Best Running Watch 2025: Perfect for 5Ks and marathons

With a price tag of £629.99/$749.99, the Garmin Forerunner 970 will be a bit too pricey for beginners who just need a simple and affordable fitness tracker to keep tabs on their progress, but if you’re a seasoned runner after a robust wearable that can deliver all of the essential data required to pinpoint areas where you can improve to beat your personal bests, then the 970 is too good to pass up.

Unlike a lot of the Forerunners of old, the 970 boasts a gorgeous AMOLED display. Having the brighter panel means that the screen is just as easy to read outdoors as it is in moments of low light. It also makes data a great deal easier to read on the go without having to defer to your smartphone and the Garmin app.

When it comes to running data, the Forerunner 970 left us wanting for very little. On top of excellent heart rate tracking and the metrics that we’ve come to expect, you can now also dive into your speed loss, running economy and running tolerance. However, it is worth mentioning that running economy and speed loss can only be tracked if you also have the Garmin HRM-600 heart rate monitor in tow, although it’s arguably a pairing worth having if you are invested in reaching your full running potential.

One area where previous Garmin watches tend to fall short against the competition in the realm of smart features, but the Forerunner 970 does some excellent work to plug the gap here. Not only can you now take calls directly on the watch itself via Bluetooth, the redesigned UI feels far more in line with what you’d expect from a modern smartwatch, with easily accessible menus and a health dashboard that lets you know in a pinch whether you need to prioritise rest of exertion.

The watch also features Garmin’s new and improved Gen 5 optical sensor which brings ECG measurements and skin temperature tracking into the mix, both of which are crucial for picking up on any signs of heart arrhythmia and changes to your skin overnight that might indicate larger issues.

For the longest time it was the outstanding Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) that held this spot but that’s changed since the Garmin Fenix 8 hit the scene, bringing much of what made the former so great, but into the Fenix range.

The biggest update is the inclusion of an AMOLED display. While there is a more traditional memory-in-pixel option that offers better battery life, the AMOLED display is easily the more preferable of the two as it makes the watch far easier to read when running in the dark. Speaking of which, the inclusion of a flashlight on the front of the Fenix 8 makes it incredibly helpful when running in areas that don’t see a lot of natural or artificial light, helping you to avoid hazards.

Before you head out on the trail, you can now put down the exact distance that you would like to cover and if anything gets in your way, such as a road closure, then the Fenix 8 will reroute you on the go to make sure that you reach your desired distance. This is a huge boon for anyone training for a marathon, as it keeps you locked in with your goals.

Much like any Garmin watch, the Fenix 8 also boasts stellar heart rate tracking and plenty of metrics to dive into after a workout. The only major setback is that with a starting price of £869.99/$999.99, the Garmin Fenix 8 will be out of the price range for many consumers, but if you can swing it, then you’ll receive one of the absolute best running watches in return.

As much as we love the Garmin Fenix 8, if you’re an ultramarathon runner who needs a long-lasting watch that can actually go the distance, then the Garmin Enduro 3 really is your best bet.

This chunky watch uses traditional charging alongside a built-in solar panel to keep the battery topped up, allowing it to run for up to 90 days in smartwatch mode, or 320 hours when GPS tracking is toggled. Whether you’ve got a long hike planned or a race in the great outdoors, the Enduro 3 won’t let you down where battery is concerned.

In fact, the solar charging has now been made more efficient over the Garmin Enduro 2, with the use of Power Sapphire glass lens technology, making better use of those sunny days. When the sun goes down however, the built-in flashlight (which can also be found on the Fenix 8 and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2) can lead the way.

The trade-off for the Enduro 3’s outstanding battery life is the lack of an AMOLED display, which is where Garmin presents the Fenix 8 as an alternative for those who want the flashier screen tech. If you’re not bothered by all that however and you just want a watch that can keep up, you won’t find a better option than the Enduro 3.

Fitbit has long been adding useful features with each iteration of its popular Charge series but it’s in the Fitbit Charge 6 that the company took a major leap. With Fitbit now under the ownership of Google, the Charge 6 has made full use of the acquisition with several helpful features.

The two biggest improvements arrive in the form of support for Google Wallet and Google Maps. This means that if you want to grab a quick post-run coffee but you’ve left your phone at home, you can complete that transaction solely on the Charge 6.

The same can’t be said for Google Maps, but it is handy to have as a means of quickly navigating where you need to go next if you’re running on a route that’s unfamiliar to you. There’s also support for YouTube Music controls on the device itself.

Throw all of these additions onto the already fantastic Fitbit ecosystem and GPS route tracking, and you’re looking at one of the most fleshed-out wearables within the sub-£200 end of the market.

Even though Garmin tends to dominate the conversation when it comes to running watches, Suunto has shown yet again that it is a force to be reckoned with in the very well-priced Suunto Run. If you’re after an inexpensive watch that still offers up many of the key features that runners love to have, then you’ll get on well here.

While the watch will only set you back £199, you’re getting a gorgeous 1.32-inch AMOLED display that’s very easy to look at when you’re outdoors. The screen is also a nice size for navigating through menus and reading workout data on your wrist, so there’s a lot to like here on a visual level.

In spite of its use of AMOLED technology, the Suunto Run still manages to beat out a fair amount of the competition on longevity. It’s possible to get up to 12 days of use from a single charge, so if you do wear the watch overnight as a sleep tracker, you won’t have to worry about waking up to a battery warning.

When you are feeling well rested and ready to hit the track, the Suunto Run uses dual-band GPS tracking to build an accurate record of your chosen route. Having GPS tracking onboard also means that you can leave your phone at home, which is helpful for runners who don’t like to be bogged down by extra tech.

When you want to hit the weights or a different type of cardio exercise, you have plenty of other workouts that can be tracked by the Suunto Run, including indoor rowing and swimming. There’s also a built-in music player for listening to audio files offline as you work up a sweat.

Taking plenty of cues from its closest competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra finally offers up a flagship Wear OS experience in the way that the Apple Watch Ultra did for watchOS.

With a titanium chassis that has military grade durability and is also waterproof up to 10ATM (100 metres), this is a watch that isn’t playing around, and it’ll be more than ready to handle whatever elements you’re up against when out running.

The battery can also last for about two days on a single charge, which gives it quite the advantage over standard Galaxy Watches. With that said, battery life wasn’t always consistent in our testing, and if you’re looking for a watch that can track an entire marathon whilst playing music offline, you’re probably better suited with something like the Garmin Enduro 3.

Outside of those instances however, the Galaxy Watch Ultra still knocks it out of the park on the key bits that all runners care about. Dual-band GNSS ensures a strong connection and accurate outdoor tracking, while the heart rate sensor did a great job when paired up with a dedicated HRM monitor.

One caveat to bear in mind though is that results for blood oxygen and blood pressure tracking are only available if you have a Samsung phone to pair the watch with, which feels a bit unfair if you’re using a fully capable smartphone from the likes of Google or OnePlus.

Still, the software experience elsewhere is solid. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is among the first wearables out there to ship with Wear OS 5 out of the box, so you get to use the latest version of Google’s operating system with all of its bells and whistles. That means key apps like Google Maps, WhatsApp and Google Wallet on your wrist, which is something that Garmin can’t offer.

It almost goes without saying but no other watch on this list can compete with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 where software is concerned. Apple’s watchOS remains the gold standard for wearable software thanks to its intuitive UI and the presence of countless third-party apps in its dedicated app store.

It’s also a no-brainer for anyone with an iPhone as you’ll spot plenty of seamless integration between the two devices, and that’s before mentioning additional benefits like onboard Siri and fast pairing with other Apple products like the AirPods Pro 2.

With all of that said however, there isn’t much point in picking this device up if you already own the first-gen Apple Watch Ultra. Similar to Apple’s approach with the Apple Watch 9 which was released at the same time, this watch is incredibly iterative with only three major upgrades to speak of: a brighter display, a faster chipset and the new Double Tap interaction.

Those features aren’t quite enough to justify an upgrade from the Apple Watch Ultra, but if this is your foray into the Ultra series, or even your first-ever Apple Watch, then the Ultra 2 is easy to recommend.

That brighter display (now 3000 nits instead of 1000 nits) is incredibly easy to read outdoors and it makes the torch function even handier when you’re running on darker trails. The new S9 chip, aside from allowing the Watch to feel faster during everyday use, now paves the way for specific on-device Siri responses, avoiding the delay that comes with pinging your requests over to your phone first.

The Double Tap feature sees Apple expand upon one of its accessibility concepts by allowing you to interact with certain apps simply by double-tapping your thumb and forefinger together. This means that you can answer calls or stop timers, all without needing to touch the display which, during heavier workouts, is handy for keeping sweat away from the display.

Bear in mind that, just like its predecessor, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 doesn’t exactly topple the competition where battery life is concerned but for everything else it’s right at the top of the pack.

Garmin and Fitbit may be the go-to reference points in the public discourse surrounding fitness trackers and running watches but Coros has been gradually making a case for its own line of wearables and the Coros Apex 2 shows exactly why the company is a force to be reckoned with.

For starters, the Apex 2 features a part-titanium chassis with a robust sapphire display, both of which are rare for wearables around the same price point. What this means is that if you’re the type of person who worries about getting scratches on your smartwatch or accidentally knocking the device during a workout, then the Apex 2 can give you peace of mind with the ability to withstand a fair amount.

As great as the watch’s durability is, it’s not the only reason why you should consider it over a Garmin. In accordance with the Coros app, the Apex 2 can offer up a near dizzying amount of metrics and you can also programme a workout routine on your phone which is then ready to be viewed whenever you need on your wrist.

All of these metrics don’t come at the cost of battery life either, as the Apex 2 can still manage to crack on for up to 17 days on a single charge, making it ideal for anyone looking to head off on a long hike.

Part of that outstanding battery life is owed to the transflective LCD screen which, even though it isn’t quite as snazzy as an AMOLED display, is by its very nature easier to read outdoors which is exactly what you want when out on a run.

The key issue holding the Apex 2 back from greatness is the on-the-watch map system which just isn’t as intuitive or easy to populate as it is on Garmin devices. If you already know the routes that you plan on running however then this won’t be much of an issue.

If you’re looking for a running watch that is well-suited to smaller wrists, the Garmin Forerunner 265s is a fantastic choice. The smartwatch sits below the top-end Forerunner 965 but offers more advanced training metrics and features than the budget-oriented Forerunner 55.

The Forerunner 265s sports a 41.7mm case, keeping it small and light on the wrist. The watch has five physical buttons and is paired with an 18mm quick-release silicone band available in three colours.

Unlike our best mid-level running watch, the Garmin Forerunner 255, the 256s boasts a small 1.1-inch AMOLED display with a 360 x 360 resolution, an always-on mode and raise-to-wake gesture support. The screen is built from tough Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and is incredibly vibrant with deep blacks and rich, accurate colours

While the Forerunner 265s is primarily designed to support runners, the wearable also offers some swimming, cycling and indoor workout tracking capabilities. There are even profiles for skiing and snowboarding, as well as a dedicated triathlon mode.

For running, the Forerunner 265s is excellent. The wearable is small and lightweight to run with and the screen makes it easy to view and customise your stats in real-time. Many of the running features are the same as those found on the 255, including the Sat IQ and multiband GPS technology which ensure you’re using the best GPS tracking option for any environment. We found this feature performed well against similar features on the Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin’s own Forerunner 965.

Treadmill runs perform similarly well and there’s the option to calibrate the watch to ensure it offers accurate tracking on future runs.

The Garmin Coach feature allows you to sync running-focussed workouts on the watch and there’s the option to upload routes for breadcrumb-style navigation (for more complete mapping, opt for a pricier Garmin watch). Other features include the race predictor and PacePro pacing strategies, while Training Readiness offers insight based on heart rate variability, sleep quality, recovery and training load to let you know whether you should be training that day or taking a day off to rest.

Despite the new AMOLED screen, the battery life is still very good, offering up to 15 days of use in smartwatch mode with the always-on screen deactivated and up to 24 hours when using the optimal GPS tracking mode.

That Garmin Forerunner 265s may be a bit pricier than the Forerunner 255 with its coloured AMOLED display, but it’s nevertheless a great running watch and perfectly-sized for smaller wrists.

Ask anyone, even runners who are just starting out, and they’ll agree that not all types of running require the same kit. For instance, running on a treadmill is different to running at your local park, which in turn is a world away from trail running. On the latter, you’ll need a wearable that’s not only durable and long-lasting, but also needs a strong GPS connection as well as safety features in case of any trouble. Packing all of those factors and then some is the excellent Garmin Instinct 3.

The big upgrade over its predecessor is the addition of an AMOLED display. This fits in line with Garmin’s current strategy to move on from the low power memory-in-pixel style displays of old (aside from on battery behemoths like the Garmin Enduro 3). Having AMOLED on board makes it easier to read what’s on screen, particularly after the sun goes down, and it’s not a massive knock to battery life either as you can still get up to 18-days of use in smartwatch mode.

When you’re out on the trail, the Instinct 3 benefits from Garmin’s new multi-band GPS technology which allows for a stronger connection and more accurate tracking. At the expense of some accuracy, you can also use the Expedition GPS mode which can extend the duration of tracking by up to several days or even a week.

There’s a built-in LED flashlight on the Garmin Instinct 3 which, while handy for finding things without needing to switch on a light, can also prove essential if you take a wrong turn and need to signal for help.

It is worth mentioning that there is no touchscreen support whatsoever on the Garmin Instinct 3, relegating controls entirely to the physical buttons surrounding the display. During workouts this is less of an issue as you’d want to avoid smudging the screen anyway, but it definitely takes some getting used to when away from the track.

If your budget doesn’t stretch beyond £100/$100 then there isn’t too much choice at this end of the market, particularly with wearables that include untethered GPS tracking. Luckily, it’s not a complete wipeout as the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro not only packs this feature, it actually does a decent job of quickly establishing a connection and staying accurate in its results.

In our review, we found that the Band 8 Pro was comparable to the much pricier Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) in this area, making it a great shout for anyone who wants to keep tabs on their route performance without paying premium prices.

Heart rate monitoring isn’t quite as accurate as the GPS performance, but the device is bolstered by a long battery life of up to 14 days, not to mention its fairly stylish design and gorgeous 1.74-inch AMOLED display. For a price that doesn’t break the bank, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro holds up incredibly well.

While Garmin feels like the default name in the world of running watches, and those toting an iPhone may be tempted to side with an Apple Watch for simplicity, it’s worth remembering that Polar has been offering great alternatives to the running crowd for several years now, and the Polar Vantage M3 keeps that tradition going. This is very much a fully featured wearable that comes in at a reasonable price to boot.

The big upgrade over its predecessor is the introduction of an AMOLED display which moves away from the somewhat outdated (if battery efficient) memory in pixel screen of old. Not only does the new colour vibrancy make everything from watch faces to menus pop onscreen, it also makes the display much easier to read in darker settings which is great for those who love to get in a run after dark.

The screen itself is also slightly larger at 1.28-inches, so there’s more room for crucial mid-workout data to sprawl out. Speaking of which, the Vantage M3 is now able to track your blood oxygen levels which is essential for understanding your body’s overall bill of health and how well it’s recovering between workouts.

Women’s health tracking has also been given a boost thanks to the inclusion of skin temperature tracking, which plays a key role in monitoring fluctuations during the menstrual cycle to see when you’ve ovulated. For active runners who want to plan their routine around their cycle, or are looking to conceive, this is a huge boon.

The biggest upgrade for all runners however is the addition of dual-band GPS tracking. With this feature, the Vantage M3 can maintain a stronger connection during an average run, so even if you’re passing through a wooded area where trees could be getting in the way, it’s far less likely that your connection is going to drop out. For poring over your running performance after the fact, having a stronger GPS connection is a must-buy feature, and you can even store maps offline for turn-by-turn navigation.

Given that the Coros Pace 3 was an instant hit with our tech experts and an easy option to recommend for runners who wanted something different to the likes of Garmin or Apple, it was always going to be a tough act to follow. However, Coros should be given its due as the more powerful Coros Pace Pro builds upon those foundations and adds a solid amount of extras that any runner can appreciate.

The headline feature here is that the Pace Pro is capable of running for up to 20-days at a time before needing to be charged up. Of course, whether or not you hit that 20-day mark depends on how you use the watch in question, but even when toggling the always-on display, we were still able to get up to six days of use which far exceeds what you’ll get with the Apple Watch Series 11 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

For the runners who like to go beyond the local park and seek out trails that really require some effort to complete, you’ll be glad to know that the Pace Pro includes free downloadable maps as part of its software. It’s a simple case of downloading them via the Coros app and then sending them to the watch, at which point you can get turn-by-turn navigation and even rely on a handy ‘back to start’ feature if you lose your way.

As any runner can attest, having a curated playlist on hand can really make a difference in keeping you motivated through the last couple of laps, which is why it’s great to have offline music playback on the Pace Pro. Admittedly, the set-up is slightly different to what you’ll find on most smartwatches – instead of having a direct link with Spotify or some other streaming service, it’s offline storage for MP3 files which might be preferable to old school runners with a massive personal library of tracks.

Just like with the Pace 3, you get access to dual-band GPS tracking here which not only ensures that you can establish a connection quickly, but that the route tracked will also have accurate data after the fact. Plus, with waterproofing up to 50 metres, the Pace Pro is more than ready for the elements, or for a trip down the local pool if swimming is part of your exercise routine.