No Products in the Cart
The Best Running Watch of 2024: features and comfort
|
Time to read 8 min
|
Time to read 8 min
Running watches not only provide fundamental information like time and distance, but are also crucial for advanced training techniques and progression analysis. We have thoroughly tested various models to find out which are the most accurate, user-friendly and effective for different types of runners.
A running watch is much more than just a stopwatch. For the dedicated runner, it acts as a coach, a motivator, and a tool for self-reflection. The right running watch will not only help you track your speed and distance, but also provide insight into your heart rate, calories burned, cadence, and even your sleep patterns. This data is invaluable for optimizing training, preventing overtraining, and improving overall performance. Check out the best running watches tested below.
Have you run if you haven't measured it? Nowadays everyone wants to measure their times and distances while running. Thanks to a running watch you can easily keep track of all your times, determine distances, measure heart rate and listen to music. The best sports watches are multifunctional and reliable. The Garmin watch is all of these, check out the specific features below!
Lightweight
One of the most striking features of the Garmin Forerunner 255 Music is its lightweight design. During our workouts, we barely noticed we were wearing the watch, which is a big plus for long runs or intense workouts. The watch feels comfortable on the wrist, even during extended use, thanks to the ergonomic band and slim profile.
Pre-installed sports apps
The Garmin Forerunner 255 Music comes preloaded with a wide range of sports apps. These apps are designed to support a variety of activities, from running and cycling to swimming and beyond. During our testing, we tried out several of these apps and were impressed with the depth of features and customization options. This is true of all Garmin sports watches.
Includes Garmin Coach
Another great feature of the Garmin Sports Watch is the integration of Garmin Coach. This program provides personalized training plans that are tailored to your fitness level and race goals. We used this feature to prepare for an upcoming half marathon and found the guided workouts and customization options extremely useful. The coach provides feedback based on your performance and adjusts as your training plan progresses.
Recently we have extensively tested the Polar Pacer GPS, specially designed for running enthusiasts. This watch, aimed at improving the running experience, combines style with functionality and offers advanced features for every runner who takes their performance seriously. Here we share our personal experiences after several weeks of intensive use.
Charges quickly and lasts a long time
The watch charges remarkably quickly, which is particularly useful for runners who often forget to charge their equipment in advance. After a full charge, we were able to use the watch for several days without charging in between, even with the GPS on continuously. The long battery life makes this a suitable sports watch.
Specially designed for running
The Polar Pacer GPS is clearly designed with the runner in mind. The watch has a lightweight design, which makes it comfortable to wear for long periods. The interface is optimized for ease of use while running, with large, readable numbers and easy-to-access functions. These features make it easier to stay focused on your performance, and not on your gear.
Accurate GPS
The GPS functionality of the Polar Pacer GPS is extremely accurate. This watch provides fast and accurate location tracking, which is essential for measuring your walking distance and speed. The accuracy of the GPS directly affects the reliability of the data the watch collects, and this model did not disappoint. During our runs, even in areas with lots of trees or buildings, the built-in GPS remained strong and consistent, giving us accurate feedback on our workouts.
When it comes to technology, Apple is a big player, also when it comes to running watches. The latest Apple Watch Series 9 is a good running watch with an excellent battery life, accurate heart rate measurement and waterproof capabilities. The best sports watch from Apple is a multisport watch, read below what you can use the running watch for.
Environmentally friendly
One of the impressive aspects of the Apple Watch Series 9 is Apple’s focus on environmental friendliness. This model is made with a wide range of recycled materials, including recycled aluminum for the case. During our testing, it was clear that this commitment to sustainability hasn’t compromised the quality or aesthetic of the watch. It feels solid and premium, proving that luxury and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.
Safety features
The Apple Watch Series 9 comes with advanced safety features that we particularly liked during testing. With new crash detection, the watch can recognize serious accidents and automatically call for emergency assistance if the user is unresponsive. It also offers familiar heart rate monitoring and now has improved health notifications, including a new temperature sensor that detects subtle changes in body temperature.
Waterproof
The Apple Watch Series 9 has been thoroughly tested for water resistance. The watch is rated for water resistance up to 50 meters, which makes it ideal for all kinds of activities like swimming or even snorkeling. We used the watch during various water sports activities, and it performed without any hiccups.
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is the GPS running watch that goes beyond pace and heart rate stats. The Garmin Forerunner 55 is the perfect watch for the athlete who wants to get a lot of data out of their watch when it comes to running. With features like Garmin coach, HIIT training, VO2 Max race predictor and recovery advisor, you can train smarter and better and go beyond just pace and heart rate stats. Take the guesswork out of your training with personalized training guidance and daily suggested workouts based on your training history and fitness level. Understand your body better with advanced wellness features that track your breathing, intensity minutes and more throughout the day.
Amp up your workout with activity profiles for track or virtual running, pool swimming, Pilates, HIIT, and even breathing exercises. The new Race Predictor takes your fitness level and training history into account to help you achieve your race goal and see the effect of your training on your predicted finish time.
Get personalized guidance with daily recommendations for running workouts of varying intensity based on your training history, fitness level and recovery time. The latter is crucial for your body. After each workout, the built-in recovery time feature lets you know how long you should rest before attempting another major effort.
This feature provides GPS-based pace guidance for a given distance in the Garmin Connect™ app to help you plan your race strategy, so you can adjust your effort based on what lies ahead.
After extensively testing the Govza Smartwatch K22, we are convinced of its value as a reliable and multi-functional sports watch. Whether you are looking for accurate activity and sleep tracking, or simply a stylish accessory that can help you stay connected, the Govza K22 offers an excellent combination of features, ease of use, and affordability. This watch is an ideal choice for anyone who wants to efficiently manage their health and daily activities.
Built-in Pedometer
One of the most practical features of the Govza Smartwatch K22 is the built-in pedometer. During our testing period, we used this feature extensively to monitor our daily steps. The accuracy of the pedometer was impressive; it helped us to get a good insight into our physical activity throughout the day. This is especially useful for users who want to increase their overall activity levels or have specific fitness goals, such as increasing their daily step count.
Measure your Sleep Habits
Another standout feature of the Govza K22 is its sleep tracking feature. This watch provides comprehensive insights into your sleep patterns, including the duration of light and deep sleep stages. During our testing, we found this data to be extremely valuable in understanding and improving our sleep quality. By viewing a detailed report of our sleep every morning, we were able to better understand what factors were affecting our rest and make adjustments where necessary.
User-friendly Interface and Connectivity
The Govza Smartwatch K22 also excels in its ease of use thanks to its intuitive interface and seamless connectivity with both Apple and Android devices. Pairing the smartwatch with our smartphones was a breeze, and we were able to receive notifications from our phones directly on our wrist. Moreover, the interface allowed us to quickly switch between different functions, which made the user experience very pleasant.
What’s the best running watch for marathoners? Marathoners find that certain smartwatches are particularly well-suited for specific features like long battery life, extensive tracking capabilities, and durability. The Garmin Forerunner 945 and Polar Vantage V2 are excellent choices. Both watches offer advanced features like detailed training analysis, personalized recovery information, and even race performance predictions that can be especially helpful on marathon training and race days. Gain an edge with a solar-powered smartwatch.
Yes, the Apple Watch is an excellent sports watch for many users. It offers a range of health and fitness tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, GPS tracking, and is water resistant, making it suitable for a variety of sports activities, including running, swimming, and cycling. Additionally, it offers integrations with various fitness apps and the ability to stream music, making it even more useful for athletes. For example, an Apple Watch gives you more information than an activity tracker.
Yes, you can go for a run with an Apple Watch without taking your iPhone with you. Newer Apple Watch models, such as the Series 6 and later, have built-in GPS that can track your route, distance, and speed without a connected phone. What’s more, models with cellular connectivity can even receive and send phone calls and messages without an iPhone nearby.
The advantages of an in-mold construction include:
Lightweight: The helmet is generally lighter because the structure is more efficient in the use of materials.
Stronger and Safer: By fusing the shell with the EPS foam, the helmet offers better shock absorption and is therefore often safer. In the event of an impact, the force is evenly distributed across the helmet, which reduces the chance of injury.
Better Ventilation: In-mold helmets can be more easily designed with effective ventilation channels because the manufacturing process allows for more design flexibility.
More Compact Design: These helmets can be designed to be slimmer and more streamlined, making them more aesthetically pleasing and sometimes providing aerodynamic advantages.
Durability: The integrated structure is often more durable and more resistant to everyday use and wear.
In-mold construction is a popular choice in many modern helmets, especially for activities such as cycling, skiing and snowboarding, because of the combination of light weight, safety and comfort it offers.
Yes, Garmin devices are compatible with Apple devices. You can sync your Garmin sports watch with an iPhone using the Garmin Connect app. This app allows you to view your activity data, plan and share workouts, and manage your device settings from your iPhone. Garmin also offers integration with other Apple services and apps, such as HealthKit, making it easy to sync data between your Garmin device and your iPhone.
