Fitness trackers for triathletes are designed to provide all the relevant information they need in real-time. They help you optimize your workouts to meet your fitness targets. 

Essentially, triathletes want to keep track of 4 personal records: running, swimming, biking, and their overall record for the entire triathlon. Apart from these, a triathlete can also keep track of other data, including heart rate, distance covered, and speed. 

In fact, whether you’re a pro or just someone keeping track of their daily movements and fitness, you don’t want to manually calculate the miles you’ve walked (or run). Fitness trackers monitor all the essentials, helping you keep track of your physical health, not just as you work out but also as you sleep, eat, go through your daily routine, etc. 

Our Top Picks 

These small, useful gadgets are easy to use and waterproof, making sure you can work out without having to worry about your tracker. Whether you’re training for a triathlon or any other serious athletic competition, we’ve put together a list of the best fitness trackers that will be your workout companion in just about any situation: 

Polar Vantage V – Premium GPS

This is quite an advanced sports watch and is designed to improve your performance. This pro watch, apart from measuring all the basics, also measures running power. 

It looks like a regular watch and has a round dial, so you never have to take it off – you can wear it throughout the day, even when you’re not working out. 

While most smart trackers use 4-6 sensors for data collection, the Polar Vantage V uses 9 sensors to provide the most accurate data possible. 

You can add multiple different sport profiles into your watch and alter them anytime you want through the Power Flow app. This waterproof watch has some of the latest technology on the market and can be of great help when it comes to improving your physical health. 

Core Features

• GPS Tracking 
• Over 40 hours of battery life 
• Barometric measurement 
• Color touch display with 5 side buttons to scroll through various functions 
• Optical heart rate sensor 
• Recovery Pro – tracks recovery between training sessions, and provides feedback on how to improve recovery
• Running power meter – this is the only fitness tracking watch with this feature
• Nightly Recharge – measures your sleep quality and displays how much you’ve recovered from the previous day’s workout. 

Pros 

• Color touch display
• Running power meter without the need of an external device or sensor 
• Bluetooth heart rate monitor 
• Silicon strap – comfortable and available in different colors 

Would we Change Anything?

No smartphone notifications are displayed. We would like to have the capability added to the all-day use.

Who is this for?

The Polar Vantage V is for any triathlete who wants to capture all their training data accurately and efficiently. It can track all three phases (run, bike, and swim) so you can get the best data from your training. Check out the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.

Fitbit Versa

The Fitbit Versa is considerably less expensive than the Polar Vantage V but still has some pretty fantastic features. Initially, the watch has a very high battery life and can be worn for several days without needing to be recharged. 

The watch doesn’t have everything you may want in a fitness tracker but still offers valuable data and comfort at a reasonable price. 

Core Features 

• Compatible with Apple and Android phones 
• Water-resistant 
• It provides essential data, including heart rate, step tracking, etc. 
• Needs to be recharged around twice a week (may vary based on your usage)
• Sleep tracker
• Silent alarm feature included 
• Doesn’t have GPS and cellular 
• 3 buttons for music control, notifications, exercise start time and alarms
• Waterproof up to 50 meters 
• Swipe-up dashboard for fitness tracking statistics.

Pros 

• Compact and comfortable on the hand 
• Wide, square screen 
• Very responsive touch screen 
• Can be worn to bed – for alarms, time management, and to track your sleeping patterns

Would We Change Anything?

The strap is manually adjustable, not magnetic. The fitness tracker also does not have GPS tracking which is a nice feature when you are training remotely. 

Who is this for?

The Fitbit Versa is for any triathlete who wants to track their workouts at a pricepoint that is reasonably priced. Check out the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.

HalfSun Fitness Tracker – Budget Option

This is the fitness tracker that any triathlete can afford. It’s one of the cheapest smart fitness tracker options and still has some great features that will help you during your workout. 

This waterproof watch has a sleek design and a strap that is “skin sensitive” – it is made of silicone and is comfortable enough to be worn 24/7. 

Core Features 

• Heart rate monitor 
• Step counter 
• Displays distance traveled and calories burned 
• 1.3” inch HD display 
• Cellular features, including text message alerts, incoming phone calls, Facebook Messenger and Skype 
• Sleep monitor 
• Smartphone connectivity and compatibility 
• Blood pressure tracker – once switched on, this feature will measure your heart rate and blood pressure every 10 minutes.

Pros 

• Extremely budget-friendly 
• Measures blood pressure 
• Has cellular properties 
• Comfortable silicone strap. 

Would we change anything?

Some users feel that blood pressure measurement is not 100% accurate. If tracking your blood pressure is important to you, it may best to choose another option.

Who is this for?

The HalfSun Fitness tracker is our budget pick. It is best for any triathlete who is looking to track their training but do not have the money to spend on some of the higher-end models. Check out the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.

Garmin Forerunner 935

The Garmin Forerunner 935 is one of the more premium options on this list and offers plenty of useful statistics to keep track of your fitness activities. It is suitable for both triathletes and runners and tracks all the necessary data for a range of different sports. 

Apart from measuring your fitness stats, this tracker also displays your notifications and messages as you run. You can also easily control the music you play. For this, you have the ability to change the song, adjust the volume, etc. 

This lightweight tracker might be pricey, but it is suitable for everyday use and also keeps track of your sleeping activities. 

Core Features 

• GPS tracking 
• GLONASS – a combination of a heart rate sensor, thermometer, and altimeter
• ANT+ support 
• Bluetooth Smart sensors that link to heart rate chest straps, cycling power meter, and foot pods 
• Provides valuable metrics, such as ground contact time, balance, stride length, etc. to gauge your running technique and help you improve it 
• Five buttons on the sides for menu navigation and controlling activities
• 24-hour battery life
• Option to download a number of useful apps such as Uber
• Customized workouts can be created. 

Pros 

• Sleek, black casing 
• Lightweight 
• GPS tracking 
• Heart rate monitoring 
• Data displayed on-screen can be customized 

Who is this for?

This is for triathletes who want to track their training data with accuracy. It has every feature a triathlete would need. Check out the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.

Garmin Forerunner 735XT

This Garmin Forerunner is a more functional fitness tracker. Despite its chunky appearance, the watch has a range of features ideal for daily use. 

It is water-resistant and has excellent GPS tracking, although some users have found that the battery life can be a lot better.  

The watch may also come with HRM-Swim and Tri-Chest straps for fitness monitoring. 

Core Features

• Rubber strap with protruding buttons 
• Straps available in black or nay blue
• 11.7mm thick 
• Button operated – no touch screen 
• Battery life is 5-7 days (depending on usage) 
• A very responsive GPS tracking system 
• Real-time heart rate monitor 
• High waterproof rating.

Pros 

• Fast GPS tracker 
• Multi-activity tracking 
• High-resolution screen display 

Would we Change Anything?

Not as seamless to control through manual dials. We would like to see it have a touch screen.

Who is this Best for?

The Garmin 735XT is a great choice for any triathlete. It will track your run, bike, and swim and save the data in the Garmin App. Check out the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.

Best Heart Rate Monitor for Triathletes 

Some fitness trackers are compatible with heart rate monitor straps via Bluetooth and sensors. Together, they accurately measure your heart rate as you work out and in your normal state. These heart rate monitors can also be used on their own. We’ve provided all the features for the best heart rate monitor – the Garmin Chest Strap HRM, which is compatible with the Garmin fitness trackers. 

Garmin Chest Strap HRM

This chest strap was specifically designed with triathletes in mind. It transmits heart rate data via ANT+ and Bluetooth. It is a coin-cell battery-powered strap and doesn’t need to be recharged. The manufacturers indicate that this battery will not need to be replaced for around 3 years. 

The sensor can be connected to nearly any device (not just your fitness tracker) to provide you with accurate heart rate data. 

The strap material can be changed since some people are likely to sweat more and burn through certain fabrics faster than others. The strap is also very easily adjustable and is ideal for pretty much any body type. 

Once you put it together and strap it onto your chest, it will start monitoring your heart rate and transmitting the results to the connected smart device (from your phone to your smart TV!). Just remember, you can only connect one device at a time. 

Pros 

• Provides a more accurate reading of your heart rate, especially if used in combination with a fitness tracker that monitors heart rate 
• ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity.

Who is This For?

The Garmin HRM was made with triathletes in mind. It is for any triathlete who wants to ensure they stay in the proper heart rate zones and be able to track it accuratly. Check out the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.

Conclusion

We’ve listed a range of different trackers, from the premium ones with loads of amazing features to the ones that even college students can afford. A fitness tracker is an essential item, not just for triathletes, but also for anyone who wants to keep tabs on their physical fitness.