Building on the prior Vertix 2, the new COROS Vertix 2S adventure watch gets upgraded hardware with more accurate heart rate monitoring and improved GPS tracking, particularly deep in the mountains and valleys. It does all the expected fitness stuff, but it’s the bonus features that could make it a great overlanding tool.
For athletes, it gets their latest 5-LED and 4-photodetector optical heart rate sensor for better heart rate tracking during exercise and daily wear. It also tracks HRV, which helps indicate your recovery level from prior workouts.
Combined with training plans and workouts that you can create and load onto the watch, it gives athletes everything they need to record a workout, and then show it:
And if that workout involves climbing or hiking, their new GPS algorithm makes the most of their dual-band sensors. They say their software makes it more accurate than competing systems, for a cleaner, more detailed map of your route, and particularly on steep pitches.
Not climbing? They say the algorithm also helps it maintain accuracy in deep or narrow canyons and in mountain ranges and valleys. That could be a nice backup to your favorite app, and you can download GPX and similar files to it, or use their app to plan routes, then…
…let the full-color touchscreen guide you on adventures. Global offline maps for general navigation make it a nice tool in a pinch – For overlanders, it it’s a nice backup for tracking your ride, or an easy way to track any extra-vehicular activities. I like using breadcrumb trail and back-to-start features for side quests so I know I can find my way back to my rig if I get a little too far out there.
It also tracks sunrise & sunset, provides storm alerts, and even blood oxygen levels to keep you apprised of your situation.
Want another reason to use it? It can connect to and control some GoPro and Insta360 action cameras, perfect for getting those external driving shots without having to pull up the cameras’ apps.
It has impressive battery life, too, offering up to 118 hours of continuous GPS use or 40 days of continuous daily use on a single charge. It’s also able to handle extremes, operating in temps ranging from -22ºF to 122ºF (even if you’re not), and down to 10ATM underwater.
The Vertix 2S comes in three colors – Space (Black), Moon (Gray), and Earth (Navy Blue). MSRP is $699 and includes a standard silicone band and slim nylon band.
It’s tough, with a PVD-coated titanium outer and bezel plus sapphire glass. But just in case, a carabiner attachment lets you use it strapless for climbing and other activities that would likely damage the strap or scratch the body.
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