The Best Triathlon Watch For 2023
An essential piece of equipment every triathlete should invest in is a reliable triathlon watch. A good GPS-enabled triathlon sports watch can enhance your training, monitor your progress, and boost your overall performance during a race. Whether you’re training for your first 5K, or about to race an Ironman triathlon, a GPS watch will
I’ve personally gone through a dozen GPS-enabled watches and have some that are better than others. Let’s go over the best triathlon watch list of those currently on the market.
Garmin Forerunner 965
Designed to provide athletes with all of the performance metrics they need for their training and racing endeavors.
$599.99
SUUNTO VERTICAL Titanium Solar
One of the key features of this watch is its solar charging capability. Massive battery life.
$839.00
Polar Vantage V2
130 sport profiles, including running, swimming, cycling, and various indoor and outdoor activities.
$299.97
Apple Watch Ultra
Excellent choice for triathletes who want to track their progress in detail, and also use the watch for everyday life.
$799.00
COROS APEX 2 Pro
Advanced GPS and navigation features, making it an ideal companion for triathletes and anyone wanting to explore the outdoors
$449.00
The Best Triathlon Watch List
Garmin Forerunner 965
This triathlon watch is designed to provide athletes with all of the performance metrics they need for their training and racing endeavors. It’s equipped with an advanced optical heart rate sensor, a built-in GPS system, and a color display screen.
In addition, it boasts up to 7 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and more for an affordable price.
The Forerunner 965 comes in three colors – black case with a yellow band, black case with a black band, and Silver/whitestone case with a powder gray band.
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is designed to meet all of your triathlon needs with its performance metrics, tracking accuracy, user interface, data storage, and connectivity options.
Price
$599.99
Online Portal / App
All Garmin watches integrate seamlessly with Garmin Connect, Garmin’s online analytics app, and web portal.
Garmin Connect transforms raw data into meaningful and actionable insights. It will keep track of basic metrics like distance, pace, and duration, and it also delves deeper into advanced analytics. Heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and stress tracking, Garmin Connect can help paint a comprehensive picture of your overall health and well-being.
Extensibility
The Garmin system also allows many different “software plugins” from different accessory manufacturers. This system allows you to record metrics from non-Garmin accessories, as well as view their readings during a workout.
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth
- ANT+
Memory / History Storage
32 GB
Music Capabilities
You can store and play music from the watch. The watch can also control the music on your smartphone while connected via Bluetooth.
Heart Rate Monitor
Wrist-based heart rate is recorded every second.
A chest strap monitor is available but must be purchased separately.
Colors
- Black Case with Yellow/Black band
- Black Case with Black/Gray band
- White Case with White/Gray band
Size
- Total Size: 47.2 mm x 47.2 mm x 13.2mm
- Display Size: 1.4 inches (35.4 mm)
This will fit a wrist with a circumference between 135 mm to 205 mm.
Water Resistance
50 meters
Materials
- Lens: Gorilla Glass
- Bezel: Titanium
- Strap: Silicone
Weight
53 grams
Battery Life
- Smartwatch mode: Up to 23 days
- GPS-only mode without music: Up to 31 hours
- SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode: Up to 22 hours
- All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band: Up to 19 hours
- GPS-Only GNSS mode with music: Up to 10.5 hours
- SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode with music: Up to 9.5 hours
- All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band with music: Up to 8.5 hours
Warranty
Garmin fitness products are warranted to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for one year from the original date of purchase.
What Customers are Saying…
SUUNTO VERTICAL Titanium Solar
One of the key features of this watch is its solar charging capability. This is particularly beneficial for outdoor adventurers who spend extended periods in remote locations. According to SUUNTO, this solar option allows up to 60 days of battery life.
The VERTICAL Titanium Solar offers a range of outdoor activity tracking modes besides running and triathlon, including hiking, trail running, skiing, and mountaineering. It accurately records data such as altitude, ascent/descent rates, and total vertical gain, allowing users to analyze and improve their performance.
The watch also features GPS connectivity, enabling precise tracking of routes and the ability to discover new paths with confidence. It also includes a barometer, altimeter, and compass, providing essential information for navigation and weather forecasting.
The watch is compatible with the Suunto app, which provides a comprehensive overview of activity history, training insights, and the ability to share achievements with the Suunto community.
Price
$839.00
Online Portal / App
The SuuntoPlus Store in the app has additional plugins and guides for your watch available for free. You can find new devices that can connect to your Suunto, get new tools to manage your training, or features that give you more out of your desired sports.
If you have a training plan in TrainingPeaks, you can load it into your watch via these plugins.
Extensibility
Through the SuuntoPlus store, you can find new sports apps and connect with other devices and get real-time insights. Suunto also has “SuuntoPlus Guides”, which allow a third party to integrate detailed workout plans (and more) into your watch.
Connectivity
- Bluetooth
Updates are done via the Suunto App while connected to watch
Memory / History Storage
32 GB
Music Capabilities
Music can be stored and played from the watch. The watch can also control the music on your smartphone while connected via Bluetooth.
Heart Rate Monitor
Wrist-based heart rate.
A chest strap monitor is available but must be purchased separately.
Colors
- Canyon Orange band
- Black band
- Sand Gray band
- Forest Green band
Size
- Total Size: 49 mm x 49 mm x 13.6mm
- Display Size: 1.4 inches (35.4 mm)
This will fit a wrist with a circumference between 125 mm to 175 mm.
Water Resistance
100 meters
Materials
- Lens: Sapphire crystal
- Bezel: Titanium Grade 5
- Strap: Silicone
Weight
86 grams
Battery Life
- Time mode: 60 days. 1 year with solar.
- 24/7 tracking and mobile notifications: 30 days. 60 days with solar.
- Training mode with GPS: 60 hours. 85 hours with solar.
Warranty
The Suunto Vertical Watch has a two-year warranty. Accessories are guaranteed for one year.
What Customers are Saying…
polar Vantage V2
The Vantage V2 features a sleek and lightweight design with a durable stainless steel case and a color touchscreen display. It is water-resistant up to 100 meters, making it suitable for swimming and other water-based activities.
The precision heart rate monitor uses Polar’s advanced optical sensor technology to provide accurate and real-time heart rate data. It also offers comprehensive sleep tracking, providing insights into the quality and duration of your sleep.
The triathlon / running watch incorporates Polar’s Training Load Pro and Recovery Pro features, which assess the intensity and strain of your training sessions and provide personalized guidance on recovery and readiness for the next workout. It also includes running power measurement, allowing you to track your running performance with greater precision.
The Vantage V2 includes integrated GPS and a barometer for accurate altitude and weather tracking. It offers over 130 sports profiles, including running, swimming, cycling, and various indoor and outdoor activities, allowing users to tailor their training data to their specific needs.
Price
$299.97
Online Portal / App
Polar FLOW – The free, simple, online platform that takes your body’s data and translates it into information you can use to optimize your training, fitness, recovery, and sleep.
Extensibility
The Polar Vantage V2 is compatible with many apps such as MyFitnessPal, Nike Training Club, Strava, etc.
Connectivity
- Bluetooth
- USB-A Cable
Memory / History Storage
32 MB
Music Capabilities
The watch can control the music on your smartphone while connected via Bluetooth.
Heart Rate Monitor
Wrist-based heart rate using Polar’s Precision Prime OHR Technology.
A chest strap monitor is available but must be purchased separately.
Colors
- Red
- Black
- Gray
Size
- Total Size: 47 mm x 47 mm x 13mm
- Display Size: 1.2 inches
The watch comes in two sizes for the wristband.
- Small will fit a wrist with a circumference between 120 mm to 190 mm.
- Medium/Large will fit a wrist with a circumference between 145mm to 215mm.
Water Resistance
100 meters
Materials
- Lens: Gorilla glass
- Bezel: Aerospace aluminum
- Strap: Silicone
Weight
52 grams
Battery Life
- In training mode: up to 40 hours
- In training mode with power save: up to 100 hours
- In watch mode: up to 168 hours
Warranty
The Polar Vantage V2 has a two-year warranty.
What Customers are Saying…
Apple Watch Ultra
The Apple Watch Ultra smart watch is an excellent choice for triathletes who want to track their progress in detail, and also use the watch for everyday life. It has a variety of ergonomic features, including a lightweight design, rugged construction, and water resistance up to 100 meters. You can actually use it as a scuba diving watch underwater. We stick to our cold plunge pool.
It comes with cellular capabilities along with speakers and microphones. This makes it basically a smartphone on your wrist.
Additionally, it offers numerous apps that can help users monitor their health and fitness goals, such as calorie tracking, heart rate monitoring, and sleep tracking. This watch also comes with built-in GPS capabilities, which allow athletes to accurately track their runs or bike rides.
Finally, the watch also includes safety features like SOS calling, which allows users to contact emergency services with just one click.
This watch is going to be best utilized for Apple lovers, but the data will integrate easily into many 3rd party platforms such as TrainingPeaks.
Apple makes amazing user interfaces and user experiences, and this top-of-the-line Apple Watch is no exception.
Price
$799.00
Online Portal / App
If you’re an iPhone user, the Health app will show you a ton of information. The data does integrate with popular training platforms such as TrainingPeaks and Strava.
Extensibility
Pretty much any Apple App that uses health data integrates with the Apple Watch Ultra.
Connectivity
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi
Memory / History Storage
32 GB
Music Capabilities
This is the same as having an iPod on your wrist. You can store music on the watch, or Bluetooth to your phone and control the music from your wrist.
Heart Rate Monitor
Wrist-based monitoring can provide high and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notifications, and pretty much everything else you can think of.
Colors
- Natural titanium
Size
- Total Size: 49 mm x 49 mm x 14.4 mm
- Display Size: 49 mm x 49 mm
The watch comes with three specialized bands for athletes.
Water Resistance
100 meters
Materials
- Lens: Sapphire crystal
- Bezel: Titanium
- Strap: Silicone
Weight
61.3 grams
Battery Life
- Normal use: up to 36 hours
- In power saving mode: up to 60 hours
Warranty
One-year warranty.
What Customers are Saying…
COROS APEX 2 Pro
The Coros Apex 2 Pro Watch boasts advanced GPS and navigation features, making it an ideal companion for triathletes and anyone wanting to explore the outdoors. It has a built-in altimeter and barometer that provides real-time elevation and weather data, enabling you to stay up to date on changing conditions.
One standout feature is the impressive battery performance of up to 75 hours in full GPS mode. That’s more than enough juice for an Ironman or a bucket list ultramarathon.
It features a rugged and robust housing that can withstand the rigors of extreme sports and harsh environments. The watch is water-resistant up to 50 meters, allowing more than enough protection for your open-water swim or pool workout.
Its advanced GPS and navigation capabilities, long battery life, durable design, and comprehensive training metrics make it a formidable companion for any adventure.
Price
$449.00
Online Portal / App
With the COROS EvoLab and COROS Training Hub integration, you’ll have the same training insights that power Killian Jornet and Eliud Kipchoge.
Extensibility
Compatible with many apps – Komoot, TrainingPeaks, Strava, Apple Health, Final Surge, Stryd, and more.
Connectivity
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi
Memory / History Storage
Could not determine
Music Capabilities
Will play offline music when paired with supported Bluetooth headsets.
Heart Rate Monitor
Wrist-based monitoring using 5 LEDs with 4 photodetectors
Colors
- Gray
- Black
- Green
Additional color bands are available for purchase.
Size
- Total Size: 46.1 mm x 46.5 mm x 14 mm
- Display Size: 1.3 in
Water Resistance
50 meters
Materials
- Lens: Sapphire glass
- Bezel: Titanium alloy
- Strap: Silicone or Nylon
Weight
- 66 grams with silicone band
- 53 grams with nylon band (watch comes with nylon band)
Battery Life
- Daily use: 30 days
- Standard full GPS: 75 hours
- All systems on: 45 hours
- Dual frequency: 26 hours (11 hours with offline music enabled)
Charging time is less than 2 hours.
Warranty
Two-year global warranty.
What Customers are Saying…
Conclusion
Whether you’re a data-obsessed athlete or an adventurous triathlete, there’s a triathlon watch fit for every budget and every preference.
Invest in a watch that suits your training style and one that will help you improve your fitness.
Good luck!
Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase the product. This site is not intended to provide medical advice and you should always consult with a physician before beginning any physical activity.
