If you find yourself thinking about bringing your fitness or marathon experience to the next level, triathlon training can surely bring new challenges for you. It requires extra enduring power and strength since you have to train in different environments and deal with both land and water. On top of that, you also have to get yourself prepared over tracking longer distances while doing multiple sports or activities like biking, running, and swimming. And if you are keen on tracking your performance as you train and go about your first and succeeding iron man races, donning the best triathlon watch makes a great companion for that.
The best triathlon watch should also be as enduring as you are. It should be robust in terms of durability as it will be subjected to the harshest environments. Running the iron man triathlon is no feat – and many joiners could attest to that. Having the best triathlon watch on your wrist helps you prepare for the roads ahead. It tracks distances, speed, and even your heart rate. It can also gauge your skill and level, provide insights about your terrain, and even measures your progress.
And of course, the best triathlon watch comes with modern features and you get more than just a fitness watch for men. It provides you with the insights you need so you can further improve your stats and prepare physically and mentally for the race.
The best triathlon watch also offers other useful information like temperature, air pressure, and even weather updates. It should also withstand high/too low temperatures, resist water pressure, and withstand bumps and falls in between.
You get both the benefits of a diving watch and a running watch with the best triathlon watch.
Are you ready to start your triathlon training plans this 2022? We researched the best triathlon watch options in Amazon to partner with you. Check them here.
Best Triathlon Watch for Athletes and Marathon Enthusiasts – (Comparison)
Name | Key Feature | |
Garmin Forerunner 945 Bundle, Premium GPS Running/Triathlon Smartwatch with Music – (Editor’s Choice) | Performance monitoring – heart rate, VO2 max | Check Price |
Polar Vantage V2 – Premium Multisport Smartwatch with GPS | Running and Cycling tests, Leg Recovery test, Training Load Pro/Recovery Pro | Check Price |
SUUNTO 9 Baro & Peak, GPS Sports Watch | Rugged and with long battery life | Check Price |
Garmin Forerunner 945 Bundle, Premium GPS Running/Triathlon Smartwatch with Music – Editor’s Choice
Garmin has been one of the forerunners in fitness and sports watch for men and women. And it continues to engineer different watches to suit every taste, preference, activity, and need.
As the best triathlon watch, it does not just provide performance monitoring features. The bundled music feature allows you to enjoy your training and focus on keeping yourself strong and resilient to finish the race with flying colors. You can pair it with your smartphone to stream music using your watch from different music streaming sites online (requires a separate subscription if necessary). Or, you can also download and store up to about 1,000 songs that you can listen to via your Bluetooth headphones paired to your watch.
Meanwhile, of course, the highlight of the best triathlon watch is performance monitoring. It allows you to track different performance metrics that can help you condition your mind and body for the race. Also, tracking performance metrics allows you to look at where you need to focus on achieving the next training day. Overall, performance history provides you with personalized insights about your progress and the effects of your persistent conditioning of the body for a lengthy race.
The Garmin triathlon watch can track your VO2 max reading, which says about how much oxygen your body can utilize every time you exercise. In essence, it says a lot about the level of your cardiovascular fitness. Even though you are not an athlete, improving your VO2 max provides you with a lot of benefits. It is known to decrease your health risks, improve your mood, lessen your stress and anxiety, and increase your lifespan. Now, a high VO2 max level can help you endure and triumph in your iron man or triathlon races.
This best triathlon watch also comes with preloaded full-color maps to help you with navigating the race or any path you wish to take while you practice. Also, the built-in GPS allows you to connect to Garmin connect so you can take the best routes and trails. The GPS feature also doubles as a safety feature that sends your real-time location to your chosen contacts in the event of an emergency. It automatically detects accidents as well. This makes this the best Garmin watch for running.
Aside from triathlon training-related features, you also get to make contactless payments through Garmin Pay, utilize heart rate monitoring, and of course, check the time. You can also do live event sharing.
Pros
- Performance monitoring – heart rate, VO2 max
- With built-in GPS for automatic location sending at the event of emergency or accident
- Built-in GPS allows you to connect to Garmin connect so you can take the best routes and trails
- With preloaded colored maps
- Can store music up to 1,000 songs
- Garmin Pay
- Long battery life
Cons
- The screen gets scratched easily
Conclusion
The Garmin Forerunner 945 Bundle, Premium GPS Running/Triathlon Smartwatch with Music is both functional and reliable for any triathlon athlete. The maps work, readings are accurate, and the music storage and playback make training more fun.
Polar Vantage V2 – Premium Multisport Smartwatch with GPS
As the best triathlon watch, the Polar Vantage V2 – Premium Multisport Smartwatch with GPS with all you need to know about your training progress, where you need to focus, and how to recover to be at your best yet again on the next training day. And of course, you’ll know that you have a smartwatch on your wrist.
At the heart of this multisport watch is a powerful and accurate HR tracking system utilizing the Polar Precision Prime fusion sensor. This allows for advanced heart rate monitoring to allow you to stay on top of your body so you can maximize its ability.
For navigation, this best triathlon watch comes with built-in GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS systems. You can also use its built-in compass and barometer if needed.
When it comes to performance metrics, this sports smart watch allows you to perform running and cycling tests. You can designate heart rate, power, and speed zones for the levels you want to attain throughout your training journey.
Meanwhile, you can the best triathlon watch can still benefit you beyond triathlon training. The Polar Vantage V2 – Premium Multisport Smartwatch with GPS comes with Recovery Pro. On this mode, your watch can send feedback on your training recovery status so you’ll know when it is best to start training again. This helps you balance training and normal life so you are both physically and mentally prepared.
And then, there is the Training Load Pro. This mode provides you with comprehensive stats and insights about how your workouts strain your body in the process. This allows you to optimize your training so you will be more efficient and do not cause harm or injury to your body.
For your maintenance routine fitness training, you can use the FitSpark training guide. This provides you with access to on-demand workouts that are personalized based on your fitness level and training history. They differ every day and it is up to you to do them alongside your training or anytime in between. Specifically, your FitSpark workouts come from the results of your Nightly Recharge status and the result of your leg recovery test.
Meanwhile, Nightly Recharge provides you with insights on your sleep and recovery during sleep.
And since your best triathlon watch is also a smartwatch, you get other features like music controls, weather updates, and alerts about calls, messages, and email when paired with your smartphone.
Pros
- Powerful and accurate HR tracking system utilizing the Polar Precision Prime fusion sensor
- With built-in GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS systems; compass and barometer
- Running and Cycling tests
- Leg Recovery test
- Training Load Pro/Recovery Pro
- Access/delivers FitSpark training guide daily
- Nightly Recharge
- Like music controls, weather updates, and alerts about calls, messages, and email when paired with your smartphone
Cons
- Some users complain inaccurate (minor) HR reading
Conclusion
The Polar Vantage V2 – Premium Multisport Smartwatch with GPS provides you with extensive insights about your training journey. It also makes a great companion watch when it comes to fitness and performance tracking.
SUUNTO 9 Baro & Peak, GPS Sports Watch
Triathlon requires endurance training and laser-focused mind conditioning. Thus, you need your training to be systematic and rigorous, as well as guided by professionals. Equipment is also important and if used correctly can help you improve the results of your race.
As the best triathlon watch, the SUUNTO 9 Baro & Peak, GPS Sports Watch is made to endure the harshest environments and weather conditions. If you need something rugged while delivering the functions you need, this is worth investing in.
This multi sport watch provides you with a total of 80 sports modes to choose from. This makes it flexible to all of your training needs, which is a must for those who are training for a triathlon.
This triathlon watch comes with a wrist heart rate monitor and a barometer to provide you with altitude-related information. It can also track your training, whether you are cycling, running, swimming, hiking, and a gamut of other fitness activities. It is also water-resistant up to a hundred meters.
This best triathlon watch comes with a robust battery, being able to last up to 120 hours with the GPS on. This allows it to stay on top of all the metrics you need to be tracked regarding your training continuously. You get to get insights from your sports and fitness activities, as well as sleep patterns. Overall, they allow you to take a holistic approach over how you can balance training, rest, and fitness so you will be at your best in the race.
And of course, like a smartwatch, the SUUNTO 9 Baro & Peak, GPS Sports Watch pairs with your smartphone so you can control your music settings, view call, and message notifications, access maps, etc.
Pros
- Rugged and with extensive battery life (up to 120 hours with the GPS on)
- Comes with 80 sports and multi-sports modes
- Equipped with wrist heart rate monitor and barometer
- Tracks sleep and fitness/sports activities
- Pairs with your smartphone for notifications and music control
Cons
- No VO2 tracking
Conclusion
If you need something rugged and enduring of harshest weather and environmental conditions, the SUUNTO 9 Baro & Peak, GPS Sports Watch will never fail you.
Final Verdict
Are you looking for the best running watch that at the same time, can also be functional in other sports events like swimming, cycling, and even hiking? A multi-sport, best triathlon watch is what you need. Whether you are going to a mens or womens triathlon, you need a companion to help you with training for the big race of your life.
I find that the Garmin Forerunner 945 Bundle, Premium GPS Running/Triathlon Smartwatch with Music is the best triathlon watch on this list.
What I love about the Garmin Forerunner 945 Bundle, Premium GPS Running/Triathlon Smartwatch with Music is its VO2 max reading capability. As the gold standard when it comes to measuring cardiovascular fitness, this will surely help you optimize your training and condition your body for triathlons. The installed maps are also a plus. The built-in storage for music makes it more of a standalone watch so you do not need to bring your smartphone all the time.