Looking for a Smartwatch for Fitness and Bike Racing... Any Suggestions?

Hey everyone! I’m looking for some smartwatch recommendations for fitness tracking, especially for cycling, HIIT, and hiking. I was skeptical at first, but now I think a smartwatch could really help me stay on track with my workouts.

Here’s what I’m doing:

  • Cycling

  • HIIT 3x a week

  • Long hikes on weekends

I’ve been eyeing the Apple Watch Ultra because of its battery life, workout tracking, and durability, plus how it integrates with Apple Fitness. But… the price is a bit much (over $1000) and I don’t want to deal with ongoing subscriptions.

So, I’m wondering if there are any alternatives that have these features:

  • Long battery life

  • Waterproof and durable

  • Spotify integration (offline would be awesome)

  • Accurate workout tracking and calories

  • No ongoing subscriptions

  • Ideally under $1000

I’d love to hear from anyone with hands-on experience! Thanks!

If you’re looking to stay under $1000, I’d recommend checking out Garmin. They’ve got some solid options that should meet your needs.

If you’re talking about offline Spotify (assuming you have a Spotify subscription), Garmin and Wear OS are your best options. Wear OS watches tend to be locked to Android, so they might not work for you if you’re on an iPhone.

If you just need to control Spotify from the watch while your phone is nearby, most smartwatches can handle that. But for offline Spotify, Garmin is really your best bet. Since you’re focused on fitness and battery life, I’d suggest looking at Garmin’s watches that have built-in training programs. The Forerunner 165 Music is the cheapest option and has the basics, but if you want more features, the Forerunner 265 is a solid pick. If you want to go all out, the Forerunner 965 or the Fenix 8 (choose between AMOLED and MIP screens) would be awesome, and they have offline maps that could be handy for hiking. If you want a mic and speaker on the watch, check out the Fenix 8 or Venu 3.