The cardio GPS watch is inviting itself into our daily lives, with increasingly extensive functions: heart rate monitor, activity tracker, Internet, online payment, etc. Used for hiking or for running, this accessory gives athletes detailed information on their performance. Consult our guide to find the model best suited to your sport.
The best GPS cardio watch
Garmin’s new Instinct GPS cardio watch is a bit different from the brand’s other recent smartwatch models. It has a lot of features that you normally associate with the Fenix range (the brand’s most premium range), such as GPS tracking, navigation tools, heart rate monitor and exceptional battery life. The Garmin Instinct is for outdoor enthusiasts.
It has a very clear and crisp black and white screen, and thanks to its MIL-STD 810 G certification, it is waterproof up to 100 m underwater and is extremely robust. There’s also ANT + and Bluetooth connectivity so you can connect it to your smartphone and a huge range of external sensors.
The best entry-level GPS cardio watch
The Garmin Forerunner 45 is a surprisingly well-equipped affordable GPS cardio watch. This model is arguably the most impressive entry-level GPS cardio watch around.
The Garmin Forerunner 45 is an upgrade to the Forerunner 35, and this new model still delivers simple, no-frills convenience features in a clean-designed watch. But this new model now comes with some of the fitness and wellness tracking features we’re used to seeing in much more expensive watches. So in addition to the built-in GPS, you get an optical heart rate monitor, adaptive training modes, activity and sleep tracking, body energy level monitoring, stress tracking, music controls and smart notifications.
The model shown here is the standard 45. This watch has a 1.04 inch color screen, with a resolution of 208 x 208 pixels. Obviously, you won’t get the resolution of an Apple Watch at this price point, but the screen is crisp and bright, and the colors, while limited, make your stats easy to read and that’s what matters. !
Suunto 9 PEAK
The best high-end GPS cardio watch
Compact, rugged, with a clean, feature-packed design, the Suunto 9 PEAK is a complete GPS cardio watch that’s a bit pricey, but will meet all of your fitness tracking and navigation needs.
The Suunto 9 Peak is the thinnest, most compact and most durable watch Suunto has ever made. The Suunto 9 Peak is made from grade 5 titanium for light weight and supreme comfort. Titanium is hard, scratch resistant and hypoallergenic. Some of the most notable features of this model include the convenient automatic back-lighting, pulse oximeter and barometer.
Compared to its big sister, the Suunto 9 Baro, this Peak model gets a ton of new features, including a new 1.2-inch screen and new heart rate and blood oxygen sensors. But the most spectacular advance concerns the battery. Suunto 9 Peak can run up to 25 hours with GPS constantly on. In addition, it will only take an hour to charge the watch to 100% compared to 4 hours on the Suunto 9 Baro. Whether or not you perform spot checks, your data is saved and synchronized with the dedicated Suunto smartphone app. You can consult your data at any time.
Polar Vantage M2
Excellent GPS cardio watch
The Vantage M2 is the mid-range GPS cardio watch that succeeds Polar’s Vantage M, launched in 2018. The design has been improved to provide more style and more comfort. The technical characteristics have also been revised upwards.
The fact remains that the Polar Vantage M2 has the functionality of a GPS cardio watch. The rubber strap of this watch has a durable textured finish that gives the impression of a canvas that grips the wrist very well. It’s still a big watch.In order to get the most out of Polar Vantage M2, you need to download the free Polar Flow app that comes with it.
Comparison table of the best GPS cardio watches
The Garmin Forerunner 45 is a surprisingly well-equipped affordable GPS cardio watch. This model is arguably the most impressive entry-level GPS cardio watch around.Compact, rugged, with a clean, feature-packed design, the Suunto 9 PEAK is a complete GPS cardio watch that’s a bit pricey, but will meet all of your fitness tracking and navigation needs.
The Vantage M2 is the mid-range GPS cardio watch that succeeds Polar’s Vantage M, launched in 2018. The design has been improved to provide more style and more comfort. The technical characteristics have also been revised upwards. We do not accept sponsored articles or advertising.
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How to choose your GPS cardio watch
Criterion n ° 1: Sports activity
There are different types of GPS cardio watches, suitable for different types of activities:Running: the GPS cardio running watch is used to monitor the efforts made during a run and include a heart rate monitor, a course memory function, etc.Hiking: for mountain climbing, overnight treks in a refuge, the GPS cardio hiking watch is a real survival accessory. The best models have built-in GPS, compass, route tracking function, weather forecast, barometer, altimeter, etc.
Multiple sports: Multi-sport GPS cardio watches are used to monitor performance in multiple disciplines, such as triathlon. Some models include specific options for diving or various outdoor sports.
Criterion n ° 2: Memory
The memory function allows you to keep all the figures concerning the route: duration, distance, speed, etc. It also saves heart data and the number of calories burned while running. All of this information can be put together in a general recap that you can refer to later.
The more the storage capacity of the memory increases, the more the captured data becomes more precise. The choice of a device with a large memory is recommended for a trip of several days.
Criterion n ° 3: Autonomy
Autonomy is one of the most important criteria when choosing your GPS cardio watch. For mountain hikers and for those who go on multi-day sporting expeditions, a model with a range of 2 to 5 days is a wise choice. However, consumption is linked to the use of GPS: the Bluetooth functions, automatic ignition, alerts in vibration mode, consume energy.
Criterion n ° 4: The PC link
The data saved in the memory of your GPS cardio watch can be transferred to a computer or a smartphone. This allows you to schedule your workout in split sessions. You can use your PC to set a course for a specific day, and then transfer it to your GPS heart rate watch. This can be done by USB cable, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or infrared wireless link. Remember to check that your model has the characteristics necessary for data transfer.
Criterion n ° 5: The functionalities
Heart rate monitor: this function indicates the athlete’s heart rate, via an optical sensor. The device is directly integrated into the back of the watch, and its role is to collect information on the heart rate at rest or in activity. This indication allows to know the level of physical form during the training session. At a glance, the athlete can see if the exertion is too intense for their maximum heart rate.
The accelerometer: it records the accelerations made during the race. These data are used to calculate the runner’s speed and deduce the distance covered.
The foot pod: it displays the number of steps taken.The touch screen: it facilitates navigation from one menu to another, or on the maps. As with smartphones, a swipe of the screen is enough.
Optimizing the battery of a GPS cardio watch
You have just treated yourself to a top-level GPS cardio watch. Here are some tips that will help you take care of the battery of this precious material, to keep it going over time.
Turn off the screen:
The auto-off function will allow you to turn off the screen after a certain period of time (usually 10 s). You will turn the screen back on just to view data if necessary, at the push of a button.
Disable alerts:
Some features like buzzer, automatic lap counting, etc., are not really essential, although they use a lot of the battery. Disable them, the operating autonomy of your GPS cardio watch will be extended.
Activate airplane mode:
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections are normally programmed to search for other devices. With airplane mode, these scans are automatically interrupted. The work of the battery is therefore reduced. It should be noted that the activation of instruments connected to the watch becomes impossible at the same time.
Adjust the lighting:
The automatic back lighting costs little energy, but it accumulates to quickly deplete the battery. However, you don’t have to radically turn off the lighting on your screen. Simply reduce its brightness. 10% is more than enough for a good read.
Deactivate the cardio optical sensor:
During ultra-trails or hikes, the cardio optical sensor may be deactivated on certain watch models. Blocking the operation of this Led accessory will result in savings which may appear minimal. But over the long haul, you will realize significant savings.
