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Whether you’re looking to buy your first running watch or an avid runner researching the current best running watch options to upgrade from your current one, I’ve put together this handy runner’s guide to the best watches under $450.
What do we know about running watches? Well, after countless hours of running with many different running watches (I test and review them here at Trail & Kale), for everything from a couple of miles around the block to all-day mountain ultramarathons, I know what good looks like and what the best running watches for your needs are.
For $450 or less, you can buy a high-quality GPS running watch that not only tracks all the essential running stats like pace, distance, time, time vs. goals and has other features like a PR ghost-runner and workout suggestions, but you can use it as your everyday watch and it will monitor your heart rate on your wrist (not an uncomfortable chest strap) and offer you a suite of health and activity tracking features, too.
Note that if you currently or expect to be doing long endurance runs and other sports that last more than 8+ hours you may require (or desire!) a watch with longer battery life, a more robust case and more advanced training features and in-depth navigation capabilities, for example. If that type of watch appeals to you, head over to my guide to the best running watches for trail and ultra running.
What essential features should you expect from your running watch?
All of the watches in this guide have earned their place on here by having the following features which I consider to be essential in a running watch:
- Built in GPS tracking with reliable GPS accuracy
- Reasonably long battery life – at least 15 hours while in GPS mode and a week or more with normal use
- Pace and distance-related data
- Wrist-based heart rate
- Connectivity to your phone for downloading and analyzing your run and fitness data
- Waterproof – typically down to 5ATM / 50 meters (around 160 feet)
Of course, they all also offer significantly more than just the basics, including sleep and fitness tracker capabilities, and I’ve highlighted some notable features for each running watch on this list, together with links to the more detailed product pages if you’re interested to learn more about a specific GPS watch’s features, specifications, color and strap options (they’re essentially all available in black or white, however some offer more exciting colorways).
The best running watches under $450
Garmin Forerunner 165
- Cost: $249.99 at Garmin and REI
- Battery life: Up to 11 days, 19 hours with GPS on
- Weight: 39g
- Screen size: 43 x 43 x 11.6mm
- Display: AMOLED (with optional always-on display mode)
If you spend a bit more on a Garmin running watch and go for the Forerunner 165 then you’re buying yourself essentially a more comprehensive fitness and running performance tracking watch, including upgraded features such as a barometric altimeter (which includes tracking your run’s ascent and descent), course guidance and navigation, thermometer and HRV tracking, so all round it simply does a lot more than the less expensive Forerunner 55.
Note, however, that if you want to store and play music on your running watch then this is an option if you spend an extra $50 on the ‘music’ version of the 165 – but that feature is included on the Coros Pace 3, which is arguably this Garmin watch’s closest competitor.
Coros Pace 3
- Cost: $229 at Amazon and COROS
- Battery life: Up to 17 days, 38 hours with GPS on
- Weight: 39g (silicone band) or 30g (nylon band)
- Screen size: 41.9 x 41.9 x 11.7mm
- Display: Always-on display using memory LCD
The Coros Pace 3 represents, in my opinion, one of the best bangs for your buck if you want a GPS watch that’s loaded with features. Quite frankly, I continue to be amazed at how Coros is able to pack all of these into a watch that costs less than $250.
The Pace 3 includes a comprehensive suite of running, fitness and training functions, including training load, which Garmin only includes on more expensive multisport watches. It also includes the ability to store and play music.
Suunto Race S [Titanium Courtney Edition]
Cost: $469 at Suunto
Battery life: Up to 9 days in smartwatch mode (13 days standby), 30 hours in performance GPS mode
Weight: 52g (1.8oz) with titanium bezel
Case size: 45 x 45 x 11.4 mm
Display: 1.32” AMOLED with 466×466 resolution
The Suunto Race S Titanium Courtney Edition (links to review) is a smaller, lighter version of the Suunto Race, tailored for athletes who prefer precision and performance without bulk. Its titanium bezel, glow-in-the-dark strap, and subtle “believe” text make this edition both functional and visually distinctive.
Packed with features like dual-band GPS, 95+ sport modes, HRV recovery tracking, and offline maps, the Race S is a powerhouse for training and racing. It’s especially suited for runners, triathletes, and multisport athletes who need reliable metrics and navigation tools. The bright AMOLED display ensures visibility even in direct sunlight, while the digital crown allows quick navigation (though it can occasionally be sensitive during wrist movement). While just over that $450 price tag, it’s worth every cent extra.
Garmin Forerunner 55
- Cost: $200 at Garmin and REI
- Battery life: Up to 2 weeks, 20 hours with GPS on
- Weight: 37g
- Screen size: 42 x 42 x 11.6mm
- Display: sunlight-visible, pixelated
The Garmin Forerunner is the best entry-level running watch when you essentially want a watch to track runs with, that you can use for other activities, but don’t want to break the bank or use your running watch for more comprehensive health and fitness activity tracking that other running watches offer.
You’ll still get features such as sleep tracking and the ability to use it for other sports including swimming, but it doesn’t track advanced fitness features such as VO2 max and training effect.
Coros Apex 2
If navigation mapping is important to you in a running watch, then the Coros Apex 2 is a great choice, offering the features of the Pace 3, plus pre-loaded global maps and downloadable topo maps. It also boasts a couple of extra features beyond the Pace 3, including a more robust Sapphire glass screen and Titanium (as opposed to polymer) case, and the ability to take an ECG.
There’s also a Pro version (the Coros Apex 2 Pro) to consider for an extra $100, which increases the size of your watch’s screen, and significantly better battery life.
- KEY SPECS: Cost: $349 at Amazon and COROS, Battery life: Up to 14 days, 40 hours with GPS on, Weight: 53g (silicone band) or 42g (nylon band), Screen size: 43.0 x 42.8 x 12.8mm, Display: Always-On Memory LCD
Apple Watch Series 10
No list of the best watches for runners would be complete without the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Series 10 can do almost anything you can think of that you may want to use it for throughout your day, and that includes tracking your runs with GPS using either Apple’s fitness app or a third-party app like Strava.
The Series 10 features Apple’s largest display yet, making it easier to view data during workouts. It also offers sleep tracking, ECG functionality, and resting heart rate monitoring. You can map routes and listen to music as you run—all within the seamless Apple ecosystem.
However, all these features come at a cost, as the Apple Watch has shorter battery life compared to the more sports-focused GPS watches on this list.
If you’re curious about the Apple Watch Ultra, which offers extended battery life and additional rugged features compared to the Series 10, check out my roundup of the best running watches for trail and ultra runners to explore this and other high-performance options.
KEY SPECS: Cost: $399+ at Apple, Battery life: Up to 18 hours, depending on use (36 hours in low power mode), Weight: Varies by material; typically 30g (41mm) or 36.4g (45mm) for aluminum, Screen size: 45mm or 41mm case size, Display: Always-on retina display
Polar Pacer
The Polar Pacer has an attractive minimalist design, multiple color options and arguably the most accurate heart rate monitoring there is, thanks to Polar’s Precision Prime OHR Technology. This is a great GPS running watch option you can wear all day and night for activity and sleep tracking, plus it includes advanced features such as VO2 max and training load monitoring.
For an extra $100, also consider the Polar Pacer Pro, which offers, among other additional features, route guidance and wrist-based running power tracking.
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