GPS WATCHES
Watches don’t just tell us the time anymore—for triathletes they’ve become an important training tool that helps track our workouts, but also help monitor all the other stress that’s happening in our lives. Here’s a look at some of the computing wonders that can help you be at your best in racing and training.
Garmin Forerunner 955
$670/US$500
Garmin first introduced the world to its Forerunner line of watches 20 years ago and, despite having more than 40 different versions of this fan favourite, the company is still improving on it. As we go to press Garmin has released the new Forerunner 965 ($800), but there’s still a lot to love in the sleek 955—a multisport watch that will excite any triathlete. It features a responsive touch screen, meaning you won’t have any troubles swiping through the various pages mid-workout. The battery life continues to impress, with the 955 offering 15 days of power on one charge. Of course, no GPS watch is complete without, well, GPS, and the 955’s navigation system is top-notch. Say goodbye to getting lost and wondering where to make your next turn, because the latest in the Forerunner series has got you covered and will direct you all the way home. There’s so much more to be said about the Forerunner 955, from its built-in coaching system and training insights to its power meter and VO2 max capabilities and countless other features.
It’s hard to imagine how Garmin could improve on the 955, but as the Forerunner name enters its third decade of existence, we’re sure they’ll find a way with the new 965.
Apple Watch Ultra
$1,099/US$799
Back when the first few iterations of the Apple Watch were introduced, there was simply too much missing to be able to consider the product a “sport watch.” Seeing as Apple was looking to make an everyday watch, it was completely fair and acceptable that they hadn’t produced the best watch for athletes. However, in recent years, that has changed, and Apple has seriously stepped up its game when it comes to the watch’s GPS and training capabilities. That’s especially apparent with the Apple Watch Ultra, which the company describes as the “most rugged and capable Apple Watch ever.” The Ultra was designed with “athletes and adventurers” in mind, and it will impress anyone who tries it in training. It’s lightweight yet durable, water resistant (making it perfect for trips to the pool) and equipped with many endurance sport-focused features. It can show you your heart rate zones and monitor your running form (stride length, ground contact time and more) to help you run more efficiently, and the Ultra is even designed to measure power. Altogether, this is without a doubt the best sport watch Apple has ever made, and it will more than satisfy everyone who uses it.
Polar Vantage V2
$725/US$500
Polar’s Vantage lineup of GPS watches has always been a hit among triathletes, and the V2 will help continue that trend. The Vantage V2 is a slick, cool watch that was built specifically to help you and anyone who wears it improve as an endurance athlete. Whether it’s monitoring your heart rate, recording your power, counting your caloric and energy output or tracking your sleep, it will be working to help you 24/7. The Vantage V2 has a coaching system that will monitor all your workouts and cross-reference them with your sleep and recovery records. If you’re overdoing it in training, or not getting enough rest and sleep, the V2 will alert you and suggest you take it easy. This will not only help you recover in the moment, but it could help prevent you from overtraining and getting injured. The watch is also equipped with a stellar GPS system that will not only track where you’ve gone in your workout, but guide you the rest of the way in times when you’re running or riding in unfamiliar territory. The V2 is an all-around amazing watch, and all triathletes who try it will fall for it immediately.
Coros Apex 2 Pro
$699/US$499
The Coros Apex 2 Pro is specifically billed as an “outdoor watch” that is designed for athletes “who train hard and move fast.” Sounds like the ideal watch for a triathlete. Coros designed the Apex 2 Pro to thrive wherever you take it, whether that’s in the ocean, in the woods, on the open road or anywhere else. The watch has a tremendous battery that can last 30 days on one charge if you’re using it in regular mode, or 75 straight hours in GPS mode. That’s an 88 per cent increase in battery power compared to the original Apex Pro. Coros also endeavoured to build a strong, durable watch that would match the strength and durability of the athletes who will wear it. Thanks to this design, the Apex 2 Pro can withstand temperatures anywhere from -20 C all the way up to 50 C, so no matter when or where you’re training, it will give you accurate and dependable readings. Finally, the Apex 2 Pro was designed to help even the most adventurous of athletes, and so it is fully decked out with the best GPS system available. It will keep you on-course no matter where you are, and for days at a time if necessary.—BS-M