5 Good Men and Women's Sports Watches 2017

As someone who runs various marathons and triathlons a few times a year and then heads outdoors whenever I can, I've had my fair share of experiences with good and bad sports watches. With my husband right beside me I've had the opportunity to look at the watches he uses and critique them as well.

In this post I'll share with you my experience with a number of sports watches from various categories including rugged GPS, outdoors, and runner watches.

What do you look for in a sports watch?

I get this question quite a bit, but the truth is that, in my opinion, there's no perfect watch for every single occasion. For this reason I have different watches for when I train, adventure outdoors, and run the big race.

When I train I may use a more expensive watch that has more features to help me keep pace and when I'm in a race I just want something lightweight that is easy-to-read and will hold up.

Admittedly a GPS watch isn't for everyone. The main reason is that for everyday use they simply aren't practical. Who would really want to wear a watch that they had to charge at least once a week?

That being said if you understand their limitations and capabilities a GPS watch is great for the serious runner and perfect for keeping a strict pace. Runtime varies for these watches with about 8 hours for the Timex TSK638 and Nike SportWatch and up to 20 hours for the Garmin Forerunner 310XT.

At this point in time most of these watches haven't been able to get rid of the larger face design because of the components inside; however, for the most part they weigh very little.

GPS Watches Under $100

Timex Marathon GPS

With its simplistic design the Timex Marathon GPS watch is perfect for those looking for an inexpensive waterproof watch that will show you how fast you're going.

If there's one downside it's that you can't upload your runs to your computer. It will keep track of them overall on the watch itself, but this feature is only found on pricier models. That being said with a 30 workout memory and 100 laps per workout you'll at least have short-term data that you can work with.

Overall

Overall this GPS watch is a good value for the money you spend. It's also unisex, but available in blue and pink as well if you'd prefer a little color.

GPS Watches Under $200

Nike SportWatch Vs. Garmin Forerunner 310XT

In the under $200 GPS category most will choose between the Garmin Forerunner 310XT and Nike's SportWatch which is powered by TomTom.

While both of these have heart rate pace, distance, and calories burned features the Garmin model lasts over twice as long as the Nike.

In addition the 310XT tracks your bike and run data and automatically sends it to your computer.

For Swimmers:

There's also a Garmin swim watch that allows you to record swim distance and pool lengths. Keep that in mind if that's a priority for you.

Final Thoughts:

While I do think the Nike watch looks a little better overall, the 310XT, in my opinion, still feels better and has more features for just about the same price.,

Budget Men and Women's Watches for Marathon Runners and Triathletes

You don't always have to get something expensive to get the best. For me something like the Timex Ironman watches works perfectly for when I'm running a race.

Both of these models are lightweight, water resistant to 330 feet, and work great during the race or as a simple way to see your lap or split times.

Durable, but won't last forever:

While I did break the band on one of these after a couple of years it was easy enough to replace or even buy a new one for 30 bucks.

One of the Most Rugged Outdoor Watches Ever for Under $100

The Timex Men's T49612 Expedition watch is one of the most rugged watches my husband has ever used. I wish there was something at least somewhat similar for women, but it simply doesn't exist. Because of this I actually found a smaller band that would work with my wrist and regularly use this when we go camping or mountain biking.

Final Thoughts:

It's tough enough for a military soldier and perfect for the outdoors while still not costing a fortune. There's also a Unisex Expedition watch, model Tf9659, that also has a smaller band. I haven't used it personally, but have heard good things about it.

A Good Outdoors Watch for Under $200

For Under $200 I recommend the Casio Men's PAG240T-7CR Pathfinder which has quite a few more features for the serious outdoorsman. These include an altimeter, barometer, elevation and compass.

With titanium construction it's super rugged and because it's water-resistant to 100m it's good in just about every situation you'll find yourself in.

Final Thoughts:

If you're a hiker and climber that loves to camp like I do, then this watch is worth its weight in gold.