Best running watches 2026: From Huawei and Apple to Garmin, we’ve found the top picks for every route

Nowadays, there’s an app, watch or device to track all activities, from sleeping to exercising, so it can be hard to see the wood for the trees.

Running watches have come on leaps and bounds since their earlier predecessors, which focused on step-counts and distance measurements, to offer everything from finding new routes and marking your pace to tracking other sports and monitoring daily activity.

This cutting-edge tech couldn’t be more timely, either. In its Year in Sport 2024 report, Strava found that running, particularly with others, is on the rise. Participation in running clubs grew by 64 per cent in the UK last year; 54 per cent of runs logged in the UK were marked ‘social’; and walking clubs were just behind running with 52 per cent growth globally. Add to that general increased interest in our health and well-being – particularly among Gen Z – and it’s hardly surprising that manufacturers are in a race to the finish line when it comes to catering to this huge (and lucrative) market.

But whether you run solo or together, what should you look for when perusing and choosing the perfect running watch?

Firstly, decide whether you want a fitness tracker – which will usually monitor basic running data such as step counts, distance and calories – or a running watch, packing all the same features as a fitness tracker with the addition of built-in GPS technology to record and find routes, analyse your performance and optimise your training. Look for styles with dual-frequency for strong GPS even when on the most remote runs where signal is poor.

The latest running watches boast built-in heart-rate monitors, usually through sensors on your wrist, although sometimes via a separate chest strap, to track pulse and BPM to create more bespoke training programmes. While more expensive, many big brands offer their best models with and without heart-rate monitors to cater to different budgets.

In addition to recording all of the above, multi-sport watches can adapt to monitoring specific sports, from swimming to running and skiing. Naturally, these are waterproof.

More specifically, look for other features such as battery life – crucial for longer runs, hikes and even marathons – durability for being able to withstand a bit of rough and tumble (a scratch-proof screen, for example) and connectivity for WiFi, Bluetooth as well as Strava and Apple Health. Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of design: if it’s comfortable on the wrist and looks stylish, chances are you’ll stick to your training.

Here are the best running watches to encourage you to get out there, whatever the weather.