There are nearly as many sport watches available as there are athletes. So which devices have separated themselves into elite status for only those most serious about their sport? Here are the best sports watches available and our favorites heading into the new year. Updated: Here’s our new list of sports watches and fitness trackers for 2015.
Best Sports Watches 2015
Related: Sports Holiday Gift Guide For The Active Man
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.
Best Sports Watches 2014-15
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Basis Peak
One of the best fitness trackers on the market, sure, Basis monitors your sleep and activity, but does it on a larger touch screen display while also tracking skin temperature, heart rate and something called galvanic skin response that supposedly monitors your stress level. The watch also syncs with your phone to give you call and text alerts.
PRICE: $199.99
BUY IT NOW: MYBASIS.COM
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Columbia Switchback
Featuring a compass, chronograph and Trakbak technology, this watch ensures no hiker gets lost -- and it's price efficient.
PRICE: $80.21
BUY IT NOW: AMAZON.COM
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Fitbit Charge
This fitness tracker monitors your sleep (with vibrating alarm), activity (steps, distance, calories, active minutes) and caller ID (when close to your phone). The watch also wirelessly syncs to your phone and provides instant data during your workouts.
PRICE: $129.95
BUY IT NOW: FITBIT.COM
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Garmin Forerunner
Possibly the best runner's watch on the market, this device provides the usual distance, pace and heart rate, but does it all on a touch screen high-res digital display. It can even measure your cadence, ground contact time, vertical oscillation and max oxygen consumption with what's called a VO2 max. Yep, incredible stuff.
PRICE: $399.99
BUY IT NOW: BUY.GARMIN.COM
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Leikr GPS Sport Watch
Not only is the display one-of-a-kind awesome, the Leikr measures synchronous stats for all endurance athletes while giving you on-board global color street maps during your run or cycling trip so you can plan as you go. The real-time tracking also gives you routes and training during your exercise.
PRICE: $349.00
BUY IT NOW: AMAZON.COM
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Nixon Supertide
This watch puts the rhythm of the waves into digital display right on your wrist so you know when to start paddling. It also gives you instant sunrise, tide and sunset data. For surfers on a budget, this is one of the best watches out there.
PRICE: $200
BUY IT NOW: NIXON.COM
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Suunto Ambit
Depending on the version you buy, this watch comes with everything from GPS and heart rate monitoring, to altitude (for climbers), navigation, speed and weather conditions. It also connects to an online planning and analysis tool that helps you make the best of all your journeys.
PRICE: $245 - $650
BUY IT NOW: SUUNTO.COM
