I enjoy writing these articles for my readers, you guys. I don't accept payment for writing reviews, my opinion on products is my own, but if you find my recommendations helpful and you end up buying something through one of the links I may be able to receive a commission on that. More information
Whether you're a casual exerciser pursuing a healthier lifestyle, or an enthusiast looking to take it to the next level, you need a high-quality sports watch in your workout routine.
Such a timepiece helps you track, monitor and improve your performance via built-in sensors.
They often have a sensor for tracking your heart rate, as well as a built-in accelerometer and a built-in GPS chip for accurately mapping your outdoor exercise, just to name a few.
At least, if you go for one of quality.
Many of today's top-rated sports watches can also guide you through your workouts via on-screen animations.
They can also track your sleep and recovery patterns so you always feel your best when you exercise and avoid injury.
All the fitness tracking watches in this review come with a companion smartphone app, which gives you an easy-to-digest overview of all the data their sensors have collected during your workouts.
The apps are also useful for adjusting their settings and keeping them updated.
Let's take a quick look at all the top picks in an overview, then I'll dig deeper into each of these choices:
| Sports watch | Images |
|---|---|
| Overall best sports watch: Apple Watch Series 5 | 
|
| Best sports watch with built-in heart rate monitor and GPS: Garmin Venu smartwatch | 
|
| Best sports watch under 200 euros: Fitbit Versa 2 Smart Watch | 
|
| Best sports watch for running: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 | 
|
| Best sports watch for fitness & crossfit: Polar Ignites | 
|
| Best sports watch for swimming: Garmin fēnix 6 Sapphire | 
|
| Best Hybrid Sports Watch: Fossil Collider HR | 
|
| Best sports watch for cycling and cycling: Withings Steel HR Sport | 
|
| Best sports watch for triathlon: Suunto 9 GPS | 
|
| Best cheap sports watch: Withing's Move | 
|
What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
- 1 What should you pay attention to when buying a sports watch?
- 2 10 Best Sports Watches Reviewed
- 2.1 Overall best sports watch: Apple Watch Series 5
- 2.2 Best Sports Watch with Built-in Heart Rate Monitor and GPS: Garmin Venu Smartwatch
- 2.3 Best sports watch under 200 euros: Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch
- 2.4 Best Sports Watch for Running: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
- 2.5 Best sports watch for fitness & crossfit: Polar Ignite
- 2.6 Best Hybrid Sports Watch: Fossil Collider HR
- 2.7 Best Sports Watch for Swimming: Garmin fēnix 6 Sapphire
- 2.8 Best sports watch for cycling and cycling: Withings Steel HR Sport
- 2.9 Best sports watch for triathlon: Suunto 9 GPS
- 2.10 Best Cheap Sports Watch: Withings Move
What should you pay attention to when buying a sports watch?
Most importantly, the health and fitness tracking platforms that complement today's best sports watches will help you understand your performance and take meaningful steps to improve it.
You can keep an eye on your stats and achievements, compare them over time and share them with your trainer, friends or other enthusiasts.
Today's best sports watches are also excellent smartwatches.
Not only do they help you become a better version of yourself, but they also send you smartphone notifications, provide effortless access to your favorite virtual assistant, and even allow you to control connected home products.
I spent nearly 20 hours researching over 20 products before making the choices below.
The process involved sifting through specs, reading in-depth reviews from industry experts, and evaluating consumer feedback on the devices that sparked media interest.
Except for the Withings Move which is best suited for step counting, all the sports watches I've chosen have a high-quality heart rate sensor, the most important thing to consider when shopping for a fitness tracking watch.
The accuracy and consistency of the technical component are essential to give you useful insights into your performance.
A sports watch's capabilities to automatically track and guide you through your exercises are also essential specs you'll want to look for.
The same goes for a waterproof construction that can withstand sweat, run outside on a rainy day, and even swim in open water.
We also evaluated the designs of the products, the quality of their displays and the features they offer. We also took into account their battery performance.
10 Best Sports Watches Reviewed
Now get ready to take your sweating sessions to a whole new level with one of these picks!
Overall best sports watch: Apple Watch Series 5
When it comes to sports watches, the Apple Watch Series 5 is the model by which the rest is measured.
It's the most intuitive, easy to use, and least intimidating product on this list.
A review editor from The Verge called the product “the best smartwatch” and I totally agree!
The Series 5 is available with a 40 or 44 millimeter housing and is the first Apple Watch with an always-on display.
The feature is useful as it allows you to effortlessly keep track of time and essential training stats.
Here is the complete manual of the Apple watch online.
The watch's display is the best in the business - it's bright and easy to navigate, even in direct sunlight.
Like the Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 4, the latest iteration has optional cellular connectivity, meaning you can take a break from your iPhone during your workouts.
It also has built-in GPS and compass (another first for the Apple Watch) so you can accurately track your outdoor activities, and there's a high-precision, ECG-compatible heart rate sensor.
The speed of the GPS synchronization is really great, even when traveling abroad, it effortlessly adjusts to the location.
It has a super readable display and great battery life and you have a ton of options to personalize both the display and the wristbands.
Housing options for the product range from aluminum and stainless steel to ceramic and titanium in the Edition models.
There's an excellent selection of Apple-made third-party wristbands to help you customize it.
There are many variants to choose from, including Apple's collaboration with Nike and the iconic fashion house Hermès.
If you're shopping on a tighter budget, consider the Apple Watch Series 3.
It lacks some of the features found in the latest model, such as an always-on display and a built-in compass, but still helps you seamlessly keep track of your health and fitness routine.
View the most current prices here
Best Sports Watch with Built-in Heart Rate Monitor and GPS: Garmin Venu Smartwatch
The Garmin Venu smartwatch is one of the brand's functional and easy-to-use products.
The fitness tracking timepiece has a beautiful AMOLED touchscreen that is easy to read at a glance, and an intuitive user interface packed with features.
It is an extremely capable GPS sports watch with a display that rivals the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch lines.
The Venu's health and fitness tracking capabilities aren't among the best in the business.
They include the ability to monitor your body's energy levels throughout the day — a handy feature that helps users determine the best times for exercise and recovery.
The Venu can also monitor your stress level, as well as the quality of your breathing and sleep, and much more.
Of course, the product can also guide users through their workouts through on-screen animations.
The free Garmin Coach feature, on the other hand, can help runners achieve their goals by providing personalized guidance.
Other key features of the watch include built-in GPS for detailed maps of the user's walking routes and smartphone notifications.
You can also install apps on the watch from a special marketplace, and pay with it on mobile. The watch lasts up to 5 days between charges.
Best sports watch under 200 euros: Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch
As a reasonably priced sports watch, the Fitbit Versa 2 is proof that you don't have to spend too much for a great sports watch.
As Fitbit's most functional and easy-to-use fitness-tracking smartwatch to date, the watch has a vibrant AMOLED touchscreen, excellent ergonomics and fast performance.
The Versa 2 is also the first Fitbit product to have Amazon Alexa on board – you can summon and control the virtual assistant with the push of a button.
The smartwatch's sleep-tracking capabilities (which can accurately monitor the different phases of your sleep) are particularly noteworthy, as they set themselves apart from its comparably priced competitors.
You can access and analyze your fitness performance and sleep habits through an intuitive smartphone app, powered by a CNET tester was praised for providing an "easy-to-understand analysis of your fitness and sleep stats."
The FitBit looks very sleek and design and is very intuitive, as well as impressively comfortable.
The Fitbit smartphone app is excellent for delivering the core of your workout and heart rate trends over time.
It also has a great battery life.
The Versa 2's fitness tracking features are very useful, especially the ability to automatically detect a workout.
Furthermore, the watch's sleep tracking capabilities are one of the most comprehensive to date, providing essential and easy-to-understand data and statistics.
The Fitbit Versa 2 is water resistant to 50 meters.
With the optional always-on display mode enabled, the smartwatch can still last more than 2 days between charges.
Fitbit offers the product with a carbon, copper or fog gray metal housing. You can customize the gadget through a variety of interchangeable bands.
Best Sports Watch for Running: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active2 smartwatch is the best Apple Watch alternative for Android smartphone users.
It has a striking design, impeccable ergonomics, intuitive user interface with great haptic controls, a reasonable price and a powerful set of fitness and sleep tracking features.
It also has the ability to automatically track important measurements and guide you through multiple exercises via a host of built-in sensors, including an accurate heart rate monitor.
The product's heart rate tracking capabilities will get even better in the coming months.
Samsung will bring ECG capabilities as well as AFib detection to the product via a firmware update.
The gadget syncs your data with Samsung's powerful yet intuitive Health platform.
The Galaxy Watch Active2 also comes with an excellent selection of apps and watch faces.
The fully waterproof housing of the Galaxy Watch Active2 can withstand depths of up to 50 meters.
Available with a 40 or 44 millimeter aluminum or stainless steel case, the watch is incredibly comfortable to wear every day.
There are three finishes to choose from: black, silver and gold.
View the most current prices here
Best sports watch for fitness & crossfit: Polar Ignite
The reasonably priced Polar Ignite is packed with features tailored for exercise addicts.
The fitness tracking timepiece has built-in GPS, customizable profiles for different sports, as well as the ability to precisely measure the strain your body withstands during each training session.
The Ignite can also track your sleep and recovery patterns.
Measuring your body tension is essential as it helps you keep your pace and maintain consistent performance.
Most importantly, the feature helps you avoid injuries.
It has a very slim design that makes it super comfortable and able to deliver amazing battery life.
During running and strength training, it can measure heart rate zones during different parts of the exercise.
Furthermore, the accuracy of the device's sleep-tracking capabilities is also very impressive.
The watch is water resistant to 30 meters, so you can swim with it. It can take days between battery charges.
The sturdy metal housing is available in a black, silver or rose gold finish. You can also refresh the look of the device with interchangeable straps.
Best Hybrid Sports Watch: Fossil Collider HR
The Fossil Collider HR is a great option for fashion-conscious buyers who want to track their basic activity and sleep patterns.
At a glance, the hybrid smartwatch looks like a classic chronograph timepiece with mechanical hands and a three-button layout.
However, with a built-in, always-on e-ink display and a heart rate sensor, the hybrid smartwatch is as feature-packed as it is elegant.
The watch fits very well with Fossil's classic watch aesthetic – large watch face, manual hands, robust buttons.
This device's companion app isn't the most informative of the bunch, unfortunately, as it gives you the basics of calories burned and steps per day.
The watch is a great option for the style-conscious casual user, but there are definitely higher technical, more informative sports watches for the real sports fanatics.
The Collider HR effortlessly delivers notifications from your phone and keeps an eye on your activities, among other things.
With Fossil's intuitive mobile app, you can not only view an overview of your fitness data, but also customize the device display and the functionality of the hardware buttons.
The stainless steel timepiece is water resistant to 30 meters. You can order it with a sport band or an elegant leather band.
They are easy to replace, allowing users to customize their Collider HR with numerous original alternatives and third-party straps.
Best Sports Watch for Swimming: Garmin fēnix 6 Sapphire
The Garmin fēnix 6 Sapphire is an extremely powerful fitness tracking tool with the look and craftsmanship of a luxury timepiece.
It has a titanium steel case and strap that are water resistant to 100 meters, as well as a display covered with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
The watch's fitness tracking features include a built-in heart rate sensor and GPS, as well as the ability to accurately track and analyze the user's performance during a plethora of activities.
In addition to the most common forms of exercise, the product has preloaded profiles for tracking your efforts during golf, rowing, skiing and swimming, among many other sports.
The fēnix 6 Sapphire can last up to 2 weeks between charges in smartwatch mode or up to 48 days if you use it with battery saver mode enabled.
It can provide up to 10 hours of GPS training with location tracking on a single charge.
De 5k runner has also previously written about the handy possibilities to track swimming with this smartwatch.
If you think the price of the watch is a bit too high, please consider the Garmin fēnix 6S.
Best sports watch for cycling and cycling: Withings Steel HR Sport
The Withings Steel HR Sport is a classic looking stainless steel timepiece with a great set of fitness and activity tracking capabilities.
Continuous heart rate monitoring via a built-in sensor, as well as the ability to automatically track your exercise and sleep patterns.
The health tracking features of the device include the ability to assess the user's cardiovascular fitness level.
Withings achieved this feat by estimating oxygen consumption during a workout.
The timepiece can also connect to a smartphone and use the connected GPS to accurately map your jogs and bike rides.
The round display that is integrated into the dial of the Withings Steel HR Sport is a really nice design effect.
It shows essential fitness tracking data and smartphone notifications without being too distracting. The watch can last up to 25 times between charges.
The watch is also extremely comfortable, even when sweating.
The Steel HR Sport is water resistant to 50 meters, which means you can go swimming with it. It is available with a black or white dial and you can easily customize the look with interchangeable straps.
View the most current prices and availability here
Best sports watch for triathlon: Suunto 9 GPS
The Suunto 9 fitness watch has a long list of features, including a built-in heart rate monitor (like this one we reviewed), GPS and a body that is water resistant up to 100 meters.
Most importantly, the Suunto 9 can follow up to 120 hours of continuous training thanks to an adjustable battery mode.
A Men's Health editor noted that the battery performance of the Suunto 9”the real deall” and perfect for very long distances such as a triathlon.
The watch can automatically detect and track more than 80 sports and activities, including swimming and cycling.
It can withstand water depths of up to a rather impressive 100 meters. It also connects to your smartphone and delivers notifications.
The Suunto 9 case is available in a multitude of colors – black, white, titanium and copper.
Overall, this is a solid option, as long as you don't mind the rather bulky case.
Best Cheap Sports Watch: Withings Move
Costing just a fraction of some other options, the Withings Move offers a robust set of fitness and sleep tracking features, a fully waterproof case with an elegant design, and fantastic battery life (the timepiece can last up to 18 months between battery replacements).
The affordable timepiece does have a complication for tracking your daily progress.
You can only view all the sleep and activity tracking data collected by the watch, and receive tailored tips in a mobile app with a beautiful and intuitive design.
It's important to note that the Move doesn't have a built-in heart rate sensor, meaning it's not a good option for health and fitness addicts.
However, if you want to count your steps and track other basic activities, this is a solid and affordable buy.
Do you often suffer from sore muscles after exercise? Then also read about the top foam rollers to really loosen up your muscles.
