Fitness trackers have been around for many years now. They come in all shapes and sizes, some can be strapped to your chest, some to your wrist or ankles, and others are attached to bicycles, rowing boats, or any other sporting equipment.
You can track many aspects of your cycling abilities, and that in turn, will help you improve your overall cycling skills. Most trackers will monitor your heart rate during rest and high-intensity exercise and the data is made available for your analysis.
Having facts and figures about your performance made available during the workouts is crucial to track your progression. Athletes, professional and otherwise, need to know what their fitness metrics are in order to create a suitable fitness plan according to their specific fitness needs.
Outdoor activities however are notoriously hard to track and require the most advanced technologies. Luckily for you, nowadays finding high tech and good quality fitness trackers are easy and there are hundreds of brands to choose from.
We are going to be looking at the 10 top fitness trackers for cycling on the market. Compare their features, and highlight what we like and do not like about each one. This should hopefully help you make up your mind to find the one that suits you best.
| PRODUCT | FEATURES | LATEST PRICE |
|---|---|---|
1. The MorePro GPS Smart Watch Fitness Tracker  |
| Check Price |
2. The Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire  |
| Check Price |
3. The Fitpolo Health Smart Watch  |
| Check Price |
4. The Garmin vívosport Fitness Tracker  |
| Check Price |
5. The Garmin Forerunner 235 Fitness Tracker  |
| Check Price |
6. The Lintelek Fitness Tracker  |
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7. The Fitbit Charge 3 Fitness Activity Tracker  |
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8. The Apple Watch Series 5  |
| Check Price |
9. The Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle Stainless Steel Touchscreen Smartwatch  |
| Check Price |
10. The Willful Fitness Tracker  |
| Check Price |
Table of Contents
Our Best Fitness Tracker For Cycling Reviews and Comparisons
1. The MorePro GPS Smart Watch Fitness Tracker
Product Highlights
The MorePro is a smartwatch, and by its name, that means it does a lot more than just track your fitness. It allows you to view messages and notifications, answer phone calls and much more.
Features
- GPS location and tracking for 17 sports, including cycling
- GPS collects data about the distance, speed, and route you are on
- Waterproof
- Receive calls, SMS, and notifications
- 5-7 days worth of battery with every charge
- Includes charger
- Compatible with Androids, iPhones, computers, and tablets
- 1.3-inch touchscreen with adjustable brightness
- Collects your data syncs the smartwatch to the Zerona Health Pro, Apple Health or Strava apps
What We Like About the MorePro GPS Tracker
A sporty looking yet sophisticated watch that can be ‘dressed up’ or ‘dressed down.’
You won’t need to take your mobile phone out with you during outdoor activities such as running or cycling.
If you haven’t moved around enough it will start to beep. While in action, it will calculate your calories, so that you don’t have to. Feels lightweight and comfortable on your wrist.
The app is not only easy to navigate it can track 7 types of swimming modes. That’s not all, it has a comprehensive ability to track a range of metrics like your heart rate on a continuous basis from resting rate through to workouts. In addition, this item also logs fat burning, regular, warm-up, aerobic, anaerobic and extreme heart rate zones.
What We Don’t Like About the MorePro GPS Tracker
Step tracking is often found to be a little off. The app can be difficult to sync, requiring you to uninstall and reinstall the app.
The GPS sometimes finds it hard to recognize your location and asks you to ‘move to a clear area.’
There are limited watch face options.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Tracks 17 outdoor activities
- Waterproof
- Syncs to most electronic devices
CONS
- Can take a while to set up
- GPS is inaccurate
2. The Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire
Product Highlights
The Garmin Fenix 5X remains one of the most popular Garmin products on the market. Its versatility is hard to compete with and it is extremely reliable.
Features
- GPS mapping in full color
- Maps cycling routes and many other outdoor activities such as running and rowing
- Touch screen and with a rotating stainless steel bezel and side buttons
- Eight gym activities pre-loaded to your smartwatch, with the option of loading more
- A three-axis compass, gyroscope and barometric altimeter
- Glonass capability from the navigation sensors
- Designed to navigate you through more challenging environments as well as normal routes
- Performance metrics are displayed in real-time through this watch, without needing to open the app on your smartphone
- Heart rate, calorie, and step tracking
- Tracks comprising bike, indoor bike, and mountain biking
What We Like About the Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire
Aesthetically designed with an active user in mind, it is not too heavy or bulky on a medium-sized wrist.
Reliable durability means you need not worry about it getting knocked about during any outdoor activity or workout. Tracks many activities that you can choose from in addition to cycling.
Long battery life, even when using GPS.
What We Don’t Like About Product Name
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PROS
- Tracks 3 biking profiles
- Has a sapphire crystal screen
- Smartphone features are included
- GPS mapping and routing
CONS
- Clunky and heavy
- GPS is sometimes a few meters off
3. The Fitpolo Health Smart Watch
Product Highlights
The Fitpolo smartwatch has many valuable functions and is not just for tracking your cycling. Here is a little bit of information about the smartwatch.
Features
- Monitors sleep, heart rate, calories in and out and steps
- Real time cycling monitoring, as well as yoga, basketball and much more
- It is splash-proof (not suitable for swimming, but can be worn during a shower)
- Receive phone calls and SMS as well as viewing social media notifications
- 3-10 day battery life
- Color touch screen
- Multiple screen displays to choose from
What We Like About the Fitpolo Health Smart Watch
A sleek and stylish smartwatch can be paired with any outfit. It can be worn 24/7. Strongly recommended to remove the watch when you are ready to go for a swim.
Reliably and easily syncs to smartphones of all brands which makes the everyday collected data easily accessible. In addition, you have access to real-time statistics through the smartwatch.
What We Don’t Like About Product Name
The user manual isn’t very clear to follow which means that if this is your first smartwatch it may take a little longer to set it up and begin using it to track your progress.
Charges with a magnet instead of a plug, which is a slower way charge than the alternative. The charge will last about 3 days when using the activity features frequently, however, it does not last 10 days without being charged in the interim.
PROS
- Splash proof
- Tracks cycling effectively
- Can be connected to most mobile phones
- Aesthetically pleasing
CONS
- Hard to use
- The screen doesn’t lock properly when it isn’t in use
- Activities start and stop spontaneously
4. The Garmin vívosport Fitness Tracker
Product Highlights
This is probably one of the most effective and simple ways of tracking fitness progress. Keep the Garmin vívosport on your wrist all day long and check your smartphone to view your statistics.
This isn’t like the above trackers because it isn’t a smartwatch. That being said, not everyone will want all the other benefits provided by a smartwatch. A fitness band can sufficiently provide all the information required to track cycling and other fitness performances.
Features
- Tracks cycling ability both indoors and outdoors
- Built-in GPS tracking for accurate cycling navigation
- Vo2 Max and fitness made essentials are included on the band
- Slim, color screen
- Tracks your body’s stress response
- Get your fitness statistic on the internet or straight to your smartphone
- Sync the band with your friends to follow their cycling route in real-time
What We Like About the Garmin vívosport
This gadget will prompt you to be a little more active every day. The step count and heart rate monitoring are reliably accurate for the majority of the time. It will map out your cycling route including distance covered and average speed.
See how many calories you burn per workout and throughout the day, and your meal preparation and diet planning becomes that much easier.
What We Don’t Like About the Garmin Vívosport
If the band is not tightened as close to your skin as possible it will not accurately monitor your heart rate. The strap isn’t replaceable, so if it breaks for any reason after the warranty is finished you will have to pay to fix or replace it.
Outdoor cycling and running programs are very basic. The screen is very narrow, making it hard to read.
PROS
- Has automatic tracking for most indoor and outdoor activities
- Offers the ‘find your phone’ appl on the tracker
- The vívosport app is versatile and clear
- The band isn’t big and clunky
CONS
- Heart rate monitor is very sensitive and is sometimes inaccurate
- Limited to basic activities
5. The Garmin Forerunner 235 Fitness Tracker
Product Highlights
We have another Garmin fitness tracker to look at. Don’t be fooled by the name, it’s not just for running! This tracker is especially good at tracking your outdoor activities, so if you love cycling outside this is an option to keep your eye on.
Features
- Tracks your wrist-based heart rate
- Collects your metrics automatically as long as it is on your wrist
- Pair it with your smartphone to view emails and other notifications
- Outdoor GPS tracking makes planning your cycling route much easier
- Estimates your maximum volume of oxygen during an activity
What We Like About the Garmin Forerunner 235
The band is comfortable and doesn’t interfere with the workout.
The battery can go for days without being charged. So don’t worry if you forget your charger when you’re away on a long weekend.
The GPS signal is fast, giving you peace of mind that your cycling routes are being tracked correctly. Data is automatically uploaded onto your mobile phone.
What We Don’t Like About the Garmin Forerunner 235
Beware of using fussy watch faces, as they can cause your watch screen to freeze. The app is unreliable and works great sometimes and other times not.
Once you have had the watch for a few months, it seems the battery takes longer to charge.
We don’t recommend wearing it to bed as it will feel a bit bulky trying to sleep with it.
PROS
- The Garmin Forerunner 235 can withstand very hot and cold temperatures
- Data syncs automatically with your phone
- Great GPS features
- Comfortable to wear throughout the day
CONS
- The screen freezes
- Battery life deteriorates quickly
6. The Lintelek Fitness Tracker
Product Highlights
This is a great fitness band for those who want to track cycling statistics, general fitness, and monitor the data on a budget.
Features
- View calls, messages and calendar notifications
- Tracks and assesses sleep quality
- Monitors heart rate throughout the whole day
- Sedentary reminders will alert when it is time to unwind and have a rest during a busy day
- Includes the Veryfit Pro app to see all of your fitness data
- GPS mapping
What We Like About the Lintelek Fitness Tracker
This sweatproof and rainproof tracker means there is little concern to keep it safe and away from moisture or water while working out.
Reliably accurate step count. The battery needs only 2-3 hours to charge, and once it is fully charged the battery will last for days.
Men, women, and even children can use it, showing you how easy it is to navigate.
What We Don’t Like About Product Name
Its level of performance will not suit the serious cyclists. It doesn’t look as professional as other trackers on the market for those who consider appearance as well as function.
The heart rate monitor will unsatisfactorily and inaccurately display rates between 50-130 within a matter of seconds.
Overcharge the battery and its use will weaken dramatically.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Includes a GPS tracker that is useful for cyclists
- 2-3 hours to charge
- Simple design
CONS
- With only a basic cycling activities it is not suited for competitive cyclists
- Heart rate monitoring is erratic and unreliable
7. The Fitbit Charge 3 Fitness Activity Tracker
Product Highlights
Fitbit is one of the leading fitness tracking companies worldwide. The Charge 3 Tracker has been on the market since 2018.
Features
- Battery life of up to 7 days
- Brilliant cycling mode, along with 14 other useful fitness modes
- Tracks your sleep for analysis
- Waterproof for up to 50 meters
- Real time GPS tracking for outdoor cycling and running
- Displays all of your smartphone notifications
What We Like About the Fitbit Charge 3
The screen is clear and easy to read whatever you need to see. The sleep tracker is extremely accurate and the data is easy to analyze.
Because it is waterproof that is one less thing to remember – to take it off before showering. It is lightweight and doesn’t stand out too much.
What We Don’t Like the Fitbit Charge 3
It has occurred that the Fitbit Charge 3 will un-sync from your phone without warning, which is disruptive to track from the phone. That means the inconvenience of resyncing or restarting the watch during your workouts.
The battery life indicator is inaccurate making it unreliable to know how long before your tracker needs to be charged.
PROS
- Reliable over all
- GPS tracks maps and displays average speed
- Discreet design
- Waterproof
CONS
- Needs to be rebooted at times throughout the day
- Graphics are poor
8. The Apple Watch Series 5
Product Highlights
Apple is a household name and not just for their fitness trackers. They sell and manufacture a number of electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and tablets.
Features
- Built-in compass
- GPS navigation system
- A noise app is included that tells you when your environment is too loud
- Water resistant up to 50 meters
- Listen to your Apple music library
- Access to Apple Pay
What We Like About the Apple Watch Series 5
The watch is very easy to set up. It includes an SOS feature to use if you are in need of help. Reliably tracks heart rate and step count
What We Don’t Like About the Apple Watch Series 5
The watch face is always on, there is no standby option. The watch needs charging every day if you use a lot of the features, which may include the watch face remaining on.
Cell phone plans cannot be added to the watch so if you want to access calls/SMS that is not an option with this watch.
PROS
- GPS shows accurate readings
- Calorie counter, step tracker and HR monitor are reliable
- Contactless payment options
- Unisex
CONS
- Pricier than other fitness trackers
- GPS drains your battery
9. The Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle Stainless Steel Touchscreen Smartwatch
Product Highlights
Interchangeable straps allow this fitness smartwatch to transform from sporty to elegant in a matter of minutes.
Features
- Powered with wear OS by Google work with iPhone and Android phones
- Built-in GPS
- You can take phone calls
- Speaker for audio alerts
- Heart rate tracking
- Smartphone notifications
What We Like About Product Name
Incompatible with Google features, for example, if you want to use Google assistant with this watch you may find instead that it will activate your cell phone.
The battery life is far from close to the best of batteries as it requires daily charging, if not more often.
The design isn’t the best as the location of the power off button makes it prone to getting pressed accidentally with a bend of your wrist.
If you want a sleep tracker, this feature is not available.
What We Don’t Like About the Fossil Gen 5
Incompatible with Google features, for example, if you want to use Google assistant with this watch you may find instead that it will activate your cell phone.
The battery life is far from close to the best of batteries as it requires daily charging, if not more often.
The design isn’t the best as the location of the power off button makes it prone to getting pressed accidentally with a bend of your wrist.
If you want a sleep tracker, this feature is not available.
PROS
- Can take calls and answer messages
- High quality GPS
- NFC/Google pay options
- Looks like a fashion watch
CONS
- Battery life is terrible
- Does not track sleep
10. The Willful Fitness Tracker
Product Highlights
The Willful fitness tracker is probably the underdog of this list, but that doesn’t mean it is any less capable of fulfilling all of your cycling and other fitness tracking needs.
Features
- Works without your smartphone
- Works for 7-10 days with one charge
- Chargeable with any USB port
- Pairs with VeryFitPro app quickly and easily
- Syncs with most smartphone brands
- Waterproof
- Messages and alerts are available on the screen when it is synced to your phone
- Heart rate and step tracking
What We Like About the Willful Tracker
For the tech-phobic, it is easy to use. Considering that everything about this item is small and discreet, it won’t get in the way of a workout.
There are 14 activities that are trackable and this item will reliably collect data about your general fitness
What We Don’t Like About Product Name
Because it doesn’t come with its own charger, you must arrange to have a working charger when you purchase this item.
The heart rate monitor lags in reading your heart rate.
Should the touch screen get wet, it will not respond to touch because the screen needs to be dry in order to register what you are pressing.
PROS
- Great budget option
- Mobile phone notifications are displayed on screen
- Activity and heart rate monitoring is reliable
- The design isn’t ‘in your face’
CONS
- The step count is hit and miss
- There is no GPS mapping
Final Verdict
I have to say, the Garmin Fenix 5X impressed me the most out of all the 10 we looked at. It has the best GPS mapping abilities to choose a cycling route. So tracking your average speed and fitness metrics during an outdoor session is smooth sailing.
