Let us be the first to say it: keeping up a new fitness routine can be hard. Finding motivation after a tough day at work, constantly setting yourself goals and targets to achieve, remembering to move enough, eat the right things... it's exhausting, isn't it?
That's why so many people have turned to sports watches and fitness trackers to take away some of the stress and to get more insight into their progress.
Once you've invested in a great pair of workout leggings and signed up to a new gym, investing in a sports watch could be the perfect addition to take your fitness journey to the next level.
Here are some of the best sports watches for women:
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The best sports watches for fitness
1 of 5Garmin Forerunner 35 GPS Running Watch
The Garmin Forerunner 35 has all the features you need for fitness tracking including a GPS chip, heart rate monitoring and interval training. You can also monitor your sleep. It can track a selection of sports such as cycling, running and walking and has some smart features, like notifications. It automatically syncs your workouts to the app, so you can check on your progress. It unfortunately isn't suitable for swimming, although it's waterproof to 50m. It has a long-lasting battery, lasting for nine days in smart mode or 13 hours in GPS mode.
2 of 5Polar M200
Easy to use and good value, the M200 has a wrist-based heart rate monitor, GPS and daily activity tracker, all in a funky design. The Polar Flow software provides data analysis and training plans. It took longer than some watches on test to locate a GPS signal, and the display, although easy to view, only shows two data fields at a time.
3 of 5Apple Watch Series 5
The Apple Watch Series 5 is easily the best smartwatch on the market, but it has some great fitness features too. The clever Activity app keeps you up to date with all your exercise but also keeps you in check compared to previous periods. You can customise the information you're actually interested in, so there's no scrolling through endless sub-menus. It really gives you minute detail, which is great if you're training for a big event. It has a lot to offer: GPS, electrical and optical heart sensors, a built-in compass, fall detection and elevation stats. Plus, it's swim-proof. If milestones keep you motivated, the circular rings and awards will definitely tick a box for you. There are a whole host of sports to choose from, sometimes what seems like a never ending list. It will, of course, set you back a fair amount, but for iPhone users, it's a life-changing piece of kit.
4 of 5The Suunto 9
A rock solid tool with unbeatable battery life, tough construction and accurate sensors. Planning routes and uploading them to the watch is satisfyingly simple, as is following the route. A watch for serious adventurers and athletes running in mountainous and remote locations.
5 of 5Fitbit Ionic
Super stylish and feature-packed, the Ionic has a claimed battery life of five days, GPS and wrist-based heart rate monitoring. Data cannot be displayed continuously, which is annoying during speed sessions or races. There's no historical data on the watch, but app is excellent and offers a personalised fitness coach alongside lots of analysis.