Top 12 Best Triathlon Watches For The Money 2023 Reviews

Triathlon is an amazing sport, and if you have been practicing even a single of their sports principles before, then you will be aware of its challenges. You will know the different race lengths, and you can choose one that fits your fitness level the most.

Whether you are into cycling, swimming, or running, you must take your race preparation seriously. If you swam more than 10 meters back in school years ago, then getting ready for a 700 meter open water spinning for a triathlon sprint will take 10-12 weeks of preparation.

One of the most common mistakes is getting the pacing wrong, by not knowing which heart rate zone you are training in. This is where a good triathlon watch can help you and be quite helpful.

A wearable that monitors your heart rate in real life as well as your position, pace, and other metrics in the water, on your feet running or on the bike, can be super helpful.

Read on below to find out more about the best triathlon watch to buy and how to choose the right one.

Best Triathlon Watches Comparison Table

Products	GPS	Color	Heart Rate Monitoring	Rating
Also Great Garmin Fenix 6 Pro View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4.5 / 5)
Also Great Apple Watch Series 5 View Price	GPS No	Color Space Gray	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4.8 / 5)
Also Great Garmin Fenix 5 View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4.3 / 5)
Also Great Garmin Fenix 5 Plus View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4.4 / 5)
Also Great Garmin Forerunner 935 View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black- Yellow	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4.4 / 5)
Best Choice Garmin Forerunner 945 View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(5 / 5)
Also Great Suunto 9 View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black- White- Copper- Gold Leather	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4.1 / 5)
Also Great Polar Vantage V View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4.1 / 5)
Also Great Garmin Forerunner 735XT View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black-Grey	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4.4 / 5)
Also Great Coros Apex Premium Multisport View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black/Grey, Gold, Midnight Black	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4.7 / 5)
Also Great Polar Vantage M View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4.1 / 5)
Also Great Suunto 5 View Price	GPS Yes	Color Black, Graphite, White, Burgundy	Heart Rate Monitoring Yes	(4 / 5)

Top 12 Best Triathlon Watches In 2023 Reviews

1 Garmin Fenix 6 Pro

If you’re looking to purchase a multi-sport fitness smartwatch, then this is an excellent option for you. This watch will cover your fitness track needs and more. It comes with an excellent build quality that feels incredibly premium and is put together.

Also, it comes with a sturdy stainless steel case and a sapphire glass crystal over it. This crystal makes it scratch-proof and even elevates the whole look. Furthermore, you get strap options in different materials and different prices. The straps are very easy to detach and attach on your own.

However, Fenix 6 is not a touchscreen watch and comes with five physical buttons. These buttons help in operating it, and it even provides users with an adequate screen resolution that allows you to read the statistics easily.

Also, the watch is not very lightweight, and some users love that. The slight heavy feel of this watch, which is due to the bulky casing, makes it feel more high quality.

Furthermore, the user interface on this watch is very easy and convenient because of the condensed widget view. This way, you are allowed to view more than a single category present in the main menu.

Fenix 6, unlike its predecessor, comes with plenty of battery conserving options. This battery allows you to last for 46 days straight with a single full charge. Now, this makes it a great win. If you’re the kind of person who tends to go on plenty of trips for months without having a charger, then this device is the one for you.

Furthermore, the smartwatch mode provides works for two weeks without charging, whereas, in maximum battery mode, you get 72 hours straight. Also, with GPS mode, you can enjoy 36 hours.

Realistically, using moderate exercise tracking, you will not need to recharge your watch for an entire week.

2 Apple Watch Series 5

Technophiles have claimed this watch as untouchable in various different aspects. The Apple Watch Series 5 has everything that you will need on a triathlon watch, along with a gorgeous outlook and top-notch functioning.

The Apple Series 5 Triathlon watch is incredibly elegant, given that it is a GPS watch that can easily track racing, cycling, and swimming. It comes with a gorgeous AMOLED touchscreen and has a significantly detailed display.

Furthermore, it is lightweight and sits flatly on your wrist. So if you are looking for a sleek, small profile watch that you can easily wear with regular clothes, then this is the one for you.

It has plenty of great features such as a heart rate monitor, a GPS, and cellular capability along with a 5 ATM waterproof rating.

Moreover, this watch also has a great daily activity tracking via a three-ring system of fitness and health. So if you sit behind your desk the whole day, then this smartwatch will remind you of your unhealthy habits right away.

Also, just like previous Apple watches, you have to make use of 3rd party applications in order to get the most out of it. This is one feature that makes Apple watches stand out because you can choose from plenty of apps to help you with fitness and training.

Also, you can download whatever apps you want directly on the watch, such as to-do list apps, password saving apps, and even food tracking. In order to start a workout, you simply need to open your app and then select the sport you want to track.

For every workout, you can pick the data field you want to see on display while training. This watch also has built-in GPS, which will start the moment it connects to the nearest satellite. Another thing to keep in mind is that you can even make calls with this watch if you choose the cellular version.

3 Garmin Fenix 5

Fenix 5, similar to Fenix 6, is also made for triathletes. It is made with a beastly look that fits all the sports activities that you want to track. It is hefty with a rugged design wrapped in a diamond-like carbon titanium bezel or stainless steel.

This watch comes with buttons for operating it since it doesn’t have a touchscreen. You can also customize its face and apps using free downloads from the Connect IQ store. With this watch, you can choose from plenty of band options such as silicone, metal, and leather.

Garmin also gives you the option to personalize the watch. It has a high-resolution display along with LED backlighting, so you get high readability no matter what the conditions are. Due to the high strength sapphire lens present on the watch, you no longer have to worry about it getting scratched over it.

This Fenix 5 is best suited for people who tend to do running a lot because of its advanced mapping features. The navigation features and the built-in mapping help you stay on course and focused on whether you are on the trail or in the city. This watch helps you in finding the best trails and routes to follow via the Trendline popularity routing features.

Apart from cycling and running, Fenix 5 will provide you with a decisive edge by keeping track of your performance and form in different activities as well. These activities include skiing, hiking, rowing, swimming, and even paddleboarding.

Furthermore, with this watch, you can also count your steps, know your calories, track how many you’ve burned, and monitor your sleep. Also, since it is waterproof up to 10 ATM, you can use it underwater as well.

4 Garmin Fenix 5 Plus

If you are looking for an all action sports watch that can track everything you need, and does it consistently and reliably, then there is nothing better than Fenix 5 Plus. For athletes and outdoor adventures, this is a high-performance watch made to beat your record and bring music and map on your wrist.

This is a premium multisport GPS smartwatch that estimates your heart rate and is your roadmap to success. Whether you are in the city or on a trail, this watch will provide you with a built-in map and navigating features that keep you on the course and oriented.

Also, a full-color TOPO mapping is preloaded along with map data made for at-a-glance location and navigation tracking. For cyclists and runners, the device also comes with Trendline popularity routing. This uses the Garmin connect data in order to find the best trails and routes for you.

Furthermore, it comes with multi-network navigation. This makes use of satellite reception to track in challenging environments than GPS alone. Apart from this map-based guidance, each watch provides users with a set of ABC sensor. This stands for altimeter, barometer, and compass.

The built-in altimeter provides you with elevation data to accurately monitor ascent and descent for different activities such as hiking. It also provides you with advanced performance metrics. Fenix provides you with sophisticated training features in order to monitor your performance and form.

You can easily tap into physiological metrics and running dynamics to get a better grasp of your workout stats and fine-tune your performance and form. The elevate wrist heart rate technology monitors your heart rate without the need of a chest strap.

With Fenix 5 Plus series, you can enjoy smart notifications when it gets paired to your phone. You can receive emails, texts, and other alerts on your wrist. So whether you are hiking or bicycling on a trail, you will remain connected with your loved ones.

5 Garmin Forerunner 935

This is another incomparable smartwatch present by Garmin. It has great smartwatch capabilities, and if you are an avid triathlete, then this is the training companion you need. The watch comes in lightweight construction and is thin. This makes it stand out from the previous Garmin watches, which were proven to be heavier.

The straps on this watch are made from silicone, whereas the case is made from bezel type material. Furthermore, since the watch can sync to the Garmin Connect app, you can customize it according to your taste. It comes with a long-lasting battery life up to 24 hours, whether it is inactivity mode or GPS.

This watch comes packed with features that help you in analyzing, racing, and training workouts. The Forerunner 935 can track running, which includes distance, swimming which includes stroke count along with distance and speed in water and pool, and also tracks other sports. This includes paddling, golf, skiing, and cycling, of course.

The Forerunner 935 can accurately record elevation via a barometric altimeter and tracks the heart rate when strapped on the wrist. This watch is also compatible with a chest strap HRM and has the ability to auto-upload workouts using Wi-Fi.

Moreover, this is an activity tracking watch, which means that it counts your steps and even sets daily goals. It also has new recovery tools and training techniques that help you figure out your fitness ability and workouts.

6 Garmin Forerunner 945

This is another outstanding Garmin watch. It is powerful, sleek, and is built especially for triathletes. It comes with multi-sport capabilities and has a traditional look with buttons. These buttons help with providing you easy access and navigation.

Furthermore, with this 945 Garmin watch, you can download up to thousands of songs easily. You can connect this watch with your Bluetooth headphones and won’t have to lug your phone around with wires to have a good workout.

You also no longer have to worry about leaving your phone behind. This watch comes with built-in safety features and even tracking abilities. So in case of any emergency, this watch will find your phone for you.

The Forerunner is also loaded with performance widgets and activities. It provides you with standard features such as respiration rate, heartbeat rate, sleep tracking, steps taken, and calories burned. It has further taken a step forward and now even tracks altitude and temperature.

Moreover, it provides you with a detailed plan for training. Also, the multi-sport experience with this watch is peerless. You can transition from biking to running to swimming with a single hit of a button.

You will also no longer get lost when running and cycling due to the maps present onboard. These maps tend to guide you to the right routes.

Another outstanding feature of this watch is the stress score. This smartwatch makes use of the Heart Rate Variability to determine if you are simply tired or too tired. Also, this feature is useful as it lets you know when you should stop your training and when to continue going on.

Furthermore, the Garmin contactless pay payment solution allows you to pay for your shopping with a simple wave of the hand. It also allows you to go for training without being out of touch with your emails, social media notifications, and messages.

As for this watch’s battery life, you get to enjoy two weeks on the smartwatch mode and 10 hours through GPS mode using music.

7 Suunto 9

This is a multi-sport watch that is made for adventurous people. If you tend to love hiking or similar kinds of adventures, then this is your best option. It can not only track but do plenty of other things as well. However, its most important feature is how long it is able to do these things.

This watch comes with a robust and sturdy design. It has a thick silicone wrist band along with a stainless steel casing. There are also prominent control buttons present on the side, and if you are looking for elegance and style in a triathlon watch, then this one is for you. It has a traditional design loved by all.

The best part about this watch is that it can go through rugged and rough environments easily. Furthermore, this watch comes with a large sapphire crystal display. It also has a color touchscreen that makes it handy to use.

The display on this watch allows you to easily read the stats in any condition. In fact, it is able to show five different states at the same time. So you can choose from the eight stats offered and pick five of your own choosing.

As for the activities, this multi-sport watch comes with 80 sports mode. So if you are a fitness aficionado or an avid athlete, you will enjoy the watch to the fullest. The only thing lacking in this watch is golfing.

Other than the crazy number of activities it can easily track, this watch comes with fitness-focused smartwatch features. It tracks things like calories burned, steps taken, descent, ascent, time, distance, sleep, etc.

Additionally, it also shows you the weather on a particular day, along with the sea level pressure from sunrise to sunset.

When connected to your phone, this watch provides you with full notifications. It can also be connected to your Bluetooth headphones and provide you with songs to listen to.

8 Polar Vantage V

The Polar Vantage is a great multi-sport GPS watch that carries quite some features. It is the first watch that allows you to measure running power from the wrist without any power meters or foot pods. Furthermore, it has an integrated GPS for accurate speed measuring, route tracking, and distance meter.

Moreover, Polar Vantage V is able to detect your heart rate, swimming style, distance, pace, rest time, and much more. It provides you a comprehensive view of how your training sessions strain your body and muscles in different ways. This watch makes sure you don’t over-train and overwork your muscles and allows you to follow up with your body process.

It has an ultra-long battery life, which means the watch won’t die out halfway during your training. Also, it has a 40-hour training time and is able to withstand the toughest training sessions, which makes it the number one training watch available in the market.

It also features an accelerated and precise running power and efficient activity tracking. Training with the Polar Vantage V allows you to access the full Polar ecosystem and lets you view all your training data on a singular platform. It also allows you to sync your data to other services such as Strava or Training Peaks.

Moreover, it also allows you to send all your training information to your trainer or coach to allow for more human input along with the technical information that these gadgets provide.

9 Garmin Forerunner 735XT

Garmin Forerunner 735XT is a great triathlon and running watch that has a slim design, which allows for easy grip and long battery life. It is one of the best-designed watches with way too many features. It comes in two great colors, and rubberized straps make it very comfortable to wear. Also, unlike many other watches, the straps on the Garmin are pretty wide with holding lugs.

However, the screen is low resolution compared to many other sports out there, but it is perfectly legible and allows readability in all weathers and conditions. Moreover, it uses a transflective screen, which allows it to use the available light to bring clarity on the screen.

It is an accurate and easy to use watch with a built-in GPS system that provides real-time tracking and also smart notifications and automatic uploads, which allows you to enjoy your runs without having to worry about carrying your phone.

The Live track feature lets your family and friends track your location in real-time. Moreover, it has an auto-start mode, which makes you focus more on running instead of on the technology; it is a sort of an automatic feature that makes it a great watch amongst competitors.

Furthermore, the Garmin is a great multi-sports watch, which means it is well-suited for many other sports like swimming and cycling. It helps you track all your information, including heart rate records, and also allows for easy access to all such data with easy transition monitoring.

10 Coros Apex Premium Multisport

The Coros Apex is a great watch with a clean and modern design that looks good both on the field and everyday wear. It is a very comfortable and easy to use watch with a flat bottom casing. It has a friendly user interface and a single button design that accesses all the information. Unlike many other brands, Apex has a digital crown that is easy to use and navigate.

It is a multi-sport watch that is designed for triathlete training, which allows you to track both outdoor and indoor activities. In fact, it has a great number of matrices that allow you to view all your training data while working out. It allows you to view distance, pace, heart rate elevations, and much more.

This also features a five-screen display that does quite a decent job of detecting your sleep. It provides you clear data in regards to sleep quality and resting heart rates. Moreover, it features a pulse oximeter, which is something that not many watches feature.

The Coros Apex connects easily to your smartphone via Bluetooth and is compatible with the mobile app as well. It syncs quickly and provides great performance analysis for the everyday athlete. The app itself is quite easy to use; instead of searching for the data, it allows you to easily view and analyze your data and has a great breakdown of the activity stream.

Moreover, the Ultra max setting of the watch allows you up to 100 hours of battery time, which is way more than what any other watch offers. The normal GPS mode also allows for a good 35-40 hour usage, depending on your routine.

11 Polar Vantage M

This is Polar Vantage V’s little brother but is less pricey and lacks a few of Polar V’s features such as barometric altimeter and recovery pro load. On the bright side, this is the ultimate multi-sport watch you should grab. It has the ability to track up to 130 activities.

Also, it is a light watch with a plastic casing. It contains five buttons present on its side for navigation. It is a more versatile watch as it provides you with different strap options. You can buy Polar’s straps or go for any other compatible strap.

Furthermore, this watch is an activity tracker and tracks most of your metrics. It keeps track of calories, sleep, steps taken, and even active time. This watch also provides you with 24-hour heart rate tracking and has an optical HR sensor for your workouts.

12 Suunto 5

Suunto 5 provides you with a long battery life with a GPS tracker packed with different sports features to use. This device makes it easy for you to track all your progress and workouts. It also has a 24/7 activity tracker that keeps track of stress, sleep, calories, and steps.

Suunto has incredibly long battery life. Due to this, you no longer have to worry about it dying. You can also change the battery mode while on the go, and it also reminds you to charge it when the battery is low.

Furthermore, Suunto keeps track of everything. This watch ensures that you do not overwork yourself and are prepared. It has 80 different sports modes present and provides you with the right kind of statistics.

Also, based on your fitness level and the activity history, this watch tends to generate a week training plan for you. This plan provides you with optimal duration and good intensity for exercise and improves fitness.

Once your fitness level has been improved, this watch provides you another training plan to make use of. This is an ideal watch for athletes and gym freaks, as it is very smart and keeps you on your toes.

Best Triathlon Watches Buyer’s Guide

Triathlon watches are one of the best and most trending technologies built for athletes. They allow you to track cycling, swimming, running, and many other activities due to their tri-specific features. However, you don’t want all of the features when buying yourself a triathlon watch; here are some things to look for when investing in one:

Multi-sports

One of the key features in a triathlon watch is the fact that it is built to facilitate multiple sports activities. Many watches don’t have that feature, which makes it very difficult for you to switch from activities.

However, many of the latest watches have a single button feature which changes settings and start a new timer or mark a split at a transition.

Quick Release

Having a quick release feature allows you to easily move the watch from your wrist to the handlebar mount. This makes cycling and many other sports activities easy and allows for less distraction, meaning you can have a hassle-free switch instead of manually strapping it on.

The best triathlon watches are compatible with common cycling accessories such as cadence tracker and power meters. These features allow you to track more data while cycling. So it is important to look for a watch that has this feature and allow you to have complete cycling data.

Swimming

Many of these watches are designed for swimming and many other activities that involve liquid exposure. So you would definitely want to make sure that the watch is waterproof and sweat-proof. The watches that allow you to track stroke count, distance, and additional swimming metrics are very useful.

Battery

One of the most important features to look for in a watch when investing in one is battery life. Many watches don’t have a good battery life, which means you won’t be able to take advantage of most of the features present.

For example, many watches start to consume way too much battery when in GPS mode. So it is very important that after viewing your fitness routine and level, you get yourself a watch that has a battery time long enough to last your exercise routine.

Design

By design, we in no term mean that the watch should be good looking. If it is, that’s a great add on, but it should definitely be comfortable. When going through fitness routines and exercises, having an uncomfortable gadget on your wrist is definitely going to have an impact on your performance.

So look for a watch with a flat base cap and one that provides you a comfortable grip on your wrist. There are many watches out there built with great features but don’t actually have a good and comfortable grip, which makes all the features sidelined.

A good grip and a slim design will not interfere with your workout and will also provide you all the information you need regarding your workout. Weight is also something to look for. You don’t want a heavy piece of chunk on your wrist.

Conclusion

This triathlon watch review has covered all aspects of shopping for one and will assist you with your decision. Using the buyer’s guide, you can find out which features to look out for.

However, according to us, one of the best watches is the Garmin Forerunner 945. It is one of the best for multi-sport athletes.

It is an all-in-one watch with high smartwatch capabilities. When working out, you won’t need to switch watches. It is convenient for every athlete. But if you are searching for an Apple product for your iPhone, then the Apple watch series 5 is what you need.

This watch provides you with everything you need and has great features.

However, you must also do your own research. Look for what sports each watch provides and if that sport is what you are in to. Make use of the information present in this article to make a more informed choice.