Athletes from beginners to professionals, adventure fans, active outdoor fans and travelers have a huge selection of suitable multifunctional fitness watches that can accompany users during workouts, in everyday life and, above all, when traveling and on vacation. Many smartwatch manufacturers currently have attractive multisport watch models on offer. I will introduce you to some of the best sports watches that will become a real companion on your wrist and accompany you in all situations.

Athletes, outdoor fans and active travelers have a huge selection to choose from Sports Watches available. The practical ones Wearables are available in different price ranges and numerous design versions. Which model is the best sports watch or sports smartwatch for whom is largely a matter of taste. They differ not only in the numerous sports watch functions, but above all in the price. Users can choose between watches for 30 euros and models that cost up to 1499 euros.

Consider personal preferences when purchasing

Athletes and active people must choose which variant is best suited for which needs based on their own preferences - brand, design, materials and functions ultimately determine the pricing. Basically, there are a whole range of features that a current multifunctional watch, outdoor watch or fitness watch has and that you should definitely not miss out on when purchasing one. Which model ultimately counts as one of the best sports watches and sports smartwatches is determined not only by a number of objective factors but also subjectively. 

Most sports watches become sports smartwatches

By the way: There really is a difference between the best sports watches and sports smartwatches. A sports watch often only has the sporting functions - it is used to record movement and other data. A sports smartwatch, on the other hand, is a sports watch that also offers smartwatch functions such as receiving messages or telephony. More and more sports watches now belong to the latter models. With each new model generation, however, the boundaries continue to merge.

To say it again very clearly: The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with your sports watch or sports smartwatch. The best sports watch or smartwatch for you is the one that you really like. If it's a model for 29,99 euros, great. If it's a sports watch model for 1499 euros - that's fine too. The main thing is that the Sport Smartwatch supports you in your efforts to take care of your health and in your daily sport. Maybe you should try several models to find the right one?

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Market overview of sports smartwatches - numerous high-quality, multifunctional sports watches

Multifunctional sports watches and Wearables are available for many applications. The mostly highly developed timepieces differ in appearance mainly in models that have the shape of a bracelet, in round watches and rectangular watches. A hard-wearing plastic is often used for material, which is often combined with metal applications. Some suppliers also use aluminum as a particularly light but also relatively sensitive material.

In addition, sports watches distinguish between fitness trackers, which are the simplest variant, Heart Rate Monitors, GPS watches and multifunctional sports watches. In addition, there is the category of smartwatches that offer many features that go beyond a simple multisport watch.

There are numerous overlaps between the different categories of these sports smartwatches, so that today you no longer have to decide on a specific feature, but with most top models from the most important manufacturers the most important functions are contained in one product.

The times when you wore an analog watch in the office and at home and a heart rate monitor for sports are long gone - modern fitness watches, outdoor watches and Watches for adventurers are both optically and functionally ideally suited to be worn all day long. The best sports watches and sports smartwatches are therefore available in a large number of different versions, with which you can be sure that the optimal one Model is there for you.

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Ranking - the best sports watches and sports smartwatches

The ranking reflects my personal opinion and experience about the best sports watches. I tested the models and made the ranking based on my assessment. Depending on your personal preferences and budget, there can of course be differences. So it is no wonder that the cheaper sports watches with fewer functions do worse in the ranking.

Basically, you can of course discuss such a ranking - I've seen ten different rankings of the best sports watches, each listing ten different models in different order. The respective link takes you to the sports watch test of the respective model.

Ranking	Smart watch model	Description
1.	Apple Watch Incredibly	Outstanding outdoor smartwatch with many sports functions
2.	Apple Watch Series 8	Best all-round smartwatch
3.	Apple Watch Series 7	Sport Smartwatch with precise readings
4.	Apple Watch Series 6	The Apple Watch Series 7 very similar but smaller display
5.	Samsung Galaxy Watch 4	Best all-round smartwatch for Android fans
6.	Garmin Epix 2	Garmin's top outdoor smartwatch with AMOLED and touchscreen
7.	Garmin Fenix ​​7	Similar to the Garmin Epix 2 but without the AMOLED display
8.	Suunto 9 Peak	The Suunto high-end model with an award-winning design
9.	Apple Watch SE 2	Entry-level smartwatch from Apple with fewer features than Apple Watch Series models
10.	Suunto 7	Suunto Smartwatch with AMOLED display
11.	Samsung Galaxy Watch Active	Slimmed down Galaxy Watch for athletes
12.	Garmin Quatix 6	Interesting special watch for sailors and water sports fans
13.	Garmin Fenix ​​6 Pro	Garmin's popular outdoor smartwatch in the cheaper previous version
14.	Suunto 9 Baro	Predecessor of the Suunto 9 Peak
15.	Suunto 5 Peak	Recommended entry-level model from Suunto
16.	Polar Grit	High-end model from the traditional sports watch manufacturer
17.	Garmin Venu	Mid-range Smartwatch model from Garmin with many current functions
18.	Apple Watch Series 4	older Apple Watch Model that can definitely keep up
19.	Garmin Vivoactive 4	Entry-level sports smartwatch for the price-conscious
20.	Suunto 3 Gen2	Inexpensive entry-level model from Suunto
21.	Polar Unit	Entry-level model from Polar

The best sports watches for every purpose

When it comes to choosing the right sports watch, there are a few important factors to consider. First, you should consider what sport or activity you want to use the watch for. There are now fitness watches that have been specially developed for certain sports such as running, cycling or swimming. Of course, there are also universal sports watches that are suitable for a variety of activities.

Another important factor to consider is the range of features you want from your sports watch. The most basic fitness watches only track your heart rate and steps taken, while more advanced models also include features like GPS tracking, music playback, and contactless payments.

If you're looking for a fitness watch with all the bells and whistles, make sure it has a long battery life so you don't have to charge it every day. You should also make sure that the watch is comfortable to wear even during intensive training sessions. Finally, you should consider the following when choosing your sports watch:

• Battery Life: How long does the battery last?
• Display: Is the display easy to read in all lighting conditions?
• Water resistance: Is the watch water resistant?
• Weight and comfort: Is the watch comfortable to wear even during strenuous activities?
  Now that you know what to look for, here are some of the best sports watches on the market.

Best sports watch for adventure: Suunto 9 Peak

Suunto 9 Peak is a GPS watch with an impressive battery life of up to 120 hours, making it ideal for long adventures. It features detailed topographic maps, a barometer and elevation tracker, as well as music playback and other adventure-focused features.

Best sports watch for running: Garmin Forerunner

The Garmin Forerunner is a top-of-the-line GPS running watch with a variety of features designed with runners in mind. It features detailed map display and music playback, so you can leave your phone at home while you run. The Forerunner also has a heart rate monitor, an altitude tracker and a training status indicator so that you can train even more effectively.

Best sports watch for cyclists: Garmin Edge Plus

The Garmin Edge Plus is a top-of-the-line GPS bike computer with maps, music playback and a host of other features designed with cyclists in mind. It has a large color display that is easy to read even in direct sunlight and is also compatible with the Garmin Vector power meter for even more detailed performance data.

Best sports watch for swimming: Garmin Swim

The Garmin Swim is a GPS swim watch with detailed swim metrics, music playback and many other features designed specifically for swimmers. It has a large color display that is easy to read even in direct sunlight and is also waterproof up to 50 meters.

Best sports watch for everyday use: Fitbit Versa

Fitbit Versa is a sleek and lightweight fitness watch that's comfortable to wear all day. It has a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking and music playback, as well as a host of other features that make it perfect for everyday use.

Best Sports Watch for Travelers: Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is the perfect travel companion. It has an always-on display (Series 5 and higher), integrated GPS and many other features. It also has a heart rate monitor, an EKG, blood oxygen measurement and can track your steps, distance and calories burned. And with contactless payment, you can leave your wallet at home when you're on the go.

Best sports watch for competitive athletes: Apple Watch Incredibly

The Apple Watch Ultra is the best sports watch for competitive athletes who have really high demands on their sports smartwatch. It has a durable titanium body, always-on display, integrated dual-frequency GPS and many exciting features such as an integrated dive computer to calculate your dives. It also has a heart rate monitor, an EKG, a blood oxygen measurement and can record your steps, distance and calories burned. And with the contactless payment feature, you can leave your wallet at home when you head to the competition.

Best sports watch value for money: Garmin Venu

The Garmin Venu is a great all-round sports watch at a reasonable price. It offers many features that are usually only found in more expensive models, such as B. Blood oxygen measurement, integrated GPS, music playback and a variety of health monitoring functions. It also has a stylish design that makes it perfect for everyday wear.

Whether you are a runner, cyclist, swimmer, adventurer or just looking for a fitness watch for everyday use, there is a sports watch out there that is perfect for you. With so much to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect watch for your needs.

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Sports Smartwatches – What functions do the best sports watches have?

Most current sports watches share a variety of characteristics in which the Watches-Models from different manufacturers are combined. Above all, the implementation of the functions by the various manufacturers and the functionality of the individual products are different - both on the hardware side and on the software side. In the end, it always comes down to the question: does a sports watch feature work reliably for a manufacturer or does it not work?

This can only be answered for the individual products and can also change regularly due to factors such as software updates. The most important properties of current multifunctional sports watches include heart rate measurement directly on the wrist, GPS and GLONASS for navigation, high-resolution color touchscreen display, several sports modes, barometers, motion sensors, pedometers, measurement of movement sequences and oxygen saturation. In addition, it should of course be of high quality and reliable Smartphone App are available. 

I simply assume functionalities such as reliable Bluetooth connectivity and NFC. To be one of the best sports watches, these smartwatch functions not only have to be present, but also work reliably. This is also the case with most sports watch models from established manufacturers. However, how well the interaction is often depends on the smartphone and operating system used.

We only use an iPhone and the latest iOS to synchronize with the sports watches. For installation we use a Mac computer with the latest macOS. I can't say anything about the reliability with Android devices.

Sports watch manufacturers – who has the best sports smartwatches?

Which manufacturer has the best sports watches on the market is of course not that easy to say. In our experience, the product quality and the range of functions of the models is very high with most providers. Most of the sports watch functions mentioned are available for most models from Suunto, Garmin, Polar, FitBit, Apple, Samsung and Co. available. They usually differ in design, the materials used, the software and usually have some unique selling points that distinguish them from the sports smartwatches from other manufacturers.

- Garmin

The manufacturer Garmin is one of the leading suppliers of multifunctional sports watches, outdoor watches, fitness watches and wearables that are not only for the sport at home in the fitness center, but also as Clocks traveling for adventure holiday and active holiday ideally suited. Due to its involvement in the navigation device market, the manufacturer has a great deal of know-how in the field of navigation and maps. The brand's current products such as the Fenix ​​series - such as the Garmin fenix 6X Pro, Forerunner and Vivoactive are currently among the most popular and best sports watches on the market.

- Suunto

The manufacturer Suunto from Finland is also one of the established providers of sports watches. The provider has a long tradition in heart rate monitors and Dive Watches in the form of dive computers. The Suunto sports watches are characterized not only by a great attention to detail, but also by very high quality and precision in the production "Made in Finland" and the interaction of hardware and software. We have the models so far Suunto 9 Baro (test) and Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR (Test) thoroughly checked. The manufacturer's models are among some of the best sports watches on the market.

- Polar

Polar is one of the pioneers in the field of pulse watches and fitness watches. Already in the 70er years the Finnish company developed the heart rate measurement by chest strap. I had my first Polar heart rate monitor early in the 2000 years when I was with the teenage boy Jog started. Different models of the manufacturer followed. As mentioned earlier, a heart rate monitor still worked via a connection to a chest strap, which had to be tucked in before training and was quite cumbersome connected to the watch via an early form of Bluetooth.

Polar has continuously developed its know-how. Current models of the manufacturer such as the Polar Ventage M make a terribly mature impression and contain virtually the accumulated experience of the manufacturer over the decades. The company from Scandinavia has positioned itself well on the market with the current models and is definitely the first choice for the best sports watches currently available on the market.

- Fitbit

As the name implies, this manufacturer is deeply involved in the production of high quality fitness products. These include, in particular, smartwatches for athletes, activity trackers and other fitness equipment such as digital scales as well as a sophisticated Fitbit training app. It is noteworthy that this manufacturer also differentiates between smartwatches and fitness trackers in his sports watches. We find that this is a very meaningful differentiation, which, however, (wrongly) does not only appeal to athletes. Overall, the Fitbit company has dedicated itself wholeheartedly to improving people's health and, in this context, offers very high-quality, well-engineered products.

- TomTom

TomTom, known as a manufacturer of navigation devices, has several high-quality sports watches in the program. These include GPS fitness watches, GPS running watches, multisport GPS watches, GPS golf watches and activity tracers. Especially the multisport GPS clock TomTom Adventure is for a variety of purposes such as Journeys and outdoor activities a good choice. It provides real-time information via GPS and barometer and has a built-in heart rate sensor. The design of the products of this manufacturer differs significantly from that of other suppliers and is a good opportunity for individualists to find the right sports watch model.

- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

Unlike the products of previous manufacturers, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is first and foremost a smartwatch. This means that it has a wide range of functions for communication, messaging, social media, telephony and numerous other features that characterize an intelligent digital watch.

However, it is also an unusual sports watch that really deserves this name. It has the typical fitness watch functions such as integrated heart rate measurement, GPS, use for over 90 different sports, activity trekking and even a stress measurement. This sports watch comes in many different designs for both men and women.

- Apple Watch

Last, but anything but the least: The Apple Watch is a highly developed sports watch that records all important fitness data on the wrist with its numerous sensors. When jogging with the Apple Watch, swimming (including in sea water), surfing and SUP, horse riding, traveling and many other activities, this smartwatch provides precise recording of movement data.

We have this clever sports watch in detail in the variant Apple Watch Series 4 and Apple Watch Series 3 checked. Especially for everyone who uses smartphones like the iPhone (test), Tablets like that iPad Pro (test) and mac computers already im anyway AppleMoving the cosmos, this smartwatch is of course worth a look as a sports watch.

How do I find the best sports watch or sports smartwatch for me?

The search for the best sports watch or sports smartwatch is primarily shaped by two different factors: On the one hand, quality, functionality and the benefits of the timer. On the other hand, personal preference also plays an important role. Depending on which sports watch features the user wants from the watch, he usually has a variety of products to choose from. Most current models offer very similar properties, which is probably due to the current state of the art. When looking for the best sports watch or sports smartwatch, athletes and active people should ask themselves the following questions:

• In which areas would I like to use the fitness watch?
• Do I use the Sport Smartwatch exclusively for sports or also in everyday life and when traveling?
• Which sports watch functions do I really need?
• And also a very important question: How well can the sports watch or sports smartwatch with my existing digital infrastructure like SmartphoneTo use tablet and computer?

By clarifying all of these questions for ourselves, we were able to find the perfect sports watch, fitness watch and outdoor watch for us, which we wear in everyday life, in the office, on all trips and anyway every day from morning to evening. Of course, I won't tell you which model this is, because you should make the decision for the right sports watch or sports smartwatch yourself.

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The best sports watches – tests: the right sports smartwatch for every taste?

My conclusion

Of course, there are sports watch models that are better than others. Nevertheless, everyone has to answer the question of the best sports watches for themselves. For many users, a smartwatch is the first choice as a sports watch because, in addition to the sports functions, it offers numerous other features that are useful in everyday life. The genuine sports watch manufacturers such as Garmin, Suunto and Polar are gradually on the way to giving their sports watches, fitness watches and outdoor watches numerous features beyond pure activity tracking. For me - and this is a purely subjective assessment - the best current sports watches are Apple Watch, the Garmin Fenix ​​5 Plus, the Suunto 9 and the Polar Ventage. All of these watches offer an excellent mix of high quality design and functionality.

For a watch that is intended to be worn in everyday life - for example in business - the appearance is very important. Furthermore, the user-friendliness must be outstanding and the watch must communicate smoothly with the smartphone used. The interaction with gadgets like my iPhone X must work perfectly. So in the end you are spoiled for choice as to which manufacturer you prefer and which product you prefer. For us, a sports watch is an essential part of our travel equipment and is with us on every tour. You can't go on a trip without the right holiday gadget on your wrist.

Are you planning to buy a new sports smartwatch? Which are the best sports watches for you? Let me know in the comments.