Do you want to improve your performance, optimise your training and discover new routes? A trail watch tailored to your needs can make all the difference. Thanks to our rigorous tests, we can help you find the watch that will enable you to monitor your heart rate, analyse your performance, find your bearings and make the most of your outings in the great outdoors.
Our selection of trail watches
Coros Pace 3: the affordable watch offering excellent value for money
The Coros Pace 3 is a watch designed for trail runners. Lightweight (30g)It features dual-frequency GPS tracking and a heart rate sensor to monitor your performance. The Ariadne's thread provides navigation, while its 38-hour GPS autonomy for long rides. The Training Hub application offers personalised training programmes.
Key features include real-time altitude tracking, deviation alerts and the ability to mark your refuelling points. The touch screen The 1.2″ display remains legible in bright sunlight and at night. The watch is water-resistant and recharges in less than 2 hours. For added comfort during exercise, store your music directly in its 4 GB of memory.
The optical sensor monitors your heart rate and SpO2, essential data for adapting your effort at altitude. Synchronisation with the application allows you to create and personalise your own routes, while benefiting from training advice tailored to your level.
Fenix 7X Pro: An ultra-versatile watch for exploration and performance
The Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar Titanium is a must-have for runners. With its Stamina function, it helps you manage your endurance in real time, optimising your efforts to avoid exhaustion. Its multi-band GNSS positioning guarantees precise navigation, even over the most difficult terrain.
The watch also lets you track your progress with the Race Predictor Trend function, which predicts your future performance. It includes over 1,400 animated workouts designed to improve your fitness and trail-specific skills.
With extended autonomy thanks to solar recharging, 32GB of storage for your music and the option of contactless payment, the Fenix 7X Pro is designed to meet all the needs of trail runners, combining robustness and innovation.
Suunto Race: A premium alternative to the Garmin Fenix 7
The Suunto Race is the ideal watch for trail runners, offering the reliability and versatility you need for your sporting sessions. Thanks to its integrated GPS, barometer and compass, you'll always be on the right track, even without a connection, with the ability to follow your routes or retrace your steps thanks to the 'Little Thumb' function.
The artificial intelligence-based Suunto Coach optimises your workouts, while the built-in electrocardiogram monitors your heart rate in real time. You can analyse your performance and recovery to accurately monitor your progress.
With a battery life of up to 50 hours in GPS mode and up to 16 days in normal use, the Suunto Race is designed for demanding trail runners looking for performance and reliability on any terrain.
COROS Vertix 2: A top-of-the-range watch from Coros for outdoor sports
The Coros Vertix 2 is a must-have watch for trail runners, offering exceptional precision and robustness for the most demanding environments. Thanks to its dual-frequency GNSS chip, it uses 5 navigation systems simultaneously, guaranteeing precise positioning, even in the most remote areas.
In addition to its navigation capabilities, the Vertix 2 offers full offline mapping and an electrocardiogram to monitor your heart rate. It also supports a host of sports, including running, trail running and climbing, while allowing you to enjoy your favourite music thanks to its built-in 32 GB storage.
With a battery life of up to 60 days in standard use and up to 140 hours in GPS mode, this watch is designed for long adventures in the great outdoors. Its large touch screen and 8 types of data that can be displayed simultaneously ensure an optimal user experience for trail running enthusiasts.
Suunto Vertical: Suunto's top-of-the-range range
The Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar Canyon is an ideal watch for trail runners, offering ultra-precise navigation thanks to its multi-band GPS and offline world maps. It guarantees flawless reliability, even in the most remote environments, with features such as a barometric altimeter and weather alerts.
Designed for intensive training, it offers over 90 sports models, including advanced options for trail running, running and cycling, enabling you to track your performance in detail.
With its solar recharge, this watch offers exceptional autonomy, ensuring you never run out of energy, even on your longest mountain adventures.
Polar Vantage V3: Great value for all outdoor sports
The Polar Vantage V3 is an ideal watch for trail runners, offering advanced heart rate and recovery monitoring thanks to its Elixir technology and wrist ECG. It guarantees precise navigation in difficult terrain with its multiband GPS and offline topographical maps.
Designed for long distances, it offers up to 53 hours of battery life in training mode, while allowing complete customisation via the Polar Flow app. Its high-resolution AMOLED display and robustness make it a reliable companion for your most demanding adventures.
Summary of our comparison
What are the most famous brands of trail watches?
The best-known brands in the field of trail watches are Garmin, Suunto, Coros and Polar. Each of these brands offers a varied range of models, from entry-level watches to top-of-the-range models with advanced features. Your choice of brand will depend on your specific needs and personal preferences.
What is the average budget for a quality trail watch?
The budget for a trail watch can vary considerably depending on features and brand. Entry-level models can be found for as little as €200, while top-of-the-range models with all the latest technology can top €1,000. For a versatile and reliable trail watch, you should generally expect to pay between €300 and €600.
What are the essential functions of a trail watch?
Essential features for a trail watch include :
- GPS: To track your route precisely.
- Heart rate monitor: To measure your effort and optimise your training.
- Altimeter: For measuring positive and negative gradients.
- Compass: To find your bearings when you need them.
- Notifications: Stay connected without having to take your phone out.
- Autonomy: To last the duration of your outings.
What is mapping on a trail watch and what is it used for?
Mapping on a trail watch allows you to display your position in real time on a map. So you can follow your route, plan new runs and avoid getting lost. Some watches offer detailed topographical maps, while others allow you to download customised maps.
How do you choose the right screen size for a trail watch?
The size of the screen is an important criterion, as it influences the legibility of information and ease of use. A screen that is too small can make it difficult to read data, while one that is too large can increase battery consumption. Your choice of screen size will depend on your personal preferences and the importance you attach to viewing maps and data.
How important is the battery life of a trail watch?
Autonomy is a key factor, especially for long trail rides. A good battery life means you won't have to worry about the battery during your run. Factors influencing battery life include screen size, GPS recording frequency and use of features.
Which watch should you choose if you're a beginner trail runner?
For beginners, it is advisable to choose a watch with the essential functions (GPS, cardio, altimeter) and an easy-to-use interface. Entry-level models from Garmin or Coros are good choices.
Which watch should you choose for an ultra-trail runner?
Ultra-trailers need a watch with exceptional battery life, detailed mapping and specific functions for long distances, such as hydration monitoring or food management. Top-of-the-range models from Suunto or Garmin are particularly suitable.
Which watch should you choose for a trail runner who also does other sports?
If you play several sports, it's worth choosing a versatile watch that can keep track of your different activities. Multi-sport models from Garmin or Polar are good choices.
What is GNSS and why is it important for a trail watch?
GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) covers all satellite positioning systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou). By using several systems, your watch can achieve greater location accuracy, even in areas where GPS reception is poor.
What is the difference between a barometric altimeter and a GPS altimeter?
The barometric altimeter measures altitude based on atmospheric pressure, while the GPS altimeter uses satellites to calculate altitude. The barometric altimeter is more sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure, while the GPS altimeter is more accurate over the long term.
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