Which smartwatch for which sport? Swimming, hiking, strength training & Co.

Anyone who regularly does sports, jogs, rides a bike or goes to the gym will almost certainly flirt with buying a smart sports watch. But the market for this technology is huge and the big manufacturers like Garmin, Polar, Suunto and Co. outbid each other with features. It can sometimes be difficult to find the right model for your own needs.

In this purchase guide, we therefore provide an overview of the various options for using a smartwatch and other gadgets for heart rate measurement when exercising. We also present various models that are particularly suitable for different sports – from classics such as running, hiking, swimming or triathlon to weight training and winter sports to trend sports such as golf.

Anyone who is toying with the idea of ​​buying a smart sports watch for regular training can choose from a variety of options. The focus of all common devices is the heart rate measurement, which the individual manufacturers basically implement with an optical sensor. The quality of this sensor hardly differs depending on the device and price range: In the meantime, even inexpensive fitness trackers from Huawei, Xiaomi, Honor and Co. have usable sensors for heart rate measurement in everyday life.

If you want it to be particularly accurate, you can also use a chest strap (guide). Common models from Garmin, Polar and Wahoo are available at prices in the mid double-digit range and are a useful addition to the sports watch for ambitious athletes. However, you should make sure that the respective chest strap is compatible with your own watch. Information on the website of the chest strap manufacturer will help here.

Because the sports watches (list of the best) and fitness trackers (list of the best) differ only slightly from one another in terms of heart rate measurement, the further range of features and support for the individual sports come to the fore when choosing the right device. We focus our recommendations on sports watches and chest straps because fitness trackers are often not designed for intensive training and are more aimed at casual athletes, such as occasional jogging over shorter distances. The range of functions in real sports watches is simply much larger, so that they are out of competition compared to a fitness tracker.

Basically, the optical sensor is sufficient for most amateur athletes. But if you train according to your heart rate or do frequent training sessions with a strongly changing heart rate, you should think about buying a chest strap.

The accuracy of the heart rate measurement with the chest strap is significantly higher than with the optical sensor. Some sports watches also don’t do very well when the heart rate changes quickly and frequently – for example during HIIT workouts or strength training.

Runners looking for a sports watch for regular outdoor and treadmill workouts are spoiled for choice. Every sports watch with smart functions available on the market supports at least rudimentary run tracking.

However, some models offer very helpful additional functions, such as free training plans, a calculation of the expected pace in competitions and navigation on the display, including the integration of running apps such as Strava.

Depending on your budget, we therefore recommend the following models:

Triathletes need features for cycling and swimming in addition to features that support running training. The watches that we have included in our list are therefore also suitable for athletes whose focus is exclusively on cycling or swimming. We explain more on the subject in the guide: Sports watches for swimmers.

For passionate cyclists, similar characteristics play a role as for runners. Most watches on the market offer a tracking option for outdoor cycling, but not all of them support indoor cycling. If you value this, you should inform yourself accordingly before buying.

In order for the smartwatch to be suitable for swimming, it must be waterproof. Watches that have an IPX67 or IPX68 certification will definitely survive going to the pool. If you want to dive, you should get a special diving watch, which is also recommended for surfing and other water sports where the watch is exposed to strong water pressure. The following watches are recommended for a triathlon:

Athletes who spend a lot of time outdoors have two main requirements for their smartwatch: excellent navigation options and a long battery life. The catch is that the absolute top models in this category are among the most expensive smartwatches on the market. But they also have a lot to offer.

If you are looking for a watch for long hikes and outdoor adventures, you should look for robust models that, in addition to several GPS options, have an altitude barometer, emergency functions and navigation, powerful batteries and possibly even solar support. The following devices are particularly recommended:

Traditionally, strength athletes have had a hard time in the sports watch segment. Many models do not adequately record the changing heart rates during training, which is why buying a chest strap is worthwhile. The automatic recording of replays often leaves a lot to be desired.

If you still want to record your own strength training with a sports watch, you should opt for a robust model with an unbreakable display and an option for manually tracking individual repetitions.

Some manufacturers offer sports watches that support trend sports such as golf and skiing in addition to standards such as running, cycling and hiking. Anyone looking for a watch for such activities is offered models that have their own maps for ski areas and golf courses as well as other interesting additional functions. Depending on the sport, the following watches are recommended:

If you don’t want to commit yourself to a specific sport, but are looking for a kind of jack of all trades, we also have a few recommendations. Depending on how much money you want to invest, we recommend the following models:

If you take a look around the market for smart sports watches, you will quickly find that the manufacturers outbid each other with grandiose promises and sprawling lists of features. It is all the more important to be clear in advance about what the new hardware should be able to do. Then everyone should be able to find the right model for their own needs using our list of recommendations.