COROS VERTIX 2

Sports watches aren’t just a great way to monitor your training but can also be an effective motivator. Here is our kit review of the COROS VERTIX 2 and what it can do for your trail running.

Two years ago, Run the Wild had the chance to review some of the latest sports watches on the market for Trail Running Magazine. We’d just heard of COROS and the waves they were starting to make in this highly competitive market place. Following weeks of testing, we were really impressed. In fact, we were so impressed that we wanted to partner with them.

Why a sports watch?

Just with running, you’ll need to know your ‘why’ before you choose this kit. One thing for sure is, sports watches aren’t just a great way to monitor your training but can also be an effective motivator. Their sophistication and improved battery life have led to a lot of watches becoming really useful tools in particular at navigation. Just like the iPhone repurposed the phone, these watches are on a similar evolution.

Choose your ‘why’

When looking to choose a sports watch there are so many features available now, way more than any one person would likely use on a frequent basis, that you need to focus on what matters the most to you personally. These are the questions you need to be asking yourself…

• Which sports do you do regularly?
• What screen features do you need for these sports?
• Will this watch be worn all the time or just for an activity?
• How long do your activities last?
• How much does the appearance of watch matter to you?
• Do you need to navigate with the watch, and if yes, as back up or as main source?
• How much connectivity do you need to apps such as STRAVA?
• Are you doing hilly routes, so need to record vert?
• Are you interested in heart rate training?

This is before we even contemplate the in-watch sensor capabilities.

The ‘why’ – Trail Running

At Run the Wild, you guessed it, we are trail runners! For us running trails, guiding trails, creating new routes, often being mountain based, these are our priorities. Karin who is a UK trail running guide and Simon who is an International Mountain Leader and Alpine running guide reviewed the COROS VERTIX 2.

Karin – “For me before I choose a watch I have reviewed the purposes that it needs to fulfil. I’m a trail runner and specifically a trail running guide, making my hobby my day job too. I rarely run on road, I rarely do other sports other than walking, whether within my run, or separately. I always run with my phone for safety, but it has dire battery, so I need a watch I can rely on for navigation. I’m typically in the mountains or woodland, and can be a decent distance from suburbia. I listen to music occasionally, but not all the time, and I do like my ultras so need a watch I know will last me through a 100miler or a multi-day event. This just gives a little background on what I personally look for in a watch.”

Simon – “Like Karin, I need a watch that covers all the details of trail running. I love running vert so stats on vert and also high GPS accuracy are important to me. The watch needs to sync quickly with GPS at the start of the run and download to my watch post run. The stats need to be clear. I work a lot in the mountains so accurate altitude measurements are important and anything related to mountain-based stats are an added bonus. Long battery life is essential as I’m frequently away on expedition in remote parts of the world for a couple of weeks at a time.”

Everybody is different though, so make sure you don’t blindly follow a Facebook recommendation which states there is only one ‘best’ watch, as chances are it may not be the watch for you. The stats are on the COROS website and there is a useful cross comparison chart here.

The Review

During our review of the COROS range for Trail Running Magazine we focussed on the APEX, APEX Pro and VERTIX. At that time the APEX Pro blew the competition away despite being on a par in price. It has a ridiculously long battery life, sleek styling, super-fast connectivity, and accurate GPS. We used the navigation feature once before the watch before they needed to be returned. So, we were pretty excited when we had the opportunity to get hands again on another watch from COROS.

Since that first review, COROS came out with the VERTIX 2. This truly is a beast of a watch with some incredible features and that monstrous battery life that they are becoming well known for. For some this maybe a bit too much of a watch, if that’s the case then check out the other watches in the range which boast great features for lower price points. In fact, there are so many features that we can guarantee you’re unlikely to be using everything on there, but here is our take from the Run the Wild ‘why’.

The Test

Karin and Simon have been using these watches for a couple of months now, both in the Alps and in the UK. Simon is obsessed with vert and Karin with stats and recovery.

Set-up

The set up took approximately 10 minutes, and charging time from flat is less than 2 hours, so it is a very ready to wear watch from the off. Since everything is done via the app or the watch, it makes this such an easy process.

The COROS range is very easy to personalise with so many different screens and styles to choose from. Not only that, but with clip-on watch straps, you can change the look easily. This is important if you want to wear your sports watch every day. Why not? It looks great, with a titanium metal casing you’ll get the most from your watch if it’s always with you.

Both of us were going to use the watch as an every day watch, in part to get used to it, and in part because the many home screens you can instantly and easily select mean you can have some fun data stats at the glance of a wrist. Karin’s watch face shows the time and date, exercise time, active energy in calories, current HR, step counter, current altitude and current battery. Karin has also got into the habit of tracking her HRV data regularly (Heart Rate Variation, which gives an indication of the body’s recovery state), which she takes each morning before getting out of bed, “I reach for my watch as habit now, pretty much the first thing I do each day.”

The Look

The VERTIX 2 is the biggest watch in the COROS range so it can feel relatively chunky on a smaller wrist. Unlike some of their other models, such as the APEX, the VERTIX 2 is only available in one size, with a 1.4 inch screen, and weighing in at 89g with the silicone band, which is on a par weight wise with the Garmin Fenix, and Suunto Ambit 3 Peak. The weight is well balanced, so the chunkiness is more optical than anything else. The screen size, and super clear resolution, makes for an easy read watch, which for functions such as navigation are an advantage.

User Friendliness

Karin: “As with the rest of my life I opted for try first, ask questions later approach, so rather than try and work out the watch, I worked out with the watch, and then asked the questions later.”

It’s very easy and intuitive to use, 3 buttons, the central one with a turning dial pretty much covers all possible things you may want to access, along with some touch screen capabilities. Another massive bonus is that once you have downloaded the app, that’s it! No frustrating web-based version that requires you to plug your watch into a computer, what a dream! It’s also great to see how COROS continue to support their whole range with updates. Don’t invest in a brand that doesn’t look after their existing users.

To set up the activity screens, it’s very simple. You can choose up to 8 metrics to have on the activity screen. 8 can be a little bit much for running, but the beauty is being able to personalise. Generally, we’ve found 3 screens per activity ideal, with between 3 and 5 metrics per page. You don’t even have to have the same format on each page. In fact, it’s quite nice to vary it, so you can perceive the metrics more clearly. Typically page 1 can be the bare bones: typically, distance, time and elevation, and then use the other pages to monitor average and current pace, heart rate, climbing speed etc. You can also set up the watch for right- or left-handed user, which is very useful as both Karin and Simon wear their watches on the right wrist.

One other thing to mention on this sub heading is how useful the COROS website is! The support is phenomenal, any question just type it in the search function and there will be a really detailed but easy to follow answer. Similarly, the app is really well laid out, has everything you need in one place.

The watch feels nice to handle, the little notification vibrations are strong but short, it feels a very well thought out and quality bit of kit. We tend to find if you have confidence in your kit and it makes you feel good, you will run better.

Activity Choice

There is an incredible selection of activities and of course you can create your own. From multi-activity sports to following training programs, there is no limit to what you can do. You also have the very useful function of being able ‘to finish later’ an activity that you want to pause but still carry on using your watch. The watch is highly waterproof down to 100m, works in -30 degrees to +50 degrees and has a really tough screen so it can even cope if you take a tumble on the trails.

Navigation Function

To test the navigation function we went big, Karin downloaded a 50-mile route in the Chilterns, again all super simple through the app, and then instant sync with the watch. You have the option of Topo or landscape maps, or a hybrid between the two. When in activity mode you can use the scroll button to zoom in/out, and you can view the full elevation profile, which is handy when in the mountains and you need to see what climbs you have coming ahead. The navigation screen is also touch screen enabled. The route was straight forward to follow and Karin only used her phone to help with navigation in towns, which are usually the hardest areas for us trail runners to navigate.

If you miss a turn, the watch vibrates to let you know, rather than a persistent alarm. While this doesn’t sound like a big deal, there are certain circumstances when you want to be alerted you are off route sure, but you may have chosen it, so therefore don’t want a watch wailing at you. In this case, a big diversion due to path closures from HS2 works, means off route for about 2 miles. Following an initial, the watch then quietened down, only alerting once a minute, sensing it was a chosen diversion. Perfect!

The only issue we spotted with the navigation is that often the onscreen direction of travel arrow would be pointing the wrong way. This doesn’t actually affect the use at all, but worth pointing out. The navigation can be set to have either North or Direction of travel up on the screen.

GPS

GPS accuracy is so important from navigation to recording your run, who wants to miss out on a STRAVA segment due to poor recording or worse get lost in a race?! The VERTIX 2 is first to the market with Dual Frequency GNSS. This means that it can locate the best GPS frequency available from all five of the major satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou) simultaneously. Obviously that option requires more battery power but even then, you are going to get 50 hours.

In terms of GPS accuracy, we use online mapping to create routes nearly daily, and run with clients who wear an assortment of watches. The VERTIX 2 seems to be bang in line, so no complaints on accuracy. GPS signal has never taken more than 20 seconds to locate regardless of how remote or urban.

COROS takes accuracy seriously and the VERTIX 2 features a useful running track function which even allows you to note which lane you are in, and therefore a more accurate reflection of distance. Clever stuff. The trail run activity, even records your 3D distance, as noting the additional distance covered on significant ascent/descent. Again, clever stuff! The watch even has an inbuilt metronome, which you can use for improving/monitoring cadence.

Altitude & Barometer

Tracking your vert in a mountain race is just as important as the distance. Like most watches this has very accurate stats on vert speed and during our time in the Alps we found the altitude never faulted in accuracy. This feature is also really useful for navigating in the mountains.

The barometer tracks air pressure and it’s the way in which the watch calculates your altitude. During an activity the watch automatically checks this against the GPS reading to maintain accuracy. One other added feature is the storm warning which monitors sudden changes in air pressure, more useful for climbers and mountain runners than track runners, but extremely useful.

Battery Life

With 140 hours or 60 days of watch normal use, COROS have created the best battery life for a GPS watch. There is nothing more frustrating than having to constantly recharge batteries! This was a big factor for Simon who is often away on expedition plus likes to be out running in the mountains all day. The charging cable slots securely into the watch and whilst it’s unlikely you’ll ever need to, you can recharge during an activity. In fact, the only risk here is that because you rarely recharge this watch, you may forget when you finally need to!

Here are the stats:

• UltraMax GPS Mode: 240 Hours
• Standard Full GPS: 140 Hours (Connects to GPS and QZSS)
• All Systems On: 90 Hours (Connects to GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS at the same time – all 5 satellite systems)
• All Systems + Dual Frequency On: 50 Hours (Connects to GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS at the same time in dual frequency)
• Daily Use: 60 Days

To give that some context, the maximum allowed time on the UTMB 107mile 10,000m ascent race is 46.5 hours. So, I think it’s fair to say you are covered for the majority of events. When Karin navigated her 50-mile run with all systems on, only 14% battery had been used. She’s had the watch for 2 months, worn for everyday use and over 40 activities, and has charged it twice in that time.

Heart and Oxygen Stats

The VERTIX 2 has an impressive range of stats from the sensors on this watch which can measure your O2 saturation (very useful at altitude and training) as well as being able to do an electrocardiogram (ECG) which can determine your health by calculating variances in your heart rate (this is what Karin does each morning). The heart rate stats were accurate and the device is compatible with a heart rate monitor which will always improve accuracy.

Post Activity

Once your activity is finished, download into the app is super speedy. Pace, Adjusted Pace, HR (coloured by zones), Cadence, Stride Length, Running Power, Elevation, Training Effort and lap times are all instantly available, along with the map of the route. You can easily overlay the data from these once you turn the app landscape and select which metrics you want to see on the graph. Diagrammatically showing the data gives it much more meaning. The adjusted pace function is particularly useful for runners who run on such varied and hilly terrain, a traditional pace metric doesn’t mean very much, essentially comparing apples to pears. The upload to Strava is instantaneous. The watch is also compatible with the likes of Komoot, TrainingPeaks, Relive, Apple Health, Stryd, Final Surge, Runalyze, Running Quotient and Decathlon to name but a few.

Other Functions

For those that love their music, the watch has the capability of holding 32GB of MP3 music you can listen to offline. This is not something we have used yet, but it seems a great opportunity to leave the phone behind, running free is such a great feeling.

Last function to mention as this seems quite relevant if you don’t wear your watch all the time, is the ‘find my watch’ function on the app and similarly the ‘find my phone’ function on the watch. So useful!

Conclusion

It’s hard to review everything this watch can do. In fact, it’s impossible! There are so many different features, and for some those will be really important and to others not so much. However, we can say this is a watch that does everything we need it to do really, really well. We’ve once again been blown away by its functionality and ease of use. It’s one thing to review a product but it’s another thing to fall in love with it and that’s what has happened! This is such a quality piece of kit that not only does it help you with your running but arguably can make you a more confident runner. Given athletes such as Killian Jornet and Eliud Kipchoge have chosen COROS, we feel that we are in good company with others of a similar conclusion.