10 Best Triathlon Watches 2025 in the United States

The Apple Watch Series 10 is a versatile smartwatch that suits many fitness activities, including triathlon training. It offers a bright, larger screen with a lightweight and comfortable design, making it easy to wear all day and during workouts. The watch’s water resistance up to 50 meters means it’s safe for swimming, an essential feature for triathletes. Its GPS supports multiple satellite systems for accurate tracking of your routes in running, cycling, and swimming. Heart rate monitoring is advanced, including ECG capabilities and notifications for irregular heart rhythms, which can be useful for closely monitoring your performance and health.

The multisport mode supports a wide range of activities like running, cycling, swimming, and more, offering detailed workout data and training load insights, helping you improve your fitness effectively. Durability is solid with dust resistance and a crack-resistant screen, suitable for outdoor conditions. Connectivity is strong via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS, allowing you to receive calls, messages, and use Siri on the go, but it requires an iPhone to unlock its full potential.

Battery life can last a full day with normal use, which might require daily charging for heavy training days, though fast charging helps recover quickly. The watch also includes innovative safety features like fall and crash detection, adding peace of mind. Compared to some specialized triathlon watches, it may lack longer battery endurance for ultra-distance events and doesn't have built-in cellular connectivity in this GPS-only version. This makes the Apple Watch Series 10 a great fit for triathletes who want a feature-rich, stylish smartwatch that tracks multiple sports with strong health insights and smart connectivity, especially if they already use an iPhone. Those needing very long battery life or a watch focused solely on endurance sports might want to explore dedicated triathlon watches.

The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) offers a solid mix of features suitable for casual and beginner triathletes. It has built-in GPS that provides reliable location tracking during swims, bike rides, and runs, although it may not be as precise as some specialized triathlon watches. The watch is water resistant up to 50 meters, making it appropriate for open-water swimming sessions. Heart rate monitoring is included and offers useful insights during workouts, though it lacks some advanced sensors found in higher-end models.

This watch supports multiple workout types through its Workout app, allowing users to track different sports separately, which is convenient for triathlon training. Battery life is average—sufficient for a day of mixed activities but likely requiring daily recharging, especially when using GPS. Its durability is good for everyday wear but may not hold up under very rough conditions as well as dedicated sport watches.

Connectivity is a strong feature, particularly for iPhone users, as it syncs easily and offers extras like music control, calls, and emergency features. While it is not a top-tier triathlon watch, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is an excellent choice for those seeking a smartwatch that balances fitness tracking, safety, and smart features within a stylish design.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is a solid choice for anyone looking for an easy-to-use triathlon watch that effectively covers the essentials across multiple sports. It stands out with its impressive battery life, lasting up to two weeks in smartwatch mode and around 20 hours with GPS active. This feature is particularly advantageous for long training sessions or races. The GPS accuracy is reliable, ensuring that your distance and pace tracking are precise, which is crucial for athletes monitoring their performance.

Water resistance is another strength, making it suitable for swimming and other water activities. The Forerunner 55 tracks various activities, including running, cycling, and swimming, and comes with helpful training tools like race time predictions and finish time estimates. The inclusion of heart rate monitoring at the wrist is convenient, although it's important to note that it's not intended for medical use.

Durability is solid, so it can withstand the wear and tear of training and races, and the Bluetooth connectivity allows easy syncing with your smartphone for additional features through the Garmin Connect app. There are some limitations to consider, such as the PacePro feature not working with on-device courses, which may restrict some race day strategies. Additionally, while it offers helpful wellness features, more advanced athletes may find themselves wanting additional metrics or functionalities that higher-tier models provide. The Garmin Forerunner 55 is ideal for beginners or those seeking a straightforward running watch that effectively covers the basics.