Best Strava Watch: Top 15 Smartwatches for Cycling in 2023

Garmin fēnix 7 is the top pick if you want a watch to do everything. It’s adapted from the previous generation of fēnix and goes well beyond just your cycling needs. Three different GPS positions increases accuracy. Corning Gorilla glass on the face protects against scrapes and outdoor hazards. The large display is visible in sunlight. The battery power save operation becomes more useful as you become more adventurous. Your body’s power and emergency reserves are monitored too when you need an excuse to rest. ClimbPro allows you to see real-time gradients and helps pace you for upcoming climbs on downloaded courses. Lifestyle options allow you to play Spotify Premium playlists or podcasts. You can catch up with emails and texts. 32GB of memory is available.

Garmin Venu 2 is a lightweight touchscreen sports performance device also operating as a smartwatch. You can pair and store your activity with the Garmin Connect IQ hub. The unit pairs with your smartphone for simple synching. On-screen performance is enhanced with in-depth metrics and a strong music experience. More than 25 variations of differing sporting activities are built-in including a cycling mode. Battery life is really flexible depending on GPS and app use.

The standalone Apple Watch Strava app puts all you need on a well-made watch with a range of cases and straps to choose from. The GPS accuracy comes from four different sources, authorising the app will be really simple for iOS users. You might not need to take an iPhone out with you. It’s very adaptable to all commuting and athletic pursuits you might log on Strava. If you don’t have Spotify Premium you can synch Apple Music or Podcasts into the 32GB storage space. A cellular version is also available.

Garmin vívoactive 4 is a more approachable entry to fitness wearables than some of the pricier fēnix and Forerunner units. Essential functions like music streaming, HR tracking and GPS are included for a lot less money than those stablemates. You lose a bit of style around the edges and around the wrist but if you want something to monitor your regular exercise but not coach you at each step, this is your device.

Fitbit is long established in the wearable market. The synchronisation with Strava makes it easy to record all activities during the day without duplication. The GPS accuracy comes from two different locations including GLONASS. You probably would take a phone with you for your listening pleasure unless your sounds comes from Pandora or Deezer. The synching opens up the key Strava app activities and you can pick up heart rate zones in the Fitbit app too.

Garmin Forerunner 745 provides the kind of encouragement and motivation to ride your bicycle further and for longer. It stores and crunches lots of your data gives on-device cycling workout suggestions and coaching guidance. Goal predictors help visualise the impact of your training. A recovery time tool is built in to support your body’s own messages regarding rest. It has the same ClimbPro feature as the more expensive fēnix. Cycling routes connect directly to apps such as Komoot and Strava. Social media, messaging and texts are all available.

Polar has been making wearables since 1977 and blazed a trail for the boom in the current market. Like Garmin, they have a fitness and health app of their own called Polar Flow, which connects to the Strava app. This device should deliver pinpoint accuracy with four GPS locators hunting for its attention. If you want to catch up on tunes or podcasts, you’ll have to take your phone although the Pacer can be a remote control for your music. There are nice touches like a magnetic charger, always on feature and Gorilla Glass. The watch itself has 150 sports profiles to choose from.

A less well known manufacturer hailing from Finland, Suunto has a reputation for the robustness of its models and pursuit of improvements in performance. There are five GPS locators with this system. Like most wearables it has a built-in HRM plus the facility to work with Suunto chest strap HRMs. Again, it also synchs with Strava and you can get a free trial of Srava’s subscription service with this device. The heart health and recovery facilities on this watch are top-notch. There’s all the key cycling measurement metrics built in to add to Strava via its own app and SuuntoPlus goes further by offering more results and analysis. You’ll need a phone for tunes. The price is attractive too.

Garmin Forerunner 45 is a feature-packed device aimed at runners with essential features for the cycling commuter. Like all Garmin wearables it tracks miles, times, distance and heart rate. It’s compatible with Android and IOS systems. Its light weight and battery life are appealing for the price. There are some useful personalised training plans for beginners and the controls are very easy to navigate. At this price point there are limited multisport profiles and a lot of plastic included in the build. And you can’t play music on its own. If this is your exit point for pricing and you only need simple features for commuting then investing in this is the smart option.

Wahoo has always had an attractive philosophy geared towards the simplicity of its cycling computers and seem to have translated this to this easy-to-use watch. The company is cycling-centric which helps the ergonomics and aesthetics of the device. There’s a synch to Strava and the company has put together a simple ELEMNT Companion app pairs via a QR code and allows quick customisation of screen. GPS comes via two sources including GLONASS. Live tracking of your locations is available. The layout of screens and well-thought out buttons support a Gorilla Glass screen. Target planning of workout routines helps you keep abreast of your performance.

Garmin Instinct 2 was launched just after the fēnix 7. Like most 2023 Garmin versions you can buy the device in a smaller size or a solar model which promises unlimited battery life under certain sunny conditions. The battery life on the standard model is very impressive. Daily use features are as good as most models with smart notifications and text message response for Android phones. All of the training, planning, timing and analysis features are here. It synchs with Garmin Connect, the proprietary tool and store for tracking and sharing activities and enhancing your on-screen apps.

The standalone Galaxy Watch Strava app will give you what you want on screen via a slim watch with a selection of straps and cases at your disposal. Four GPS locators are onboard. Signing on will be easy for anyone familiar with Google’s landscape. Carrying your phone on exercise might not be needed as you can stream YouTube music but it does play MP3 files on a 7.5GB memory.

Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar moves the standing of the range forward again. We’ve reviewed the base model in this post and just beneath the 955 is the 745. They all follow the same style but the 955 Solar steps up the features and style. You get a touchscreen with Gorilla glass and the great battery life expected of a solar model. There’s a lovely range of cycling features which are on a par with handlebar mounted systems. Navigating is easy via directional arrows and the vibration before a turn is there too. If you like the punishing climbs the ClimbPro system is great for letting you know how many metres you have left to go upwards! Connectivty, health and performance stats are expectedly good in this price range.

Garmin epix (Gen 2 but Gen 1 was launched in 2015) is a beautifully crafted sports and smartwatch. The display is AMOLED – more efficient, weighing less and less bulky than LCD versions. The quality and depth of colours is remarkable by comparison to other wearables. Even the most committed multisport athlete won’t get through the list of activities and profiles available to them. This is a serious piece of kit for dedicated athletes. The cycling function offers indoor and outdoor functions. Not everyone agrees with the coaching facility but the recovery and sleep tracking will help you recoup your energy. It shares the great mapping and turn functions of the other Garmin models in the higher price range and of course synchs with the Garmin Connect store.

A less well known manufacturer offering a budget watch, this might be just the ticket to get started in the world of using Strava on your wrist. You get a fairly straightforward device with no surprises. Four GPS locators compete for your whereabouts. Like most wearables it has a built-in heart rate monitor too. It synchs up to Strava so you get the key cycling measurement metrics. You’ll need a phone for tunes but you can use the device as a remote control. The price is very attractive.