5 Best Garmin Watch for Triathlon

Best Overall
Garmin Forerunner® 955
  • GPS Running Smartwatch
  • Tailored to Triathletes
  • Long-Lasting Battery
  • Whitestone
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Garmin creates some of the most trusted fitness watches today. All smartwatches use the power of Garmin’s navigation features. Athletes use these navigation and fitness tracking features as they train for triathlons.

Garmin has a variety of different smartwatches to choose from for triathlon training. Garmin’s smartwatches feature training recovery stats, stress management features, and more!

Below are our top picks for the best Garmin watches for triathlon training and races.

#1. Garmin Forerunner 955 for Training

Best Overall
Garmin Forerunner® 955
  • GPS Running Smartwatch
  • Tailored to Triathletes
  • Long-Lasting Battery
  • Whitestone
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The Garmin Rummer 955 is the best watch for training athletes. Athletes will find a wealth of features on the Garmin Runner 955, including:

  • Projected stamina
  • Suggested workouts
  • Recovery time
  • Performance conditioning stats
  • Built-in sports app for cycling, running, and swimming

Athletes can use their smartwatch to make a training routine that works for them while preparing for their triathlon.

#2. Forerunner 745

Garmin Forerunner 745
  • GPS Running Watch
  • Detailed Training Stats and On-Device Workouts
  • Essential Smartwatch Functions
  • Tropic
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The Forerunner 745 is designed with triathlons in mind. It offers a variety of features, including an extended battery life of up to 6 hours. This is the best watch for athletes to wear on the day of their triathlon event.

The Forerunner 745 also has pre-loaded sports modes for athletes that need to switch between cycling, running, and swimming. The Forerunner 745 also has advanced information for athletes, such as VO2 max and training load.

This is one of the best watches for triathlon athletes that need a lightweight watch during their event.

#3. Instinct® 2 – Surf Edition

Best for Water Triathlon
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar
  • GPS Outdoor Watch
  • Solar Charging Capabilities
  • Surfing Features
  • Tracback Routing
  • Bells Beach
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]If you’re planning for a triathlon on the water, the Instinct 2 is one of the best watches out there. The Instinct 2 was created for surfers, kayakers, and those that love to exercise and spend time on the water.

For those that want a watch that will withstand a host of different swimming events, the Instinct 2 Surf Edition is the best choice. It has features that those spending days on the water will love, including:

  • Blond contrast lettering
  • Rugged design
  • Water-rated up to 100 meters
  • Fiber-reinforced polymer case
  • 28 days of battery life
  • Windsurfing activity levels
  • Swimming activity levels

#4. Forerunner 255 Music

Best for Running with Music
Garmin Forerunner® 255 Music
  • GPS Running Smartwatch with Music
  • Advanced Insights
  • Long-Lasting Battery
  • White
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No triathlon is complete without a running portion or a marathon. The Forerunner 255 offers a wealth of features for those that love to run and want to enjoy relaxing or energetic music to keep them going. Some of the best features on the Forerunner 255 Music include:

  • 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode
  • 30 hours of battery life when combined with high-tech GPS mode
  • Built-in triathlon features
  • 30 activity profiles
  • Metrics to measure heartrate and respiration 

#5. Enduro 2

Best for Training
Garmin Enduro™ 2
  • Ultraperformance Watch
  • Long-Lasting GPS Battery Life
  • Solar Charging
  • Preloaded Maps
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The Enduro 2 is on the high-end of smartwatches, and it is one of the best smartwatches on the market in terms of reliability and training features.

Its high price-point of over $1,000 might make some people iffy on purchasing. However, it is worth the investment for athletes and those training for a triathlon.

This watch is set apart by its solar-powered battery which gives it up to 150 hours of battery life. This watch also has SatIQ technology that makes it extremely reliable in terms of GPS tracking.

Best of all, tracking has little effect on battery life. This watch is the preferred design for triathlon athletes that know they will come face to face with the harsh elements.

Choosing the best Garmin Watch for Triathlon Training

All of these Garmin watches have different price points, features, and GPS capabilities. It’s best to check out their range of watches and choose the one that fits into your niche, budget, and has the battery life you need while training or during your event.

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AUTHOR

Joe Davies
Joe has a keen interest in wearable tech, after running marathons and triathlons and trying just about every Garmin watch there is.