Best Garmin Watch For Running
After tons of research, we narrowed down all the best Garmin GPS watches for running. Explore our top pick for serious runners before you buy one
Looking for a great Garmin watch?
We’ve got you covered – whether you’re looking for a fitness tracker or something more hardcore. Check out our list of the best Garmin watches to find the perfect one.
With all the different options on the market, it can be tough to know which Garmin watch is right for you. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Our list includes devices at every price point so that everyone can find their perfect fit.
Find our editor's pick for the perfect Garmin watch that suits your running needs!
Buyers Guide to the Best Garmin Watch For Running
You want to start running, but you don't know which Garmin watch is best for you.
There are a lot of Garmin watches on the market, and it can be hard to decide which one is right for you.
We've created a guide to the best Garmin running watch that will help you choose the perfect watch for your running needs.
Our Picks
Garmin Forerunner 255 GPS Running Smartwatch
Best All-around Garmin Watch For Running
Garmin Forerunner 255 GPS Running Smartwatch
Specifications
- GPS Battery Life: 6.5 hours (with music), 30 hours (without music)
- Size: 42mm and 46mm
- Weight: 1.70 ounces
- Water Resistance: 5ATM
- Music Storage: Up to 500 songs
- Workout Recommendations: Yes
- Sleep Tracking: Yes
- Smartphone Notifications: Yes
- Mobile Payments: Yes
- Touchscreen: No
Why We Love It
Looking for a reliable, GPS-enabled best running watch that can double as your go-to activity tracker, the Garmin Forerunner 255 is a great option.
This watch is equipped with wrist-based heart rate monitoring to help you keep tabs on your fitness level, and its superior position accuracy ensures that you always know your exact location when out on a run or hike. Plus, the Bluetooth music connection is perfect for listening to your favorite tunes while you work up a sweat.
What You Should Know
Garmin's Forerunner 255 GPS Running Smartwatch is the perfect device for athletes of all levels with 1.70 ounces of weight. Its slim design and always-on, full-color display make it light on the wrist and easy to read, even in direct sunlight.
With up to 14 days of impressive battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 30 hours in GPS mode, you'll have a full picture of your health — from sleep to training. You can also download up to 500 songs to your watch, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon Music, or other services, and connect with your wireless headphones for phone-free listening.
The morning report summarizes your sleep, HRV status, and daily workout suggestions in one place as soon as you wake up. Get ready for your next race with training tips, personalized daily suggested workouts and more from the Garmin Connect app.
Points to Consider Before Purchasing
- Available in 2 sizes and with many color options
- Accurate GPS tracking, heart rate monitor, triathlon training program
- Battery requires frequent charging
- Affordable price
- Garmin Elevate V4 sensor
- Missing touchscreen
Garmin Forerunner 955 GPS Running Watch
Specifications
- Heart rate monitor: Yes
- Display Resolution: 260 x 260 pixels
- Weight: 52 g
- GPS: Yes
- Water resistance: 50 meters
- Display: 1.3-inch AMOLED display
- On-board music: Yes
- Mobile payments: Yes
- Sleep tracking: Yes
- Battery life: Smartwatch mode: Up to 15 days, GPS mode: 42 hours
- Memory: 32 GB
Why We Love It
Looking for the best way to track your runs? Then you need the Garmin Forerunner 955! This top-tier running watch is packed with features to help you get the most out of your workouts.
On the run, the large, easy-to-read display and simple navigation make it a breeze to keep track of your progress. And when you're done running, the touchscreen makes it easy to check your stats and see how you've improved over time.
Whether you're a casual runner or a competitive athlete, the Garmin Forerunner 955 is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to take their running to the next level!
What You Should Know
The Garmin Forerunner 955 running watches are perfect for any runner. With 15 days of incredible battery life, you can run any route with full-color multi-band GPS and built-in navigation.
Keep track of your fitness with the improved training status feature. Superior position accuracy with SATIQ Technology and optimized device battery life. HRV Status gives a deeper understanding of your overall health, recovery, and training performance.
The Garmin Forerunner 955 is a good running watch for any runner.
Points to Consider Before Purchasing
- Touchscreen
- Open-water swim metrics (distance, pace, stroke count/rate, stroke distance, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories) & Pool swim workouts
- GPS-based distance, time, and pace
- Run/Walk/Stand detection
Garmin Lily Smartwatch
Specifications
- Screen Size: 1 Inch
- Smartphone Notifications: Yes
- Battery Life: 5 days (excluding Pulse Ox sleep tracking)
- Weight: 0.847 ounces
- Memory: 2 GB
- GPS: Yes
- Dimensions: 1.38 x 1.38 x 0.39 inches
- Bluetooth Wireless Communication: Yes
- Sleep Tracking: Yes
- Touchscreen: Yes
Why We Love It
The Garmin Lily is a small, fashionable smartwatch that complements your look with a unique watch face lens that reveals a bright touchscreen display compared to the other watches in this category. This smartwatch allows you to understand your body by monitoring your respiration, Pulse Ox (this is not a medical device), energy levels, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, hydration, all-day stress, and sleep.
In addition, Garmin Lily provides smart notifications for incoming calls, text messages, and calendar reminders. Furthermore, this smartwatch tracks yoga, Pilates, cardio, mindful breathing, and more with sports apps; it connects to your compatible smartphone's GPS to accurately track outdoor walks and runs, and the assistance feature can send your designated contacts a message with your real-time location.
Finally, the LiveTrack feature lets friends/family track your outdoor activities in real-time. Garmin Lily is truly the perfect smartwatch for those who want to stay on top of their game!
What You Should Know
We have all been there fumbling with our watch bands, trying to get them back on after taking them off. Well, say goodbye to those annoying moments with the new Garmin Lily smartwatch! This small but mighty watch is not only chic but also comes with a silicone band that is easily removed and replaced- making it perfect for those who are always on the go.
If you're worried about performance, don't be! The Garmin Lily may be small, but it packs a punch regarding features and functionality. With built-in GPS and wrist-based heart rate monitoring, this watch has everything you need to stay connected and active. So ditch the bulky smartwatch and go for something that is both stylish and practical with the Garmin Lily.
Points to Consider Before Purchasing
- Limited features compared to other Garmin models
- Missing HIIT, Yoga, Pilates, and strength workouts
- Missing swim features and workouts
- Good stylish watch but not recommended for serious or professional runners
Garmin Fenix 6S Pro GPS Watch
Specifications
- Screen Size: 1.2 Inches
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi
- Map Type: Worldwide
- Weight: 2.08 ounces
- Resolution: 240 x 240 px
- Long Battery Life: Yes
Why We Love It
Looking for a top-of-the-line fitness watch? Then check out the Garmin Fenix 6S Pro. This sleek and sophisticated timepiece is packed with features to help you reach your fitness goals, including an always-on 1.2-inch sunlight-readable display, wrist-based heart rate monitoring, and Pulse Ox sensor support for advanced sleep monitoring and altitude acclimation.
Plus, with Garmin Pay contactless payments, you can leave your wallet at home when you hit the gym or go for a run. It comes with long battery life with up to 9 days of battery life with 34 days in battery saver Watch mode, you can rest assured that the Fenix 6S Pro will keep up with your busy lifestyle.
What You Should Know
The Garmin Fenix 6s Pro is a great sleep-tracking watch. The connection to the iPhone was seamless and the text/notification updates were helpful. However, sleep tracking isn't always spot-on.
It intermittently lost track of my sleep and would wake me up with a notification that I was awake when I wasn't. Overall, though, the Garmin Fenix 6s Pro is a great sleep-tracking watch and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a new sleep tracker.
Points to Consider Before Purchasing
- Good battery performance and long battery life
- Comes with various models and designs to choose from
- Advanced training features include PacePro for grade-adjusted pace guidance
- Support for Garmin Pay contactless
Garmin Venu 3 Slate Stainless Steel Bezel
Specifications
- Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.8 x 0.47 inches
- Weight: 1.6 ounces
- Screen Size: 1.4 Inches
- Screen Resolution: 454 x 454 pixels
- Screen type: AMOLED Touchscreen Display
- Battery Life: 14 Days
- GPS Connectivity: Yes
- Memory: 8 GB
Why We Love It
Garmin Venus 3 is the perfect GPS smartwatch for those who want to stay connected and healthy. With its crisp AMOLED display and advanced health monitoring features, it's perfect for tracking your fitness progress and keeping an eye on your overall health.
You can even download songs to your watch and connect with wireless headphones for phone-free listening. Plus, with preloaded workouts that include cardio, yoga, strength, HIIT, and Pilates, you can always find the perfect workout to suit your needs.
So whether you're looking to stay connected or stay fit, the Garmin Venu is the perfect smartwatch for you.
What You Should Know
The Garmin Venu 3 is a great smartwatch for those who are looking for a device that already has all the features included and does not require any extra monthly fees.
If you're not a fan of the hard band that comes with the watch, there are plenty of hook-and-loop after-market bands that work just as well. The website and phone app work reasonably well with older software and are accurate when compared to other brands and devices.
One thing to note is that if you set the device to read in real-time, it will drain the battery faster than usual so be sure to keep an eye on that. Overall, the Garmin Venu is a great choice for those looking for a smartwatch with all the bells and whistles included.
Points to Consider Before Purchasing
- Comes in multiple colors with displays like bright, crisp AMOLED display
- Battery rapid charging with 14 days on a single charge
- Smart notifications, music, safety, and tracking features
- Great design and nice watch faces
Best Garmin Watches For Running FAQs
Garmin has the biggest range of fitness trackers available on the market how to decide which is best for you? Our comprehensive buyer's guide with frequently asked questions helps you choose the best fitness tracker for your kid. This guide will help you understand what to look for when choosing the best tracker. Here are some of the common frequently asked questions about Garmin running watches.
Q. What Garmin is best for runners?
Answer: Garmin is best for runners because it has a large variety of options when it comes to running watches.
The Forerunner series is one of the most popular Garmin running watches. It offers many features, such as heart rate monitoring, interval training, and even sleep tracking. If you're looking for a watch with more bells and whistles, the Fenix or Venu series offers everything from step counting to barometric altimeters. Whichever model you choose, Garmin has a running watch that's perfect for you.
Q. Which Garmin is best for beginner runners?
Answer: The Garmin Forerunner 55 is a great option for beginner runners. It's easy to use, and it has several features that are perfect for new runners, including pace tracking, distance tracking, and calorie counting. It also has a minimum/maximum heart rate monitor to help you stay safe while running.
Q. Which GPS is best for running?
Answer: The Garmin Forerunner 255 is the best GPS for running because it provides the most accurate data about your pace, distance, and time. It also has a built-in heart rate monitor to help you track your intensity levels. Plus, the Forerunner 255 is very durable and can stand up to even the most intense workouts.
Q. Why do runners prefer Garmin?
Answer: Runners prefer Garmin for several reasons:
- Accurate GPS: Garmin watches offer highly accurate GPS tracking, essential for runners to track their routes and distances precisely.
- Advanced Features: Garmin watches come with advanced features like heart rate monitoring, pace tracking, and customizable training plans, catering to runners' diverse needs.
- Long Battery Life: Many Garmin models boast long battery life, ideal for marathon runners or those who prefer longer workout sessions.
- User-Friendly Interface: Garmin's interface is intuitive and easy to use, allowing runners to navigate through their data effortlessly.
- Durability: Garmin watches are built to withstand outdoor conditions, making them durable companions for all types of runs.
Overall, Garmin's combination of accuracy, features, durability, and user experience makes it a top choice among runners.
Key Takeaways
So, which is the best Garmin watch for running? It depends on your needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a basic model to track your distance and time, the Forerunner 55 is a good option. If you want more features—such as heart rate monitoring or music playback—the Forerunner, Venu or Fenix would be a better choice. And if you’re an ultra-marathoner or triathlete, the Fenix series is probably the best option available. No matter what type of runner you are, there’s a Garmin watch that will fit your needs.