10 Best Digital Sports Watches For Triathlon 2025 in the United States

The COROS PACE 3 Sport Watch excels in multiple areas crucial for triathletes. It's incredibly lightweight and designed for all-day comfort, which is essential for long training sessions and races. The 1.2-inch always-on transflective touchscreen display is user-friendly and ensures visibility even in bright conditions.

One of its key strengths is the extended battery life, offering up to 17 days of regular use and 38 hours of continuous GPS tracking, minimizing the need for frequent recharges during extended activities. The dual-frequency GPS is highly accurate, even in challenging environments like urban areas with tall buildings, ensuring you stay on course. This watch also includes comprehensive heart rate monitoring and multi-sport modes, including running, biking, swimming, skiing, and more, making it highly versatile for varied training routines.

The COROS PACE 3 is also equipped with breadcrumb navigation for route planning, which is particularly useful for outdoor sports. Its water resistance makes it suitable for swimming, while Bluetooth connectivity ensures seamless data sync with the COROS app. However, the navigation is limited to breadcrumb style, which might not be as detailed as some users prefer. Additionally, while the touchscreen is a plus, some might find it less responsive during wet conditions.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is a solid choice for triathletes looking for a reliable digital sports watch. One of its main strengths is its robust battery life, lasting up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode, which is crucial for long training sessions or races. It also offers precise GPS tracking and wrist-based heart rate monitoring, essential for monitoring performance and health metrics during your activities.

The watch supports multiple sports modes, including running, cycling, swimming, and more, making it versatile for various training needs. Durability is another plus, with good water resistance, making it suitable for swimming and other water-based activities. The Garmin Forerunner 55 also connects seamlessly via Bluetooth to both iOS and Android devices, allowing for easy data syncing and customization with the Garmin Connect app and Connect IQ store.

However, it is worth noting that advanced features like PacePro are not compatible with on-device courses, which might be a downside for those who rely heavily on this for pacing strategies. Additionally, while the screen is functional, its resolution (208 x 208) is relatively low compared to more premium models. In summary, the Garmin Forerunner 55 offers a well-rounded package with excellent battery life, robust tracking features, and great compatibility, making it a valuable tool for triathletes, despite a few limitations.

The Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar is designed specifically for triathletes, offering a range of features that cater well to the demanding nature of the sport. One of its standout features is its impressive battery life, which can last up to 20 days in smartwatch mode and up to 49 hours in GPS mode with solar charging. This is beneficial for long training sessions and races. The watch’s water resistance also ensures it can handle swimming and other water-based activities without issue.

Its built-in GPS and access to multiple global navigation satellite systems provide superior accuracy, making it reliable for tracking distance and pace even in challenging environments. The heart rate monitoring and HRV status give valuable insights into training and recovery, helping athletes optimize their routines. The multisport mode allows for seamless transitions between different activities, which is crucial for triathletes. Durability is another strong suit, with the watch designed to withstand various training conditions.

The connectivity options, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, ensure compatibility with various devices for data syncing and analysis. On the downside, the Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar’s extensive feature set may be overwhelming for beginners. Its reliance on solar charging to maximize battery life means it performs best with regular exposure to sunlight, which might not be ideal in all weather conditions. Additionally, at around 1.9 ounces, it might feel slightly bulky for those with smaller wrists. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar is a robust and reliable choice for dedicated triathletes looking for a watch that can keep up with their rigorous training and racing schedules.