We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Jogging Watch?

Deanna Baranyi
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,562
Share

A jogging watch is an important accessory for many runners. Depending on the brand and model, a jogging watch can have a wide range of features. For example, it will usually tell the time and the date, and most have an interval timing feature often used for training. More advanced watches will have a Global Positioning System (GPS) feature that will allow runners to see how far they have run, their pace, their route, and even the changes in elevation. Some brands of jogging watches also have a feature that shows the heart rate of the runner and caloric burn.

Picking out a jogging watch may be an overwhelming task for many runners, joggers, or walkers. In order to purchase the right one, it may be helpful to consider what purpose it will serve. For example, some people walk or run the same route every time. In those cases, a jogging watch that has basic features may suffice. Once the mileage is calculated, most runners can compute their pace and their caloric burn without the aid of a watch. In the alternative, if a runner often changes her route or runs in areas where it is difficult to calculate the mileage, having features such as distance, pace, and caloric burn may be helpful.

An advanced jogging watch may be able to monitor a runner’s heart rate. Typically, it comes with a strap that the runner wraps around her chest. The jogging watch can then pick up the heart rate through the chest strap. Many runners like to know what their heart rate is so they can run within the various heart rate zones, such as the recovery zone, the aerobic zone, the anaerobic zone, and the red line zone. For example, if the heart rate is kept within a certain zone, the runner can focus on endurance, and if it is raised to another zone, the runner can work on speed.

One of the most interesting features of some jogging watch brands is the GPS element. Through the GPS unit on the watch, runners can see where they have run and can use it to back track, in case they get lost. Once they return home, many watches allow them to synchronize the watch with their home computer and look at a more detailed map of their route. Through their home computers, they can see the changes in elevation and their pace during the elevation changes. The information is all downloaded to the computer so that a comparison of the data can be made from day to day, week to week, or month to month.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Deanna Baranyi
By Deanna Baranyi
Deanna Baranyi, a freelance writer and editor with a passion for the written word, brings a diverse skill set to her work. With degrees in relevant fields and a keen ability to understand and connect with target audiences, she crafts compelling copy, articles, and content that inform and engage readers.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Feryll — On Jun 22, 2014

I prefer leather watches, or watches with leather bands. They are so much more comfortable than the metal bands and they look better than the fabric and Velcro watches. You may have to replace the leather band more often, but I think it is worth the trade off.

By Laotionne — On Jun 22, 2014

I think athletic watches are as much a fashion statement as they are a sports accessory. I know people who never run or play a sport, but they still have their athletic watches. For my money, nothing beats a Swiss watch and you can get the Swiss Croton watches in a variety of price ranges.

These watches may not have all the features of a jogging watch, but unless you are a really serious runner, I don't think that will be a big concern.

By Drentel — On Jun 21, 2014

Until reading this article I didn't know jogging watches had features that let you do stuff like mapping your route and measuring your heart rate.Remember when you had to go to an upscale athletic store to buy the really advanced watches for jogging?

There are so many of them on the market now and so many different places where you can buy them. You can get some good prices on them online sometimes, and they have a variety of features.

Deanna Baranyi
Deanna Baranyi
Deanna Baranyi, a freelance writer and editor with a passion for the written word, brings a diverse skill set to her...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-jogging-watch.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.