Best Running Watches for GPS Tracking and Heart Rate

What Is a Running Watch?

A running watch is a GPS-enabled wrist computer that tracks your runs with precision: distance, pace, splits, heart rate, elevation, cadence, and dozens of other metrics. Modern running watches also monitor your recovery, suggest training intensity, and even predict race times based on your fitness data.

They’ve evolved far beyond simple stopwatches. Today’s running watches are essentially personal coaches that learn your fitness over time and help you train smarter. Whether that’s useful or just another thing to obsess over depends entirely on your personality.

Who Needs One?

If you run more than twice a week and care about improving, a running watch transforms your training. Without one, you’re guessing at pace and distance. With one, you can train by heart rate zones, track your progress over months, and avoid overtraining.

That said, plenty of people run perfectly happily with just a phone and a free app. A watch is an upgrade, not a prerequisite. The best runners in the world for most of history didn’t have GPS.

If you’re also into rucking, cycling, swimming, or gym work, a multisport watch covers everything in one device.

What to Look For

• GPS accuracy: All major brands are good now, but Garmin and COROS consistently lead in GPS accuracy tests. Multi-band GPS is the gold standard.
• Heart rate: Wrist-based optical HR is convenient but less accurate than a chest strap. Most watches support both.
• Battery life: Ranges from 1 day (Apple Watch) to 3+ weeks (COROS/Garmin). If you want GPS tracking on long rucks, battery life matters.
• Training metrics: VO2 max estimates, training load, recovery time, training readiness. Garmin and COROS lead here.
• Music: Some watches store music offline for Spotify/Amazon Music. Nice for running without your phone.
• Maps: Higher-end watches have full colour maps for trail navigation. Essential for trail running and rucking in unfamiliar areas.

Top Picks

Garmin Forerunner 265 — £350-£400

The best running watch for most people. Brilliant AMOLED display, accurate GPS, comprehensive training metrics, and up to 13 days battery life in smartwatch mode. The morning report gives you a daily training readiness score. Music storage, Garmin Pay, and Connect IQ apps round out an excellent package.

COROS PACE 3 — £220-£250

The best value in running watches. Lighter than a Garmin (39g), with comparable GPS accuracy and training metrics. Battery life is outstanding — up to 24 days in smartwatch mode, 38 hours in GPS mode. The app is clean and improving rapidly. If budget matters, this is the one.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 — £750-£800

The best running watch for people who also want a full smartwatch. Exceptional build quality, the best display on any watch, and Apple’s health ecosystem is excellent. The downsides are battery life (36 hours with GPS) and the fact that you need an iPhone. Running metrics are good but not as deep as Garmin.

Garmin Venu 3 — £400-£450

The lifestyle pick. If you want a watch that looks good at work and tracks runs on the weekend, the Venu 3 bridges the gap. AMOLED display, full Garmin training metrics, nap tracking, and a wheelchair mode. Battery life is about 5 days with regular GPS use.

Garmin Forerunner 55 — £150-£180

The budget Garmin for runners who just want the basics done well. GPS tracking, heart rate, training plans, and Garmin Coach. No music, no maps, no colour screen, but it nails the fundamentals. If you just want to track your runs reliably without spending a fortune, this is it.

Where to Buy

• Garmin UK — Full range, often bundles with HR straps
• COROS — Direct with free shipping
• Apple UK — Trade-in deals on older Apple Watches
• Amazon UK — Best prices on previous generation models
• John Lewis — 2-year guarantee on electronics

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