11 Best Smartwatches for Mountain Biking & Cycling in 2021 [Top Picks]

Smartwatches have virtually eliminated the woes of going off-road mountain biking, thanks to the accurate navigation support, ride data storage, and body metrics monitoring. Not only that, until recently, bikers had to mount their cycle’s handle with a smartphone holder or bike computer for GPS.

Smartwatches are a one-stop solution to multiple logistical needs of a biker. The newly launched devices come with a sleek design and build quality thereby keeping them from interfering with the dynamics of the bike and the handlebar.

Features such as great battery life, comfort, water resistance, GPS navigation, and display are essential parameters to look out for due to the inclement conditions that come with MTB. Many of them are built to combat the very long, arduous, open-to-sky, and unmarked paths of the adventure.

Many smartwatch compatible apps related to biking have emerged in recent years. They are innovative and interactively catering to the advanced needs of a high-functioning sport. Some of the most popular apps include:

• Strava
• Training Peaks
• ViewRanger
• Cyclemeter
• Map My Ride

Not only do they keep track of the multiple aspects of biking and provide constant alpine mapping support in the outdoor terrain, but they can also help you with a lot of other If you are planning to invest in MTB gear, a reliable smartwatch should be on top of the list.

11 Best Smartwatches for Mountain Biking in 2021

With a good smartwatch at your disposal, you can now go cycling without having to awkwardly mounting your phones along or have a separate bike and body monitors strapped on to them. But, how do you know which smartwatch shall make your biking session comfortable and easy?

1. Best Overall: Garmin Fenix 6X Pro

The Garmin Fenix 6X Pro is a top-end adventure smartwatch that comes with a range of functions fit for a serious mountain biker. It is a popular choice among beginners & enthusiasts and is manufactured by a company known for its electronic adventure gear.

It supports a variety of connectivity options such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi to ANT+ and is compatible with both iPhone and Android smartphones. A range of applications including Strava, Maps, Music, Spotify, Garmin Pay, and widgets can be downloaded from the Garmin Connect IQ.

The GPS is accurate on this model, enabling seamless navigation through extremely remote contours of the mountains. It also comes with an internal memory of 32GB which supports onboard storage of music in the Smartwatch in contrast to some of the more basic smartwatches.

The watch is powered by the Garmin Operating System and has a plethora of inbuilt sensors to track calories, temperature, acceleration, heart rate, direction, sleep, distance, gyration, altitude, and oxygen saturation levels (based on pulse.) All these features effectively monitor the vitals of the biker and the terrain, creating comprehensive data sets that can be used to monitor performance and health.

The watch has a 1.4-inch circular AMOLED display with 280×280 pixel resolution creating visibility even through glaring sunlight. It is waterproof and extremely tough in lieu of being tested according to military standards of performance. Additionally, it has a text response and call reject features (Android only).

The model comes with a choice between silicone and titanium bands and has a very light feel on the wrist of the wearer. The casing comes at a size of 51mm with buttons on the outer periphery of the watch.

The battery on the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro comes up to

• Up to 21 days +3 days in smartwatch mode*.
• Up to 60 hours +6 hours of GPS use**.
• Up to 15 hours +1 hour of GPS and music**.
• 120 hours + 28 hours**.
• Max battery GPS mode: 46 days + 10 days**.
• Expedition GPS mode: 80 days + 40 days* (when put to battery saver watch mode making it ideal for short, long, continuous or seasonal type of mountain biking regimes.)

*assuming full-day wear and 3 hours per day outdoors under 50,000 lux conditions

**assuming usage under 50,000 lux conditions

One-year customer limited warranty that can be extended at an additional cost to 2 or 3 years. In all, it is a high functioning smartwatch with great versatility and a comprehensive solution to all the challenges of mountain biking.

2. Best Runner Up: Garmin Fenix 5 Plus

Released in late 2019, the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus is a sports watch that would automatically brand the wearer as an outdoor enthusiast.

The watch supports every popular biking application like Strava and TrainingPeaks for navigation and performance monitoring. The model is exceptionally savvy with an exhaustive ANT+, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth compatibility and works well with phones operating on both Android and iOS platforms.

It has an internal storage of 16GB and can both store or stream music from the phone giving the riders the option of leaving behind their phones. Like all the latest Garmin products, even the Fenix 5 Plus is powered by the Garmin Operating System.

The in-built sensors include the Accelerometer, Thermometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Altimeter, and Pulse oximeter to Heart rate monitor. All of them are pretty accurate.

The Smartwatch has a display resolution of 240 pixels and a circular screen measuring 1.2 inches in diameter. It is waterproof up to 100 meters and considered to be extremely rugged in comparison to most outdoor smart devices. It is also possible to text and reject calls with a text when synced to android smartphones.

It is very sturdy in design and appearance. The bikers have a choice between silicone, leather, and titanium for the strap material. The watch has a case size of 47mm and features pressing buttons to exercise the various applications and widgets.

It has exhibited a battery life of up to 12 days in smartwatch mode and up to 8 hours with both GPS and music continuously operational.

The standard Garmin warranty of 1 year from the date of purchase with eligibility for the extended warranty at an additional cost. It is a premium watch and a great option to consider for people planning to take mountain biking seriously.

3. Best For iOS users: Apple Watch Series 5

The Apple Watch Series 5 smartwatch is a super sleek and top-notch product that is taking over the markets by a storm. Its multi-functionality makes it a perfect choice for a person who is an executive at dawn and a mountain biking enthusiast by dusk.

The watch is only compatible with iOS devices and syncs well with biking applications like Strava and Cyclemeter. So if you’re an Android user, you should not consider getting it.

The Smartwatch is powered by a 1GB RAM and has an internal storage of 32GB. It comes with Apple’s own WatchOS 6.0 and just like most of the Apple products, it’ll get software update for the coming 5-6 years. It has inbuilt GPS and supports other mountain terrain mapping options like GLONASS, GALILEO, and QZSS.

The screen is always on display and has a comparatively high resolution at 448 x 368 pixels supporting capacitive touchscreen actions. It is waterproof up to 50 meters, and the built-in cellular lets the bikers attend urgent calls and texts from work or seek assistance in the case of an eventuality from anywhere in the world without having to lug the phone along.

It comes with a sleek strong stainless steel frame with a sapphire crystal front and ceramic back, making it very apt for bikers juggling adventures with a full-time corporate job. It comes at a case thickness of 10.7 mm.

The battery lasts up to 18 hours for mixed usage. A major challenge is a draining battery with too many applications constantly running in the background. It is recommended to turn off the extra features when not in use.

The Smartwatch is eligible for a 2-year warranty to cover all manufacturing defects beginning from the date of purchase. It is definitely an exceptional addition to the collection of a mountain biker who is also a corporate executive.

4. Best For Mountain Climbers: Coros APEX Pro

The Coros APEX Pro is a top-shelf fitness smartwatch with high endurance limits just like that of a long haul mountain biker. What sets this Smartwatch apart from others for mountain biking is its excellently tailored ‘Mountain Climb Mode’ and altitude acclimatization assistance which is a serious concern at altitudes 8000 feet above sea level.

It is ANT+ compatible with all accessories and majority of the smartphones including Android & iOS. It works well with third-party fitness applications like Strava and TrainingPeaks. What sets it apart from the other devices is its highly accurate proprietary GPS algorithms that makes it almost impossible to get lost on any off-grid mountain trail.

The device accurately monitors the heart-beat, pace, and other endurance parameters that can be synced to a smartphone for records and drawing comparative analysis; however, it cannot be used to store and play music. It has built-in sensors tracking Gyration, Temperature, acceleration, direction, height, pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation levels during the ride.

It is touch screen activated, Always-On, and water-resistant up to 100 meters. It supports 64 colors in display with a 240*240 pixel resolution along with call and text notifications synced to the rider’s smartphone.

The smartwatch sports a titanium lightness in feature with a breezy silky feel. It is a circular screen smartwatch. The watch body is engineered with high-grade fiber making it tough to wear and tear. The Smartwatch also consists of a specialized digital knob for smooth operations with the thick rider’s gloves on.

It has a long battery life of up to 30 days (In watch mode) with 40 hours of guaranteed life with continuous GPS support.

Coros offers a two-year warranty from the date of purchase. It is a great choice due to long battery life and high reliability, making it fit for the long term, off the grid mountain adventures.

5. Best For Rough Conditions: Suunto 9

As tough as the mountains themselves, the Suunto 9 is one of the most robust outdoor Smartwatches in the market to date. It plans/suggests some of the best ride routes for the mountains by compiling trail data from Suunto app users over a period of time.

It is compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones and runs the Suunto app that can be used to push metrics onto popular fitness applications like Strava, TrainingPeaks and Endomondo. It has more than 80 in-built sports modes including the likes of biking, swimming, and running.

It has no internal storage available for music and does not support streaming services like Spotify etc. There is a range of built-in sensors from accurate GPS, sleep tracking, Altimeter, Oximeter to compass, and Heart rate monitor.

The smartwatch sports a matrix display with a 320×300 pixel resolution. The Smartwatch additionally syncs all messages, call alerts and notifications onto the watch and has the option to lock the touch screen during exercise. It is waterproof up to 100 meters.

This watch is engineered with an athletic design and comes with a case size of 50mm. The outer rim of the watch is fitted with 3 buttons to smoothly navigate through various modes, more so when it is impossible to use the touch screen with the riding gloves on.

It lasts up to 14 days (in time mode). It operates on an intelligence battery-based system with the three modes being Performance (24h), Endurance (50h) and Ultra (120h) making up an excellent energy management system. An important millennial feature integrated into the Smartwatch is the charging reminder that ensures that you don’t step out for your adventure in a discharged state.

The general warranty period is two years for the Suunto Smartwatch. It is a steal due to its proven durability for long periods of time beyond warranty.

6. Polar Vantage V

The Polar Vantage V is a comprehensive and sophisticated smartwatch making it an excellent option to be considered by mountain bikers.

The Smartwatch is compatible with Bluetooth v4.2 LE and works well with a range of popular biking applications including Strava, TrainingPeaks, MyFitnessPal, Endomondo and Nike+ Run Club. The integrated features of ‘Training Load Pro’ and ‘Recovery Pro’  give an insight into how the training is affecting your body and what other holistic factors can be integrated for making it more optimal.

The Smartwatch runs on its own company proprietary operating system which is highly sports orientated. The sensors include Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Barometer, Heart rate monitor, compass, ambient light and excellent GPS tracking. The heart rate monitor in this model is a combination of bio-impedance electrodes with the usual optical sensors making the metrics more accurate than ever.

The screen is always on with a MIP transflective touchscreen LCD display at a resolution of 240×240 pixels. The watch provides the rider with email, call and text notifications. It is highly sophisticated in comparison to other Polar Smartwatches like the Polar Vantage M and Polar V800. It is the only Polar product with route guidance, touch display and running power from the wrist.

It is immaculately designed with a stainless steel case and a stainless bezel integrating good form to the already excellent function. It sports a flat dial circular display.

The battery life of the Smartwatch is up to 7 days in watch mode and up to 40 continuous hours in GPS and heart-beat tracking mode making the model quite optimal in the range.

Warranty of up to 2 years and the long durability makes Polar Vantage V a premium line product for strenuous mountain biking. It is one of the best products in the Polar range of Smartwatches.

7. Best Fitbit For Biking: Fitbit Ionic Watch

Fitbit Ionic is one of the most iconic smartwatches in the market right now for fitness enthusiasts. It is perfect for people looking to undergo personalized and custom made training steps. It gives step-by-step, dynamic coaching in the chosen physical endurance activity for the day.

The Fitbit Ionic Watch is loaded with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatibility. Fitbit syncs well with a range of popular fitness tracking applications including Endomondo, Strava, TrainingPeaks, Peloton, and Trainerize.

The Smartwatch Features internal storage of 3.5GB and can be used to store 300+ songs and syncs well with music streaming applications like Pandora. It runs on the Fitbit OS and supports sensors like accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, altimeter, sleep monitor, GPS, and ambient light sensing.

The product sports an LCD screen with 348 x 250 pixels resolution and multi-touch type screen. It is waterproof up to 50m. Additionally, the watch also records text, call, and social app notifications to keep you on top of your game.

The Smartwatch comes with a rectangular screen design display with an aluminum casing. It projects a sleekness in design and feel. The model also includes bands in large and small sizes to give a snug fit on the wrist of the biker. It comes at a 30,000 feet cap on operating altitude which is more than sufficient to bike in some of the highest mountains on Earth.

The device lasts up to 4+ days in non-continuous usage and 10+ hrs on continuous GPS and tracking mode.

The Fitbit Ionic Smartwatch has a warranty period of 1 year from the date of purchase. It is definitely an excellent option for mountain bikers due to the optimal Fitbit operating system which attenuates quite a lot of the mountain woes.

8. Best For Battery Life: SUUNTO Ambit3 Peak

If you are looking to spend some quality time in the mountains on your bike with minimal gear, Suunto Ambit3 Peak is a good companion.

It is Bluetooth activated and works well with third party training applications like Strava, TrainingPeaks, and Endomondo making it easy to share ride details on social media, with other mountain biking enthusiasts and fitness coaches.

The Smartwatch runs on the Wear OS and is eligible for all the accompanying upgrades. There is no internal storage space for music. Sports sensors by the likes of Compass, GPS, Barometer, Radio transceiver, Altimeter, Thermometer, Chronograph, GPS and Heart rate monitor.

Matrix type display with an LCD screen resolution of 128*128 pixels. Serves a range of notifications from the weather forecast, call alerts, SMS and Email alerts, Calendar alert, and Activity alert keeping the rider in sync with the rest of the world from the middle of the mountains. It is waterproof up to 100 meters.

The display comes with a circular flat dial design, at 50 x 50 x 18 mm case dimensions giving a very sturdy overall feeling to the watch.

The Battery life lasts up to 200 hrs, with 1 min GPS  update  interval and up to 20 hrs, with 1 sec GPS update interval. It lasts for 30 full days in the watch mode or regular daily use.

The general warranty of Suunto products is up to 2 years. The Smartwatch is basic but has specific mountain biking features with optimum multi-mode options to make the model an interesting prospect.

9. Best From Samsung: Samsung Galaxy Watch

Like other Samsung watches, the Galaxy Smartwatch is an excellent product featuring a wide range of compatible bike features. The cellular feature on the watch lets you take calls (with up to 3.9 hours of call time), answer messages, and stream music without having your smartphone nearby.

The Smartwatch comes with bluetooth 4.2 for connectivity. It also features Samsung Health, which comprehensively tracks body metrics and training. It also supports various media types like MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR and AWB.

The Smartwatch has a 768MB RAM with 4GB of internal storage that can be used to store music. Powered by the Tizen OS version 4.0, it supports monitoring sensors like Accelerometer, barometer, gyro, heart rate monitor, GPS and ambient light.

It has a Super AMOLED display with a 360*360 pixel resolution and a flat dial circular design. It reveals important notifications with a single swipe and waterproof up to 50 meters. An important feature is the easy switchability to meditation mode if the day gets too stressful.

The Smartwatch is Super-sleek and has a very stylish feel with a wide range of options between two sizes to personalize and customize the design. From the band to the colors, it offers a wide range of options to its customers to choose from.

The battery lasts up to 2-3 days when the always-on mode is disabled. It has a very short life when all the applications are running and needs a daily recharge. Wireless charging is one of the exclusive features that set this Smartwatch apart from others on the market.

Samsung’s warranty on parts and labour for the Galaxy Smartwatches lasts for one year from the date of purchase. It goes with any and every occasion making it a very worthy buy if you are looking for a balance between outdoor activities and corporate line of work.

10. Best Value For Money: Coros APEX Premium

The Coros APEX is truly a premium addition to the list of smartwatches available in the market today. It is a sports-oriented Smartwatch that is a good consideration for mountain biking.

The Smartwatch is Bluetooth and ANT+ enabled. It is also compatible with Strava, Training Peaks, Relive, Final Surge and Runalyze to support extreme mountain biking metrics. However, it does not provide any NFC pay support.

The Smartwatch has a wide range of monitoring sensors like accelerometer, barometric altimeter, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, GPS and compass to navigate through unmarked mountain trails. It is powered by firmware and not an operating system like most other Smartwatches; however, Coros is as good as they come and rolls out frequent updates making sure you aren’t missing out on much.

The display on this model is a memory LCD screen with a 240*240 pixel resolution. It is waterproof up to 100meters and can work fine through a torrential adventure. It also receives all notifications from the smartphone, keeping you caught up with urgent work updates during biking breaks.

It is a very sporty and sturdy design with a titanium alloy bezel, fiber-reinforced nylon case and aluminum back cover giving a comprehensive feel to the Smartwatch. It has a digital knob that allows easy operation and gives full control over all the watch features with a single gloved finger.

The Smartwatch has a battery life of up to 25 hours in full continuous GPS Mode, up to 80 hours in UltraMax GPS mode and up to 24 Days when in non-continuous regular use.

A full warranty is offered by the company for up to two years from the date of purchase. The product makes for a very economical choice for mountain bikers on a budget like students.

11. Best Cheapest Biking Watch: Polar M430

The Polar M430 is a super-affordable and versatile smartwatch and supports a wide range of metrics through its built-in sensors. It comprehensively tracks the rider’s activities and sleep 24/7.

The Smartwatch is Bluetooth compatible and comes with a free USB on the device. It also has automatic sync with popular applications like Strava and TrainingPeaks making it convenient for recording, analyzing, and sharing the ride statistics.

Powered by the Polar company Operating system, the Smartwatch is custom made to run and operate in sync with specific outdoor activities like mountain biking and running. It tracks activity, calories burned, distance, heart rate, sleep activity, speed, and steps are taken giving a comprehensive overall training metrics report.

It sports an LED screen with 128*128 pixel resolution. There is also a blue backlight for convenience when riding in the dark. The Smartwatch displays all smartphone notifications from text alerts to call and social app notifications when in sync. It is durable and waterproof up to 30 meters.

The display on the watch consists of a rectangular screen with rounded corners. It is extremely fashionable and engineered to project an extremely sleek feel. It is comparable to the Polar V800 in design and features but has the extra feature of sensing wrist-based heart rate.

The battery on the device lasts up to 8 hours in full GPS tracking mode but lasts up to 30 hours in watch mode. Hence it is not very apt for long-haul adventures.

The company offers a 2-year warranty on the Smartwatch from the date of the purchase. It remains to be one of the best deals on the market for cash-strapped biking enthusiasts due to the low pricing and good warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Verdict

In conclusion, smartwatches have increasingly become a basic necessity for endurance activities. More so for mountain biking due to the strenuous and long treacherous routes associated with some of the trails.

Among the various smartwatches available in the market, the Garmin company products Fenix 6X Pro and Fenix 5 Plus remain unbeaten till date. With a versatile range of features covering almost all aspects of a mountain ride and rider into a comprehensive space, long battery life, extreme durability and toughness it is the perfect combination. However, it remains to be at a disadvantage due to its high cost.

The Apple Watch Series 5 and the Samsung Galaxy watch are good options too due to their high affinity for multi-functionality. Sleek and stylish in design and form, it is built to maintain the perfect balance between heavy corporate life and extreme mountain biking. They are also relatively priced in moderation when compared to the Garmin products.

The Coros Apex Pro, Coros Apex premium, Suunto 9 and Suunto Ambit3 Peak lack storage and prime features like NFC and Music streaming, making them slightly unfavorable at such elevated prices. However, they are extremely durable and enjoy a long battery life, making them apt for long off-grid rides spanning over days.

The Polar Vantage V and Fitbit Ionic watch displays a good range of functionality and affordability. They are the quintessential mid-range products to go for in smartwatches.

The Polar M430 is among one of the cheapest products in town making it a good option for cash strapped buyers looking for a basic functioning fitness smartwatch on their mountain rides.