The Best Fitness Tracker for Cycling In 2023 – Stay Motivated!

To help you find the best fitness tracker in terms of quality, functionality, and value, I tested dozens of high-rated products and found seven to be the best for cycling.

This is the review for the best fitness tracker for cycling in 2023.

When it comes to health training, progress is a higher motivator than recognition. Being able to record the miles you cover every day gives you the chance to improve your stats and track your health and fitness.

A dedicated fitness gadget helps you to meticulously record every rotation, turn, and route you create while cycling, all while tracking your overall performance.

Read on for a comprehensive review of some of the best fitness trackers for cycling in the market, including a buyer’s guide that’ll help lead your way to your next purchase!

Best Fitness Tracker For Cycling Overview

• Fitbit Versa 2 Health and Fitness Smartwatch – Best Overall
• Coros PACE Multisport GPSWatch – Best For Distance Cycling
• Letsfit Smart Watch Fitness Tracker – Best Budget Pick
• Garmin Edge 830 – Best For Professional Cyclists
• Apple Watch Series 6 – Best For Meticulous Trackers
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 – Best For Holistic Health
• Fitbit Charge 4 – Best Value

Top 7 Best Fitness Tracker For Cycling

There’s an overwhelming selection of fitness trackers on the market, but only seven made it to this list. All trackers are chosen based on strict criteria of product quality, functionality, and, of course, customer satisfaction!

Fitbit Versa 2 Health and Fitness Smartwatch – Best Overall

When you think of fitness trackers, Fitbit often comes to mind. After all, it’s one of the biggest fitness product companies in the world, with numerous awards under its belt!

The Fitbit Versa 2 is among the most highest-rated fitness watches on the market, well-loved for its multiple functions and simple design.

Available in six colors, the Versa 2 features 15 different exercise models and on-screen workouts that specifically cater to your needs.

Apart from measuring your daily movement and sleep cycle, this tracker records the numbers of steps you’ve taken, floors you’ve climbed, and calories you’ve burned.

It also has a female-designed health tracker, therefore allowing you to record your health and fitness based on your physiology.

Additionally, the Versa 2 has a pair-to-smartphone feature that gives you the ability to stream music through Spotify, Deezer, and Pandora. You can also connect it to your device’s call, text, and social media notifications. This way, you’ll never have to worry about missing an alert while cycling!

The Versa 2 is compatible with over 200 different iOS and Android devices and can be connected with Bluetooth headphones/earphones.

For extra convenience, this tracker has a GPS and Voice Assistant option. You can also unlock smarter functions and receive personalized insights through the Fitbit Premium app.

Pros

• Modern and comfortable design
• Outstanding color brightness and visibility
• Smart voice functions
• Accurate readings
• Near-unlimited fitness programs and training guides once you unlock premium app

Cons

• Premium app requires a monthly subscription
• Main icons are a little too small

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Coros PACE Multisport GPS Watch – Best For Distance Cycling

The Coros Pace Multisport is one of the most attractive fitness trackers I’ve tested; designed to impress in both appearance and function!

Advertised to demanding users, the Pace Multisport is engineered with a powerful central core. Compared to most battery-charged fitness trackers, the Pace Multisport has a battery life of up to 30 days in standard mode. Best of all, it only takes about two hours to fully charge!

It doesn’t disappoint in terms of accuracy, either, as it uses a built-in barometric altimeter to measure elevation and altitude through the Earth’s atmospheric pressure.

Another selling point is the Pace Multisport’s GPS, BDS, and GLONASS functions, three of the best global navigation satellite systems in the world.

All three satellites work together to pinpoint your exact location with 90-99% accuracy even with outdoor interference.

Thanks to Multisport’s wireless system, syncing the tracker to your smartphone allows you to receive and control your notifications such as text, call, email, etc.

The Coros app allows you to fully customize your data with only several clicks. All functions are completely free, so no need to worry about paying anything extra to unlock special features.

Metrics such as cadence, pace, stroke rate, stride length, and more are available, giving you the opportunity to analyze your workout through graphical statistics and ratings.

Pros

• Three satellite system
• Great battery life thanks to the Coros UltraSync Technology
• High accuracy rate
• Comfortable fit
• Solid onboard optical

Cons

• Doesn’t come with exercise and training guides

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Letsfit Smart Watch Fitness Tracker – Best Budget Pick

Priced at under $50, the Letsfit Smart Watch is one of the best fitness trackers in its price range. While not as accurate as top-end fitness trackers, it offers an impressive amount of functionality.

If you’re searching for a bare-bone option without the fancy features, the Letsfit is certainly worth considering.

Available in eight different colors, the Letsfit features a bright, easy-to-navigate 1.3-inch touch screen display.

Like most traditional fitness trackers, the Letsfit monitors your steps, sports mileage, calories burned, heart rate, and sleep quality status.

But unlike most fitness trackers within the same price range, it features music control, stress training, and smartphone notifications.

The Letsfit meets IP68 water standard requirements, deeming it fit enough to withstand dust, sand, dirt, and water submersion of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

I also love that it comes with eight different sports modes, including running, walking, and cycling, to name a few.

If that’s not enough, it has a relatively decent battery life of 10 days and remains active for 40 days on standby.

Pros

• Good value product
• Decently responsive touchscreen
• Ergonomic design
• Easy to use interface

Cons

• Not the most accurate tracker
• VeryFitPro app has some translation issues

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Garmin Edge 830 – Best For Professional Cyclists

The Garmin Edge 830 is made by cyclists for cyclists. It’s packed with useful features including heat and altitude acclimation, training load focus, and user hydration, nutrition, and recovery.

It’s also designed with a highly accurate GPS cycling computer that’s controlled through the monitor’s touchscreen.

Apart from the features mentioned above, the Edge 830 comes with cycling safety features like group messaging and tracking, bike alarm, and Variant rearview radar and lights compatibility.

Its battery life is quite impressive, as well; 20 hours with GPS, and 40 hours without. On top of that, it has an ‘incident detection’ function, where it automatically sends your current location to the local authorities in case of emergencies.

I also love that it has a Garmin Cycle Map function with popularity routing, on-device route creation, and off-course recalculation.

The Edge 830 can be controlled directly through the Garmin App. In the app, you’ll be able to track your jump count, jump distance, grit, and hang time, along with your ride difficulty and flow.

Pros

• Designed for professional cyclists
• Tons of cycling-related features
• Near-perfect accuracy
• Brilliant battery life

Cons

• Not the most affordable
• Touchscreen would sometimes respond slowly to touch

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Apple Watch Series 6 – Best For Meticulous Trackers

The Apple Watch Series 6 is one of Apple’s latest generation of smartwatches and arguably the most technologically advanced.

Apple invested a great deal in its optical heart rate monitor to get the most accurate results possible. In fact, it’s so accurate that it’s approved by the FDA as a medical device in the United States!

For extra convenience, Apple utilizes an “Always-On” retina display that increases its brightness to up to 2.5x when you’re outdoors. This way, you don’t have to constantly turn the watch’s screen on every time you want to check your progress.

Like its predecessors, the Series 6 allows you to take calls and reply to texts directly from your wrist. It boasts an increasingly accurate GPS tracker to aid you with your cycling quests.

Although almost identical to the Series 5, the Series 6 has some notable health-related features, better performance, and equipped with a faster chip.

The Series 6 also has a new sensor that enables blood oxygen monitoring, ECG readings, and Ultra-Wideband antennas.

This excellent fitness tracker comes in multiple colors and material options, including aluminium, stainless steel, and titanium.

Pros

• Fully-featured, high-end smartwatch
• Impressive accuracy
• Fall detection safety function
• Multiple smart features (remote, ApplePay, Find My iPhone, etc)
• Compass and location sharing

Cons

• Only works with an iPhone
• Not the best battery

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 – Best For Holistic Health

The whole world knows about Apple and Samsung’s friendly rivalry. Since I’ve included the Apple Watch Series 6, there’s no way I wouldn’t talk about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3!

When it comes to smartwatches, it’s difficult to choose which product is the best. They’re both high-end and offer a ton of health-related features, so it really comes down to your own personal preference.

Similar to the Series 6, the Galaxy Watch 3 boasts an FDA-approved ECG monitor, SpO2 readings, and top-of-the-line software.

Further, it has up to 40 sports modes, a sleep tracking function with REM stages, fall detection, and blood pressure and oxygen analysis.

When it comes to battery life, the Galaxy Watch 3 beats the Series 6 by a large margin. Compared to the latter’s 18 hours, the Watch 3 has a battery life of 24-36 hours.

Be that as it may, the Watch 3’s battery still isn’t as powerful as most fitness trackers on this list. Regardless, its impressive features more than compensate for its lack of battery power.

Pros

• Physical rotating bezel
• Elegant design
• Multiple workout modes
• Compatible with both Android and iOS

Cons

• No major improvements from Samsung’s previous model

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Fitbit Charge 4 – Best Value

If you’re tired of the old circular or square-faced tracker display, consider getting yourself a Fitbit Charge 4.

It’s minimalistic but elegant, an excellent companion for cyclists who prefer wearing slim smartwatches.

It’s near-identical to its predecessor, the Charge 3, but has some notable features that make the upgrade worth it.

For one, it has a better interface than the Charge 3. It’s much faster and responsive, as well. The Charge 4 tracks all-day calorie burn, active zone minutes, skin temperature, sleep score, and heart rate.

It also has a Spotify Control option, allowing you to cycle while listening to music!

The Charge 4 has 20+ goal-based exercise modes, including cycling-specific training. Similar to the Fitbit Versa 2, it has a 5ATM water-resistant rating, allowing you to use it in water for up to 50 meters.

Pros

• Attractive design
• Smart interface
• Superb accompanying app
• Compatible with over 200 Android and iOS devices

Cons

• Only lasts 5 hours when using built-in GPS
• Doesn’t have a colored screen

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Factors to Consider When Buying a Cycling Fitness Tracker

If you’re in the market for a fitness tracker, there are several factors you need to keep in mind before cashing out, which are:

Style

Fitness trackers that go around your wrist are the most popular, primarily because of comfort and convenience. If that’s not your style, don’t worry; you can get trackers in ring or necklace form, or trackers that can be attached directly onto your bike.

You can even find trackers that you can clip onto your clothing!

If you’re like me and prefer wrist trackers, you’re in luck. Wrist trackers come in a wide variety of designs and materials, from classic stainless steel to titanium, platinum, and even gold.

Several devices can be customized through changeable bands. Others allow you to change the actual screen of the watch through downloadable fonts.

Apart from the tracker’s style, always keep comfort as a priority. This is especially true if you’re planning to wear your fitness tracker during most of your day. It should be comfortable enough to wear even while you’re asleep!

Battery Life

A tracker’s battery life depends on the number of features it has and how long it’s used per day.

Some fitness trackers last anywhere between four to five days with a single charge, while others use standard CR2032 batteries that only need to be changed every few months.

You’ll also find solar-powered batteries like the Garmin 10 Instinct Solar, which boasts an ‘indefinite’ battery life!

Fitness trackers with a color touch screen and numerous sensors require charging more often compared to those powered with several LED lights.

For instance, Apple Watches only last 18 hours after an overnight charge, while a basic Fitbit tracker battery lasts between five and seven days before requiring another charge.

Display

It goes without saying that advanced trackers record and reveal more information than basic trackers.

Some fitness trackers show all the information required in their main display using words, numbers, and symbols. Others appear on the tracker’s application through your smartphone.

Before making your final purchase, it’s worth checking the application’s provided monitor and application to make sure it matches your needs and preferences.

Accuracy

Fitness trackers aren’t always 100% accurate, primarily because they rely on data through sensors and algorithms.

While not always an issue, inaccurate data can be quite frustrating to users who meticulously record their progress by the decimal.

If you’re someone who needs hard data, you may want to search for a function-specific device, i.e., chest strap heart-rate monitors rather than in-device wrist sensors.

Luckily, fitness trackers have become more and more accurate over the years, thanks to technological advancements.

If extreme accuracy is a feature you’re looking for, it might be worth buying a tracker from reputable manufacturers that strive for improvement—Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit, to name a few.

Water Rating

Do you often encounter water when cycling? If yes, it’s worth investing in a water-resistant fitness tracker.

Water-resistant trackers allow you to wear the device while showering or swimming. Manufacturers usually measure a device’s water resistance with an ATM rating. The higher the rating, the better.

Here are some of the water ratings found on fitness trackers:

• 1 ATM/10 meters: splash/rain resistant
• 3 ATM/30 meters: splash/rain resistant; can be worn in quick showers
• 5 ATM/50 meters: splash/rain resistant; can be worn in long showers; accidental submersion and surface swimming is okay
• 10 ATM/100 meters: splash/rain resistant, can be worn while showering and swimming

Price

Fitness trackers come in an array of prices, from as low as $20 to as high as several hundred dollars.

If you’re a casual cyclist and merely want to track your progress every now and again, you can’t go wrong with a basic fitness tracker.

Basic fitness trackers typically measure:

• Heart rate
• Exercise duration
• Steps/miles taken
• Active minutes
• Sleep time

If money’s not an issue or if you’re serious about your health and fitness performance, it’s certainly worth saving a few extra dollars for an advanced tracker.

• Advanced trackers usually come with the following functions: 
• GPS / location
• Distance traveled
• Calories burned
• Historical data
• Real-time stats  
• Blood oxygen monitor

Fitness trackers with additional special features usually cost anywhere between $100 to $200.

Thus, make sure you buy a fitness tracker with features you actually need and use to justify the price you spent and bring it to good use.

If you’re not going to use half the features of the fitness tracker, you might be better off getting something that costs half of that tracker’s price.

Final Thoughts

In terms of design, quality, functionality, and price, the Fitbit Versa 2 is my pick for the best fitness tracker for cycling. It comes in multiple color options to choose from and has a relatively simple interface.

If you’re searching for a more high-end fitness tracker, I recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and the Apple Watch Series 6. Both are absolute powerhouses and chock-full of brilliant features.

The Letsfit Smart Watch is a great option for the budget-conscious. While it isn’t as accurate as most trackers on this list, it still holds its weight as one of the best due to its inexpensive cost.