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Is fitbit a good running watch?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on March 16, 2026

Is fitbit a good running watch?

Best Fitbits for Runners in 2020. Fitbit offers several great wearables to track your daily steps, exercise, sleep, heart rate, weight, and more. If you're a runner, Fitbit is an excellent option for tracking workouts and monitoring key stats like pace and heart rate. Fitbit has quite a few models.

Hereof, does fitbit track running?

Surge - Best Fitbit with a GPSIf you want to track as much information as possible about your run, then the Fitbit Surge is the way to go. The GPS will not only tell you the distance you've traveled in a day, but will also map your running route as you go.

Additionally, which Fitbit is right for me 2019? Best OverallThe best Fitbit you can buy. Overall, the Fitbit Versa 2 is the best Fitbit you can buy in 2019. It's lightweight, has a ton of features, and comes in at a pretty good price.

Regarding this, what is the best fitness tracker for running?

The best running watch or fitness watch will be a real step up if you have only used fitness trackers before.

The best running watches, in order

  1. Garmin Forerunner 245 Music.
  2. Garmin Forerunner 945.
  3. Polar Vantage V.
  4. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Titanium (47 mm case)
  5. Suunto 9 Baro.
  6. Garmin Forerunner 645.

What is the best running watch 2019?

11 Advanced GPS Watches for Runners

  • Best All-Rounder. Forerunner 945. Garmin. $599.99. $499.99 (17% off)
  • Stamina-Estimating. Apex. Coros. $299.99. BUY NOW.
  • Running Power. Vantage V. Polar. $499.95. $347.99 (30% off)
  • 120-Hour GPS Battery. Suunto. $419.29. BUY NOW.
  • Best Value. Forerunner 245. Garmin. $350.00.

Which Fitbit has a GPS tracker?

Fitbit Ionic smartwatch

Can I run with Fitbit without phone?

Everything You Can Do on Fitbit Ionic Without Your Phone Nearby. Just step out the door and go—sans phone. The Run Detect feature on Ionic kickstarts the device's integrated GPS, so you get accurate real-time heart rate, pace, distance, elevation, and split times—as well as a post-workout summary—right on your wrist.

Does the Fitbit automatically track exercise?

Fitbit Charge HR and Fitbit Surge users can rely on SmartTrack, a new feature that automatically tracks workouts, like walking, running or outdoor cycling, and gives you credit for your activity toward your exercise goals. In the app, you will be able to personalize your weekly goal to fit your fitness objectives.

What exercises can fitbit track?

SmartTrack recognises activities with continuous movement or high movement.
  • Walking.
  • Running.
  • Aerobic Workout.
  • Elliptical.
  • Outdoor Bike.
  • Sports (continuous, high movement activities like tennis, basketball, football)
  • Swimming (only on. Fitbit Flex 2™)

Can fitbit measure distance?

Capture your route, distance, pace, and more using the GPS sensors on your phone. Your Fitbit device calculates your steps taken, active minutes, and calories burned during the activity. Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your phone's GPS sensors.

Does fitbit HR have GPS?

The Inspire doesn't have built-in GPS, which means the Ionic smartwatch is the only Fitbit that can be used without a phone to track outdoor runs and bike rides. That information is synced to the Fitbit app, which is still one of my favorite fitness-tracking apps.

What is the best workout watch?

The 12 Best Fitness Watches To Track Your Workouts?
  • Apple Watch Series 5. Apple Watch Series 5. APPLE amazon.com.
  • Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. Samsung amazon.com.
  • Fitbit Versa Lite 2. Fitbit Versa 2. Fitbit amazon.com.
  • Polar Vantage M Fitness Watch. Polar Vantage M.
  • Garmin Venu. Garmin Venu.

Is it worth getting a running watch?

Running watches are one of the best investments a runner can make. They allow runners to track their progress accurately, enhance the quality of their training, ditch carrying a phone and look stylish, to name a few of their many benefits.

Do I really need a GPS watch for running?

You don't need a GPS watch to run. All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes and the desire to put one foot in front of the other. The ubiquity of GPS watches is impossible to miss. In fact, if you don't run with GPS these days, I'd say you're definitely in the minority.

What watch do marathon runners wear?

The Garmin Forerunner 235 is a great all-rounder watch for marathon training and general activity tracking. Garmin are well-respected for their best-in-class GPS device performance and smart algorithms which accurately map your runs.

What is the best fitness watch for the money?

  1. Fitbit Charge 3. Take charge of your fitness with the best tracker.
  2. Garmin Vivosmart 4. It tells you how much energy you do (or don't) have.
  3. Huawei Band 3 Pro. Both style and substance on a budget.
  4. Fitbit Inspire HR. Inspiration to get off the sofa.
  5. Garmin Vivosport. The sportier Garmin.
  6. Honor Band 5.
  7. Xiaomi Mi Band 4.
  8. Amazfit Bip.

What is the best smartwatch for fitness?

Best Smartwatches for Fitness in 2020
  • Best Overall: Garmin Vivoactive 4.
  • Best Value: Withings Move.
  • Best Fitbit: Fitbit Versa 2.
  • Best With Wear OS: Fossil Gen 5.
  • Best Battery: Amazfit GTS.
  • Best Upgrade Pick: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2.
  • Best Premium Option: Apple Watch Series 5.
  • Best Oversized Option: Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Which Apple Watch is best for runners?

Which Apple Watch for Runners? TL:DR: The Apple Watch Series 3 presents the best balance of cost, features, and value and is a great choice for runners – even though it does not have the extra hour+ of battery life that the Series 4 has.

Which is better Fitbit or Apple Watch?

The Apple Watch is generally better at functioning as a smartwatch. While Fitbit offers many of the basic functions of a smartwatch, such as a built-in voice assistant (Amazon's Alexa) and the ability to deliver notifications to your wrist, the Apple Watch has a much larger App Store and more polished software.

How long do Fitbits last?

While it's unclear how common the problem is, some Fitbit Flex users have posted on forums and social media sites about experiencing issues with their Flex holding a charge after just a few months of use. (The Flex battery generally lasts five days between charges, according to the company.)

Is fitbit worth buying?

If you don't care about any of those specifics and are happy with just getting some exercise in, a Fitbit might be a waste for you. In short: If you don't care exactly how many steps you've taken today or what your heart rate is, a Fitbit probably isn't worth it for you.

How accurate is fitbit steps?

The researchers tested four devices: the Fitbit One, Fitbit Zip, Fitbit Flex, and Jawbone UP24. They found that the devices are very accurate when the research subjects were sedentary, but became less accurate the more vigorously they moved. In total, the devices got within 4% of an accurate step count.

Do Fitbits wear out?

Fitbits are designed to be as tough and resilient as your workouts. But they're not invincible. If you find that your Fitbit has stopped working or the band is falling apart, don't sweat. Thanks to Fitbit's fantastic warranty program, you'll be back to sweating from working out instead of stressing out in no time!

What is the newest Fitbit called?

Fitbit has a new Versa 2 smartwatch with Alexa, and a new Premium health service. Fitbit's new $200 fitness watch is faster and has better battery life, arriving Sept. 15. The Fitbit Versa 2 has a similar look, but a lot of new features.

Can you text on a Fitbit?

You CAN respond to texts on Android, with a caveat
Currently, SMS text messages, Twitter, Gmail, Facebook Messenger, and Line all allow for this quick reply functionality on Fitbit devices such as the Versa 2. What you cannot do is craft or type new responses from the watch on the fly, or do talk to text.

What is the best Fitbit for a woman?

Our favorite Fitbit for women is Fitbit's second-generation smartwatch, the Fitbit Versa 2. It offers several different color combos and options for style and versatility. Plus, it hosts Fitbit's most advanced health and fitness tracking features, on top of a built-in microphone and Amazon Alexa.

Is fitbit waterproof?

No Fitbit devices are fully waterproof, but most are water-resistant to a certain extent. The Fitbit devices that are water-resistant include the Fitbit Ace 2, the Fitbit Versa, the Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Inspire, and Fitbit Ionic.

What watches do pro runners wear?

The best running watches, in order
  1. Garmin Forerunner 245 Music. The best option for serious runners on a budget.
  2. Garmin Forerunner 945. Light yet versatile multisport watch with excellent sensors.
  3. Polar Vantage V.
  4. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Titanium (47 mm case)
  5. Suunto 9 Baro.
  6. Garmin Forerunner 645.
  7. Garmin Forerunner 935.
  8. Fitbit Ionic.

What is the most accurate running watch?

  • Our pick. Garmin Forerunner 645. The best GPS running watch. Feature-loaded, a joy to wear and use, and accurate when measuring heart rate from the wrist, this is everything most runners want in a GPS watch.
  • Runner-up. Coros Pace. Fewer features, good GPS reliability.
  • Budget pick. Garmin Forerunner 35. Basic and dependable.

How do you carry your phone while running?

Here are seven of our favorites:
  1. Around Your Waist: Flip Belt.
  2. Clipped to Your Bra: Koala Clip.
  3. In Your Bra: North Face Stow-N-Go II Bra.
  4. Shorts With a Built-in Pocket: FABB Activewear Running Shorts With Pockets for Women.
  5. Handheld Device: Gear Beast Sports Handheld Running Case Pouch.

How many years does a Garmin watch last?

Garmin promises up to two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode, up to 36 hours in GPS mode, and up to 10 hours with both GPS and music active. The Forerunner 45 models will be available later in May. The Forerunner 245, Forerunner 245 Music, and Forerunner 945 are available now.

Is Apple Watch 5 good for running?

The Apple Watch Series 5 is certainly still a smartwatch that performs very well as a running watch, more so than other smartwatches. It's a lovely watch to wear, the screen is great and based on the data it recorded, it clearly does a good job of tracking those key running metrics.

Is Apple watch a good running watch?

The Battery Life Still Isn't Great
But the battery isn't suited for extremely long runs, and forget using it for a marathon with all the sensors and connectivity active. But, for short runs and daily training, the Apple Watch 5 is great.

What is the best smartwatch for runners?

  1. Fitbit Versa 2. One of the newer Fitbits on the market, the Versa 2 combines fitness tracking with smartphone features.
  2. Apple Watch Series 5. The Apple Watch Series 5 – like version 4 – is an ideal smartwatch for runners.
  3. Samsung Gear Sport.
  4. LG Watch Sport.
  5. Garmin vivoactive 4 (pictured) and 4S.
  6. Fitbit Ionic.

Are Polar watches good?

The best Polar smartwatches are among the Best running watches because they tend to be priced competitively, and boast excellent build quality. Polar has been in the heart rate monitor business since the 1970s, so we can safely assume they know a thing or two about the topic.