Best Garmin GPS Watches For Triathlon Training In 2023

Garmin is a go-to brand for multi-sports and niche-sports watches and it is no surprise that a list of best smartwatches for triathletes would have an overwhelming number of Garmins in it.

So we cut out the competition by Polar and Suunto and narrowed down our list to just one yet the most deserving company, hence the title, ‘best Garmin watches for triathlon’.

We basically included almost all watches by the company that supports triathlon mode, but if we have to pick one, Garmin Forerunner 945 is the best smartwatch not only the best Garmin for triathletes.

After you answer the soul-searching question given below, you can get started with our ultimate list of back-to-back Garmins that would help you to track your running, swimming, and cycling accurately.

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Do You Need A Triathlon Watch? Why Garmin?

The watch can give you a competitive edge, but it alone would not make all the difference. The best it can do is to help you monitor your performance and recovery during tri training. If a device keeps close tabs on all the important metrics like heart zone, pace, position, etc, as you complete all three legs of the triathlon, when the D-day arrives, you will have everything in control.

It will essentially centralize data from your swims, cycles, and runs (in the dedicated triathlon mode), can even track heart rate underwater, and will help you to optimize your training. Most of them can be connected to external sensors, so you won’t have to worry about the accuracy of data.

We kid you not, a triathlon smartwatch can bump your performance.

Now to answer why you should prefer a Garmin watch, let us tell you what most of you might already know, ‘Garmin carved out a micro-niche for itself on the back of its strong satellite navigation capabilities’. The company is a pioneer in developing GPS sports watches, and in sports’ wearables, even the best-seller Apple watch can’t beat it.’

Top Garmin Triathlon Watches:

These watches are going to help you on and off-field. Apart from the sports-specific metrics and GPS tracking, you will get a range of health features like SpO2, Stress, and Sleep tracking that relate to recovery.

The last one is not the rudimentary sleep duration data you get in Apple Watch. Rather a complete breakdown of your sleep into light, deep sleep, REM, and awake time. No doubt, one of the best watches for sleep tracking are by Garmin.

The company has been backing up sports and fitness enthusiasts of all sorts for quite a long time now. Be it runners, hikers, swimmers, or divers, Garmin provides for all the sports niches. So let’s see how Garmin caters to the needs of Triathletes.

Garmin Forerunner 745: Best Value Garmin For Triatheletes

Key Features and Specs:

• Weight: 47 g
• Watch size: 43.8 x 43.8 x 13.3 mm
• Display size: 1.2″ (30.4 mm) diameter
• Lens material: Corning® Gorilla® Glass DX 
• Bezel material: Fiber-Reinforced polymer
• Water Rating: 5 ATM
• Battery life: Smartwatch mode: Up to 7 days | GPS mode with music: Up to 6 hours | GPS mode without music: Up to 16 hours | UltraTrac™ mode: Up to 21 hours
• Dedicated Triathlon Mode: Yes

Review:

Garmin Forerunner 745 is specifically made keeping the runners and triathletes in mind. Starting with the favoring factors build-wise, the watch is light. At 47 grams, the watch feels like nothing on your wrist whether you are cycling, swimming, or running. Its transflective display, although primitive, is very good for readings in water or while swimming. The 22mm standard quick-release silicone straps are also very comfortable around the wrist. 

As the triathlon comprises 3 major sports namely running, cycling and swimming we will talk about FR745’s capability in all three.

The main reason for FR745 being one of the easiest picks is its multisport tracking mode, where it tracks all the 3 sports simultaneously which is much needed for triathletes.

The watch has one of the best working Multi-Satellite GPS systems which ensures a quick and reliable connection during your runs. Your distance, time, and Pace are also GPS-based which enhances the accuracy.

There are a lot of running profiles to choose from, for your training purpose. The watch is capable of measuring your cadence and also your performance condition which is a measure of your overall strength. There is also PacePro integrated which gives a per unit length analysis of your pace with suggestions of what you should do to improve that. 

When it comes to cycling, the watch will monitor the metrics such as pace and distance traveled. For other metrics such as cadence and speed, you can also attach other power sensors externally thanks to the trusty Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity while also being compatible with Varia accessories. The readings and data are as accurate as for running. 

Swimming is also tracked in much detail. All the useful metrics from a triathlete’s perspective are for you to view such as distance, pace, stroke count/ rate, stroke distance, SWOLF, calories along with stroke detection where it detects 4 major stroke types quite efficiently. With the support of GPS, you can use it for both open water and pool swims. 

Battery life is also good enough from a triathlon’s perspective as you get 16 hours of playback time with GPS on, sufficient enough to not die on you amidst your important moments. Remember to charge before going on a second one though. 

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Great for triathletes
• VO2 Max Indicator
• Music storage and control

Cons:

• Average battery

Garmin Fenix 6 Pro: Best Triathlon Watch With Spotify Offline

Key Features and Specs:

• Weight: Steel: 85 g (case only: 62 g) | Titanium: 72 g (case only: 48 g)
• Watch size: 47 x 47 x 15.1 mm
• Display size: 1.3” (33.02 mm) diameter
• Lens material: Power Glass
• Bezel material: Stainless Steel Or Diamond-Like Carbon (Dlc) Coated Titanium
• Water Rating: 10 ATM
• Battery life: Smartwatch: Up to 14 days/16 days | Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 48 days/80 days | GPS: Up to 36 hours/40 hours | GPS + Music: Up to 10 hours | Max Battery GPS Mode: Up to 72 hours/93 hours | Expedition GPS Activity: Up to 28 days/36 days 
• Dedicated Triathlon Mode: Yes

Review:

Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is one of the most loaded smartwatches Garmin has put out. It has got the best of all the worlds when it comes to triathlons. The Fenix 6 and 6X are aimed at men whereas Garmin Fenix 6S is for anyone with smaller wrists.

One of the most solid builds on the watch, Fenix 6 pro can handle roughness with no problem. It is not the lightest watch out in the market weighing at 49 grams only if bought in the titanium option. The display is the transflective MIP display which works great in the hard sun and even underwater. Lots of strap options are available, you can replace the standard silicone strap of Garmin Fenix 6 with leather, fabric, and metal straps.

Related Post: Best Garmin For Interval Training

Multisport tracking is a go with this watch along with the automatic detection. All the running metrics are very well displayed with the option of having 8 metrics at a time on your screen. There are also a lot of run workouts to select from whatever suits you to achieve your goal. Talking about the goals there is a race predictor feature that checks your current pace and predicts when your race is going to end. This helps you improve your run timing and achieve your desired end time. 

Cycling courses are available with multiple alerts systems triggering at the time, distance, heart rate, or calories burnt goals. The measure of the hardness of the track and how well you are maintaining your pace at that particular track can also be viewed by MTB Grit and Flow. Varia products support like Varia Vision, Radar, and Lights is also available while Cadence and Speed sensor support is also given. 

The swimming aspect is backed by a lot of both open water and pool water metric monitoring like distance, stroke count, stroke rate, stroke distance, SWOLF, calories burnt, etc. Stroke type detection of major 4 strokes namely butterfly, freestyle, backstrokes, and breaststroke. For Pool swim, there is an auto rest feature that enables you when you are not swimming and hence stops the lap. There is auto lap count as well as manual lap count where pool length comes into play. 

The battery is a great edge it has over other watches. 36 hours of runtime while using GPS constantly is enough to keep you going through the whole triathlon and some more. However, if you prefer to play onboard music or Spotify playlists offline as you run, it takes a heavy toll on the battery’s performance.

Pros:

• Top-of-the-line sports tracking
• On board music
• Premium triathlon features

Cons:

• Bulky
• Expensive

Garmin Forerunner 945: Best Triathalon Watch

Key Features and Specs:

• Weight: 50 g
• Watch size: 47 x 47 x 13.7 mm
• Display size: 1.2″ (30.4 mm) diameter
• Lens material: Corning® Gorilla® Glass DX
• Bezel material: Fibre-reinforced Polymer
• Water Rating: 5 ATM
• Battery life: Smartwatch Mode: Up to 2 weeks | GPS mode with music: Up to 10 hours | GPS mode without music: Up to 36 hours.
• Dedicated Triathlon Mode: Yes

Review:

Forerunner 945 is the latest addition to the forerunner lineup by Garmin and they decided to go all out with its release. The watch that you look at and buy for your triathlon without much consideration. 

Forerunner series are known to be rugged with a subtle hint of a smartwatch appeal to them, unlike the Fenix lineup. So talking about the FR945, it’s a tough nut to crack, quite literally. The display is protected by the Gorilla Glass DX while the whole body is a fiber-reinforced polymer. The watch is a bit lighter than the Fenix 6 pro steel body, weighing 50 grams. 22 mm silicone straps, with the Quickfit config, are comfortable and provide a snug fit throughout the triathlon. 

Running metrics are all the standard ones with 8 metrics per screen option. pace comes in quite handy when your runs are terrain-oriented. So FR945 conveniently tells you what pace to run. Like other selections, FR945 supports external sensors for cadence, ground contact time, stride length, etc. All these measures improve your running stance and efficiency compared to your effort. Race predictor is also ready to be used while training for your triathlons. 

Nothing too interesting from the cyclist aspect of the triathlon but definitely no lags. Alerts are there, routable cycling maps are there right on your wrist, and MTB Grit and Flow, which basically is the PacePro but for cyclists is there. Lots of cycling profiles and support for Varia accessories and other sensors. 

Multiple swim profiles to choose from, FR945 tracks the swimming-related stuff just fine. All the metrics you can ask for are covered alone. A nifty feature that is also found in the FR745 and Fenix 6 Pro is the critical swim speed which is the measure of the pace with which you can keep on going without exhausting. 

Lastly, the battery is great to cover a complete triathlon. In the GPS mode (required for running and open water swims) the watch can keep going for 36 hours before needing a recharge which is sufficient enough. 

Pros:

• One of the best heart rate and GPS tracking
• Illustrated maps
• Great battery

Cons:

• Pricey
• Bulky design wise
• A bit of problematic lap tracking when overused

Garmin Forerunner 935: Cheap alternative to FR 945

Key Features and Specs:

• Weight: 49 g
• Watch size: 47 x 47 x 13.9 mm
• Display size: 1.2″ (30.4 mm) diameter
• Lens material: Chemically Strengthened Glass
• Bezel material: Fibre-reinforced Polymer
• Water Rating: 5 ATM
• Battery life: Smartwatch Mode: Up to 2 weeks | GPS/HR mode: Up to 24 hours | UltraTrac™ mode: Up to 60 hours without wrist heart rate
• Dedicated Triathlon Mode: Yes

Review:

Being the predecessor of PR945, Garmin Forerunner 935 is also a worthy option for people who want to take part in triathlons but also want to save some money. 

Solid build quality is what you get with the FR935. The Glass is chemically strengthened instead of the Corning Gorilla Glass but it will take a good amount of bumps and hits before giving in on you. Same 22 mm Quickfit silicone bands and the trusty transflective panel though. Nothing too exciting in this department but everything is useful from a triathlete’s perspective.  

Now as runs are an integral part of a triathlon, Garmin has done great to ensure runners have metrics of every sort at their service. The screens are totally user-customizable and have almost all the info you require while training or amidst your triathlon. Cadence and performance meters are also available to improve your running techniques. The best part is that this watch also supports the Auto Multisport feature so you have to go through the hassle of changing the sport needed to be tracked. 

Cycling is another important part of a triathlon that is also kept track of. There are a lot of cycling profiles to choose from which enables you to practice cycling indoors too. You can set a biking lap and while you are at it, with the appropriate biking sensor, you can measure your power for a particular lap too. It is fully compatible with Various accessories which might come in handy during a triathlon along with Garmin’s cadence and speed sensor.  

This watch is a treat for swimmers as it is quite rich with swimming-oriented features. It can be used in open water swimming as well as in pool swimming. Swim Metrics will provide you every little detail including distance, speed, stroke per count, and stroke length. Critical swim speed which was later available in FR 945 is missing here though along with the auto lap feature and the auto-pause feature. Everything else is essentially the same. 

Battery life is enough for a single triathlon, lasting a full day in the GPS mode with the HR sensor working and 60 hours in the Ultratrac mode. 

Pros:

• Lightweight and comfy
• Well performing battery
• Slightly cheaper than FR945 but equally well-performing for Triathletes

Cons:

• No Onboard music
• No Garmin pay

Garmin Forerunner 735XT:

Key Features and Specs:

• Weight: 40.2 g
• Watch size: 44.5 x 44.5 x 11.9 mm
• Display size: 1.23″ (31.1 mm) diameter
• Lens material: Chemically Strengthened Glass
• Bezel material: N/A
• Water Rating: 5 ATM
• Battery life: Smartwatch Mode: Up to 11 days | GPS mode: Up to 14 hours | UltraTrac™ mode: Up to 24 hours without wrist heart rate
• Dedicated Triathlon Mode: Yes

Review:

Garmin Forerunner 735XT is one of the watches released by Garmin that was actually branded as a triathlon watch. So let’s see how it fares in actually having what it takes to be one. And if you leave out the cycling, it is one of the best Garmin for swimming and running.

Garmin surely cut some corners in the build quality with this, and this actually makes sense as they had to create a light watch that could be strapped to a wrist without actually being felt it’s there. Weighing at only 40.2 grams, it is one of the thinnest packages to contain a lot of goodness. You have to be a little careful to save it from any major hits. Usual stuff in the strap and display department, but nothing to hinder your triathlon training. 

It is quite cheap for a triathlon watch but packed with quite a lot of features. Considering the running perks, this watch lags nowhere in the metrics department.  Like the others, it is fully capable of monitoring your run workouts and also suggested according to your physical condition. Race predictor and Cadence meter are also present. With proper accessories, you can also monitor the running dynamics, vertical oscillations, and the degree of your bounce in your running technique, real-time stride length, etc. 

Nothing to complain about in the cycling department as it measures all the necessary metrics to accompany you on your track. The Bluetooth and ANT+ support allow you to connect a variety of external sensors like speed and cadence sensors and FTP measuring accessory that measures your threshold power with which you can keep on cycling. 

Like the other 2 sectors, swimming features are also very well induced which makes sense as it is a triathlon watch. FR735XT is fully capable of monitoring both the open water and pool swims, along with your stroke. Pools swim to have a lot more options than the open water swims through such as drill logging, basic rest timer, repeating rest timer, and the countdown start. Open swims are under observation by the GPS and its pacing and distance system. 

Battery life is just enough to last you for a triathlon. In the GPS mode which is necessary for a triathlon, it can keep going for 14 hours and 24 hours in the Ultratrac mode where GPS is in constant pinging mode hence conserving the battery life.

Pros:

• Great battery life
• Dedicated triathlon mode
• Competitive price

Cons:

• Faulty Wrist HR sensor
• Cheap build quality

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Garmin Fenix 5 Plus

Key Features and Specs:

• Weight: 86 g | Titanium version: 76 g
• Watch size: 47 x 47 x 15.8 mm
• Display size: 1.2” (30.4 mm) diameter
• Lens Material: Domed Chemically Strengthened Glass Or Sapphire Crystal
• Bezel Material: Stainless Steel Or Titanium
• Water Rating: 10 ATM
• Battery life: Smartwatch: Up to 12 days | GPS: Up to 18 hours | GPS and Music: Up to 8 hours | UltraTrac™ mode: Up to 42 hours
• Dedicated Triathlon Mode: Yes

Review:

Not a whole lot different from its successor, Garmin Fenix 5 Plus might just be a favorite among triathletes. There is a small variant to this watch too, namely Fenix 5S (best triathlon watch for small wrists).

Garmin Fenix 5 Plus comes with a stainless steel or titanium bezel to protect it from thuds. Three-strap options to choose from including silicone, leather, or titanium. Silicone suits the triathletes more though, due to less sweat accumulation. The toughness of watches like these comes with a price i.e. increased weights. Fenix 5 plus weighs 86 grams which can be a little too much for some.  

It has all the features a runner would require during training and in competition. The watch will inform you about your distance, pace, cadence, and running dynamics. The advanced features will cover every detail from vertical oscillation to ground contact time and balance. It will analyze the bouncing angle, stride length, and pace to provide you with performance conditions. Lactate Threshold is an interesting feature for runners as it will note your speed against heart rate and estimate the fatigue point. 

Garmin has introduced a triathlete profile for cycling in this watch that will be helpful during the training of triathlons. There is an alarm system to alert you when you reach your goals. Like any good athletic watch, it will tell you about Lap maximum power and speed. Garmin has also provided a feature to create your cycling map which will be helpful for mountain biking. It is also compatible with other accessories such as Varia Vision, Varia Radar, and Lights which might come in handy depending upon your training environment,

Garmin Fenix 5 Plus has all the traits to attract the interest of swimmers. The swimmer can choose the swimming profile and the metrics will give figures of pace, stroke length, distance, and swimming efficiency accordingly. The watch will detect the stroke type and guide the swimmer to the most efficient training. Drill logging will assist you in unconventional training and record your stats. 

The GPS mode is what is being used along with music sometimes. In this case, Fenix 5 Plus can be expected to give a run time of 10 to 15 hours which is sufficient enough for a triathlon. 

Pros:

• Huge 16 GB memory for music and data
• Tough and solid build
• Wide range of multisport features

Cons:

• Expensive
• Average battery life

Garmin MARQ Athlete: 

Key Features and Specs:

• Weight: 94 g
• Watch size: Diameter x Thickness: 46 x 14.1 mm
• Display size: 1.2” (30.4 mm) diameter
• Lens Material: Domed Sapphire Crystal
• Bezel Material: Titanium
• Water Rating: 10 ATM
• Battery life: Smartwatch mode: Up to 12 days | GPS mode: Up to 28 hours | GPS with Music: Up to 9 hours | UltraTrac™ mode: Up to 48 hours
• Dedicated Triathlon Mode: Yes

Review:

This can be regarded as a watch where Garmin went absolute bonkers with the price as well as the features.

Unlike the other suggestions, this watch has got a heft to it. Weighing at 94 grams, this is the heaviest selection on our list. All this weight is somewhat justified by the whole titanium build which also makes it one of the toughest watches by Garmin. The display is protected by premium sapphire glass. Now a watch this costly, and still not having a touch panel calls for it being sports oriented because buttons are easier to operate underwater or with sweaty hands. Nothing too exciting going on with the straps other than that they fit quite well. 

The Triathlon modes are there for which we are here. Auto multisport detection and even a manual touch where you select when to switch the sport is also given. Buying a premium watch ensures you one thing that you are going to get it all. For example, in running all the premium stuff we’ve seen before is present. All the metrics, lots of data analysis both pre and post-run, PacePro, Race predictor, compatibility with foot pods, cadence, performance condition, everything is there. Your pace and distance are also GPS-based so great for triathletes.

The same story exists in the cycling segment. A lot of features like customizable alerts, cycle courses, MTB Grit and Flow, multiple cycling profiles, compatibility with power, cadence, and speed sensors as well as the Varia accessories have been provided without any caveats.

You also feel much empowered while swimming with the MARQ. Lots of swim profiles to choose from, both Open water and Pool swimming. All the metrics are covered along with stroke detection. Auto rest is available to assist you in your training in pools, time, distance, and pacing alert alongside heart rate detection underwater. This is all you can ask for.

28 hours of battery life with continuous GPS usage is enough to keep you going through a full triathlon with still battery left to spare.  

Pros:

• Elite design
• Loaded with almost all available features
• Lots of music storage
• Lots of battery endurance

Cons:

• Very heavy
• Too expensive

Garmin Enduro: Best Triathlon Watch for Long Distance

Key Features and Specs:

• Weight: Steel: 71 g (case only: 65 g) | Titanium: 61 g (case only: 55 g)
• Watch size: 51 x 51 x 14.9 mm
• Display size: 1.4” (35.56 mm) diameter
• Lens material: Power Glass
• Bezel Material: Stainless Steel Or Diamond-Like Carbon (Dlc) Coated Titanium
• Water Rating: 10 ATM
• Battery life: Smartwatch: Up to 50 days/65 days with solar* | Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 130 days/1 year with solar* | GPS: Up to 70 hours/80 hours with solar** | Max Battery GPS Mode: Up to 200 hours/300 hours with solar** | Expedition GPS Activity: Up to 65 days/95 days with solar*
• Dedicated triathlon: Yes

Review:

Garmin introduced a watch having a gigantic battery that supports solar charging. Garmin Enduro has good scratch resistance, high water resistance, and a battery life of 70 to 80 hours in GPS mode. These all traits make it a perfect choice for a professional triathlete. Climb pro features will catch the attention of mountain bikers as it passes information regarding upcoming climbs.  Trail Run VO2 Max will help athletes to keep an eye on cardiovascular fitness levels.

This watch is a golden sparrow for professional runners as it has many profiles such as virtual running, ultra-running, and trail running. It will display all the figures and facts regarding your running technique and ability. These statistics include the angle of bounce, surface contact time, speed, distance, and cadence. Advanced features include a race predictor that predicts the average race time depending on your training records and Foot Pod Capable assists you to calculate the distance and pace.

This watch contains all the necessary features a triathlete would need for training. You can choose the profile according to the environmental conditions. Race an Activity feature of this watch will help you compete against your previous records. Speed and Cadence sensors will collect data regarding your pace and frequency during cycling. The power sensor focuses on recording a Lap of maximum power. FTP will give you the maximum power achieved. These stats will help you work on your weak points and push yourself to new limits.

10 ATM water resistance makes this product suitable for long and harsh water training. It contains various swimming profiles along with Running that will help triathletes to increase their stamina. It can measure critical swim speed and inform you about your pace, distance covered and calories burnt during swimming.

This watch also supports underwater wrist-based heart rate. Since stroke type is also detected, you can compare your heart rate in different stroke types that will lead you towards difficult and tiring stroke types, and you can use this information for harsh training of triathlons.

Pros:

• Good size
• Amazing battery
• Solar-powered, charges while you sweat in the sun
• Nylon-based comfy strap

Cons:

• Expensive due to the Solar feature
• No music memory
• No mapping support

Garmin Tactix Delta: Tactical Watch

Key Features and Specs:

• Weight:  97 g (case only: 69 g)
• Watch size: 51 x 51 x 14.9 mm
• Display size: 1.4” (35.56 mm) diameter
• Lens material: Power Sapphire
• Bezel material: Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) coated steel
• Water Rating: 10 ATM
• Battery life: Smartwatch: Up to 21 days/24 days with solar | Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 80 days/120 days with solar | GPS: Up to 60 hours/66 hours with solar | GPS + Music: Up to 15 hours/16 hours with solar | Max Battery GPS Mode: Up to 120 hours/148 hours with solar | Expedition GPS Activity: Up to 46 days/56 days with solar
• Dedicated Triathlon Mode: Yes

Review:

Garmin Tactix Delta is crafted considering military standards. It has an irregular shape but is durably built and has a sophisticated design. Features like Night vision, stealth mode (the option that stops sharing your GPS position), and Kill switch (A feature that wipes complete memory of the device) are a bit over for triathletes. But along these military options, we have all the handy specifications craved by a triathlete.

This watch will guide runners about basic run workouts and pace strategies by analyzing the course with the help of the PacePro feature. The watch will record every small detail including speed, distance, and vertical oscillation of feet. The threshold feature will help us determine the fatigue point while performance conditions notice our fitness during training. With the combined instructions from these two features, you can increase your stamina and will help you train smartly. 

Garmin Tactix delta also considers the needs of triathlons during cycling.  You can customize the cycling track during training and choose the cycling profile. The MTB Grit and Flow feature will help you measure your pace against the difficulty of the course and will point out the weak points during a track that can be improved. Like any good sports watch; it will provide you information about pace, distance, maximum lap power, and is compatible with accessories provided by Varia.

Swimming is the most tiring course of triathlons, and Garmin Tactix delta will support you at its fullest to prepare you accordingly. Various swimming profiles are present for training and swim matrices will be there to alert you regarding your performance and swim efficiency. The pool swim workout feature will suggest some exercise during swimming training to improve your stamina and technique. The underwater wrist-based heart rate measurement is also present like any other premium Garmin watch. This watch will take care of your fitness against all types of swimming exercises and help you overcome your previous limits.

Pros:

• Military-grade protection
• Sapphire glass protection
• Serious features facilitating triathletes
• Everything Garmin can offer

Cons:

• Expensive
• Bulky
• Buggy music interface

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Garmin Quatix 6:

Key Features and Specs:

• Weight: 83 g (60 g, case only)
• Watch size: 47 x 47 x 14.7 mm
• Display size: 1.3” (33.02 mm) diameter
• Lens material: Corning Gorilla Glass DX
• Bezel material: Stainless Steel
• Water Rating: 10 ATM
• Battery life: Smartwatch mode: Up to 14 days | GPS mode: Up to 36 hours | GPS and music: Up to 10 hours | Max battery GPS mode: 72 hours | Expedition GPS activity: 28 days | Battery saver watch mode: 48 days
• Dedicated triathlon: Yes

Review:

Garmin Quatix 6 may be branded as a boating or sailing watch, but it has more to offer than just some boating perks. 

Design-wise it is pretty nostalgic as the same build has been seen in the Garmin Fenix 6 and 6 Pro. The watch is a little bulky at 60 grams which won’t bother the tougher triathletes but can be a problem for people with petite wrists. The rigid build quality, thanks to the fiber-reinforced polymer, favors it to be used in the roughest of the areas. The stainless steel bezels protect the edges in case of an accident or a fall which is quite probable in a triathlon. 

Not much related to running is expected from a boating-specific watch, yet it offers what all the other premium watches have to offer. the pace is there, so you have your pacing strategies. Race predictor to predict your end times depending on your Pace and track. Lesser premium features like performance condition in which the watch compares your condition after a 5-6 minute run to your overall stamina. 

Garmin thought of this watch as a boating exclusive, but why not cycling as well? Routable street maps have been provided with colored illustrations. Lots of metrics can be measured such as speed and cadence (with proper sensors), FTP (proper accessory required) and it also is compatible with the Vector Power meter. 

 It would’ve been an injustice if, after boating, swimming support would not have been included to make it a decent triathlon watch. All the swimming profiles have been infused with this to put them up to par with others. Same basic metrics along with the integral stroke detection are present. Sadly the Auto pause feature which was common in the higher-end watches has not been provided. Nonetheless, other good things like the compatibility with the HRM chest strap a welcome features. 

Pros:

• Versatile, usable for almost anything
• On board Music
• Great battery life
• No brainer Multisport watch

Cons:

• A bit expensive

No products found.