Best buys · The home gym

The best running watch worth buying

Our pick is the Garmin Forerunner. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The running watch

Garmin Forerunner

Accurate GPS, a battery that lasts days of training, and suggested workouts that adapt to how you slept and recovered. The core features need no subscription.

Buy it for
Runners, cyclists, anyone training for a race.
Skip it if
You want apps and messages first and fitness second. An Apple Watch does that better.

What actually matters when buying a running watch

  1. Reliable GPS, including in cities and under trees.
  2. Battery life for your longest week of training.
  3. Training guidance that suggests what to run today, based on recovery.

Either side of the pick