The best running watches and fitness trackers for women

So you’ll have to make concessions on something.

Let’s be clear: Women can purchase, utilize, and adore any of our suggestions for the finest GPS running watches, the finest exercise trackersand the finest running timepieces and smartwatches with music playback.

However, there’s also nothing amiss with wearable tech companies targeting health and fitness conscious women as long as it’s done appropriately. In fact, we encourage more of it. Most of those lists predominantly feature wearables designed by men, for men.

For now, here are the trackers and watches that we believe will particularly appeal to female fitness enthusiasts, whether that’s because of smaller sizes, stylish form factors, or customization and adaptability. The most crucial thing is that there’s no compromise on features or performance.

Top-notch Exercise trackers

Here’s our selection of exercise trackers that cater to women slightly better than most. Let us know in the comments which ones you prefer.

Fitbit Alta HR

If you’re keen on the concept of a Fitbit but are serious about running, the recently retired Fitbit Surge and the new Ionic smartwatch are still the sole options offering built-in GPS. The Blaze and Charge 2 utilize your phone’s GPS.

Our Exercise Tracker of the Year, the Fitbit Alta HR is a great choice if you want a stylish, affordable exercise tracker that still possesses a small screen. The significant new feature is heart rate tracking – plus reminders to move around every hour – and otherwise it repackages Fitbit’s step, distance, and calorie tracking into a slim, customizable band. Furthermore, Fitbit’s app is fantastic for motivation, and designer collaborations from Public School and Tory Burch are available.

$129.95, fitbit.com | Amazon

Garmin Vivomove HR

Another award winner and a wearable that is better designed for both sexes, the Vivomove HR is a hybrid smartwatch with some remarkable connected abilities.

It boasts a smart analogue design with a discreet, disappearing OLED display built into it – simply tap to access alerts and fitness information like steps, sleep, calories burned, notifications, heart rate, and stress info. Then, when you’re not using it, the watch face appears blank. The watch hands even move out of the way of the screen while you read it – ingenious.

Coming from Garmin, we expect nothing less than exceptional accuracy and performance from the dedicated sports modes and Garmin IQ auto-tracking. The watch is available in black, gold, silver, and rose gold finishes with Sport and Premium models – Premium is pricier and offers a nicer, leather strap.

At just 11.6mm thick and weighing a mere 40.8g for the Sport – 56.5g for Premium – it’s a real champion. Battery life is five days in ‘smart mode’, two weeks otherwise.

From $199.99, garmin.com | Amazon

Nokia Steel HR

It’s small, it’s light, it’s geek chic. The Nokia Steel HR makes an excellent everyday exercise companion. It’s more geared towards increasing the duration of your daily activity, steps taken, calories burned, or the distance you’ve walked than intense workouts or running – there’s no GPS, for instance. However, the Steel HR can also track your sleep if you don’t mind wearing it in bed.

We’re big admirers of the small, unobtrusive screen (which also handles some notifications and calendar alerts) and the activity dial on the analogue watch face, plus the heart rate tracking on a watch that doesn’t appear overly sporty. You can opt for a 36mm or 40mm, both waterproof to 5 ATM and with a battery life of 20 to 25 days. The Health Mate app has undergone a revamp since Nokia took over Withings as well.

$179.95, nokia.com | Amazon

Motiv

Smart rings have been around for a couple of years now, but the Motiv is the first that we actually feel is tailored for wearing 24/7.

Measuring just 8mm wide and available in rose gold or slate grey titanium finishes, the smart ring comes in seven sizes and is waterproof up to 50 meters, allowing you to swim with it on, too.

On the exercise tracking front, it can monitor steps, distance, active minutes, and there’s even a heart rate monitor to gather BPM data throughout the day to provide insights on resting heart rate.

While exercise tracking capabilities might seem somewhat basic, it’s still a stylish alternative to having to wear something around your wrist.

$199.99, mymotiv.com

Bellabeat Leaf

This stylish jewelry lifestyle tracker can be worn as a necklace or a brooch and tracks everything from steps and sleep to breathing patterns and menstrual cycles. You can also inform the Leaf about your current stress level in relation to your breathing, so it can monitor stress levels with its intelligent algorithms.

With a six-month battery life and a range of boho-friendly accessories including leather and vegan fiber straps and a dark marshwood with gold leaf limited edition, Bellabeat is right on the money.

From $119, bellabeat.com | Amazon

Top sports timepieces

This is the challenging category when it comes to size, design, and fit, but there are a few options to add to your shortlist depending on your budget.

TomTom Spark 3

The Series 3 Apple Watch

The Spark 3 would be highly recommended as a sports watch for women who enjoy running. It is available in black or aqua with various strap colors and comes with straps in small and large sizes. This watch also supports GPS, heart rate monitoring, and music storage, along with a new Route Exploration feature. It is compatible with a variety of running apps and offers modes for activities such as biking, swimming, and treadmill exercises. Its sleek design and feature-packed functionality make it a compelling option for female runners. Price starts at $129.99 on tomtom.com.

The Garmin Forerunner 630

For those passionate about running and seeking the best running watch, the Garmin Forerunner 630 comes highly recommended. It offers a minimalist and lightweight design, making it suitable for both serious runners and everyday use. The watch is 11.7mm thick and 44g in weight, ensuring comfort during use. Additionally, it offers features such as stride length and vertical ratio recording, enhancing the efficiency of runners.

Moov Now

While not initially intended for running, the Moov Now serves as a valuable virtual coach for various activities, including jogging, boxing, cycling, and swimming. With its discreet design and long battery life, it provides personalized coaching and focuses on individual achievements. This wearable is an excellent option for those seeking a versatile fitness companion.

Garmin Vivosport

The Garmin Vivosport offers a hybrid form factor, incorporating built-in GPS and optical heart rate monitoring while maintaining a slim profile. It works seamlessly with both Android and iPhones, providing advanced activity tracking and new features like rep counting and stress monitoring. Its sleek design and feature-packed functionality make it a compelling option for fitness enthusiasts. Price starts at $199.99 on garmin.com.

Source: The best running watches and fitness trackers for women