10 Best Gps Running Watches 2025 in the United States

The Apple Watch Series 11 is a strong candidate for runners looking for a smart, all-around fitness companion. Its built-in GPS supports multiple global satellite systems, ensuring accurate tracking of your routes and pace, which is crucial for running. Battery life offers up to 24 hours under normal use, enough for most daily runs, and it charges quickly, but might need daily charging if used extensively for long workouts or multiple GPS sessions. Heart rate monitoring is advanced, with notifications for irregularities and even sleep apnea, giving a thorough view of your health beyond just exercise. Water resistance rated to 50 meters means you can safely wear it in rain or while swimming, and its IP6X dust resistance adds durability.

The watch also shines with detailed training metrics like Heart Rate Zones, training load, and a smart Workout Buddy that leverages your iPhone to help you train smarter. On the smartwatch side, it offers cellular connectivity with 5G, letting you make calls and receive messages without your phone, plus safety features like fall and crash detection for peace of mind. Design-wise, it’s thin and lightweight, comfortable enough for all-day wear including sleep tracking, and has a bright always-on display that’s easy to read outdoors.

Compared to some dedicated running watches, the battery life may be shorter if you rely heavily on GPS and advanced metrics. Also, while it has many features, some runners might find specialized running watches offer more in-depth performance data or longer battery endurance. This makes it a premium, stylish smartwatch that covers running needs well, especially if you want a device that doubles as a powerful health and everyday wearable.

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a solid choice for runners who want a smartwatch that combines precise GPS tracking with deep training insights. Its multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology offers reliable positioning even in tricky environments, which is important if you run in urban areas or trails with dense tree cover. The AMOLED display is bright and colorful, making data easy to read during workouts, while traditional buttons help with control when touchscreen use isn't ideal. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and around 20 hours with continuous GPS use—enough for most runners, including those doing long races.

Heart rate monitoring is continuous and supports recovery insights, giving you an idea of how prepared your body is for training based on sleep, HRV (heart rate variability), and recent activity. This watch includes over 30 activity profiles, so it's versatile for triathletes or multisport users too. Safety features like incident detection add peace of mind when running outdoors. On the smartwatch side, it delivers notifications and supports Garmin Pay, letting you leave your wallet behind occasionally. The watch is lightweight and comfortable with a 46mm case size, though some might find it a bit large depending on wrist size.

Garmin watches in this range typically handle swimming and sweat well. While the training metrics are advanced and adaptive, some data like training readiness and recovery are estimates, so they should guide rather than dictate your workouts. For runners seeking a GPS watch that balances accurate tracking, long battery life, smart features, a bright display, and detailed training feedback, the Forerunner 265 fits the bill nicely.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is a feature-rich running smartwatch designed for those who enjoy tracking their fitness and listening to music on the go. Its standout feature is the brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display, which offers vibrant visuals and is paired with traditional button controls for ease of use. The built-in GPS ensures accurate pace and distance tracking, essential for runners. The wrist-based heart rate monitoring helps keep track of your cardio health without the need for additional equipment. With up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode, it is suitable for both daily use and long training sessions.

The smartwatch also supports over 25 activity profiles, including running, cycling, and HIIT, making it versatile for various fitness activities. One of the highlights is the music feature, allowing you to download songs and playlists from popular services like Spotify and Amazon Music for phone-free listening. The Garmin Coach and personalized daily suggested workouts adapt based on your performance and recovery, helping you reach your fitness goals efficiently. The device also provides recovery insights and training effect labels, offering a comprehensive overview of your fitness progress.

Safety features like incident detection and Assistance are valuable for outdoor activities, ensuring peace of mind. The smartwatch supports smart notifications, so you never miss important calls or texts, and Garmin Pay for contactless payments adds convenience. On the downside, the memory storage capacity is limited to 4 GB, which might be insufficient for some users who want to store a large number of songs. Additionally, the small 1.2-inch screen size might not be ideal for everyone. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is an excellent choice for fitness enthusiasts who want a reliable and multifunctional running smartwatch.