Introduction

Sports watches have more features than ever before

The days of the simple sports watch are over. Now, outdoor enthusiasts and athletes have a dizzying array of features and functionality to choose from, including fitness and adventure watches that can tell you how far you've run, graph elevation changes or predict the weather during a hike.

While most manufacturers are focusing on adding new functionality to their sports watches, there are some basic watches available. These simple sports watches tell time and typically include a chronograph for timing laps or splits; some also come with heart-rate monitors. These fitness watches are slim, lightweight and the most inexpensive available. However, they can't track your distance or upload your workout data to a computer. Still, they're a good choice for minimalists who just want to time their exercise sessions -- without all the extra buttons and confusing menus.

GPS-enabled sports watches are becoming increasingly popular because they provide more information than basic sport watches. These watches track time, distance and pace for runners, and, with additional accessories, they can also track speed and cadence for cyclists. Most GPS watches include a separate pod, but the popular Garmin Forerunner line incorporates the GPS sensor into the watch itself. The top-rated GPS watches also provide a way to transfer workout data to a computer, and many include heart rate monitors. While GPS watches provide a host of data, they can be big and bulky; some owners also report problems with satellite reception in big cities or places with lots of tree cover. GPS watches are also significantly more expensive than basic sports watches, but they are a good choice for long-distance runners and cyclists who want accurate distance information.

Adventure watches are another option. Designed for outdoor enthusiasts who want tons of data, these watches impress reviewers with a remarkable range of functionality. Most adventure watches include an altimeter to track altitude changes, a barometer to forecast the weather, a digital compass and a chronograph. These watches are bulky and expensive, but their navigation capabilities make them well suited for climbers, hikers and trail runners. Thanks to their many features, most adventure watches take a little time to set up, and some require calibration before they will function properly.

No one source provides the best reviews of sports watches. Rather, we found good reviews from a variety of sources, including outdoor publications like National Geographic Adventure, Outside magazine, Men's Journal, Trail Runner and Wired magazines, and websites like CNET. The Associated Press, Boston Globe and Washington Post also contribute useful reviews. Unfortunately, professional tests are few and far between for sports watches. ConsumerReports.org tests a good number of heart rate monitors and pedometers, but only two GPS watches were included in testing conducted earlier this year. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension tests four GPS watches, and we found one professional test of GPS watches published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, but it's not recent. On the other hand, there are a good number of owner-written reviews for sports watches -- Amazon.com provides the most comprehensive coverage in this category.