Top 5 Best Running Watches of 2025

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The best running watches tested by runners

Now is the ideal moment to get one of the best running watches because summer is approaching, the days are growing longer, and perhaps so is your motivation. With the correct watch, you can track your progress, remain on pace, and make every mile matter—whether you’re preparing for your first 5K or your tenth marathon.

Over the years, our staff has worn and tested countless timepieces on anything from park runs to marathons to trail miles. We concentrate on battery life, comfort, GPS and heart rate accuracy, and the extra features that are truly important, such as training tools, music storage, and interface logic.

With its sharp AMOLED screens, sophisticated training stats, and reliably reliable GPS, the Garmin Forerunner 265 remains our top choice overall. Since the watch will soon be discontinued and replaced with the new Garmin Forerunner 570, now is a good time to buy if you’re searching for a deal. The Coros Pace 3 is hard to beat if you’re searching for excellent value because it packs tracking capabilities and a long battery life into a reasonably priced compact.

However, we just completed testing the Suunto Run, and I can tell you that it’s fantastic. It’s so fantastic that it’s now our number one choice for best value. However, we won’t update this page with all the purchasing information until June 3, when it will formally go on sale.

Table of Contents

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1. Garmin Forerunner 265

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is our top running watch and our choice for the finest sports watch. It is also one of the greatest Garmin watches. For the price of an Apple Watch, this small gadget offers you all the features you would want in a running watch, including precise tracking, music controls, and the opportunity to design your own programs. Additionally, the gadget provides access to Garmin’s extensive training analytics, which aid in both workout and recovery time planning.

Even in direct sunshine, the stunning AMOLED display of the Garmin Forerunner 265 proved to be readable and brilliant during testing. Additionally, it features a touchscreen, which facilitates quick navigation within the watch.

Some of the more sophisticated health functions often found in Garmin’s more costly running watches have been carried over to the Forerunner 265 model. Garmin’s most recent Elevate V4 sensor is built into the watch; the red light measures blood oxygen levels (called Pulse Ox on the watch) and the green light measures heart rate. Stress, HRV, and breathing rate are computed using this sensor. Additionally, it can now track Garmin’s Training Readiness Score and multisport training sessions in triathlon mode.

It’s an excellent purchase for runners of all skill levels and a fantastic enhancement on an already fantastic watch. Given that Garmin has stated that the Forerunner 265 will be withdrawn and replaced by the Forerunner 570, now is an ideal time to get it as it is likely to be on sale.

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2. Coros Pace 3

The Coros Pace 3 is an exceptionally feature-rich running watch for its size, weight, and affordability. During our testing, it lasted five to six days on a charge and provided dependable tracking with a more precise multi-band GPS setting that is uncommon at this price point.

While it doesn’t recommend daily workouts like Garmin watches do, the Coros Pace 3 is a full multisport watch with a dedicated track run mode for runners. You can download complete training plans for events like 5Ks and marathons from Coros onto the watch, which are tailored to all skill levels.

The Pace 3 isn’t the most fashionable watch, and it doesn’t have some of the smart features that other running watches have, like the ability to stream music. Instead, you’ll have to manually move MP3 files. Nonetheless, it provides the necessities for runners and does it at a lower cost than many of its competitors.

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3. Garmin Forerunner 55

You probably want a gadget that’s a step up from a simple fitness tracker but won’t overwhelm you with capabilities if you’re just starting out running. The Forerunner 55 is the most obvious option among Garmin timepieces.

The Garmin Forerunner 55, which replaced the well-liked Forerunner 45, is essentially an entry-level fitness watch. Garmin made several significant adjustments, including adding some of the more sophisticated training functions often seen in their more costly watches, even though it still looks a lot like its predecessor. With Garmin’s new PacePro technology, the Forerunner 55 provides you with subtle speed and cadence cues while you’re running. Depending on your training history, fitness level, and recovery, there are also recommended workouts and recovery periods.

This sets it apart from similarly priced devices that track workouts but don’t provide personalized coaching plans, such the Fitbit Charge 5 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active.

Note that third-party apps, mobile payments, and music storage are not supported by the Garmin Forerunner 55. Additionally, at little over 1 inch, its display is somewhat small. You might wish to think about getting a more expensive watch if these are essential features. The Forerunner 45 is a fantastic time to buy if you’re searching for a less expensive watch because it’s frequently on sale when the Forerunner 55 is released.

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4. Garmin Forerunner 965

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is our choice for the top running watch for triathletes. It feels as fantastic off the course as it does while training thanks to its lightweight titanium bezel and bright 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen.

With the same cutting-edge training capabilities as the Forerunner 955, such as Training Readiness Score, Morning Report, and Chronic Training Load, it gives athletes comprehensive performance data. Whether swimming, cycling, or running, the GPS accuracy is outstanding, and the battery life is still remarkable, lasting up to 31 hours in GPS mode.

During testing, we discovered that the screen was among the nicest we had observed on a sports watch, making it simple to understand measurements under any kind of circumstance. The 965 improves on an already great formula and is a great choice for triathletes seeking a strong and dependable training aid, even though the improvements from the Forerunner 955 are small.

The Garmin Forerunner 950 will take the place of the Garmin Forerunner 965, which will be discontinued. This is a wonderful moment to get the watch if you’re searching for a deal.

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5. Garmin Forerunner 165

With a good combination of training aids and health-tracking capabilities, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is an excellent option for first-time marathon runners who want to cross the starting line with confidence. It won’t make you feel heavy on race day and is comfortable and light enough for extended training runs.

One of the most notable features is Garmin’s PacePro, which helps you pace your efforts across various terrains by acting as a coach on your wrist. To help you better understand when to push and when to rest, the watch also uses Body Battery to track stress levels, recovery, and sleep quality. Additionally, safety features like fall detection give runners who are going alone more peace of mind.

The brilliant 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, which remained readable even in direct sunlight, was our favorite feature during testing. Even with sweaty palms, navigating in the middle of a run is made easy by the combination of touch controls and buttons. The Forerunner 165’s 50-meter water resistance ensures that it can withstand rain, perspiration, and post-run ice baths without any problems, and its 19-hour GPS mode battery life allows it to endure effortlessly through a marathon day.

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