Best Watches for Track and Field

For those athletes looking for a competitive edge in track and field, fitness tracking devices are essential for both training and monitoring performance during competitions. And it just so happens that the best fitness tracking devices for data accumulation and health monitoring are also some of the GPS watches available for sale right now. In fact, most smartwatches have some sort of fitness tracking element to them — be it a heart rate monitor, VO2 Max sensor, or a combination of the two with other key training applications.

If you’re looking for a way to improve your performance while keeping your health as a top priority, GPS running watches are a great way or doing so while also enjoying the benefits of a next generation smartwatch. The problem is that there are dozens upon dozens of GPS running watches in the marketplace, making it tough to find the right training watch for you with the features you need for success.

That’s what we’re here for! We’ve tested GPS watch after GPS watch for this article, paring them down for our definitive list of the 6 Best Watches For Track & Field Athletes In 2021. We’ve also included a super useful Frequently Asked Questions section which may be a huge help in your search for the perfect track and field watch.

First, let’s get to the list!

Top 6 Watches For Track And Field In 2021

6) Fitbit Ionic Watch

The only entry from the beloved Fitbit brand on our list, the Fitbit Ionic combined an accurate GPS mode with built-in music storage and excellent training and fitness tracking applications. It also offers the regular Fitbit features of step tracking, sleep monitoring, daily calorie tracking and the like. It doesn’t offer the long battery life of later entries on our list and it’s a bit light on actual smartwatch capabilities, but it’s a great budget GPS watch and one of the best budget fitness trackers you’re gonna find.

Colors: Blue Gray/Silver, Charcoal/Smoke Gray, Slate Blue/Burnt Orange

3 Key Features: Stores over 300 songs in its music library >> Able to detect multiple workouts and exercises including crunches and push-ups >> Built-in pulse tracking system and GPS mode

Battery Life: 4+ days of battery life in smartwatch mode

Pros:

• The pulse tracking monitor and GPS system are quite accurate.
• This is a great budget fitness watch with the lowest price point of any entry on our list.
• Offers some cool additional features such as built-in music storage and multiple workout detection.

Cons:

• Smartwatch capabilities and third party support are both pretty limited.
• Not as comprehensive as other entries on this list in regards to fitness tracking capabilities.

5) SUUNTO 9 Baro Watch

For track and field athletes who love running on rough terrain for long distances as part of a training regimen, the SUUNTO 9 Baro is the perfect watch for the job. It’s pretty much the same exact watch as the well-reviewed SUUNTO 9, but it includes a super accurate barometer which allows you track your altitude gains and drops when running in the mountains or on uneven terrain. And for those who don’t want to charge their GPS watch before every training session, the SUUNTO 9 Baro has several easy-to-understand battery life management options to ensure it will go as long as you go.

Colors: White, All Black, Black, Lime

3 Key Features: One of the most accurate barometers in the smartwatch market >> Storm alarm informs you of incoming severe weather during training >> Multiple battery life management options to ensure you don’t run out of juice

Battery Life: Up to 5 days in smartwatch mode

Pros:

• Sapphire crystal lens window is as scratch resistant as they come.
• The inclusion of an accurate barometer is perfect for those who like to train in the mountains or on uneven terrain.
• Offers great battery life for the amount of things it can do.

Cons:

• It’s pretty gaudy and can be unwieldy on smaller wrists.
• Not exactly feature heavy and offers limited third party support.

4) Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Watch

One of the most durable and long-lasting GPS watches for athletes, the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is built to take a licking and keep on ticking! The construction of the watch casing is as rigid and impervious to sudden impacts as that of any smartwatch currently available for sale. It also has a ton of fitness tracking options and a multisport mode which promises the same versatility that track-and-field athletes exhibit in their athletic pursuits. We are also in love with the wealth of fitness data trackers, accurate VO2 max sensor, and included Garmin Pay and music storage capabilities. It’s not the best Garmin offering on this list, but it’s close!

Colors: Black, Black/Slate Gray, Mineral Blue/Whitestone, Slate Gray/Black, Titanium, Black/Red Nylon, Gray/Black, Titanium/Orange,

3 Key Features: Multisport mode allows you switch between different sports with a single press of a button >> Durable casing is among the most rugged on this list >> Features music storage capabilities and Garmin Pay accessibility

Battery Life: Up to 2 weeks when used in smartwatch mode

Pros:

• Durable construction ensures that this watch will last as long as you need it to last.
• Multisport mode is tailored to the versatility of the modern track-and-field athlete.
• Offers a wealth of premium add-ons including built-in music storage and Garmin Pay for easy payment at thousands of retailers.

Cons:

• Exorbitant price point will scare off budget-conscious athletes.
• It’s pretty heavy and not suitable for smaller wrists.

3) Garmin Forerunner 945 Watch

The first of two entries from the Garmin Forerunner series on our list, the Garmin Forerunner 945 offers premium fitness tracking and GPS capabilities at a premium smartwatch price. At a more affordable price point, this could very well have been our #1 entry. The inclusion of Garmin’s new Elevate heart rate sensor and an improved VO2 Max monitor promises accurate health readouts when you need them most. While you only get 10 hours in GPS Mode with music per charge, you can extend the battery life of this GPS watch wonder by using less of its features. There’s so much here to love, making it one of the best fitness watches out there if you’ve got the money to invest in it.

Colors: Black

3 Key Features: Features Garmin’s Elevate heart rate sensor for accurate readouts and performance >> loaded with a ton of Garmin exclusive workout aids and trackers >> Gorilla Glass dial window is one of the strongest in the smartwatch market

Battery Life: 10 hours in GPS mode w/ music >> 36 hours in GPS mode w/ no music >> up to 2 weeks when used as a smartwatch

Pros:

• The new Elevate HR sensor works fine on your wrist, but it’s even more accurate with the help of a chest strap. Chest strap or not, you’ll get accurate heart rate readings when you need them.
• Garmin spared no expense with the inclusion of its best GPS technology and a host of useful workout trackers.
• This is one of the most durable entries in the Garmin Forerunner series thanks to its rugged case and Gorilla Glass lens window.

Cons:

• Only ten hours in GPS Mode w/ music per charge. If you love music, you’re going to need to recharge this watch daily.
• The inflated price tag can be hard to justify when compared to our #1 entry.

2) Polar Vantage V Watch

When it comes to the collection of vital fitness data for your training regimen, you can’t get much better than the Polar Vantage V GPS watch series. When it comes to its sheer amount of fitness tracking and data collection options, it makes a very convincing case as the best watch for track and field athletes out there right now. From guided breathing exercises to advanced sleep monitoring and Nightly Recharge tracking, the Polar Vantage V is the right GPS watch for the data-obsessed athlete. Its confusing touchscreen navigation knocked it down a peg for us, but it’s still well worth learning for those who want a versatile GPS watch made for training and health monitoring.

Colors: Black, White, Orange

3 Key Features: Features sleep stage tracking and Nightly Recharge tracker for information about workout recovery >> Includes Serene for guided breathing exercises before or after a competition or workout >> Training Load Pro gives cardio information and tracks both muscle activity and perceived load

Battery Life: Around 40 hours in training mode

Pros:

• The wealth of fitness and health trackers included will prove useful no matter what track-and-field event is your true focus.
• The inclusion of Training Load Pro will help you build muscle mass and monitor your cardio for optimal gains.
• The sleep monitoring systems included may earn this watch a permanent place in your training regimen.

Cons:

• The touchscreen navigation system is pretty confusing for the uninitiated.
• Battery life is just average compared to other entries on this list.

And our pick for the best watch for track in field in 2021 is…

1) Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Watch

Offering the ultimate balance of fitness tracking features and cost efficiency, there’s no doubt that the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Watch is the best GPS watch for budget-conscious track and field athletes. In fact, we believe it to be the best GPS watch for athletes period. For starters, it offers the best battery life in its class with 7 days per charge in smartwatch mode. It also has a litany of training features to its credit, accurate GPS tracking, and one of the best VO2 Max and heart rate sensors you’re going to find at this or any price point. You get all of this at a fraction of the cost of some other offerings on this list, making it a true best buy for those looking to train and perform on a tighter budget.

Colors: Black, White, Aqua

3 Key Features: Perhaps the best battery life in its class >> Adaptive training mechanism helps you prep for 5k, 10k, and marathon races >> Built-in music storage at an extremely affordable price point

Battery Life: Around 7 days in smartwatch mode

Pros:

• 7 days?!? While you’ll get less battery life if you use all of its features, any smartwatch that offers 7 days of battery life in any mode is a welcome rarity.
• Contains luxury features such as built-in music storage and Garmin Pay functionality at an extremely fair price point.
• Other Forerunner models may earn the plaudits, but the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is the right smartwatch for anyone who wants advanced training features without paying a premium price. It’s the best out there.

Cons:

• The plastic casing of the watch is a bit flimsy. Not the most durable smartwatch on this list.
• It’s not as feature heavy as some of the more advanced entries in the Garmin Forerunner series.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best watches for running?

The Garmin Forerunner series definitely has a GPS running watch which will fit your particular needs as a track and field athlete. The easy to read displays of the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Watch and Garmin Forerunner 945 are just the tip of the features iceberg. They both include wrist-based heart rate monitoring, data trackers for calories burned, connectivity to other devices via Bluetooth, and a host of other worthwhile features for runners. The optical heart rates sensors, in particular, will help you gauge your reaction to workouts and runs and tailor your approach for gains and optimal health.

What is the most accurate running watch?

From an accuracy standpoint, we recommend the Garmin Forerunner 945 as the best in its class. While its expensive price point landed it at #3 on our list, it is chock full of next generation features and data trackers for you to get accurate measurements of your vitals and race times. The optical heart rate monitor is boosted by Garmin’s new Elevate technology, promising the most accurate wrist based heart rate readings in the marketplace right now. This fitness smartwatch wonder also has a ton of other training apps for runners, one of the best and most accurate GPS systems to be found in a GPS watch, a long battery life, an easy way to track calories burned and other key metrics, and connectivity to other devices via Bluetooth.

For an accurate GPS watch that doubles as one of the best running watches ever designed, you can’t go wrong with the Garmin Forerunner 945 if you’ve got the money to invest in it.

Which watch is best for fitness tracking?

When it comes to fitness tracking watches, we lean towards the Polar Vantage V watch thanks to the sheer volume of data tracking systems and features included in the price of admission. Not only does it offer an optical heart rate sensor and VO2 Max sensor, but it also has some advanced tracking features like a sleep stage monitor and Nightly Recharge function. Compared to some other watches on our countdown, the Polar Vantage V holds its own with its accurate optical heart rate monitor and fitness data accumulation. It just missed the #1 spot on our countdown, but not by much.

Closing Thoughts

The versatility of track and field athletes requires versatile fitness tracking for optimal results. The six watches on the list above are the pinnacle of versatile when it comes to fitness data tracking, serving as the ultimate accessories for track and field athletes both during training and actual competitions. If you’re a track and field aficionado looking for an extra training edge or a leg up in your focus events, you’d do well to grab one of these amazing GPS watches as soon as possible!