COROS Pace 3 Review: The Best Budget Triathlon Watch?

If you want a fully featured triathlon GPS watch without spending £500+, the COROS Pace 3 is the watch everyone is talking about. Priced at £219 in the UK, it undercuts the Garmin Forerunner 255 and Polar Pacer Pro while delivering impressive functionality — including a dedicated triathlon mode, open water swim tracking, and 38-hour GPS battery life.

Key Specs

Weight: 30g (lightest sport GPS watch available)
GPS Battery: 38 hours (GPS mode); 15 days (normal tracking)
Display: Lightweight colour display with rotating crown
Sports Modes: Triathlon, open water swim, pool swim, cycling, running, trail, and more
Heart Rate: Optical wrist HR — including during swimming
Navigation: Dual-frequency GPS (accurate to within 5% on OW swim courses)
Price: £219 (Black Silicone)

Performance for Triathletes

Swim Tracking

In testing, the Pace 3 was accurate within 5% compared to a Garmin Fenix 7 Pro on a fixed open-water swim course — impressive for a watch at this price. Heart rate during swim is available, making it easy to check you are hitting the right training zone. Pool swim mode accurately counts lengths and stroke rate.

Under the Wetsuit

The Pace 3’s ultra-slim profile (30g, slim case) makes it the best GPS watch for wearing under a wetsuit. Unlike bulkier Garmin or Polar models, it barely makes a bulge under a wetsuit sleeve — a significant advantage during race-day transitions.

Triathlon Mode

The Pace 3 has a built-in triathlon mode that automatically transitions between swim, T1, bike, and T2 — no manual button presses required during transitions. You can customise what data appears on each sport screen.

Battery Life

38 hours of GPS tracking means you can complete a full IRONMAN 140.6 and still have charge left. For 70.3 and shorter events, battery will not be a concern at all. Even for training, 15 days of tracking between charges is convenient.

What It Lacks vs Premium Watches

No barometric altimeter on the silicone band version
Display is smaller than Garmin Forerunner 965 or Polar Vantage V3
No music storage or contactless payment
Training load and recovery analysis less detailed than Garmin or Polar premium models

Verdict

For beginner and intermediate triathletes who want a capable, lightweight GPS watch without the premium price tag, the COROS Pace 3 is hard to beat. The triathlon mode works reliably, the OW swim accuracy is strong, the battery is excellent, and the slim profile makes it a joy to wear under a wetsuit. An outstanding value proposition at £219.

Rating: 9/10