The best running watch will probably always be a Garmin Forerunner. The line is one of Garmin’s oldest and goes all the way from the bare-bones Forerunner 55 ($170) to the spendy Forerunner 965 ($500). They all have different graduated specs and features; for example, the less expensive ones have cheaper displays and no blood oxygen sensors. However, all have access to multiple satellite systems for accurate positioning, as well as access to Garmin’s proprietary training algorithms. Garmin’s suggested workouts are flexible.
The Forerunners also age pretty well, which means you’re getting a bargain if you can find last year’s watch on sale (see the Forerunner 255). However, I think the Forerunner 165 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a good compromise for most people. It’s on the more affordable end of the spectrum, but it has everything you need, including a bright AMOLED display, an altimeter for more accurate mileage, and a blood oxygen sensor. I found the sleep and workout tracking to be pretty accurate, the battery life is decent, and I really like Garmin’s Morning Report, which wakes you up with a summary of last night’s stats—how well you slept, the weather, and how ready you are to take on the day. The Music version costs an extra $50 and may be more trouble than it’s worth, but other than that it’s a pretty solid option for even more advanced runners.
★ Alternative: If only Garmin’s Forerunner line weren’t so good! Otherwise, the Coros Pace 3 ($229) would be a shoo-in for this spot. Because Coros uses a less-battery-intensive screen, the Pace watches are incredibly light, durable, and comfortable, with very long battery life; I wore it for two weeks last fall without having to charge it once. It has dual-frequency GPS that tracked my interval runs seamlessly. (I was trying to see how long I could maintain Eliud Kipchoge’s pace, since he’s one of their partners—the answer is “not very long.”) It does everything much more expensive trackers do, like breadcrumb navigation. However, its 1980s looks and dimmer screen may be off-putting to some.