Best Sports Watches for Men in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update October 14, 2024
Sports watches have set new trends in the world. Oversized watches with large readable numbers are trendy and handy. They can help ...Read more
PROS

This watch is featured with a countdown timer that can come in handy on numerous occasions.

CONS

The battery should be replaced rather frequently.

OUR VERDICT

The SKMEI watch is a real steal for the money. It boasts excellent build quality, fashionable design and comes in very exquisite packaging. Ideal as a gift for the men in your life.

detailed parameters
Type

Analogue with digital dials

Features

Time (3 time zones), Week/date, Chronograph, Stopwatch, Countdown timer, alarm, 12/24-hour modes, EL backlight

Protection

IP68 protection class (waterproof 3 ATM, 30 meters)

Band

Stainless steel

Warranty

2 years

PROS

It's made from a special glass that is highly resistant to scratches and scuffs. Therefore, the watch won't lose its shine and attractive look.

CONS

The buttons are too tight at first. 

OUR VERDICT

The FOVICN sports watch is quite a good offering. It's functional, durable, and available in several styles. For sure, you'll find the option that matches your outfit the best.

detailed parameters
Type

Analogue with digital dials

Features

Time, Week/date, Chronograph, Stopwatch, Alarm, 12/24-hour modes, EL backlight

Protection

IP68 protection class (waterproof 3 ATM, 30 meters)

Band

Silicone

Warranty

2 years

PROS

The watch is designed with a high-quality PU resin band that can be easily adjusted anywhere between 170 and 220mm.

CONS

The backlighting is rather dim.

OUR VERDICT

The sports watch by VERYCOZY boasts a versatile fit and 50-m waterproofness. Hence, it can be worn by yourself or your family members, for watersports or for daily activities.

detailed parameters
Type

Digital

Features

Time, Week/date, stopwatch, alarm, 12/24-hour modes, EL backlight

Protection

IP68 protection class (waterproof 5 ATM, 50 meters)

Band

PU-resin

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The silicone strap looks luxury with nice chromed inserts, forming an integral part of the watch.

CONS

The watch may seem a bit bulky.

OUR VERDICT

This model is a good match for men who love an active lifestyle and need a watch that fits their daily routine. It's both sporty and chic to suit either fitness or casual outfit.

detailed parameters
Type

Analogue with digital dials

Features

Time (3 time zones), Week/date, Chronograph, Stopwatch, Alarm, 12/24-hour modes, EL backlight

Protection

IP68 protection class (waterproof 3 ATM, 30 meters)

Band

Silicone

Warranty

2 years

PROS

The display is made with imported EL lightning chip that drains the battery just a little bit but delivers good illumination. 

CONS

The stainless steel buckle lacks in quality.

OUR VERDICT

SKMEI offers an affordable sports watch that will help you show you fitness addiction and stay fit and motivated. It's not a mix of different styles - it's just a genuine men sports watch. Nothing extra.

detailed parameters
Type

Digital

Features

Time, Week/date, Stopwatch, Alarm, 12/24-hour modes, EL backlight

Protection

IP68 protection class (waterproof 5 ATM, 50 meters)

Band

PU-resin

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

Running Watches Sports Watches for Men

Feature-Rich Watch

Skmei is a relatively unknown brand that makes some of the cheapest sports watches on the market. But cheap doesn't always mean "bad". The model under review is both reliable and stylish. The watch face features corrugated unidirectional round bezel, luminous hands, and exquisite hour markers. Actually, this watch looks way more expensive than it actually is. Plus, the package box is high-quality and perfect to use as a gift box, which makes the watch ideal as a present.

Besides that, there is also a plethora of useful functions that make this watch a standout. To begin with, it's very accurate and its digital display can show time in 12/24 hour format. Besides the digital display, it boasts an analogue dial with an hour hand and a minute hand. Also, the watch shows a month, day and week. In addition to that, the watch is featured with an electronic alarm, stopwatch, and countdown timer.

The Skmei wearable is EL backlight - the illumination for night-time is very useful. Admittedly, it's a quite feature-rich model, so we highly recommend you to read the instruction leaflet carefully to get the hang of using all the functions.

High-Quality Design

The Seiko watch not only looks very sport-orientated and rugged. It actually is. Made with 100% new high hardness glass, zinc alloy case, and an IP-plated stainless steel band, it's virtually unbreakable. Moreover, the metal case and band never fade, which makes this wristwatch always look sleek with no signs of wear.

The watch is 3 ATM waterproof up to 30 meters, so it easily survives splashes, rain, hand wash, brief immersion in water, and the like. However, it's not suitable for bath or other water-related work.

Summing up everything said above, we can conclude that the Seiko watch is a real steal for the money. It boasts excellent build quality, fashionable design and comes in very exquisite packaging. Ideal as a gift for the men in your life.
Last updated price £35.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B07PVB3T1J

Shines Bright

If you'd like to get a stylish sports watch to match your outfit, you should seriously consider the FOVICN waterproof model. It's available in luxurious Black, Black Silver, Black Black, and Brown Silver designs, giving you the option to choose a preferable style.

All the models are made with the soft silicone strap to be comfortable to wear. The only thing you should be aware of is that some users point out that the sparkly features on the strap may start to discolour after a year or so (the band can be replaced easily).

However, what it lacks in strap quality, it more than makes up in face construction. The watch is made with a special glass that is highly resistant to scratches and scuffs. Therefore, the watch won't lose its shine and attractive look after long years of active use. Moreover, this glass design reduces sun glare quite a lot, even though the luminous hands and hour markers are well-visible under the direct sun.

As for the heart of the watch, it uses a high-quality Japanese quartz movement with a long-run battery. Hence, you won't need to replace the battery for quite a good while.

Decent Functionality

The manufacturer has done its best to make this watch not only stylish but also as functional as possible. As a result, it shows time (on both analogue and digital displays), the month, date, and the day of the week (on two mini displays). You can choose either a 12-hour or 24-hour format.

Apart from basic functions, it also allows you to set an alarm and even to choose a preferable chime. The split time function is also available.

Last but not least, the watch is 3.00-bar water pressure resistant, meaning it'll easily survive through sweat, accidental rain, or water splash. But it's not suitable for showers or swimming pulls.

All in all, FOVICN sports watch is quite a good offering. It's functional, durable, and available in several styles. For sure, you'll find the option that matches your outfit the best.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07MDGZQ7D

For Water Sports Enthusiasts

Looking for a watch you can stay with even when doing some water sports? If so, the VERYCOZY Sport Watch may be an ideal pick for you. The trick is that this digital watch is 50-meter waterproof, meaning you can carry it to participate in a variety of water sports, surfing, and even diving. And because of its excellent shockproof properties, it's also well-suitable for such kinds of sports like basketball, volleyball, football, as well as other activities. It's really a super-versatile sports watches suitable for many occasions. And not only for sports.

This watch has a classic black military minimalist look with a fully black band. This design makes it easy to pair with practically any outfit, be it sportswear, casual clothes, or even a formal suit.

The watch has a large HD digital display (no analogue face) making it easy to read time (hour, minute, second). As expected, you can freely switch the format from 12h to 24h. Besides time, the watch displays date and week. Also, you can set an alarm clock and an hourly reminder. For your convenience, the watch is fitted with a backlight function. And even though some users note that the light is too dim, it's a good feature to have just in case.

Versatile Fit

What we like the most is that this watch is made with a high-quality PU resin band that can be easily adjusted anywhere between 170 and 220mm. In other words, the rubber strap basically meets the wrist size of almost anyone. Even women, teenagers or kids will be able to wear this sport wristwatch. The band is made of anti-allergic material, so it will be utterly comfortable to wear even on sensitive skin.

So, this versatile watch can be worn by yourself or your family members, for watersports or for daily activities. It can really come in handy on many occasions in your life.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07KWJVP1T

Classy or Sporty?

The SPOTALEN Military wristwatch is a best-seller for a reason. For one, it's made by a reputable manufacturer. For two, its cost makes less than £25. For three, it looks a bit different from other digital sport-oriented models. The watch goes perfectly with either fitness or casual outfits. You can safely cycle, roller skate, run, or host business meetings, wearing it. The SPOTALEN watch is good for all these activities.

The silicone strap looks premium with nice chromed inserts, forming an integral part of the watch. Apart from small metal highlights, the strap is made from high-quality plastic, so it seems very strong and firmly attached to the watch face. It's also fairly comfortable to wear. To keep its attractive look, it's recommended to clean the strap by a soft cloth on a regular basis.

As for the case, it's a bit larger than you may expect. The dial diameter makes 45 mm, but even so, it won't look out of place even when you're wearing a suit. Because of the generous size, the watch is pretty heavy, still, very comfortable when on the wrist.

The watch is available in classy black and white designs. Both options arrive in a smart presentation box with a see-through lid, which makes it a great gift idea.

About Functionality

Typically, the watch comes already running in 12-hour format. If you'd like to make some adjustments, you can turn to the leaflet supplied in the package. The instructions are clear and easy enough to understand. The main features here include:

Dual time display. You can set the time in two time zones (12/24H) and the analogue-digital quartz movement will give you precise time control;

Hourly hourly and daily alarm;

LED backlight countdown;

1/100 second stopwatch. It's great for daily running and similar fitness activities.

Unfortunately, the watch isn't waterproof, so it's prohibited to go bathing, diving or swimming with it. It's just water resistant to survive in the rain.

To round things up, this model is a good match for men who love an active lifestyle and need a watch that fits their daily routine. It's both sporty and chic.

Last updated price £25.79
Stock In stock
ASIN B07R2JLD5Z

Sports Oriented

In case you're in the market for a completely sports-oriented watch, the SKMEI Digital Watch may come to your liking. It's not a mix of different styles - it's just a genuine sports watch for men. Nothing extra.

The watch under review boasts rugged and sporty design, and most importantly, it's water resistant to 50 meters. Hence, you can safely wear it while swimming, not to mention while washing your hands or having a shower. It's also well-suitable for water splashes and rain but not recommended for professional diving. Also, the manufacturer warns users not to press any buttons in the water when doing underwater sports.

Regarding other activities, the watch is also good to wear during daily workouts, cycling, hiking, or travelling. It has a lot of functions useful for sports like an integrated timer, stopwatch and alarm clock. Of course, the large round digital dial also offers a clear time, date and day of a week. The display is made with imported EL lightning chip and can be illuminated in the dark.

Quality Materials

Although the price of the watch is ridiculously low, it's manufactured with quality materials. The heart of the watch, Taiwan IC chip, is produced from imported PC material shell which makes it hard and durable. It also ensures accurate time without calibrating. The high-grade PC case effectively resists rust and corrosion.

The glass is manufactured from the highly-transparent resin material, which makes it clear and sturdy. Even the rubber strap here is imported from Germany. The only gripe is with a stainless steel buckle - some users say that its quality leaves a lot to be desired. But apart from this slight niggle, we couldn't find anything to dislike about the watch. It's a genuine sports watch that will help you show you fitness addiction and stay fit and motivated.

Last updated price £13.89
Stock In stock
ASIN B0775GT97X

What Is a Sports Watch?

A good sports watch can become an essential part of your lifestyle or workout routine. It's built with a rugged case, shockproof glass, durable band, and a high-quality mechanism. Sports watches do not necessarily offer smart functionality and the broad range of functions like running watches, still, they are very sports-oriented and packed with some features you wouldn't find in regular watches.

Just like tech-packed wristwear, sports watches are waterproof to some level, meaning they aren't afraid of water splashes, rain, and sweat. Some models can be even used in a swimming pool or in the sea.

For this review, we have selected the best sports watches for men that are functional, affordable, and well-built. They accurately keep the time and offer some useful extras like a countdown timer or alarm function. However, if you're looking for a watch to count your steps, check heart rate, and track different exercises, you may be interested in smart watches. It's a feature-packed timepiece with a built-in heart-rate sensor, GPS, and Bluetooth.

What Features to Compare

Face

The first question is what style you prefer. If you crave for a more classy look to go with a formal shirt and tie, we would recommend you to opt for an analogue watch as it has a more classic appearance.

On the other hand, digital sports watches are usually easier to read, which could be crucial if you need to check the time at a glance.

There's also an alternative. Many sports watches today beautifully incorporate analogue timekeeping and digital displays. The time display is powered by an analogue movement, but there are also some digital features like day, date, alarm, chronograph, and others.

Also, an important factor to consider is whether a watch is mechanically- or quartz-powered. Quartz watches are generally more accurate than mechanic ones.

Extras

There are some things that you should want to bear in mind when choosing a new sports watch so as to make sure you get the one that not only looks fantastic but also has all the functions that you may need.

Chronograph, also known as a stopwatch, is a very important feature for sportsmen. It gives you the most accurate way to measure a specific amount of time. The chronograph will help you know exactly how much time you've spent on running, swimming, or exercising.

Alarm function. An alarm will help to wake up in the morning or not miss the time to hit the gym, for example.

Day/Date. It's a standard feature built into digital sports watches - it'll show you the day of the week... that workout day of the week.

Water Resistance. Even if you never go swimming, it's a crucial characteristic. As your exercise, you sweat a lot, not to mention you may end up running in the rain. And any water resistance level between 5 to 10 ATM will be sufficient to keep your watch working in a wet condition. However, if you plan to swim with your watch, you should consider models that withstand more than 50 meters (5 ATM and higher).

Lighting. Most sports watches have inbuilt lighting. Bright backlighting will be especially useful when training in low-light conditions or at night. While some models have a backlight, others feature luminescent hands so that you can still read the time in poor light.

Band. Many sports timepieces have replaceable straps, which allows you to prolong the lifespan of the watch. Also, take into account the material it's made of.

Did you know?

Brief History of Digital Watches

Long before the invention of digital watches, people used to measure time by different means.

The first record of tracking time dates back to 2000 BC. Ancient people used to measure time in the same way in which we measure time today - in segments of 60.

The modern history of watches began in the 16th century in Europe. The first pocket watches evolved from portable spring-driven clocks. They had only a single hour hand. The minute hand and markers did not appear until the 17th century.

The first wristwatch (or arm watch) was created in 1571. At that time, wristwatches were designed for women only (men had a pocket watch). The first lady to wear a wristwatch was Elizabeth I.

Surprisingly, men started wearing wristwatches much later, around the start of World War I. Louis Cartier (yes, that famous Cartier) accompanied his pilot friend on flights to experiment new aircrafts before World War I. Once Cartier saw his friend struggle to keep hands on the controls of the plane and to measure time with his pocket watch simultaneously, the idea to create the “aviator” wristwatch came to his mind. He invented a small watch with a leather band and a small clasp. This very watch became the prototype of the modern-day "aviator" (also called "pilot").

The first wristwatch with an alarm function was introduced in the 1900s. Eterna, a Swiss manufacturer, produced a wristwatch with an alarm in 1908, but it hit the mass market only in 1914.

The invention of the first digital watch has very interesting roots. The famous sci-fi movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” released in 1968 inspired Hamilton Watch Company to create the first digital watch. And four years later, in 1772, the company launched electronic digital wristwatch, Pulsar with LED display. It cost close to $1662 (amounts to over $12,000 today). But already by the end of the 1970s, electronic watches would retail it for under $10. Moreover, in the 1980s, digital watches could be found in cereal boxes as cheap giveaways.

Before the 21st century, digital watches were considered to be the most high-tech timepieces you could buy. Today, digital watches are largely replaced by smartwatches.

Interesting Facts

  • The most expensive watch ever sold at an auction cost incredible $17.8 million. It was Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona. By the way, whereas many people believe that Rolex is genuinely Swiss company, it’s not so. Rolex was created as a brand in 1905 in London, Great Britain. Only in 1920, the company moved to Geneva.
  • The most popular colour for any style watch is black, even though wristwatches come in a variety of colours. Black is the most versatile colour, as it can be styled for both formal and casual events.
  • Casio G-Shock watches are considered to be almost indestructible. It’s now the world’s toughest digital watch you can find on the market. Interestingly, the first G-shock watches were tested by simply throwing out of the window, a ten-meter drop.
Other reviews