On October 8th, about 2000 athletes will embark on a 140.6-mile journey that presents the ultimate test of body, mind and spirit. The winner will earn the title of IRONMAN of Hawaii. With 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of cycling and 26.2 miles of running, this competition is the oldest and toughest triathlon. For preparation, professional triathletes can now benefit from activity trackers that are designed specifically for each sport. Activity trackers for triathletes are usually adapted so they can provide all the essential and necessary data not only when the wearer is running, but also when they are swimming and biking. Fitness wearables are entering a new generation, with activity trackers becoming smarter and more multifunctional than ever. Take a look at the wearables designed for Triathlons.
Polar V800
Established in 2014, Polar V800 is a long-standing favorite choice of top athletes; like Kaisa Mäkäräinen (2014 World Cup Winner in women´s biathlon) or John Degenkolb (2015 Paris-Roubaix winner). Also, Polar V800 is the personal choice of IRONMAN’s world champion Frederik Van Lierde. It features a wealth of tools for recording and analyzing training sessions – including a special feature called Training Load, which helps you compare workout strains from running, swimming and biking. With integrated GPS, it allows you to see your speed, distance and route wherever you train. You can set individual training targets or create and customize different profiles with goals for all kinds of training. Polar V800 records each training session and lets you view all data in the mobile app or online. Polar Flow users can even see their Running-Index, fitness-test results and other detailed information. Furthermore, the V800 is waterproof (to 30 meters) and is able to measure your heart rate (even in the water). It´s compatible with Polar Bluetooth Smart running and cycling sensors, which provide even more detail about your training. Check out how it works under water.
Garmin Forerunner 920xt
Garmin Forerunner 920XT is another premium selection for all triathletes. Whether you are in the water, on the bike or on the run, Garmin Forerunner records all relevant data you need. I Cyclist are able to pair Forerunner to other sensors, like speed or power meter, as well as implement a GPS functionality. Moreover, the activity tracker will help you to train for your running form by providing you a valuable set of dynamic data points. While training at the pool or in open water, Forerunner 920XT captures detailed swim metrics – including distance, pace, stroke count or stroke rate. You can also use time alerts to help you hold your pace, or distance alerts to let you know when a set is over. If you train with their heart rate and a power meter, Forerunner 920XT can derive your VO2 max estimate for cycling to help monitor changes in your fitness. Once your ride’s done and uploaded to Garmin Connect, you can see where you stand on the segment leaderboard.
Suunto Ambit3
Suunto Ambit3 Sport is a special watch for sports as it has amazing multi-sport features, and is a close competitor to the Garmin Forerunner 920XT. Suunto is a Finnish company that creates a handful of sports watches, thus making their technology high-end and accurate. Ambit3 Sport has different modes for swimming, running and cycling (and even hiking). It easily connects with external sensors and devices to provide you with a wide range of metrics – including distance, duration, speed, cadence, heart rate and pace. It supports various cycling sensors including a speed-only sensor, cadence-only sensor, speed/cadence combo sensor and a power meter. From these, you can track numerous metrics. Like Garmin’s 920XT, the Ambit3 has an open water swim mode, though you can also switch to a pool mode. In a first for fitness trainers, the Ambit3 has the ability to measure heart rate when you are underwater and combine it with other metrics. To get the heart rate though, you will have to get the Bluetooth-connected chest strap. Swimming metrics include stroke rate, stroke count, distance and speed. Let´s check it out.
In fact that all these wearables are able to provide data during running, biking and swimming makes them optimal devices. The data provided can enhance the appearance, mental and physical capacity of athletes. Especially, Garmin Forerunner 920xt, this wearable is one of the premium selection for most athletes. But Polar V800 and Suunto Ambit3 are good alternatives for triathletes who want to improve their appearance. So, let´s see which athlete is the most prepared to become the IronMan 2016 of Hawaii.
