Do you want to buy a Strava compatible watch? Are you wondering what smartwatch works best with Strava?
Strava is a great platform for fitness freaks. If you have been on it long enough then I know you must want fitness tracking gadgets that support Strava. And if you are looking to buy a perfect smartwatch that not only tracks your running, cycling, etc. but is also compatible with Strava then you are at the right place. To help you choose the right watch, I have listed watches from the brands like Garmin, Amazfit, Apple, Samsung, Polar, Fitbit, and Huawei that work with Strava in this article. You will also find the cheapest and most affordable smartwatches for Strava on this list, in case you do not want to spend big.
So keep reading!
Quick Navigation
- Strava Compatible Smartwatches Comparison
- Best Watches With Strava
- Can Strava Be Used Without A Smartwatch?
- FAQs
Strava Compatible Smartwatches Comparison
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Best Running Watch Compatible With Strava  | Garmin Forerunner 245 Music |
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Cheapest Watch That Works With Strava  | Amazfit GTR 3 |
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Samsung Smartwatch With Strava  | Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 |
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Apple Watch That Supports Strava  | Apple Watch Series 7 |
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Best Watches With Strava
Let us look at some of the best GPS watches that work with Strava one by one.
1) Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is one of the best running watches with Strava. I am a hardcore runner and I personally own this watch. It’s been more than a year since I started using it and let me tell you the kind of data that it provides you for your runs is just unmatchable at its price point.
It works with Strava without a single hiccup. All I had to do to sync it with my Strava account is download the Garmin Connect app on my smartphone and then sync my Strava account with it. Now, it automatically transfers all my run data from Garmin Connect to my Strava account.
This Garmin watch is compatible with iOS as well as Android smartphones. I am using it with my iPhone 11 and I have not faced any issue whatsoever. So even if you own an iOS device, even then you can go for this one.
Other than Strava, to make your runs more enjoyable this smartwatch supports Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, etc. It also comes with an inbuilt storage of 3.5GB which did not get full even after I transferred 500 songs to it. I listen to these songs by connecting Bluetooth headphones to the watch. However, let me tell you the watch’s battery life decreases by a huge margin if you listen to songs from it.
Other than this, it comes with a heart rate, SpO2, and stress monitor. This smartwatch comes with an incident detection feature, inbuilt GPS, and also comes with a Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
Verdict
Overall it’s a very good running watch for women and men that comes with almost all the health trackers, it offers decent battery life, and it accurately tracks your runs and activities. That is why I highly recommend this if you want an affordable watch that can track your runs accurately and is compatible with Strava and Spotify.
You can check out my Garmin Forerunner 245 Music review video to know more about this watch.
2) Amazfit GTR 3
Amazfit GTR 3 is the cheapest running watch compatible with Strava on this list. I bought this watch to gift it to my brother but I ended up using it myself. This watch runs on Zepp watch OS and to connect it to Strava, I had to download the Zepp app on my smartphone, which is available on both Play Store and App Store. After installing Zepp app, all I had to do was sync my Zepp account with the Strava account. Once connected, Strava started taking all my health data from the Zepp app and I have not faced any issue with the syncing of the two apps.
Like the Forerunner 245M, this watch is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. But unlike Forerunner 245M, it does not come with internal storage to store music. So you will have to take your cell phone with you in case you want to listen to your favorite tracks.
However, this smartwatch comes with almost all the features that you get in the Forerunner 245M and costs almost half. And the thing that amazed me in this watch is its ability to track my runs. I have tested this watch side by side with my Garmin Forerunner 245 Music many times. And I got amazed every time I saw the results, both the watches showed me almost similar results every time.
The feature list of Amazfit GTR 3 includes:
- Heart rate, sleep, and stress monitor
- SpO2 monitor
- Multiple satellite navigation
- AMOLED display
- 150+ sports mode
- Built-in Alexa
The thing which I liked the most about Amazfit GTR 3 is that it offers you a One-Tap health measurement. This feature tracks breath per minute, stress, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation levels with just one tap. As a result, I did not have to measure everything separately and got all the results with just one tap. It’s like a mini body checkup.
Verdict
This watch comes with a lot of features that even the costly watches miss out on. It comes with 150+ sports modes and tracking of these exercises is very accurate. In fact, it goes head to head with my Garmin Forerunner 245 Music and costs almost half. When you combine all of this together, you get the best cheap running watch that works with Strava. Therefore it has got a place on my list and I highly recommend it to people running short on budget.
You can check out my Amazfit GTR 3 review video to know in detail about this watch.
3) Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is the best Strava compatible Samsung watch. This watch runs on Google’s Wear OS, however, the interface of this watch is almost similar to previous Samsung watches.
To connect my Galaxy Watch 4 to my Strava account, I had to install the Samsung Health app on my smartphone and then had to start sharing between two accounts. Once I connected both accounts, Strava was then able to get my run data from the Samsung Health app without any interruption.
I found its activity tracking to be very accurate and there are more than 90 sports modes in the exercise list of the Galaxy Watch 4. It even automatically detected my cycling and running, so I do not have to turn on the sports mode every time I go for a run.
Like Forerunner 245M, Galaxy Watch 4 comes with 16GB of internal storage. As a result, I was able to download songs to my smartwatch from Spotify or from my smartphone. This smartwatch also comes with a built-in speaker therefore I was able to play music on the watch itself. However, since it’s a smartwatch hence its speaker is not that powerful and I was not able to listen to the music as clearly when outdoors. Having said that, I was able to hear the songs loud and clear when I was in my bedroom.
Not just the speaker but this watch also comes with an inbuilt microphone and LTE connectivity. So I was able to make and answer calls using the watch. Although answering outdoors was not a pleasing experience as the speaker’s volume feels a bit low. But the microphone captures everything clearly and the person on the other end didn’t even know that I was talking through my smartwatch.
Moreover, this smartwatch comes with an ECG monitor, fall detection, WiFi Connectivity, 50M water-resistant rating, IP68 dust rating, etc.
Verdict
Galaxy Watch 4 is the most feature-rich smartwatch from the brand Samsung, you name the feature and it has it. And it is one of the gorgeous-looking smartwatches too. If you want an everyday watch that is compatible with Strava and has all the features then you should definitely consider buying this watch.
4) Apple Watch Series 7
Apple Watch Series 7 is the latest Apple watch that works with Strava. Like other watches on this list, you will have to connect your Strava account to your Apple Health App. Once connected, you will be able to see details regarding your activities on your Strava account.
Like Galaxy Watch 4, this smartwatch can automatically detect cycling and running. And this smartwatch comes with WiFi connectivity as well as LTE connectivity.
You will also be able to make and receive calls by using its inbuilt microphone and speaker. To help you keep track of your body health parameters, Watch Series 7 comes with all health trackers like ECG, heart rate, sleep, stress, SpO2, etc.
Apple also claims that this watch comes with the largest display among all the Apple watches. Therefore you will enjoy replying to texts through your watch. In fact, if you own an iPhone then you will have to buy an Apple Watch if you want to reply to text messages through your wrist.
Like Forerunner 245M and Galaxy Watch 4, this watch also comes with a fall detection feature. If you ever experience a hard fall during your running then you neither have to worry about yourself nor about the watch. Because help will be on its way for you and since the watch comes with Apple’s most crack-resistant display ever, so it will survive the hardest of falls too.
Verdict
Like Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Apple Watch Series 7 is the latest and smartest watch from the brand Apple. If you are a fan of the brand and want a watch that has got every feature and works with Strava then you will not find anything better than this. Needless to say, it is the best smartwatch for iPhone users.
5) Fitbit Sense
Fitbit Sense is the latest Fitbit watch that works with Strava. Like other smartwatches, you have to connect your Fitbit account to your Strava account and you will be good to go. But remember that your old activities will not get shared and only the new activities will get shared automatically.
Having said that you can also sync your old Fitbit activities data with your Strava. Check out Fitbit and Strava sync article on Strava’s official site to know how to do it.
Other than the fitness tracker, this smartwatch comes with a lot of health trackers too. Like the Apple Watch Series 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, this smartwatch comes with an ECG monitor. Moreover, it has a stress tracker, sleep tracker, and a 24/7 heart rate monitor that can also detect irregularities with your heart and notify you of the same.
The thing that I like about this watch is that it is one of the very few watches that comes with Alexa as well as Google Voice Assistant built-in. And like other smartwatches on this list, this also comes with an inbuilt speaker and microphone. Therefore you will not only be able to listen to the songs on the watch but will also be able to answer phone calls.
This watch also comes with a 50M water-resistant rating and tracks swimming exercises as well. As a result, you can wear it to your swimming sessions and can also track them.
Verdict
Fitbit Sense comes loaded with features and does not carry a hefty price tag as well. And when it comes to tracking activities and exercise then it tracks them with accuracy too. Therefore if you are looking for an affordable everyday watch that is compatible with Strava and comes with a lot of features then you can buy this one.
6) Huawei Watch 3
Huawei Watch 3 is also compatible with Strava. To sync your activity data automatically, you will need to turn on the sync between the Huawei Health app and the Strava app. It can be done through the Huawei Health app.
This smartwatch tracks more than 100 sports modes, and it can track running and cycling automatically.
Huawei Watch 3 comes with eSIM support. As a result, you will be able to make and receive phone calls, reply to text messages, download apps, play online songs, etc. without connecting to your smartphone.
Moreover, the watch comes with a 1.43” AMOLED touchscreen that displays vibrant colors. Other features of this watch include multiple satellite navigation, a heart rate monitor, wireless charging support, a built-in microphone and speaker, a 50M water-resistant rating, etc.
Verdict
Overall it is a good watch that tracks your running, cycling, swimming, and other exercises accurately. And it is one of the most beautiful-looking smartwatches as well. You can definitely go for it if you want a watch that you can flaunt, that can measure your workouts accurately and that is compatible with Strava.
7) Polar Vantage V2
Polar Vantage V2 is the last watch with Strava on my list. It is the costliest and the most feature-rich watch when it comes to tracking workouts. This Polar smartwatch not only tracks more than 130 workout modes but also gives you customized programs to excel in different sports. Other than this, it also tracks your body’s recovery rate. So that you can know if your body is fully recovered from the previous workout or not. Moreover, it also lets you know if you are pushing your limits or overdoing your workouts.
You can use the Polar Flow app to connect your Strava account to it. Once connected, your activity data will then be synced automatically to your Strava account.
Other than this, Polar Vantage V2 comes with a very accurate heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, multiple satellite navigation, altimeter, compass, and whatnot. This is also the only watch on this list that comes with a 100M water-resistant rating.
The only drawback of this Polar watch compared to Garmin Forerunner 245 is that it doesn’t feature a SpO2 monitor.
Verdict
If you want a watch just to track your performance and aspire to be an athlete then this is the watch for you. It will help you in your training by accurately tracking your workouts and recovery, and it will give you customized programs. Needless to say, it works with Strava too.
Can Strava Be Used Without A Smartwatch?
Yes, you can use Strava without a smartwatch. All you have to do is download the Strava app on your smartphone and it will use your cell phone’s GPS and sensor to track your runs and cycling sessions.
Having said that, it may be able to track the distance and pace of your runs but it will not be able to track your body health parameters like heart rate, VO2 max, etc. Therefore, I will highly recommend buying a smartwatch if you are serious about your cycling and running.
FAQs
Which Smartwatches Work With Strava?
Following smartwatches work with Strava: Garmin Forerunner 245M, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Apple Watch Series 7, Fitbit Sense, Amazfit GTR 3, Huawei Watch 3, and Polar Vantage V2.
Do Garmin Watches Work With Strava?
Yes, Garmin watches work with Strava.
Are Fitbit Watches Compatible With Strava?
Yes, Fitbit watches are compatible with Strava.
Do You Need A Smartwatch For Strava?
No, you do not need a smartwatch for Strava. However, it is recommended that you get one.
Which Is The Best Smartwatch For Running And Music?
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is the best smartwatch for running and listening to music.
