7 Best Fitness Watches UK 2023

The origin of fitness watches can be traced back to the humble pedometer, and although technology has moved on massively in the last few years, step-counting remains a central function of these bits of kit.

More basic watches will focus just on steps and meeting a daily goal, but some can provide much more data: Were the steps done running or walking? How quickly were the steps completed? If you're a keen runner, you want as much detail as you can get, so you may wish to look for extra functions like these as well as the staples.

If you prefer cycling or hitting the weights to pounding the pavement, you're going to need some extra features to help track these activities and their unique movements. Fitness watches now measure an array of fitness pursuits from HIIT and cardio to yoga – so make sure your watch tracks your favourite workout. 

Most of the fitness trackers these days are waterproof, but this doesn't automatically mean that they'll be able to track your strokes. If swimming is one of your preferred types of activity, look specifically for a watch that tracks your strokes, not just one that can go in the shower or survive the rain – although this can be advantageous too!

You know that you're working hard to reach your fitness goals when you've broken a sweat, and you're a bit red in the face! Heart-rate monitors now come as standard in most fitness watches, but they do differ in their levels of analysis. If this is important to you, assessing the specs of each model to find exactly what you need is wise. 

Although some watches can give you detailed information about your heart's rhythms, it is worth noting that you shouldn't trust them entirely as they are not entirely medically accurate. 

In recent years, more of a fuss has been made about the often overlooked importance of sleep. For those who want to know whether they're getting a good eight hours of shut-eye, fitness watches now tend to offer sleep tracking as a feature. They can tell you how deeply you were sleeping and for how long, although this does mean wearing your watch overnight. 

For those keen on documenting exactly where their fitness pursuits have taken them, GPS is a must. Some watches have GPS built-in – the better option if you want to go out with just your watch – whilst others require you to connect and bring your phone along too, so pick whichever fits in with your activity style best. 

Music can provide a welcome distraction when exercising. Luckily, many watches these days can connect to wireless headphones so you can have the tunes blasting whilst bringing minimal equipment with you.  

Some fitness trackers resemble bracelets or bands more than traditional watches. These have the screen built into the strap. As a result, they look elegant and are not too imposing on your wrist, but they do often end up having a smaller screen.  

This means they are not the best option if you want to use your watch to read emails and messages, but they still perform all the basics such as tracking movement and telling the time. 

The alternative option is to go for a fitness watch that looks more like, well, a watch. They usually have a simple strap with a larger face, making it easier to see data. These appeal to those who'd prefer a watch they can match with both office wear and workout gear. 

It's also a good option if you want your watch to act as a mini phone, as they tend to have more extra features. For this reason, they are more expensive and therefore may not be within everyone's price range.