I’m currently in week 5 of my running routine and have been running regularly. I’m thinking about getting a smartwatch. What do you think? Is it a good idea? I’m looking for something affordable, just to track basic stuff like heart rate and distance. Nothing too fancy or expensive. Any recommendations for a budget-friendly smart watch? I’d really appreciate any suggestions!
I recently made a list of 5 budget-friendly smartwatches that would work well for running. They’re all pretty affordable, but it depends on what you’re looking for specifically. You can check it out here:
@Zan
Thanks for the link! I’ll check them out!
@Zan
Some of these look good on paper, but the big question is whether they actually give you real numbers or if it’s all just for show. I’ve seen watches that claim to track things like blood pressure and blood glucose but end up giving totally inaccurate data. Has anyone tried these? Are they reliable or just hype?
@Skyler
I agree! It’s easy for things to look good on paper, but the real test is how they perform in everyday use. That’s why this forum is so useful — we can share our experiences and find out which ones actually work. If anyone has tried these watches, let us know how they hold up in real life. It’s always better to hear from people who’ve used them!
Fitness watches like those from Garmin and Coros are usually the best for running, but they’re not really ‘smart’ watches. If you want a fitness watch, the Coros Pace is great, and it’s around $200. It gives you lots of detailed information and metrics, maybe even more than you need right now. Garmin also has the 255 for around $300 if you like their app.
If you’re really looking for a smart watch and didn’t use the term by mistake, the Samsung Watch 5 Pro is a good option. You can find it for about $100 secondhand, and it was one of the top models a couple of years ago. It lets you leave your phone at home, and still make calls, send messages, and stream audio. The Samsung Health app has also been getting better, so it’s great for beginner runners.
If you end up liking the 5 Pro, you could even trade it in for a discount towards the current Ultra model, which would make an upgrade more affordable.
I have a Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 (non-Active model with an OLED screen), and it’s a great, basic smart watch for a very good price. I got it for £60, and it tracks heart rate, stress, and sleep. It’s also very customizable, and the battery lasts about 12 days. I can’t speak to how well it tracks workouts since I’m recovering from a knee injury, but I bought it mainly because it allows emergency Bluetooth calls.
This model is a bit older now (I bought it in August), but newer versions of the Redmi Watch are going for around £35, which is crazy cheap for something that feels like a premium device.