Running Watch Guides,
Reviews & Tools
Find the right place to start for GPS watches, Garmin guides, budget watches, marathon training, trail and ultra running, heart rate monitors, kids watches, fitness trackers, and phone-free running tech.
What do you need help with?
Pick the route that matches what you are looking for. If you are not sure which watch suits you, start with the Watch Finder.
Running Watch Finder
Answer a few questions about your training, priorities and budget to get a more focused starting point.
CompareRunning Watch Guides
Compare all-around running watches, Garmin options, Apple versus Garmin and budget choices.
Training GoalChoose by How You Run
Go straight to marathon, trail, ultra or women’s running watch guides.
More TechHeart Rate, Kids Watches & Audio
Browse heart rate monitors, screenless fitness trackers, kids watches and phone-free running music options.
ReviewsIndividual Watch Reviews
Already have a model in mind? Read our hands-on and model-specific watch reviews.
Training ToolsUse Your Watch for Training
Jump to pace, heart rate and training tools once you have your watch set up.
Running watch buying guides
Start with the broad comparison if you are open to several brands, or use a focused guide if you already know your budget or preferred ecosystem.
Best Running Watches in 2026
Compare the main running watch choices in one place. This is the broad buyer guide for runners who have not settled on a brand or watch type yet.
Read the running watch guide →
Best Garmin Watches for Running
Compare Garmin running watch families and narrow down which level fits your training.
Go to Garmin guide →
Garmin vs Apple Watch for Running
Compare the two ecosystems if you are deciding between deeper training tools and smartwatch features.
Compare Garmin and Apple →
Best Cheap Running Watches
Find affordable running watches for pace, distance, GPS and everyday training.
See budget watch guide →Use the Running Watch Finder
Answer a few questions about your training, priorities and budget to get a more focused starting point.
Choose a watch guide for how you run
A road marathon, trail race and ultra can put very different demands on a watch. Start with the guide closest to your training.
Running Watches for Marathons
Focus on long-run training, pacing, structured workouts and race-day use.
Go to marathon watch guide →
Watches for Trail Runners
Explore watches for routes, elevation, navigation and longer days off-road.
Go to trail watch guide →
Watches for Ultra Runners
Start here when long battery life, maps and navigation matter more than everyday smartwatch extras.
Go to ultra watch guide →
Running Watches for Women
Compare options with case size, wrist comfort and practical running use in mind.
Go to women’s watch guide →Other watches, trackers and running tech
These guides cover heart rate monitors and related tech that does not belong inside the main running watch comparison pages.
Best Heart Rate Monitors for Running
Compare chest straps and arm sensors from Polar, Garmin, COROS and Wahoo for more reliable training data.
See heart rate monitors →
Best Watches for Kids
Compare simple watches, activity trackers, GPS options and cellular watches for kids.
Go to kids watch guide →
Screenless Fitness Trackers
Explore screen-free options for sleep, recovery and training data without another display on your wrist.
See screenless trackers →
MP3 Players for Running
Find phone-free and waterproof options for music and audio while you run.
Go to running audio guide →Individual running watch reviews
Already narrowed it down to a specific model? Start with our individual watch reviews.
Garmin Forerunner 165 Review
A closer look at the Forerunner 165 for runners comparing Garmin’s simpler GPS watch options.
Read the Forerunner 165 review →