Whenever we think about Best watches for athletes, the first question hits our mind is why do we need to wear watches? The answer which comes in our mind because it is convenient. Convenient means when you need to know the time you don’t need to take out your phone and see time. In today’s scenario, a watch offers many more things other than keeping track of time. You can keep track of your oxygen level, distance traveled, track the time and many more things. Apart from the above functions, a watch offers you most important thing style.
In my opinion, watches are the most stylish accessories anyone can have. Although it is a small thing it adds a lot to our style and explains a lot about our taste in style. In a way a watch defines a person as well, hence it must not be overlooked. When you are planning to buy a watch for sports, finding the best watch is a bit tricky. There are lots of options with multiple features available. Among them choosing the right watch which meets your requirements is important. In this article, we will discuss the available best options and their features which suit you best.
Best watches for athletes 2018
[table “” not found /]Fitbit Ionic Smartwatch
If you are looking for best watches for athletes in the smartwatch segment then this watch is your best choice. This was has a combination of features for fitness and smartwatch. Although Fitbit has made workout watches before this is their best smartwatch for athletes. This smartwatch can run operating system apps, can make payments apart from taking care of your health needs. Another good thing about this watch is the battery life. It claims to run for a full day with a single charge. All these features come at a reasonable price. While talking about the price you will be surprised to know that this is the most expensive watch in Fitbit range.
When we talk about price and features altogether it gives strong competition to brands like apple. While talking to some athlete users we found out that many were not happy with its design. According to them it looks pretty angular and has hard edges. They found it flat and baggie. When it comes to features all were satisfied. It tracks your steps, your calorie burn, and your heart rate. The best feature of this watch is the measurement of oxygen saturation in your body. The battery life even lasts for 4 to 5 days on moderate use. If you are using GPS then you should expect battery life to diminish.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 👍 Robust, swim-proof design. | 👎 Buggy sync process. |
| 👍 4+ day battery life. | |
| 👍 Integrated GPS. |
Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Smartwatch
Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is another gem in the list of best watches for athletes which includes all features of the smartwatch. This watch has a good battery life, dedicated GPS, good quality screen and tiny speakers. When we talk about it’s designing we find it’s not gender neutral. This smartwatch is mainly built for men with thick and heavy designs. Samsung Gear S3 is water, dust, extreme temperature and accidental drop resistant. Its screen is protected by gorilla glass.
The front part has a better and bigger screen and good outdoor visibility. While talking about functionality we find that its designed with mainly three application in mind. The first application is being an extension of your smartphone. The second application is being your personal activity tracker and fitness watch. Since it is supposed to be used by athletes the third application is being rugged and persistent. It has some inbuilt sensors which turn off the front lights when you look away. You will find the watch fast, durable and easy to use.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 👍 Always on screen (if you want it) makes it look like a real watch. | 👎 Water resistant but not swim proof. |
| 👍 Long lasting battery. | |
| 👍 Compatible with the latest Samsung phones as well as iOS and Android. |
Casio Men’s G-Shock GW6900-1
Casio Men’s G-Shock GW6900-1 is the perfect addition to the list of best watches for athletes. Best features which we liked in the watch is its simplicity and solar powered battery. It is solar rechargeable with multi-band atomic timekeeping which is pretty unique altogether. I liked it due to its all-around functionality and durability. For its price, the features are excellent and reasonably simple to use. Some of its useful features are multiple alarms including one “snooze”, radio timekeeping which is updated nightly.
It also has a solar charged battery, stopwatch precise to hundredth, countdown timer and secondary timezone for travelers. There is also a day of the week and month/date display. Other notable features of the watch are 200m water resistance, shock resistance, and backlight display. Due to its simplicity, the watch is very easy to operate. It doesn’t have any unnecessary features which an athlete doesn’t need. The watch is automatically programmed to adjust the date of the month for the varying lengths as well as leap years up to 2099.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 👍 Iconic G-Shock case. | 👎 No sensors. |
| 👍 Solar charging. | |
| 👍 Multi-Band 6. |
Suunto Ambit3 Peak HR Running GPS Unit
Suunto Ambit3 Peak HR running is among the best watches for athletes who are into trail running and training. The GPS tracking is overall great and very accurate. On top of that, it supports all Bluetooth devices. If it is paired with your phone it will show you notifications as they come in. Altogether it measures time, distance, elevation, temperature, pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate. It has a digital compass, altimeter, storm alarm, and barometer. Whatever workout you do is logged to an app on your phone and then displayed on a website.
The website allows you to view about 20-30 different parameters of your activity. It has an impressive charge cycle. Once charged the battery lasts for around 8-10 days. Although there are some features which don’t perform as expected. One of them is the storm alarm which has some performance issues. We also had issues with push notifications and problems while setting up the Bluetooth connectivity. If you can ignore these little things then watch is a perfect choice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 👍 Comfortable. | 👎 Storm alarm has issues. |
| 👍 Easy to use. | |
| 👍 Multi sport functionality. |
VOEONS 165FT Waterproof Digital Sports Watch
Voeons is your best choice on the list of best watches for athletes if you are looking for something in the budget. The watch is rugged and easy to use. The only issue I got with the watch is the quality of water resistance. It is only submersible to 165 feet under water. I liked many things in the watch. The band is a bit on the small size, but the dial is big. You can read it in any light condition, it holds time perfectly and it looks good.
The watch is perfect for you if you are into water sports. It performs well and is pretty easy to use. On the downside, it is a bit heavier while compared to other watches. It has a perfect resolution along with a clear and crisp display. If you are looking for a simple and less expensive yet high-quality wrist watch, then you should go with it. You will find it very durable and good performing.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 👍 Cheap. | 👎 Only waterproof until 165 ft. |
| 👍 Durable. | |
| 👍 Perfect resolution. |
Buyer’s Guide
Watches are for everyone, whether you are a sailor looking for the best watches for sailors, an athlete, or businessmen looking for best. The only difference between them is specialization and personalization. If you are an athlete it is always important to track the progress of your workout or practice. With the advancements of technology watches are handy in these scenarios.
How to choose Best watches for athletes
When you start looking for the best watches for athletes you will find that the market is extremely confusing. The popularity of watches has flooded the market with a variety of products backed by millions of marketing dollars. This makes the whole process of selection bit confusing. If you are seriously looking for the best product you should look for the following features in them.
Water Resistance
If you are into water sports this is without a doubt most necessary feature. Even if you are into other sports like cycling, running, or football, rain is something shall not stop you from going on.
GPS
While running or cycling this is the most important feature which allows you to track your routes. With a GPS in your watch, you don’t have to rely on your mobile to prevent you from getting lost.
Notifications
This feature allows you to stop checking your phone in every couple minute. In this way, you can always concentrate on your practice without the worries of being disconnected. Some watches even allows you to read messages and answer a call.
Battery Life
While choosing a watch for an athlete battery life is very important. A sports watch is packed with features like health trackers, GPS, alarms, etc. These features consume a lot of battery. So it is very important for an athlete to back his watch with a strong battery.
Budget
As all purchases, a watch also has a budget. Never go above the budget. Since there are lots of manufacturers in the market, if searched properly you will find your watch with desired features within your budget.
Conclusion
Choosing the best watches for athletes completely depends on what kind of sports you are into. We have explained almost everything which is needed for making a selection. With sufficient information, we are confident enough that you can make the right choice.