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What are your parameters for “best?”
Do you want something simple with an easy UI?Do you want something with just essential multisport fitness tracking and nothing else?Do you want a current product in warranty?Do you want something with unique, innovative features that simplify multisport use?Do you want something a little more stylish that you could also wear 24/7 without looking like a sport watch?Do you want something with all the performance analytics you could imagine?Do you want something small & light?Do you want activity tracking in addition to fitness tracking?Do you want smart watch capabilities? How smart?Do you want something with extreme battery life?Do you want an all-in-one ecosystem?Do you want independent cellular connectivity?How much is price a factor?How important is accuracy of its wrist HRM?Do you want ability to connect to atypical 3rd party devices, like tire pressure, body temperature, etc.?Do you want native running power capabilities?Do you need navigation?Do you want a watch that will likely receive updates and enhancements?
Depending on your answers, there are at least 3 different watches you might consider “best.” Garmin, Wahoo, Suunto, Polar, etc. all offer different variations of “best.” They all do the core fitness recording about the same, so the differences are in the subjective areas.
Polar Vantage M
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Garmin 920XT, everything that followed just added nice fluff, but nothing that would seriously improve your training.
Best, FOR ME, is Garmin 945LTE I also have a new, unused 945 but like the LTE service so I can leave my phone at home.
It captures all my sport metrics and feed my Stryd and Training Peaks and Final Surge apps. Very reliable and loads of watch faces and apps you can add to make it work the best for you.
Again, best for me…maybe not for you.
COROS Pace 2. Best value. Does all you need.
Can you describe what makes the Polar watch the best one? I’m replacing my Suunto watch soon and won’t go back to Garmin. Thanks
Which Suunto do you have, and why would you switch away?
I have had it for 2.5 years and it has worked perfectly the entire time I have had it. When I swim, it knows if it is breast stroke, free fly or back stroke. When I run, it keeps me accountable for my pace. The primary screen gives me pace/km, total time, total distance. All at a glance. the software enables me to easily calculate my mileage for running for the year or whatever timeframe you desire. It also tracks my cross country skiing(I skate in the winter). Most importantly for me, it is rock solid. The only thing I have had to do, is a quick reset about every 6 months. It is dependable, and keeps me on track for my training. If you have any other specific questions, let me know, I am happy to answer.
Garmin Epix 2. Amoled display and premium materials for day to day wear. The best Garmin watch I had. Of course you can go for the Fenix 7 for extended battery life with the MIPS display, or the forerunner 945 (955 rumored to be released within days) for the plastic version of the Epix2/F7.
I love my Garmin Fenix 7
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I agree with vonschnapps, the Garmin 920XT is tough to beat. It might not have all the bells and whistles of the newer watches but it always works and provides more than enough information. You can also find them used for about 1/4 the price of new watches.
Curious what your pool Swim experience has been?
I recently bought a Polar Vantage V2 and everything has been great with the exception of pool swim accuracy.
For example a 3,500yd lap swim only records anywhere from 2800 -3100 yds. It is also hit or miss if I get anything useful regarding split or set times.
I only swim freestyle and do not typically do flip turns. Thinking it could be me but I swim with other people with the same styles/times and they do not seem to have this issue with other brand watches.
Another vote for Garmin 945 LTE.
Hate dragging phone out on runs. Family enjoys peace of mind being able to track me when out for long efforts and has built in emergency services access.
Excellent battery life.
Great in the pool/open water.
Sends music to my Aftershokz during runs.
Can transmit HR to bike computer during triathlon while recording whole event on watch.
Checks all the boxes for me.
Not 100% accuracy in the pool, but you have the clock every 50 meters to keep you accountable, so it isn’t an issue for me. I have become so used to pacing and swim splits over the decades of training that fortunately I don’t need those metrics to know how I am swimming.
Timex works fine for me as I have minimal “needs”
In fact, the battery died Saturday at the flea market, and I got a blank screen
Ordered a new one from Amazon at 10AM Sunday morning and it arrived by 7
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Same experience with my V2 in open water swim: It only captures a fraction of the distance covered. Polar’s Grit X Pro is much, much better, though. Good enough that I don’t need to go back to Garmin.
Curious what your pool Swim experience has been?
I recently bought a Polar Vantage V2 and everything has been great with the exception of pool swim accuracy.
For example a 3,500yd lap swim only records anywhere from 2800 -3100 yds. It is also hit or miss if I get anything useful regarding split or set times.
I only swim freestyle and do not typically do flip turns. Thinking it could be me but I swim with other people with the same styles/times and they do not seem to have this issue with other brand watches.
Use the deck clock and count laps.
Polar Vantage M
Same here - if you just want the basics, the Polar vantage M covers all the bases. In fact, I seem to recall Ray Maker saying it was, one of the best, and best value in the mid-price range. I don’t do power, but Heart Rate I do track, and for years Polar has been the Gold Standard for that ( with an H10 Chest Strap). The only other thing I need and pay attention to is GPS
But go over the questions that the 2nd Poster put up and then match up with what your needs are and then do a bit of homework and reading at Ray’s site https://www.dcrainmaker.com/
If it can’t record swimming properly, then it shouldn’t offer that feature. I certainly would not buy one.