Gold’s Gym Picks: Sports Watches for Men 

The advances in fitness wear over the past decade have helped gym enthusiasts take their workouts to the next level. One of the most exciting pieces of equipment that has been a huge game changer is sports watches. A quality sports watch can help track progress, ensure that your body is safe, and provide extra motivation.

As you look for the best sports watches for men, take a moment to check out our top four recommendations.

Garmin Forerunner 965

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is one of our favorite sports watches. It’s packed full of helpful features to aid you in leveling up your workouts and looks stylish enough to keep up with watches that aren’t designed with fitness in mind. Below, you can find a breakdown of what the Garmin Forerunner 965 offers to fitness enthusiasts:

• Tracking features: Heart rate tracking, VO2 measuring, and recovery suggestions. It also features a highly accurate GPS for outdoor activities and detailed step tracking.
• Durability: Premier durability, as the watch is lightweight yet tough.
• Battery life: Up to 23 days in smartwatch mode and 31 hours with GPS on.
• Cost: $600
• Ideal For: Running and biking enthusiasts looking for a premier fitness watch experience and want to closely track progress and recovery.
• Impact on Fitness: The VO2 max insights on the Garmin Forerunner 965 are ideal for those focused on aerobic training, while the heart rate and recovery metrics help prevent burnout. The GPS functions on the watch are perfect for runners and bikers who are really looking to dig deep into their routes and measure their progress. 

The Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is perfect for folks who want a high-quality fitness watch with a user-friendly interface. Apple Ultras are perfect for men who own an iPhone or other pieces of Apple technology, as your watch will connect seamlessly to other Apple devices and let you monitor your progress across the different devices you use every day. Check out the following top Apple Watch Ultra 2 features: 

• Tracking features: Monitors heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen, sleep tracking, and fall detection. It also offers detailed tracking across workout types, plus goal-setting and health notifications.
• Durability: Enhanced toughness with water resistance up to 100 meters and improved impact resistance.
• Battery life: Up to 36 hours (more with low-power mode).
• Cost: $800
• Ideal For: Those who enjoy a simple-to-use, user-friendly interface that also comes with robust health monitoring. Ultras are especially great for someone who already owns Apple products.
• Impact on Fitness: Someone who owns an Apple Watch Ultra will benefit from detailed health data and progress tracking, making it ideal for tech-savvy fitness enthusiasts.

Fitbit Charge 5

Fitbits are one of the original smartwatches that came onto the scene back in the late 2000s. Known for their simple yet intuitive design, Fitbits are great for those who don’t want to break the bank but still want to be able to track their fitness progress with a smartwatch. Learn more about the Fitbit Charge 5 below:

• Tracking features: Heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, ECG, and a “Daily Readiness Score” to measure energy levels. The Fitbit Charge 5 also has a daily step counter with helpful data on active vs. resting periods.
• Durability: Lightweight and water-resistant up to 50 meters, making it great for both gym enthusiasts and swimmers.
• Battery life: Up to 7 days.
• Cost: $150
• Ideal For: Men who are trying to dip their toes into the world of fitness watches but don’t want to break the bank. 
• Impact on Fitness: The Fitbit Charge 5’s “Daily Readiness Score” is a great tool for beginners and gym veterans. It helps users align workout intensity with energy levels to lessen fatigue while encouraging consistent progress.

Polar Grit X Pro 

If you like to get out into the wilderness for your workouts, the Polar Grit X Pro might be just what you’re looking for. Built with always-on outdoor features and extremely sophisticated GPS, the Polar Grit X Pro lets you get off the beaten track while still having a premier fitness watch experience. The Polar Grit X Pro features:

• Tracking features: Continuous heart rate monitoring, detailed sleep tracking, and SpO2 for oxygen levels. Additionally, it has a step counter with hill splitter functions for workouts that include elevation.
• Durability: The Polar Grit X Pro is military-grade and built to withstand extreme conditions.
• Battery life: Up to 40 hours.
• Cost: $500
• Ideal For: Those who are more inclined to go out into the wilderness for their fitness.
• Impact on Fitness: The hill-specific tracking is perfect for measuring your progress on intense outdoor hikes or mountaineering trips. It is ideal for men looking to push their limits while still tracking data to gain insights on improvement and recovery.

Track Your Progress at Gold’s Gym SoCal

If you’re interested in fitness watches or already own one, the best place to track your progress in Southern California is Gold’s Gym SoCal! From Long Beach up to Santa Barbara, our expert instructors at Gold’s Gym SoCal have you covered, whatever your fitness goals. Gold’s Gym SoCal offers personal training options and a variety of high-quality strength-training equipment to get you on the right path. We also have a variety of group exercise classes you can take to maximize your weight loss in a fun, encouraging setting.

Take advantage of a Free Pass to see what Gold’s Gym SoCal is all about. If you want to find a Gold’s Gym near you in SoCal, check out our many gyms located in Southern California.