Whether you’re a gym rat, occasional gym goer, or still wonder what the hell the inside of a gym looks like — answer: pretty boring — the right sport watch or smartwatch can help you keep tabs on your metrics. Additionally, like any watch, the best smartwatches and sport watches for men should add to your personal style and say something about who you are.
A watch combines both style and functionality, so it’s not just an accessory. One important thing you have to remember, though, to keep your timepiece in style is to make sure it’s always in good condition.
Constant use and exposure to sweat and moisture will wear down the watch straps. Clean your watch regularly, and replace the straps once it looks old and shabby. There are plenty of affordable, high-quality watch bands available today, so it’s easy to get a replacement at any time.
A crappy watch will die the first time it gets a little wet or banged around. But just because a watch is affordable (read: cheap) doesn’t mean it’s crappy. So, yeah, you can find yourself a solid sport watches that can get stomped on or dropped and keep on ticking.
Why a sports watch instead of relying on your smartphone? Style. A watch is about displaying who you are or fitting a need. In this case, you can be a sporty guy who digs a sporty look. Nothing wrong with that. Here are a handful of cool options.
Apple Watch Series 2 (from $369)
Apple’s Series 2 (above) kept the old rectangular design but upgraded the process and added a brighter display. It’s also less dependent from your iPhone than the OG model. Its built-in GPS lets you track your activities without your phone, and its resistance to water (up to 50 meters) allows you to take a swim in a pool or tub as you track your metrics. Options include stainless steel, aluminum or a ceramic case, with a range of different bands. Add a Hermes or Nike band to level up the style even more.
When you first think of a smartwatch that you can take doing sports, biking, trekking, or perhaps a hiking watch, it should come as no surprise that the Apple watch is always one of the very first brands that come to mind; it has definitely made its name as a trustworthy option. There are many good reasons that make the Apple watch a good buy, some of which are:
- It’s always on display, which means that you always have access to the information display even without even lifting your arm;
- Prevents you from having missed calls as you’ll feel the vibration for you to answer calls right away;
- Comes with a compass function;
- Excels in receiving and taking note of notifications;
- Gives you noise alerts such as when you’ll need to prep your earphones.
Casio WSD F10 ($500 @ Amazon.com)
Casio’s durable smartwatch was built for the outdoorsy-type in mind. It features a tough and bulky case that’s undergone military-grade endurance and environmental tests. It’s also water resistant, but not suitable for swimming or diving); its has a dual layer LCD display that consists of digital time display and apps controlled via touchscreen. Three side buttons control your apps, watch functions, and tools for easy navigation.
Sony Smartwatch 3 ($189.99 @ Amazon.com)
Affordable and powerful, Sony’s Smartwatch 3 features up to two days of battery life and built-in GPS functionality. Whether you go for a run or swim, this watch is reliable activity tracker and one of the best watches under $200 for active guys looking for a stylish timepiece. One major oversight: no heart rate monitor. In review, take calls, message friends, listen to music, check sports scores, become a better human being.
Timex Expedition Trail Series Digital Compass ($65 @ Amazon.com)
Made in the USA! USA! USA! The Expedition Trail was built for — duh — the trail. Whether you’re running, hiking, or hiding out due to the zombie apocalypse, the Indiglo light (with night mode) a digital compass will allow you to know your location. Other perks: it’s shock and water-resistant.
TomTom Spark 3 ($249.99 @Amazon.com)
Pluses: built-in GPS and MP3 make the Spark 3 a great running companion. The usual suspects also come with it: step and calorie counter, active minutes tracker, etc. Its sports tracker offers seven different modes, while the compass and route exploration functions help you navigate while running.
Garmin Forerunner 35 ($199.99 @ Amazon.com)
It looks basic but is armed with lots of solid functions: running, biking, treadmill, walking, and cardio modes; built-in GPS, optical heart rate sensor, and its waterproof up to 50 meters. Supports by both Android and iOS.
Casio Men’s G-Shock Solar Atomic ($100 @ Amazon.com)
The digital sport watch keeps track of time in 31 different times zones, which is great for the world traveler or guys who are super nerdy and just want to know what time it is in Uzbekistan, and is waterproof to 200 meters. It includes a stopwatch accurate to 1/100th of a second and is much easier on your checking account at just over $100.
Armitron Men’s Chronographs ($17 @ Amazon.com)
If you’re looking for affordability, the Armitron watch is a solid option. They sell for around the $20 mark and have four different timer combos. It’s not as flashy, but you get what you pay for.
While it may be the cheapest on this list, that doesn’t make it any inferior to some of the more expensive options here. It’s perfect if you’re on a budget but you’ve long wanted to try out a sport or smartwatch. Especially if this is still the first time for you to buy one and you’d simply want to test if it’s going to be a good buy for you, you don’t have to pressure yourself to go all out with the bill.
Here are other reasons to purchase an Armitron men’s chronograph watch:
- Well-made and tough;
- Works well, both in professional and casual outfits;
- Comfortable to wear.
Final Word
Men can go a step further in making their watch a fashion statement by choosing sport watches with some unique features. Those enumerated above are excellent ideas of some of the unique and most functional sports watch features to look for when you’re shopping for a sports watch.
When it comes to choosing smartwatches and sport watches for men, you’ll find that the more complicated the features, the more expensive the watch is going to be. But, as the list above covers, there’s always an option for every budget. You only need to narrow down your options based on the features that you wish to have.
