While it's lovely to eye up the most expensive kit and convince yourself that you need the full array of features and functions found in the priciest Garmin GPS watch, if you're on a budget this can seem like a pipe dream. GPS watch technology has moved on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and that comes at a price, with some watches costing more than half a grand.
The good news is that there's no need to break the bank. If you're not after all the bells and whistles of the more expensive GPS watches, there are options here that you can bag for about $200 / £200 or less that still provide all the functionality beginner or intermediate outdoor enthusiasts really need for tracking their activities.
Some of the best GPS watches from a few years ago are still superb products that now cost a lot less. Big watchmakers continue to support these watches with software updates that bring them mostly in line with the newer products. This makes them a solid option when choosing a new watch.
Recent updates
Garmin has some great birthday offers in the run up to Amazon Prime Day. We've hand-picked a selection of the best current Garmin deals here, but look out for more in the run up to Amazon Prime Big Deals Day. We'll be posting regular updates.
The quick list
This is the quick list, a snapshot of the best running jackets available in 2024. To delve deeper into the features and qualities of each featured jacket, see our more detailed reviews further down the page in this guide.
With a bright AMOLED display, great GPS accuracy, and a smart interface that's intuitive to use, the GTS 4 is seriously impressive. We were amazed that such an affordable sports watch could deliver so much.
This is the watch we recommend to anyone preparing for their first ever race. It covers all the bases, with accurate GPS and biometrics, and pulls all your health data into Garmin's well designed Connect mobile app.
The Instinct is a few years old now, but it's still one of the best tough sports watches around. It lasts weeks on a single charge, so it's great for multi-day excursions, and it's no slouch when it comes to fitness tracking either.
The Pacer Pro looks far more expensive than it is, and really impressed us with its super responsive heart rate monitor (great for interval training). There's no touchscreen, but that's not a dealbreaker for us.
The chunky T-Rex Pro isn't quite as accurate as Garmin's watches when it comes to GPS tracking, but this is still a very well made sports watch with a super tough design that'll easily handle knocks and drops.
The best cheap GPS watches 2024
You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.
The best cheap GPS watch overall
If you're looking for a cheap GPS watch, the Amazfit GTS 4 is our top recommendation. It has the kind of features you'd expect from a watch costing twice as much as its list price. That includes a bright, sharp AMOLED display, great GPS accuracy, decent battery life, and an interface that's a breeze to use.
That stunning screen is touch-sensitive, but we mostly controlled the watch using the large rotating crown button on the right-hand edge of the case. Turn to scroll through menus, then press to select an option or start tracking. Easy.
The Zepp mobile app (Zepp being Amazfit's parent company) isn't as polished as Garmin Connect, but it's improved a lot in recent years. One particularly handy feature is the PAI score, which is a single figure based on your activity, rest, and recovery that gives you an easy way to keep tabs on your overall wellbeing. If you want more detail though, you can easily drill down into fine detail about your workouts, complete with explanations to help you understand exactly what all the stats mean if you're relatively new to running.
The all-black version we tested looked quite plain, but the misty white and rosebud pink colorways are much more appealing, with coordinating brushed metal cases and buckles.
Sounds too good to be true, right? We once asked an Amazfit rep how the company can charge so little, and they explained that it's simply a matter of making as many components as possible in-house. Zepp is a colossal company, so economies of scale help too.
Read our full Amazfit GTS 4 review
The best cheap GPS watch for new runners
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is the GPS watch we recommend most often to newer runners wanting to up their game. It's technically the company's entry-level running watch, but it's packed with so many advanced performance and health-tracking tools, it's great for intermediate level athletes as well.
It has some of the most accurate GPS tracking of any watch we've tested, and during tough interval sessions on a spin bike readings from the Forerunner 55 matched up almost exactly with those from a chest strap heart rate monitor.
You're also getting a bundle of Garmin's latest training tools here, including daily suggested workouts (great if you find yourself running the same old route over and over), a race time predictor, and a recovery advisor to help ensure you don't over train or take things excessively easy.
Its monochrome display isn't the best for displaying maps, but it's workable. All in all, it's an excellent all-rounder and fantastic value.
The best cheap GPS watch for hiking
Our expert tester Cat Ellis reviewed the original Garmin Instinct for Advnture's sister site TechRadar back in 2018, and it's still one of her favorite GPS watches of all time. It's built like a tank, offers weeks and weeks of battery life (or months if you grab the solar version) and is accurate when it comes to both location tracking and heart rate.
Its successor, the Instinct 2, is slightly slimmer, with a marginally sharper screen and a choice of two case sizes, but the original is still a winner. During our tests we particularly liked the small sub-display that shows a customizable snippet of data on the watch face, and indicates what the start/pause button does while you browse through the Instinct's many menus.
The only real drawback is that the screen doesn't work with maps, so it's not the best watch if you want to navigate off the beaten track. If you know where you're going though, it comes highly recommended.
The best cheap GPS watch for style
Polar's beginner-friendly running watch is one of the most stylish around, with its circular case in a variety of tasteful colors. It's almost as feather-light as the Forerunner 55, and its slim design means you'll easily forget you're wearing it until it's time to train.
GPS tracking is very good, but biometrics are where Polar watches really shine (unsurprising considering the company started out specializing in heart rate monitoring tech). The optical HRM on the Pacer is super responsive, which you'll really appreciate if you're into interval training.
There's no touchscreen, but that's not likely to bother runners too much. Using touch controls with sweaty or gloved fingers is a nuisance. Perhaps the biggest downside is that your runs and rides don't sync automatically. Instead, you have to open the Polar Flow app on your phone to initiate the process. That's hardly a dealbreaker though.
If you're on a really tight budget then you might be interested in checking out the Polar Unite, which is much cheaper, but lacks GPS. You can still use it to track runs and hikes, but you'll need to keep it connected to your phone via Bluetooth to monitor your route and pace.
The best cheap GPS watch for climbing
The T-Rex Pro is another watch that's a few years old, but still stands up today. Like the Garmin Instinct, the T-Rex Pro is one tough customer, and would be a good option if you're planning to head off-road for some trail running, hiking, and climbing.
Like the Amazfit GTS 4, it has a colorful AMOLED display that looks great in all lighting conditions, and has surprisingly little impact on battery life. You can expect the T-Rex Pro to keep running for around a week between charges, which isn't as impressive as the Garmin Forerunner 55 or Instinct, but is perfectly acceptable.
Its GPS tracking isn't quite as accurate as other models though, so there is a sacrifice to be made. There's a wealth of workout tracking modes for just about every activity you can name, but we found the watch struggled to detect runs and walks automatically, so you'll need to make sure you start manual tracking for anything you want to log.
If you've got a little extra cash, you might be interested in the Amazfit T-Rex Pro 2. It's a bit too pricey for this list, but it's a big upgrade on the hardware front and looks fantastic.
The best cheap GPS watch comparison table
| Watch | List price | Weight | Display type | Water resistance |
| Amazfit GTS 4 | $199.99 (US) / £199 (UK) | 46.6g | AMOLED | 50 meters |
| Garmin Forerunner 55 | $199 (US) / £179.99 (UK) | 37g | Color memory-in-pixel | 50 meters |
| Garmin Instinct | $249.99 / £189.99 (UK) | 52g | Grayscale memory-in-pixel | 100 meters |
| Amazfit T-Rex Pro | $179.99 / £139 (UK) | 60g | Color AMOLED | 100 meters |
| Polar Pacer | $229.95 / £199.50 (UK) | 41g | Color memory-in-pixel | 50 meters |
How we test the best cheap GPS watches
Our testers wear each GPS watch for several weeks, or as long as it takes to build up a baseline and start tracking fitness trends. During that time they take the device for regular runs of varying distances, including a pre-measured 5km route to help check the accuracy of the on-board GPS.
We also put each watch to the test in several interval sessions on a spin bike to check how quickly and accurately it detects changes in heart rate. We compare this with data gathered using a chest strap heart rate monitor.
Our testers wear each watch all day and all night to test its sleep tracking and any recovery monitoring tools, keeping track of when they actually fell asleep and woke, and the times recorded by the devices. We can also compare this data to stats gathered using a Withings Sleep Analyzer to see how accurate the device is.
For more details, see how Advnture tests products.
Meet the tester
Our former Editor-in-chief Cat is passionate about both tech and running. Nowhere do these two loves collide in quite the same way as in GPS watches. She's tested and reviewed countless sports watches in her time and knows a good deal when she sees one.
What to do with your old watch
You can dispose of your old watch as part of a waste electronics recycling scheme (your local council or authority will be able to provide details) but it's even better if you can give it a second life if it's still in good condition. Donating it to a new runner or a charity that takes electronic equipment is a good idea, or you could sell it online and make back a little cash. Just be careful if you're shipping it; not all mail carriers are happy to handle lithium batteries. Make sure you include the charging cable.
