Riding out on the trails lately I started noticing lots of riders wearing smart watches and when I got a chance to ask a fellow rider about it they said, “Yeah I just hated taking out my phone all the time, and I like to see my stats more often than not.”

Good point.

He wore an Apple Watch.  But I’ve seen so many different ones like the Fitbit Ionic, Garmin Vivosport, and Samsung Gear.  What’s the best sport watch for Strava cycling? Or, running? Swimming? Sleeping? It’s pretty overwhelming. But for us, obviously we’re focusing on cycling so I’ll dig into that a little about my findings.

When I came to the conclusion about which one to get it was of course without a lot of research and diving into the details to find the one that worked best for me.  No more riding around all the time with my phone in my pocket and having to take it in and out to pause or stop Strava!

Easily The 4 Best Watches for Strava Cycling on The Market

These are rated by popularity.  So it was easy to find out which ones ranked best on Amazon.

1. Fitbit Ionic (BEST)

This thing is fantastic for cycling as well as for day-to-day activities – the reason is because it’s comfortable, easy to use, and was specifically designed for FITNESS of all types.

I think this latest and greatest from Fitbit is at the head of the pack.  Just read real user reviews here: https://amzn.to/2Ra9nNB

If I remember correctly, Fitbit started the fitness device craze and over the years has had to compete and do better versus the competition as you’ll see below.  However, they have stayed on top of their game and gave us a watch that’s really good at tracking for cycling since it comes with a built in GPS.  Lots of loyal fitbit fans have asked for this feature and Fitbit finally delivered.

This is HUGE for mountain bikers and road cyclers as well.  You don’t have to take your phone with you if you don’t want to!  One less thing to worry about, and less weight for that matter.

The Fitbit is easily the most reviewed and talked about smart watch due to its popularity – next to the Apples Watch.  It syncs to Strava super easily as well and is so feature packed.

Pros:

• Good Battery Life – 5 Days’ish
• Arguably the best step counter
• Sleep tracking is superb
• Built in GPS
• Great Screen/Display
• Comfortable
• Wifi connection for quick updates
• Waterproof: Swimming OK

Cons:

• Music connectivity poor
• Potential battery issues

For the price, it’s about average.  See how much the Fitbit Ionic currently costs here: https://amzn.to/2Ra9nNB

2. Garmin Vivoactive 3

I never thought a company that made GPS’s for cars would get into the active watch arena.  But I would dare say this is a REALLY good contender and among the best of them.

What I like most is that it uses the beacon for Strava which can show a real-time score of your efforts.  The battery life is actually CRAZY good because it lasts about 7 days under the normal “smartwatch mode.”  Be careful using the GPS function though as Garmin says continuous use will limit the battery life to approximately 13 hours from a full charge – that’s still reasonable though in my opinion because you don’t need it on all the time.

I have a few friends in Colorado Springs who stay really active and go snowboarding, mountain biking and cycling often, and they all wear Garmin sport watches.  They swear by the Garmin’s and wanted me to shell out some money to join the club.  Many of them train for triathlons so it only makes sense that they get a watch to track all their fitness numbers for swimming, running, and cycling.

Find out what other triathletes, and athletes, think of the Garmin Vivoactive here: https://amzn.to/2OiCZJT

With seven days of battery life in ‘watch mode’ and an always on, full-color touchscreen, this watch makes really good sense as an every day accessory also.

Pros:

• Easily syncs with Strava
• Excellent Battery Life – 7 Days’ish (best)
  
• Built in GPS
  
• Share and compete feature
• Wellness monitoring
  
• Waterproof: Swimming OK

Cons:

• Music connectivity poor
• Potential battery issues

It’s got way more features than I can list, see all the features and the Garmin on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2OiCZJT

3. Apple Watch 3

I’m writing this as the version 3 has been released for almost a year, but expect the version 4 to come out sometime shortly at the end of 2018.  See Amazon’s current inventory of Apple Watch for updates here: https://amzn.to/2zCCnXa.

With the latest iteration, Apple really concentrated on getting the fitness part its watches to make it practical for active users.  For cycling, the built in GPS and altimeter will track your route and can find out how much a rider has climbed or descended.  After tracking, sync stats to Strava is a breeze.  Isn’t that all we riders really want?! It does for me.

It goes without mentioning that you don’t even need to have your phone on you to take calls and text messages.  You can leave it in the car and ride 5 miles away while the watch does it’s thing.

It’s a really great tracker but it does SO much more than one can imagine.  See the full set of features here: https://amzn.to/2zCCnXa

I know that Apple is all about the user’s experience so it has to do way more than be a fitness tracker also.  For example: my girlfriend has an Apple watch specifically because it integrates so beautifully with her Type 1 diabetes devices.. so it’s not just a fitness tracker, it’s a serious health monitor as well.

Everything about it is so futuristic, and yes it’s good for swimming.

Pros:

• Built in GPS and altimeter to track cycling run
  
• Feature packed
• Great for music
• Comfortable
• Water Proof: Swimming OK
  

Cons:

• Screen isn’t bright in all situations
• Poor battery life (worst)

Not enough information on the Apple watch? Read more user reviews here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zCCnXa.

4. Polar M430

First thing that struck me about this Polar fitness tracker was the price.  It’s the most affordable of the bunch and easily caught my attention.  And it’s super popular in Europe.  See the M430’s current price here: https://amzn.to/2Iml9Aa

So Polar is more of running fitness tracker, but for cycling it’s not bad either as it is has a mode that can be selected for specific activities.  So, syncing to Strava is good!

The Polar is an exceptional value and the bang-for-your-buck is undeniable.  It’s easy to use and has got a ton of cool features like: Training routines, training targets, activity goals, community groups,  and on and on.  There are so many features than what I’ve got listed and Polar continues to add more and more through updates.

This thing can charge from an included wall outlet unlike the rest of the watches on the list.

Pros:

• Awesome value
• Exceptional battery life if GPS is turned off – up to 20 days!
  
• Built in integrated GPS
• Continuous GPS battery up to 30 hours!
  
• SUPER Feature packed
• 6 LED optical sensors for heart rate monitoring!
• Comfortable and capable of going strap-free
  
• Water Proof: Swimming OK

Cons:

• Kind of ugly (that’s relative of course
• Not a color touch screen

Read real Polar M430 user reviews from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2Iml9Aa .

Honorable Mention Cycling Sport Watches

For some of the honorable mentions, I’ll just mention the name.  Some of the following watches support Strava, and some don’t (like the Samsung – what a shame!). Let’s dive into it.

Samsung Gear S3

As I mentioned Strava does not support the gear S3.  Or, was it vice versa? Either way it’s pretty dumb if you ask me.  See full features about it here: https://amzn.to/2zC8pCH

They still don’t allow direct syncing to Strava so it’s off the main list.  You MAY get Samsung’s propriety S-health to Strava to sync to get your data in there but as I understand it – it’s a hassle.

I don’t know if Strava or Samsung realizes how much of the market their missing out on when it comes to cyclers.  What are they thinking?!

Shame though since it’s actually a really great watch.  As the competition from Apple is still fierce, Samsung really had to up the ante – which would’ve been great if Strava was integrated.

Samsung does have the S-health features, but c’mon, Strava for cycling is undeniably the reason why we’re looking for a smart watch.  It’s such a shame that the interface between S-heath and Strava is so unreliable.

Pros:

• Built in GPS and altimeter to track cycling run
• Feature packed
• Great for music
• Comfortable
• Water Proof: Swimming OK

Cons:

• No direct Strava sync
• Battery life  2 – 3 days only

I can’t recommend the Samsung Gear for riding, but see what other reviewers are saying here: https://amzn.to/2zC8pCH

LG Watch Sport

I know it’s a nice watch, but I would keep thinking to myself that I have a kitchen appliance on my wrist. But at least it does sync with Strava for your cycling needs.

As long as you get past the stigma that you’re wearing a washer and dryer on your arm – the LG watch isn’t so bad.

Not sure why it’s always out of inventory or why they’re hard to get, but check Amazon for availability here: https://amzn.to/2Qf23Pe

My favorite feature: It got more features than the Apple and Samsung as it was a partnership development between Google and LG.  You can stay connected while away from your phone (similar to Apple Watch).  That could be good for riders with LG’s option.

It’s not the greatest or perfect watch, hence why it’s in the honorable mention list.  But it does do somethings REALLY well, and somethings NOT so well (like not-so-great battery life).

TomTom Spark 3

Syncs seamlessly with Strava for your cycling needs.

Like the Garmin, it’s funny how a car GPS company is now in the smart watch category.  The good thing is, at least I know I can trust the GPS part of it and it won’t be a problem!

I really think the route exploration feature of this TomTom watch is super interesting.  It allows you to be an explorer and never take the same route twice which makes exercising a bit more enjoyable if the scenery was new.  Some people like that, I know I would like that.

It’s got some other nice features, like step-by-step training workouts to make things more interesting, other features I won’t mention are practical as well, check out the Tom Tom’s full features here: https://amzn.to/2zD3HVf

Suunto’s Spartan Ultra

Not a very well known or popular brand, but it does get the Strava check mark here as it’s compatible.

It’s really trying, but the software just doesn’t seem up to par. It’s hard to make changes.

The price is also pretty hefty.  Not sure why some people like it, but I guess to each their own.  See what those people are saying here: https://amzn.to/2OqFYQJ

Amazfit

It syncs with Strava!

It’s a another brand that might be relatively unknown.  But it touts some serious features like:

• Up to 45 days of battery life (WHAT?! It’s true check out these user reviews)
• GPS
• Heart Rate
• Waterproof
• Feature packed
• CHEAP, but functional!

The reviews seems to be very optimistic about this watch given how relatively inexpensive it is compared to the rest of the crowd.  The price is crazy for what it does, check out it’s price here: https://amzn.to/2xUqb29

It might be worth taking a gander at because of it’s features which you can check out the details of on Amazon as well: https://amzn.to/2xUqb29

TicWatch

Syncs with Strava but from what I’ve read the GPS accuracy is not the greatest.  It also does not have a good battery life.

Actually this shouldn’t even be part of the honorable mention, but I just wanted to let you guys know what’s out there that could be used with Strava for cycling.

What Criteria To Look For In A Cycling Sport Watch

Although the best 4 sport watches above are all capable of being a cycling watch, why not go for more and just have one that does it all?

• Durability for all activities run, swim, cycle
• Price – Best bang-for-the-buck
• Features
• Control
• More Battery Life
• GPS functional
• Color touchscreen
• Heart rate monitor
• Sleep Tracking
• Stores and plays music
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Can be used without a cell phone within the vicinity
• Can be used to PAY FOR everyday things at a counter

CONCLUSION:

Side note: I’ve actually found 3 phones on trails over the years! And I’m positive it’s because they were fiddling around with an app like Strava or Runkeeper, put it in their pocket, and it fell out on the trail.

I’ve done dropped my phone on more than one occasion but thankfully I recognized it and grabbed it before riding off.  I didn’t want that to be me.

Or, if the phone was in my pocket and I hit something on the trail, or I crash and it shatters inside my pocket.  Never seen that before but it’s a possibility.

So when a guy told me his story about having a watch for Strava I started realizing that I needed to get one for myself so I can take it out on the trails just to make my life easier.  Plus, they’re not too crazy expensive and it’s worth the investment I think if you are an active cycler.

Pretty sure you don’t have to be a mountain biker or a road biker to see the benefits of using Strava watch either of course.  Swimming and running or any other activities are always good reasons to get one too.

Lately I’ve been taking note that more and more riders are wearing watches.  Then it dawned on me that a lot more serious riders are tracking their times and comparing it against others to find out how they can improve.  That’s a great way of looking at it to get one!

Technology is awesome!

Get a watch, take it out on the trail, and RIDER UP!