With regards to choosing the proper look ahead to working, the choices can really feel overwhelming. There’s no one-size-fits-all reply as a result of the watch depends upon your particular person preferences and coaching objectives. I’ve been loving the COROS Apex 2 Professional, and I’ve to confess, it’s dusty pink coloration is what first caught my eye. However is it the improve you want?
Past the aesthetics, what actually stands outs about this watch is it’s spectacular battery life and the totally different metrics it affords to maintain me on observe with my coaching. As a marathon runner, who infrequently will practice for a triathlon, the Apex 2 Professional helped me to do all of the issues.
Let’s check out the COROS Apex 2 Professional after which we’ll soar in do a comparability of the Apex 2 Professional vs Tempo 3.
COROS Apex 2 Professional Overview
Over the previous few years I’ve educated with the big selection of COROS watches from funds pleasant all the best way to excessive finish, which has given me a vergy good sense of the totally different options and match.
The Apex 2 Professional is taken into account the last word outside sports activities watch, however it doesn’t have that tremendous cumbersome or heavy look like different multi-sport or journey watches (i.e the Garmin Enduro which we do love, however is a hunk!).
This watch was constructed to go on adventures within the mountains and be capable of face up to the temperatures and tough terrain. As COROS described it, the Apex 2 Professional balances sturdiness and performance.
This watch could possibly be an ideal match whether or not you’re hitting the roads for a marathon or the paths for an extremely. However let’s dive extra into the options earlier than you make that closing resolution.
Customary Apex 2 Professional Options
The COROS Apex 2 Professional actually does provide all the bells and whistles potential, so right here’s a fast overview of what to anticipate.
As at all times, you should have simply the one dial on the aspect for controlling entry to screens and information. I personally discovered this simple to make use of, however as famous I’ve worn a ton of Coros watches. Others discover it complicated to not have your normal 4 aspect buttons for begin, cease, laps, and many others.
- GPS for run, bike, swim, path run and extra
- Choices to trace different varieties of exercises
- Twin-frequency GPS
- Step monitoring, sleeping monitoring
- Wrist primarily based HR monitor
- Music controls- play offline music when paired with Bluetooth headsets
- Water-proof
- Treadmill calibration
- Capability to program exercises and threshold zones
- Evening mode
- Altitude Mode
- Touchscreen-enabled map management
COROS Options
There are a number of coaching options which might be out there throughout all COROS units. The Apex 2 Professional being on the upper finish of their watches does have just a few further options like an extended battery life, an even bigger exercise library and an additional button.
Right here’s a breakdown of some of the options that will help you make the choice about that $449 price ticket.
Wrist Based mostly HR
This has been fairly correct however I did discover that within the colder months right here in Colorado cadence lock was extra more likely to happen. I nonetheless will pair my watch with both a chest strap or arm coronary heart price monitor in order that it’s constantly correct.
This is among the massive drawbacks for Coros, they haven’t nailed HR readings. Not that any watch is ideal, however their tech appears to be fairly far off. So if you wish to practice by HR, you completely want an exterior monitor.
I’ve used the Coros Armband a ton and really feel actually good with it, Coach Amanda tends to want the Polar HR Armband, so it’s actually a private desire. They’ll all sync as much as nearly any watch.
Exercise Modes
This watch was designed with the athlete who desires to do all of it in thoughts. There are alternatives for something from working, to triathlon to outside climbing, the record goes on.
You’ll be able to even create a customized exercise to trace your whole exercises for extra correct metrics.
Treadmill Mode
It doesn’t matter what watch you’re utilizing it’s by no means going to be correct on the treadmill. It will probably’t use GPS and it’s going to use your stride price or arm actions however even that’s only a guess.
There are just a few choices when utilizing the Apex 2 professional:
- Calibrate function to replace your closing distance earlier than hitting save
- Setting the pace in your watch earlier than hitting begin. You may also hit the pause button and alter all through the run. The one adverse factor about that is that it solely enhance each .5 mph
- Including a foot pod to assist get a extra correct studying
Time beyond regulation for those who use the calibrate function the watch ought to begin to get nearer to being extra correct along with your treadmill runs.
Battery Life
Like with all the COROS watches, they’ve an unimaginable battery life. Whereas there are such a lot of options on the watch, the battery life might be on the prime of my favourite record. I don’t have to fret about needing to cost my watch day by day and even weekly.
For the Apex 2 Professional you possibly can anticipate:
- 21 days of standard use
- 66 hours of full GPS
I’ve gone by way of marathon and triathlon coaching cycles with their watches and am at all times impressed with how far I can stretch the time between costs.
Coaching Options
There are two newer options to the COROS ecosystem that will help you practice and even carry out higher on race day and they’re each out there on the Apex 2 Professional.
Digital Pacer
If you happen to’re concentrating on a purpose time for a distance that’s 5k or longer, you possibly can arrange the Digital Pacer earlier than you toe the beginning line.
You’ll be capable of see in your watch face all through your race how you’re doing along with your pacing to hit your purpose goal.
- Open Run mode in your watch
- Choose Digital Pacer
- Set goal distance and time
The factor I like finest is that the watch just isn’t going to continuously beep at you for those who’re in or out of vary. I’ve had a structured exercise arrange previously throughout races and that fixed beeping simply made me increasingly anxious!
Extender Function
As a substitute of getting to look down on the small watch face throughout a exercise, you possibly can have actual time information in your cellphone display to maintain observe of the place you’re. That is tremendous useful when indoor coaching on the bike, rower and even a power exercise!
Customise Information Screens
If you happen to love information, you’ll respect the limitless metrics out there proper in your watch throughout any exercise. But when an excessive amount of information feels overwhelming and takes away from having fun with your runs, you possibly can customise your watch face to maintain it easy, exhibiting solely the main points that matter most to you.
It’s tremendous simple to customise the info in your screens by totally different exercise profiles and even your day by day information.
- Distance and Elevation
- Tempo, Lap Tempo, Effort Tempo, Pace
- Coronary heart Fee, Avg HR, Max HR, Lactate HR
- Energy
- Working Type (cadence, stride, floor time)
- Coaching Load
- Time
When you end a exercise, you possibly can pull up your post-run information and see what your Effectivity Rating, Coaching Load and different metrics had been. It can even present you what your finest mile and common tempo was for your complete exercise.
You’ll be able to scroll by way of the abstract screens instantly after your exercise or go to your exercise historical past to assessment a earlier exercise from that month.
Who’s the Apex 2 Professional Greatest For?
This watch goes to cater to a variety of runners. It may be an ideal possibility for newbie runners however remember that all the further options and metrics could possibly be overwhelming.
This is the reason we frequently suggest the $149 entry stage watch to a ton of oldsters. Paying further received’t make you a greater runner. 😉
The watch is fairly simple to make use of proper out of the field however the app or coaching hub could take a while getting used to. However I believe that’s going to be the case with no matter watch model you utilize.
If you happen to’re a multi-sport athlete, triathlete or an adventurer this might be an ideal watch selection!
On the flipside, for those who’re actually used to utilizing a Garmin or Polar with the 4 aspect buttons, it may be actually tough to modify to only a dial on the aspect. Coach Amanda has examined a variety of GPS watch and simply by no means fell in love with Coros as a result of navigation on display and HR monitoring.
COROS Apex 2 Professional vs COROS Tempo 3
The standout distinction between the watches is the value tag, what the watch is made out of and battery life. However here’s a aspect by aspect comparability to place it on paper for you!
Apex 2 Professional
- GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS
- Sapphire glass display and titanium alloy cowl (making the watch heavier and sturdy)
- 1.3 inch show, touchscreen
- 21 days smartwatch mode
- 66 hours in GPS mode
- In depth record of exercise modes
- $449
Tempo 3
- GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS
- Mineral glass display and fiber strengthened polymer cowl (making the watch extra light-weight)
- 1.2 inch show, touchscreen
- 15 days smartwatch mode
- 38 hours in GPS mode
- $229
The Tempo 3 is just 30 grams whereas the Apex 2 Professional is 53 grams, so chances are you’ll actually love that tremendous light-weight really feel. It will probably make it extra comfy for all day put on, together with sleep.
They’re truthfully each nice watches however it comes all the way down to what you want. I do know that there was a number of data above so listed here are the fast notes for who’s the best consumer.
COROS Apex 2 Professional: Best for path runners, ultramarathoners, and outside fans who want superior navigation and an prolonged battery life
COROS Tempo 3: Appropriate for highway runners, newbie athletes, and people searching for a light-weight, high-performing watch at a extra reasonably priced value level
The place to purchase the COROS Apex 2 Professional and Tempo 3?
Discover the COROS Apex 2 Professional right here >>$449 at each REI and Amazon
Discover the COROS Tempo 3 right here >> $229 at each REI and Amazon
There may be our assessment concerning the COROS Apex 2 Professional and the way it compares to the Tempo 3. We hope that this helps along with your resolution if you’re on the fence about what watch to get!
Nonetheless excited about your choices? Right here some more information to assist:
