Do you love having thrilling adventures with your trusty mountain bike? Or speeding along highways with the wind in your hair? If you love exploring, whatever the terrain, getting lost can turn a fun experience into a nightmare, and this is the same whether on a bike or on foot. It’s important to plan well for any expedition and having a decent watch is one of the basics.
A decent tracker or smartwatch will have the benefit of a good GPS, health stat monitors and a range of useful features that can help you get out of any messy situation. So, although you can get a specialized GPS watch model, sometimes you just want something that offers more functions than that, which is why we’ve taken a closer look at the best watches for biking, and narrowed the choice down to our tried and tested top models.
01. POLAR VANTAGE V
POLAR VANTAGE V – Premium GPS Multisport Watch for Multisport & Triathlon Training (Heart Rate Monitor, Running Power, Waterproof), Standard Edition, Black
Features
- ULTRA-LONG BATTERY LIFE: The Polar Vantage V Multisport Watch has up to 40 hours of training time with GPS active. As a premium, durable, and waterproof watch, the Vantage V can stand up to your toughest training and gruelling races.
- POLAR PRECISION PRIME HEART RATE: Polar’s heart rate monitor watches redefine the gold standard in optical heart rate accuracy by combining the latest in bio-impedance electrodes and optical sensors.
- ADVANCED RUNNING POWER: Accelerate the effectiveness and precision of your training with running power. Captured for the first time EVER directly from the wrist, the Vantage V can help fine-tune your effort. This is the ultimate activity tracker.
- TRAINING LOAD PRO: The Vantage V is the ultimate fitness tracker, separating cardio load, muscle load and perceived load. Polar’s Training Load Pro provides an unparalleled look into how your training affects your body.
- RECOVERY PRO: Recovery Pro allows your fitness watch to take into account factors outside of training that can influence recovery, providing a holistic view of not only what you've done, but what you can do next for optimal results.
The Polar Vantage V has a long-lasting battery that can power up this watch for almost 40 hours nonstop. The built-in heart rate monitor gives you a real-time diagnosis even during activities, and the included features follow the effects exercise has on your body and its functions. It’s marketed as a professional athlete watch which means that it can take all of your biking, running, exercising and swimming needs. This watch is the first watch ever to be able to measure running power straight from your wrist with no need for foot pods. This is easy to recommend!
02. APPLE WATCH SERIES 5
If you want to stay connected while still on the go, the Apple Watch Series 5 is a great option. This smartwatch allows you to call, message, or even send an email without the use of your phone. With an excellent inbuilt heart rate app, you can track your heart rate while exercising, resting or sleeping, and the watch will warn you of any significant changes in your heart rate. The watch itself will prompt you to move more and sit less, as well as compete with friends and strangers in various fitness challenges. Make every activity more entertaining by playing your favorite music or listening to an audiobook via Apple’s innovative tech.
03. GARMIN FENIX 6X PRO
Garmin Fenix 6X Pro, Premium Multisport GPS Watch, features Mapping, Music, Grade-Adjusted Pace Guidance and Pulse Ox Sensors, Black
Features
- Solar Powered Multisport GPS Watch with large 1.4 inches display (36% larger than previous fenix models) uses the sun’s energy to extend battery life and assure more on-wrist time for your off-grid activities
- Enhanced estimated wrist heart rate and Pulse Ox to support advanced sleep monitoring and altitude acclimation at high elevations (this is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition)
- Advanced training features include PacePro for grade-adjusted pace guidance throughout your activity plus environmentally adjusted VO2 max and training status estimates
- Navigate the outdoors with preloaded TOPO maps, ski maps for over 2,000 worldwide ski resorts, multiple global navigation satellite system (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) support and built-in sensors for 3-axis compass, gyroscope and barometric altimeter
- Support for Garmin Pay contactless payments (not all countries and payment networks are eligible), music storage with premium streaming service (may require subscription with third-party music provider) support, smart notifications and more
The Garmin Fenix 6X Pro has a solar-powered battery ensuring you never run out of power when on the go. A full battery can last for up to 21 days of continuous use without recharging, and an additional 3 more days when charged with sunlight. This is a great replacement for your old smartwatch if you often find yourself stuck with an out-of-battery watch after just a few hours of use.
It comes with a lot of neat preloaded features, such as TOPO maps and ski maps for over 2000 ski resorts worldwide, music storage, and contactless pay. The GPS features offer highly detailed progressive tracking, ideal for getting you out of tight spots.
04. SUUNTO 9
Suunto 9, GPS Sports Watch with Long Battery Life and Wrist-Based Heart Rate, Non-Barometer, All Black
Features
- Suunto 9: This streamlined multisport GPS watch is designed for athletes who demand the best; Featuring over 80 sports modes, a wrist heart rate monitor, and training summary with graphs and lap tables
- Built To Last: Made for training, racing and extreme adventures, this GPS watch delivers up to 120 hours of continuous exercise tracking; Water resistant to 100 meters; Great for running, hiking, cycling and more
- Get Connected: Connect to your favorite sports apps and services from the Suunto app to get more from your watch; Share with your sports communities and access specific training analysis and guidance
- Adventure Starts Here: Combining Scandinavian design with ultra durable materials, our watches track your sports, daily activity, and sleep to help you keep life, training and recovery in balance
- Authentic Heritage: Founded in 1936, Suunto brings over 80 years of high quality heritage craftsmanship, relentless accuracy, and pioneering innovation to our watches, compasses, and dive products
With almost 80 different sport modes, the Suunto 9 is definitely one of the best fitness watches that utilizes every feature based on your current activity to present accurate statistics of your progress. Its built-in GPS makes it possible to check your current position towards your destination without the need to use your phone.
One feature that we love is the adjustable battery mode that allows you customize your battery usage depending on your activities to prevent draining power in the middle of your session. For all its nifty features and details, you’re definitely getting more bang for your buck with this watch!
05. GARMIN FORERUNNER 735XT
Garmin Forerunner 735XT, Multisport GPS Running Watch with Heart Rate, Black/Gray
Features
- GPS running watch with multisport features.Special Feature:Bluetooth.Water Resistant: Yes.Forerunner Specifications - Operating temperature range : From -20º to 50ºC (from -4º to 122ºF)
- Estimates heart rate at the wrist so you can run freer on race day.Shock resistant. Battery life : Smartwatch Mode Up to 11 days. GPS mode Up to 14 hours. UltraTrac mode Up to 24 hours without wrist heart rate
- Provides advanced dynamics for running, cycling and swimming7, including ground contact time balance, stride length, vertical ratio and more (when paired with a Running Dynamics Pod, HRM Run or HRM Tri Monitor, sold separately)
- Offers VO2 max estimate, lactate threshold (when used with a chest strap heart rate monitor), race predictor and recovery advisor
- Connected features4: smart notifications, automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, live tracking and more
The Garmin Forerunner 735XT is an exceptional model for any athlete, whether runner or cyclist. This advanced smartwatch evaluates your VO2 max and helps predict your race times, making it easy for you to strategize how to improve your performance.
One caveat that most smartwatches have is that they are made with delicate materials that break easily. This watch, however, is made of highly durable materials that makes it shock resistant, a plus for anyone who often engages in physical activities. With health trackers, GPS variants, and a wide range of extra features, including ground contact time balance, and stride length, this is an impressive beast for any wrist!
Are you big on staying fit through cycling and running? Check out our top recommended watches for cycling and runner’s watches.
