It gets harder to tell the difference between smartphones and sports watches as time passes. Aside from the many features that they share, these are two different types of watches made for two different types of users.
In addition to many other things, smartwatches let you stay connected at all times by letting you text, call, check social media, and more. These traits are also found on some of the best sports watches for men. Of course, they’re mostly used to keep track of health and exercise.
Today, we’ll look at the best examples of the second group: the sports watch. I’ll talk about their features, the things they work best for, and the different kinds, such as cheap and expensive ones, analog and Swiss-made watches.
Today is a good day to be a wrist.
Key Takeaways
There are many different sports watches on the market today, from very specialized to basic ones. Garmin’s Forerunner 245 is a great watch for semi-serious athletes who want a watch that can do many different things.
Want to save money and not care about watch trends? You still have a lot of choices, but the Fitbit Versa 3 is the best choice because it has so many great features that defy its low price.
1. One Of The Best Sports Watches For Men Is The Garmin Forerunner 245
There are many different kinds of sports watches for men. Some get lost in the weeds that are growing quickly. Others have traits made with mountain climbers in mind. Some are still… well, perfect. They are good for everyone.
The Garmin Forerunner 245 steps up to replace that last bucket. It has too many features to list them all, such as a heart rate monitor, stress tracking, incident recognition alerts, and cadence metrics. It’s good to know they’re there, even if you don’t use them all.
In other words, this is the perfect watch for anyone who likes to stay busy and pay attention to details without becoming too picky.
2. The Best Budget Sports Watch For Men Is The Fitbit Versa 3
Undoubtedly, the Fitbit Versa 3 is one of the best cheap sports watches for men. This watch has all the bells and whistles of a fancy-pants watch, but it doesn’t cost as much. I’m sorry I used the word “fancy pants” twice. Not going to happen again. Getting on with it.
This stylish watch has G.P.S. built in, works with Spotify, monitors your heart rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, gives you a daily Sleep Score to make sure you’re getting enough rest, and Fitbit’s Daily Readiness Score tells you whether you’re ready for a tough workout or a day of recovery. And in case you missed it, your watch now has taste.
3. Best waterproof sports watch for men: Timex Ironman Classic 30
If everything I’ve written has interested you, that makes me happy. Love. But you’re likely picking and choosing. And since you chose this section, I think you like sports that involve or are near water.
Good day. This is for you. Regarding smartwatches, the Ironman Classic 30 from Timex is about as far away as possible. It is, however, a sports watch through and through, especially for water sports. It’s important to note that it can handle water up to 320 feet deep, getting wet through snorkeling or swimming. Could you do it? It also comes with a 99-lap clock and a 30-lap memory recall, and the price is reasonable for what you get.
4. The Best Digital Sports Watch for Men: Coros Pace 2
Coros makes some of the best and most reliable sports watches on the market today. Professional and amateur players, like world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, respect the company. The basic Coros Pace 2 lives up to that name.
This digital watch has all the fitness features you’d expect from a high-end sports watch. For example, it can track interval workouts and create an exercise routine. To make things even better, it’s a very light watch that won’t get in the way of your workouts or distract you from them.
5. Best Running Sports Watch for Men: Garmin Fenix 7
Will any old sports watch work to keep simple records of your runs? Yes. If you’re not a serious runner, should you skip this one? Most likely. Also, everyone has their taste. You do what you want.
If you’re still with me, I have some exciting things to tell you about the Garmin Fenix 7. It’s the first Fenix to have a touchscreen, which is important for many walkers. It’s also very tough and has some of the most advanced maps I’ve seen. It also has many health tracking stats that are available 24/7.
That’s all good, but it wouldn’t be worth anything without music or talks, right? Okay, then. It works with Spotify, Amazon Music, and other apps.
6. Best Apple Sports Watch for Men: Apple Ultra Watch
There are many amateur sportswear Apple Watches, which makes them a near-obvious choice for this list. But since the best Apple Watch is a mix of a sports watch and a real smartwatch, I think putting it in its group makes sense.
In the fall of 2022, the Ultra was a beast in hardware. Its 36-hour battery life is great for weekend camping trips, and the heart rate zones and cadence measures have been updated for runners.
The Ultra also prioritizes safety; it has built-in fall and crash sensors, and pressing the “Action” button sounds an alarm. If you like sports or exercise, this device probably has a feature or app just for that.
7. Best Music Sports Watch for Men: Garmin Vivoactive 4
Unsurprisingly, Garmin is back on my list of the best sports watches for men for the third time. They know how to wrap a wrist. Are you sorry I said, “They just know how to wrap a wrist around something”? Yes. Will I? No. Nope.
Moving forward, the Vivoactive 4 is a powerhouse of smart features and exercise tracking features that will help you stay at your best. On top of these features, you can download and listen to Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer sets. You can leave your phone at home while you train, which will help you get even stronger.
8. The Best no-frills Sports Watch is Polar Unite
Advanced features are nice, and if you’re a serious runner with big goals you need to keep track of over time, you may even need them. But not everyone is a top athlete, and let’s face it, a more advanced sports watch has many features that most people will never use.
Here we go, Polar’s Unite. What kind of person are you? If so, this watch probably has everything you need and not much else. Tracking your heart rate. Tracking of activities. Every step counts. I get it. It’s also pretty light, and the battery lasts longer than usual.
9. The Best Automatic Sports Watch for Men is the Victorinox I.N.O.X. Mechanical
Not all of the best sports watches for men were made to be worn while doing rough outdoor activities. In fact, some of them are better at things than James Bond. That’s a pretty broad picture. If there was ever a watch that could help you understand that move, it’s the I.N.O.X. Mechanical from Victorinox, the same company that made the first Swiss Army Knife.
This watch looks great and is tough, so it must be worn daily. Don’t doubt or rate it based on how expensive it looks or the fact that it has an automatic movement made in Switzerland. In terms of functionality, it can resist water up to 650 feet, is almost impossible to damage, and doesn’t hurt easily. You’ve found a sports watch that can do many things.
10. Top Analog Sports Watch for Men: Skagen Horn Gen 6 Hybrid Smartwatch
I like a one-and-done digital version with just enough features to inform me about my heart rate and general activity metrics. This is because I don’t have many sports watches for men. However, the Gen 6 Hybrid Smartwatch from Skagen is the only one that might make me switch back to traditional.
Because it has mechanical hands, this looks like a classy dress watch from a distance. It would look great worn next to a suit for work, weddings, and other similarly themed activities. Zoom in, though, and you’ll see that it has many sports watch features, such as tracking your steps, sleep, and heart rate, as well as built-in apps like Google Fit and Apple HealthKit.
11. The Best Swiss Sports Watch for Men Is The Breitling Endurance Pro
This watch is made in Switzerland and is perfect for men who like to think things through. It’s a high-end watch that deserves attention but also serves a useful purpose.
To begin with, it’s made of a secret substance that is harder and lighter than titanium. It can handle water up to 10 bars (or 330 feet), won’t scratch, is exactly within 10 seconds per year, and looks great, too. Plus, since we’re already talking about it, let’s give you extra points for being trusted by some Ironman and triathlon record holders.
12. The Best Luxury Sports Watch for Men is The Rolex Yacht-Master 42
The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 is one of the best sports watches for men because it is made of real gold. Rolex’s factory used 18-karat gold to make parts of the dial. The dial is mostly black and has a come-hither style that is more elegant than busy. There is a cheaper Rolex out there, but this one is one of the most useful.
This is a tough and waterproof sports watch, so you can wear it sailing, kite surfing, or just lying on your back and letting the waves roll over your body while you relax. Hey, everyone has their taste. And the Yacht-Master won’t skip a beat when it’s time to get out of the water and show up at a fancy event in the evening.
What You Should Look For In The Best Men’s Sports Watches
The only people who might be interested in a sports watch are those who already live an active life, want to live an active life, or want to keep track of their steps to stay inspired. No matter your reason for wanting one, you have great choices.
Some features can be very basic, like tracking your heart rate, or very advanced, like making your plans and profiles for triathlons, duathlons, and everything in between.
Battery Life
Battery life is an important part of sports watches for men that is often forgotten. This can ruin many workout plans or well-intentioned hikes in the woods. Battery life is very important if you’re camping in the middle of nowhere and depend on technology to help you find your way.
If keeping exact records of runs in the city is important to you, don’t worry about it as much. In either case, pay attention to how much power the battery in your sports watch has.
Aesthetics
Not everyone can afford more than one watch. It’s not always necessary to have a fancy watch that can go from the field to the bar, the track to the office, or the walk to the shower.
Some sports watches look just like what they sound like. Others are classy and hide their technical parts behind beautiful diamonds and great surfaces. Possibly without the sparkling diamonds.
End Of The Story
Good sports watches are made to fit the person who wears them. But the best sports watches for men are made for people who want to move and stay moving. The Garmin Forerunner 245, my overall pick, has something for everyone.
It has many features without being too complicated and looks good in many different situations, so it’s a good starting point for almost anyone looking for this kind of watch.
FAQs
What’s The Difference Between a Sports Watch and a Smartwatch?
With a smartwatch, you can always be in touch through texts, calls, and social media. These features are also on some of the best sports watches for men, but their main purpose is to track your health and fitness.
Does A Sports Watch Be Used By Athletes?
To put it briefly, yes. Professional and amateur athletes wear sports watches to track their heart rates and improve their general performance. For example, Usain Bolt rocks a Hublot King Power. Elite runner Eliud Kipchoge wore a Coro’s watch. He was the first to run a marathon in less than two hours.
