Wristwatches used to be so simple. They told the time, let us know we were running late, and maybe said something about our style. Now? Smartwatches have flung the humble wristwatch straight into the future—heart rate tracking, GPS, and a universe of workout apps live under that little glass square.
These days, our watches count steps, nudge us to move, and let us awkwardly pretend we’re secret agents by talking into our wrists. Honestly, it’s wild.
CrossFit isn’t exactly gentle—it’s a mix of lifting, jumping, running, and sometimes gasping for air while wondering why we signed up. Not every smartwatch can keep up.
CrossFit demands a watch that tracks explosive workouts, survives sweaty wrists and barbell smacks, and maybe even survives being tossed across the gym in frustration. What actually matters: accurate heart rate sensors, rugged (maybe even boomerang-proof) bodies, fast GPS, and big, bright screens we can actually read while squatting.
The big thing? The watch needs to work as hard as we do (maybe harder, since it never gets to skip burpees). Battery life, waterproofing, comfort, and reliable tracking are non-negotiable.
If it cracks easily or loses signal faster than we lose motivation, it’s out. We spent way too much time sweating and testing to find smartwatches that can handle CrossFit, so you don’t have to.
Best Smartwatches for CrossFit
Let’s be real—we want a smartwatch that can handle our burpees, not just count steps. Here are our top picks for smartwatches that won’t die halfway through the WOD.
If you want a budget-friendly smartwatch that does almost everything except make your CrossFit coach disappear, this one’s worth a look.
Pros
Built-in Alexa sets timers and answers questions mid-burpee.
Large, crisp display lets us check stats without squinting.
Bluetooth calls and messages help us dodge scary WODs by “looking busy.”
Cons
No standalone GPS, so your phone needs to stay close.
Some sports tracking features feel a bit basic for data nerds.
Design is more practical than stylish—probably won’t win fashion awards.
We strapped on the BOOOMIC Alexa Fitness Smartwatch and honestly wondered if it would survive a sweaty CrossFit session. It didn’t flinch.
The big 1.83″ screen made it easy to check our heart rate mid-clean and jerk. Bluetooth calling meant we didn’t have to dig in our gym bag for those “are you done yet?” texts.
Alexa’s on-wrist help felt like cheating—barking “set a timer for 20 minutes” without missing a beat or smudging our phones with chalky fingers. Sleep and stress tracking gave us more reasons to justify that post-WOD nap (science, right?).
We did miss standalone GPS when running—being tethered to our phone felt a bit old school. And while it tracks plenty of sports, CrossFit-specific insights are limited compared to fancier models.
Still, for the price? Hard to complain. If you want a solid starter fitness watch that handles daily workouts and adds a little Alexa magic, this one covers the basics and keeps things fun.
If you want a super affordable CrossFit watch that survives your burpees and doesn’t confuse you, check this one out.
Pros
Bright, big screen is readable even when you’re gasping for air.
Battery seems to last forever—even when you forget to charge it.
Tons of sports modes so you can pretend to track everything.
Cons
Step counter sometimes has a mind of its own.
App setup could use a manual written for actual humans.
Strap is comfy, unless you forget it’s on in the shower.
Honestly, the Motast Smart Watch surprised us by not exploding during a wild CrossFit WOD. The screen is sharp, even outside, and it felt nice on the wrist—better than most rubber resistance bands, honestly.
Setup was mostly painless, though the app made us question our patience (and maybe our tech skills). Taking calls from the wrist made us feel like secret agents, minus the danger and gadgets.
Sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and instant notifications meant we never missed a beat—or our coach’s orders. The step count sometimes disagreed with our phones (by, like, 800 steps), but for the price, we got a lot of features.
The waterproof rating saved us from a sweaty disaster, but don’t take it swimming on purpose. If you want solid CrossFit basics without draining your bank account, this watch is worth a look.
We’ve all been there—do we protect our wrists or keep our smartwatch on? With the M9 Smartwatch-Ready Wrist Wraps, we don’t have to choose.
We could check heart rates, track reps, and still squeeze out one more painful burpee without staring at the wall timer like it’s mocking us. Wearing these, our wrists felt supported and surprisingly comfortable, even during some not-so-graceful Olympic lifts.
The stretchy material hugs just right—not too stiff, but keeps everything in place. We tossed them in the gym bag a few times, and the Velcro mostly held up, though after a couple laundry cycles, the ends looked a bit fuzzy (kind of like our hair after cardio).
If you have very slim wrists or hate extra length, these might feel bulky at first. It took a couple tries to figure out the best wrap technique so it didn’t ride up over the watch—but once dialed in, it was smooth sailing.
If you’re tired of taking your watch off halfway through class, these wraps save time and sanity.
If you want a feature-packed CrossFit companion without emptying your wallet, put this one on your radar.
Pros
Bluetooth calling lets us gossip from our wrists.
Tons of sports modes, including ones we’ll never attempt.
Waterproof enough for a dramatic post-WOD shower.
Cons
Brightness struggles under direct sunlight.
Can’t reply to messages, so the watch never fights back.
Not immune to mysterious screen issues after a few months.
Let’s be honest, we need a watch that keeps up with our wildest workouts and most random group texts. The Quican IDW19 surprised us with how much it offers.
We answered calls like wrist-wielding secret agents, relied on Alexa for badly-timed weather updates, and the simple touchscreen made us look tech-savvy—even while fumbling through burpees. The massive variety of sports modes made us feel like Olympic multi-sport stars, even if we mostly repeated kettlebell swings and box jumps.
We tested the waterproofing by sweating buckets and then showering without removing it—and it survived both. Of course, it’s not perfect. Occasionally the screen gets glitchy, especially if we treat it like one of our bumper plates (pro tip: don’t drop it).
While we loved getting notifications, we wished it could reply for us when we’re too out of breath to type. Still, for the price, this smartwatch lets us track workouts, shout “Hey Alexa!” when we forget what’s next, and hold on to our dignity when we miss a call mid-AMRAP.
If you want a CrossFit-ready smartwatch that keeps up with sweat, chats, and records without costing a fortune, this one checks most of the boxes—and a few we didn’t know we wanted.
Pros
Handles calls and voice commands like a mini wrist-sidekick.
Over 120 sports modes so you never miss a calorie burned.
Crisp 1.85” screen that’s readable during burpees.
Cons
Setting up the app is, let’s say, “cardio for our brains.”
Limited instructions, so we do a lot of guessing and pressing.
Audio sometimes blasts unexpectedly from our wrist mid-squat.
We put the Jacoosa HD Smartwatch through several WODs and liked how it tracked everything from rowing to frantic jumping jacks.
Swiping across the large, sharp screen after a sweat session was almost as satisfying as peeling off gym socks. Calls and voice assistant features worked, so now we can tell our playlist to “skip” while gasping for air—no phone digging required.
Notifications pop up as soon as our phone buzzes, which is helpful, unless we’re mid-handstand and someone texts about pizza. The IP68 waterproofing held up fine to sweaty forearms and a post-workout rinse, though we’re not dunking it for swim WODs just to be safe.
The straps feel comfy, and the battery lasted a few days even with heavy use. Still, getting the Da Fit app sorted took patience, and our neighbors in class learned way too much about our group chats before we wrangled the audio settings.
For the price, though, this Jacoosa does more than enough for CrossFit routines, and a little trial and error never hurt anyone—just ask our shins.
Let’s be honest: if we want to crush CrossFit workouts on a budget and still answer calls mid-sweat, the Matast Smart Watch deserves a spot on our wrists.
Pros
We can make and answer calls, so we look important (even if it’s just our mom).
It tracks over 100 sports—even yoga for those rest days.
The battery lasts for days before we have to think about recharging.
Cons
No built-in GPS, so don’t toss our phones just yet.
It won’t survive a dip with sharks—or even salt water.
The interface takes some poking around to figure out.
We threw this watch into burpees, box jumps, and even dunked it in the sink a couple of times (oops). It survived just fine.
The band feels comfy, even when we’re sweating, and we can swap watch faces faster than we change our shoes.
Calls on the wrist? Total game changer when our phone’s lost in a pile of gym clothes.
The screen stays bright enough to check stats mid-WOD without squinting like we left our contacts at home.
Menus felt a little confusing at first, but after some trial and error—and maybe a sarcastic comment or two—we got the hang of it.
Charging goes quickly, and we don’t have to plug it in every night. That means more time for celebrating or, let’s be real, recovering.
We do wish it had GPS, especially for running outside. But honestly, for CrossFit tracking and daily steps, it’s solid.
The water resistance is fine for post-workout showers, but please, leave it out of the hot tub.
If we want a good-looking, practical wearable that won’t drain our wallet, the Matast watch deserves a spot on our gym playlist—and our wrist.
If we need a smartwatch that can handle CrossFit and still answer mom’s calls, this one’s worth a look.
Pros
Call, text, and app alerts keep us in the loop, even dodging burpees.
Tracks everything from heart rate to sleep—no excuses for “rest days.”
Waterproof enough for sweaty WODs and dish duty.
Cons
Messaging gets picky with some Android phones (we learned the hard way).
Blood pressure readings are iffy, so keep the cuff handy.
No built-in GPS—bring our phones for accurate routes.
We strapped this on and the big, bright display made checking stats mid-squat easy.
Flipping through 120+ sport modes, we realized this watch might push us to try something beyond the rower.
We answered calls and texts from the wrist, which meant less fumbling for phones and more pretending we’re secret agents.
We tested the waterproof claims, and yes, it survived both an accidental shower ambush and some ambitious sweat sessions.
Customizable watch faces are a fun feature—finally, we can show off our dog, coffee mug, or ego right alongside our heart rate.
Battery life lasted almost a week, even with daily use.
Not everything worked perfectly. The blood pressure feature left us more confused than a first-time CrossFitter reading the whiteboard.
Messaging synced well with most phones, but one of us had random issues getting texts from Google Messages to show up.
For CrossFit, though, the reliable tracking and quick info access made this watch a handy gym buddy. If we can dodge the odd tech hiccup, it’s ready for all our sweaty adventures.
Hi, my name is Garrett Jones, and I am a tech enthusiast. I enjoy researching the new tech that has been released, and have a vast knowledge of the best tech to purchase.
From a young age, I have always had a big interest in technology, and this blog is an extension of that interest. Through this blog, I hope to provide others with all of the information they need regarding tech options to consider, and things such as compatibility. Some of the different items I will be discussing include headphones, smartwatches, and how to fix common issues.
