6 Best Waterproof Gps Watches For Swimmers Who Run That Triathletes Swear By
From pool to pavement, track every move. Discover the top waterproof GPS watches trusted by triathletes for accurate swim and run metrics on land and water.
Your child has gone from splashing in the summer league pool to meticulously setting up their running shoes next to their bike. They’re talking about "brick workouts" and "transitions," and suddenly, the simple sports watch they’ve had for years feels inadequate. Investing in a proper GPS watch can feel like a big step, but it’s a powerful tool for helping them understand effort, progress, and their own potential.
Choosing a Watch for Your Young Triathlete
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When your 12-year-old finishes their first kids’ triathlon with a massive grin, the requests for "real" gear often follow. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the technology and the price tags. The goal isn’t to buy the most advanced watch on the market; it’s to find the right tool for their current stage of development and commitment.
Think about three key factors. First, age and wrist size—a bulky watch will be a constant annoyance during a swim or run. Second, their level of commitment. Is this a fun summer activity, or are they joining a club and training year-round? Finally, focus on the core features: accurate GPS for the bike and run, and reliable tracking for both pool and open-water swimming.
A quality watch is an investment in their journey. Instead of buying a cheap device that will need replacing in a year, consider a durable, mid-range model. These often have excellent resale value or can be passed down to a younger sibling, making them a smarter financial decision in the long run.
Garmin Forerunner 965: Pro-Level Tri Features
Reach your peak performance with the Garmin Forerunner 965. This running smartwatch features a vibrant AMOLED display, full-color maps, and multi-band GPS for accurate tracking on any route.
This watch is for the dedicated high school triathlete. They’ve moved past participation and are now focused on performance. They’re the ones analyzing their splits and talking to their coach about training zones.
The Forerunner 965 is built for this level of dedication. Its bright, crisp AMOLED screen is incredibly easy to read at a glance, whether they’re in a bright pool or running in the sun. It has a dedicated triathlon mode that seamlessly tracks the swim, bike, and run, including the all-important transition times between events. Advanced metrics like Training Readiness help them and their coach make smart decisions about balancing hard efforts with recovery.
Make no mistake, this is a significant purchase. It’s best suited for the teen who has shown a multi-season commitment to the sport. For them, it’s not just a gadget; it’s an essential training partner that provides the data they need to pursue their goals seriously.
Coros Pace 3: The Best Value for Young Runners
Let’s say your child is just getting hooked. They love running, they’re a strong swimmer, and the idea of combining them is exciting. You want to support this new passion with a capable watch, but you’re also keenly aware that next year it might be all about soccer or theater.
The Coros Pace 3 is the answer. It is celebrated for being incredibly lightweight, which is a huge plus for smaller wrists. The battery life is phenomenal, meaning one less thing for a busy family to remember to charge every night. Most importantly, it nails the fundamentals with highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitoring, plus dedicated modes for both pool and open-water swimming.
It provides all the essential data a young athlete needs to see their hard work paying off, without the complexity or cost of pro-level devices. The Pace 3 represents the perfect intersection of performance and price, making it an ideal first "serious" watch for a developing triathlete.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: For The Rugged Adventurer
Is your young triathlete also the kid who climbs trees, builds forts, and spends weekends on hiking trails? Some kids are just naturally tougher on their gear, and for them, durability is the most important feature.
The Fenix series is legendary for its rugged build. It offers all the sophisticated triathlon tracking of the Forerunner line but wraps it in a much tougher, more scratch-resistant package with materials like titanium and sapphire glass. It’s designed to be knocked around, making it a worry-free choice for the adventurous kid.
This durability comes with more bulk and weight, so it’s a better fit for older, more physically developed teens. It’s certainly overkill for a first-timer just trying out the sport. But for the serious teen athlete who is also a trail runner, mountain biker, or general outdoor enthusiast, the Fenix is an investment that will stand up to all of their pursuits.
Apple Watch Ultra 2: Seamless Everyday Training
![Apple Watch Ultra 2 [GPS + Cellular 49mm] Smartwatch with Rugged Titanium Case & Blue/Black Trail Loop S/M. Fitness Tracker, Precision GPS, Action Button, Extra-Long Battery Life](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41ZpqNIND6L._SL500_.jpg)
Your teen already manages their life through their phone and laptop. You want a device that supports their training but also integrates with the technology they already use for school, friends, and safety.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a phenomenal smartwatch that is also a very serious sports tool. The large, bright display is best-in-class, and the customizable Action Button makes starting and stopping workout segments a breeze, even with wet or gloved hands. It handles open-water swims, track runs, and bike rides with precision, while also offering invaluable safety features like fall detection and Emergency SOS via satellite.
The primary consideration here is the daily charging routine. Unlike dedicated sports watches that can last for weeks, the Ultra 2 needs more frequent power. This can be a great way to teach responsibility. For the teen who wants one device to do it all—from the classroom to the finish line—this is the most integrated and powerful option.
Suunto 9 Peak Pro: Top-Tier GPS and Durability
Perhaps your family’s philosophy is to invest in tools that are simple, reliable, and built to last. You’re not looking for flashy features, but for uncompromising precision and durability from a brand with a deep heritage in endurance sports.
Suunto has built its reputation on exactly that. The 9 Peak Pro is widely praised for its military-grade durability and exceptional GPS accuracy, which is vital for accurate pacing on the run and tracking true distance in a lake or ocean. It’s also surprisingly slim and lightweight for such a tough watch, making it comfortable on a wider range of wrist sizes.
The interface is clean and focused, which can be a real benefit for a young athlete. It helps them concentrate on the metrics that matter without getting distracted by a flood of non-essential data. This is a workhorse watch for the focused competitor who values performance and reliability above all else.
Garmin Forerunner 265: A Bright, Smart Choice
You’re looking for that perfect middle ground. Your child is serious about their training, but you don’t quite need the professional-level features (or price tag) of the top-tier models. You want a watch that will grow with them for the next few years of competition.
The Forerunner 265 is the answer for a huge number of families. It brings the stunning, full-color AMOLED display from the high-end 965 down to a more accessible price point. Critically, it includes Garmin’s full triathlon activity profile and provides key feedback metrics like Training Status and Morning Report, which help teach an athlete about the relationship between effort and recovery.
This watch hits the sweet spot perfectly. It provides the motivational tools and insightful data a young athlete needs to progress from enthusiastic participant to focused competitor. For many, this is the only watch they will need all the way through their high school triathlon career.
Key Metrics for Tracking Youth Athlete Progress
A new watch can present a dizzying amount of data. The key is to help your child focus on the few numbers that truly reflect progress and build healthy habits, rather than creating anxiety.
In the pool, the two most helpful metrics are Pace (usually per 100 yards or meters) and SWOLF. SWOLF is a simple score that combines their time and stroke count for one length, measuring their swimming efficiency. Watching their SWOLF score go down is a concrete, motivating sign that their technique is improving.
On the run, Pace and Heart Rate Zones are foundational. The biggest leap for many young endurance athletes is learning the difference between an "easy" recovery run and a "hard" race-pace effort. Using the watch to stay in a low heart rate zone (like Zone 2) on easy days teaches them to listen to their body and build a proper aerobic base.
Ultimately, the most important metric isn’t on a data screen. It’s consistency. Using the watch’s activity log to see a calendar fill up with completed workouts is the most powerful tool of all. It teaches the discipline and dedication that are the true rewards of participating in a sport like triathlon.
The best watch is simply a tool to support their passion. It can help them learn about their body, understand the value of consistent effort, and take ownership of their athletic journey. Focus on celebrating that journey, and the finish lines will take care of themselves.