Garmin Forerunner 735 XT on triathlon mode

The List Of All Garmin Watches Having A Triathlon Mode

The first time Anna and I bought a triathlon watch, we had never heard about the triathlon mode before. I got it by chance on mine, and Anna didn’t have it on hers. After doing dozens of triathlons, this mode became a must-have feature for both of us.

The triathlon mode allows you to record your swim, bike, and run into a single activity. It lets you focus on your race and not worry about starting and saving each activity separately.

Unfortunately, not every sports watch has this feature. I hope this article for the Garmin watches will help you.

Disclaimer: The Triathlon Tips of My Tri World are reader-supported. When you buy through links, I may earn an affiliate commission.

Here are the current Garmin models, which include the triathlon mode:

ModelBudgetCheck Price
Forerunner 255S$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/780165/pn/010-02641-02
Forerunner 255S Music$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/780154/pn/010-02641-23
Forerunner 255$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01
Forerunner 255 Music$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/780196/pn/010-02641-21
Forerunner 745$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-Essential-Smartwatch-010-02445-00/dp/B08G585XYJ?crid=B8XFGFRJ9SKX&keywords=Forerunner+745&qid=1647964986&sprefix=forerunner+745%2Caps%2C239&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=cbaaec9cfcbef01e1c8800f1561b753e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Forerunner 945 LTE$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-Triathlon-Smartwatch-Connectivity/dp/B093R9Y5DG?crid=3B8TGJCJMMOWJ&keywords=Forerunner+945+lte&qid=1647964914&sprefix=forerunner+945+lte%2Caps%2C280&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=7bbf1642f9331774c8837a6bbfa2a207&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Forerunner 955$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/777655/pn/010-02638-11
Forerunner 955 Solar$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/777730
Forerunner 965$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/886725
fenix 7S$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adventure-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen/dp/B09NMLLZDX?crid=1QXVPG8S8EWJO&keywords=f%C4%93nix%2B7S&qid=1647965407&sprefix=f%C4%93nix%2B7s%2Caps%2C420&sr=8-1&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=44496312f88bd4727d07e64d703cc954&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7S Solar$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adventure-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen/dp/B09NMK43XY?crid=8XHP5XCCPER0&keywords=f%C4%93nix+7s+solar+edition&qid=1647965848&sprefix=f%C4%93nix+7S+%2Caps%2C306&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=290da7da2d0f982a04ecfcd488c691d7&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7S Sapphire Solar$$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adventure-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen/dp/B09NMJH9LD?crid=50W27YPW45BQ&keywords=fenix+7S+Sapphire+Solar&qid=1647967106&sprefix=fenix+7s+sapphire+solar%2Caps%2C253&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=05da26e15256837db70ad695365adc99&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adventure-smartwatch-Touchscreen-Wellness/dp/B09NMJMXS1?crid=1TZCJDV1I1H7D&keywords=fenix+7&qid=1647965881&sprefix=fenix+7%2Caps%2C184&sr=8-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=6fbbe16431e734046104cfa12be1f7c1&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7 Solar$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adventure-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen/dp/B09NMK43XY?crid=2O2IFB2NCRYY&keywords=fenix+7S+Solar&qid=1647967149&sprefix=fenix+7s+solar%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=c8dbe803fdee979d28709d37afed2d40&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7 Sapphire Solar$$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen-Whitestone/dp/B09NMKNNFR?crid=15TC2F1TJ9T50&keywords=fenix+7x+sapphire+solar&qid=1647965914&sprefix=fenix+7%2Caps%2C256&sr=8-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=122ca8bbf253131c55381d00986198bd&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7X Solar$$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen-Whitestone/dp/B09NML4YKL?crid=QEX6RJY6276F&keywords=fenix%2B7X%2BSolar&qid=1647967321&sprefix=fenix%2B7x%2Bsolar%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-3&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=addf362fe975f30f100a9aa8daf0375a&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7X Sapphire Solar$$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen-Whitestone/dp/B09NML711L?crid=1LF7267HAMAFN&keywords=fenix%2B7X%2BSapphire%2BSolar&qid=1647967346&sprefix=fenix%2B7x%2Bsapphire%2Bsolar%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-3&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=a22a0503e342f65a5de1e4625bc80dd9&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
epix 2$$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-smartwatch-Wellness-touchscreem-Adventure/dp/B09NML7BF7?crid=3BVQFUWIGSIUT&keywords=epix+2&qid=1647967391&sprefix=epix+2%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=d1067579db6b1db77675ee925088aebe&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
epix 2 Sapphire$$$$Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-smartwatch-Wellness-touchscreem-Adventure/dp/B09NMM46QD?crid=30SKTZ78VCIO5&keywords=epix%2B2%2BSapphire&qid=1647967458&sprefix=epix%2B2%2Bsapphire%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-1&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=2a88bee5a19dc1b3d90e99b3b40ad26e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Marq Athlete (~ all Marq)$$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633625/
Enduro (Steel)$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/702797/
Enduro (Titanium)$$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/702797/
Instinct 2S$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/741374/
Instinct 2S Solar$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/741462/
Instinct 2$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/775421/
Instinct 2 Solar$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/775697
Descent Mk2$$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633356/
Descent Mk2S$$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/701618/
Descent Mki$$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/632320
tactix Delta Sapphire$$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/696005
tactix Delta Solar$$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/696004/
D2 Delta S$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633685
D2 Delta$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633654
D2 Delta PX$$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633646/
quatix 6$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633646/
quatix Titanium$$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/700139
quatix 6X Solar$$$$Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/725447/

If you are looking at previous models, those watches also have this triathlon mode included:

  • Forerunner 735XT
  • Forerunner 920XT
  • Forerunner 935, 945
  • The Fenix 5 series, 5 Plus series, 6 series, Chronos

In case I missed one, drop me an email at [email protected]

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

Apart from price and esthetic, four features differentiate the Garmin watches: battery life, music, navigation, and size.

BATTERY LIFE

Battery life used to be my second buying criterion. Apart from the triathletes racing full-distance triathlon, I would not be too concerned for the Garmin watches. All current Garmin models that I listed have a stated battery life of 11 hours or more. In reality, it might be a couple of hours less than that, but it still gives you plenty of time to finish your race.

MUSIC

Some of the triathlon watches will come with internal music storage, others can start and stop the music (you still need a phone), and on some others, you won’t have anything related to music.

If you are interested in a navigation feature, really check the detail of it. It can either be a full detailed map on your watch or a simple line without any map, which is way less helpful for guidance.

A watch with a line for navigation vs a watch with a detailed map
Example with the Garmin 920XT vs.
Garmin 945

Garmin watches can sometimes be bulky if you have a small wrist. Mine is relatively small for a man (wrist size 6.10 in or 15.5 cm), so it limits my choice quite drastically 🙂

I am pleased with the size of the Fenix 7S, but that’s quite the maximum I can wear.

MY TRIATHLON WATCH RECOMMENDATION

You cannot go wrong with those two watches:

  • Garmin forerunner 745 (Amazon affiliate link) for triathletes racing up to half-distance triathlons. It has all the features you really need and internal music storage. My wife has the previous version (735 XT without music), and she loves it.
  • Garmin fenix 7 (Amazon affiliate link) for triathletes racing full-distance events or who want navigation guidance. I upgraded to this watch (7S) for the possibility of using either the buttons or the touchscreen, which is especially helpful when browsing the map.
Garmin fenix 7s and Forerunner 735XT
My watch (fēnix 7S) and my wife’s watch (Forerunner 735XT)

FIND YOUR GARMIN WATCH

You can use the filters below to narrow your search or sort the watches by clicking on a column header. The battery life is the manufacturer’s stated life using GPS (in hours).

ModelBudgetCheck PriceWeightSizeBattery Life
Forerunner 255S$$Garmin39 g41 x 41 x 12.4 mm26https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/780165/pn/010-02641-02
Forerunner 255S Music$$Garmin39 g41 x 41 x 12.4 mm26yeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/780154/pn/010-02641-23
Forerunner 255$$Garmin49 g45.6 x 45.6 x 12.9 mm30https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01
Forerunner 255 Music$$Garmin49 g45.6 x 45.6 x 12.9 mm30yeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/780196/pn/010-02641-21
Forerunner 745$$Amazon47 g43.8 x 43.8 x 13.3 mm16yeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-Essential-Smartwatch-010-02445-00/dp/B08G585XYJ?crid=B8XFGFRJ9SKX&keywords=Forerunner+745&qid=1647964986&sprefix=forerunner+745%2Caps%2C239&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=cbaaec9cfcbef01e1c8800f1561b753e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Forerunner 945 LTE$$$Amazon49 g44.4 x 44.4 x 13.9 mm35yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-Triathlon-Smartwatch-Connectivity/dp/B093R9Y5DG?crid=3B8TGJCJMMOWJ&keywords=Forerunner+945+lte&qid=1647964914&sprefix=forerunner+945+lte%2Caps%2C280&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=7bbf1642f9331774c8837a6bbfa2a207&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Forerunner 955$$Garmin52 g46.5 x 46.5 x 14.4 mm42yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/777655/pn/010-02638-11
Forerunner 955 Solar$$$Garmin53 g46.5 x 46.5 x 14.4 mm49yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/777730
Forerunner 965$$$Garmin53 g47.2 x 47.2 x 13.2 mm31yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/886725
fenix 7S$$$Amazon63 g42 x 42 x 14.1 mm37yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adventure-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen/dp/B09NMLLZDX?crid=1QXVPG8S8EWJO&keywords=f%C4%93nix%2B7S&qid=1647965407&sprefix=f%C4%93nix%2B7s%2Caps%2C420&sr=8-1&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=44496312f88bd4727d07e64d703cc954&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7S Solar$$$Amazon63 g42 x 42 x 14.1 mm46yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adventure-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen/dp/B09NMK43XY?crid=8XHP5XCCPER0&keywords=f%C4%93nix+7s+solar+edition&qid=1647965848&sprefix=f%C4%93nix+7S+%2Caps%2C306&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=290da7da2d0f982a04ecfcd488c691d7&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7S Sapphire Solar$$$$Amazon58 g42 x 42 x 14.1 mm46yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adventure-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen/dp/B09NMJH9LD?crid=50W27YPW45BQ&keywords=fenix+7S+Sapphire+Solar&qid=1647967106&sprefix=fenix+7s+sapphire+solar%2Caps%2C253&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=05da26e15256837db70ad695365adc99&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7$$$Amazon79 g47 x 47 x 14.5 mm57yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adventure-smartwatch-Touchscreen-Wellness/dp/B09NMJMXS1?crid=1TZCJDV1I1H7D&keywords=fenix+7&qid=1647965881&sprefix=fenix+7%2Caps%2C184&sr=8-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=6fbbe16431e734046104cfa12be1f7c1&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7 Solar$$$Amazon79 g47 x 47 x 14.5 mm73yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adventure-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen/dp/B09NMK43XY?crid=2O2IFB2NCRYY&keywords=fenix+7S+Solar&qid=1647967149&sprefix=fenix+7s+solar%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=c8dbe803fdee979d28709d37afed2d40&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7 Sapphire Solar$$$$Amazon73 g47 x 47 x 14.5 mm73yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen-Whitestone/dp/B09NMKNNFR?crid=15TC2F1TJ9T50&keywords=fenix+7x+sapphire+solar&qid=1647965914&sprefix=fenix+7%2Caps%2C256&sr=8-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=122ca8bbf253131c55381d00986198bd&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7X Solar$$$$Amazon96 g51 x 51 x 14.9 mm122yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen-Whitestone/dp/B09NML4YKL?crid=QEX6RJY6276F&keywords=fenix%2B7X%2BSolar&qid=1647967321&sprefix=fenix%2B7x%2Bsolar%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-3&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=addf362fe975f30f100a9aa8daf0375a&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
fenix 7X Sapphire Solar$$$$Amazon89 g51 x 51 x 14.9 mm122yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-smartwatch-Capabilities-Touchscreen-Whitestone/dp/B09NML711L?crid=1LF7267HAMAFN&keywords=fenix%2B7X%2BSapphire%2BSolar&qid=1647967346&sprefix=fenix%2B7x%2Bsapphire%2Bsolar%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-3&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=a22a0503e342f65a5de1e4625bc80dd9&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
epix 2$$$$Amazon76 g46 x 46 x 14.5 mm42yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-smartwatch-Wellness-touchscreem-Adventure/dp/B09NML7BF7?crid=3BVQFUWIGSIUT&keywords=epix+2&qid=1647967391&sprefix=epix+2%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=d1067579db6b1db77675ee925088aebe&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
epix 2 Sapphire$$$$Amazon70 g46 x 46 x 14.5 mm42yesyeshttps://www.amazon.com/Garmin-smartwatch-Wellness-touchscreem-Adventure/dp/B09NMM46QD?crid=30SKTZ78VCIO5&keywords=epix%2B2%2BSapphire&qid=1647967458&sprefix=epix%2B2%2Bsapphire%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-1&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mytriworld0f-20&linkId=2a88bee5a19dc1b3d90e99b3b40ad26e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Marq Athlete (~ all Marq)$$$$Garmin94 g46 x 46 x 14.1 mm28yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633625/
Enduro (Steel)$$$Garmin71 g51 x 51 x 14.9 mm80https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/702797/
Enduro (Titanium)$$$$Garmin61 g51 x 51 x 14.9 mm80https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/702797/
Instinct 2S$$Garmin42 g40 x 40 x 13.3 mm22https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/741374/
Instinct 2S Solar$$Garmin43 g40 x 40 x 13.3 mm28https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/741462/
Instinct 2$$Garmin52 g45 x 45 x 14.5 mm30https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/775421/
Instinct 2 Solar$$Garmin53 g45 x 45 x 14.5 mm48https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/775697
Descent Mk2$$$$Garmin103.8 g52 x 52 x 17.8 mm48yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633356/
Descent Mk2S$$$$Garmin60 g43 x 43 x 14.15 mm18yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/701618/
Descent Mki$$$$Garmin99.6 g52 x 52 x 17.8 mm48yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/632320
tactix Delta Sapphire$$$$Garmin97 g51 x 51 x 14.9 mm60yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/696005
tactix Delta Solar$$$$Garmin97 g51 x 51 x 14.9 mm66yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/696004/
D2 Delta S$$$Garmin65 g42 x 42 x 15.4 mm11yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633685
D2 Delta$$$Garmin76 g47 x 47 x 15.8 mm18yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633654
D2 Delta PX$$$$Garmin87 g51 x 51 x 17.5 mm32yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633646/
quatix 6$$$Garmin83 g47 x 47 x 14.7 mm36yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633646/
quatix Titanium$$$$Garmin72 g47 x 47 x 14.7 mm36yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/700139
quatix 6X Solar$$$$Garmin82 g51 x 51 x 14.9 mm66yesyeshttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/725447/