Are you looking for the best triathlon watch for training in the market? Well, you’re at the right resource. Triathlon training watches are different from racing watches and cannot be alternated with other fitness trackers or gears. These multisport watches often come with a dedicated mode for triathlons so that they can measure and track your performance and medical vitals even under water.
A good triathlon training watch should be able to track your swims, runs and cycles without having to press too many buttons or spend extensive time and effort on configuring the watch. Triathlon watches also happen to be different from fitness trackers and the best running watches in many ways.
If you have been practicing and training for the next local triathlon, you will know the importance of tracking time and progressing. Triathlon challenges your endurance and dedication, and you need to keep progressing continuously to get the best results possible here.
In this article, we mention the best watch for triathlon training. We mention a list of watches and review their key characteristics for you. By the end of this article, you will be able to find the best watch for your needs.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
What to Consider When Buying a Watch for Triathlon Training
A good watch for triathlon training should have a number of additional features on top of what is already offered by a general smart watch. We start by looking at some of the most important factors you should consider in the best watch for triathlon training. Once these factors are guaranteed, you can get the results you expect.
Battery Life
The very first thing you should look to get from your triathlon watch is decent battery life. A triathlon race can last from a couple of hours to a couple of days. Most athletes are looking at 3 to 4 hours of race time on average and want to have gear that performs for that period without running out of battery.
A good triathlon watch should be able to give you over 8 hours of charge time on GPS mode. This ensures that the watch won’t die just at the finishing line of the race, taking away whatever bragging rights you think you deserve. If your triathlon training watch keeps dying, you won’t be able to track your progress and measure time.
Waterproof
Swimming is an important part of triathlons, and the best watch for triathlon training would be all but useless if it does not feature water-tight or waterproof construction. The watch should be water rated to 50 meters or more in order to avoid frequent repair or damages. A good triathlon watch should be able to measure your vitals and heartbeat even under water.
Fit and Comfort
As mentioned above, most triathlon races last upwards of 4 hours, which is why you don’t want the watch to have a poor fit or be too uncomfortable to wear. The last thing you want is an uncomfortable fit that distracts you from the goal in mind. Always consider the feel and fit of the watch.
1. Garmin Forerunner 945
The Garmin Forerunner 945 offers the perfect balance between price and features for triathlon athletes. The device does look a lot like the Garmin 935, but it offers decent upgrades and is more accurate than the predecessor.
The Garmin Elevate heart sensor is accurate, even under water. The Forerunner 945 has a better battery and we can safely assume that this smart watch will come in handy even during non-training days. The fit is excellent and the watch is comfortable to wear.
2. Polar Vantage M2
The more you use the Polar Vantage M2 for training, the more you will come to like it. This triathlon training watch comes with excellent style and substance and can be used in a number of sports. The watch looks good on the wrist and feels comfortable.
The M2 has some 130 sport modes, which can come in handy for triathlon athletes. What’s more – the automatic detection of swimming style, distance, strokes, heart rate, pace and rest periods is significant.
3. Garmin Forerunner 745
The Garmin Forerunner 745 is a light version of the Garmin Forerunner 945. The good part about this product is that it is a bit cheaper than the 945 version and offers almost the same features as the upgrade.
The watch provides decent precision and results along with an excellent GPS connection. The 745 brings excellent innovation to the table along with a tried and tested hardware and software model.
4. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is the perfect watch for anyone who is fond of triathlons and needs the perfect watch to start training. The watch is fit for all kinds of outdoor activities including running triathlons.
The titanium version for the Fenix 6 Pro is ultra light and ranks at par with some of the other lightweight products on this list, without compromising on quality and features.
5. Suunto 9 Baro
The Suunto 9 Baro is another excellent watch for triathlon training, as it comes with over 120 hours of battery life in Ultra mode. The excellent battery life gives you precision in tracking along with a performing heart rate calculator.
The Suunto 9 Baro also comes with better build quality. However, the watch does weigh heavier than some other watches for triathlon training and can be a bit too heavy for people with narrow or small wrists.
Our Final Thoughts
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is our pick for the best watch for triathlon training. This watch offers the perfect balance between price and features for triathlon athletes. You can read reviews online to pick the best one from these reviewed watches.
