12 Best Watches for Running and Swimming: (2025 Guide & Reviews)

Last Updated on August 8, 2025 by Luis Cooper

Trying to find the best watch for running and swimming?

Let’s read our guide for athletes and runners.

These watches offer excellent water resistance, GPS tracking, comfort, and durability.

Whether you are looking for lap counting precision in the pool or GPS accuracy for the runners, we’ve got you covered.

Get to know about our top recommendations to elevate your fitness game.

Which are the Best Watches for Running and Swimming?

Here are my recommended top 12 Best Watches for Running and Swimming:-

Forerunner 265S: (best garmin watch for swimming and running)

After finishing high school, I was free for around three months.

I wanted to spend my leisure time engaging in exciting activities, so I ran with my friend daily.

As beginners, we couldn’t monitor our running time or overall health.

While scrolling, we came across the Garmin Forerunner running watch.

I read many good reviews about it and decided to get one.

This smartwatch helped us a lot in maintaining my running speed and time.

Also, it provided me with my heart rate and overall health profile at the end of the day. 

WHAT DO WE GET FROM THESE? 

Bright Display:

This Garmin watch features a bright AMOLED touch display with button controls and a lightweight design, making it ideal for smaller wrists.

It provides us with excellent battery life of 15 days in smartwatch mode and 24 hours in GPS mode.

As soon as you wake up, you receive a report on your night’s routine, healing, and outlook, along with your HRV level.

You can also plan a race strategy with personalized daily suggested exercises, depending on the ethnicity and flow you input into the Garmin Connect app, and then view the race app on your watch.

After every run, you are also provided with workout suggestions to aid in interpretation and recovery. 

Impressive Functions: 

The training enthusiasm calculation relies on the quality of your sleep, recovery, training, and HRV status to determine if you are interested in going further and getting the most out of your exercises.

It features over 30 activity profiles, including running, cycling, and many more.

You can also gain insight into overall efforts by tracking training status, including HRV status, recent workout history, and performance, to determine whether you are training correctly.

Moreover, this watch also features protection and monitoring capabilities, including incident detection and service support.

You can also send a message with your current location to emergency contacts when paired with your compatible mobile phones.

It requires a format and your mobile phone to be in a region with a network range that allows data to be obtained. 

Conclusion: 

This smartwatch is the best for running.

Its unique features and monitors help you maintain your health and running profiles.

For 24/7, you are monitored for your health, including heart rate.

Additionally, the bright display enables clear visibility even in low-light conditions. 

Specs: 

Brand	Garmin Forerunner
Measurements of the product	1.64 x 1.64 x 0.51 inches
The model number of the item	010-02810-05
Weight of the item:	1.38 ounces
ASIN	B0BS 1ST GTL
Batteries included the product	‎1 Lithium Ion battery is required.
Mass of the watch	39 Grams
Manufacturer	Garmin
Used for	Women’s
Country of origin	Taiwan
Standing display size	1.1 inches
Date first available	May 2, 2023

Polar Pacer Pro: (Best Advanced GPS Running Watch)

Last year, I gained a lot of weight as a dietetic patient due to my high antibiotic intake.

My doctor suggested that I lose weight without any medication.

So, I ran and started to lose weight, but I couldn’t monitor my heart rate or significant changes in my body.

This Polar Pacer Pro smartwatch helps me maintain my running speed and health.

Its updated features helped me manage my sleep and accurately measure the distance.

It’s the best running watch. 

WHAT DO WE GET FROM THESE? 

Display: 

The Pacer Pro is lightweight, making it comfortable to wear for extended periods without causing any discomfort or sweat on your wrist.

It features grip buttons that are easy to use, even when you are on the move.

This helps you control the watch without fumbling around during your runs.

It has precise GPS tracking to measure your running speed, distance, and route accurately.

It makes sure you have reliable data for your exercises. 

Functionality: 

This unique watch offers new and customizable features.

You can set specific goals and follow training plans tailored to your fitness level and objectives.

It also includes recovery tools and insights.

It helps you detect your recovery status and recommends when to push harder.

Moreover, it has a heart rate monitor to track your heart rate zones, helping you optimize your workouts and monitor your overall cardiovascular health.

You can receive notifications for calls, SMS, and app alerts directly on your watch, allowing you to stay connected during workouts. 

Conclusion: 

This polar pacer is the best watch for running and swimming.

It helps you maintain your heart rate health and measures the distance covered.

You can also make and receive calls right from your wrist.

Your goals are clear and help you stay determined.

Specs: 

Brand	Polar Pacer
Measurements of the package	4.37 x 3.15 x 3.03 inches
Weight of the package	‎0.18 Kilograms
Weight of the item:	41 Grams
Part number of the product	900102181
Batteries included the product	‎1 Lithium Ion battery is required.
Style of the watch	Pacer pro
Manufacturer	Polar
Used for	Unisex
Color of the watch	Blue
Human interface input	Buttons
Hand Orientation	Ambidextrous

Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro: (best swimming watch)

I wasn’t planning on falling for another swimming watch, but the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro caught me off guard.

From the first dip in the pool, I could tell — this one gets it.

It’s solid, tracks more than just laps, and still looks good on your wrist when you’re out of the water.

Let’s start with the build.

The sapphire glass, titanium case, and 5ATM waterproof rating give it a premium, tough-as-nails feel.

But even with all that, it’s surprisingly comfortable.

I wore it through pool sets, open water swims, and even post-workout coffee runs.

No irritation, no weird strap feel – just a comfortable fit that stays put, even during flip turns.

What impressed me most, though?

The underwater accuracy.

It didn’t just track laps — it picked up on my stroke type, swim pace, SWOLF score, heart rate underwater, and even rest time between sets.

You can tell Huawei built this with actual swimmers in mind.

And don’t get me started on the freediving mode — I’ve never had a watch provide depth tracking this smoothly without disrupting my entire session.

Battery?

Solid. I’ve been getting up to 10–14 days with mixed use (that includes swim tracking, GPS workouts, and sleep tracking at night).

And when I needed to charge, it juiced up fast enough that I never had to stress about missing a session.

Conclusion:

If swimming is more than just a side hobby for you — if it’s something you take seriously — then the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro feels like it was made to match your level.

It’s not overloaded with smart fluff.

Just the stuff that matters.

Specs:

POLAR Ignite: (Best Watch for Running and Swimming Under $300)

I was already using this Polar Ignite smartwatch for running.

It helped me show my fitness and health relation issues at the end of the day.

Even my sleep pattern is also monitored, and suggestions are provided.

So I told him about this helpful product.

This smartwatch works excellently for everyday wear.  

WHAT DO WE GET FROM THESE? 

Versatile Design: 

This Polar Ignite is a sports smartwatch for women and men who want to push their limits correctly.

It’s perfect for workouts, group exercises, swimming, etc.

It has a slim design optimized for extended wear.

It works as your brilliant workout partner with a button interface including essentials like an OHR monitor, pace, distance, integrated GPS, counting calories, and touch display with vibrant colors. 

Functionality: 

This watch features a nightly recharger, which helps you measure how well your body is recovering from the day’s stress during the night.

You can also get personalized and ready-made workout recommendations based on your healing and overall enthusiasm.

Plus, you will learn about the quality of your sleep, follow sleep stages, and get deep insights into new sleep stage features. 

Conclusion: 

I indeed suggest using this Polar Ignite smartwatch for swimmers or runners.

It uses high-quality materials, and all apps are newly launched.

For everyday use, this is a perfect option as it’s comfortable.

Plus, for beginners, it’s the best product.  

Specs: 

Brand	Polar Ignite
Measurements of the package	5.16 x 3.39 x 2.8 inches
The weight of the package	‎0.15 Kilograms
Weight of the item	21 Grams
Part number of the product	90072456
Batteries included the product	‎1 Lithium Ion battery is required.
Style of the watch	Modern
Manufacturer	Polar
Used for	Unisex
Color of the watch	White and silver
Material of the watch	Nylon
Standing display size	43 mm

Garmin Forerunner 970: (Is This the Best GPS Running Watch Yet?)

 

So, I’ve been testing the Garmin Forerunner 970 for a while now — not just on casual runs, but during tempo workouts, recovery jogs, and even those dreaded long runs in the heat.

And let me tell you: this watch is built differently.

The first thing you’ll notice is the AMOLED screen — and not just any screen.

It’s big, 1.4″, incredibly sharp at 454×454 resolution, and full colour.

Whether you’re glancing down mid-sprint or scrolling through offline maps, it’s all just clear.

Even the torch feature came in handy during a late-night trail run (I know, not smart, but the watch helped).

Performance-wise?

That’s where the 970 shines.

The GPS accuracy in Multi-Band GNSS mode is just insane.

I compared it side-by-side with my older gear, and this one consistently nailed pace, elevation, and even my race day splits.

The training and recovery tools are also quite comprehensive.

You get insights like running economy, intensity score, and training load — things that actually helped me adjust my weekly mileage without crashing.

Oh, and the built-in speaker and microphone?

Way more useful than I expected.

I took calls mid-run with zero issues.

Conclusion:

If you’re serious about running — or even if you just want a smartwatch that keeps up with your progress without making it feel like a chore — the Forerunner 970 is a powerful companion.

Specs:

Forerunner® 965: (Best Smartwatch for Running and Workout)

I started to use the Garmin Forerunner 965 running watch recently, and I’m obsessed with this.

I use it every day during my running and swimming time.

Throughout the day, it monitors my health and provides the best results.

Even my menstrual cycle and sleep cycle are also observed.

This is the best choice for everyday use.

Its impressive features help you use it daily and give the reports at the end of the day.

WHAT DO WE GET FROM THESE? 

Impressive Structure:

This Forerunner watch has a bright AMOLED touch display with advanced controls and a weightless titanium bezel.

The watch’s battery life is 23 days in smartwatch mode and 31 days in GPS mode.

It can surely run anything using colorful maps, and GPS.

The calculations are based on the quality of your sleep, healing, training load, and HRV status to know if you are ready to go hard and get rewarded.

Moreover, you can plan race strategy with customized everyday exercises based on the running and the effort you put into the Garmin app and then see the race widget on the display.  

Unique Features: 

This impressive watch helps you switch between sports with a single button by using profiles for triathlons, brick workouts, or customizing your sports profiles.

You can also get insight into your overall training status using indicators like HRV.

This way, you will know whether you are training productively, strained, or peaked.

When you wake up in the morning, you are provided with an overview of sleep, recovery, HRV status, and much more.   

Conclusion: 

I suggest using this impressive smartwatch for swimming and running.

Its body is water resistant, which makes it perfect for underwater activities.

For me, it’s the best purchase to improve my health. 

Specs: 

Brand	Garmin
Measurements of the item	1.85 x 1.85 x 0.52 inches
Weight of the product	1.87 ounces
Weight of the item	53 grams
The model number of the product	010-02809-00
Batteries included the product	‎One lithium-ion battery is required.
Resolution of the watch	215 x 180
Manufacturer	Garmin
Used for	Unisex
Color of the watch	Black and gray
Display of the watch	Wireless
Country of origin	Taiwan

Vivoactive 4: (garmin watches)

A client wanted to upgrade her fitness watch, so my company sent me to look it over.

He intended to set up a water-resistant and good battery timing watch.

Using the Garmin vivoactive 4 is an excellent idea for anyone who wishes to keep an eye on their health profile.

This superb watch offers many excellent features at less cost.

I adore this watch; it is a top-quality running watch.

It was simple to use.

WHAT DO WE GET FROM THESE? 

Keeps Your Energy Level Tracked:

This vivoactive watch helps you track your energy levels, pulse rate, respiration, menstrual cycle, sleep, and more.

You can also download songs to your smartwatch for free listening, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon, or Deezer.

Also, you can record all the ways to move with more than 20 GPS and indoor applications, including running, yoga, etc. 

Long Battery Life: 

You are provided with easy-to-follow instructions and animated exercises on your smartwatch display, including yoga, cardio, etc.

Its battery life is around eight days in smartwatch mode and 6 hours in GPS and music mode.

Your watch can also be personalized with free watch faces and widgets from the free Connect IQ store.

It helps you stay connected with intelligent alerts for incoming calls, SMS, and reminders.

Plus, this watch is perfect for water activities for 5 ATMs. 

Conclusion: 

If you are looking for a smartwatch for running and swimming, look no other.

This Garmin vivoactive provides all the features needed to maintain your health.

You can answer and make calls right from your wrist.

Specs: 

Brand	Garmin
Measurements of the item	‎1.78 x 1.78 x 0.5 inches
Weight of the product	1.3 ounces
ASIN	B07W7W8WBH
The model number of the product	010-02174-11
Batteries included the product	‎One lithium polymer battery is required.
Resolution of the scanner	260 x 260 pixels
Manufacturer	Garmin
Used for	Men’s
Color of the watch	Black
Display the resolution of the watch	‎260 x 260
Country of origin	Taiwan

SUUNTO 9 Baro: (Best Rugged GPS Running Adventure Watch)

As a fitness freak, I love to maintain my fitness and health.

This smartwatch helped me a lot with keeping my health and fitness managed.

It monitors everything perfectly and gives accurate results.

The watch band is easier to put on and take off than other watches.

The best point is that its battery lasts for a long time.

WHAT DO WE GET FROM THESE? 

Durable Design:

This GPS watch has a durable design structured for runners who mandate the best.

It features more than 75 modes for athletes, a barometer for accurate height, and a wrist heart rate monitor.

Its durability makes it perfect for training, racing, and adventures.

This GPS watch comes with 120 hours of constant exercise tracking.

This smartwatch is water resistant to 100 meters and great for cycling, running, and more. 

Stay Connected: 

This impressive watch helps you connect to your favorite sports apps and services from the Suunto app to get more from your watch.

You can also share with your sports societies and use specific training calculations and recommendations.

This smartwatch is adventurous as it combines Scandinavian design with long-lasting materials.

The watch tracks your sports, everyday activities, and sleep. 

Conclusion: 

This Suunto smartwatch is because of its reliability and accuracy.

The results are realistic and guide if you need to improve your health or fitness.

Its apps enable you to monitor things more perfectly.

Specs: 

Brand	Suunto
Measurements of the item	1.97″L x 1.97″W x 0.67″H
Weight of the product	‎0.58 Pounds
Material used	stainless steel
Part number of the product	SS050019000
Batteries included the product	‎One lithium polymer battery is required.
Resolution of the watch	480 x 272
Manufacturer	Suunto
Used for	Unisex
Color of the watch	Black
Display the type of watch	Matrix
Country of origin	Taiwan

SAMSUNG Watch 5 Pro: (best smartwatch for swimming)

My elder brother is a pro runner and wanted to upgrade his running watch.

The watch is an excellent addition to running and swimming watches because it provides various new features.

I was amazed at how quickly everything could be set up.

Compared to previous running watches, this is a far better fitness tracker, making it simple to identify your fitness profile.

Signing up was simple, and customer service provided an exceptional response.

This is a one-time investment in a running and swimming watch. 

WHAT DO WE GET FROM THESE? 

Advanced Features:

Your overall sleep quality can be managed with an advanced sleep tracker that monitors and analyzes your sleep stages while you are sleeping.

Advanced sleep coaching helps you maintain a better sleep routine by analyzing your sleep patterns.

Fitness-tracking applications support it.

Moreover, this Galaxy Watch5 pro gives you a body overview right on your wrist.

By generating your own schedule, you can get readings of your body fat, water in your body, BMI, etc.

It also helps you stay updated on your wellness.

You will get an accurate heart rate with its improved BioActive sensor to get closer to your skin. 

Auto Workout Tracking: 

You can make every adventure enjoyable with this auto workout tracking feature.

It automatically includes running, swimming, and more in just minutes and manually tracks more than 90 workouts.

It comes with improved battery life and is excellent for outdoor lengthy adventures.

Plus, this watch is 2x stronger for hiking or rock climbing with a sapphire crystal glass display for intense outdoor activities. 

Conclusion: 

This stunning smartwatch is the best choice for swimming and running.

Thousands of apps help you to monitor your health and fitness.

Even at night, you can see the display because of its vibrant colors.

Specs: 

Brand	Samsung
Measurements of the item	1.79 x 1.79 x 0.41 inches
Weight of the product	1.64 Pounds
ASIN	B0B2HXJZ98
The model number of the product	SM-R920NZKAXAA
Batteries included the product	‎1 lithium polymer battery is required.
The standing display size of the watch	is 1.4 inches
Manufacturer	Samsung
Used for	Unisex
A memory of the watch	16000 MB
Ram memory of the watch	1.5 GB
Country of origin	Vietnam

Apple Watch Series 8: (Best Water Resistant Smartwatch Under $400)

A colleague asked me for a fitness tracker watch, and I suggested they use the Apple Watch Series 8, which helped me a lot in maintaining my health.

The features of this watch help you monitor your sleep and heart rate perfectly.

Plus, this watch is water-resistant and a perfect choice for swimmers.

It also provides you with an ECG option so that you can keep an eye on your health. 

WHAT DO WE GET FROM THESE? 

Easily Customizable:

This Apple Watch 8 comes in different sizes and materials with a variety of bands and watch faces to choose from.

It also has impressive precautionary measures, including crash detection and fall detection, that instantly connect you with emergency services.

Also, emergency SOS provides quick assistance with a single tap.

Moreover, the watch has advanced health features.

Temperature sensing is a feature to provides deep insights into a woman’s health.

You can also keep an eye on your blood oxygen.

Take a quick overview of ECG.

Get alerts if you have an irregular rhythm.

It works seamlessly with Apple devices.

Your MAC can be unlocked anytime, find devices with a single tap, or pay and send money. 

Incredible Durability: 

This impressive watch has a tough build quality that makes it crack-resistant, dust-resistant, and swimproof with water resistance.

It’s enhanced workout applications help you train, and updated metrics for additional information about your exercise performance.

You can get thousands of apps right on your wrist on the App Store.

Apple Watch is a perfect personal device that helps you stay connected, make and receive calls, listen to music, and get notified. 

Conclusion: 

This Apple Watch is an amazing personal device to make and receive calls without using your smartphone.

Plus, the design is quite impressive and sleek and gives a premium look.  

Specs: 

Brand	Apple
Measurements of the product	11.65 x 2.99 x 1.45 inches
The model number of the item	MNUL3LL/A
Weight of the item	13.4 ounces
ASIN	B0BDJDH2WR
Batteries included the product	‎1 Lithium Ion battery is required.
Date first available	September 7, 2022
Manufacturer	Apple
Used for	Unisex

Fitbit Versa 4: (Best Affordable Fitness Smartwatch)

I live in a rural region, and it gets set up quickly.

I always want to buy a running watch to maintain my running pace.

After a long research, I found this Fitbit Versa 4 smartwatch to maintain my running pace.

This watch has accurate GPS and tracking.

I adore this watch because it can be paired with all your outfits and has a luminous display that can be used even in the dark.

You can also receive calls and messages when it is connected to your mobile phone.

I wholeheartedly enjoy using this running watch. 

WHAT DO WE GET FROM THESE? 

Impressive Features:

It helps you stay inspired and accountable with its premium learning that tells you when you have to work and recover, view real-time stats during workouts, and find unique ways to stay fresh and have fun.

You get your everyday readiness score, GPS, and workout map.

Active sone minutes are also provided with your 24/7 activity tracking and its water resistance to 50 meters.

Moreover, it also features tools to measure and improve your sleep quality.

Your customized sleep profile is provided with a sleep score to improve your sleep quality. 

Design/Creativity: 

This stunning watch helps you maintain your daily stress score, gives a health metrics dashboard, and guides you with breathing sessions, and your menstrual cycle is tracked too.

This watch is perfectly designed for fitness.

You can make and receive calls, and SMS, and get your mobile notification on your wrist.

It has customizable watch faces, Google Wallet, and many more interesting apps.

Not only this, also provides you with 6 months of premium membership with personalized insights, guided programs, etc. 

Conclusion: 

This Fitbit Versa works best for running.

The design of this watch is quite durable and works for a long time.

You don’t need your mobile phone constantly; it monitors your health 24/7.

Plus, this incredible watch works as a fitness tracker and tracks your running routine. 

Specs: 

Brand	Fitbit
Measurements of the item	‎1.57 x 0.43 x 1.57 inches
Weight of the product	7 Ounces
ASIN	B0B4MZWCXK
The model number of the product	6514031
Batteries included the product	‎1 lithium-ion battery is required.
The standing display size of the watch	1.34 inches
Manufacturer	Fitbit
Used for	Unisex
Date first available	September 23, 2022
Weight of the watch	7.04 ounces
Country of origin	China

Xiaomi Band 7 Pro: (Best Cheap Watch for Running and Swimming) 

As a swim freak and enjoy swimming every day.

I chose this Xiaomi Band 7 pro smartwatch which is the best watch for swimming.

This water-resistant watch can also be used for underwater activities.

It has a high-quality design that can be paired with all of your outfits.

Its large display can be seen even in the dark.

WHAT DO WE GET FROM THESE? 

High-Quality Design:

This mi band 7 features a full-color square display for the first time.

The information display structure is the same as a phone display, fonts and icons have more free display, and clicking is more convenient. In most of the cases, this band is the best extension for the phone display.

It comes with a 1.64 large display with a new look for features and information is displayed more freely that can be easily grasped.

Moreover, because of its light sensor, this display understands light and keeps your eyes protected.

No manual use is required.

Every time you raise your wrist it gets lit.

Plus, for the first time, this watch features a bright texture of metal with classic colors and a light gold display scheme which looks more delicate. 

Impressive Features: 

This watch features a GPS module supported by mobile phones and can be used separately while lightly loaded.

Your every step is recorded accurately.

It provides you with 10 different intensity running courses that not only stipulate heart rate features but also brighten the display to help you meet heart rate and speed requirements.

This band works as your companion and has a variety of sports modes waiting for you to unlock. 

Conclusion: 

I’m impressed with this stunning product.

This is the best watch for running and swimming.

Its newly launched features help you maintain your health and fitness.

Plus, your every step is tracked while you are running and gives you accurate results in the end.

Specs: 

Brand	Xiaomi
Measurements of the package	‎6.93 x 2.99 x 1.26 inches
Weight of the product	2.2 Ounces
Weight of the package	0.13 Kilograms
Part number of the product	HU-XI-38
Sports modes included in the product	Running and fitness.
The standing display size of the watch	1.64 inches
Manufacturer	Xiamoi
Used for	Unisex
Style	Classic
Color of the watch	Black
The model name of the watch	Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro

Buying Guide:

Water-Resistant: 

You must go for a watch with at least 5 ATM water resistance to make sure it can handle swimming. For diving, go for 10 ATM or more. 

GPS and Tracking: 

Choose a watch with GPS for accuracy in distance tracking during running. It must have features like heart rate monitoring, step counting, and tracking sleep are also valuable. 

Battery Life:

Long battery life is a plus point for endurance activities. Go for watches that last for your longer workouts. 

Design and Comfort:

Make sure the watch is comfortable to wear for running and swimming. Adjustable bands and lightweight materials are excellent. 

Compatibility:

You must check if the watch is compatible with your smartphone’s operating system for syncing data and getting alerts. 

Durability: 

You must consider watches with strong construction and scratch-resistant displays to withstand outdoor activities. 

Ending Paragraph:

We have finalized our discussion about the best watches for running and swimming. 

Do you guys have experience with the best watches for running and swimming? 

What are your thoughts on them?

Are you using any watches for running or swimming that I haven’t highlighted in this article?

Kindly drop your comments below.

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