Share the post "Exclusive test of the new GPS900 by COROS watch from Decathlon"
Coros is a new major player in connected sports, having arrived from the USA in 2016. It leverages the experience and power of the Decathlon group and its running brand (Kiprun) to launch a new GPS watch model. And even before the product is available to the public, only from March, we had the immense privilege of pre-testing this technological gem through the Kiprun Team. A very comprehensive GPS watch, which will be sold for €250 (only!).
By Jean-François TATARD – Photos: All rights reserved
Kiprun, Decathlon’s running brand, thus offered us a unique privilege to test its brand new connected multisport GPS watch: the GPS900 by COROS from Decathlon. Indeed, the French company, which is ranked as the best place to work each year according to a recent survey, recently partnered with the rapidly growing American brand to develop a new range of watches to offer its users a complete set of information on their fitness and training level, for a very “competitive” price. And it is rare enough to see this kind of partnership emerge between two major players in the running world to be noted.
Thus, while the arrival of the GPS900 by COROS from Decathlon on the market is announced for March 2023, we tested this watch, developed in collaboration with the American brand, over several sessions. It is a much more complete and advanced version than the previous GPS500 and more geared towards outdoor sports.
The GPS900 by COROS from Decathlon, a true outdoor GPS watch
This model features a barometric altimeter (measures altitude/cumulative positive and negative altitude (D+/D-)/vertical speed/% gradient/3D distance), which is always very useful for trail runners, in particular.
Navigation is even more comprehensive than what we had tested in the past, with a breadcrumb trail that allows you to see your route on the screen and be alerted if you deviate from it (no base map), and with the return to start function. And while the indication is given as the crow flies, it is also possible to follow the outbound track. As for the battery life of the GPS900 by COROS from Decathlon, with 35 hours announced in GPS mode, that’s 10 hours more than competing models.
A robust, comprehensive, and very high-end GPS watch
The activities offered are numerous, including running (road, trail, treadmill, and track), outdoor sports (hiking, skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, etc.), pool and open water swimming, triathlon, cardio exercises, and water sports.
This watch also features a virtual coach offering race prediction, training load measurement, VO2Max measurement, and the recovery time needed after exercise. This is thanks to the EvoLab software, which combines several algorithms that provide an indication of fitness, the impact of training load, fatigue, and performance level. This 46 mm watch also offers an ultra-designer and truly classy finish on a robust case (Gorilla glass, metal bezel).
A renewed aesthetic
Let’s start with the watch’s visual aspect. Those who recently knew Decathlon’s first watches will be surprised by the aesthetic of the GPS900 by COROS from Decathlon. Here we find a slightly more standard product, compared to what market giants like Garmin, Suunto, or Polar are able to offer. The watch is round and features a 46 mm wide case. The bezel is thin and the screen is in color, which improves data readability and offers a very beautiful rendering. The power of the microcontroller, the watch’s brain, allows for very fluid interface, making it very practical and pleasant to use.
Easy to use
The watch is very easy to use with only two buttons, both placed on the right, including the top one with a dial. It is ultra simple to intuitively scroll through the menu. Even for me, who hates getting used to new technologies, and who also won’t bother reading any user manual. What a joy! It’s simple and super intuitive. There aren’t a plethora of options, which allows you to quickly go through the menus. In short, with a few presses, you can start an activity, a workout, modify basic settings, and view your training parameters. Basic! But incredibly effective!
Training features of the GPS900 by COROS from Decathlon
Kiprun’s latest model allows you to track basic indicators related to running, swimming, cycling, cardio training, and other activities. The number of sports profiles is significant and will obviously suit most of us. In running mode, the watch will provide live basic indicators: time, pace, distance, as well as more advanced indicators such as heart rate, heart rate zones, cadence, or stride length.
The GPS900 by COROS from Decathlon provides a lot of data from the app. We also note the possibility of receiving call and SMS notifications directly on the watch, which classifies it as a connected watch.
Training and fitness tracking
While the interface allows direct access to data, you need to go to the application to access the details of this data. You can then go to the Coros application, as it receives the information collected by the watch. From there, you find information such as fatigue level, physical condition, impact load, in detail, thanks to a very sophisticated algorithm system that condenses all data related to sports and daily activity as well as sleep. The watch also offers the virtual coach option, which provides information on VO2Max and indicates race time predictions and the recovery needed after an exercise. It is also from this application that it is possible to create a complex yet very easy-to-program workout.
Maximum battery life
One of the watch’s other strengths is its battery life. Coros announces a battery life of 35 hours in GPS mode before recharging. It is said to even reach more than 30 days of battery life in daily use. It’s my best watch so far.
OK for Running; but for Cycling?
We also tested the GPS900 on the bike… And ultimately, we concluded that regardless of the practice: road, cross, mountain biking, or even indoors on an indoor trainer, a GPS watch can also be useful compared to a traditional bike computer in these different disciplines.
In this sense, by looking into it a bit more and thus seeking reasons for its utility in this context, we realized that today there is a wide variety of GPS watch models that offer different functionalities and tracking capabilities. It all depends on what you need. And for the Coros, what you need most is there: speed, power, cadence, altitude, elevation gain, cumulative gradient, incline, heart rate. Only power expressed as a percentage relative to FTP is missing. That’s personal, but it’s the indication I use most when I train.
Nevertheless, this test allowed me to realize that GPS watches have become just as powerful, if not more so, than many GPS bike computers. The GPS900 can record a large amount of data, connect to external sensors, guide you through your workouts, and even indicate your training load live or your aerobic or anaerobic TE.
In short, although a dedicated GPS bike computer may still have advantages such as a larger screen and not having to let go of the handlebars to look at the indications, this type of connected watch can accompany you on the bike but also for running or swimming. It is therefore multi-purpose and will save you space and mental load when you travel. You avoid extra cables in your bags and spare yourself from further burdening logistics that are often too cumbersome, both literally and figuratively.
Also, it is capable of collecting measurements over an entire day, including sleep and recovery, which will be combined with your specific data extracted from your cycling activities. And that’s a real plus for the most rational and factual among us, and lovers of statistics. The data cross-references to optimize the objectivity of the measurements. Also in mountain biking, or cyclocross in my opinion: a sports watch proves more practical because there is no need to install a GPS on the handlebars, and in case of a bike change in competition, as is the case in cyclocross, the receiver is always with us.
My opinion on the GPS900 by COROS from Decathlon
Simple, basic, and effective, these are the three terms that best describe this GPS900 by COROS from Decathlon. The model’s intuitiveness and fluidity make it very pleasant to use. And even though the watch is lightweight, it is nonetheless excessively powerful and very ergonomic. It is also characterized by its ease of use, its design, its efficiency, and its precision, except for wrist heart rate, where there is still an effort to be made in terms of precision and responsiveness, dear friends at Coros! But we know that no brand truly masters these measurements, especially during exertion, and that most of the time you need to equip yourself with a heart rate sensor belt if you want to be precise in training. Nevertheless, all the other excellent features are supported by a very substantial battery life.
This makes me very eager to extend my experience a few more months, to discover in more detail the other features of this little ornament. And finally, more than a form of self-fulfillment or a search for wisdom and happiness through this new type of need that consists of measuring everything: continuing this familiarization should allow me to make this watch a true long-term training companion and to finally convince me to take on many other challenges with it, whether running, cycling, or even swimming…
The GPS900 by COROS from Decathlon watch in brief… Rating: * Pros: unbeatable price, very lightweight making it very comfortable to wear, high battery life for this price, very simple to use, diverse sports profiles, advanced customization of training programs, power measurement, general reliability of sensors, multi-activity with proven reliability for sports other than running, especially cycling. Cons: capricious wrist heart rate sensor, backlight mode when moving the wrist a bit hesitant, functions to be completed (especially in cycling: power expression in % relative to FTP) Recommended retail price: €250 – Availability: March 2023 Contact: www.COROS.com & www.DECATHLON.fr |
=> SEE ALSO: All our Gear articles
Share the post "Exclusive test of the new GPS900 by COROS watch from Decathlon"
