Multi-sport watches with different features and styles
The fitness industry offers a plethora of products specifically designed for women, ranging from shoes, clothing, sunglasses, bike seats, and countless others. The triathlon watch industry does not categorize their watches by gender but focuses on function over form.
However, that doesn’t mean that every training watch looks and functions the same or that there aren’t more sleek and stylish options available. Each watch that we feature here is a solid triathlon training watch in its own right and your best options for smaller wrists, or you want attractive color offerings. Let’s dive in!
Garmin fēnix 6S
The Garmin fenix 6S is our high-end recommendation and arguably one of the best smartwatches for tracking all your outdoor exercise and activities. It’s a full-featured training watch that lets you track the distances, times, and effort of your runs, swims, and rides, along with virtually any of your other sporting activities.
There are three editions to choose from -- standard, sapphire, and solar -- that offer unique bezel, case, and watch strap color combinations. You can also swap out the bands for any other 20-mm watch strap; however, you will need a watch spring bar tool, so be sure to look through all available options.
The fenix 6S does it all for triathlon training and race day tracking in terms of sensors and training functionality. It comes equipped with different training modes specific to, for example, running on a treadmill, riding on a stationary bike, swimming in a pool, or hitting the pavement and open water.
You'll also appreciate just how rugged this watch is, featuring a stainless steel bezel and Gorilla Glass or Sapphire Crystal protecting the watch-face. And the battery life here is outstanding, with 9 days in smartwatch mode or up to 34 days in battery-saver watch mode and max battery GPS mode of up to 50 hours.
Whether you’re wearing the fenix 6S as your daily smartwatch or only busting it out for your training sessions and race days, you won’t have to wait or worry about it needing a charge.
While Garmin offers its Forerunner series with watch models like the 945 and 745 proving to be very popular with the triathlon crowd, we’re giving the nod here to the fenix 6S due to the variety of sizing and color combinations.
Key features of the Garmin fenix 6S:
The defining feature of the fenix 6S is its ruggedness and how it dutifully tracks your outdoor activities. Still, you'll also appreciate the daily smart features like music control and storage, contactless payment, and health tracking functionality that includes options specific to women’s health.
With pricing starting at $750, you really would expect nothing less than the complete package, and that’s what Garmin offers with the fenix 6S.
What you need to know: The Garmin fenix 6S packs the same punch as the Forerunner 745 and 945 and then some with the addition of more colors and material options so you can pick the watch that best matches your personal style.
Pros:
- Rugged design with stainless steel bezel
- Full package of sports training modes and health-tracking sensors
- Great daily smart features for everyday usage
- Multiple sizes and color combinations
Cons:
- Premium pricing
- Swapping wrist bands requires spring bar tool
Starting at $749.99 USD, amazon.com
Coros Pace 2
There’s a lot to love about the Coros Pace 2, but we'll start with how it's simply the most affordable triathlon watch you can buy. For just $200, you get a refined and simplified training smartwatch with a digital dial for easy menu navigation as you train.
You get a standard 50-meter waterproof rating, meaning you'll have no issues tracking your swims. Coros also boasts the benefits of its unique Track Run Mode, which uses algorithms to more accurately track lap times and distances while running on – you guessed it – the track.
The Pace 2 delivers up to 30 hours of battery life in full GPS mode before needing a recharge and offers 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and a Night Mode that intelligently keeps the watch-face always-on during nighttime activities without completely draining the battery.
It’s a great option if you’re looking for a more affordable triathlon watch that doesn’t skimp on essential features that accurately record your training.
Style options include dark navy and white, along with silicone or nylon straps with the option to swap in your own 20-mm band. For the lightest possible watch, you’re definitely going to want those nylon straps.
Key features of the Coros Pace 2:
The lightweight design of the Pace 2 is ideal for anyone with smaller wrists where a large and bulky sporting watch might look out of place. It’s also significantly lighter on your wallet, which is always a good thing.
The Pace 2 is the second-generation smartwatch from Coros, and with it, you get a more energy-efficient processor and enhanced battery life from UltraMax mode. Along with the built-in triathlon functions and the simplistic design and interface, the Coros Pace 2 is an ideal training smartwatch for any budget-conscious triathlete looking for great performance at a great value.
What you need to know: The Coros Pace 2 is the smallest, lightest, and most affordable triathlon watch currently on the market. What it lacks in color options at checkout is compensated by the quick-release watch strap that lets you swap in any 20-mm band and truly accessorize your watch for any occasion.
Pros:
- Great entry price for beginners
- Optimized for battery life performance
- Intuitive interface
- Lightweight and stylish nylon band options
Cons:
- Lacks some sensors and features of high-end multi-sport watches
$199.99 USD, amazon.com
Polar Vantage V2
Polar is another established player in the triathlon watch space, and the Vantage V2, released October 2020, is an excellent option for any triathlete looking for a training watch with a bright display and a thin profile on the wrist. Polar has also added some great features for tracking your body’s performance during runs, cycles, and other workouts and upgraded the heart-rate sensor built into the watch.
If the visual design of the watch-face is important to you, you'll love the variety of available watch views on stats dashboards, training and recovery metrics, along with standard but valuable info like the time (duh), weather, and app notifications. For training, Polar offers modes for running, cycling, and swimming, along with 130 other sports modes and analytics.
In terms of accessorizing, you are somewhat limited compared to the other options. Polar only offers silicone straps, and the default sets include classic black-on-black, a silver case with a grey-lime band, or a black case with an olive-green band. Polar uses a proprietary wrist strap mechanism which means that you’re limited to the bands they offer (for $35), but you can also choose from white, red, green, and rose-plum.
Polar also offers a cycling bundle that includes a heart-rate monitor and a mounting bracket for using your smartwatch as a fixed display for your cycling data. It’s an interesting configuration and a compelling upgrade if you don’t already have a bike computer for quickly checking your cycling stats.
Key features of the Polar Vantage V2:
The most notable upgrades found with the Vantage V2 are the new performance testing modes for running and cycling that chart your progress as you train. This, along with the upgraded heart-rate sensor, means that you’ll get more accurate feedback on how your body reacts to workouts along with training load and recovery modes that track how well your post-workout recovery goes.
You may also appreciate the other wellness tracking functions, including the Sleep Tracking mode and Nightly Recharge mode, that measures how well your body has recharged through the night. The Serene Breathing Exercises help calm you down during your rest periods between training and can improve your mental health.
What you need to know: The Polar Vantage V2 is a bit larger than the other watches in its class, but it's exceptionally thin and durable. This watch is available in various colors, with extra watch straps that come in medium/large or small to mix, match, and accommodate wrists of any size.
Pros:
- Big and bright colorful touch display
- Bounty of sports modes for tracking your activities
- Enhanced heart-rate sensors and performance tracking
- Sleek, lightweight and comfortable design
Cons:
- Proprietary watch clasp limits strap options
$499.95 USD, amazon.com
Which triathlon watch for women should I buy?
Ultimately, the right triathlon watch for a woman is *any* watch she wants to wear, but we’ve tried to highlight the best options that offer a balance of outstanding functionality and style.
The Garmin fenix 6S is our top recommendation for its full suite of daily smart features and training functionality and deep customization options.
The Coros Pace 2 is the best option if your watch budget is around $200. And Polar is the mid-range option that is most compelling for its performance tracking and recovery features.
Got something to say about the watches on our list? Own a watch that didn’t make our list that you think deserves more attention? Tell us what you think in the comments, or join the conversation on social media!
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Best triathlon watch for beginners
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Written on:
2021-03-31
