Smartwatches have become a vital tool for athletes seeking to track their performance, monitor their health, and optimize their training. Unlike standard fitness trackers, athlete-focused smartwatches are designed to withstand intense workouts, provide advanced metrics, and often integrate with coaching or performance platforms. Whether you are a runner, swimmer, cyclist, or multi-sport competitor, the proper smartwatch can be a game-changer.

This article covers the best smartwatches for athletes, complete with features, pros and cons, comparison tables, and FAQs.

Key Features Athletes Should Look For in a Smartwatch

Before diving into the best models, it’s essential to understand what features truly matter for athletes. Not all smartwatches are built the same, and the right combination of features can make a significant difference in performance tracking, recovery, and overall training efficiency.

1. GPS Accuracy

For runners, cyclists, hikers, and outdoor athletes, GPS accuracy is one of the most essential features. A high-quality GPS ensures that distance, pace, and route tracking are reliable. Advanced smartwatches now include dual-frequency GPS, which reduces signal interference in dense forests, urban areas, or mountainous terrain. This is especially critical for athletes who train in varied environments.

2. Heart Rate Monitoring

Real-time heart rate (HR) monitoring enables athletes to measure their effort and intensity accurately. Many watches utilize wrist-based optical sensors, but pairing them with a chest strap can further enhance accuracy and precision. In addition to basic HR, some models also track heart rate variability (HRV), which provides insights into stress levels, readiness for recovery, and training load.

3. VO2 Max Estimation

Smartwatches with VO2 Max estimation enable athletes to monitor improvements in their aerobic capacity and adjust their training accordingly. It’s especially valuable for runners and endurance athletes preparing for races.

4. Durability

Athletes often train in all weather conditions, so durability is essential. Look for watches with:

• Water resistance for swimming or rainy runs.
• Scratch-resistant glass (like Gorilla Glass or sapphire crystal).
• Rugged casing (titanium, reinforced polymers, or stainless steel).

Durable watches are essential for outdoor and adventure athletes who encounter harsher environments.

5. Battery Life

For endurance athletes, battery life can make or break a smartwatch. While casual users may charge daily, marathoners, triathletes, and ultrarunners need watches that can last for days—or even weeks. Some models now feature solar charging, which extends battery life during outdoor training and adventures.

6. Training Metrics

Beyond basic step counting, advanced athletes need access to performance-focused metrics. Some of the most useful include:

• Recovery time: Estimates how long you need to rest before your next workout.
• Lactate threshold: Helps identify the point at which your body starts to fatigue.
• Cadence and stride length: Key for runners improving efficiency.
• Training load and training effect: Tracks cumulative intensity and benefits of workouts.

These insights help athletes fine-tune training and avoid overtraining.

7. Multi-Sport Modes

For athletes who switch between sports—such as triathletes transitioning from swimming to cycling to running—multi-sport modes are essential. They enable a seamless transition between activities in a single workout session, making race-day tracking significantly smoother. Even non-triathletes can benefit from multiple modes, as they often engage in cross-training with various activities.

8. Connectivity and App Ecosystem

A good smartwatch doesn’t just track data—it integrates with your training ecosystem. Popular connections include:

• Strava for social training and analysis.
• Garmin Connect or Polar Flow for detailed insights.
• Apple Health or Google Fit for lifestyle integration.

Connectivity also includes features such as Bluetooth pairing with sensors (power meters, cadence sensors, and HR straps), as well as Wi-Fi/LTE options for quick uploads. For athletes who train with coaches, being able to sync workouts directly to apps is invaluable.

Best Smartwatches for Athletes in 2025

1. Garmin Forerunner 965

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is widely considered the gold standard for serious runners and triathletes. It combines cutting-edge performance metrics with a sleek, lightweight design that is comfortable for long-distance training and competition.

Key Highlights:

• AMOLED Display: A bright, easy-to-read screen that performs well outdoors.
• Advanced GPS: Dual-frequency positioning ensures pinpoint accuracy, even in urban areas or trails with heavy tree cover.
• Running Dynamics: Tracks stride length, ground contact time, cadence, and more.
• Training & Recovery Tools: Includes VO2 Max, training readiness, recovery time, and HRV status.
• Battery Life: Up to 23 days in smartwatch mode and 31 hours in GPS mode.

Pros

• Excellent GPS and heart rate accuracy
• Lightweight design suited for long runs
• Extensive training and recovery metrics
• Strong integration with Garmin Connect ecosystem

Cons

• Premium price compared to competitors
• No LTE/cellular option for phone-free connectivity

Best For: Runners, marathoners, and triathletes who want a data-rich performance watch.

2. Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is designed for extreme athletes and adventurers seeking a rugged yet versatile device. Made with a titanium casing and sapphire glass, it is tough enough for outdoor challenges while still functioning as a lifestyle smartwatch.

Key Highlights:

• Dual-Frequency GPS: Improves accuracy in dense cityscapes and mountains.
• Water Resistance: Dive-ready with EN13319 certification and depth tracking up to 40m.
• Large Retina Display: Bright and always-on, perfect for glances during workouts.
• Health Features: ECG, blood oxygen, HR monitoring, and sleep tracking.
• Integration: Works seamlessly with Apple Fitness+ and third-party fitness apps.

Pros

• Large, bright display with customizable action button
• Expansive app ecosystem for fitness and lifestyle
• Great balance of sports tracking and smartwatch functionality

Cons

• Battery life (up to 36 hours) is shorter than that of Garmin or Coros
• Requires an iPhone for full functionality

Best For: Multi-sport athletes, divers, and those who want a watch that blends lifestyle, health, and performance.

3. Polar Vantage V3

The Polar Vantage V3 is engineered for endurance athletes, offering a balance between performance data and recovery insights. It may lack the smartwatch versatility of Apple, but it excels in precision and features tailored to athletes.

Key Highlights:

• Sleep & Recovery Tracking: Industry-leading Nightly Recharge and Recovery Pro metrics.
• Training Load Pro: Provides a detailed breakdown of cardiovascular and muscular training stress.
• Lightweight Build: Designed for long wear without discomfort.
• Sports Modes: Over 130 available, including triathlon profiles.
• Battery Life: Lasts up to 8 days in watch mode or 40 hours in GPS mode.

Pros

• Exceptional training insights and recovery data
• Lightweight, sleek design for comfort
• Strong accuracy in HR and endurance metrics

Cons

• Limited smartwatch functionality compared to Apple or Garmin
• Smaller app ecosystem

Best For: Triathletes and endurance athletes who prioritize training data and recovery analytics.

4. Coros Apex 2 Pro

The Coros Apex 2 Pro is a top choice for ultrarunners, hikers, and mountaineers thanks to its legendary battery life and rugged construction. Although it may not be as polished in design as Garmin, it delivers incredible performance for long adventures.

Key Highlights:

• Battery Life: Up to 45 days in regular mode and 75 hours in GPS mode.
• Navigation: Offline maps with turn-by-turn guidance.
• Durability: Scratch-resistant sapphire glass and titanium bezel.
• Performance Metrics: Includes recovery tracking, training load, and HRV.
• Sensor Integration: Supports external HR straps, power meters, and cadence sensors.

Pros

• Exceptional battery life for ultra-endurance athletes
• Affordable compared to Garmin and Suunto
• Strong recovery and performance tracking features

Cons

• The interface and companion app are less refined
• Limited smartwatch/lifestyle features

Best for: Ultrarunners, trail athletes, and adventure seekers who require reliability and extended battery life.

5. Suunto Vertical

The Suunto Vertical is designed for outdoor adventurers and expedition athletes. With its military-grade durability and solar charging capabilities, it’s built to thrive in rugged environments.

Key Highlights:

• Solar Charging: Extends battery life to as much as 60 days.
• Navigation: Detailed offline maps with heatmaps and route planning.
• Military-Grade Build: Tested for extreme conditions.
• Multi-Sport Tracking: Covers everything from mountaineering to open-water swimming.
• Battery Life: Up to 85 hours in GPS mode with solar support.

Pros

• Ultra-durable build tested to military standards
• Solar charging makes it highly reliable for long adventures
• Excellent navigation and offline maps

Cons

• Bulky design may feel heavy for daily use
• Ecosystem and app support are not as broad as Garmin or Apple

Best For: Adventure athletes, mountaineers, and explorers who need a watch that lasts weeks, not days.

Comparison Table: Best Smartwatches for Athletes

Smartwatch	Best For	Battery Life	GPS Accuracy	Notable Features
Garmin Forerunner 965	Running & Triathlon	Up to 23 days	Excellent	AMOLED display, running dynamics
Apple Watch Ultra 2	Multi-sport & Lifestyle	Up to 36 hours	Excellent	Dual-frequency GPS, rugged titanium
Polar Vantage V3	Endurance Athletes	Up to 8 days	Very Good	Training load, recovery insights
Coros Apex 2 Pro	Ultrarunning & Hiking	Up to 45 days	Excellent	Navigation, recovery metrics
Suunto Vertical	Outdoor Adventures	Up to 60 days (solar)	Very Good	Solar charging, offline maps

How to Choose the Right Smartwatch

When deciding, consider:

• Your primary sport: Runners may prefer Garmin; swimmers might want Apple or Polar.
• Battery needs: Long-distance athletes need ultra-long battery life, like Coros or Suunto.
• Budget: High-end models can exceed $700, while Coros offers affordability.
• Smartwatch vs. sports watch: If lifestyle features matter (music, apps, LTE), Apple Watch Ultra may be best.

FAQs About Smartwatches for Athletes

Q1: Are smartwatches accurate for professional athletes?
Yes, top-tier models like Garmin, Polar, and Apple offer highly accurate GPS and HR metrics, though chest straps may still be more precise for heart rate.

Q2: Can I use these watches for swimming?
Yes. Most high-performance smartwatches are water-resistant and track swimming metrics like stroke count, pace, and SWOLF.

Q3: Do I need a smartphone with my smartwatch?
Some, like the Apple Watch, require an iPhone for full functionality. Garmin, Polar, Coros, and Suunto can work independently but benefit from syncing with smartphones.

Q4: Which smartwatch has the best battery life?
The Suunto Vertical (solar) and Coros Apex 2 Pro offer the most extended battery life, making them ideal for ultrarunners and expedition athletes.

Q5: Which smartwatch is best overall?
For all-around performance and training features, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is considered the best choice for most athletes.

Final Thoughts

The best smartwatch for athletes depends on your sport, training style, and lifestyle needs. If you prioritize battery life and endurance, the Coros Apex 2 Pro or the Suunto Vertical stand out as the best options. For a blend of athletic performance and lifestyle use, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 excels. Meanwhile, the Garmin Forerunner 965 remains the top pick for serious runners and triathletes.

Choosing the proper smartwatch means balancing performance metrics, durability, and convenience—ensuring you stay on top of your game.