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Back in 2003 when the first GPS running watch entered the market, it was a novelty. Now, there is an overwhelming number of watches to choose from. While each one has its benefits, the TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music is the best overall with its optical heart rate monitor, built-in music storage, and long-lasting battery.
If you’re a runner, you know that outside of what you’re wearing on your feet, one of the most important necessities you use can be found around your wrist. Running is a sport that constantly has you competing against yourself, whether it’s increasing your weekly mileage or running a faster race. A good running watch makes it possible to record all that data and helps you become a better runner.
While a basic watch can track your time, a good GPS running watch allows you to track your distance, pace, and even your heart rate. With running, as with so many sports, success lies in the details. Having the extra capabilities that come with a GPS watch can take your training to the next level and help you reach your running goals.
The challenge? There are so many different brands and models of GPS watches to choose from, ranging from those with the most basic features to ones that can pair with your smartphone to track every aspect of your run. Looking at all the choices and comparing the specs can be mind-boggling, to say the least, which is where we come in. Below you’ll find our top five picks. We’ve done the research and combed the reviews while keeping budget, features, and style in mind.
Updated on 10/23/2017 by Kylie Joyner: Added testing notes for the TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music.
Although the TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Garmin Forerunner 15, the Polar M600 Sports Smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 2, and the Garmin Forerunner 630 based on your running needs.
SEE ALSO: 13 things to take with you the next time you go running outside
The best GPS running watch overall
Why you'll love it: The TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music
packs in the most features for the price, coming in at around $200.
While Garmin and Polar are usually top contenders when it comes to GPS watches, TomTom proved that it shouldn’t be overlooked with the Spark 3 Cardio + Music. It packs in a lot of features, bridging the gap between the high-end GPS watch and the everyday fitness tracker.
I was recently able to test out my top pick to try out a few new features. After putting the Spark 3 through the paces, I can confidently say that it still lives up to the title of “Best GPS running watch overall.” The number of features it offers is impressive — even more so now with the new updates.
It doesn’t have the sleekest design when it comes to aesthetics and was a bit bulky on a smaller wrist like mine, so I personally wouldn’t use this as my daily fitness tracker. However, if you have a larger wrist or don’t mind the sportier look, the Spark 3 is fully capable of being used as a fitness tracker as well as a GPS running watch. It should be noted that if you swim, cycle, or cross train at the gym it can be used for these activities as well.
While I wouldn’t use this as my daily fitness tracker, as a running watch, I found the fit to be extremely comfortable. The same goes for the wireless headphones that come with the watch if you choose to get the fitness bundle. While I could hear some ambient noise, which I prefer so I can stay aware of my surroundings, the sound was crisp and clear with no skipping. I downloaded music right to the watch so I didn’t need my phone while out running, which felt freeing. I find the less gear I have to worry about, the more peaceful the run.
If you do like running with your phone, one thing you won’t find with this watch are smartphone notifications. It’s fully dedicated to tracking almost every aspect of your fitness, but text messages, app notifications, and calls won’t be showing up on this watch — yet, anyway.
Another downside: You’ll need to create a playlist either in iTunes or in Windows Media Player to download music to your watch. You won’t be able to download any music directly from your phone. This is a little annoying, but it’s worth the extra hoop to jump through to have your running playlist right on your wrist.
Now to the actual software update. Both the fitness age feature and the personalized workouts serve as great motivators. To determine your fitness age, the Spark 3 measures your VO2 max (the measurement of the maximum amount of oxygen that you can utilize during intense exercise). It then compares this to a global average of others in your actual age group.
While it’s disputed how accurate a VO2 measurement can be from a GPS watch, I found this feature to be a great motivator to keep running so I could keep improving — or at least maintain — my fitness age. After a few runs, I received a fitness age of 20.
After I received my fitness age I tried out a few of the workouts that come with the new update. The workouts are personalized to help individuals reach their fitness goals, and are categorized according to these goals, whether that be fat burning, improving endurance, overall fitness and more.
I tried the first one out directly from the watch on my first go and found myself very confused. After a slightly frustrating run, I signed into the TomTom site with my account and went over the workouts online so I could understand each one better, and what the goal of each one was. After that, the prompts I received on my watch during the workouts made far more sense, and I liked having goals to work towards. Since I typically run on my own, it was nice to be able to change up my workouts and receive the extra coaching on days where I needed some extra motivation.
For those looking to meet specific fitness goals, or just looking for another way to stay motivated, these updates won’t disappoint. They make an already impressive GPS fitness watch an even more valuable tool — one that will not only please runners but all fitness enthusiasts.
Pros: Long-lasting battery, easy menu navigation, phone-free music, built-in heart rate monitor, route mapping
Cons: Bulky design, music support needs improvement (using third-party wireless headphones can be challenging), and limited app capabilities (using a third-party app with this is more favorable)
Buy the small TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music on Amazon for $200 (originally $249.99)
Buy the large TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music on Amazon for $215.00 (originally $249.99)
The best basic GPS watch for less than $100
Why you'll love it: The Garmin Forerunner 15 is a no-frills running watch, but it offers a solid set of features and accurate data tracking for less than $100.
If you're just beginning your running journey and looking for a reliable GPS watch, or if you're looking for a basic watch that can track your activity between runs, then the Forerunner 15 may be the one for you.
The watch marks your running distance, pace, and time. You can also get it with an optional heart rate monitor. Outside of the basic features expected in a GPS watch, the Forerunner 15 also tracks activity between workouts by counting the steps you’ve taken, giving you reminders to move and counting the calories you’ve burned throughout the day as well as during your runs.
One of the top reviews on Amazon states that this is a perfect watch for a beginner runner. If you are a new runner, the run/walk feature is especially useful because it allows you to set timed intervals alerting you when to walk and when to run. The run/walk method of training is a great way to prevent injury by stopping you from doing too much too soon.
If you’re a more advanced runner trying to improve your race pace, the virtual pacer is another great feature. It allows you to program a specific pace, and the watch will alert you if you’re going faster or slower than your goal.
You won’t find more advanced features like Bluetooth connectivity here, but if you’re looking for basic training aids, then this watch is a reliable choice. This is by no means a smartwatch, but you can connect your watch to a computer and upload your workouts via Garmin Express. This program syncs your data to the Garmin Connect website and mobile app, which is available on both iOS and Android.
What the Foreunner 15 lacks in connectivity, it makes up for in reliability. The battery lasts 8 hours in GPS mode and up to 5 weeks in watch/activity tracker mode. Garmin is known for being relatively quick at picking up a satellite signal, so you can get on your way as soon as possible, and this model is no exception. Its distance tracking is also fairly accurate, according to a CNET review, which compared distance results to those on the website MapMyRun.
If you opt for the heart rate monitor, it comes separately but is both easy to use and provides accurate results. The same CNET reviewer who compared distance results to MapMyRun finds it reliable enough to use for testing the accuracy of other heart rate monitors. The terms accurate and straightforward sum up this running watch. This Amazon reviewer states that it, “does what it is supposed to do very well.”
For under $100, we think the Garmin Forerunner 15 provides runners with the basic features they need for a great price.
Pros: Long battery life, accurate GPS tracker, heart rate monitor compatibility, useful training aids, and can track activity outside of runs
Cons: Doesn’t support wireless syncing (no Bluetooth connectivity), lacks more advanced features found on high-end GPS running watches
Buy the Garmin Forerunner 15 on Amazon for $79.99
Buy the Garmin Forerunner 15 with a Heart Rate Monitor on Amazon for $84.95
The Best GPS Running Watch for Seamless Android Integration
Why you'll love it: The Polar M600 is an Android Wear smartwatch made for runners that has yet to find a true rival on the market.
The Polar M600 isn’t just a sports watch — It’s also a very capable smartwatch powered by Google’s Android Wear. If you use an Android phone and you want comprehensive fitness tracking as well as the ability to download native apps and play music, the Polar M600 is the one for you.
With the recent release of Android Wear 2.0, you can now install and enjoy these apps while away from your smartphone, allowing you to leave your phone at home. The Google Assistant is now built-in, ready to help you via voice commands, and the battery life has been improved significantly. You can also download your favorite apps and get notifications on the go.
Polar is a well-known name in the running watch business. It was the first company to offer wireless heart rate monitoring in 1977, and has continued to make a name for itself in the running world. The M600 comes with a wrist-based heart rate monitor, so you can go without the traditional chest strap monitor.
It has an integrated GPS to track a wide variety of activities including running. This is a smartwatch and is paired with your phone, so you will need to recharge it more often than a traditional sports watch, but it still provides up to 8 hours of training with the GPS and wrist-based heart rate monitor running.
In terms of design, this is a sports watch first and a smartwatch second. It would blush with embarrassment if held up next to the classic Huawei Watch or the sleek Tag Heuer Connected. It’s also prone to attracting dust. If functionality is your main concern, though, it will pass the test. It’s both comfortable and sturdy, with a silicon strap that is ideal for long runs.
At 13mm thick, it’s a bit bulky, but not as thick as many comparable GPS watches. According to Wareable, at 63 grams it’s a full 16 grams lighter than the Polar V800, which is known as the company’s flagship multi-sport GPS watch.
One of the most notable things about the Polar M600 is it has yet to find a true competitor in the form of another Android Wear sports smartwatch. The New Balance RunIQ was released in February 2017 as a possible contender. However, the reviews show that while the outlook seemed positive on paper, when put to the test the heart rate monitor was less than accurate, it’s battery didn’t last as long, and the software lagged behind when compared to the Polar M600.
It should also be noted that while Android Wear claims to be cross-platform, able to work with both Android and iOS devices, this watch still performs the best with an Android phone.
Reviewers on Amazon are pleased with its long battery life, accurate GPS tracking, and the ability to leave their phone at home but still listen to music and receive notifications while out running. Even the most critical reviewer admits that the GPS and onboard music make it a “good stand-alone running watch.”
Pros: Accurate GPS tracking, reliable heart rate monitor, connectivity to apps, music and notifications without a smartphone
Cons: Less than stellar performance when paired with an iOS device, not the best-looking in terms of smartwatch design
Buy the Polar M600 on Amazon for $329.95
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