Enduro 3 : Queen of long outings. Up to 320 hours in GPS with solar, complete cards and sensors – perfect bikepacking.
SUUNTO RACE : very good screen, offline carto and big progress sensors; Dimol, management “A sensor per type” which annoys multi-vintage.
Polar Vantage V3 : Bi-band better controlled, Coaching Recovery Nickel, and integrated cycling tests, a square choice for those who want to structure their blocks.
Purchase advice (frankly)
Tight budget, high requirement : The SUUNTO RACE remains the best report “AMOLED + CARDS + BLUS Sensors” – and we regularly see offers at ~ 399 € among specialized resellers.
Top navigation + Ant + sensors : Go Forerunner 970 If you prioritize the weight/screen/price ratio, switch fēnix 8 pro if you want the tank (and sometimes LTE/INREACH for safety). Small digression: if you hesitate on the ecosystem, read our Garmin Sport comparison or Apple Watch for cyclists before deciding.
iPhone First : Ultra 3 if you ride short/medium with blue power and want the iOS experience without seam. This is obvious.
Ultra-discidence / bikepacking : Enduro 3. Point. (I know, repetitive. But true.) The logistical gain over 2-3 days is enormous.
Coaching & recovery : V3 V3 if you like physiological tests and Recovery Out-OF-Box analysis; Otherwise Garmin for the granularity sensors and the accessory park.
Where to buy & promos
Public prices: fēnix 8 pro (from ~ € 1,199 € in OLED, up to € 1,999 in microled), Forerunner € 970 (~ 750–800 € as a market), Ultra 3 (€ 899 Apple France), Enduro 3 (PPI € 899), Voltage V3 (€ 599.90), Vertix 2S (€ 699). Regular promotions exist in bike/outdoor retailers.
FAQ Express
Ant+ or Ble for power? The Garmins manage both (practical if you change sensors), Polar/Suunto/Apple: Ble. Coros Vertix 2S: Ble Only (but it works very well). Suddenly, if you have an Ant+ Historical Park, Garmin remains the simple way.
Need a lifestyle mini-format? Honestly, for the perf: no. If you are just looking for a discreet wrist on a daily basis, see this detailed comparison Garmin Lily 2 against Active – but it is not thought of for the strong bicycle sensors.
Final recommendations
Beginner : SUUNTO RACE – Simple, inexpensive, sufficiently precise. Intermediate : Forerunner 970 – Best overall balance. Advanced/long outings : Enduro 3 – Unbeatable autonomy. IPhone ecosystem : Ultra 3 – Ble + native apps, it’s fluid. And if you still hesitate, take a look at our complete guide to connected watches for cycling to refine (I pinion, but it helps).
Note: If you drive very oriented “running + daily cardio” and secondary bike, Voltage V3 remains an excellent health/training pivot. And for fans of closed ecosystems: the Ultra 3 has progressed, clearly – but the autonomy of the Garmin remains in front for the big days.
