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The Best Smart Watches for Cyclists
Jan
The best smartwatch for cycling must have power meter compatible and provide GPS tracking with workout data as well as a raft of other smartwatch features – here’s our pick of the best cycling smartwatches
For serious bikers, up until recently, a handlebar-mounted bike computer was really the only reliable option for GPS route tracking and storing accurate ride data. However, with the advances in technology, you can now find GPS watches with cycling-specific features and smartwatches that have dedicated a cycling mode or compatible biking apps.
SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH
Samsung Galaxy Watches are powerful smart watch at a reasonable price worth a hard look. It comes preloaded with 45 sport profiles for recording workouts, and the activity-tracking functions keep tabs of not only your sessions in the saddle but also your daily movements, calories burned, and sleep patterns. Naturally, you can use Samsung Pay with it, and the watch features wireless connectivity for data access when untethered from your phone, including streaming music through your Spotify account. Add a data plan to take calls and texts from your wrist.
GARMIN SMARTWATCHES
Garmin—a brand well-known for its GPS devices—penetrated the smartwatch market after releasing its wearables technology line. For the average cyclist, finding a suitable fitness tracker can be quite difficult given the wide array of choices from the Garmin catalogue. Here, we explored the best Garmin watches for cycling.
GARMIN FĒNIX 6 PRO SOLAR
The Fēnix 6X Pro Solar is a premium watch with more sport and fitness-related functions than one person can possibly use, but what we love most is the insane battery life. On a full charge, the watch claims 14 days of it, but consistent exposure to direct sunlight significantly extends the amount of life on a single charge. Wearing the watch full time and recording rides with it, we’re consistently getting three weeks out of a single charge. It can pair to ANT+ sensors in addition to Bluetooth ones. For power nerds (TrainingPeaks upload or it didn’t happen), this means you can use this watch as a substitute for your normal bike computer if you either forgot to pack it or simply don’t want to use it on some days. The watch records sleep and stress data, which you can easily access along with a bevy of other health stats in the Garmin Connect app, and you can auto-sync with a wide variety of third-party apps
GARMIN FORERUNNER 945
The Forerunner 945 takes all that we love about the 935, which was already loaded with just about everything you could possibly want in a smart watch, and incorporates some new functions for athletes. In addition to Wi-Fi, ANT+, and Bluetooth connectivity and loads of preset activities and tracking functions, the 945 gets more accurate GPS and adds navigation capabilities. On the training front, you get a pulse oximeter, Strava integration and live segments, and downloadable workouts so you can leave your bike computer at home and still record your workout. And that’s just skimming the surface. It’s not a discount watch, but the seemingly endless list of features for casual and elite-level athletes make it worth the investment.
After a year, the 945 has earned its place as one of our go-to watches for hard training. It’s lighter than some of the more expensive watches, retains all of the critical features for tracking workouts, and the battery life is still good enough to record multiple rides on a single charge.
GARMIN FORERUNNER 45
The Garmin Forerunner 45 is a highly affordable yet very reliable Garmin smartwatch. Released in April 2019, the Forerunner 45 is highly comparable to the more popular Forerunner 235. The major difference between the two would be the 45’s smaller frame and slightly lower battery life than its predecessor. The 45, however, holds more functionalities than the 235.
The Forerunner 45 has Galileo sensors and is capable of all-day stress tracking, just two of the other functionalities that the 235 does not have. In terms of cycling functions, however, the two watches are hardly any different, with both being very basic in that regard. Because of these differences between the two, the 45 has made it to be the most value-for-money pick
GARMIN FORERUNNER 235
The Garmin Forerunner 235 is lauded by many users and reviews to be one of the most value-for-money Garmin smartwatches in the market. Cheap, durable and efficient, this smartwatch released in 2015 is still garnering attention from people looking for a reliable watch.
Hosting the basics of Garmin technology like the GPS/GLONASS tracking and Elevate™ wrist-based heart rate monitor, the Forerunner 235 is a simple, affordable and straightforward Garmin wearable watch. Unlike the Fenix 6 and the Forerunner 945, its cycling mode only holds the basic functionalities and tracking. Another drawback is that it can’t play music, although it can control your smartphone music via Bluetooth.
GARMIN VENU
The Garmin Venu is definitely one of the more casual watches to be included in this list. Aside from being quite affordable, the Venu’s beautiful AMOLED touch-screen display makes it a good choice for a casual watch. Its Pulse Ox and cycling features also make it a highly competitive sports watch.
The Venu’s Pulse Ox function can make it a better choice. The biggest drawback would be in its AMOLED screen, which could make it difficult to see under intense sunlight as compared to the other Garmin watches’ sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display. The Venu is definitely a better choice for those looking for a more casual piece.
GARMIN INSTINCT SOLAR
The Instinct is equipped with multiple different sports modes including running, cycling, swimming, climbing, skiing, rowing, weightlifting and yoga. So whatever sports you enjoy, you’ll find a new way to beat yesterday.
Garmin Connect is better with friends. You can compete in step and distance challenges, create groups or cheer each other on with likes and comments. Our badge feature lets you earn badges for accomplishments and compare them with your friends.
Whether you cycle, run, swim, kayak or lift weights… whatever you do, Garmin Connect can track it. The statistics recorded during each activity let you analyze your performance and improve on it next time.
