The eight best running watches for crushing your PBs

Sitting comfortably at the top of our list, Garmin's Venu 2 GPS smartwatch truly combines the best of both worlds when it comes to its excellent style and its incredible array of functions.

Garmin is relatively well-known outside of fitness trackers for its second-to-none sat-navs, and so GPS tracking on smartwatches is a natural next step towards the future.

Offering a high degree of precision unrivalled by even higher-end smartwatch models, Garmin's Venu 2 is faultless when it comes to route planning and awesome when looking at just how much personal fitness data this watch can truly acquire.

Built with a truly elegant 1.3-inch AMOLED screen and simple-to-use menus that break down even complex body statistics with ease - the Garmin Venu 2 is, without question, one of the best running watches on the market - and at less than £350, it is a steal.

Samsung's latest and greatest smartwatch, the Watch5 Pro, has taken the fitness community by storm with its enormous array of staggering features - and we couldn't be happier.

Utilising a Samsung-backed Google operating system, Watch5 Pro users are comfortably welcomed by a familiar Samsung feel that makes getting used to the watch an absolute breeze.

What's more, the Watch5 Pro is more than a little comfortable. Its silicon strap and sensational haptic feedback create a luxurious level of day-to-day indulgence.

When it comes to its viability as a running watch, there's just no competition. With a precise Google-based GPS system, pretty much every fitness sensor you could ever wish for and then some, and an unbelievable 80-hour battery - fitness tracking has never been easier.

Alongside standard GPS tracking, there's also GPX functionality - where users can download pre-existing trails and tracks to follow, made by other fitness enthusiasts - it's a reinvigorating and bold step in the right direction for Samsung that brings the fitness community just a little closer together.

Ultra-durable, rugged and engineered for fitness fanatics - the Polar Grit X Pro not only looks the part, but it's also one of the very best running watches on the market.

Polar's cutting-edge GPS tracking, alongside an arsenal of barometers and altometers, makes it far and beyond the best smartwatch for a seriously challenging nature adventure.

If you're feeling particularly adventurous, Polar's Grit X Pro is also built to withstand the most intense temperatures on the planet, from -20 to 50 degrees Celsius, so wherever you find yourself heading, you've got a great watch to rely on.

Sometimes less is more - and with Garmin's Forerunner 45, one of the most popular running watches ever made - this is certainly the case.

For beginners and more advanced users alike - the Forerunner 45 doesn't quite have the frills and refinement of a £600-plus smartwatch, but what it does have is a pretty excellent collection of pre-installed workouts, alongside a fairly impressive GPS tracking system.

The display itself does leave something to be desired, and yet - for the price, it still stands out ahead of the crowd. Compatible with both Android and iPhone - simply connect your Forerunner 45 and begin tracking everything from sleep to stress and even your internal body battery.

For a much more in-depth insight into this fantastic midrange watch, check out our complete Garmin Forerunner 245 review.

For most exercise enthusiasts, considering an Apple Watch as their devoted fitness companion would seem unlikely, and yet with each generation, the Apple Watch has steadily become a great option, even when in the running against high-end fitness-oriented watches.

Designed with quick, accurate access to a variety of second-to-none sensor technology, the Apple Watch Series 8 brings together the ultimate convenience of a smartphone with the highly accurate sensor technology of modern smartwatches.

Blood-oxygen detection, ECG, heart rate irregularity notifications and a huge range of Apple Watch exercises, there are very few things that the Apple Wath truly lacks compared to other running-centric brands.

Of course, there are some immediate drawbacks that are noticeable - namely, the weaker 14-hour battery, which would be impressive for a smartphone, but is considerably poorer as a smartwatch.

For the pros, there are few choices that can truly top Garmin's fēnix® 7 - one of the most technologically advanced, perfectly designed running watches Garmin has ever made.

The fēnix® 7 is far from your basic smartwatch - while yes, it's equipped with all the basic functions you've come to expect from a smartwatch; heart rate monitoring, accelerometer, and GPS tracking, and yet it provides so much more.

From hundreds of programs, apps and sensors such as body composition, sleep and stress tracking, fitness fanatics will get the complete rundown of their health and fitness, with a great selection of apps to assist their weaker areas such as strength, HIIT, and more.

The crowning feature, however, simply has to be the fēnix® 7's ingenious in-built solar charging, ensuring that wherever you are, you can depend on your smartwatch.

For deep-pocketed running enthusiasts, the Garmin fēnix® 7 is a fantastic option - but at its price, we'd recommend shopping around a little first.

Easily one of the most popular watches for running on the market right now, the ever-popular Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is simply brilliant for anything and everything involving exercise - and is designed for ease of access during the adrenaline-fuelled highs and the sweat-drenched lows of your training routine.

Utilising easy-to-access buttons on the sides of the watch face, mid-marathon wearers can comfortably switch songs, check their heart rate or check just how far they've travelled without the concern of a sensitive touchscreen.

Yes, there are some drawbacks when it comes to this midrange model's screen, which is frankly on the dull side, and the design which doesn't exactly wow us - and yet, as a running watch, it's durable, it's easy to use, and it simply does the job, and does it well.

Simple, effective and great for running - the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 may lack some of the polish of the Watch5 Pro, but at less than half the price, who are we to complain?

From heart rate monitoring to GPS tracking, an accelerometer and a BioActive body sensor - there's very little else you'll need for a quality run at the price.

And with a 40-hour battery life, there's no denying it'll last your entire workout.