For athletes who engage in various sports, having the right gear can make a significant difference in performance. A versatile, feature-rich smartwatch can track different sports, monitor health metrics, and even improve workout efficiency.
Multi-sport athletes—whether you’re training for triathlons, running marathons, or simply engaging in a mix of cycling, swimming, and gym workouts—need a watch that can keep up with their demanding schedules.
The right sports watch not only helps monitor heart rate and calories burned but also tracks your specific activity in detail, providing crucial insights to improve your training and recovery.
In this post, we’ll look at the top five best watches for multi-sport athletes in 2025.
What Makes a Good Watch for Multi-Sport Athletes?
A good multi-sport watch combines functionality, durability, and comfort. It should be able to track a variety of activities accurately, from running to swimming to cycling.
Features like GPS, heart rate monitoring, and advanced workout metrics are important for tracking performance and making necessary adjustments.
Additionally, athletes who engage in different types of sports need watches that are water-resistant, have long battery life, and are comfortable enough for all-day wear.
Some watches also feature smart capabilities like notifications, music storage, and app integration, which can enhance the training experience by keeping athletes connected while they work out.
For multi-sport athletes, a good sports watch also needs to be reliable under tough conditions, whether you’re swimming in open water or cycling through rough terrain.
1. Garmin Forerunner 965
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is a fantastic option for multi-sport athletes looking for comprehensive tracking features and solid build quality. This watch is packed with tools to help athletes monitor their performance, from cycling to running, swimming, and more.
Key Features:
- AMOLED display for vibrant colors and clear readability, even in bright sunlight
- Advanced sleep, stress, and heart rate tracking
- Multi-sport tracking capabilities, including triathlon mode
- Full-color, onboard maps for cycling and running routes
- Built-in GPS and a range of activity profiles
- Long battery life (up to 23 days in smartwatch mode)
- Music storage and streaming with the option to sync playlists from your preferred music service
- Customizable data fields to personalize your training experience
Pros:
- Excellent display clarity and customization
- Extensive range of sports profiles
- Advanced heart rate and recovery metrics
Cons:
- Larger form factor may not suit smaller wrists
- Expensive for entry-level users
How it helps: The Forerunner 965 excels in versatility, making it perfect for athletes who switch between different activities. Whether you’re running, cycling, or swimming, it provides detailed tracking and insights to fine-tune your performance.
See Garmin Forerunner 965 on Amazon
2. Polar Vantage V2
Polar is renowned for its precision in tracking, and the Vantage V2 is an excellent choice for multi-sport athletes who need both performance and functionality. This watch is designed with endurance athletes in mind and offers a wide range of data to help improve your training.
Key Features:
- Lightweight design for all-day wear
- Advanced heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking
- Recovery tracking and sleep analysis
- Customizable sport modes, including cycling, running, swimming, and more
- Accurate power measurement for cycling
- 7-day battery life, with extended options in power-saving mode
- Waterproof to 100 meters for swimming and water sports
- Integration with Polar Flow for detailed post-workout analysis
Pros:
- Extremely lightweight and comfortable
- Robust recovery and sleep tracking
- Detailed cycling power metrics
Cons:
- Display not as vivid as some competitors
- Limited music storage capabilities
How it helps: The Vantage V2 is particularly useful for athletes who are focused on optimizing their recovery and performance metrics. Its in-depth tracking helps you measure everything from sleep quality to energy levels, allowing for smarter training.
See Polar Vantage V2 on Amazon
3. Suunto 9 Peak Pro
The Suunto 9 Peak Pro is a rugged and reliable option for athletes who enjoy outdoor adventures alongside their regular workouts. This watch is designed to withstand extreme conditions, making it ideal for athletes who engage in intense physical activities.
Key Features:
- 120+ sport modes for different activities
- Up to 170 hours of battery life in ultra-long battery mode
- Route navigation and GPS tracking
- Smart training features, including pace guidance and heart rate zones
- Waterproof up to 100 meters for swimming
- SuuntoPlus™ features for an enhanced training experience
- Customizable sport modes with real-time performance data
Pros:
- Exceptional battery life for long-distance training
- Durable and built for extreme conditions
- Great navigation features for outdoor sports
Cons:
- Interface can be complicated for first-time users
- Larger size may feel bulky for some users
How it helps: For athletes who like to combine outdoor sports like trail running or mountain biking with indoor workouts, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro provides the tools needed to track performance in diverse environments. The long battery life also ensures you can track multi-day adventures without worry.
See Suunto 9 Peak Pro on Amazon
4. Garmin Fenix 7 Solar
The Garmin Fenix 7 Solar is another outstanding option for multi-sport athletes, particularly those who spend a lot of time outdoors. With its solar-charging capabilities, the Fenix 7 offers a longer-lasting battery life, perfect for long endurance events like marathons or ultra-triathlons.
Key Features:
- Solar-powered to extend battery life
- Multi-band GPS for more accurate location tracking
- Preloaded maps for outdoor navigation and sports like hiking, skiing, and running
- Extensive sport modes, including swimming, golf, and climbing
- Advanced heart rate, sleep, and recovery tracking
- Up to 22 days of battery life with solar charging
- Safety features like incident detection and assistance
Pros:
- Solar charging for extended battery life
- Accurate GPS and navigation
- Great for outdoor and adventure sports
Cons:
- Bulky design may not suit everyone
- High price point compared to other watches
How it helps: The Fenix 7 Solar is perfect for athletes who are into outdoor adventures, from running through forests to skiing or hiking in the mountains. The solar charging feature means you can keep tracking your activity for longer, even in remote areas where charging may be difficult.
See Garmin Fenix 7 Solar on Amazon
5. Coros Vertix 2
The Coros Vertix 2 is a powerful watch designed for athletes who need a rugged, long-lasting device with excellent outdoor and multi-sport capabilities. It’s a great choice for those who do everything from mountaineering to marathons.
Key Features:
- Dual-frequency GPS for precise location tracking
- Up to 60 days of battery life in regular mode
- Advanced health metrics, including SpO2 and sleep tracking
- Multi-sport mode with tracking for over 30 sports
- Waterproof up to 100 meters for swimming and water activities
- Built-in maps and route planning for hiking and outdoor sports
- Real-time workout data and performance insights
Pros:
- Exceptional battery life, especially for long events
- Advanced GPS and tracking features
- Ideal for outdoor and adventure sports
Cons:
- Bulky and heavy design
- Limited third-party app integration
How it helps: The Vertix 2 is ideal for athletes who need a watch that can withstand extreme conditions and provide precise data over extended periods. It’s particularly beneficial for long-distance events and athletes who engage in outdoor adventures, ensuring that you can track performance without worrying about battery life.
See Coros Vertix 2 on Amazon
Practical Tips for Choosing the Right Multi-Sport Watch
When choosing a sports watch, make sure it aligns with your specific needs and preferences. If you’re primarily a runner or cyclist, look for a watch with robust GPS tracking and features tailored to those activities. If you engage in a variety of sports, ensure the watch can track multiple activities and offers customization to suit your workout routine.
Durability is another key factor—make sure the watch can handle both your outdoor and indoor activities. Finally, consider the comfort and weight of the watch, as you’ll likely be wearing it for long periods during training sessions.
Conclusion
The best watches for multi-sport athletes in 2025 combine versatility, durability, and advanced features to help you track performance across various sports.
Whether you’re a triathlete, trail runner, or outdoor adventurer, these watches offer the tools and insights you need to optimize your training and performance. From the Garmin Forerunner 965’s customizable training data to the solar-powered Fenix 7, each watch provides unique benefits to suit different needs.
Choose the one that best fits your training style and watch your performance improve with every workout.