In a smartwatch market mainly geared towards men, some brands have recognized that a sports watch for women has to have more than a stylish band. Today, we’ll be discussing the best sports watches for women.
The biggest players in the industry now equip their wearables with feminine health features, including menstrual cycle and fertility metrics.
Alongside other sports profiles, those features are a few of the essentials in a good woman’s sports watch – though the looks matter too. So if you’re looking for a sports watch that performs in the gym and goes well with your little black dress, have a look at the eleven picks below.
Garmin Forerunner 55
Any list of sports watches for women is likely to start with Garmin. If you’re new to running, the Garmin Forerunner 55 could be perfect for you. In terms of design, it’s almost identical to the 45; however, instead of a touchscreen, there are 5 buttons that are used to navigate. Don’t be put off by this, though; they are easy to use and carefully labeled to avoid any confusion during a run.
A new addition to this device is the feminine health features, including menstrual cycle tracking via the Garmin Connect app. You can log in physical and emotional symptoms, set period reminders, and even access training and nutrition advice for each phase of your cycle.
Made for daily wear, the Forerunner 55 is lightweight and comfortable and is designed to be worn 24/7. It’s water-resistant to 5 ATM and has a variety of watch faces to choose from.
As with all Garmin watches, the superb accuracy of the GPS is what sets it apart, especially for runners. One handy new feature is the suggested workouts; these are based on your previous activity to become more tailored the longer you use the Watch. They can help you mix up your workouts and ensure you are getting enough variety and rest. Even as an entry-level sports watch, the safety features are excellent. Incident detection will alert an emergency contact, and Live Track allows a contact to follow your location in real-time.
Additional features include heart rate monitor and daily body battery that are presented as a progress bar so you can quickly see how close you are to your step goal or how close you are to needing to rest. The 55 can track sleep; however, you can’t check your stats on the actual Watch. Instead, you will need to use the companion app on your phone. And, of course, we have already mentioned women’s health tracking.
Main Advantages
- Customisable watch faces
- Workout suggestions
- Safety features
- Long battery life
- Accurate GPS
Main Disadvantages
- Unable to check sleep stats on the watch
- Relatively low screen res
- Easy-to-use running watch monitors heart rate (this is not a medical device) at the wrist and uses...
- Take the guesswork out of training with suggested workouts of varying intensities based on your...
- Plan your race day strategy with the PacePro feature (not compatible with on-device courses), which...
Apple Watch SE
If you’re looking for a sophisticated fitness device, this is not it. However, if you are looking for a well-priced smartwatch with excellent features and adequate fitness tracking, this may well be the Watch for you.
The Apple Watch SE is a mid-price edition to the Apple Watch range yet still has the “headline” features you need. Customizable faces and complications, fall detection, heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and always-on altimeter are just some to mention.
As always with the Apple Watch, there isn’t much to say about the design. It has stayed pretty much the same since the Series 3. However, the fitness and health features are pretty impressive. On the face of it (quite literally), the information provided looks quite basic. Still, as you look around the iPhone apps, you can find much more valuable information from average walking/running rates, V02 data, and more. It doesn’t compete with the major sports watches such as Garmin or Suunto, but you wouldn’t be buying it if you wanted that level of data.
The smartwatch features are what you expect with any Apple Watch, access to notifications, make and receive calls, and Siri is also on board.
Two things missing from the SE are the ECG (available on all Apple Watches since the Series 4) and the blood oxygen sensor. These was reserved for the Series 6, released simultaneously. While we don’t think these have to be deal-breakers, it is worth noting them.
Main Advantages
- Highly customisable
- Good fitness and health features for beginners
- Comfortable design
Main Disadvantages
- Battery life (as with all Apple Watches)
- No always-on screen
- No ECG or Blood Oxygen Sensor
- Take calls and reply to texts, right from your wrist
- Track your daily activity on Apple Watch, and see your trends in the Fitness app on iPhone
- Track new tai chi and pilates workouts, in addition to favorites like running, yoga, swimming, and...
Garmin Vivoactive Luxe
The Vivomove Luxe marks Garmin’s first step into the realm of luxury watches, away from the traditional sports watch.
Fossil has a more established position in this sector, has tried to find a happy medium with its own hybrid smartwatches, but many of them have failed to excite. On the other hand, Garmin approaches the hybrid market differently to Fossil, with a more traditional-looking timepiece on top of a fitness base.
The Luxe is available in 42mm casings, although it comes in silver, gold, and rose gold. Most have a leather band; however, two are more costly and feature a Milanese strap.
The Vivomove Luxe’s displays are concealed beneath the clock. This has two advantages: it allows the Watch to display more information than a single complication screen would, and it will enable the displays to be switched off when not in use.
Swipe left and right to browse your widgets, swipe down to access Garmin Pay, and press and hold to open the activities menu.
Keep in touch with intelligent alerts for calls, texts, calendar views, and more (with a compatible smartphone). With pulse Ox, you can monitor your health 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Main Advantages
- Design aimed at women
- Excellent fitness tracking from a well-known sports watch brand
- Multiple sport modes
Main Disadvantages
- No built-in GPS
- Not as many heatlth and fitness features as traditional Garmin devices
- Elegant hybrid smartwatch with a sophisticated analog look and advanced smart features including...
- Features domed sapphire crystal lens and stainless Steel watch case; choose from Italian Leather or...
- Stay connected with smart notifications for incoming calls, text messages, calendar view and more...
Fitbit Sense
Fitbit is another brand synonymous with sports watches for women. Fitbit’s Sense wristwatch, which is packed with sophisticated health sensors for stress, heart rate, and ECG and packaged in a clean and compact packaging, is an effort to challenge the Apple Watch’s supremacy.
It’s Fitbit’s flagship model, costing about $300, and sits above the Versa 3, which is basically the same wristwatch without the sophisticated sensors, as well as a lower-cost range of activity trackers.
The Watch is one of the tiniest smartwatches on the market, measuring 40.5mm wide and 12.35mm thick. The 1.58-inch OLED display is brilliant and is encased in a polished stainless steel bezel that houses the sensor’s electrical connections. The remainder of the body is made of aluminum.
The Sense comes with two silicone strap sizes that snap into the unique quick-release holes on the rear. The screen may be configured to always display the time and other info or light up when you turn your wrist or touch the side button. You can download hundreds of watch faces from Fitbit and third-party developers using the Fitbit app via a smartphone.
Main Advantages
- Most advanced Fitbit device to date
- Alexa compatible
- Supports third party apps
Main Disadvantages
- Buttonless design takes getting used to
- EDA Scan app detects electrodermal activity which may indicate your body's response to stress and a...
- Assess your heart for atrial fibrillation –a heart rhythm irregularity- and easily share results...
- An on-wrist skin temperature sensor tracks yours each night so you can see how it varies. You can...
Fitbit Charge 4
Straddling the line between the slimmer Inspire and performance Ionic, the Fitbit Charge 4 are excellent sports watches for women. It doesn’t have built-in GPS, but it can pair with your phone’s GPS to provide accurate outdoor workout tracking.
A 24/7 heart rate and sleep monitoring sensor determine your overall fitness levels. Breathing tips help reduce stress, while a wealth of preloaded workouts allow you to track athletic performance regardless of the sport you practice.
The female health tracking feature is similar to Garmin’s; you can use it to monitor your menstrual cycle as well as ovulation and fertility windows. While the Fitbit App dashboard lets you set goals, find inspiration, and even connect with your friends.
The Charge 4 sports a sensitive touchscreen display and an easy-to-read high-resolution screen. Smartphone notifications and wireless payments are other highlights.
Designed to fit all wrists, it comes in two size options with swappable bands and up to seven days of battery life – all at a very attractive price.
Main Advantages
- Dedicated female health features
- Slim, feminine design
- Excellent fitness tracking capabilities
- Automatic exercise recognition
Main Disadvantages
- No built-in GPS
- It is not fully compatible with iOS
- Use built-in GPS to see your pace and distance on screen during outdoor runs, rides, hikes and more...
- With Active Zone Minutes, feel a buzz when you reach your target heart rate zones during exercise,...
- Use 24x7 heart rate to track resting heart rate & better measure calorie burn. Syncing to mobile...
Apple Watch 6
The Apple Watch is still one of the best wearables available. A new prominent feature is the blood oxygen monitor. Inside the Watch is a blood oxygen sensor, as well as new colors and a more efficient S6 processor. In sunny circumstances, it’s also touted to offer a brighter display. In addition, the gradual improvements in battery life and display are appreciated.
The remainder of the Watch 6’s new functions, such as sleep monitoring, hand-wash tracking, and new clasp-free bands, will be accessible to previous Apple Watches as well.
On the exterior, the Apple Watch 6 maintains the same appearance as previous versions, with a rounded metal shell and a square display that gracefully bends into the device. The new blue and red, as well as the latest colors and patterns, are intriguing.
The display, which uses OLED technology, is as vivid and crisp as ever – we didn’t detect any additional light outdoors, despite Apple’s promises. Still, we never struggled to see the display due to the rich colors and excellent contrast ratios.
More intriguing is Apple’s new Fitness Plus program, which allows Watch users to engage with fitness exercises wherever they are – and every new Apple Watch comes with three months of free workouts to test out.
The Apple Watch 6 has a lot of excellent features as a general fitness tracker – amazing activity tracking, strong monitoring and incentive to remain active, a broad variety of monitored activities.
The battery life on the Apple Watch 6 is odd, as it always is. Able to go much longer between charges than the stated 18 hours, averaging about 28-30 hours before having to go for the charging cord.
However, it isn’t long enough for what this Watch is capable of. You now have another important statistic to help you stay on top of your health with the addition of sleep monitoring.
Main Advantages
- Large, crisp display
- High and low heart rate detection
- Fall detection with SOS trigger
- Extremely responsive
- Electrocardiogram feature
Main Disadvantages
- Short battery life
- Limited style choices
- Quite expensive
- GPS + Cellular model lets you call, text, and get directions without your phone
- Measure your blood oxygen with an all-new sensor and app
- Check your heart rhythm with the ECG app
Suunto 3 Fitness
Casual fitness fans who want a sporty, more masculine-looking watch might like the Suunto 3 Fitness, which has something of the allure of Garmin’s Forerunner 935.
Capable of improving your general fitness, this Watch is more than a fitness tracker. You’ll get the usual cycling, running, and walking, but the Suunto 3 Fitness focuses on helping you improve performance based on your personal metrics.
Its best features are the heart-rate powered adaptive training and recovery advice that shows you the stress your body is under in real-time. These features help you get the most out of your workout and are often more helpful than a preloaded sports profile.
In terms of style, it’s sleeker than other Suunto watches. It looks great on most wrists and pairs well with gym and casual attire. There’s no doubt that it’s a great smartwatch if you’re looking for an affordable, goal-oriented device.
Main Advantages
- Slim and lightweight profile
- Adaptive training plans
- Good battery life
- Smart notifications on the wrist
Main Disadvantages
- No GPS
- Sync features may fail sometimes
- Suunto 3: This fitness tracker sports watch accurately tracks steps, exercise, stress, and recovery;...
- A Life In Balance: This fitness watch delivers a holistic view of your daily activity, including...
- Get Connected: Connect to your favorite sports apps and services from the Suunto app to get more...
Suunto 7
The Suunto 7 is suitable for wearing daily. It’s also a loyal friend for adventures. If you’re into doing sports every single day, this is the perfect Watch for you. It offers over 70 sport modes, a heart rate monitor, and a GPS mode. It gives the user a unique sports experience. It’ll accurately analyze all your training.
It works on Wear OS, and so it’ll deliver your important notifications without being connected to your smartphone.
It’s a great unisex watch with many custom options. There are a lot of handy options for both sports and daily use. You can, of course, also use your favorite apps with it too. It comes with smartwatch features that are mostly compatible with Android (being a Wear OS device). These include contactless payment.
You can enjoy convenient access to offline outdoor maps that work with Strava and Endomondo.
As for the design, it’s robust. It’s 50mm x 50mm x 15.3mm and is made of steel with a silicone strap. It has a high-res touchscreen that scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass protects. The battery life lasts up to 48 hours in smartwatch mode or 12 hours in GPS mode. It has a 50ATM water-resistance rating.
Main Advantages
- Robust watch for active women
- Decent water-resistance for surface-level swimming
Main Disadvantages
- More heavy set than other Suunto versions
- Better options for longer battery life
- Suunto 7: This versatile smart watch combines Suunto's sports expertise with smartwatch technology;...
- Make Life Easier: Compatible with Android and iOS phones, the Suunto 7 is powered by Wear OS by...
- Get Connected: Connect to your favorite sports apps and services from the Suunto app to get more...
Apple Watch 7
The long-awaited Apple Watch Series 7 is here, and it’s a great investment if you’re looking for a sports watch that can do it all.
Apple’s new Series 7 model can measure blood oxygen and ECGs anywhere. This state-of-the-art technology is ideal for anyone who wants to keep up on their fitness metrics to meet their health goals. You can also use the activity tracker tools to connect with friends and boost each other’s motivations.
The Apple Watch is built to endure stress. There’s no need to worry about taking it out with you. The new design is built from strong crystals to make it more crack-resistant than ever. It’s also dust-resistant and water-resistant/swim-proof. Take it on the go without worry.
The Watch also features five new aluminum colors, including green, blue, red, starlight, and midnight. Customize your Watch to match your style! The Apple Watch 7 features a sleek, lightweight design that fans love. If you want minimalist style sports watch instead of a bulky traditional design, the Apple Watch 7 is for you.
With a new and improved display, this Watch gives you a brighter screen that’s easier to work with. Using a smartwatch on the go can be difficult, but Apple has made sure their new Watch is easy to read and type on. If you like running or working out with a smartwatch, these new features make your life easier.
Main Advantages
- A larger and brighter screen
- More colors to choose from
- 33% faster charging
Main Disadvantages
- Needs a longer battery life
- Workouts are basic
- A more expensive option
Read our full review of the Apple Watch 7 here.
- Stay connected to family and friends with calls, texts, and email, even when you don’t have your...
- Stream music, podcasts, and audiobooks on the go, and leave your phone at home
- Set up and manage Apple Watch for each family member, right from your iPhone, with Family Setup
Galaxy Watch 4
The Galaxy Watch 4 is a new smartwatch that users love. While this watch isn’t always thought of as a sports watch, it has many sports-based features and health and fitness trackers.
The sports features of this Watch include dedicated activity tracking that includes active minutes, step dunts, and calories burned too. This feature has real-time notifications to give you advice on the best way to exercise. Whether you need to take a rest day or you’re ready for an intense workout, this Watch has got your back. These notifications include inactivity warnings to motivate you to get up and move every day.
With the help of the Samsung Health app, the Galaxy Watch 4 also measures the wearer’s bloody oxygen levels. If you want high-quality health metrics to compliment your sports routine, this is a great feature to look for.
The Galaxy Watch 4 also allows users to switch between specialized sports modes to optimize their workout. These sports modes include cycling, running, pool swimming, and rowing. IF you connect your phone, you can access more training modes like a running coach.
Other exciting Galaxy Watch 4 features include the ability to stream music, a 220 pixels per inch display, access to the Google Play Store, and more.
Main Advantages:
- Lots of fitness and sports modes to choose from.
- Accurate data tracking to help boost the user’s fitness.
- Sleek and aesthetic design.
Main Disadvantages
- A more expensive option.
- Could have more sports modes.
- Get ready to crush your wellness goals with body readings right on your wrist.
- Better Sleep Starts Here: Wake up feeling refreshed and recharged with advanced sleep tracking; When...
- Be Smart About Your Heart: Take care of your heart with accurate ECG monitoring and keep an eye on...
Fitbit Charge 5
When it comes to sports watches, Fitbit is one of the best on the market. Their latest Watch, the Charge 5, is already extremely popular with new and longtime users. But is it the right sports watch for you?
This is currently Fitbit’s most advanced health and fitness tracker. With an on-wrist ECG app and stress management tools, this is an advanced watch ready to help you get healthier. The Watch comes in one size and offers three color choices. Choose from black, lunar white, and steel blue when you get a Charge 5 fitness watch.
One of the key fitness features of the Fitbit Charge 5 is the Daily Readiness score. This is a personalized score based on data insights from the sleep, exercise, and heart rate variability sensors. From this information, the Watch can formulate whether you’re ready to work out or need to take a recovery day. This will revolutionize your fitness routine, and you’ll be feeling better than ever too.
Other health metrics included on the Charge 5 are blood oxygen trackers (SpO2 levels), breathing rates, and heart rate variability sensors. Use these health trackers to improve your workout routine and get in tune with your body.
Main Advantages:
- Fitbit specializes in sports watches
- Includes Daily Readiness information
- Great range of health trackers
Main Disadvantages
- Users need to sign up for a Fitbit app membership to use many features
Explore our review of Charge 5 here.
- Optimize your workout routine with a Daily Readiness Score that reveals if you’re ready to...
- Get a daily Stress Management Score showing your body’s response to stress and take steps to...
- With the Health Metrics dashboard, track SpO2, heart rate variability, skin temperature variation...
So what are the best sports watches for women?
The smartwatch and fitness trackers market might be geared towards men, but there is also a wealth of capable sports watches for women you can choose from. Whether you want to focus on style, fitness tracking features, or trends, I hope the four choices above inspired you.
So, what do you say? Did you find the right sports watch in the list above? Tell me in a comment below; I’d love to hear from you.
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Last Updated on November 17, 2021
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