Is the Coros Apex 4 battery life a competitive advantage for multi-day events?
If you're into long, multi-day sports events, a fitness tracker with a good battery life is essential. And we’re not talking about 11 hours in GPS mode before you’re reaching for the portable charger. We’re talking about days of continuous tracking, through sleep deprivation and all kinds of terrain.
This is where the Coros Apex 4 comes into its own. It's an endurance fitness tracker designed with endurance athletes in mind. It has everything from detailed GPS tracking to advanced heart rate and training metrics, and not to mention, a battery life that will see you through any multi-day event. But, how much of an advantage is battery life really?
Can battery life give you a competitive advantage?
There are many ways in which having a strong battery life can help you during training and racing. For one, many ultra events now require you to have the race route downloaded into your watch maps (not to mention, if it's an off-road route you'll really need this). By having a watch battery that lasts for days, you not only meet race requirements but also avoid the interruptions and stress of mid-event charging.
Navigation truly is a biggie. Losing track of your route, whether in training or on race day, can cost you hours. It can also be unsafe if you don't know exactly where you are. With a watch that can stay on for days, you can keep your maps loaded the whole time, following the course or your planned route. Strong battery life means you're less likely to take a wrong turn or miss a checkpoint or aid station. And after miles of cycling or running, you do not want to miss out on your boiled potatoes.
The long battery life also means you can leave your watch on during your training sessions, so every run or ride is fully tracked. You can monitor your progress over the hours of training. In a race environment, especially a multi-day event, this can help you to adjust your effort without worrying about running out of juice halfway through. The continuous data can help you practice sustainable pacing strategies.
Multi-day events are seriously tough on your body. Keeping your watch on for days at a time allows you to track heart rate trends and early signs of fatigue, letting you adjust your strategy based on your body's response.
And the Apex 4 more than meets the requirements for a reliable battery life. This watch can run for up to 65 hours in full GPS mode. According to Coros, this is long enough to cover races like the Grand Traverse or a full loop around Mont Blanc.
Other great features of the Coros Apex 4
Battery life isn't the only thing that makes this Coros watch a great choice for endurance athletes. It has built-in dual-frequency GPS with advanced vertical algorithms, meaning you'll get super accurate positioning even when you're in dense forests or surrounded by mountains. So, you can always trust your pace and route no matter how remote or rugged the conditions.
It also has a built-in microphone and speaker, letting you record voice pins to capture notes on the route or reminders for yourself during a long run. The speaker also lets you take hands-free calls or hear activity alerts out loud.
Sports tracking is impressive too, and it has all the usual you'd expect from a fitness tracker, with some added extras for trail running, ski touring, alpine climbing, and steep vertical training.
Where to buy the Coros Apex 4
The Coros Apex 4 is available to buy from Amazon. The 46mm watch is priced at $479, whereas the 42mm option is $429. Both are available in colors black or white.
Lois Mackenzie is a freelance reporter at Mashable. Over the years she has written for many publications, covering everything from the local news to the best pair of running shoes. You can find bylines in publications including Fit&Well, Metro, and Coach magazine, usually covering deals on everything from earbuds to TVs, or guides on how to beat your half marathon time.
Lois also holds a Master's degree in Digital Journalism from Strathclyde University and obtained a Master of Arts in English Literature at the University of Aberdeen.
