Best Cycling Watch in 2025: Best Cycling Watches
If you’re looking for the best cycling watch, you’ve come to the right place. Many smartwatches now have dedicated cycling modes, support GPS tracking and connect to other training devices, such as a power meter.
Plus, in some cases, the smartwatch has more functionality than a cycling computer, with heart rate monitors and other health-tracking measurements, such as calorie counters, step counters and sleep quality monitors.
Best Cycling Watch in 2025: Best Cycling Watches
1. Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
Garmin’s top-tier Forerunner 955 is one of the best smartwatches for solar cycling it’s ever packed with, making it more than just an activity tracker or GPS unit – though it does both well too.
This watch measures a large amount of data, providing feedback on your recovery, training readiness, stress levels, and more.
It does this thanks to two light diodes located on the back of the watch, which track your heart rate and heart rate variability. Instead, it measures your performance capacity, and then tracks your progress and recovery.
As for mapping, we found that the circular 33.5-mm display made it easier to use and follow. Zooming in on the maps revealed bridle paths as well as bumps in the route, certainly making it perfect for walking.
Even when we tried to get lost, it was easy to get back on track by zooming and scrolling.
Battery life-wise, during our four-month test period, it was nothing short of exceptional, lasting more than seven days per charge, even through winter.
The solar feature is likely to depend on where you live and how much sunlight you see – the 955 is available without this function.
2. Amazfit GTR 4
The Amazfit GTR 4 retains the best features of its predecessor, the GT-R3, but upgrades for usability.
A new optical biometric sensor claims to record a third more data than ever before. The updated software is less glitchy and responds quickly to the touchscreen.
The smartwatch connects to your phone via Bluetooth to take calls and messages, has an integrated music player, and is waterproof.
The Amazfit GTR 4 battery is long-lasting – our tester ran the watch for a week while regularly using Bluetooth and GPS.
Outdoor cycling is equipped with eight standard activity modes and the GPS receiver is fast at finding signals.
The heart rate monitor is slow to react to increased effort, but when it catches up, the Garmin cycling computer and generates data similar to a heart strap.
3. Garmin Epix 2
The Garmin Epix gives you a lot of the functionality of the Garmin Fenix 7 but with a much brighter and more colorful AMOLED touchscreen in place of the Fenix 7’s MIP touchscreen.
Although you don’t get the option of solar charging, (as you do with the Phoenix 7), the battery life is still good: we got around 6 days when tracking activities using GPS.
The available functionality mimics the best cycling computers and you can use the Epix for navigation as well as connecting power meters or other devices. Heart rate monitoring and Pulsox are built in and worked well for us.
Wear the Epic 24/7 and it gives you Garmin’s full range of health data, from heart rate variability to recovery time and sleep quality. We were impressed enough to give Epix a five-star review.
4. Coros Pace 3
The Coros Pace 3 is a bit like the flip side of the coin to the Tic Watch Pro 5. They both have long battery life and a budget price.
The comparison isn’t perfect because TicWatch is a bit more expensive, with its perpetual sales, plus it has a much better screen.
In both cases though, you get a decent experience that’s a little less premium but very efficient with a matching price.
Where the two really split is the TicWatch is the first smartwatch option while the Corus Piece 3 is the first fitness watch.
This means that the smartwatch has very limited functions. There are some basic notifications, and it’s possible to load music, but that’s about where it ends.
Moreover, the screen is not good either. It’s too dry and while the color is present it’s not what you’d call alive.
The reason the Coros stands out here is that for not much money you get a nice lightweight watch body that supports power meters and mapping.
There’s quality sleep tracking, you can track runs, swims, and rides in a casual or more serious way and you can report all that data back to the app that works for you.
It’s also worth noting that TicWatch is a reasonable comparison, as is Garmin. One of the biggest benefits of Coros is that the brand is constantly updating and adding features.
Tic Watches are awesome about that and while Garmin certainly has the resources, the brand tends to leave older products close to how they were when purchased.
If you take a look at the navigation status, you can see this right away. Officially the navigation on Pace 3 is Breadcrumb only however there is a current beta where turn by turn instructions are in development.
5. Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar
It’s fair to say that aside from a few keen challengers – Wahoo Fitness, we’re looking your way – the Garmin cycling GPS computer is king. Not surprisingly, then, the GPS specialist has created an extremely good GPS sport watch for cyclists.
The list of features on the Fenix is seemingly endless, from basic heart rate tracking to pulse oximetry, for safety beacons, mapping and nearly unlimited variety of components with ANT+ and Bluetooth compatibility, including includes power meters.
The Fenix 7 Pro is still a very good cycling watch, but there’s also the newer (and even more expensive) Fenix 8, which has the option of either an emulsified screen or solar charging and some other potentially interesting additions for cyclists, For example, the contour on the 2 His map.
The Fenix 7 also features a touchscreen and a built-in flashlight in the glass on the Pro version, and solar charging is an option to extend battery life.
It also has the level of phone connectivity we expect from a top smartwatch, handling messages, voice call prompts and app notifications, and expect a top-notch smartphone app backend in Garmin Connect Let's do it.
With almost all the features of a Garmin cycling computer and Garmin’s neat handlebar adapter which means the watch can be mounted on a handlebar, it essentially offers all the benefits of a top GPS bike computer and At the same time, a versatile and extremely functional smartwatch also presents the
There is a choice of three case sizes (42, 47, and 51mm, designated 7S for the 42mm and 7X for the 51mm size), which dictates the legibility of the display. The larger the size of the watch on the wrist, the more legible it becomes on the bars.
It’s a tad expensive, and it’s bigger and heavier than some Garmin alternatives such as the Forerunner. That may be less of an issue for cyclists than for triathletes, though.
Using the multiband GPS tracking that Garmin uses on all of its computer ranges, you can be sure that all your rides will be tracked with amazing accuracy.
6. Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a high-quality smartwatch from Apple that attempts to improve upon its already impressive predecessor.
The screen is brighter and faster, the speed has increased and the price has dropped slightly. Although the frame is similar in design, the Ultra2 is one of Apple’s first net-zero devices, so it uses virgin titanium instead of 95% recycled titanium.
The double tap is perhaps the new watch element that you are likely to find most useful as a cyclist. So how exactly does it work? Well, you can take basic action on the notification by double-clicking your thumb and forefinger together.
If you received a phone call, just pinch your finger and thumb a couple of times to answer it, and then repeat the process to hang up.
In terms of health tracking, heart rate tracking is great and it also tracks your VO2 rate. The watch can also track multiple sports and has support for Bluetooth cycling sensors with the OS10 software update including power meter connectivity.
7. Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Solar Edition
The strong GPS performance and fitness tracking in Garmin’s outdoor watches make it one of my favorite brands across the board, but the Fenix 7X Pro Solar stands out among its many offerings.
Many brands make great smartwatches, Garmin in particular is known for the accuracy of its GPS as well as the accuracy of its fitness tracking.
For example, I personally tested Garmin’s step-by-step tracking against the new Fitbit platform and found the former nearly dead, while the latter was far from it.
Solar charging, which tops off your battery in direct sunlight, is a perfect fit for cyclists. A watch worn in the sun can run for more than three weeks on a single charge.
Turning on the GPS takes just over three days, or less than 57 hours if you stay inside.
Its fitness tracking – whether you’re cycling, running, or training with one of the dozens of supported activities – is reliably accurate, as is dual-frequency GPS. The maps are bright and clear. The flashlight is also included.
Throw in some solid core apps –Music Control, Google Pay, etc., and you’re looking at a very, very good cycling watch.
8. Coros Vertix 2S
While not overwhelmingly famous in the UK yet, Corus is better known in the US. Making multi-sport watches popular with runners, climbers and other rugged outdoor types, its top-of-the-line Vertix 2S has just as many features that will appeal to cyclists, triathletes or general exercise enthusiasts.
With a very snappy battery life, map-based navigation and full feature set, it can certainly compete with big-name watches in terms of specs and price.
Its design revolves around a glossy 1.4″ front in 64 colors with touchscreen functionality. This side is paired with a more glove-friendly dial that allows you to scroll through menus, selecting your choice via the plus button.
Lighter than some, the Vertix 2S also uses titanium to good effect, resulting in a lightweight on the wrist of 70 grams.
Heavier weight is the claimed battery life, providing 40 days of regular use with two hours of charge or 22 hours of music with full dual-band GPS mode.
Capable of tracking more than 50 activities, surprisingly cycling is well on the list, with the Vortex 2S happy to work with most Bluetooth sensors.
The data can then be sent out or analyzed in Coros’ clean-looking mobile or desktop app. Here you can also access training plans and individual workouts that you can then send to the watch.
In the wild, the Vertix 2S’s navigation feature, with topo map downloads, displays its route on a full base map.
The touchscreen then allows you to zoom in or out to see what’s next. Paired with long battery life it should be suitable for more adventurous multi-day escapes.
In addition to sports, the Vertix 2S’s long battery life also means there’s no reason not to leave the watch on for days at a time.
Aside from the steps, it also records a range of passive fitness tracker-type metrics, including those that assess your sleep quality.
It also monitors your blood oxygen level ad includes an ECG A lesser-known name, but one worth considering.
9. Garmin Forerunner 965
Lacking some of the bulk of the Phoenix and also weighing 53g less, the Forerunner 965 offers much of the same performance in a slightly more practical solution for cyclists and other users.
It’s also a tad cheaper, though it uses a plastic bezel instead for the Phoenix’s titanium.
Aimed primarily at runners and triathletes, the Forerunner is an extremely versatile smartwatch.
With many of the same training metrics as the Phoenix, on-screen mapping, multiband GPS, ANT+ and Bluetooth compatibility and the same solar charging options as the Phoenix, it has what most riders Four in the GPS computer Single.
On top of that its lightweight and thin construction and integrated music playback make it a great option for running or swimming, and will no doubt be a favorite for triathletes.
10. Garmin Venu 2 Plus
One of Garmin’s goals for the Venu 2 Plus was to brine it more in line with other smartwatches and, as a result, the ability to make calls from your watch, use your phone’s voice assistant, and shop and Listening-like functionality has been added. music.
It doesn’t quite have the same ‘do it all’ functionality as something like the Apple Watch, but for active daily use it excels.
It can be used to record 25 other activities alongside riding, and it also records a wide range of health data such as stress levels, sleep quality and breaths per minute. You can also pair it with ANT+ accessories.
Battery life is one of its most important features, with a maximum of 10 days, depending on how you use it.
11. Garmin Forerunner 945
The 945 was at the top of the Garmin Forerunner range until the 955 was introduced, but it is still a very worthy choice. It has a lot of special arrays so you can track any sport.
In terms of cycling features, we’ve paired it with peripheral sensors via Bluetooth or ANT+, it has sophisticated navigation with turn-by-turn directions and full color mapping, and you can stream your music from select streaming services Synchronize.
Without digging into our wallets or smartphones, we also paid for our post-ride coffee using its contactless Garmin Pay.
Sync with the Garmin Connect for improved tracking of your training, sleep, and general well-being, and it includes adaptive training plans if you want feedback and guidance for future workouts.
Many users in cold climates will welcome the lack of a touchscreen, as it’s easier to use the buttons while wearing gloves.
It’s cheaper than the Fenix 7 and Enduro and less rugged, but the performance isn’t far behind for a much lower price.
12. Garmin Epix Pro
The Garmin Epix Pro lives up to its status as the brand’s range-topping multi-sport watch, but your bank balance might know.
Despite no solar charging, the battery life can last for weeks if you record the day’s activities.
You’ll have no problem reading the Epics Pro’s stunningly clear AMOLED display on or off the bike. It also has a flawless touchscreen, highly detailed maps and loads of smart tech including a powerful flashlight with adjustable brightness.
With a plethora of fitness and health metrics, and sport modes, the Epics Pro tracks and records more than most people could wish for. Don’t put too much faith in her wrist-based heart rate monitor, though.
13. Mobvoi Tic Watch Pro 3 GPS
The TikWatch Pro 5 was released earlier this year, but the TikWatch Pro 3 is still a strong performer, packing every fitness tracking sensor you could want.
It’s built on the Google Wear OS platform and has a lot of great features out of the box with the option to add apps to enhance cycling-related capabilities.
It’s easy to connect on a day-to-day basis and if you’re using an Android phone, the connection between the two is pretty smooth in almost all cases.
It has a reasonably short battery life which has been improved on the Tic Watch Pro 5. But if you just use the LCD screen and use it normally for around 72 hours, a charge of 45 days offers.
14. Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar
The Fenix 7 is Garmin’s solar-enhanced GPS multi-sport smartwatch that replaced the Fenix 6 when it was launched in January 2022.
The Fenix 7 has all the features you’d expect from a Garmin smartwatch, plus a number of upgrades over its predecessor, including a touchscreen and increased battery life.
The touchscreen brings more to the watch in terms of functionality for Garmin’s bike computer, and other smart devices in general. Custom maps with the touchscreen are particularly easy to use.
The battery life is memorable and solar charging powers the watch for long periods of time.
It’s also the first time you can get the Phoenix with solar charging and auxiliary glasses.
The watch comes packed with training functions, but to get the most out of these for cycling, you’ll need a power meter.
It has a built-in heart rate monitor, but it’s not as accurate as a chest strap monitor.
15. Coros Apex 2
The Apex 2 offers many useful features for cycling and makes a great companion on and off the bike.
We found this watch to have excellent battery life and construction, making the watch comfortable for extended periods of time.
It took a while to gather all the GPS locations before the ride, and our tester found the navigation to be slightly less refined than the competitors.
16. Wahoo Elemnt Rival
As with its Kickr Smart Trainer and Elemnt Bolt, the brand has prioritized usability for its first timepiece, removing features it deems unnecessary to focus on the essentials.
Rival is easy to use but lacks in-depth performance analysis and disappointingly, there is no navigation.
However, the opponent can be used in conjunction with the Wahoo Kickr as a form of wearable controller and its ‘Touchless Transition Tracking’ setting automatically registers as you move through the different stages of the triathlon, each stage and transition of provides you distribution for.
For the pure cyclist, we suggest spending your money on a Wahoo cycling computer.
17. Coros Vertix 2S
The Vertix 2S is a solidly built watch – it’s 50mm wide by 16mm deep – that uses both a touchscreen and buttons to let you navigate your many functions.
We found that we could easily scroll using both, keeping track of our daily metrics, such as heart rate, step count, etc., as well as navigating through various screens and menus We are in Tapping on the touchscreen lets you select items, and it’s all very intuitive.
You can choose from several sport modes, with the bike option split between outdoor and indoor riding Here you can also establish your FTP by connecting a power meter along with basic interval training.
There’s also an optical heart rate monitor. Corus has developed a companion app for the watch and we found it easy to use for displaying our metrics as well as integrating with third-party training apps.
We were less impressed with the vertix mapping performance however.; The GPS accuracy was good, the maps lacked detail and didn’t reroute us when we changed directions.
As far as battery life is concerned, the adventure-focused Vertix 2S is going to be ahead of the curve.
Using standard GPS you are told to use it for 118 hours, while without GPS when used daily, but still on sleep tracking, say 40 days It’s getting a runtime of 50 – we did charge the watch before reaching this limit however.
18. Apple Watch Ultra
The updated Ultra 2, with its touchscreen and dials, offers plenty of functionality along with seamless integration with other Apple devices.
If you’re an iPhone user, you can also mirror the Ultra 2’s data screen and use it as a cycling computer, or if you just want to track workouts on a bigger screen – and when its There is no built-in map at the bottom You can download maps offline from your iPhone.
A side note on the maps – we found the dial to be very helpful when we needed to zoom in and out of the map and we were pleased with the accuracy of the GPS.
We found that it was easy to start and follow a workout on the Ultra 2. The settings were easy enough to adjust – we used auto-pause to take care of stops for traffic lights, but ran the watch when we were out riding or time for a multi-day bikepacking trip and.
The Ultra 2 doesn’t come with any preloaded structured workouts, but it’s easy to connect to third-party apps like Training Peaks.
You can also load Strova on the watch although its routes and mappings are currently not supported on the watch.
You can record heart rate and power directly on the Ultra 2 and then follow your workout with intervals of varying intensity levels set by heart rate or cycling zone.
We checked the accuracy of the watch’s optical heart rate monitor using our Garmin HRM chest strap and were impressed by how closely the Ultra 2 got Garmin’s readings.
Perhaps the Ultra 2’s biggest downside is its lack of battery power compared to its rivals – while many of them can get a week’s worth of use on a charge, we found that the Apple Watch had just a day and needed more juice after half.
19. Coros Apex 2 Pro
The Coros Apex 2 Pro smartwatch has a five-LED heart rate measurement system, which we tested against the chest strap – it gave an accurate heart rate measurement from the wrist.
It’s quick to set up and easily links to companion apps and Strava. There are a large number of customization options controlled through the app.
There are profiles for many different activities, not just cycling and running, and Coros tracks sleep and heart rate variability while wearable.
You can follow a GPX trace, but unlike some smartwatches, you don’t get turn-by-turn directions.
The battery life is great – Coros claims 30 days of charge with 75 hours of GPS tracking, which we met or exceeded in our testing.
20. Garmin Forerunner 265
The lightweight Forerunner 265, offered in two sizes, boasts widgets and tracking capabilities, from how well you’ve slept, to your training prep and much in between.
It’s also adaptive, allowing you to tailor it to your sport or activity of choice. For our cyclists it will be divided into apprentices, including road cycling and indoor.
Out on the bike, we found the GPS very accurate. We also compared the readings on our Garmin Edge bike computer and it matched in miles and seconds.
We also really liked the auto-pause function, great for keeping your numbers accurate while navigating the city streets.
As for the maps, you get a breadcrumb route. If you want more detail, you’re better off looking at the 955 or 965 Forerunner models.
The heart rate monitor was a tad disappointing, although its lack of accuracy is something we’ve also encountered with other wrist-based monitors.
The watch’s battery life is even more impressive. During our testing while using the GPS, it lost about seven to 10 percent of its life per hour, giving us up to 14 hours in these grueling modes. And it only takes about an hour to overcharge.
21. Garmin Forerunner 255
The updates the Forerunner 255 received when it launched in 2022 have been huge, putting it virtually up there with its big brother Garmin Forerunner 955 as well as the Garmin Fenix 7 and Garmin Epic 2 in terms of performance.
Most obviously, it lacks mapping, but it uses the same multiband GPS for activity tracking as more expensive Garmin watches, and it’s based on the same wrist There is a heart rate monitor , also enabling health monitoring that includes sleep monitoring, heart rate variability, Optimal estimates of training stress and VO2.
We found that it was very accurate in terms of heart rate, although not as accurate as a chest strap.
The Forerunner 255 is in no danger of replacing your cycling head unit since it doesn’t have mapping, but if you’re already in the Garmin ecosystem with your bike computer and just don’t spend a fortune health If you want to increase the monitoring of the Forerunner 255. Most of it has been covered.
Since it’s an international GPS watch, the only other thing the 255 lacks is an AMOLED touchscreen – it has a transflective memory in-pixel LCD type. So if you want mapping and a brighter, crisper, brighter display, it might be worth spending a bit more.
22. Suunto 9 Baro
The Finnish brand Suunto 9 baro comes with a touchscreen and a barometric pressure measurement.
It’s got a ton of functionality in a package that’s easy to live with. It gives you as much data as you need to track your workouts and fitness, as well as your non-workout activity throughout the day.
Baro works well for running, swimming, hiking or mountaineering: in fact, there are more than 80 sport profiles available.
Suunto’s battery management techs are impressive. Using the Sunto 9 Barro for a mix of activity tracking, all-day wear, and sleep tracking, we’ve always been impressed with the battery life. You can expect the better part of a week to go by before worrying about charging.
23. Amazfit Falcon
Made using titanium, sapphire glass, and liquid silicone for the strap, the Amazfit Falcon uses premium materials that are only available in competing brands with a price hike.
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Priced at $499/￡499 this makes it a high-end smartwatch but several hundred pounds cheaper than alternatives from Garmin, Apple, and other brands.
The heart rate data was a bit hit and miss for us at times, but the GPS was very reliable and lined up well with the Element Bolt V2.
Sleep tracking was also equally good and even more accurate at nocturnal anxiety than other smartwatch models in accurately identifying drop-off and wake-up times.
It’s very easy to sync all the data with third-party apps, such as Strava, from your Zip app where your data is stored and analyzed.
The Falcon’s biggest selling point is battery life. Only 14 days is claimed – and without heavy use – but our tester could easily do 20 days, even when all GPS is used for tracking, which drains the battery fast contempt.
It’s very impressive and even better performance than the Garmin Fenix 7S, which also has a solar panel.
Overall, this device is a great smartwatch for recreational athletes or those just looking to get a bit fitter, but needs some further refinement before the watch’s performance becomes practical for more performance-focused athletes are.
24. Garmin Vivomove Sport
With a traditional watch face, the Garmin Vivomove Sport is a compact format. We discovered that using real hands means they can get out of sync with the actual time shown by the digital display when you’re riding or running off-road, though that’s easily corrected .
There’s a hidden touchscreen on the bottom half of the watch face that opens up to an OLED display with more data. You can customize what is displayed from the watch's settings menu.
Battery life is more than 5 days, though it’s greatly affected if you pair it with another device like a phone, which is all you need to do to get a GPS signal on board is g No PS chip. You can connect it to a Garmin cycling computer to measure your heart rate.
25. Garmin Venu 3
I reviewed the Garmin Venu 2 Plus and loved it. It fit perfectly with my use case of riding with a bike computer then came out with the Garmin Veno 3 and added support for power meters and smart trainer controls which made it a viable bike computer for many .
The Venu series, along with the Venu 3, are Garmin’s range of products that balance smartwatch features with fitness features.
The two sizes and a wide range of colors come together in a dressy look that works equally well with button-down shirts and cycling jerseys. If you are exercising and when your hands sweat, the dual control scheme is handy.
There’s no support for mapping or route-following, but as with Apple products, you’ve got the option of a mid-range bike computer or a perfect companion to a dedicated bike computer.
Unlike Apple though, choosing Garmin would mean smoother handoffs with a Garmin bike computer and enough battery life to leave the charger at home for shorter work trips.
The Venu 3 is so capable that the lack of predictive training features feels like an even bigger disadvantage. Rightly or wrongly, Garmin keeps the Forerunner and Veno product lines as distinct by choice as by hardware.
The Vino 3 records your workouts both on and off the bike, tracks your heart rate variability, tracks your sleep, and in some markets has an EKG.
You’ll also get morning reports with useful information, but overall, you’ll need to use other products to control your training.
This might actually be a bonus for some cyclists so you’ll have to decide if those features are worth the Forerunner 965’s extra cost.
26. Apple Watch Series 9
If you’re starting to get serious about cycling, you might look at the price of a cycling computer and think that’s pretty ridiculous given how powerful your phone is.
If your phone is an Apple iPhone, this is even more true as Apple has invested heavily in providing an enabling fitness ecosystem.
If you even have an Apple Watch or want one, you’ll find that you’ve already got a very capable bike computer at no additional cost.
At heart, it also means you’ve got the full support of Apple’s ecosystem. No other smartphone brand supports the kind of apps and third-party hardware that Apple does. If someone makes an app, it’s for Apple first.
If you dream of a hardware accessory, it could be for an Apple product Everyone who makes contactless payments takes Apple Pay and you can leave your credit card at home during the ride.
You get the idea, choosing one of the largest companies in the world has its advantages.
Besides, Apple has a solid cycling solution. Connect your sensors, including the power meter, to your Apple Watch and you can record all of the expected metrics with other bike computers.
Apple automatically FTPs out, saving the need to do testing, and you can push the workout through sources like Trainer Road.
Then from there, all of that data will be mirrored to the iPhone you mount on your bars. Without any special hardware, you’ll have a bike computer with a seamless screen and all the data you’d expect from other bike computers.
The limiting factors of this arrangement are battery life, lack of routing resources and support for predictive training.
The Apple Watch Series 9 has a respectable battery life and gets the same experience as the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra while allowing for price/performance options.
If you want the full experience, you need to leave your phone screen behind. Even a Hammerhead computer with a low battery will outperform a computer left on an iPhone screen.
You also won’t get any of the routing or predictive training support that Garmin offers. You can find a third-party solution, but unlike a Garmin watch, it may not be a core function.
The system isn’t integrated in a way that makes it easy and you may eventually reach the point where you want more than Apple offers.
27. Google Pixel Watch 2
Apple has really invested in trying to be a one-size-fits-all fitness device. You get support for power meter and FTP detection along with mirror screen capability.
Google and the Pixel Watch 2 are taking things in a completely different direction with a different user in mind.
It’s actually worth mentioning that the two don’t directly compete as you’ll need a matching phone and a whole new ecosystem.
It’s true that the Pixel Watch 2 has the same flaws as the Apple Watch. No predictive training or path-following has yet been built in.
Download apps for both to fill in some gaps though. In some ways that’s actually easier with the Pixel Watch 2 as there’s no attempt to turn the watch into a cycling computer.
Without having to have that functionality you can use RideWithGPS or Strava to both record rides and follow a route. There’s still no predictive training like Garmin, but that’s not the case.
What the Pixel Watch 2 focuses on is the casual workout and smartwatch features. Although you can change bands, I like the way the added band stays out of my way as I type on the keyboard.
I actually prefer the lower profile of the watch in general as with the band it stays out of the way.
When you start a ride it will automatically detect and ask if you want to record the ride and on the way you can listen to music without your wallet or food money Give it to him. Sleep tracking when you get home can help ensure you recover.
Yes there’s a ceiling to how much Google can offer in terms of athletic performance tracking but if you’re a bit more casual, and an Android user, the Pixel Watch 2 is a great companion for your phone.
In my life, I use the Google Pixel 8 Pro when I deliver more serious training rides and the Pixel Watch 2 is amazing whenever I deliver casual bike rides.
The only drawback is that the battery is the same as the Apple Watch Series 9 and generally needs a few minutes on the charger each day.
28. Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 5
Once again, it makes sense to look at the Apple ecosystem and make some comparisons. If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, there’s only the Apple Watch, and Apple offers three tiers.
Pick your pricing and performance as you need. On the Android side of things, Google only offered the Pixel Watch 2, but there are other companies that can fill in the gaps. One of them is the lineup of Moboi and TikWatch.
The Tic Watch was one of the first Wear OS options out on the market and it has only gotten better over time.
The new Tik Watch is Pro 5, and like before, it runs Android Wear OS, so a lot of the experience is similar to the Pixel Watch 2. The biggest difference is that instead of a slim and smooth profile, the Tic Watch has gone big.
From an aesthetic point of view, there is no softness in the design and the battery is big. Matching the size of Garmin watches, the battery lasts up to 80-hours, but that’s not just because of the size of the battery. Also helping to reach those numbers is a second screen above the primary screen.
The secondary screen is the "Ultralo Power Display" which looks a bit like an '80s throwback but extends battery life. Surprisingly, there is also a fast charging system.
Most, but not all, of the TicWatch Pro 5’s experience outside of the various focuses is similar to the Pixel Watch. Just like straight from Google Watch, the focus is mostly on casual fitness and cycling.
TikWatch has added more fitness features but for the most part, they aren’t good. There is a fitness app but you want to download something instead.
Tuck Watch is notoriously slow with updating OS versions, so it’s behind the times and doesn’t have Google Assistant, but you do get NFC payment options and music.
Basically, if you want a smartwatch in the Android ecosystem that tracks fitness, leaves your wallet at home on a comfortable ride, and doesn’t need to be charged every day, the TicWatch Pro 5 A good choice.
29. Fitbit Charge 6
The Fitbit Charge 6 provides plenty of features for cyclists to use in a slim line, budget package.
With built-in GPS, although you won’t be able to navigate with the Charge 6 alone, you’ll be able to see where you’ve been post-ride.
Carry your phone with you and the Fitbit 6 uses Google Maps for turn-by-turn navigation though.
The Charge 6 tracks your heart rate and automatically ensures that you’re even cycling. A whole load of fitness data is available, including pulse oximetry, ECG, skin temperature, resting heart rate, respiration, stress and sleep.
Additionally, you can use the Charge 6 to control music from YouTube from your phone.
It’s a pretty comprehensive feature set for a low-priced device, that gives you most of what you need to keep track of your cycling and off-bike fitness, although you’re able to connect HRM straps or other things No external sensors and you have to pay for a Fitbit premium account with all available features free after 6 months be Membership has expired.
30. Apple Watch Series 10
Apple is fairly good at tech. Extremely good, you might say. No surprise then that when it comes to wearable devices, the Apple Watch trumps everything made by more specialist brands.
The new Series 10 Apple Watch is the best watch yet for sports tracking. Retaining an always-on screen – meaning you could see your sporting status at a glance without turning your wrist to activate the display, it’s slimmer than its predecessor and has continuous height monitoring.
It’s also worth remembering that Apple has really invested in optical heart rate monitors, boasting extremely high accuracy – so much so that the FDA has approved them as a medical device in the US.
ECG and blood oxygen saturation characteristics can be useful for cyclists who are health conscious.
There is independent GPS tracking as well as music playback without relying on your smartphone. Crash detection and emergency SOS are available, but you’ll need a cellular contract along with your iPhone or for this.
Then, of course, you can call and use Apple Pay. For riders keen not to carry their phones or credit cards out of the back pocket, this is a huge benefit.
If you upgrade to the cellular version, you can ditch the phone altogether while riding – making it possible to make and receive calls, but that comes at an extra cost.
The limitation of the Apple Watch is that, unlike the Garmin Phoenix, it doesn’t offer any ANT+-based compatibility with devices like power meters and speed/cadence meters, although most of these broadcasts are also over Bluetooth , which is harmony.
The biggest advantage of the Apple Watch is access to a vast world of possibility in the App Store: Strava, Komote, Cyclemeter or thousands of other options.
If you’re on a budget, it’s worth noting that most of the Apple Watch’s most efficient overhauls arrive via free operating system updates rather than tweaking the hardware itself.
This makes old watches a real bargain. If you want longer battery life and a larger screen, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 may be worth considering, despite its premium pricing.
31. Withings Scanwatch 2
When I was a teenager, everyone wanted a Casio Baby G. Most sports watchmakers assumed that none of us had grown up since then.
Withings is the exception. It looks like a normal wristwatch, but the Withings Scanwatch 2 is backed up by some useful technical fitness tracking.
Fitness tracking consists of a small, circular monochrome OLED screen, which displays text notifications, heart rate info, and more, and also allows you to track your cycling speed and distance, though it Smartphones rely on GPS. On top of this, you get a beautiful analog watch face, complete with ticking hands.
It also counts steps, while its attendant app lets you select six of the 30 activities to send to the watch for real-time selection.
By allowing you to review your progress through your phone, it also gives you an idea of how well you’re sleeping.
Just don’t expect to build any additional sensors or anything similar. However, while it lacks the performance of more traditional sports watches, it can last up to 30 days between charges.
Plus its styling is more about a guy in mid-life crisis than a guy in the middle of it, so that’s a bonus.
32. Polar Vantage v3
The Polar Vantage v3 is a watch that comes back far from the smartwatch side. There are some expected smartwatch features like notifications, but it’s not robust and it’s clear that the idea is that your phone will be with you.
You cannot directly load music, although it is possible to control music through the watch, and you cannot pay for things with it. Mostly it’s good for me that I always have my phone with me.
This setup means that the biggest competitor here is the Garmin Forerunner 965 even though Garmin has a few other features of the smartwatch.
Polar has a nice aluminum body with large textured buttons as a companion to the touchscreen.
I love that when the screen goes black, Polar is showing the time while the Garmin goes completely black. This saves you from occasionally shaking your wrist to see the time.
The real difference between the Garmin 965 and Polar Vantage v3 though is the training and ecosystem approach.
Garmin has a great ecosystem and if you’re willing to buy into it, the brand uses all the data available to provide incredible training instruction.
Polar instead records data then offers tools that make it easy for you to self-direct your training over the course of a week and season.
When you actually use the Vantage v3 while exercising, Fuelwise Smart Carbs reminders help you remind you to eat energy-based meals and offer battery life smartwatch like Garmin is more than 50.
One thing I take issue with is the lack of menstrual tracking. Obviously not an issue that I will go into specifically but for those who care it seems like a very odd oversight.
The Garmin menstrual tracker is something that people like, and then it tracks polar skin temperature, so the hardware has potential, but leaves it up to users to interpret what that means. Maybe it turns out to be an advantage though in some US states.
33. Garmin Forerunner 55
If you want less than half the fun of that Forerunner 965, why not try the Garmin Forerunner 55?
There’s a multi-sport watch fit for cyclists of all abilities (as well as runners, swimmers and triathletes), with heart rate, fitness, respiration and stress tracking as well as Garmin Coach’s adaptive training plan Also included is a built-in GPS for your purposes.
On top of that he suggests daily workouts, GPS-based pacing guidance for training and race strategies, workouts in the middle of estimated finish times and even recovery advice to figure it out Betting on how long you have to quit before your next big attempt.
It does most of the things the 965 does, especially if you don’t need music (which you probably won’t if you’re cycling outside), but at just ￡179.99 there’s a lot more bang for your buck.
34. TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro
There are LEDs, there are OLEDs first. Then there’s the AMOLED. The Tic Watch Pro 5’s display is a 1.4″ retina AMOLED, which stands for Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode, and is used in many new Samsung smartphones and the new Garmin Fenix 8.
This technology allows for high-quality displays while consuming much less power, which is why the Tic Watch can last up to 45 days in essential mode, as long as the always-on display is on.
Along with that, it’s developed for fitness and health tracking. It records a full load of sports, including outdoor and indoor cycling – and even yoga – with a built-in GPS, motion tracking, altimeter, heart rate monitor and blood oxygen measurement. It also monitors your sleep, breathing, noise and stress levels for complete health coverage.
It’s powered by Google’s Wear OS and can be purchased with cellular so you don’t have to carry your phone with you to use data and make calls and texts.
35. Huawei Watch 4 Pro
Mobile phone giant Huawei has decided that battery life is the best place to focus its efforts and claims its Watch 4 Pro will last for three weeks between charges on its weakest mode or 4.5 days in standard mode It always goes on display for 20. Pro and Standard 4 also support mobile phone calling and stand-alone navigation.
The Pro Titanium/leather strap is made of titanium, while the 4 is made of steel with plastic. Both have 1.5″ AMOLED color screens.
Built in Bluetooth and NFC, the Watch 4 Pro charges wirelessly, while you can download a wide range of third-party apps.
The Watch 4 pro supports over 100 workout modes, including Pro Cycling, and provides daily tracking of your activity levels.
A range of health stats are also included, including HRM, ECG and health trend analysis, as well as sleep tracking, alongside more in the Android/iOS app.
36. Suunto Race
The Suunto Race is a nice multi-sport watch that combines a lot of data that you can customize to suit your individual needs. The Sunto app is then great for analyzing your health and training data.
The new AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) screen looks great and is easy to read, especially for reading maps that you can download through the Sunto app.
Tester Ben said: "I think the watch strikes a good balance between a good-sized 49mm diameter screen to display the data you need. I think it's all situation looks great to wear, not just when you're cycling or training".
37. Garmin Instinct 2S Solar
Garmin’s Instinct 2S Solar is a rugged and highly customizable solar charging sports watch with a long battery life suitable for multi-day adventures away from home. It also comes in a wide array of colors.
It’s a tough and rugged design ideal for practicality if you’re an adventurous type who likes to be outdoors while also incorporating a whole host of features that are the soul of the day-to-day covers safety and welfare monitoring.
The Instinct 2 Series supports Bluetooth and ANT+ heart rate broadcasting and can also be paired with a power meter.
38. Coros Vertix 2
When you absolutely, positively want to have the longest battery life possible, then you need the Coros Vertix 2.
This all-inclusive adventure watch offers a stretch of cycling and fitness tracking options does, and a battery that lasts up to two months of standard use.
That drops to six days when you turn on the GPS, but it’s still enough to get you through a short bikepacking trip without charging.
It also features the Coros’ UltraMax GPS setting, which allows the watch to extend its battery life when using GPS, in exchange for a slight loss of tracking accuracy. Simply put, no smartwatch is more.
39. Amazfit Bip 5
Multisport watches can be expensive, but the Amazfit Bip 5 puts a surprising amount of fitness functionality into a reliable, sub-$100 package.
With 120 sport modes – including cycling, of course – it provides an array of key metrics, and supports third-party apps that cyclists prefer, including Strava.
Unsurprisingly, beyond those core fitness tracking tools, it has limited functionality. You can take calls via Bluetooth, but it lacks the robust feature set of more expensive watches.
One thing to keep in mind: While I found it fairly consistent, some users reported inconsistent tracking issues. Your mileage may vary, but this is far and away the cheapest cycling watch I actually use on a daily basis.
40. Polar Vantage V3 Sport Watch
The Polar Vantage V3 is a great multi-sport watch, but it’s especially helpful for cyclists who want more ride-specific data.
Its distinctive “Fuel Wars” function monitors your training, and alerts you when you’re eating or drinking to keep your energy up.
When paired with a power meter, the “cycling performance test” feature shows you how much power you can drain over the course of an hour.
It can also sync with Kamut for navigation, as well as Strova and other apps for additional support.
You can read it all on the V3’s big beautiful AMOLED display, which makes it easy to read crowded screens with multiple figures.
My one complaint is in the battery life department—it’s short compared to similar watches from Garmin and others—but you get more than enough juice for daily rides, making it a small caveat on an otherwise stellar cycling companion.
41. Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
The Garmin Instinct? 2 is a top-flight adventure watch, but the upgrade in the Instant 2X Solar really takes it over the top.
For just a little more than the base model, you get a bigger, more rugged model made for rough backcountry mountain biking and double the battery life.
Garmin’s superior GPS accuracy and diverse fitness features ensure you get a stellar core experience.
There are some weak spots: the Maps’ performance is basic, and its more durable exterior means extra weight and bulk. Overall, though, you’re getting strong performance and an even stronger, ready-to-wear watch.
42. Apple Watch 9
The Apple Watch 9 handles the core fitness, cycling, and lifestyle functions we look for in a smartwatch, but its best and most distinctive features revolve around safety.
With crash and fall detection, a medical info display mode, and the ability to automatically call emergency services if it detects a sudden crash or fall, your safety if while on the road or trail If you have problems, this is a great watch.
In classic Apple fashion, the Apple Watch 9 has several features that can improve your experience when paired with an iPhone.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, for example, can even contact emergency services when you don’t have cell reception.
Back to the trailhead just in case your battery is dead? It calls AAA via satellite and sends them to your location. Compared to other options out there, the battery life is downright terrible, but its distinctive feature set makes it a worthy choice.
FAQs
Do smart watches track cycling?
All smartwatches track any sport with higher-end models having more cycling-specific features that allow you to track heart rate, calories burned, speed and distance.
Some high-end smartwatches also pair with Bluetooth sensors and ANT+, which lets you connect to power meters and external heart rate monitors, and many now support GPS tracking.
When choosing a smartwatch for cycling, you should consider factors such as battery life, GPS accuracy, compatibility with cycling sensors such as heart rate monitors and the simplicity of syncing data with cycling apps You may want to do.
Is a smart watch better than a cycling computer?
Bike computers are purpose-built devices, but there’s now a wide range of smart watches offering cycling-specific features that are capable of recording and uploading rides, and some high-end watches Bluetooth and Ant+.
Not only do some smart watches provide all of the data obtained from a dedicated GPS bike computer, but they are able to track your health and well-being from the bike as well.
Do I need a smart watch for cycling?
If you want to keep a close eye on your cycling, many smartwatches can facilitate this.
It’s an easy way to access data and navigation features by tracking things like your heart rate, calories burned and often speed and distance.
As well as offering insights into your riding to aid your training, they are also useful from the bike as they can also track things like sleep, heart rate variability and recovery.
Why are smart watches good for cycling?
Smartwatches aren’t a necessity for cycling, but they do offer a combination of features that can enhance your cycling experience, help you track your progress, and provide insights into your performance They can give.
Smartwatches are a convenient way to access more cycling data as it’s worn on your wrist and they act as a good motivator when you can share your stats with others on apps like Strava.
Some smartwatches also have safety features like crash detection and emergency SOS alerts, which can be crucial for cycling safety.
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