5 best running watches of 2024, according to female testers

Why we love it: "It's kind of in the name – and the price. The £429.99 Garmin Forerunner is one of the most sophisticated running watches on the market, and for more serious runners who regularly run 5km or more, the very best we tried.

"Replacing the 255 and 245 models, I tried it over the course of a week in January, when I was not only running but attending a couple of 1Rebel circuits classes, too. The grand finale was an 8km Sunday run, when the watch really came into its own.

"Firstly, the features I noticed pre-run. This running watch has up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode, so I actually didn't have to charge it at all over the course of my testing period. Also, if you sleep in it, it sends you a morning report with an overview of your sleep, recovery and training outlook alongside other metrics like weather. Ideal for planning your runs, plus, I'm quite obsessive with my sleep, so loved being able to track it so carefully.

"I'm working towards running a half marathon, so I used my Garmin Forerunner to plan my race strategy. It gave me personalised daily suggested workouts to get the most from my training, factoring in rest days and using the data from the earlier section of my testing period to inform the latter. There were more than 30 different workout settings to choose from, and my run was automatically posted to Strava after an easy sync-up.

"I paired my iPhone with the watch, so I received calls and texts while I was running – and loved that it features a contactless payment feature, so that I could treat myself to a coffee and a croissant at the end of my plod. The screen was crisp and bright – and I could still read from it in the bright sunshine – and I found that it didn't lose its signal while testing.” - Sophie Cockett, GLAMOUR's Senior European Commerce Editor.

Pros: You can pay for it over 36 months in smaller instalments. Available in three colours and two sizes. Two year guarantee. 30+ built-in activity profiles outside of running. Easy-to-read AMOLED touchscreen display with traditional button controls.
Cons: Expensive. There are so many metrics that it might be a little overwhelming for beginners.
Size: H46.7 x L46.7 x D12.9mm.
Battery life: Up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode.
Waterproof: 50m water resistant.
GPS: Yes.
Heart rate monitor: Yes.

Why we love it: "Stylish and functional in equal parts, the Garmin Venu 3S is a super versatile smartwatch that works a dream if you're just starting out running. I ordered my watch in white with a silicone band (which was hygienic and sweat-resistent when running regularly), and it came packaged in a recyclable grey box. The charger was neatly tucked underneath.

"While Garmin always do fitness trackers well, the Venu 3 surprised me at quite how well – particularly for the price. It promises 14 full days of battery life, so you don't have to remember to charge it every night, and the display screen is pleasingly bright and colourful. Past the running-suited tips, it’s crammed with advanced health and fitness features to help you get a better insight into your body’s overall condition.

"I became addicted to tracking my body battery each morning (an energy score given by the watch based on sleeps, naps, stress levels and workouts), because I was able to tailor my running plan to my energy levels and get more from my workouts. And not feel guilty if they didn't go to plan.

“Elsewhere, I loved the personalised sleep coaching, music storage, an accelerometer, altimeter, barometer, compass, heart rate monitor, oxygen level monitor, pedometer and temperature tracker. Plus, a microphone for calls and voice assistant access. You can even reply to texts using your voice, which I began doing towards the end of my testing period during my runs. A really solid fitness tracker and one I genuinely looked forward to using.” - Sophie Cockett, GLAMOUR's Senior European Commerce Editor.

Pros: Vibrant AMOLED display. Long battery life.
Cons: Touchscreen can be a bit fiddly.
Size: H4.5 x W4.5 x D1.2cm.
Battery life: Up to 14 days; longer with battery saver mode.
Waterproof: 50m water resistant.
GPS: Yes.
Heart rate monitor: Yes.

Why we love it: A simple running watch for beginners, the Fitbit Charge 6 is packed with fitness features but doesn't feel too overwhelming. Think: 24/7 heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, sleep tracking and stress tracking (to name but a few). Compatible with both iOS and Android, the Charge 6 is really a fitness-focused watch with more 40 unique exercise modes – so whatever activity you decide, this is the one to help you track how your effort is adding up.

We tested it when running – both pavement running and on a treadmill (you can connect it to your workout equipment in the gym) – and loved the Google Maps feature, contactless payment feature and the fact that it feeds back how much time you've spent in different heart rate zones. It really helped me to push myself. I also rated that you could connect it to your phone, to receive calls and texts when you're out and about.

Pros: Access Google Maps and Google Wallet right on your wrist. Three colourways: porcelian, coral and black.
Cons: GPS isn’t always the most accurate.
Size: Both small and large band sizes included in box. Small: fits wrist 130mm - 170mm in circumference and large: fits wrist 170mm - 211mm in circumference.
Battery life: Up to 7 days.
Waterproof: 50m water resistant.
GPS: Yes.
Heart rate monitor: Yes.

Why we love it: A really great value running watch if you don't mind too much about aesthetics, the Coros Pace 2 is a very lightweight running watch with navigation and 30 hours of activity tracking with full GPS, barometer, and heart rate on a single charge.

Our favourite feature was the navigation feature, which made running around London – and finding your way back – really easy. It helps you create new routes in your local area, and find your way back to the point at which you started. All with a glance down at your hand.

The COROS PACE 2 Sport Watch not only comes with run and treadmill run settings but bike, swim, paddling, rower, triathlon, cardio, jump rope and others. It also offers a detailed breakdown of your sleep stages so that you can eaily understand if you are getting a good night of rest.

Pros: Very lightweight. 30 hours of activity tracking with full GPS on a single charge. 2-button layout makes it easy to use.
Cons: It looks a little cheap and plastic. It doesn't have modes for Pilates or yoga.
Size: Screen size 0.96 Inches.
Battery life: 30 hours of activity tracking with full GPS.
Waterproof: Yes.
GPS: Yes.
Heart rate monitor: Yes.

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Why we love it: "If you're after a running watch which is under £300, lightweight and has many of the features which Polar's more expensive models boast, then this is it. What it lacks in premium materials (other, more expensive models are made from titanium bezels), you get in value for money. This watch is sleek, lightweight and stylish.

It has a hugely impressive battery life – up to 100 hours on low-power mode – which is practically unrivalled for the price, and the interface is easy to control. While there is no touchscreen, the side buttons are very responsive, and with sweaty hands, easier to navigate than a touch screen would be. The display is bright, and runners will benefit from a running performance test, running index score that lets you see how you compare to other runners, race time predictor and VO2 Max estimates. Elsewhere, there's a built-in barometer, GPS, and you can link it to apps like Strava.

Outside of your running features, there's a sleep monitor which helps you plan your training programmes. A solid, solid option.

Pros: Under £300. Great battery life. You can switch the straps. It's really light.
Cons: No offline music. No touchscreen.
Size: 1.2 inch screen size.
Battery life: 35 hours with GPS; 144 without.
Waterproof: Yes.
GPS: Yes.
Heart rate monitor: Yes.

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