Photo: chrisstreeter / Flickr

Whether you’re a marathon runner or a few-times-a-week jogger, you need a watch designed specifically for your needs. Watches for runners need to be, above all, comfortable. But they also need to pack extra features you won’t find on just any sports watch like a chronograph, heart rate monitor, and, if you’re willing to splash out, even built-in GPS. Here’s what to think about when you go shopping for your next running watch.

Comfort first

Look for a watch with a comfortable band. There’s no point investing a lot of money in a watch with loads of great features if it’s going to chafe or cut into your wrist on long runs. A general rule of thumb is that the thicker a wrist strap is, the more comfortable a watch will be to wear. It also needs to fit well and be light enough that you won’t feel weighed down and should be waterproof.

Easy to use

A running watch needs to be very easy to use. Choose one with a digital readout that’s big and clear enough for you to see while running. Being in motion can not only blur numbers, but can also make pushing buttons difficult. Look for big, clearly laid out buttons.

What type of runner are you?

If you only run a few times a week you’ll get by with a fairly basic running watch. If you run just for fitness look for a digital watch that’s waterproof and has a stopwatch and lap counter. This should be enough to determine pacing and track runs.

If you’re a more serious runner, think about when and where you run, how often you run and whether speed or distance is your priority. You’ll need to choose extra features like GPS or the ability to transfer data logged on your runs to your PC.

Reliable makers of running watches include Asics, Nike, Timex and Garmin.

Tags: running