I’ve been on the hunt for a robust GPS adventure/fitness watch for a while. I wanted something capable of accurate navigation and detailed fitness tracking, durable enough not to feel like I had to take it off while engaging in various activities and projects, and simple and sleek enough for everyday wear. I came from an old-edition Apple Watch, which I liked for its useability and seamless connection to my iPhone, but I wanted a watch with more robust GPS and outdoors-focused features.
Coros Vertix 2
I narrowed that search to three primary competitors: Garmin, Suunto, and Coros. These brands appear to have the market on high-functioning GPS watches cornered, and I’ve seen good discussion on all three on Rokslide. I haven’t, however, seen a comprehensive review of any of them.
After a bunch of research and online comparison, I decided that Coros checked all the boxes on my wish list while offering maximum value. Specifically, Coros’ premium offering – the Vertix 2 – caught my eye. (Note: Coros has just introduced a new version of the Vertix 2 – the Vertix 2S.) The Coros Vertix 2 really is a premium offering. It compares (at least on paper) apples-to-apples with the premium offerings of other top competitors and does so at a lower price point.
New Kid On The Block
Compared to its competitors, Coros is a relatively new player in the GPS watch space, but I don’t view that as a bad thing. In fact, they were founded very specifically to create a fitness tracking tool for those who spend unreasonable amounts of time outside. Sure, Garmin excels in GPS tech, and I use their products. And Suunto has been making reliable watches for a long time. Both have transitioned into the GPS/smartwatch space, and both, presumably, make a great product. However, Coros was able to start with a blank slate to create the absolute best GPS adventure watch at the best price possible without conforming to any preexisting brand perceptions or deliverables.
My Use
I’ve used the Vertix 2 extensively over the last several months for fitness tracking, recreation, and as a ‘daily driver.’ My initial search for a GPS watch was hunting-motivated. I wanted something to serve as GPS redundancy in the field with a realistically usable watch face, and I loved the idea of having a sense of where I stood and how far I went without pulling my cell phone out of my pocket. I also wanted a watch that could quickly and accurately give me altitude readings, check my blood oxygen levels (while hunting at altitude), and measure my heart rate.
Certainly, the Vertix 2 met those expectations, but I quickly discovered and used features I didn’t know or think I needed! So far, I’ve been very impressed with the Coros app and watch pairing and syncing, the ease of use of built-in fitness and navigation programs and the ability to access them via the watch face and body, the watch’s apparent durability, the LONG battery life, and the accurate and quick GPS capabilities.
Vertix 2 Physical Characteristics
And while the tech is impressive and will be the focus of this review, let’s start with the physical characteristics. After all, this is a wristwatch meant to be worn. As I mentioned, I’m coming from an older Apple Watch (42mm), and before that, I was a pretty consistent wearer of various analog watches. The Vertix 2 is big – both in size and weight – compared to other offerings. It has a 1.4” touch-capable LCD face housed in a 50mm titanium bezel, and the watch, including the Coros silicone band, weighs 3.1 ounces on my scale.
The big screen is fantastic – especially for uses such as navigation or if you have chubby or clumsy fingers. But subsequently, it takes up serious real estate on your wrist. I thought this might bother me, but it was an easy transition into such a large, heavy watch. The silicone band provides a lot of adjustment, so getting a snug fit isn’t a big deal. Occasionally, I’ll tighten the band a notch while training to eliminate some perceived ‘wobble’ on my wrist. Outside of those instances, I forget I’m even wearing the thing.
Adventure Watch
Touted as an ‘adventure’ watch, I expected the Vertix 2 to be robust and up to the abuse of outdoor pursuits and everyday tasks. The titanium bezel and the sapphire glass face (a higher-priced upgrade for other brands) serve as the foundation for a sturdy platform. In the months I’ve had the watch, I’ve hunted turkeys, scouted for fall seasons, camped with the family, ran through airports, navigated The Most Magical Place On Earth, wrenched on my truck more than I would have liked, built a garden shed, sat in a courtroom, and of course, exercised (to the tune of minus 25 pounds).
I purposely left my watch on during activities that I would have removed or babied previous watches. I’m happy to say that the whole thing is still in great shape: no wearing on the band, the bezel is clean, and most importantly and surprisingly, the glass face is scratch-free. Coros touts the sapphire glass as premium, and they should.
Vertix 2 Tech
The tech in the Vertix 2 is also robust. And user-friendly. I’ve found the Coros app to pair seamlessly with the watch, and it’s full of features – many of which I’m still discovering. Fortunately, the features are easy to use and completely customizable to your lifestyle and needs. Watch faces, activity menus, and your toolbox (collectively – everything you’ll see or access on the watch itself) are customizable within the app. These items are then accessed via the touchscreen watch face or through three buttons on the bezel.
Face options are essentially endless – you can use a pre-programmed face or customize one yourself. This includes digital or analog, of course, but you can change colors, images, and information that’s displayed, such as battery life, heart rate, altitude, steps, sunrise/set, etc. The app (or Coros.com) is also the place to input your health information, set goals, create a training plan, keep track of workouts, create and log routes, and view and organize maps.
Coros App
I find myself in the app for customizing, and then I use the watch to access everything I need. I keep my watch in manual mode (access via buttons) to avoid accidental touches, but I did play around with the touchscreen. It’s responsive and sensitive, but not too sensitive. The large face means that the fat-fingered among us can still manage to click what they aim at singularly. Either way, you can access all the tools you need through the watch with easy clicking.
Some Of The Tools
Speaking of tools, this watch has a lot – honestly, more than I’ve had the chance to utilize yet fully.
First, you have the fitness and training programs or activities. The activities list includes over 30 pre-programmed activities with specific monitoring metrics designed to help you track and evaluate your performance during that activity. Some examples include trail running, mountain climbing, biking, pool swimming, windsurfing, whitewater, strength, triathlon, and cross-country skiing. Of course, I use a small subset of these the most, as I suspect most users do, but I love the diverse set of activities Coros has included. It’s hard to imagine an adventure you couldn’t find a pre-programmed activity for, but if you can’t, you can create a custom activity to fit your needs. Or, you can modify an existing activity to cover specific metrics you want to track.
Simple To Use
The whole app-watch system might sound intimidating for those who don’t consider themselves tech-savvy. I’m a younger guy, so I’m comfortable around technology, but I certainly don’t consider myself a tech guy. I’m slow to adopt new technology – it took me years to give in to using keyboard shortcuts. I found the setup process and subsequent use and update of the app and watch to be straightforward, and the beauty of the whole system is that you can make it as complex or as simple as you want or need. Honestly, the tech is less intimidating than the fitness capabilities.
I noted my intended use cases above, which are primarily hunting- and outdoor-recreation-oriented. But having such a powerful tool on my wrist and the need to shed a few pounds has really pushed me to become more interested in my fitness. I’m sure the cost, at least subconsciously, encouraged me to fully utilize (to the extent I have – there’s a lot of room to grow) the watch and its capabilities.
Conclusion
The Vertix 2 was Coros’ top model when I got it a few months ago. At that point, it retailed for $699. It has been knocked off as the top model by the Vertix 2S. The 2S offers an upgraded heart rate sensor and GPS improvements targeted at mountaineers and climbers traversing steep walls. Indeed, if you’re a fitness nut or working your way there, look no further. But even if you’re not, this watch will do everything you want and be ready to take on more when you are. Available here.
I’m particularly looking forward to putting more navigation miles on the watch through the fall seasons, as recent firmware updates have increased its mapping capabilities. That’s a big bonus for me.
The only thing I wish this watch would do that it doesn’t is pair with my Garmin inReach and the associated app. That makes sense, considering Garmin is a competitor, and I knew it wouldn’t sync when I got it. It still perfectly fits my use cases (and created more), and I think you can’t go wrong with the Coros Vertix 2 for guys and gals with similar uses and goals.
Comment or ask Torin questions here.
