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Running watches compared by battery life, weight and price, in one list of articles. From the marathon to 100 miles, I check by division whether the battery lasts.
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): COROS PACE 4 ProCOROS PACE 4 Pro ReviewRelease date and changes from the previous model. The COROS PACE 4 Pro is my top pick for runners who want a step up in battery and display while keeping a light watch. Released Sep 24, 2026, JPY 69,960. I also cover how it differs from the PACE 4 and how to choose between it and the APEX 4.Shoes & gear · Oct 16, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): GronG Fit-in Pouch (running pouch) / ASICS GT-2000 15 / New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 / ASICS METASLEEK20 New Running Releases, Aug–Oct 2026A quick list by release date, plus the one shoe worth buying. Here are 20 new running releases from fall 2026 (Aug–Oct) in release order. My top pick is the ASICS GT-2000 15 (Aug 6, JPY 16,500): about 2mm more stack and about 20g lighter. I checked 10 shoes, 3 watches, packs and accessories against official announcements, and flagged items not sold in Japan and early releases.Shoes & gear · Oct 18, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Apple Watch Ultra 4Apple Watch Ultra 4 ReviewReading the three battery figures: 18, 25 and 45 hours. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is the watch for iPhone users racing marathons and triathlons. Outdoor workouts last up to 18 hours, enough for a long-distance race with a 13-hour limit without dialing back settings. From JPY 142,800, 63.0g. How it differs from the Ultra 3 and Series 12, and what gets switched off in the 25- and 45-hour modes.Shoes & gear · Oct 15, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Amazfit Balance 3Amazfit Balance 3 ReviewSame battery, 8 more hours of GPS, now 41 hours. The Amazfit Balance 3 is the watch for people who want one device for trail, triathlon and HYROX. Up to 41 hours of high-accuracy GPS, JPY 63,800, 62g. I worked out the differences from the Balance 2, the titanium version, and whether the battery lasts for each race, using official specs.Shoes & gear · Oct 15, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Amazfit BalanceHYROX-Compatible WatchesAmazfit's HYROX mode and the price by model, and how it differs from Garmin. For HYROX, the Amazfit Balance 2 is enough. HYROX mode covers two things, race and fitness test, and the gap from the Balance 3, which holds 4, is JPY 19,910. We also cover how Garmin is handled and the rules in the race.HYROX, Oct 18, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Garmin Enduro / ASICS NIMBUS MIRAI (original and 2 shown together; tell them apart by the number in the product name) / Mizuno HYPERWARP (current generation) / On Cloudsurfer12 Upcoming Running ReleasesRelease date list (from Oct 14, 2026), and wait or buy now. Release dates for 12 upcoming running releases, in one list. The top picks are the Nike Alphafly 4 (Oct 29, JPY 39,600) and the Garmin Enduro 4 (Oct 22). Plus yardsticks for waiting or buying now.Shoes and Gear, Oct 19, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Polar Pacer／Amazfit smartwatch／COROS PACE 4／Amazfit BalanceChoose a running watch by battery hoursPrice per hour for 12 watches, and the top pick by budget. Running watch battery compared across 12 models. My top pick is the COROS PACE 4 (up to 41 hours with GPS, JPY 36,300), at JPY 885 per hour. Garmin, COROS, Polar, SUUNTO, Amazfit and Apple Watch lined up by official weight, battery and price, plus the 2 models that last 100 miles.Shoes & Gear · Oct 15, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Garmin Forerunner 170Forerunner 170 ReviewThe JPY 8,000 gap isn't battery; it's Suica and an altimeter. The Garmin Forerunner 170 is an entry watch for people who run marathons and halves, hills included. At 41g, about 20 hours of GPS and JPY 47,800, the JPY 8,000 gap to the 70 is Suica (Japan's transit card) and a barometric altimeter. Differences from the 165, 70 and 170 Music, and whether the battery lasts a race, by the official numbers.Shoes & Gear · Oct 15, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Garmin fēnix 9fēnix 9 ReviewThe 47mm is JPY 158,000 and about 30 hours. JPY 20,000 cheaper than the previous model, with double the storage. The Garmin fēnix 9 is a watch for people who want to time trail and triathlon with one device. The 47mm is JPY 158,000 and about 30 hours, enough for races up to 24 hours. Differences from the fēnix 8, how to pick among the 43 and 51mm, Pro and Enduro 4, and sizing, by the official numbers.Shoes & Gear · Oct 15, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Garmin Enduro 4 (new model, released Oct 22)Enduro 4 ReviewJPY 138,000, 66g, about 80 hours. Battery life is the same as before, and the price fell by JPY 10,000. The Garmin Enduro 4 is out Oct 22 for JPY 138,000. It's a watch for runners who want to track 100 miles at high-accuracy settings, with about 60 hours in high accuracy and about 80 hours standard, JPY 10,000 cheaper than the last one. Differences from the Enduro 3, fēnix 9 and APEX 4, and fit, using official figures.Shoes and Gear, Oct 15, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Garmin Forerunner (GPS running watch) / Amazfit smartwatch / Running pouch / Running capHalf Marathon Pace Chart and CutoffsComparing official time limits at 5 races, only Sendai needs 7:07/km. Comparing half marathon cutoffs and time limits in 5 races' official guidelines, the Sendai International Half Marathon's 2:30 limit requires a 7:07/km pace. I also include a pace chart from 1:30 to 3:00, cutoff paces counted from the start gun, and what to carry based on the number of aid stations.Half marathon · Oct 15, 2026
Pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): SUUNTO Run 2SUUNTO Run 2 Review35g, 24 hours, JPY 59,950, and why it costs more than its sibling the Race S. The SUUNTO Run 2 is a watch for runners who want a bright screen and an effort gauge on marathon day. 35g body, up to 24 hours of GPS, JPY 59,950. On battery and price, its sibling the Race S comes out ahead. Differences from the original Run, how to choose between 4 GB and 64 GB, and fit, using official figures.Shoes and Gear, Oct 17, 2026
