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Maps are an excellent feature on any watch you plan to take running or hiking. Unfortunately they tend to be a premium feature, and until recently you had to spend some pretty serious money to get offline maps on a watch. But that’s changing, and we now have several great options in the mid range and even entry level watches.
For this list, I’m only considering watches that are current models—you may be able to find deals on older versions of these. All of these watches have been road-tested either by myself or Meredith Dietz here at Lifehacker.
Why maps matter on a watch
Credit: Beth Skwarecki
Let me be really clear on what it means for a watch to have maps. This is a premium feature on top of navigation and GPS tracking. Here’s the difference between those three things:
GPS tracking: where you are
GPS (or GNSS) tracking means that the watch can communicate with satellites to know where you are in the world. All modern running watches have this ability. (Some wearables, like the Whoop and Fitbit Air, use the GPS that is built into your phone rather than having this capability onboard.
This GPS data tells the watch how far and how fast you’re running during the workout, and allows you to see your data on a map after the workout—for example, when you’re reviewing the workout on your phone afterward, you’ll see the route your watch tracked overlaid on a map that the phone draws based on data it has downloaded from the Internet.
Breadcrumb navigation: where you’ve been
Breadcrumb navigation means that the watch can remember where you’ve been, while you’re on the run. You’ll see a line representing the path you’ve taken, and it will be shown to you on a blank background.
You can usually also download a “route” or “course” to the watch, and it will display a line showing you where you’re supposed to go, overlaid with the line for where you actually went. Many watches can even give you turn-by-turn directions based on these routes, but they don’t know where the route intersects other roads or trails.
Offline maps: what else is out there
This is the feature we’ll be talking about today. In addition to knowing where you are and where you’ve been, watches with maps can show you what exists in the world around you. Instead of seeing a line in a void, your watch will clearly show you that you’re running down Main Street and you’re about to cross a bridge over a creek.
Maps make it easier to follow routes, since you can see whether you’re turning at an intersection or crossing a road, and you can see where you are relative to highly visible map features like lakes and highways. Some watches can plan navigation from the watch itself (like higher-end Garmin and Amazfit watches) but most just display the map as sort of a background graphic behind your breadcrumb route.
Maps take up space on your watch, so the amount of storage available may start to become a consideration, especially if you also want to store music on your watch. You may also have to download maps via your phone while you’re at home with a good data connection, rather than expecting to do that while you’re out on the trail. Fortunately, once you download maps for a given area, you won’t need to do that again; the maps will stay on your watch for you to use over and over.
The one to beat: Garmin Forerunner 970, $750
Credit: Meredith Dietz
We’ll start with Garmin, because it’s the best-known brand of running watch and because its maps are really nicely done. Garmin reserves its maps for its higher-end watches, including the Fenix series, which can easily run you $1,000 or more. The cheapest watch with maps in Garmin’s current lineup is the Forerunner 970, which retails for $750. Once you get past the sticker shock, it’s a really nice watch (and it has a flashlight).
You’ll also find maps in older models starting with a 9, like the 965, 955, and so on. (Confused? I have an explainer on Garmin’s model numbers here.) If the first number is a 9, you can expect maps. If it’s anything else—like the 165 or 570—you’ll only get breadcrumb navigation.
My favorite, and one of the cheapest: Coros Pace 4, $249
Credit: Beth Skwarecki
The Pace 4 just got maps in a software update, and that upgraded this watch from my favorite watch for most runs to my favorite watch for all runs, including the ones where I’m checking out a new-to-me navigation route. The Pace 4’s small amount of storage means you can only store maps for a relatively small area. I can store most of Pennsylvania on my watch, but definitely not the whole United States.
The best mid range watch: Suunto Run 2, $399
Credit: Beth Skwarecki
Suunto also has some affordable watches with maps, including the Run 2 for $399 and the Race 2 for $499. I like Suunto’s clear directional arrows when you’re following a downloaded route, and the maps perform well.
Just give me the cheapest: Amazfit Active Max, $170
Credit: Beth Skwarecki
Zepp’s Amazfit brand specializes in bringing premium features into budget watches. That includes maps: you can get offline maps on a big, bright screen on the $170 Active Max, an incredible deal compared to what you’d have to spend for other brands.
Amazfit’s watches are serviceable. In my and Meredith’s testing, they perform reasonably well on accuracy, and they provide the essential features you need in a running watch. They’re never quite as polished as the other brands, with slightly clunky app features and sometimes slow responses on the watch. Meredith has more here on why they’re not her favorite. Still, if you’re looking to buy a first running watch, and you’d like it to have maps, an Amazfit will do the job.
