Best GPS Running Watches For Your Budget
Today’s fitness watches are designed to optimize and personalize your running program. The options are limitless, there really is something for everyone. That being said, prices of running watches can be exorbitant and even cost prohibitive. But, let’s face it, complex functionality isn’t always necessary. Sometimes simplicity and ease of use is all you need. There’s great value at lower prices if you are looking for a running watch without all the fancy bells and whistles. Here are some of our favorite running watches that have all the basics you need, minus the expensive price tag.
What You Get:
- Built in GPS keeps track of your pace, distance, speed and route
- Tracks your workouts, steps, calories burned, sleep quality
- Sleep tracking
- Waterproof
- Continuous, accurate heart rate from the wrist
- Plan, sync and share your training sessions with others using the Polar Flow app
- Train for running events with personalized training plan (5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon)
- 5 minute fitness test
- Read messages on display even when you are away from your phone
- Vibrating Smart notifications of incoming calls, text messages and activity reminders
Cost: Under $230
Garmin Forerunner (No HR)
What you get:
- GPS tracking
- Tracks distance, steps, pace and calories
- Optional heart rate monitor
- Reminds you to move
- Motivation by the Mile – gently beeps every time you complete a mile
- Virtual pacer – helps you match desired pace while running
- Free online fitness community
- Join online challenges and earn badges
Cost: Under $75
What you get:
- GPS tracking (using connected phone’s GPS)
- Heart rate monitoring through wrist
- Smartphone alerts – vibrating alerts for text, phone calls and activity reminders
- Pace, distance and heart rate zones monitored while running
- Activity tracking – steps, distance, calories burned, floors climbed, active minutes
- Personalized, guided breathing sessions based on heart rate
- Sleep tracking including smart sleep tracking to wake you at your peak sleep cycle so you awake refreshed and ready for that early morning run
- Join online challenges and earn badges
Cost: Under $130
What you get:
- GPS tracking
- Measures time, distance, pace, elevation calories burned
- Waterproof
- Heart rate monitoring pairing available
- Training programs to maximize running sessions (interval)
- Set pace or heart rate goal and watch how you are tracking on a full screen graphic
- Race Your Past Program – race against yourself from previous sessions
- High resolution, large display screen makes it easy to read while running
- Goal alerts
Cost: Under $100
