Bang on on the comparison between Coros and Garmin ecosystems. I run with older gen Pace 2 and FR245. Both meant to be 'entry' level watches. Neither is perfect, both complement each other well. Totally agree with your Coros highlights over Garmin though. Stumbled on your channel recently and very grateful to have done so. You're an endless wealth of information on all things running = THANK YOU! And nice to hear a New Zealander here in Australia over yet another US 'run tuber' 🙏
Thanks! I just got a Pace 3, so I thought I’d share my thoughts on the Apex before I sold it. It's not proving to be very popular 🤦♂️. I've already got a 2nd Stryd, so I’ll do a review on the Duo system as soon as they release the software update.
Really? So if you turn the tones off it vibrates? Makes sense now I think about it because you wouldn't have an alarm with no tone 🤦♂️. I was basing it on the timer, which has “vibration & tones” or “vibrations” options. A couple of my other comments have just been fixed in the latest beta update too - custom workout modes and 24/7 HRV.
Dr Will- I had my COROS Apex 2 Pro and had to return it after a month of using it for my fall marathon buildup this year. The wrist heart rate sensor would start out ok but in the middle of runs would spike up to Max heart rates (195+ bpm) for long periods of time (5-25 minutes). COROS and I tried to troubleshoot it: I shaved my wrist arm hair and then I wore it on the inside of my wrist. Nothing we tried fixed the issue. I never had this issue with any of my previous garmin watches. COROS customer support was frustrating when they mentioned that I should probably just use an external heart rate monitor. I ended up going with a Garmin forerunner 965 and have not had any regrets. Some of my other issues with the COROS Apex Pro 2: -HRV monitoring was wildly variable depending on how I was holding it -COROS sleep monitoring and analysis is lacking vs garmin and other trackers -COROS Walk activity doesn’t let you set auto lap so it always laps at 1,000 steps instead of (for example) every 1 mile None of these were others (besides the heart rate issue) were dealbreakers but they were, as you said, annoying.
Cheers for sharing. The points you list about Garmin are one of the reasons I'm still inclined to send people their way. Garmin has a feature/setting for everything, so their watches work in many scenarios. However, for newbies, the Garmin ecosystem can be pretty overwhelming with all the Vo2 and training status notifications, and that's where I think Coros is a better, more cost-effective option.
Coros have just released the ability to create your own workout modes. Do you know if this new update solves the problem you raise at the end of the video about the ability to have a 'race' workout mode with nutrition reminders etc and one for general training. Currently trying to decide which running watch to buy and will 100% buy an Apex 2 Pro if this new feature solves the problem you raised. I have reached out to Coros support at the weekend, but not heard back yet.
With only a $50 difference I’m really having a hard time deciding between apex 2 pro and garmin 955. Mapping and turn by turn are very important to me but also durability of the watch. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Funny I thought I was the only one who thought of the idea of two watches, one Coros and one Apple 9. Since Coros isn't the type of watch you wear when you dress up to go out to a semi fancy dinner. And the features that Coros does not have the Apple will cover. However wearing two watches and the apple watch poor battery life is something to think about. I really want to love and buy a Coros but I am wondering if they are have any firmware updates coming up for at least the Apex and Vertix series to compete with Garmin.
@@drwilloconnor Yes and more coming for February. I ended up getting the Coros Pace 3. Somehow I wish I had bought the Apex 2 pro because of durability.
Previously, I had the Apex 46mm model and now Pro. The alarm snooze worked correctly on the 46mm: accidental snoozes could be deactivated by turning the alarm off at the menu. With the Pro, accidental snooze disables the alarm, but the snooze still stays on! This has to be a bug, not a feature...
What about GPS performance in big city environment or if compared to Garmin 955/965 or something like it? I'm asking as it was one of the weak links of Apex 2 in early product reviews
Hey! So am I understanding correctly that if I’m paddle boarding or mountain biking I would just log it in my watch as like, a bike or swim and then just update in Strava what the activity really was? If so I’d totally return my forerunner 965 im trying out for the 60 days with REI and get this instead
You can create custom activity now. In my case, this is a kick scooter. But it's much simpler than it should be - only gps and HR. There are no special metrics, but it's useful. You don't need to guess what it was after some time.
Man, researching Coros becomes frustrating, since every video is outdated so quickly because of their quick update cycles. Can somebody maybe confirm or deny if turn-by-turn navigation for routes created in the app are a thing now for the Apex 2?
Funny how I have more than 2TB of music and I totally preach it to anyone, build your own library! It totally pisses me off when I'm listening to something and it stops due to download buffering, it also saves on battery (less data being transfered on the background).
Forgot to ask if you've seen the recent Stryd Duo and Footpath announcement? Would love to hear your thoughts about it on the channel once (like me) you've had time to digest it. I run with an older gen Stryd.
I've had a play around with the Duo. Struggling to find useful info without normative data to compare with. I'll put up a video in the next couple of weeks.
@@drwilloconnor thanks Dr Will 🙏 ... from my perspective, wondering if I can use Footpath for my form (analysis / improvement) - I assume it will show different graphic representation after drills / strides / faster / slower runs.
I think there are two camps for the weather; "I NEED to see the weather" and "Meh, it'll be whatever". I hardly ever check the weather, so I never noticed the lack of a widget.
Weather widget and custom workout modes will be available on all Coros watches (except the oldest models like Pace 1 and Apex 42/46 mm) in the next update (the end of December).
Bang on on the comparison between Coros and Garmin ecosystems.
I run with older gen Pace 2 and FR245. Both meant to be 'entry' level watches. Neither is perfect, both complement each other well. Totally agree with your Coros highlights over Garmin though.
Stumbled on your channel recently and very grateful to have done so. You're an endless wealth of information on all things running = THANK YOU!
And nice to hear a New Zealander here in Australia over yet another US 'run tuber' 🙏
Thanks! I just got a Pace 3, so I thought I’d share my thoughts on the Apex before I sold it. It's not proving to be very popular 🤦♂️.
I've already got a 2nd Stryd, so I’ll do a review on the Duo system as soon as they release the software update.
@@drwilloconnor brilliant, looking forward to it 🙏
I'm sure someone will pick up the Apex.
There is a vibration-only alarm mode.
System -> More Setting -> Tones -> Alarm Tones -> OFF
Really? So if you turn the tones off it vibrates? Makes sense now I think about it because you wouldn't have an alarm with no tone 🤦♂️. I was basing it on the timer, which has “vibration & tones” or “vibrations” options.
A couple of my other comments have just been fixed in the latest beta update too - custom workout modes and 24/7 HRV.
Please check the new update for the coros watch, some of the open point are solved
Dr Will- I had my COROS Apex 2 Pro and had to return it after a month of using it for my fall marathon buildup this year. The wrist heart rate sensor would start out ok but in the middle of runs would spike up to Max heart rates (195+ bpm) for long periods of time (5-25 minutes). COROS and I tried to troubleshoot it: I shaved my wrist arm hair and then I wore it on the inside of my wrist. Nothing we tried fixed the issue. I never had this issue with any of my previous garmin watches. COROS customer support was frustrating when they mentioned that I should probably just use an external heart rate monitor.
I ended up going with a Garmin forerunner 965 and have not had any regrets. Some of my other issues with the COROS Apex Pro 2:
-HRV monitoring was wildly variable depending on how I was holding it
-COROS sleep monitoring and analysis is lacking vs garmin and other trackers
-COROS Walk activity doesn’t let you set auto lap so it always laps at 1,000 steps instead of (for example) every 1 mile
None of these were others (besides the heart rate issue) were dealbreakers but they were, as you said, annoying.
Cheers for sharing. The points you list about Garmin are one of the reasons I'm still inclined to send people their way. Garmin has a feature/setting for everything, so their watches work in many scenarios. However, for newbies, the Garmin ecosystem can be pretty overwhelming with all the Vo2 and training status notifications, and that's where I think Coros is a better, more cost-effective option.
Coros have just released the ability to create your own workout modes. Do you know if this new update solves the problem you raise at the end of the video about the ability to have a 'race' workout mode with nutrition reminders etc and one for general training.
Currently trying to decide which running watch to buy and will 100% buy an Apex 2 Pro if this new feature solves the problem you raised. I have reached out to Coros support at the weekend, but not heard back yet.
With only a $50 difference I’m really having a hard time deciding between apex 2 pro and garmin 955. Mapping and turn by turn are very important to me but also durability of the watch. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Go for coros, you will never regret
I listen to mp3 all the time on phone, Mac, Garmin 645.
Keep the good stuff coming. Good review.
Much appreciated! Cheers.
Incredibly helpful video, thank you!
All good. Cheers for watching.
Fantastic video Will! Couldn’t agree more! 🔥
Thanks. Although they have just updated custom workout modes and 24/7 HRV.
I wish coros would let us adjust the back light. have a sleep mode. Have a music control to control music on my phone
Funny I thought I was the only one who thought of the idea of two watches, one Coros and one Apple 9. Since Coros isn't the type of watch you wear when you dress up to go out to a semi fancy dinner. And the features that Coros does not have the Apple will cover. However wearing two watches and the apple watch poor battery life is something to think about. I really want to love and buy a Coros but I am wondering if they are have any firmware updates coming up for at least the Apex and Vertix series to compete with Garmin.
Did you see the latest firmware that gives 24/7 HRV and custom workout modes? There were some other updates but those were the standout for me.
@@drwilloconnor Yes and more coming for February. I ended up getting the Coros Pace 3. Somehow I wish I had bought the Apex 2 pro because of durability.
Previously, I had the Apex 46mm model and now Pro.
The alarm snooze worked correctly on the 46mm: accidental snoozes could be deactivated by turning the alarm off at the menu. With the Pro, accidental snooze disables the alarm, but the snooze still stays on! This has to be a bug, not a feature...
You're probably right. I'd say the alarm is pretty low on their list of features to optimize.
What about GPS performance in big city environment or if compared to Garmin 955/965 or something like it? I'm asking as it was one of the weak links of Apex 2 in early product reviews
Hey! So am I understanding correctly that if I’m paddle boarding or mountain biking I would just log it in my watch as like, a bike or swim and then just update in Strava what the activity really was? If so I’d totally return my forerunner 965 im trying out for the 60 days with REI and get this instead
Hey, yes that's correct. But Coros has lots of water sport modes, so your SUP should be all good.
You can create custom activity now. In my case, this is a kick scooter. But it's much simpler than it should be - only gps and HR. There are no special metrics, but it's useful. You don't need to guess what it was after some time.
Man, researching Coros becomes frustrating, since every video is outdated so quickly because of their quick update cycles. Can somebody maybe confirm or deny if turn-by-turn navigation for routes created in the app are a thing now for the Apex 2?
In my apex pro, yes there is turn by turn
I feel ya. A week after uploading this, they updated three features I said they were missing. 🤦♂️.
Funny how I have more than 2TB of music and I totally preach it to anyone, build your own library! It totally pisses me off when I'm listening to something and it stops due to download buffering, it also saves on battery (less data being transfered on the background).
Forgot to ask if you've seen the recent Stryd Duo and Footpath announcement?
Would love to hear your thoughts about it on the channel once (like me) you've had time to digest it.
I run with an older gen Stryd.
I've had a play around with the Duo. Struggling to find useful info without normative data to compare with. I'll put up a video in the next couple of weeks.
@@drwilloconnor thanks Dr Will 🙏 ... from my perspective, wondering if I can use Footpath for my form (analysis / improvement) - I assume it will show different graphic representation after drills / strides / faster / slower runs.
no weather widget ... ugh
I think there are two camps for the weather; "I NEED to see the weather" and "Meh, it'll be whatever". I hardly ever check the weather, so I never noticed the lack of a widget.
Weather widget and custom workout modes will be available on all Coros watches (except the oldest models like Pace 1 and Apex 42/46 mm) in the next update (the end of December).