Top Running Watches

Running watch, fitness tracker, GPS watch, sports watch, wearable tech. Call it what you want. If you run, it's basically your little control centre. It tells you how far you've gone, how hard you're working, whether that "easy run" was actually easy, and it saves you from doing mental maths at mile three when your brain has turned into porridge.

At Pro:Direct Running we've got loads of them, which is great until you're staring at a wall of models thinking, "Do I need maps, music, solar charging, or just a watch that tells me my pace without throwing a tantrum?" This is the simple breakdown, plus my top 10 picks, so you can choose based on how you actually run.

What is a running watch, really?

At the most basic level, a running watch does two core jobs. It tracks your run with GPS and monitors your heart rate. Those two things together give you pace, distance, effort, and the ability to compare runs over time. That's the foundation. Everything else is an upgrade.

GPS, in plain terms

GPS is how your watch knows where you are and where you've been. It's what gives you distance and pace, and it's what makes exploring new routes feel less like a gamble. Good GPS also matters when you're running in awkward places: tree cover, cities, tight turns, twisty trails. If you've ever finished a run and your phone says you ran through a river, you already get why GPS quality matters.

Why do some running watches cost so much?

Because you're not just paying for "more stats". You're paying for how the watch is built, what it can do when conditions get messy, and how much it can replace your phone. Here's what the price jump usually buys you.

Build quality. Cheaper watches tend to be lighter and simpler. Premium ones are tougher, with better water resistance and more rugged materials.
Interface. Entry models are mostly buttons. Higher-end watches often add touchscreen, brighter displays, and smarter control.
Smart features. On some watches you can take calls, see messages, and generally stay connected. Not essential for everyone, but useful if you're out a lot.
Training depth. More money often unlocks better recovery insights, smarter training tools, and more sport profiles.
Music and navigation. Mid-tier watches tend to add music storage. Premium ones bring proper colour maps, bigger storage, and better navigation.

None of that means you have to spend big. It just means you should know what you're paying for before you do.

How do you choose the right running watch?

I'd start with one question: what kind of runs do you actually do most weeks? If it's a few 5Ks, gym sessions, and the occasional longer run, you don't need an expedition watch built for mountain rescue. If you're doing long trail days, ultras, hikes, or you just hate being lost, maps and battery life stop being "nice-to-haves" very quickly.

Think about what you need right now, and what you're likely to grow into. Most runners level up gradually. Your watch can do the same.

Is it worth paying for a running watch when you've got Strava on your phone?

Strava is brilliant. Your phone is also annoying to carry. A watch gives you that clean, hands-free simplicity. You can glance at your pace, check your effort, and keep moving. Plus, watches tend to give you better heart rate tracking than a phone ever will.

And if you still love Strava, you don't lose it. Most watches sync straight over, so you get the best of both worlds.

Beginner, mid-level, or full adventure?

If you're starting out, keep it simple. You want reliability, GPS, heart rate, and a watch that doesn't make setup feel like assembling IKEA furniture.

If you're running more, training with intent, or you want music and better planning tools, that's where the mid-tier watches shine.

If you're going long, going remote, or you just want the "no excuses" option with maps and monster battery, that's when the top-end models make sense.

Our top 10 picks

Garmin Forerunner 265 Music

This is the sweet spot for a lot of runners. Bright screen, strong training tools, and music onboard so you can leave the phone at home. It's the kind of watch that makes your training feel more organised without making it overly serious.

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar

Built for people who treat "a run" as something that might turn into a hike, a scramble, and a mild navigation situation. Rugged, reliable, and the solar element helps stretch battery life. If you're hard on kit, this one holds up.

COROS Apex 2

A great balance of performance and practicality, with offline maps and a dial that makes navigation feel simple rather than fiddly. It's a strong option if you want more adventure features without going full flagship price.

Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar

This is the "wear it all the time and track everything" watch. Tough build, big feature set, and serious battery life. It blurs the line between sports watch and everyday watch better than most.

COROS Pace 3

Light, low-profile, and properly capable. If you want something that feels almost invisible on the wrist but still covers training and navigation well, this is a very smart pick.

Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar

More battery, more presence, plus the built-in flashlight which sounds like a gimmick until you've used it in winter. This is for people who want maximum capability and hate charging things.

COROS Vertix 2S

The name tells you what it's for. Big adventures, long days, ultras, mountains. Tough buttons, proper waterproofing, and built for people who go further than a casual long run.

Garmin Epix 2

If you want a watch that looks genuinely good on the wrist but still does full training and health tracking, this is the wearable choice. It's "nice watch" energy with serious athlete functionality.

Garmin Forerunner 965

Garmin's top-end running-focused watch. Colour maps, touchscreen, loads of training tools, and a premium feel that still stays very runner-first. If running is your main sport, this is one of the most complete packages.

Garmin Forerunner 165 (Music)

The entry point into the Forerunner world, but it still covers a lot. Great if you want a proper running watch without jumping into premium pricing, and the music version keeps things phone-free.

That's the list. Ten watches that cover pretty much every type of runner, from first 5Ks to big days out. If you tell me what you're training for and whether you care about music or maps, I'll point you to the single best option and explain why in one paragraph, no waffle.