THE BEST WATCHES FOR TRIATHLON
Sprint, Olympic, 70.3 and Ironman.
Don’t worry, we’re not crazy: we’re just listing the most common varieties of triathlon, one of the fastest-growing sports (or rather, multisports!) in recent years. A first swimming fraction, the middle phase of cycling and the final part of running and walking, with two transitions between the various activities.
But how are the different types of triathlon organised?
THE MAIN TYPES OF TRIATHLON
The sprint consists of 750 metres swimming, 20 km cycling and 5 km running.
The Olympic 1500 metre swim, 40 km bike and 10 km run.
The 70.3 (or half Ironman), on the other hand, involves 1900 metres of swimming, 90 km on the bike and 21.097 km (a half marathon) of running.
The Ironman, finally, involves 3800 metres of swimming, 180 km on the bike and a marathon (i.e. 42.195 km) of running.
It goes without saying that running times and efforts can vary greatly according to each of the different specialities.
It is precisely for this reason that it is essential to equip oneself with the best devices to monitor one’s performance and obtain the best possible result by managing one’s effort.
So what are the best Garmin watches for triathlon?
GARMIN WATCHES FOR THE TRIATHLON
The Forerunner 255 or the Forerunner 255 music (with their s – small versions) are undoubtedly the ideal solution for those seeking quality and performance at a reasonable price level. Lightweight, resistant and with a sporty look, they have a high autonomy (up to 30h GPS, therefore also ideal for an Ironman) and integrate, in addition to GPS+Multi GNSS (multi-satellite) support, MultiBand precision, ideal for not losing a single metre of your performance.
The Forerunner 265, to all the features and qualities of the Forerunner 255, adds a wonderful AMOLED touchscreen (in addition to the canonical 5 buttons). Here, too, there is a small S version (41 mm case instead of 46 mm) and music can be downloaded without any problems on all versions. The battery life suffers, but not too much, from the exceptional image quality: 20 hours of GPS autonomy are still sufficient even in the event of a few unforeseen incidents.
The Forerunner 955 and the Forerunner 955 solar come in a single 46.5 mm format. The battery life is undoubtedly the highlight of the most popular model among triathletes: up to 42 hours of GPS range (49 on the solar version). In addition to the features already present on the other models, discerning customers can also count on the pre-loading of maps, which is useful for both technical and less intense and/or tourism-mountain use. The weight remains ultra-light, just 52 grams. Lastly, the real-time stamina data is useful, to better manage prolonged efforts.
The Forerunner 965 is the AMOLED touchscreen version of the Forerunner 955 series. Here, as with the Forerunner 265, the battery life is slightly shorter, but 31 hours of GPS are still guaranteed. The case materials are of a higher quality, with a beautiful titanium bezel offering a more elegant look. The image quality is among the best ever.
The Fenix 7 series (Fenix 7S, Fenix 7 and Fenix 7X), Epix and Enduro 2 complete the triathlon offer.
Characterised by the use of higher quality materials and a sleeker, more robust look, they are certainly ideal devices to be worn outside of sporting activity. The main features remain faithful to those of the Forerunner 955, with the valuable addition of autonomy (up to 150 GPS hours on the Enduro 2) and greater shock resistance. Useful, in the Fenix, is the differentiation of case size in the three sizes of 42 mm, 47 mm and 51 mm, to meet the needs of those who do not have a very large wrist.
IN CONCLUSION
As we have seen, there is something for all tastes and needs.
In terms of the quality of the data collected, we can say that Garmin has undoubtedly hit the mark. The GPS signal accuracy is excellent in both the Forerunner 255 and the more expensive Fenix series, and the battery life can cope with even the most prolonged activities. We are certain, however, that each of you will have your own preferences, dictated also by prolonged or extra-sporty use, and for this reason the range of choice is very wide.
We therefore advise you to rely on the precious advice of a shop such as MioMio Run, which is precisely the first Garmin Shop in Italy and which will certainly be able to show you the most suitable device for all your needs.
Happy triathlon to you all!
