5 Best Fitness Watches for Athletes, Adventurers, and Everyday Health

5 Best Fitness Watches for Athletes, Adventurers, and Everyday Health

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Whether you’re training for a marathon, smashing your gym sessions, or just aiming to hit 10,000 steps a day, a quality fitness tracker can take your progress to the next level. With cutting-edge tech, these devices monitor your workouts, track your heart rate, analyse sleep patterns, and even offer coaching insights—all from the convenience of your wrist.

We've rounded up five of the best premium fitness tracking devices available in the UK, packed with all the metrics, features, and tech you need to stay motivated and push yourself to new limits.

Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar

★★★★ (4.4/5)
Our Thoughts (click to read)

The Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar is built for endurance and exploration. During our testing, the solar-assisted battery life was outstanding, and the robust navigation tools—including topo maps and multi-band GPS—made every outdoor adventure easier to plan and safer to execute. The rugged titanium and sapphire build, plus thoughtful extras like a built-in flashlight, made it feel like a true adventure tool. This is our go-to for multi-day treks and training sessions alike.

Feature Details
Battery Life Up to 28–37 days with solar charging (in smartwatch mode)
Display 1.4" sunlight-visible, transflective MIP touchscreen
Navigation & GPS Multiband GNSS, TopoActive maps, altimeter, compass, route planning
Smartwatch Features  Notifications, music storage, Garmin Pay, full health tracking, ECG (select)
Water Resistance  10 ATM (safe up to 100 meters)
Extras  LED flashlight, solar charging, sapphire lens, titanium bezel

Pros

  • Unique to the 7X, the LED flashlight with strobe and red-light modes is genuinely useful for nighttime safety, emergencies, and visibility during outdoor workouts.

  • Tracks VO2 max, HRV, respiration, Pulse Ox, training load, and recovery time. It also includes tools like PacePro, ClimbPro, and real-time stamina metrics.

Could Improve

  • The menu system and feature set are extensive. While powerful, it may take new users time to fully explore and customize the interface.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

★★★★★ (4.6)
Our Thoughts (click to read)

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a true powerhouse in both performance and design. We were especially impressed by its ultra-bright 3,000-nit display, lightning-fast responsiveness, and precision dual-frequency GPS. Whether we were navigating trails or managing our day-to-day, the Ultra 2 delivered seamless integration with the iPhone and stood up to every challenge. It’s the ideal smartwatch for those who want durability, smarts, and premium style in one sleek package.

Feature Details
Battery Life Up to 36 hours typical use; up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode 
Display 1.92″ LTPO OLED Retina screen, 502 × 410 pixels, up to 3,000 nits brightness 
Navigation & GPS Dual‑frequency GPS (L1 + L5) for precision tracking in urban and wilderness zones 
Smartwatch Features ECG (outside U.S. post-Jan 2024 may lack SpO₂), sleep apnea detection, notifications, music streaming, Apple Pay, Double Tap control, on-device Siri 
Water Resistance WR100 / ISO 22810: certified to 100 m and EN13319 dive-ready to 40 m 
Extras 49 mm titanium case (61 g), IP6X dust + water resistance, customizable Action button, Siren, water-temp & depth sensors, MIL‑STD‑810H rated 

Pros

  • Built with a rugged 49 mm titanium case, it features dual-frequency (L1 + L5) GPS for exceptional accuracy—even in dense urban or wilderness environments. Its durability and design are ideal for endurance sports and exploration

  • Now supports full sleep apnea detection and built-in music playback through its louder speaker—ideal for hands-free listening and health insights on the move. The speaker also aided in delivering high-quality call audio and SOS functionality

Could Improve

  • Beginning January 18, 2024, Apple removed the SpO₂ app on Ultra 2 units sold in the U.S. due to a patent dispute—this feature remains accessible only on older or international versions

Fitbit Sense 2

★★★★ (4.2/5)
Our Thoughts (click to read)

We were genuinely impressed by how well the Fitbit Sense 2 blends advanced health tracking with everyday comfort. It’s sleek, lightweight, and packed with wellness tools like continuous stress detection, ECG, and detailed sleep analysis. The long battery life meant we could wear it day and night without worry. For those focused on holistic health and mindfulness, this watch feels like a personal wellness coach on your wrist.

Feature Details
Battery Life Up to 6+ days typical use; fast charge gives 1 day in ~12 minutes
Display 1.04″ AMOLED touchscreen, always-on capable
Navigation & GPS Built-in GPS with GLONASS support for tracking runs and walks without a phone
Smartwatch Features Notifications, weather, Google Wallet, on-wrist calls; no music storage or third-party apps
Water Resistance 5 ATM (safe up to 50 meters); swimproof
Extras

ECG, stress detection (cEDA sensor), SpO₂, skin temp, sleep tracking, Fitbit Premium integration

Pros

  • Offers continuous stress monitoring (cEDA), skin temperature, ECG, SpO₂, and Daily Readiness scores—Fitbit’s most comprehensive health insights to date. Sleep scoring and readiness are viewable on‑wrist and in the app (with Fitbit Premium)

  • Delivers around 5–6 days on a single charge during typical use, with fast charging giving you a full extra day in just ~12 minutes—a major advantage over most smartwatches

Could Improve

  • Key wellness insights—like readiness and sleep profile—are only available with a paid monthly plan.

Polar Vantage V3

★★★★ (4.0/5)
Our Thoughts (click to read)

The Polar Vantage V3 struck a perfect balance between performance and polish. We loved the rich AMOLED display and found its dual-band GPS and offline maps ideal for outdoor runs and training. What stood out most was its focus on recovery—features like ECG, SpO₂, and Recovery Pro gave us deep insights into how our bodies were performing and recovering. It’s a powerful training partner that truly supports long-term athletic progress.

Feature Details
Battery Life Up to 12 days in smartwatch mode; ~47 hours in dual-frequency GPS mode
Display 1.39″ AMOLED touchscreen; bright and sharp with always-on option
Navigation & GPS Dual-frequency GNSS, offline maps, altimeter, compass, turn-by-turn guidance
Smartwatch Features Notifications, music controls, no music storage or app support
Water Resistance 5 ATM (50 meters); suitable for swimming
Extras

ECG, SpO₂, skin temperature, Recovery Pro, FitSpark training plans, Orthostatic & Sleep tracking

Pros

  • Its bright 1.39″ AMOLED touchscreen is a major upgrade over previous models, and still manages to offer strong endurance: roughly 12 days in smartwatch mode or ~47 hours in dual-band GPS use—even under heavy usage

  • Packed with sensors (ECG, SpO₂, skin temp), advanced metrics like Recovery Pro, Cardio Load, and personalized FitSpark workouts, this watch focuses on giving athletes actionable wellness insights

Could Improve

  • While it supports basic notifications and music control, there's no on-watch music storage, mobile payments, or broader third-party app functionality—especially compared to watches like Garmin and Apple

Fitbit Versa 4

★★★★ (4.2/5)
Our Thoughts (click to read)

The Fitbit Versa 4 delivered exactly what we were looking for in a lightweight fitness-focused smartwatch. With built-in GPS, reliable heart rate tracking, and a vibrant AMOLED screen, it handled workouts and daily activity with ease. We found it incredibly comfortable for all-day and night wear, and the fast charging made it a breeze to keep powered up. It’s a fantastic option for anyone wanting simple, streamlined health tracking with a stylish edge.

Feature Details
Battery Life Up to 6+ days of typical use; 1 day of charge in ~12 minutes (fast charging)
Display 1.58″ AMOLED touchscreen; bright and easy to read outdoors
Navigation & GPS Built-in GPS with GLONASS; supports pace and distance tracking without a phone
Smartwatch Features Notifications, Alexa, Google Wallet, basic weather/calendar tools; no third-party apps/music
Water Resistance 5 ATM (safe up to 50 meters); swim-friendly
Extras

Heart rate tracking, sleep stages, Active Zone Minutes, guided workouts (via Fitbit Premium)

Pros

  • Weighing around 40 g, the Versa 4 sits flush on the wrist and is praised for being nearly unnoticeable—even during sleep or exercise

  • Users consistently report up to 6 days of usage on a single charge, with fast charging adding a day’s worth of battery in just ~12 minutes—ideal for those who don’t want to charge every day

Could Improve

  • No Wi‑Fi or cellular support, and smart features are limited to notifications, Alexa, and Fitbit Pay. It feels more like a fitness tracker than a full-featured smartwatch

Overview (swipe to read):

Feature Garmin Fenix 7X Apple Watch Ultra 2 Polar Vantage V3 Fitbit Sense 2 Fitbit Versa 4
Battery Life Up to 37 days (solar) 36–72 hrs 12 days / 47 hrs GPS 6+ days 6+ days
Display 1.4" MIP 1.92" OLED 1.39" AMOLED 1.04" AMOLED 1.58" AMOLED
GPS & Navigation Multi-band, topo maps Dual-frequency, waypoints Dual-band, offline maps Built-in GPS Built-in GPS
Smart Features Notifications, Garmin Pay, music Apps, Siri, music, cellular Notifications, music control Google Wallet, Alexa Google Wallet, Alexa
Health Sensors HR, SpO₂, VO2, HRV, Pulse Ox ECG, SpO₂*, temp, sleep apnea ECG, SpO₂, temp, Recovery Pro ECG, cEDA, SpO₂, temp HR, sleep tracking
Water Resistance 10 ATM (100m) 100m, dive-rated 5 ATM (50m) 5 ATM (50m) 5 ATM (50m)
Extras Solar, flashlight, rugged build Action Button, Siren, titanium Offline maps, FitSpark Stress tracking, detailed sleep Slim, fitness-focused design
Weight ~96g ~61g ~57g ~37g ~40g
Best For Adventure & endurance athletes iPhone users & outdoor sport Recovery-focused training Wellness and mental health Everyday fitness tracking
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