The Best Triathlon Smartwatches of 2023, Reviewed
This article originally appeared on Triathlete
Now, more than ever, there is a huge selection of smartwatches to choose from--watches that do everything from simple run mileage tracking to onboard music to mapping, and more. Today’s smartwatches have touchscreens (that actually work well) and can last up to two months on a single charge. Watches are getting brighter and including super complex functions like running with power.
The only downside to such an “embarrassment of features” is that it can be tough to parse out what features and functions are important and what features you’ll pay for, but never, ever use. The good news is we have an excellent smartwatch explainer and a guide below that’s written from a triathlete’s perspective--and we test each watch personally, with a background in smartwatch reviews, so we know what’s real and what’s hype; what’s useful and what’s entirely pointless. Better yet, we distill the stacks and stacks of information that we could write about a smartwatch into a quick, palatable review that you don’t need to set aside an hour to read.
New this year: We’ve added a section that puts the watch in the overall context of all smartwatches on the market right now and talk about who should be buying each smartwatch.
For all of the smartwatches below, we’ve also written full reviews with function breakdowns, pros and cons, and more. Click the links at the bottom of each section for more.
Scroll down below for our expert-tested guide with ratings and at-a-glance information you won’t find anywhere else: from overall value, accuracy, ease of use, rated functions, durability, and all of the measurements you need to make sure you’re getting what you expect.
Looking for an older smartwatch or one that we haven’t covered here? Check out last year’s smartwatch buyer’s guide with reviews of the Timex R300, Wahoo Rival, Apple Watch Series 7, Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, Polar Grit X Pro, Suunto 9 Peak, Coros Vertix 2, and Garmin Fenix 7X Solar. Or check out our 2020 smartwatch buyer’s guide with reviews of the Coros Pace 2, Apple Watch SE, Garmin Forerunner 745, Fitbit Sense, Polar Vantage V2, and Suunto 7.
RELATED: How to Choose the Best Smartwatch for Triathletes
Triathlete’s 2023 Smartwatch Guide--The Ratings, Explained
For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today.
