I review running watches for a living - but these are the only 5 I recommend

I've racked up over 1560 kilometres with the best running watches over the last year. That works out to about 30km a week pounding the pavements in my running shoes, recording hundreds of hours of distance and pace.

As woman&home's digital health editor, I've tried many of the best fitness trackers, including the best Garmin watches and those from Coros, Fitbit, Huawei, and Google, meticulously logging my workouts to record my progress. There are only a few I haven't put through their paces.

Yet, after all of that, there are only a few I'd recommend. For summer 2026, I retested many of my favourites, making a couple of changes - and two additions to this guide - based on new releases and exciting updates.

Quick list

The best running watches

The best running watch overall

The Coros Pace 4 is my pick of the bunch for most people looking for the best running watch. The addition of the third button on the Pace 4 compared to the Pace 3 also makes it worth opting for the newer model, if only for the chance to turn up your music from your wrist while running.

You'll find workout profiles for various running types (including Road, Trail, Track, and Indoor) on the watch's homescreen. Scroll, and you'll see your Training Load, your workout intensity and suggested intensity needed to improve fitness; Running Fitness, a prediction of your race times for 5km, 10km, half-marathon, and marathon distances; and Training Status, which reveals your trends in your training and offers tips to improve fitness.

The data is very accurate - and I live in London, so I've taken it through plenty of areas with high-rise buildings to test it out - and all the need-to-know metrics (like pace, distance, and time) are easy to read when you're on the move, which is an underrated design feature.

But what I love most about the Coros brand, and why it's always at the top of my list for fitness trackers generally, is how simple the watches are to use. Not just on your wrist, but in the app as well. Even if you're not familiar with the metrics available (like ground contact time and vertical oscillation), it doesn't matter. The app is so intuitive and full of information tidbits that explain all the data points and how they apply to you. Whether you're totally new to running or a marathon runner, you'll learn something.

Read my full Coros Pace 4 review here

The best Garmin running watch

While I'd recommend the Coros Pace 4 as the first option, the Garmin Forerunner 170 would be my other pick every time. In fact, you can't really go wrong with most Garmin types, but this one offers the most advanced data for the lowest price, making it my top pick.

Along with the basics like live workout, sleep, and stress data (which are also used to predict your recovery and appear in the Garmin Connect app), as a running watch, it dials into how your workouts are impacting your running fitness specifically. It does this through unique Garmin features like Running Performance (VO2 Max and race time prediction) and Training Status (how your body has adapted to the sessions you've done), so you can actually see in real time whether you're getting fitter.

Everything on this watch is customisable, so you can add any number of additional workout profiles (from strength training to paddleboarding) and get relevant insights into these, too.

The Garmin Forerunner 170 can be found cheaper without the Music connectivity feature, which works with Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music, but I like being able to leave my phone at home and change my tunes through my exercise headphones on the move.

For more, read my full Garmin Forerunner 170 Music review

The best running watch for beginners

The Fitbit Charge 6 is hands-down the best Fitbit for runners and those looking to improve their fitness. Take it from me, I've tested every one on sale today. What makes this watch a little different from the others is the technology behind it as it's part of the Google family - much like the Google Pixel 4, for example.

While it's not as advanced as the Pixel 4, it's packed with features that'll have you well on the way to running your first 5km or more. For starters, you'll be able to see your distance, pace, and timing of your workout both on your wrist and in the app. If you spring for Fitbit Premium (as I recommend), you'll benefit from similar Readiness features as the Coros Pace 4 and Garmin Forerunner 265, with an overview of how your workouts, sleep, and recovery scores are impacting your fitness.

While the other two watches thrive outdoors, with the super bright screens, in-built maps, and long battery life in GPS mode, the Fitbit Charge 6 should be a go-to if you enjoy treadmill workouts. This watch links to many popular treadmills (including Nordic Track and Peloton machines) via Bluetooth, so you'll get a live and very accurate distance readout on your watch. Even the most advanced fitness trackers struggle with this.

Read more in our Fitbit Charge 6 review

The best running watch with smart features

No watch has smart capabilities like the Apple Watch Series 11. Ever since Series 9, the brand has focused on improving the running features, too, so it can replicate your phone, but it's also one of the best running watches on its own.

There are various workout profiles to choose from, and your favourites will automatically go to the top of the list. The data is easy to view on the screen, and updated features in Track mode enable you to specify which lane you're in, making speed workouts more accurate. You can also create your own running workouts on your watch and follow along, getting advanced insights, such as vertical oscillation and stride length in the Health app and on your screen.

As a fitness tracker, the Apple Watch is often underrated because it does so many things. You'll also be able to load up routes on third-party apps like Komoot, make and receive phone calls on your wrist on the move, and control your music without your phone.

The only problem with the Apple Watch Series 11 is the same as every other model released: the battery life. You'll get 24 hours with regular use, and that starts to go down once you enable a GPS workout, as you would on a run. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 promises more, but for a much higher price. I'd love to see future releases focus on this, at the cost of a lower maximum screen brightness.

Read our full Apple Watch Series 11 review here

The best premium running watch

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is one of the newer Garmin watches at the time of writing, coming up tops in the running-specific range. New features include a sapphire crystal display (which makes it more scratch-resistant), an upgraded heart rate sensor for better accuracy, and a torch.

The new running insights really caught my eye, however. It's these, in my eyes, that give the watch its premium name. While most top-level Garmin watches (including the Forerunner 265) will offer Training Load and Readiness, two metrics that outline how ready your body is for exercise, the Forerunner 970 takes it one step further with a Running Economy rating and Running Tolerance prediction, my two favourite additions.

The better your running economy is, the easier your run will feel. You can run faster and/or longer, and enjoy it more as a result, which is always the number one goal. I got quite fixated over the weeks on trying to lower this number, and I did feel the difference. To get this feature, however, you'll need to use the Garmin HRM 600 chest strap as well, which was an adjustment for me as I typically don't wear a heart rate monitor. It's also another £150 on the bill.

Running Tolerance adds another level to the Training Load feature by taking your effort and your distance for the week into account, so it provides a better picture of running impact. Together, I found the two new metrics very useful for balancing my workouts with recovery. Over the weeks, I did more running than I normally would. It's rare to find a running watch that actually gets you out the door more often, but this one did it for me.

There's no doubt this is a pricey running watch, especially with the heart rate monitor, so it's not going to be an option for everyone. However, much like how the Garmin Fenix 8 is a great choice for hikers who are ready to invest, the Garmin Forerunner 970 is a durable, reliable, and worthwhile investment for those who want to take their running up a notch.

Testing the best running watches

How I tested the best running watches

In total, I tested 10 of the best running watches. While there were many near misses, these were the ones that stood out to me for the following reasons:

• Set-up: Each of the running watches I chose was very easy to set up and get moving with, including charging and linking to external workout apps like Runna and Strava.
• Ease of use: These three watches scored top points for being easy to navigate on the wrist with touchscreens and haptic crowns and/or buttons, but they also had excellent associated apps. These were also easy to navigate and understand.
• Price: With the cost-of-living crisis putting luxury items at the bottom of many of our shopping lists, I wanted to present a range of price points for those on all budgets. None have ongoing subscription costs - outside of Fitbit Premium, which is entirely optional.
• Design: Running watches look sportier and more like fitness trackers than smartwatches. Nevertheless, I still took design and appearance into consideration and looked for seamless and sleek styles with multiple strap options.
• Outdoor vs indoor workouts: As we see above, some of the best running watches are suited more to indoor runs, while others thrive outdoors. I did over 10 workouts in both environments with each of these watches.

How to choose the best running watch

It can be difficult to decipher between all the best running watches to decide on a favourite. "While your phone can definitely get the job done for tracking runs, getting a basic smartwatch can make a huge difference in how you monitor your progress – and it can be a lot easier than constantly checking your phone," says British Olympian and Runna Coach, Steph Davis. "Progress feels even better and more motivating when you can see it, and a good watch gives you handy insights like pace, heart rate, and recovery data."

Here, Steph helps me outline the features to look for and think about as a priority:

• Make sure it has reliable GPS: "GPS measures the distance of the actual route you run instead of just estimating steps," Steph explains. "Precise GPS data helps you nail your pacing, lets you review your route afterwards, and see elevation changes."
• It should be easy to use: "A simple, uncluttered interface lets you quickly glance at the important metrics (like your pace and time) and focus on your form and effort, rather than getting distracted by complicated statistics," she notes.
• Prioritise a long battery life: "Choosing a watch with good battery life is essential for being able to get through your weekly runs without having to constantly remember to put it on charge. This becomes even more important as you increase the distances you cover and makes it more multi-functional if you enjoy weekend hiking," she says.
• Think about your running in six months time, not just today: I'd suggest looking into the future as you buy your running watch. While you might be a beginner now, you may want more advanced features and better GPS function in the future, especially if you're looking to enter any races. That's why the Coros Pace 3 was my pick of the bunch.