Apple Watch Series 2
The reason to pay up for Apple's second-generation smartwatch is built-in GPS and swim-ready water resistance. Dad can hop in the pool, go for a jog, use Apple Pay, and never have an excuse for missing your phone call.
Apple Watch Series 1
Less expensive, but nearly as good: The Series 1 is a more budget-friendly pick for the dad who has an iPhone but no watch. It can't be worn swimming and it lacks GPS, but it's got all the other features.
Fitbit Alta HR
The best Fitbit just arrived for the summer, and it includes heart rate tracking on a really small band plus good battery life. It just lacks GPS and swimproofing.
Fitbit Charge 2
Slightly larger than the Fitbit Alta HR, the Charge 2 was our favorite pick until recently. It also has more manual controls for running and workouts, plus a breath-tracking mindfulness feature for stressed-out dads.
Huawei Watch 2
Does your dad have an Android phone? Android Wear 2 watches have gotten a lot better, and the Huawei Watch 2 might be the best of the bunch. It has GPS, tracks fitness and has decent battery life, plus Android Pay for wrist payments.
Garmin Forerunner 235
Our favorite casual running and fitness watch has a longer battery life (one to two weeks), is waterproof, has GPS and does a solid job tracking runs if dad's more of a jogger.
Withings Steel HR
An analog watchface gives the Steel HR a more casual-dressy look, but it still tracks heart rate, steps and sleep, plus can be worn swimming. Its battery lasts nearly three weeks, too, and the Withings app is a good pick for weight-loss goal setting.
Samsung Gear S3
Last but not least, Samsung's intriguing Gear S3 watch is feature-packed and looks slick. It's big, but its larger battery and extra phone-enabled mode in the Frontier model give it lots of clever advantages. One drawback: The Gear S3 runs its own set of apps that aren't as diverse as Android Wear or Apple Watch.