Whether you’re aiming for your first 5K or looking to take on an ultramarathon, having a great running watch to hand can make all the difference, and we know which ones are best.
Running is one of the most accessible forms of exercise out there – with no price of entry to contend with, and the fact that it’s one of the best workouts for strengthening your cardiovascular ability, it’s no wonder why it’s so popular.
With that said, it can help to know a bit more about how your body performs during a run and when you’re at your best, to aim for a new personal record. These features, and plenty more, are exactly what you can find on a dedicated running watch.
We’ve put countless running watches to the test to find out which ones are worth your hard-earned cash, using our expertise to put together this buying guide.
If you want an overview of the current wearable market, you may be better suited to our best smartwatch guide, while those on a budget should check out our round-up of the best cheap smartwatches. We’ve also got specific guides for the best Wear OS watch, best fitness tracker, best Fitbit, best Samsung Galaxy watch, and the best Garmin watch to cover all bases.
Best Running Watch at a Glance
- Best overall: Garmin Forerunner 970
- Best for serious runners and athletes: Garmin Fenix 9 Pro
- Best for battery life: Garmin Enduro 3
- Best entry-level running watch: Garmin Forerunner 170 Music
- Best mid-level running watch: Suunto Run
- Best for Wear OS: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
- Best for trail running: Garmin Instinct 3
- Best cheap running watch: Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro
- Best Garmin alternative: Coros Pace Pro
- Best for running advice: Huawei Watch GT Runner 2
- Best for beginners: Coros Pace 4
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Find out more about how we test running watches
Every running watch we test is used by the reviewer for at least a week – or longer, if the battery life lasts beyond that point or we need more time to trial its features. During testing, we evaluate key metrics including app support, usability, battery life, and the accuracy of fitness and distance tracking.
For distance tracking, we assess how accurately the device records runs on tracks we know the length of. We also evaluate the level of battery life lost per hour using features such as built-in or connected GPS. To check heart rate accuracy, we compare the results from the wearable to a dedicated HRM strap.
Next, we combine the data recorded with our general experience of using the wearable day-to-day, revealing whether the device proved comfortable to wear, alongside any issues we may have encountered with unexpected bugs over the review period.
Best overall
Garmin Forerunner 970
The best for serious runners and athletes
Garmin Fenix 9 Pro
The best for battery life
Garmin Enduro 3
Best entry-level running watch
Garmin Forerunner 170 Music
Best mid-level running watch
Suunto Run
Best for Wear OS
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
Best for trail running
Garmin Instinct 3
Best cheap running watch
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro
Best Garmin alternative
Coros Pace Pro review
Best for running advice
Huawei Watch GT Runner 2
Best for beginners
Coros Pace 4
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