Tools and Equipment The 10 Best Women’s Sports Watches of 2021 Stay on pace with these all-weather models By Lindsey Lanquist Lindsey Lanquist is a writer and editor specializing in fashion, lifestyle, and health content. Her work has appeared in SELF, StyleCaster, SheKnows, MyDomaine, and more. Learn about our editorial process Lindsey Lanquist Fact checked by Fact checked by Ashley Hall on February 20, 2021 linkedin Ashley Hall is a writer and fact checker who has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery. Learn about our editorial process Ashley Hall Updated on March 06, 2021 Print More in Fitness Tools and Equipment Beginners Motivation Sports Nutrition Fitness Trends Running Strength Walking Workouts Cardio Flexibility Yoga Pilates Health and Safety Special Features View All Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Fitbit Versa 2 Fitness Smartwatch at Amazon "Easily collect all the fitness data you need and skip over any overwhelming extras with this high-quality sports watch." Best Budget: Willful Waterproof Sports Watch at Amazon "A durable, accurate, and water-resistant sports watch that tracks key metrics, as well as your heart rate and sleep quality." Best Splurge: Garmin Fenix 6S GPS Watch at Amazon "A small watch designed for big adventures that tracks any and everything you could possibly need while on the move." Best for Beginners: Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness Tracker at Walmart "This pick has all the features a sports watch novice needs and none of the ones they don't, as well as a budget-friendly price." Best for Runners: COROS Pace 2 GPS Sports Watch at Amazon "Perfect your form and level up your training with this sports watch's in-depth tracking features." Best Waterproof: Apple Series 3 GPS Watch at Amazon "A high-quality waterproof sports watch that can track all your favorite workouts in depth—both in and out of the water." Best High-Tech: Polar Vantage M GPS Watch at Amazon "This watch takes your fitness metrics to the next level, breaking workouts down by cardio load, muscle load, and perceived load." Best Low-Tech: Timex Women’s Ironman Classic 30 Watch at Amazon "The ideal sports watch for the woman simply focused on timing her workouts and staying on track." Best for Triathlons: Garmin Forerunner 945 at Amazon "A does-it-all smartwatch with a price to match, this Garmin pick is your trusty sidekick for your most intense race training." Most Stylish : Movado Connect 2.0 Fabric Smartwatch at Amazon "Enjoy both form and function with this stunning sports watch featuring the metrics you need, a built-in GPS, and more." In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look for Why Trust Verywell Fit? A sports watch can make for a useful addition to your fitness routine, whether you’re a casual runner or a multisport athlete. Sports watches are designed to withstand the wear and tear of your favorite activities, and they’re often packed with features that make it easy to collect data on all your go-to workouts. You can use a sports watch to time your workout intervals, track your pace, and see how much distance you’ve covered on a run, bike ride, or swim. And many higher-tech options will help you track your heart rate, sleep quality, and stress levels, too. Luckily, there are tons of sports watches out there, so you can easily find one that’s as high-tech or low-tech as you want it to be—and that’s great at tracking all your movement. Here are the best women's sports watches on the market. Best Overall: Fitbit Versa 2 Fitness Smartwatch 4.3 Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on Best Buy Pros Great battery life Fitness-focused features High-quality construction Cons Fewer smart features than other options Limited iOS integration The Fitbit Versa 2 is higher-tech than a classic sports watch—but not so high-tech that it overwhelms you with unnecessary features. The watch tracks classic metrics like steps, distance, and time. And since it boasts more than 20 exercise modes, you can easily collect data on all your favorite workouts. The watch is water-resistant up to 164 feet, so you can take it swimming, and its long-lasting battery holds its charge for up to six days. What’s more, the Fitbit Versa 2 is smartphone-compatible, so you can use it to keep up with messages, emails, and more while on the go. The 10 Best Fitness Trackers of 2021 Best Budget: Willful Waterproof Sports Watch Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Pros Durable design Tracks heart rate and sleep quality Waterproof Cons Less customizable than other options Can't sync with tablets or computers The Willful Sports Watch is durable, water-resistant, and capable of tracking all your favorite activities. The affordable and user-friendly watch tracks key metrics like steps, pace, and distance. And since it boasts an array of activity modes, you can use it to track your favorite forms of exercise in greater depth. Unlike other budget-friendly sports watches, the Willful Sports Watch can track your heart rate and sleep quality, too. It's even smartphone-compatible, so you can use it to keep up with notifications without looking at your phone. Best Splurge: Garmin Fenix 6S GPS Watch Buy on Amazon Buy on REI Pros Small, wearable size Tons of smart features Built to last Cons Heart rate monitor lacks accuracy Less stylish than other options Expensive The Garmin Fenix 6S is best for the person who wants all the in-depth fitness data they can get. The multisport watch covers all your bases, tracking everything from your pace and distance traveled to your heart rate and sleep quality. And it will monitor more advanced metrics as well, such as your VO2 max, training load balance, altitude acclimation, and more. The durable watch is perfect for outdoor adventures. Its built-in GPS will keep you on track even if you go off-trail. The watch’s long-lasting battery can keep you going for up to 34 days at a time (in battery saver mode) as well. And since it's smartphone-compatible, you can use it to stay in the loop no matter where you are. Best for Beginners: Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness Tracker 4 Buy on Walmart Buy on Best Buy Buy on Fitbit.com Pros Built-in GPS Great companion app Stylish design Cons Lacks color display Screen wake can be temperamental The Fitbit Charge 4 is officially categorized as a fitness tracker, but it can do all the things you want a sports watch to do, too. And since it’s lower on features than your average smartwatch, it’s a particularly beginner-friendly option. The easy-to-use watch will track your pace, sleep quality, and even your heart rate. And since it boasts more than 20 workout modes, you can use it to collect data on your go-to activities. Its built-in GPS will help you navigate your favorite routes, and its long-lasting battery will keep you going for up to seven days at a time. The watch is water-resistant up to 164 feet, so you can take it swimming. And since it’s smartphone-compatible, you can use it to keep up with the world while you work out. Best for Runners: COROS Pace 2 GPS Sports Watch Buy on Amazon Buy on REI Pros Excellent fitness features Amazing battery life Very lightweight design Cons Heart rate monitoring lacks accuracy Training analysis more basic than other options The COROS Pace 2 is a mid-range sports watch that will help you perfect your running form and level up your training. The lightweight watch is loaded with in-depth tracking features. Use its Muscle Heatmap to see which muscles are being challenged each time you work out. Use its Recovery Adviser to track your training load—and to see when you need a break. And use its Intelligent Stride Algorithm to improve your runs. The watch also tracks more classic metrics like heart rate and sleep quality. And it offers all the features you expect from a mid-range sports watch: water resistance up to 164 feet, a built-in GPS, smartphone compatibility, and a long-lasting battery. The 10 Best Running Watches of 2021 Best Waterproof: Apple Series 3 GPS Watch Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on Apple Pros Built-in cellular connectivity Great heart rate monitoring Lots of band and case options Cons Battery drains quickly More complicated interface than other options If you’re doing a fair amount of swimming, you need a waterproof sports watch that can track all your favorite workouts in depth. The Apple Watch Series 3 fits this bill. The multisport watch is water-resistant up to 164 feet. And since it boasts 16 different workout modes, you can use it to collect data on all your go-to activities both in and out of the water. Use the watch’s swimming mode to track your laps, stroke count, pace, and more. You can even use it to track your heart rate while you’re in the water. The watch’s built-in GPS will keep you on track while you're on the move. And since it’s smartphone-compatible, you can use it to keep up with notifications, stream music, and more. The 6 Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers Best High-Tech: Polar Vantage M GPS Watch Buy on Amazon Buy on REI Pros Top-notch fitness features Built-in GPS Many data display options Cons Few smartwatch features Can be slow to sync The Polar Vantage M GPS Watch is higher-tech than your average sports watch, giving you access to all kinds of detailed metrics without pushing you into a high-end price point. The watch boasts classic activity-tracking features that make it easy for you to keep tabs on your heart rate, sleep quality, and daily activity. And it offers more advanced metrics, too. For instance, the watch’s Training Load Pro feature breaks down your workouts by cardio load, muscle load, and perceived load to help you understand your fitness routine in detail. And since it allows you to track an array of different activities, it makes a great pick for the multisport athlete. The watch is waterproof—even in open water—so you can take it swimming without a second thought. It also features a long-lasting battery, built-in GPS, and smartphone compatibility, giving you everything you’d expect from a mid-range sports watch. The Best Home Fitness Tech of 2021 Best Low-Tech: Timex Women’s Ironman Classic 30 Watch Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Pros Great for lap timing Waterproof Convenient backlit display Cons Less stylish than other options Less durable than other options This Timex pick is a classic, no-frills sports watch. It’s budget-friendly, water-resistant, and easy to use, giving you everything you expect from a classic sports watch with none of the extra fluff. The watch comes equipped with a 24-hour countdown timer and a stopwatch that can track up to 30 laps in 100 hours. The watch’s backlit display makes it easy to see in the dark. And since it’s water-resistant up to 330 feet, you can safely take it swimming. If all you want is a classic sports watch that can time your workouts and keep you on track, this one is sure to deliver. Best for Triathlons: Garmin Forerunner 945 4.3 Buy on Amazon Buy on Best Buy Buy on Garmin.com Pros All the classic and advanced metrics you need Great battery life GPS-enabled incident detection feature Cons Heart rate monitor less accurate during high intensity work Expensive The Garmin Forerunner 945 is definitely an investment, but if you’re a triathlete looking to take your training to the next level, it’s a worthwhile buy. The watch monitors classic metrics like heart rate, sleep quality, and stress. It also tracks more advanced ones like training status (adjusted for heat and altitude acclimation), training load focus, and recovery time. If you’re an avid runner, you can dig into the watch’s advanced running dynamics, which track your stride length, ground contact time, vertical ratio, and more. And if you’re training for a race, you can use the Garmin Coach feature to make an adaptive training plan and receive daily workout suggestions. The watch’s long-lasting battery stays charged through your longest race, and its GPS-enabled incident detection feature gives your loved ones peace of mind. Of course, the watch is also smartphone-compatible, so you can use it to keep up with notifications while on the go and to listen to all your favorite songs while you train. The 8 Best Triathlon Watches to Help You Reach Your Full Potential Most Stylish : Movado Connect 2.0 Fabric Smartwatch Buy on Amazon Buy on Movado.com Pros Premium design Comprehensive fitness tracking Easy to swap straps Cons Battery life lacking compared to other options Text is hard to read, according to some users The Movado Connect 2.0 is a truly stunning sports watch. And since it’s designed to be durable, water-resistant, and gym-friendly, you don’t have to pick between function and form. The sleek watch uses Google Fit to track classic metrics like heart rate and daily activity. And since it’s smartphone-compatible, you can use it to keep up with your notifications while on the move. The watch is water-resistant and its built-in GPS will keep you on track during runs and bike rides. These features make the watch a great wear-anywhere pick—one that’s sure to turn heads while also holding up to the demands of your favorite activities. Final Verdict The Fitbit Versa 2 Fitness Smartwatch is a well-rounded sports watch that will suit most people. It's equipped with a built-in GPS, a long-lasting battery, and more than 20 exercise modes. It’s also water-resistant up to 164 feet and smartphone-compatible, so it will cover all your bases without pushing you into a high-end price point. What to Look for in a Sports Watch Metrics The range of metrics you can monitor with a sports watch is immense. On basic models, you’ll find metrics like time, pace, and distance. On advanced watches, you’ll find metrics like altitude acclimation, training load, and sport-specific dynamics. But more in-depth data isn’t always better, so look for a watch that tracks the metrics you care about most. Water Resistance Many sports watches are water-resistant, but some can handle submersion better than others. Be sure to note how water-resistant a watch is before taking it for a dip. Battery Life If you plan to wear your sports watch every day, make sure it features a long-lasting battery. Frequent recharges can be a hassle, though they aren't as tedious if you only plan to wear your watch during workouts. Price Point Sports watches exist across all price points, and it's important to remember that a larger investment doesn’t always make for a better watch. Look for one that does everything you need it to do, and avoid paying for features that don’t matter to you. Why trust Verywell Fit? As a seasoned health and fitness writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands how vital quality product recommendations can be. She is careful to recommend products that are reliable, comfortable, and genuinely well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get exercise tips to make your workouts less work and more fun. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit