-running watch perfect for those who want a balance of style and functionality. This smaller-sized, easy-to-use watch features a heart rate monitor at the wrist and a GPS to track your pace, distance, intervals and more.

Designed with your convenience in mind, it works with Garmin Coach Adaptive training plans, bringing personalized training right to your wrist. Stay connected with smart notifications for incoming texts and calls along with automatic uploads to the Garmin Connect online community and on-the-go music controls on your paired compatible smartphone.

Forerunner 45s does a phenomenal job of tracking your exercise. From running to cycling, indoor track to aerobics, you can monitor various activities to observe your progress. Also, despite its compact size, it doesn't compromise on safety. The watch has a built-in incident detection feature during select activities, sending your real-time location to your emergency contacts through your smartphone.

Which running watches get our vote?

When it comes to delivering maximum value, our top vote goes to the Amazfit Band 5 Activity Fitness Tracker and the iTouch Air 3. 

Both devices are packed with features beyond your basic fitness tracking and offer a high value-to-cost ratio, a key determinant in their favor. 

Whether you're new to running or an experienced marathoner, these watches will enhance your fitness journey.

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Prices updated on 09/20/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.