On the subject of selecting the best look ahead to working, the choices can really feel overwhelming. There’s no one-size-fits-all reply as a result of the watch will depend on 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 shade 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 completely different metrics it affords to maintain me on monitor 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 couple of years I’ve skilled with the big selection of COROS watches from finances pleasant all the way in which to excessive finish, which has given me a vergy good sense of the completely different options and match.
The Apex 2 Professional is taken into account the final word out of doors sports activities watch, but it surely 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 have the ability to stand up to the temperatures and tough terrain. As COROS described it, the Apex 2 Professional balances sturdiness and performance.
This watch might be an excellent 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 remaining determination.
Normal Apex 2 Professional Options
The COROS Apex 2 Professional actually does supply all the bells and whistles doable, so right here’s a fast overview of what to anticipate.
As all the time, you’ll have simply the only dial on the facet for controlling entry to screens and information. I personally discovered this straightforward to make use of, however as famous I’ve worn a ton of Coros watches. Others discover it complicated to not have your customary 4 facet buttons for begin, cease, laps, and so forth.
- 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
- Capacity to program exercises and threshold zones
- Night time mode
- Altitude Mode
- Touchscreen-enabled map management
COROS Options
There are a number of coaching options which are out there throughout all COROS gadgets. The Apex 2 Professional being on the upper finish of their watches does have just a few further options like an extended battery life, a much bigger exercise library and an additional button.
Right here’s a breakdown of some of the options that can assist you make the choice about that $449 price ticket.
Wrist Primarily based HR
This has been fairly correct however I did discover that within the colder months right here in Colorado cadence lock was extra prone 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 out of doors climbing, the record goes on.
You possibly can even create a customized exercise to trace all your 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 might’t use GPS and it will 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 remaining distance earlier than hitting save
- Setting the velocity in your watch earlier than hitting begin. You can too hit the pause button and alter all through the run. The one unfavorable factor about that is that it solely enhance each .5 mph
- Including a foot pod to assist get a extra correct studying
Extra time should you 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 unbelievable battery life. Whereas there are such a lot of options on the watch, the battery life might be on the high of my favourite record. I don’t have to fret about needing to cost my watch every day and even weekly.
For the Apex 2 Professional you’ll be able to 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 all the time impressed with how far I can stretch the time between costs.
Coaching Options
There are two newer options to the COROS ecosystem that can assist you practice and even carry out higher on race day and they’re each out there on the Apex 2 Professional.
Digital Pacer
When you’re focusing on a purpose time for a distance that’s 5k or longer, you’ll be able to arrange the Digital Pacer earlier than you toe the beginning line.
You’ll have the ability to 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 shouldn’t be going to continuously beep at you should you’re in or out of vary. I’ve had a structured exercise arrange prior to now throughout races and that fixed beeping simply made me an increasing number of anxious!
Extender Function
As a substitute of getting to look down on the small watch face throughout a exercise, you’ll be able to have actual time information in your telephone display to maintain monitor of the place you’re. That is tremendous useful when indoor coaching on the bike, rower and even a energy exercise!
Customise Knowledge Screens
When you love information, you’ll respect the countless 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’ll be able to customise your watch face to maintain it easy, displaying solely the small print that matter most to you.
It’s tremendous straightforward to customise the information in your screens by completely different exercise profiles and even your every day information.
- Distance and Elevation
- Tempo, Lap Tempo, Effort Tempo, Pace
- Coronary heart Charge, Avg HR, Max HR, Lactate HR
- Energy
- Working Kind (cadence, stride, floor time)
- Coaching Load
- Time
When you end a exercise, you’ll be able to pull up your post-run information and see what your Effectivity Rating, Coaching Load and different metrics have been. It would even present you what your finest mile and common tempo was for your complete exercise.
You possibly can scroll by way of the abstract screens instantly after your exercise or go to your exercise historical past to overview a earlier exercise from that month.
Who’s the Apex 2 Professional Finest For?
This watch goes to cater to a variety of runners. It may be an excellent possibility for newbie runners however needless to say all the further options and metrics might be overwhelming.
Because of this we frequently suggest the $149 entry degree watch to a ton of oldsters. Paying further received’t make you a greater runner. 😉
The watch is fairly straightforward 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.
When you’re a multi-sport athlete, triathlete or an adventurer this shall be an ideal watch selection!
On the flipside, should you’re actually used to utilizing a Garmin or Polar with the 4 facet buttons, it may be actually difficult to change to only a dial on the facet. Coach Amanda has examined a variety of GPS watch and simply by no means fell in love with Coros because of the navigation on display and HR monitoring.
COROS Apex 2 Professional vs COROS Tempo 3
The standout distinction between the watches is the worth tag, what the watch is made out of and battery life. However here’s a facet by facet 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
- Intensive record of exercise modes
- $449
Tempo 3
- GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS
- Mineral glass display and fiber bolstered 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 simply 30 grams whereas the Apex 2 Professional is 53 grams, so it’s possible you’ll actually love that tremendous light-weight really feel. It might make it extra snug for all day put on, together with sleep.
They’re truthfully each nice watches but it surely comes right down to what you want. I do know that there was a number of info above so listed below are the fast notes for who’s the perfect person.
COROS Apex 2 Professional: Best for path runners, ultramarathoners, and out of doors fans who want superior navigation and an prolonged battery life
COROS Tempo 3: Appropriate for street runners, newbie athletes, and people searching for a light-weight, high-performing watch at a extra inexpensive 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 overview in regards to the COROS Apex 2 Professional and the way it compares to the Tempo 3. We hope that this helps along with your determination if you’re on the fence about what watch to get!
Nonetheless desirous about your choices? Right here some additional information to assist:
