11 Sport Watches You'll Want to Wear Everywhere

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LIKE SUNGLASSES and a smartly chosen pair of shoes, wristwatches have long been a menswear essential. A good watch says a lot about a man, after all. A tech-forward smartwatch from Garmin or Polar hints at a man who likes his gadgets as much as his workouts. A premium timepiece from the likes of Breitling or TAG Heuer reveals someone with great taste and plenty of disposable income. While a classic wristwatch from Timex could denote a sensible, no-frills man who appreciates function over flash.

Somewhere between straightforward fashion watches (with little to no wireless connectivity) and bleeding-edge smartwatches lies the sport watch. They’re typically more rugged, durable, and functional than a traditional time-only timepiece, but perhaps not as feature-rich as a full-blown smartwatch. They’re designed for the active man who relies on health metrics—heart rate, sleep tracking, and training progress—as much as environmental info (think altimeters, barometers, and GPS sensors), but perhaps doesn’t need all the bells and whistles.

There are hundreds of great sport watches on the market, and dozens of new models released every year. The most basic models, like Timex’s classic Ironman sport watch, are dead-simple to use and feature only the essentials, like lap tracking, chronographs, multiple alarms, and some degree of water-resistance. More advanced models, like Garmin’s vívoactive 4 Sport Watch add smartwatch-worthy features, like crisp, AMOLED displays, stress level monitoring, GPS sensors, and app connectivity for taking calls and streaming music from your smartphone.

Ready to upgrade your wrist this year? There are thousands of watch models to choose from, and there is no one best sport watch. It’s all about what you’re into and how much you’re willing to spend. We’ve narrowed down our list of favorites to the best of the best sport watches for men worth a look in 2023.

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Vívoactive 4 Sport Watch

Smartwatches are amazing for seriously active guys who love geeking out over every possible body metric of their workouts. But, they can be unnecessarily complicated, especially for the more “average” among us who just don’t need real-time updates of their blood oxygen levels and menstrual cycles. Garmin’s vivoactive 4 Sport Watch splits the difference—it’s more full-featured than most traditional sport watches, but not as absurdly tech-heavy as a legit smartwatch. Think of it as a smartwatch for those who don’t really like smartwatches.

Under the hood, this is a capable sport watch—it tracks sleep patterns, respiration, stress levels, estimated heart rate, and more. It’s all displayed on a bright, responsive, 1.3-inch screen in an intuitive, easy-to-read way. It connects seamlessly to your smartphone for reading text messages, keeping tabs on calendar events, and listening to Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. Battery life is decent—roughly six hours with GPS and every other feature switched on, or up to eight days in the more economical Smart Mode. It’s not the priciest, the flashiest, or the most full-featured. But, it is a well-balanced sport watch that’s perfect for almost every active man out there. All of which is why it’s our pick for the best sport watch for everyday activity in 2022.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 13,000 Amazon reviews, 89% recommend the Garmin vivoactive 4 GPS Smartwatch with at least a 4-star rating.

IRONMAN Original 30 Shock Sport Watch

Timex’s OG IRONMAN was one of the first true sport watches for the “everyman.” It was functional and durable—built for everyone from at-home fitness enthusiasts to hardcore triathletes. The classic returns with the IRONMAN Original 30 Shock, a newly improved version that offers all the same features as its predecessor, plus more functionality and shock-resistant durability. All the best features remain, including a lap counter, a 100-hour chronograph, multiple alarms, night-light mode, and more. It’s all built into a rugged housing that fits comfortably with a soft resin strap. Plus, it’s now water-resistant up to 200 meters. And, honestly, if you’re going any deeper than that, you’ve got more important things to worry about than finding a decent wristwatch.

The IRONMAN Original 30 Shock lacks many of the smart features of “smarter” watches. You won’t find a built-in GPS, an altimeter, or Spotify connectivity, for example. But, for serious athletes looking to track their personal best lap times, keep an alarm or two for waking up on time on race day, and occasionally getting it wet without worry, this is your man. Plus, did we mention it’s the most affordable sport watch on this list at less than $70?

What do buyers say? “Everything about this watch is great. It’s durable and looks good,” said one Timex.com reviewer.

Forerunner 255 GPS Running Sport Watch

Straight up: The Forerunner 255 is the most affordable full-featured smartwatch in Garmin’s quiver. It boasts many of the best features of Garmin’s pricier models, making it a worthy contender if you’re shopping for a good men’s sport watch this year. Plus, the latest iteration adds must-haves like a barometric altimeter, power meter support, and a triathlon activity mode—all making it even more usable and useful than the previous (and already great) Forerunner 245 model it replaces. Built-in, dual-frequency GNSS support makes for much improved location accuracy, no matter where on earth you find yourself. Battery life is solid, with up to 30 hours in GPS mode (less with GNSS switched on) and up to 14 days in Smartwatch Mode. While that’s not the best, it ranks up there with many of our favorite fitness watches.

The Forerunner 255 is an ideal option for most athletes, even hardcore triathletes, looking to keep tabs on just about every metric that matters. The only thing it’s lacking is built-in maps and navigation, so this one is better suited to athletes who stick to the front country. It’s available in a variety of modern colors and in two watch face sizes—to fit any aesthetic or wrist size. Plus, the upgraded Music version adds even more built-in functionality, including Bluetooth headphone connectivity and the ability to download up to 500 songs directly to the watch.

What do buyers say? “I bike, swim, run and weight train. I LOVE THIS WATCH. Gives me all the stats I need, and seems very accurate. Great for the price,” said one Amazon reviewer.

Eco-Drive Promaster Sea Dive Watch

The sport watch field is nothing without a quality dive watch. Citizen's Promaster has been an affordable dive watch staple for decades now. It's timeless in its design, making appropriate as much off of a boat as it is on one, plus it loaded with features that are going to help the watch stand the test of time. We're talking a 20o meter water resistance, a stainless steel case, and a trusted eco-drive movement. The Promaster Diver also comes with a 5 year limited warranty, so if anything were to happen to the watch you have a comfortable timeframe to re-up on a new one.

It is true dive watches are more seen as a style move these days than for their functional nature. Nonetheless, you can count on a dive watch to give you ironclad strength and performance in all types of adventures.

What do buyers say? "If you want a hassle-free EDC watch, this may be the one. If you swim regularly, you won't have to worry about it -- just make sure you've the crown knob snugly tightened to prevent water from getting in," said one Amazon reviewer.

Core Sport Watch

The Suunto Core is a favorite for those who hunt, fish, and hike thanks to features like Storm Alert. It also comes loaded with instruments like an altimeter, barometer, and compass to keep you aware of your environment. It's easy to be fooled by the design of the Core that it might be a smartwatch, but it only operates using the side buttons. The watch does not have activity tracking either.

Learning how to use the buttons might be annoying at first, but leaving out a touch screen adds significant durability to the watch and also helps drive the cost down to a seriously good price point. Couple this all with the fact the watch has a 30 meter water resistance plus a battery life of 12 months, and you've got a rugged watch with supreme weather tracking.

What do buyers say? "I have crawled through dirt, dust, rocks, and hill country forests. This watch didn't seem to notice. Quick rinse and it's good to go. The storm barometer is accurate. The compass was accurate enough to be useful in the brush. And sure enough, it also tells the time," said one Amazon reviewer.

Pace 2

The Pace 2 was named our "Best Smartwatch for Outdoor Sports" in our guide to smartwatches, and the same holds true here. For starters, the Pace 2 packs immense value at being only $200. You not only get excellent GPS capabilities but you also have unique features like a muscle heat map: a reader that measures what muscles are getting the heaviest work so you can determine how hard your lower half is working towards you upper half on any given activity. With the Pace 2 also comes 200 pre-loaded exercises to help measure training and outdoor activities.

The device itself is wonderfully lightweight, as the new version dropped 50% weight in the silicone band by opting for the nylon holes. As for battery life, you can get an impressive 30 hours of use on GPS mode and a long-lasting 20 days of use with GPS turned off. How does that all sound for a sport watch?

What do buyers say? "Fantastic battery life, and gathers all the data you’ll need for your runs. COROS app is also easy to navigate and linking your watch to the app is simple and painless," said one Amazon reviewer.

Regulus Expedition A1324

Nixon has a long history as a great watchmaker. So, too, with the Regulus Expedition Sport Watch. The ultra-durable design is perfect for active gentlemen who like exploring far off-grid. It’s purpose-made for hikers, campers, hunters, and the like with all the essentials they need, including a built-in compass, barometer, and altimeter, and nothing they don’t. An integrated Camp Mode also provides weather alerts. The bright, crisp MCLD display shows all the relevant data in a clean, easy-to-read way that feels equal parts modern and retro. It recalls some of the coolest classic Casio watches of the 90s, and that’s a good thing. It’s all built into a thick metal housing with a comfortable, injection-molded silicone strap that’s good down to 100 meters.

This is a no-frills watch. It’s simple, yet sophisticated for the outdoorsmen who wants a pared-down sport watch with only the most essential metrics. Our only gripe is the price. Compared to similarly outfitted sport watches, it feels a little pricey at around $200. Still, considering the Nixon brand, the handsome, understated design, and the bulletproof build quality, we think it’s a worthy timepiece for the avid outdoorsman.

What do buyers say? “Really nice display and well built,” said one Amazon reviewer.

Read more: Best Outdoor Watches

Apple Watch Ultra Sport Watch

This year, Apple once again redefined the smartwatch standard. The latest Apple Watch is the best sport watch for Apple users, and one of the best overall sport watches, period. But, the Ultra takes things to new levels for active wearers with a rugged, titanium case and a more durable strap—all water-resistant down to 100 meters. The Retina display is twice as bright as its predecessor and as beautiful as those on the latest iPhone, ensuring everything is crisp, clear, and easy to read, even in the brightest sunlight. Battery life is solid at 36 hours. Plus, dual-frequency GPS delivers amazing accuracy in both urban and backwoods environments. Next-gen safety features like Crash Detection and Fall Detection are baked in too.

If there’s one downside, it’s the price. At $800, it’s among the priciest sport watches we tested this year (not including extravagant, ultra-luxe models from Breitling, TAG Heuer, and the like). But, if you’re looking for hands-down the best sport watch that slots neatly into Apple’s ecosystem, it doesn’t get any better than the flagship Apple Watch Ultra.

What do buyers say? “Best smartwatch on the planet … It is super durable. I do not have a scratch on the glass or the titanium casing yet after weeks of heavy usage,” said one Amazon reviewer.

Read more: Apple Watch Ultra Review

G-Shock Move GBD-H2000-1ACR

The upgraded Move takes G-Shock's original attempt at a fitness watch and takes it to a new level. The most impressive aspect about the Move is it's ability to keep it's iconic G-Shock strength while also somehow being light as a feather. This build makes it easy for this watch to tag along on all sorts of adventures, whether you're using it for laps in a pool to an exotic trail run.

This sport watch is not a touch screen watch, but it's four buttons allow for pretty smooth maneuvering. The learning curve is a little higher when learning to use the buttons, but once you do you won't have any problems going forward. The Move packs 200 meters of water resistance and comes with advanced sensors like sleep tracking and blood oxygen that can be found using the watch's accompanying app. We will say the app is a work in progress, so be patient as Casio continues to make tweaks and updates for better user experience.

What do buyers say? "If you’re looking for a legit Garmin or Polar substitute… but with a modern Casio aesthetic… this is it!" said one Amazon reviewer.

Read more: Best Sleep Trackers

Connected Calibre E4

Everything about TAG Heuer’s Connected line speaks to “modern luxury.” Yet, it’s a tasteful, sophisticated brand of luxury that transcends the bold, often overblown designs of chunkier, in-your-face watches (like the G-Shock). You can feel the premium construction out of the box, with its ceramic bezel and liberal use of polished and sanded stainless steel. The 1.39-inch AMOLED is crisp and plenty bright to read even in direct sunlight. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100+ processor under the hood, it’s also pretty, er, “snappy” and responsive too. Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi ensure solid connectivity to many of the features of your smartphone, although it’s curiously unable to take calls.

As far as fitness and activity tracking, that’s all handled by TAG Heuer’s own pre-installed watch app that pairs with a complementary app on your smartphone. The design is simple and intuitive, although it doesn’t offer the same in-depth level of metrics as a dedicated multisport watch like those from Garmin and Suunto. Rather, this model is better suited for casual fitness enthusiasts who don’t mind spending the extra money to make a statement. At $2,000, it’s one of the priciest sport watches we’ve seen this year. But, if you’ve got the discretionary income, TAG Heuer certainly delivers with the Connected Calibre E4.

Read more: Best Luxury Watches for Men

I.N.O.X. Mechanical Watch

Victorinox Swiss Army has been a mainstay of outdoorsmen for decades, and the I.N.O.X. Mechanical Watch is among the brand’s staple sport watches. The design straddles the line between fashion/dress watch and sport watch. It’s understated and sophisticated, yet rugged and outdoor-ready with a 200-meter water-resistant rating and scratch-resistant, triple-coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The first-of-its-kind wooden strap (yes, you read that correctly) is crafted onto a leather base, so it’s not only durable but handsome too.

It’s thinner on features—no GPS, Spotify connectivity, or sleep tracking here—than other sport watches on this list, but that’s to be expected. At nearly $1,000, it’s more of a statement piece than a timepiece you’ll be wearing to train for your next triathlon. This is a gentleman’s sport watch, for the man who wants a rugged, sport-ready timepiece that’s not just functional but looks good enough to wear on a dinner date too. Plus, if you’re looking for a little extra flash, it’s available in pure stainless with a black dial too.

What do buyers say? “It’s definitely a great presentation on the wrist. It looks different just enough to separate itself from other watches at first glance. It’s become my go to for daily wear,” said one Amazon reviewer.

What to Consider When Buying a Sport Watch

Since there are so many different types of sport watches, it can be hard to determine what to look. Here are 4 key points to go by when buying a sport watch.

• Functionality: Unlike a dress watch, a sport watch is going to promise some sort of functionality outside of just looking good. Features of sport watches can include anything from shock resistance and keeping multiple time zones, to blood oxygen sensors and weather instruments. A sport watch can be built best for one specific activity, and it can be great for a wide range of activities.

• Water Resistance: The one feature all sport watches should have is water resistance, as your watch should be strong enough to handle rain and full water submersion. If you want a sport watch with the highest level of water resistance, then any of the 200 meter water-resistant models above will be a solid choice. The downside to high water resistance is the watch is usually bigger and bulkier, so if you want a slimmer watch then sacrificing some water resistance strength is going to be the best course of action. But avoid a sport watch that has zero water resistance.

• Easy-to-Read Display: Made for activity, sport watches need to have easy-to-read displays. Contrary to what some might believe, a sport watch can have either an analog of digital face. Features to look for include illumination behind the hands when dark out, large numbers, and organized displays so you can always have a clean and crisp reading.

• Strong Band and Case: Lastly, a sport watch should be made with strong materials. Steel, nylon, and rubber are durable watch bands you can choose. Leather is suitable in some cases, but while that material can be strong it's also prone to scuffing easily and also getting water damaged. In terms of case, materials like stainless steel, aluminum, rubber, and scratch-resistant screens should be the standard for your sport watch. Avoid watches made from cheap plastics and dress watches that have glass casings (prone to cracking and also getting water damaged).

How Much Should I Spend on A Sports Watch?

No matter your budget, even a moderately priced sport watch is a decent investment. Shopping for one means comparing a ton of tech features and jargon, so it pays (literally) to know what you’re looking at and how to find the best sport watch for you. That starts with knowing your budget.

• $50+: A good beginner budget sport watch starts at $50 and over, with the most affordable options being sport watches from the Timex IRONMAN line.

• $150-$500: If you want a sport watch with a larger display, a stylish design, and an array of advanced features, you should expect to pay anywhere between $150-$500.

• $500+: Any sport watch over $500 is going to have either an exceptional array of features or have a premium design. These type of sport watches includes advanced smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra, as well as luxury sport watches like the Victorinox I.N.O.X. Mechanical Watch—a collectible timepiece that's capable of lasting 10+ years.
  

Which Is the Best sports Watch to Buy?

Once you know the price range you’re shopping in, you’ll want to consider what you’ll be using the watch for. Different sports require different features.

• The best everyday sports watch is the Garmin vivoactive 4 Sport Watch, as it balances a great list of features with a rugged, modern design and a decent price to boot. Not to mention it's versatile enough to use for multiple sports.

• Divers, surfers, and beachgoers will need a sport watch that’s water-resistant or completely waterproof (ideally down to 50 meters or more). These category includes watches like the Citizen Promaster Sea Dive and the Nixon Regulus Expedition.

• Hikers, climbers, and campers will want a sport watch that’s extremely rugged, GPS-enabled with built-in maps and navigation, and possibly even solar-powered (to last indefinitely when they’re away from civilization). The category includes (but is not limited to) examples above like the Apple Watch Ultra, the Suunto Core Alpha, and the Coros Pace 2.

• Runners and cyclists will want to keep close tabs on key body metrics like heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and the distance and speed of their workouts (that usually requires GPS connectivity). Think watches like the Timex IRONMAN Original 30 and the Garmin Forerunner 255 we mentioned above.

What Exactly Is a Sport Watch?

The term “sport watch” isn’t well defined, but we believe a sport watch is any watch that is not a dress watch. Sport watches are typically designed for active pursuits, including running, cycling, hiking, mountain climbing, scuba diving—you get the picture.

Most multisport and fitness smartwatches are technically considered sport watches, although not all sport watches are smartwatches. Many premium and ultra-luxury brands—think Breitling and Rolex—are technically sport watches too. But, almost anyone dropping thousands of dollars on such a watch probably isn’t taking it snorkeling.

What Sport Watch do Athletes Use?

The best sport watch for athletes depends largely on their preferred sport. For casual athletes (working out almost daily), the Garmin vívoactive 4 Sport Watch is our hands-down pick. It’s a well-balanced sport watch for men with plenty of great, connected smartwatch features.

Most runners will love Garmin’s Forerunner 255—our top-pick for its amazing feature set, great looks, solid connectivity options, and, best of all, price. And for athletes who’ve already bought into Apple’s ecosystem, there’s simply no better sport watch than the flagship Apple Watch Ultra.

Why Trust Us

The Men's Health is constantly testing and reviewing all the latest watches for men. Whether its a watch for styling purposes, or a watch for fitness or outdoor activities, we send our watches out with editors and writers so they can test them in the environments the watches handle best. We then break down each watch from a design perspective, highlighting what each timepiece does exceptionally well and what they could improve on.

Aside from our dedicated watch roundups, we also showcase the top new watch releases in our annual Tech Awards and Fitness Awards.

How We Selected

We researched dozens of the top-selling men’s sport watches available right now. That meant comparing models from tech-forward brands like Garmin and Suunto, classic mainstays like Timex, and premium watchmakers like TAG Heuer. We took note of everything, including tech features, durability, construction quality, water resistance, overall aesthetics, and, of course, price. The list above represents our honest picks of the best sport watches for men in 2023.

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