The 6 Best Running GPS Watches of 2025: Staff Picks

Our six favorite GPS watches for runners and multi-sport athletes.

Mary Beth Skylis| Published March 17, 2025

A trail runner wearing a GPS watch

A GPS watch takes any athletic endeavor and turns it into data. You should be able to glance down at your device mid-run to see how far you’ve gone, how high you’ve climbed or if your energy levels match the measurements that your watch is taking. Are you straining to complete a run that’s usually easy for you, and do the metrics reflect that?

Since GPS watches, including running watches, use a series of analytical measurements to tell you how you’re moving, it can feel intimidating to find a watch that supports your goals as a runner. But the truth is that most running watches boil down to just a few measurement categories: health data, sports modes, navigation and altitude. 

A good running watch can help you be more aware of your output and general health. But finding the right watch for you requires some discernment, since many products cater to specific niches. For example, some running watches come with solar charging capabilities that are optimal for backcountry trail runs while others prioritize health-tracking information like heart rate variability to enhance the recovery process during marathon training.

Once you complete an adventure, the same watch should be able to tell you how long to wait before your next intense activity. But it’s important to remember that these post-activity recommendations are automated—you should pay attention to your individual health history, experience level and how you feel in your body before you listen to a watch.

Simplify your search for the best running watch with the help of REI staff members. The following list highlights six running-optimized GPS watches that we love for their overall accuracy, efficiency, and intuitive designs. 

Staff Picks

Find our quick recommendations here or read on for the full review of our picks for best running watches available at REI.



Most GPS watches cater to a large web of sports activities to support dynamic athletes. But the truth is that such a watch is often mediocre at a lot of things instead of being an expert at one. Fortunately, the Garmin Forerunner 965’s main focus is running, and it does a great job of emphasizing data that supports road running, trail running, track workouts and more. In fact, this watch comes equipped with PacePro(™) technology, which is essentially a virtual pacing tool that gives you a tempo to follow in the absence of a fellow runner to pace you. This watch also measures stride length and real-time stamina, which is essential during long runs when bonking can be an issue. The Forerunner 965 even has a race prediction tool that tells you how you’re likely to perform in a specific situation, given your recent training. 

Darcy Olson, an electronics buyer for REI, calls it “the best fitness-first watch we carry.” It’s also a competitor for the best running watch on the market. 

If you value the recovery process as much as your workouts, the Forerunner 965 gives you access to a training score, which tells you how ready your body is to perform based on information like last night’s heart rate variability, and today’s heart rate. It also provides a training scale that alerts you when you’re at peak recovery so you can optimize your workouts. 

Compared to its predecessor, the Forerunner 965 is slightly bigger, has a longer battery life, and stores more data. It also includes advanced metrics like heat and altitude acclimation, and preloaded GPS maps for detailed route-finding. Long-distance backpacker Betsy Bavis has this to say about the earlier version: “I’ve had a Garmin for over 10 years [because of] the reliability and consistency in their software and affordability.”

Jordan Robak, a Colorado-based thru hiker, climber, swimmer, runner and REI Co-op Member says that the new Forerunner is “very comfy,” and the app is stellar. Robak tends to leave his Forerunner 965 at home during long climbs to avoid scratching the face, but he uses it while on big open-water training swims for triathlons, while in the pool, and while running. He’s especially fond of the skiing feature, which automatically records downhill runs and stops when you reach the bottom.

Other REI customer-reviewers point to the watch’s intuitive design, improved screen legibility, and overall accuracy as reasons to love it. It’s also one of the most lightweight watches on the market (53 grams), which is another reason why athletes gravitate towards it. Buy here.


 


Some watches are so sporty that you’re inclined to take them off before a nice dinner or a business-casual event. The Suunto 9 Peak Pro Titanium, however, manages to tackle most athletic needs while blending seamlessly into a variety of settings and lifestyles. Best known for its ultra-thin design and military-grade durability, this watch also allows you to choose from 90 different workouts, making it a great pick for the versatile athlete who wants to look stylish on and off the trail. 

Olson describes this watch as “rugged,” pointing to its durable components and robust features. REI customer-reviewers reported liking that you can customize the available activities on the watch, allowing you to better access the sports that are most applicable to your habits. They also point to the long battery life, scratch-resistant sapphire glass, and titanium design as reasons to expect a long watch lifespan. Buy here.


Most endurance athletes have felt the struggle of a dwindling GPS battery. The sun dips low over the horizon, and suddenly your watch is in the red, but you still have miles to go. If you’ve felt the pain of an underperforming watch, you know how much it can impact your runs. 

Fortunately, the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar lets you to stay powered up with its varied battery modes and extended battery life. In fact, the Instinct 3 Solar offers 130 hours of battery life in solar GPS mode or three times the amount of the Suunto 9 Peak Pro Titanium. Without the use of solar, this watch is still impressive and the brand reports it can last an astounding 56 days in battery saver mode, 28 days in expedition mode, and 24 days in smartwatch mode. Every one of those settings can be boosted with the power of the sun, prolonging inevitable dips in the watch battery. This feature alone makes it an attractive pick for endurance athletes, backpackers and expedition-lovers. Olson calls it the “best battery life…for all-around activities.” 

To sweeten the deal, the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar is legible even in direct sunlight—a feature REI customer-reviewers said made the watch easy to use; it's also ideal for mountain athletes that spend a lot of time in the snow or in bright environments like the Rocky Mountains. Buy here.



Marathon training can be really rigid, encouraging you to follow strict schedules for months at a time, and some GPS watches don't provide enough integrated features to help track and augment such a schedule. In most cases, marathon athletes want a watch that tracks health data over a prolonged period of time instead of in acute environments. 

The COROS PACE 3 emphasizes all of this extended data by allowing you to compare current health information with historical data (on both the app and watch) to give you an overall image of your prolonged training. It also provides runners with the option to create interval sets, training plans and marathon time predictions. In fact, you can even use this watch as a virtual pacer, plugging in a time goal for a given distance and letting the watch do the math for you along the way. 

The PACE 3 is unbeatable when it comes to measuring cadence, stride length, ground contact time and even vertical oscillation. The watch also supports an external heart rate strap and foot pod, which can be useful when you want a bit more accuracy—for instance, during high intensity or interval workouts where you really need to gauge performance. Even if you tack on accessories, you're likely to feel unencumbered: the PACE 3 is the lightest watch in our guide, weighing in at 30 grams for the smallest display size—perfect for runners with small wrists or who simply prefer a barely there feeling.

REI customer-reviewers appreciate the running-specific settings and data as well as its cross-training support due to the watch’s wide variety of sports tracking options. One wrote, "Probably the greatest attribute (other than the fantastic battery life) is how incredibly accurate and consistent the GPS is. I ran a half marathon this past fall on significantly less training than usual, but was able to PR purely because I could stick to my predetermined pace due to the real-time pace accuracy of the watch." All this comes in at under $250, making it an excellent pick for the running obsessive who doesn't want to break the bank. Buy here.



One of the biggest struggles that mountain athletes encounter while looking for the right GPS watch is poor battery life. Most watches force you to choose between battery life and quality mountain tracking, but this is one area in which the COROS VERTIX 2S excels. Depending on the level of accuracy and tracking that’s needed, athletes can set this watch to perform as a day-to-day watch; a standard GPS watch; an All Systems watch, which uses all Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to more accurately measure your location; and an All Systems Dual Frequency watch, which employs even more accuracy by capturing more satellites. Even when it’s set at the most demanding All Systems Dual Frequency setting, the VERTIX 2S gives you more than two days of battery—double the amount of many competitive watches. This is why it’s a go-to watch for mountain sports like trail runs and ultras. 

While the COROS PACE 3 is a lightweight, efficient GPS watch you can snag on a budget, the VERTIX 2S is a workhorse of a watch, designed for the dedicated mountain or trail runner. It’s hefty, and equipped with dual frequency capabilities for even more accurate data. While the PACE 3 is an ideal fit for urban environments and more straightforward routes, the VERTIX 2s is a master in rural, mountain environments that require more complex navigation. The VERTIX 2S is a “great all-around watch from our No. 2 watch brand,” says Olson. REI customer-reviewers largely agree, pointing to its accuracy, versatility and ample battery life. Buy here.



The top-selling GPS watch at REI, the Garmin fēnix®  8 AMOLED, is designed for multi-sport athletes. fēnix® series watches highlight classic fitness data like heart rate variability, heart rate and recovery. The latest iteration of this watch accomplishes all of the above while also supporting mountain athletes with its mapping integration and multi-sport settings, easily allowing you to switch from strength to cardio. Compared to earlier models of the watch, the fēnix® 8 is slightly more sophisticated: It offers touch screen capabilities, a light-friendly display, and body-mapping images to support visual athletes.

AMOLED, if you're wondering, stands for active-matrix organic light-emitting diode—a tongue twister that simply means the display uses organic compounds to produce light. This premium feature means a long battery life since the display doesn't rely on a backlight, as well as higher contrast levels, making watch's display is more visible in different environments. AMOLED devices also emit less blue light, lessening the strain on your eyes and making them a good choice to wear all day long.

REI customer-reviewers most appreciate the Garmin fēnix® 8 AMOLED's integrated GPS technology, multi-sport capabilities, durability and voice-command features. Compared to other watches, many reviewers found that the watch is tougher, less likely to glitch, and designed to support dynamic athletes. It’s also the watch with the highest rated water resistance, allowing submersion up to 100 meters. It's our priciest watch on the list, but worth it if you depend on a GPS watch for a highly active lifestyle that includes more than running. Buy here.


Shop All GPS Running Watches


Buying Advice for GPS Watches


Choosing the right GPS watch for your running needs is a personal process. You might appreciate features that your friends or running mates hate, or visa versa. So, it’s important to take some time to think about the features you’d like to prioritize in a running watch. Evaluating these metrics might help: 

  • Training Goals: Are you a marathon runner? A mountain athlete? Someone who prefers mixed activities? The reality is that some watches accommodate specific training goals better than others. For example, the COROS PACE 3 watch is an ideal pick for non-technical marathon training due to features like split training. Yet the COROS VERTIX 2S is built for the demands of mountain sports. 

  • Environment: Running watches come with a variety of different weather-resistance ratings, glass strengths, and builds. Each athlete will have different needs based on where exactly they’re recreating. 

    • Urban: If you live in a city or highly populated area and are running or recreating mostly on the roads, you’ll want to prioritize a lightweight, low-profile watch like the Garmin Forerunner 965, COROS PACE 3 or Suunto 9 Peak Pro Titanium. 

    • Snow: A watch you use in the snowy backcountry, for example, will need to be more weather-resistant to withstand freezing temperatures. The COROS VERTIX 2s and Suunto 9 Peak Pro Titanium are the most weather-resistant watches in this guide, but all six of our picks should be able to handle skiing or snowboarding at a resort.

    • Mountains: If you’re an avid trail runner or climber, you may want to consider a watch with high glass strength to protect it against falls in rocky environments, like the COROS VERTIX 2s, Garmin fēnix® 8 AMOLED and Suunto 9 Peak Pro Titanium. 

    • Water: All of the watches in this guide have at least 5 ATM water resistance for surface-level activities like swimming. But those diving a little deeper for activities like snorkeling will prefer the Suunto 9 Peak Pro Titanium or Garmin Instinct 3 Solar, which have 10 ATM (100 meter) water resistance.

  • Durability: GPS watches come with a wide variety of glass types, meaning that some are better at escaping scratching than others. While not every athlete requires a sapphire-style watch that reduces wear and tare, some athletes are particularly tough on their gear. This is why a vital part of the watch evaluation process should relate to durability. Is the watch you’re looking at going to handle the mountains without issue? Can you swim in salt water with it? Asking these types of questions will guide you towards the watch that fits your unique needs. 

  • Pricing: Well-made GPS watches can range in price from $300 to $1500. One important factor that goes into determining which watch is right for you is your specific price range. Generally speaking, the higher the price tag, the more features and precision the watch will have. Keep in mind that, while high-end GPS watches can be pretty expensive, most of the lower end watches still provide athletes with high-quality health data and tracking to support their running endeavors. The most affordable watch in the guide is the COROS PACE 3, which is $229, while the most expensive watch, starting at $1000, is the Garmin fēnix® 8 AMOLED.

  • Comfort and Fit: There’s nothing worse than heading out on a long run to find that your watch is chafing, or that it doesn’t fit you how it should. The wristband should be somewhat elastic to accommodate dynamic movement. GPS watches also come with a variety of different wristband materials. A silicone strap is great because of its moisture-wicking properties, but it’s less dynamic than nylon or even leather. Each of these materials has its perks although most runners gravitate towards silicone or rubber. Another feature that can contribute to watch comfort is the size of its face (the bigger the face, generally the bulkier the watch). Before making your selection, consider stopping at your local REI to try on a few watches to make sure you end up with the right fit. 

Our Process

Two REI staff members and several REI Co-op Members and customer-reviewers contributed watch preferences based on professional and personal experience. The six choices above are the best and latest GPS watches offered at REI due to their design, reliability, and overall performance. 

Authors

Photo of Mary Beth Skylis
Mary Beth Skylis

Mary Beth "Mouse" Skylis is a long-distance backpacker and writer specializing in movement and travel. She works as a columnist for Backpacker Magazine and has by-lines in Outside, Women's Health, Trail Runner and more. REI Member since 2015.