2015 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide: Run Watches
From an HR monitor without a chest strap to live tracking abilities, the watches of 2015 are multitasking marvels.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
$270, Tomtom.com
The draw: Strapless heart rate monitoring
No need for a chest strap with the Runner Cardio. A sensor embedded in the watch detects changes in blood flow by shining a light through your skin. When cinched tightly, it reads heart rate accurately. The GPS-enabled run computer has a four-sided button underneath the easy-to-read display and is Bluetooth ready to connect wirelessly to your phone. You can customize your workout with heart rate zones, intervals, speed or distance goals, and a race mode allows you to compete against your previous efforts.
$450, Garmin.com
The draw: The most advanced multisport watch ever
The ability to dissect and interpret workout data is what sets the 920XT apart. Like Garmin’s Edge cycling computers, the 920XT has live tracking capabilities and can automatically send data to a laptop. Measure your running efficiency with the HRM-Run heart rate monitor, which has a built-in accelerometer to measure cadence, vertical oscillation and ground contact time. With a slimmer design, the 920XT is wetsuit-friendly and sleek enough for daily use.
[buy-now-btn nytro=”http://www.nytro.com/all-products/browse/keyword/garmin-920″]
$65, Soleusrunning.com
The draw: Affordability, ease of use
The Contender doesn’t have GPS but can still be programmed for interval training and stores up to 10 workouts. There are six interval timers so you can get as creative as you want when plotting a fartlek workout. As a simple device should, it’s easy to use and clearly displays time, even at a glance while running fast. Like all Soleus watches, the Contender is water resistant, so it’s fine to wear in the pool.
$130, Timex.com
The draw: Simple functionality
With the look of a standard running watch, the GPS-enabled Run X20 is easy to use and offers a straightforward menu system. It goes beyond the basics of speed, distance and pace with programmable intervals to customize your run. It can only store 10 workouts at a time and has a claimed battery life of six hours in GPS mode. It’s waterproof and swimmer-friendly.
[buy-now-btn nytro=”http://www.nytro.com/all-products/browse/keyword/timex-x20″]