Best Watch for Hyrox 2026
Hyrox makes different demands on a watch than regular running. Here is what actually works in training and on race day — including whether you need a chest strap.
Updated May 2026
Quick recommendation
For Hyrox training and competition: Garmin Forerunner 265 (under NOK 4,000) or Garmin Forerunner 965 (no compromises). Add Garmin HRM Pro+ chest strap for accurate HR data during Sled Push and Burpees — wrist HR fails at high intensity. Polar Vantage V3 for those who prioritise recovery tracking over multi-sport flexibility.
What Hyrox demands from a watch
A regular running watch is not enough for serious Hyrox training. The competition format — 8 stations + 8 running intervals — requires multi-sport logging, accurate HR at high intensity and ideally structured training plans. The stations (SkiErg, RowErg, Sled Push/Pull, Burpee Broad Jumps, Wall Ball, Sandbag Lunges, Farmer's Carry) are all indoors and vary between static and dynamic movement.
The most important single factor is heart rate accuracy at high intensity. Wrist-based sensors are unreliable above ~170 bpm on stationary exercises where the wrist does not move rhythmically. A chest strap solves this completely. The second most important factor is recovery tracking — Hyrox training is hard, and those who overtrain lose most on race day. HRV tracking on Garmin 265/965 and Polar Vantage V3 is real and actionable.
Comparison: 4 watches for Hyrox
| Watch | Price |
|---|---|
| Garmin Forerunner 965 | From NOK 5,499 |
| Garmin Forerunner 265 | From NOK 3,499 |
| Polar Vantage V3 | From NOK 5,999 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | From NOK 6,999 |
Details per watch
Garmin Forerunner 965
From NOK 5,499Best all-round Hyrox watch
Race Widget gives you real-time pace against target time during Hyrox running sections. Full multi-sport mode covers SkiErg, RowErg, running and all strength exercises. Indoor wrist HR is solid, but chest strap (HRM Pro+) is still better for high-intensity exercises like Burpee Broad Jumps. 31-hour GPS is more than enough for race day.
Garmin Forerunner 265
From NOK 3,499Best Hyrox watch under NOK 4,000
HRV status morning-by-morning tells you if your body is ready for hard Hyrox training. Training Readiness score is meaningful — not just decoration. Multi-sport mode exists but is somewhat simpler than FR965. For most Hyrox athletes FR265 is more than sufficient at half the price.
Polar Vantage V3
From NOK 5,999Best recovery tracking + wrist HR accuracy
Polar's optical heart rate sensor is the benchmark for wrist HR — accurate up to 180+ bpm even during Sled Push and Farmer's Carry. Nightly Recharge and Recovery Pro give more granular recovery data than Garmin. 40-hour GPS battery. Weakness: fewer gym integrations and somewhat cumbersome multi-sport setup for Hyrox-specific logging.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
From NOK 6,999Easiest to use + best iPhone integration
Strongest for daily use and iPhone integration. The Workout app covers most Hyrox exercises but lacks Garmin/Polar's training planning and load management. Wrist HR is good but not better than Polar Vantage V3 at high intensity. Choose Ultra 2 if you are already deep in the Apple ecosystem.
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Solix Picks
Our Hyrox picks — where to buy in Norway
Garmin + chest strap is the complete setup for serious Hyrox training.
Race Widget, full multi-sport and 31h GPS. Covers Hyrox training and race day without compromise. Available at Komplett.
From approx. NOK 5,499
Wrist HR is unreliable above 170+ bpm during Burpees and Sled Push. Garmin HRM Pro+ gives accurate HR, running dynamics and stores data even without the watch nearby.
From approx. NOK 1,199
Choose this if you are already in the Apple ecosystem and want one watch for everything. Rugged enough for Hyrox but lacks Garmin/Polar's training planning.
From approx. NOK 6,999
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FAQ: Hyrox and watches
Are GPS watches allowed during Hyrox competition?
Yes — Hyrox allows GPS watches and heart rate monitors during competition. There are no equipment restrictions on wearables. Many elite athletes use Garmin Forerunner 965 or Polar Vantage V3 on race day. Use a watch with multi-sport mode so you can log the entire competition as one activity.
Is wrist heart rate accurate enough for Hyrox?
For running sections and moderate-intensity exercises (Rowing, SkiErg, Sandbag Lunges): yes, wrist HR is acceptable. For high-intensity static movements (Sled Push, Sled Pull, Farmer's Carry, Burpee Broad Jumps): no — wrist movement interferes with the optical sensor and gives inaccurate readings. A chest strap (Garmin HRM Pro+ or Polar H10) is the only reliable solution for complete Hyrox heart rate data.
Can Garmin log Hyrox-specific exercises?
Garmin does not have a dedicated "Hyrox" mode, but multi-sport mode lets you create a custom activity sequence: Row → SkiErg → Sled Push → Sled Pull → Burpee → Lunges → Wall Ball → Farmer's Carry → run. Many Hyrox athletes in Oslo log the competition as "Other" or use a custom multi-sport profile. The Garmin Connect IQ marketplace also has third-party apps specifically for Hyrox logging.
Whoop vs Garmin for Hyrox athletes — what is the difference?
Whoop is a recovery tracker, not a training watch. It has no GPS and shows no real-time workout data. Use Whoop for daily HRV monitoring, sleep analysis and recovery status. Use Garmin or Polar for actual training and competition logging. Many serious Hyrox athletes use both — Garmin on the wrist during training and Whoop permanently for recovery management.
What is Race Widget on Garmin and is it useful for Hyrox?
Race Widget (available on Forerunner 265, 965 and Fenix series) calculates real-time projected finish time based on your current pace against a preset target time. For Hyrox it is useful on the running section (you know if you are ahead or behind plan) but does not work across the stations because the stations are not running. Most useful for Hyrox training sessions with running intervals.
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