This post is part ofFind Your Fit Tech, Lifehacker’s fitness wearables buying guide.
Runners were some of the first people to embrace smartwatches.
Read on for my picks.
So here are some things to think about when crafting the job description for your running watch.
Some might be critical to you; some might be irrelevant.
Does it have physical buttons?
For that reason, runners often prefer a watch with real buttons.
All of my picks below have physical buttons.
How good is the GPS?
All running smartwatches track your location with GPSthats the main reason they exist.
But some location systems are more accurate than others.
(Whoop and some Fitbits, for example.)
The most accurate smartwatches use multiple bands of GPS, plus other location systems like GLONASS and Galileo.
Pay attention to which systems a watch uses and whether there are prefs to know about.
All of my picks below use multiple satellite systems (with one obvious exception, as youll see).
What is the battery life?
Many will last a week or more, and some Garmins can make it a wholemonth.
Ill note battery life for my picks below.
Does it help you navigate, or just track where youve been?
Some running watches contain a full navigation system, with pre-loaded maps and turn-by-turn directions.
I’ll note which watches include maps.
Does it tell you what to do, or just track what youve done?
Do you want a running watch, or a general purpose smartwatch?
The models below are for running first, everyday life second.
With those features in mind, I have picks for a variety of budgets and needs.
(Bottom line: pick the one that fits you better.)
Why the Forerunner 265S?
Provides suggested workoutsandGarmin Coach training plans.
Location tracking: includes multi-band GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.
We ended up returning the 55 and getting a 165 instead, and he’ssomuch happier.
That said, the 55 isfine.
(It’s an aging model, so the price will likely continue to drop).
The Forerunner 55 can track your runs just fine and provide some extras like sleep tracking.
Honestly, it may be best to think of the Forerunner 165 as a pared-down version of the 265.
For $200 less than my favorite watch, you get most of the same features.
It’s only really missing multi-band GPS and a few analytics like training readiness and training status.
The watch I’d like to spotlight here, though, is the newer Coros Pace Pro.
It has a sapphire screen, meaning it’s literally made of sapphire mineral for scratch resistance.
Fenix watches, generally, have all of Garmins best bells and whistles, with an incredible battery life.
No, Im not including it as a joke.
