7 Best Cheap Running Watches Under $100 In 2023 – Wearholic
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We recently covered the best running watches for women that you can buy in the price bracket of $120 to $400. While researching we got our eyes on runners-centric watches for both men and women that are the cheapest options yet pack basic to moderate features.
These watches will help you in tracking your statistics and allow you to enhance your fitness level to prepare for the upcoming race in which you are participating. If you are a novice runner even then these watches can be an amazing companion for your casual runs or sprints.
In the market, you will find so many watches aimed at runners by offering basic features. Yet they are so highly priced that buying them is just a dream. Then how will you choose the right one for you which has advanced features and comes at a cheap price?
Here at Wearholic, we have performed meticulous research for the cheapest running watches that work amazingly. Based on this research we have selected 7 cheap running watches which can be an ideal choice for you.
So without further ado let us present you with our selections.
Use the links below to quickly go to the different sections of the article:
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Cheap Running Watches Comparison Table If You’re In A Hurry
IMAGE
PRODUCT
SPECIFICATIONS
VIEW ON AMAZON
Best Overall Cheap GPS Running Watch
Garmin Forerunner 35
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Dimensions: 1.40 x 0.50 x 1.60 inches
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Weight: 1.60 ounces
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Cheapest Running Watch
Timex Ironman Classic 30
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Dimensions: 8 x 1.61 x 0.55 inches
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Weight: 1.6 Ounces
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Best Battery Life With Smart Features
Amazfit Bip S
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Dimensions: 4.6 x 4.4 x 1.8 inches
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Weight: 1.09 ounces
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Top 7 Cheap Running Watches
1. Timex Ironman Classic 30 (Cheapest Running Watch)
Times Ironman Classic 30 is the cheapest basic runners watch that is available for you from such a reputed watchmaker in the world!
Features
Timex Ironman Classic 30 is a perfect choice for the runners who aim to record their lap times and total time spent on the workout.
On this watch, you will get a 100-hour chronograph that will record data of up to 30 laps with split times. Based on the data you can train to break your previous lap times in order to be a better runner.
As it is a sports-centric watch it comes with 100-meter water-resistant because of which skipping a run due to rain will not be a valid reason! Moreover, if you like to swim you can take advantage of the 30 laps memory to keep track of your laps in the pool.
Look and Feel
The best part about Ironman Classic 30 is the display. As it has a black background on an analog display, the visibility will be excellent in outdoor conditions. Therefore, while running the display will be very bright and your current lap status can be easily seen.
Timex Ironman Classic 30 comes in a variety of amazing-looking colors, therefore, selecting one with your workout outfit will be very easy. The watch strap is made up of Resin material that is quite rugged and is very lightweight. Because of which the overall watch weighs only 1.6 ounces (45.35 grams).
Device Compatibility: Works independently (No Smartphone Required)
The Good
The Bad
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2. Timex Ironman Sleek 150 ( Garmin Forerunner 35 On A Budget)
Timex Ironman Sleek 150 can be an ideal choice for an avid runner or a beginner who wants to step up their running capabilities!
Features
Unlike Ironman 30, Ironman Sleek 150 packs numerous other running-related features. To start with, it can record 150 laps worth of data including split times, which is 120 more than Ironman Classic 30! Moreover, it comes with TapScreen technology.
With TapScreen technology, you can tap on any part of the display to input the details of the lap. It will help you in recording your lap time quickly compared to pressing the physical button on the center of Ironman 30.
Before going for a run you need to provide a few things like your target pace, range of the lap, and kilometers. After completing a lap, tapping any part of the screen will let you know about your progress via 3 types of tones.
If you are going as per your target range the watch will beep once. It will beep slowly if you are going slow or beep fast if you are going beyond your targeted pace. With the TapScreen feature, Ironman Sleek 150 will help you in maintaining your pace so that you achieve your lap goals.
To take your training to the next level, Sleek 150 has offered 2 interval training modes, hydration/nutrition alerts based on your current workout. Those alerts will help you to recover so that you remain injury-free and can perform even better than the previous workout.
Just like Ironman 30, Sleek 150 also comes equipped with water-resistant (up to 100 meters) for your weekend swimming pool visits!
Look and Feel
Timex Ironman Sleek 150 is an oversize analog watch having a Dot matrix display that is big and bright. The icons on the watch are quite large that will enhance your viewing experience.
The overall construction of the Ironman Sleek 150 is made up of Resin that makes the watch lightweight (2.08 ounces) as well as quite durable. On the strap, you will find multiple holes on which finding a spot that is comfortable for your wrist will be easy.
Device Compatibility: Works independently (No Smartphone Required)
The Good
The Bad
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3. Garmin Forerunner 35 ( The Ideal Choice For A Runner)
If you are an avid runner or a beginner you must have heard that Garmin watches set the bar when it comes to running watches. In our case, because of many reasons, Garmin Forerunner 35 is the best cheap runners watch in our list. Here’s why!
Features
Garmin Forerunner 35 can be an ideal choice for the runners because it has an inbuilt GPS sensor that will collect precise stats of your steps, calories burnt, pace, distance covered, etc. making it one of the best cheap GPS running watches. Along with that, the smartwatch brings quite advanced features for the avid runners like a manual lap, auto lap, auto pause, interval training, cadence, hydration, sleep, etc, to name a few.
A unique feature bought on the table by Garmin is VO2 max. With this feature, your watch will be able to monitor how much oxygen your body can consume while your heart is performing at its peak level. With the help of the data, you can get to know as a runner how much progress you have achieved with your training.
Unlike both the watches that were discussed above, Garmin Forerunner 35 is a smartwatch. It can connect with your smartphone (Android phone or Apple iPhone ) and provide you with alerts like messages, social media updates, music controls (Android only), and what not!
Forerunner 35 is also the first watch on the list that has a heart rate monitor. This smartwatch can keep track of your heart rate 24*7 or till the time it’s on your wrist! It is quite important as it can tell you about your heart condition that you might not be knowing about.
For the women runners out there, Garmin Forerunner 35 can take care of your health. You can log the data about your menstrual cycle and current symptoms. Based on that information, this watch will provide you with a few tips and workouts for relieving the pain.
Look and Feel
Garmin Forerunner 35 has a 0.9-inch monochrome display that is quite bright and you will have no issues with it even under direct sunlight.
With such never-ending sensors and features, this watch still manages to be the most lightweight running watch out of all the watches on our list at just around 1.60 ounces.
The material of the strap/band is silicon that can easily be washed and cleaned with water, without damaging the watch.
App Required: Garmin Connect (free)
Device Compatibility: Android (4.4 or above) iOS (10.0 or above)
The Good
The Bad
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4. Amazfit Bip S (Best Cheapest GPS Running Smartwatch)
Amazfit Bip S is a sequel to the most popular Amazfit Bip smartwatch. The primary reason for its success was the price to feature ratio. Now with Amazfit Bip S things are even improved further.
Features
Amazfit Bip S packs quite a few running features though not much like Garmin Forerunner 35. This watch monitors stats like pace, distance covered, location, calories burnt, and many more things. As this tech wearable comes equipped with internal GPS as well as GLONASS, the data recorded will be fairly accurate.
Once the workout is synced on your smartphone you will get to know other important things like average speed, cadence, VO2 max, anaerobic activity, aerobic activity, etc.
If you plan on taking this smartwatch for swimming then you’ll be happy to know that it is 50 meters water-resistant so it will not be an issue. In water, tracking of statistics like stroke rate, stroke times, SWOLF index, laps performed in the pool can be monitored.
Amazfit Bip S is a smartwatch that is capable of providing notifications like emails, messages, Facebook, weather forecasts, etc. directly on your wrist!
Just like Forerunner 35, Amazfit Bip S also features a heart rate monitor that will keep track of your health condition and the changes that are taking place while you are working out. However, it misses on women’s health features.
All features will be available on your wrist with just 2.5 hours of charging that will power the smartwatch for the next 40 days with basic usage.
So if you are looking for a cheap running smartwatch with long battery life, then Amazfit Bip S can be your choice.
Look and Feel
Amazfit Bip S features a 1.28-inch touch screen display. The display is bright and visibility will not be a problem. On top of it, the smartwatch features an always-on display that will come in handy when you want to see your current statistics while running!
Amazfit Bip S is just 1.093 ounces in weight making it very light on your wrist. It has a slim body structure that will look good even if you have a small wrist.
App Required: Xiaomi MiFit App (Free)
Device Support: Android (5.0 or above) iOS (10 or above)
The Good
The Bad
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5. Letsfit ID215G
Letsfit smartwatches are great competition for the Amazfit smartwatches. If we talk about features, Letsfit sprinkles a little more making it a better deal!
Features
Letsfit ID215G is the cheapest watch on our list that has an in-built GPS tracker and a compass, that actually works. Because of which all the basic running-related statistics like pace, distance, steps count, constant heart rate, calories burnt, etc are monitored. All the processed data then can be synced to Google Fit app as well as Strava.
Most of the budget-oriented running watches come quipped with heartrate monitoring. However, on Letsfit ID215G you additionally get support for monitoring Blood Oxygen Saturation (spO2). With this feature, the smartwatch can monitor the current oxygen level in your blood and will let you know how fit you are at the current point of time.
The smartwatch features multiple workouts like indoor walking, indoor running, outdoor walking, outdoor running, and some other modes that can track your activities.
Letsfit ID215G smartwatch is 50 meters water-resistant, making it capable of monitoring swimming activities like laps, SWOFL, heart rate, calorie burnt with some other relevant information.
Along with all the running and fitness-related features, it also brings a few smart features as well. Letsfit ID215G will provide you with all your alerts like text messages, Facebook notifications, call alerts, weather updates, etc.
Look and Feel
This smartwatch offers a vivid 1.1-inch touchscreen display. On the screen, you will find Gorilla Glass protection that will prevent the watch from getting scratched easily.
Letsfit ID215G weighs only 1.7 ounces that make the watch quite light and will be great for the runners with a dainty wrist.
App required: VeryFitPro App (Free)
Device Support: Android (4.4 or above) iOS (9 or above)
The Good
The Bad
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6. Casio G-7700 (All-Terrain Rugged Runners Watch)
When we talk about the Timex Ironman watches, how can we forget about the iconic G-SHOCK watches from Casio!
Features
With Casio G-7700 you can utilize the auto lap, lap memories, interval training, countdown timer, and the list goes on! Once you are going for a run, with the auto start function the watch will display reverse counting from 5 to 1 so that you can prepare for the run, unlike other watches that start the timer as soon as you press it.
Unlike other watches, on this G-SHOCK, you will get to know the lap time as well as the lap count. Moreover, the fastest lap you have performed is shown so that you can always work upon yourself to beat your best lap score!
This is the only watch on our list that has water-resistant up to 200 meters. So be rest assured it will not disappoint you even if it rains heavily or while you are performing a recreational scuba diving session. With this watch, it is safe to say that you are covered with all the water activities.
Look and Feel
Casio G-7700 is an oversize runner watch that has a rugged body all around. The construction is made up of resin material that is light but very tough. On the front of the display, you will find mineral glass that is quite strong and can take a lot of incidents to get scratched/brake.
Underneath the glass, you will find a bright digital display that will illuminate light upon pressing the G button on the bottom.
If a watch has a rugged body structure it is quite logical to think that the product will be quite heavy. However, you will be surprised to know that Casio G-7700 only weighs 2.0 ounces that makes it similar to Timex Ironman Sleek 150!
It’s a big watch but has a smaller face so it will be appropriate for a slim wrist to a medium wrist user.
Device Compatibility: Works independently (No Smartphone Required)
The Good
The Bad
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7. FITVII V12C (Best Of Both Worlds)
FITVII V12C is an ideal choice for a new runner who aims to track workout statistics and take care of business/office chores.
Features
This smartwatch comes equipped with all-day activity tracking for your runs, walks, indoor treadmills, etc. It can keep track of the basic statistics like steps, calories burnt, average heart rate, distance, pace, etc. for your workouts.
Unlike some smartwatches that offer more features but fail to track the basics accurately. That’s not the case with FITVII V12C.
It takes advantage of the modern nordic nRF52832 processor that lets the smartwatch monitor the statistics accurately even though it lacks a GPS tracker. So if you are one of those runners who aim to receive a reliable matrix for their workouts, then FITVII V12C can be in your consideration.
Most of the smartwatches offer a standard heart rate monitoring system but on FITVII V12C, besides the heart rate tracker you also get blood pressure monitoring.
With heart rate and blood pressure monitoring, you can have a better look at your current health status. Moreover, if you have health problems or they occur in the future you will get to know them before it’s too late.
In this price range, most of the manufacturers skimp on women’s health tracking features. FITVII V12C has done its homework and made a strong ground for all the women who would like to have access to such useful features.
Look and Feel
On the front, the smartwatch has a 1.3 inch LCD display that is moderately bright and has overall large icons making it pleasing to the eyes. The watch doesn’t have a Gorilla Glass however it features anti-scratch protection that will prevent the watch from getting scratches easily.
The watch offers a TPE material strap/band due to which the smartwatch is lightweight (1.76 ounces) and is pretty durable. Looks are subjective but to us, we think it is the ideal looking smartwatch in our list that will cater to your personal as well as corporate life with ease.
App required: morePro App (Free)
Device Compatibility: Android (4.4 or above) Apple (iOS 9.0 or above)
The Good
The Bad
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Which Cheap Runners Watch Should You Grab?
If you are an avid runner, you can go with Forerunner 35 without a doubt. It packs all the necessary features like a manual lap, auto lap, auto pause, interval training, VO2 max, and so on. Moreover, Garmin Forerunner 35 is the best cheapest runner watch on our list, because of such practical features.
Are you one of those runners who don’t rely on the stats recorded by watches, rather you prefer to have just lap counts and total time? If yes, then there’s nothing better than Timex Ironman Sleek 150 or Casio G 7700 series.
Both the watches are head to head in terms of features. Ironman Sleek 150 has a TapScreen technology that allows the runner to tap the screen to input the lap details and get to know the lap range results. This feature gives it an edge over Timex Ironman Sleek 150.
On the other hand, G- SHOCK has an auto-start feature that gives a 5 seconds timer before starting the race. So it all comes to your preference what will you choose between a pace reminder or a 5 seconds lead.
Do you need a touch screen smartwatch that has most of the running-related features with a reliable in-built GPS? If yes, then Amazfit Bip S is the choice for you.
If syncing your workouts with a 3rd party app like Strava is your priority then Garmin Forerunner 35 and Letsfit ID215G are your only choices from our list.
For the women runners out there who aim at having a watch that can also take care of their health then Garmin Forerunner 35 or FITVII V12C are the two options that take women’s health seriously.
If you are a beginner or an avid runner, all the watches above will be appropriate for you. As sooner or later you will be demanding those features to monitor and to train yourself better.
Cheap Runners Watch Buying Guide That No One Will Tell You!
There are hundreds of running smartwatches that are available in the market. While we were researching there were multiple watches that impressed us. However, we narrowed the list down to a minimum of 7 watches. Those watches that we removed had a great potential of being on the list. However, on the basis of our requirements, we selected the above-mentioned watches.
Just like we had our requirements you must be having the same checklist with you so that when you’re ready to buy your tech wearable, your homework should speak for itself!
Below you will find a few suggestions that you should check out before making a choice and clicking the buy now button!
“No product is perfect” with this principle a runner’s watch having all the features below is not feasible. So if your favorite running watch even has half of the features then don’t hesitate in buying the watch.
1. Lightweight
Except for the engine, what makes a sportscar faster? It’s weight! When you are running wearing a heavy diamond engraved watch will hinder your hand movement meaning lesser aerodynamics, resulting in higher lap times.
So to increase your chance of winning the race, you should always check out the weight of the smartwatch before buying it. Keep in mind, the lighter the watch the better you’ll perform.
2. GPS And Sensors
Yes! You read it just fine, there are various running watches available under $100 that have inbuilt GPS. In fact, some of them are covered above.
Just like that, don’t settle for a watch that just has heart rate monitoring. There are few watches mentioned above that even offer Blood Oxygen Saturation (spO2), Blood pressure monitoring, etc.
So it’s better to update your checklist for the next runners watch you are aiming at.
3. Battery
You will come across multiple watches that claim a month of battery backup. It can be true but only for those watches that don’t have inbuilt GPS or other battery-consuming sensors.
Battery and GPS-based workouts don’t go hand in hand so if your usage demands more power then the battery drain is inescapable.
Therefore a running watch that can last you a working day with all the heart rate monitoring, running workouts, etc is considered good. For a watch that doesn’t offer in-built GPS then expect battery backup between 3 to 5 days.
4. Check Out The Basics
Some manufactures are very smart. They tend to lure buyers by offering features that sound cool and useful, however, they look good on papers only. Reason for saying that is some watches cover up with features but lacks when you’ll talk about running and fitness.
So before finalizing a watch make sure it meets your running requirements and then look out for smart features on offer. If the watch offers both i.e. running as well as smart features then the deal is even better for you.
5. Protection On Offer
Would you like a runner’s watch that is delicate and can break in a single fall? A watch that is targeted towards the runners must take factor-like protection in mind.
Some watches provide Gorilla Glass protection that prevents the watch from getting scratches. Few brands use mineral glass that is considered to be quite tough and resistant to scratches.
Even manufacturers have started making rugged watches with stainless steel and Resin material construction. Their only purpose is to withstand the bad tarmac conditions.
So before buying, do check out the protection offered for the particular runners watch you’re looking to buy. Because if it is broken it’s of no use.
FAQs
Which is the cheapest GPS watch?
Letsfit ID215G is the cheapest GPS watch that you can buy.
How do I choose a running watch?
There are many factors for it. It should be lightweight, must have an Inbuilt-GPS sensor, etc.
What’s the best smartwatch for running?
In the below $100 category, Garmin Forerunner 35 is the ideal choice for runners.
Best cheap running watches with Strava?
Garmin Forerunner 35 and Letsfit ID215G can sync data with Strava.
Cheap running watch for beginners?
Timex Ironman Classic 30 is a great choice for beginners.
Do I really need a GPS running watch?
If tracking accurate statistics for your workout matters to you, then yes.
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