Are you searching for the best fitness trackers for CrossFit? Read on, as we will review some of the top recommended options available today. We will share the important features, pros, and cons to help you make a well-informed purchase.
You might find that finding the finest CrossFit watches is almost as difficult as finding the ideal WOD to help you track, monitor, and optimize your exercise performance.
There are many fitness-related wearable technologies available. Still, although most are wonderful for activities like running and cycling, very few appear to be well suited to the distinctive nature of CrossFit training.
The good news is that certain smartwatches are available that are the ideal complement to your CrossFit gear.
9 Best Fitness Trackers For CrossFit
While technology has advanced significantly, many fitness watches still can’t handle CrossFit’s requirements. This is why we created this post to help you get the best fitness trackers designed to handle the rigors of CrossFit training.
Let us look at 9 of the best fitness trackers for CrossFit.
1. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro – Best Overall
While FitBit may be the smartwatch of choice for individuals who are merely interested in improving their health and are casual fitness enthusiasts, Garmin has established itself as the preferred brand among athletes who take their training seriously.
The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is the ideal illustration of why the company’s wearable technology has gained such popularity among athletes, including runners, rowers, climbers, and CrossFitters.
This one’s unique Pulse Ox sensors, which track your body’s oxygen saturation levels, and an avant-garde body battery, which estimates your current energy reserves, are its highlights.
Knowing when to give it your absolute best and when to take a break can be incredibly helpful with this.
Various pre-designed WODs may be accessed and tracked elsewhere thanks to connectivity with Garmin Strength and a variety of popular Garmin CrossFit applications. Performance statistics are kept so you can access them online to assess your workout.
It’s no surprise that the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is the best CrossFit watch on the market right now when you consider all of this and its built-in interval training mode, which is perfect for CrossFit and other HIIT training exercises.
We recommend it because it is the best fitness watch for CrossFit.
Features
- Technology for connecting: Bluetooth, ANT+, and WiFi
- Size of screen: 1.3″
- LCD display type
2. Apple Watch Series 7 – Best Value
If you’re serious about using the best tools to optimize your workouts, the Apple Watch Series 7 might be the one for you.
It has top CrossFit timer applications and those with pre-set WODs, heart rate monitoring, and more.
Apart from the apps, the always-on retina display of Apple’s newest wearable is its main selling point.
Because your performance data is always displayed in that mode, you won’t have to interrupt your next Grace WOD midway through to check on your progress.
While the primary display shows not only the average heart rate but also the length of the training session, an estimated number of calories burned, and more, the Functional Fitness setting allows you to track your heart rate and compare it across numerous sessions to see where you’re improving.
Finally, we love the sophisticated capabilities of the Apple Watch Series 7, which are perfect for tech-savvy CrossFitters. These functions include blood oxygen monitoring, ECG testing, and recovery monitoring.
Features
- Display Size: 1.61″
- Retina displays with the always-on capability
- GPS is a connectivity technology.
3. Garmin Vivoactive 4
The Garmin Vivoactive 4 uses the Pulse Ox to track your energy levels while costing less and having less capabilities than the Fenix Pro. It is one of the best fitness trackers for CrossFit available today.
It also computes other things like breathing, stress, predicted heart rate, hydration, and menstrual cycle. With its more than 20 preloaded indoor and GPS sports fitness apps, you can keep track of all your training metrics.
You can find simple-to-follow, animated workouts on the screen with activities like Pilates, yoga, and strength and cardio exercises if you want something a little different from CrossFit.
You can use the Garmin Vivoactive 4 in a variety of modes without experiencing battery anxiety, thanks to its long battery life. In smartwatch mode, you can use it for up to 8 days, with 6 hours of music and GPS use.
Additionally, there are tracking and security capabilities, like incident detection during specific behaviors.
You can also receive assistance by pairing it with a compatible device and providing emergency services with your current position.
Features
- Large LED display
- Energy monitoring for body batteries
- Characteristics for tracking and safety
4. Polar Vantage V2
Although all of the top CrossFit watches listed in this article received excellent grades for accuracy, only the Polar Vantage V received a higher rating.
Utilizing Precision Prime Sensor Fusion technology, the high-end wristwatch achieves the best heart rate accuracy standards of any watch on the market.
The optical HR sensor is incorporated into the gadget, which is the nicest component because it allows you to get precise readings without a chest strap.
Not that this one’s only strength is precision.
Training Load Pro and Recovery Pro are two top-notch programs that come pre-installed on the Vantage V.
These applications work together to provide significant insights into the intensity of your workouts, how they affect your body, how you’re recovering, and more.
This can be helpful in reminding you to take a day off or at least take it a bit easy if you’re the kind of athlete who gets so fired up about CrossFit that you sometimes overdo it.
The battery life, which provides up to 40 hours of training time on a single charge, is also impressive.
Features
- Size of screen: 1.2″
- LCD display type
- GPS is a connectivity technology.
5. Fitbit Versa Lite
Comparable to the regular Fitbit Versa, the lite version sports a touch screen and a thin, waterproof body.
With automatic tracking of more than 15 exercise modes, heart rate, and sleep activities, it is very functional in various CrossFit sessions.
The Fitbit Versa Lite is an excellent all-around entry-level fitness monitoring device for beginners because of its low cost.
The primary drawback we identified with GPS tracking. You’ll still need to bring your phone if you like to map your runs because it has built-in GPS data.
6. Garmin Instinct
The Garmin Instinct might be a better choice if you enjoy the notion of a high-end Garmin but discovered that the pricey Fenix 6 Pro was a little out of your price range.
The CrossFit watch we think is the greatest value on the market right now is very inexpensive, but that doesn’t mean it’s of inferior quality.
You can access many valuable, CrossFit-relevant statistics by tracking your favorite Hero session, including Vo2 max, heart rate, intensity minutes, threshold power, and more.
Additionally, suppose you frequently exert yourself to the point that your smartwatch sustains some damage.
You’ll undoubtedly value the U.S. military-grade construction quality with integrated thermal, shock, and water protection.
Although the Instinct may not be the most complex or feature-rich Garmin CrossFit watch, there is currently nothing better for an inexpensive, entry-level model.
Features
- Display Size: 1.27″
- LCD display type
- Technology for Connectivity: GPS and Bluetooth.
7. Polar Ignite
The Precision Prime sensor fusion technology, which enables industry-leading levels of accuracy when it comes to heart-rate monitoring, is the Polar Ignite 2’s finest feature, similar to the Vantage V’s.
The HIIT profile on the built-in Polar Flow app enables you to precisely and correctly measure times while you do your favorite WOD. It offers performance-based workout recommendations to help you maximize your workout, which is what we truly appreciate.
Other features include unmatched rest and recovery monitoring tools that may help you ensure that you’re constantly in shape, rested, and prepared to go, regardless of whether you’re trying a new rowing WOD.
We recommend this one because it is one of the best fitness trackers for CrossFit.
Features
- Size of screen: 1.2″
- LCD display type
- GPS connectivity technology.
8. Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
The Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR’s strongest strength is its strength. Other watches received the top ratings in categories like accuracy or all-around features and functionality.
There is no doubt that this is a rugged piece of equipment. The nearly uncrackable mineral crystal glass face of your smartphone is protected by a steel bezel, offering additional security.
It’s waterproof, too, like all excellent fitness watches, so you don’t have to worry about it getting saturated in sweat during an especially strenuous workout.
But there’s much more going on here than just premium materials and top-notch construction.
The Spartan has a variety of sports modes, including a specific CrossFit mode that enables you to track and record all WOD components, such as steps, reps, lifts, and more.
When you connect to the Suunto Movescount app, you can also use timers specifically designed for EMOM (Every Minute on the Minute) and Tabata sessions. This allows you to spend less time setting up your watch for a workout and more time training.
While working out, you may choose which data is presented, allowing you to concentrate on the important numbers, such as the number of reps performed, the amount of time passed, or the number of calories burned.
Features
- Display Size: 1.97″
- LCD display type
- Technology for Connectivity: GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth
9. Willful Fitness Watch
Those that engage in a lot of strength training appear to be drawn to this fitness monitoring watch. The small and compact design, which is hardly noticed or distracting, would be the main cause.
Additionally, it has stylish bands in a variety of colors to go with your fitness attire.
What it measures is activity, sleep, and heart rate. We recommend this one because it is one of the best fitness trackers for CrossFit.
Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Fitness Trackers for CrossFit
Here are some of the important factors you need to keep in mind when shopping for a Crossfit watch:
- Comfort
It’s frequently simple to forget that a fitness watch is still very much a watch at the end of the day when it has so much technology and sophisticated capabilities to offer.
It must continue to be comfy as you exercise.
First and foremost, it must fit properly. Thus, looking for a watch with an adjustable band is always a smart option because you can change the fit so that it is neither too snug nor too loose.
Fitness watches are also frequently made of sweat-resistant materials. What could be worse than attempting to exercise while having a watch rub against stinging sweat on your wrist?
And finally, the watch’s weight could have an impact. Although no smartwatch is necessarily hefty, some weigh a little bit more than others, which might make them feel heavier to wear.
- Battery life
Let’s face it, you don’t want your new watch to die on you in the middle of a workout, and many CrossFit competitors don’t want the trouble of always having to charge their watches because the battery runs out after each WOD.
Because of this, you should always give battery life serious attention when purchasing a smartwatch, regardless of your other priorities.
The greatest fitness watches provide at least 40 hours of training time on a single charge. However, some models can operate at their peak for up to 14 days without a recharge.
- Accuracy
Some sportsmen take accuracy very seriously, while others hardly give it a second thought.
The fact is that all reliable CrossFit watches, notably the ones in this guide, provide a fair level of accuracy, even though the majority of these are based on best guesses that might not be fully accurate.
Depending on the CrossFitter, that might be acceptable. Any of our watch choices will do if all you need is a clear picture of how you’re doing and the opportunity to compare different exercises.
The fact is that all reliable CrossFit watches, notably the ones in this guide, provide a fair level of accuracy, even though the majority of these are based on best guesses that might not be fully accurate.
- Durability
Strength and durability should always be significant considerations when purchasing CrossFit equipment, regardless of whether you’re purchasing a smartwatch, a brand-new kettlebell, or a fresh pair of CrossFit sneakers.
This is particularly true in the case of watches, the price of which can still reach several hundred dollars for even the most modest models.
Therefore, if you’re going to spend that much money, you need to be sure that you’re getting a product that will last and provide long-term value for your money without necessitating costly repairs or replacement parts.
Better options are always watches that are shockproof, waterproof, and have screens that are resistant to cracks, robust bezels, and unsnappable straps.
- Recovery monitoring
In addition to supporting you when you’re working out in the gym, a good CrossFit watch should also support you between sets.
After all, if we aren’t getting enough rest, recovery, and quality sleep from the CrossFit box, we can’t actually perform at our best there.
Because of this, we assigned bonus points to fitness watches with built-in recovery features that help you keep track of your sleep and keep tabs on your physical health. With the help of these characteristics, you can better choose when to strive for a new personal best and when it’s appropriate to perform a lighter workout or even reward yourself with a well-deserved day off.
- Performance monitoring
For most CrossFitters, the ability to accurately track, monitor, and analyze their workout data to support ongoing performance improvement is one of the key motivations pushing them to get a smartwatch.
Any excellent watch you buy should at least be able to track your heart rate if it can do this without using additional wearable monitors from third parties, all the better.
Check if the watch you’re considering buying can track weights, reps, and other lifting stats.
Conclusion
The best fitness watch for CrossFit is the one that best fits your priorities will be the one item you need to focus on more than anything else.
The Garmin Instinct is our choice for the best price-friendly watch available right now if you’re searching for a high-quality CrossFit watch but are put off by the exorbitant price that many of the top-selling models come with.
The Polar Vantage V or the Polar Ignite 2, with their Precision Prime sensor fusion technology, may be the one for you if you want the most precise tracking features available.
But if you want a top-notch CrossFit watch that excels in precision, comfort, and durability while also providing a wide range of CrossFit-compatible features, go no further than the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, a timepiece that demonstrates why it is the best of the best.
We hope that this post helped you find the best fitness tracker for CrossFit. You can also check out The 5 Best Watches For Weightlifting {Complete Buying Guide}
Video Review
Here is a video review of the best fitness tracker for CrossFit: