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
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
$419.99 in stock
15 used from $289.99
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
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
$295.00 in stock
11 used from $162.74
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.
