I don't know if you've noticed, but the same thing that happened with trainers back in the day is now happening with smartwatches. They're used for everything over traditional shoes. Indeed, these watches are rapidly displacing heart rate monitors as the device of choice for monitoring workouts and health. This shift is no coincidence; it's largely due to the introduction of mobile technology brands into the sports wearable technology market. These companies bring their expertise in high-quality displays, intuitive usability, and advanced health tracking, thus offering a more comprehensive and versatile experience.
At RUNNEA, in addition to telling you the reasons why we believe this substitutive phenomenon is happening, we present you with the 5 smartwatches that we consider the best for practising sport.
Greater utility for everyday life
Smartwatches are not just for your workouts; they are also your daily companions. From receiving notifications from your smartphone, to making contactless payments and listening to music, a smartwatch offers you a variety of features that many heart rate monitors simply cannot match.
All the necessary features for your sport
Modern smartwatches come loaded with a wide range of sports features. From tracking distance and pace, to monitoring heart rate and blood oxygen metrics, these devices offer everything a recreational runner could need.
Focus on health
In addition to performance metrics, smartwatches also offer a variety of health-focused features, such as sleep tracking, stress, and even menstrual cycle tracking. These functions allow you to have a more comprehensive view of your overall wellbeing.
Improvement in tracking and GPS systems
Smartwatches have significantly advanced in terms of tracking accuracy and GPS capabilities. The latest models offer extremely precise real-time tracking, which is crucial for any recreational runner.
Affordable price
Although there are high-end smartwatches that can be costly, most models offer excellent value for money, especially when considering their multiple functions.
Usability and design
With intuitive user interfaces and sleek designs, smartwatches are devices you'll want to wear all day. They are versatile enough to go well with your casual outfits and your training gear.
Our favourite smartwatches for recreational runners
HUAWEI WATCH GT 4: An all-rounder for recreational runners
The HUAWEI WATCH GT 4 is a smartwatch that combines design, durability, and functionality. With a high-resolution AMOLED screen and a battery that can last up to two weeks with moderate use, this device is designed to stay on. Moreover, it comes with over 100 training modes, including running, and is water-resistant up to 50 metres of depth, making it ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities.
Why is it perfect for recreational runners?
This Huawei smartwatch not only provides detailed metrics of your runs, such as pace, distance and calories burned, but also includes a real-time heart rate monitor and a high-precision GPS. Moreover, its real-time coaching function provides you with feedback during your training, helping you to improve your performance.
What we liked the most
What really stands out about the HUAWEI WATCH GT 4 is its long-lasting battery, up to 2 weeks. For a recreational runner who doesn't want to be constantly charging their device, this is an invaluable feature. Moreover, the user interface is sleek and intuitive, making it easy to access all the statistics and metrics you need to track your progress. Its training features include a personal trainer, extra health functions and over 100 sport modes.
Galaxy Watch 6: The ideal companion for modern recreational runners
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is a smartwatch that combines elegance with functionality. Its Super AMOLED screen is bright and easy to read even under sunlight. With a wide range of sensors, including a heart rate monitor and built-in GPS, this watch is designed to provide a comprehensive sports tracking experience. Moreover, it is compatible with a variety of third-party applications, making it even more versatile.
Why is it perfect for recreational runners?
The Galaxy Watch 6 offers a wide range of running metrics, from pace and distance to altitude and air quality. Its GPS is accurate and fast, allowing you to track your routes in great detail. In addition, its virtual coach feature provides real-time advice to improve your performance, which is particularly useful for recreational runners looking to optimise their training.
What we liked the most
What has captivated us about this Samsung smartwatch is its elegant design and intuitive user interface. It's not just a watch you'll want to wear all day, but it's also robust enough to withstand your most intense workouts. The customisation possibilities, the good performance of its GPS and the different sports modes are other attractions.
Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro: A perfect balance between style and functionality
The Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro is a smartwatch that combines a sleek design with a wide range of features. It boasts a high-resolution AMOLED screen, high-precision GPS, and a long-lasting battery that can last up to 7 days with moderate use. Additionally, it comes with a variety of sports and health modes, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and blood oxygen level measurement.
Why is it perfect for recreational runners?
This smartwatch offers all the essential metrics a recreational runner needs, from tracking distance and pace to detailed heart rate analysis. Dual-band GPS compatible with 5 positioning systems and 5 ATM water resistance. Its GPS is fast and accurate, allowing reliable tracking of your routes. Moreover, its water and dust resistance makes it ideal for all kinds of weather conditions.
What we liked the most
We've been impressed by the durability and versatility of the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro. Its long-lasting battery means you won't have to worry about constantly charging it, which is a great advantage for recreational runners who are always on the go. Moreover, its sleek design and user-friendly interface make it a pleasure to wear both on and off the track.
Fitbit Sense 2: Google presents a smartwatch with a focus on sport and health
The Fitbit Sense 2 is a smartwatch that goes beyond simple physical activity tracking. This device features a wide range of sensors that monitor everything from heart rate to blood oxygen levels and stress. Its high-resolution AMOLED screen offers clear visibility in any light condition, and its long-lasting battery can last up to 6 days on a single charge. Moreover, it is water-resistant up to 50 metres deep, making it ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities.
Why is it perfect for recreational runners?
The Fitbit Sense 2 is an excellent choice for the recreational runner due to its versatility and focus on overall health. Not only does it provide you with detailed metrics of your runs, but it also monitors aspects such as sleep, stress, and recovery. This allows you to have a more comprehensive overview of your wellbeing, which is crucial for improving your long-term running performance.
What we liked the most
We were particularly impressed by the stress monitoring function, which uses a combination of heart rate data, heart rate variability, and skin temperature to provide a real-time stress score. This feature is particularly useful for recreational runners looking to balance training with daily life.
Apple Watch Series 9
The Apple Watch Series 9 is a high-end device that offers a wide variety of features, from health tracking to precise GPS navigation. It comes with a new 4-core S9 chipset that enhances overall efficiency and boosts the GPU by 30%. The retina display with a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits ensures excellent visibility in high light conditions. Moreover, its watchOS 10 operating system introduces new functionalities that enhance the user experience.
Why is it perfect for recreational runners?
This Apple smartwatch is ideal for recreational runners for several reasons. First, its advanced activity and health tracking system allows you to monitor everything from your daily steps to your heart rate and blood oxygen levels. Second, the GPS accuracy is exceptional, which is crucial for runners who want to record routes and distances accurately. Third, the integration with third-party apps like Strava or Runkeeper makes it even more versatile for runners.
What we liked the most
What has impressed us most about the Apple Watch Series 9 is its focus on overall health. Not only does it track your running metrics, but it also monitors aspects such as sleep, stress levels and even respiratory rate. In addition, the ability to process Siri requests directly on the device makes accessing data and features in real time while you run, without the need to take out your phone.
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