“Yu Nakamura’s Run, Try and Execute Your Words”
Do you know the GPS sports watch called COROS? Many runners may have heard of Eliud Kipchoge, who was the first human to run a full marathon under 2 hours, even though it was not officially recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations, as a COROS contracted athlete. Furthermore, over the past year or two, the number of COROS users among the runners around me has been steadily increasing, and I’m curious as to what a COROS GPS watch actually is. .
What kind of brand is “COROS”?
First of all, let me briefly explain what kind of brand COROS is! COROS was established in 2014. We started joint development with Chinese corporation WeLoop in 2017, and released our first GPS sports watch in 2018. They entered Japan in 2020, and announced the signing of player Eliud Kipchoge in the same year. Since then, we have continued to release new products and the number of users has spread among athletes and sports enthusiasts around the world.
↑There are four types of COROS GPS watches currently on sale in Japan.
■COROS PACE 3 (33,000 yen *tax included) is for those who seek speed such as running and triathlon.
■“COROS APEX 2” (49,610 yen *tax included) and “COROS APEX 2 Pro” (68,200 yen *tax included) are aimed at those who seek long distances and speed, such as trail running.
■COROS VERTIX 2 (89,100 yen *tax included) is for outdoor adventures such as mountain climbing and hiking. The highest spec among the four types.
This time, out of these four types, we will run and test COROS PACE 3, which is the lightest and most affordable and popular among runners!
↑Size: 41.9 x 41.9 x 11.7mm / Weight: 39g (when wearing silicone band), 30g (when wearing nylon band). It has a waterproof performance of 5ATM, so there is no problem even if it gets wet.
The best part is the long battery life!
COROS PACE 3’s full GPS continuous operation (standard GPS mode) is a whopping 38 hours! The battery lasts up to 24 days with daily use. I actually tried to see how long I could go without charging in my daily life. First of all, I started with a 100% fully charged state on the day of the filming of the TOKAI cable network “Ryo and Yuu’s Shizuoka Ride” where I regularly appear.
In this program, only the start and finish points are fixed, and in between, the participants run freely, taking detours. I usually run about 15 to 20 km each time, but it takes about 4 to 6 hours to reach the goal due to detours and stops.
↑On this day, I started at Hamaoka Sand Dunes in Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and ran to Omaezaki Lighthouse.
I ran for about 4 and a half hours, which is about the same time as running a full marathon, but I had 84% of the battery remaining! In fact, I intended to use standard GPS mode to maximize battery life, but I later realized that I had switched to full system mode… Although it was completely my mistake, I was surprised to see that 84% of the battery remained with all systems on! On the other hand, could you forgive me for saying that I now understand how amazing it is!?
↑If you look at the bottom, the remaining battery power is displayed.
Furthermore, with all GPS systems on, how long will the battery last from today’s 84% without charging? After running three times and climbing for two days and one night, I found that the battery level was in the single digits at 9%, so I decided to charge it there.
As a result, the battery lasted for 11 days with daily use + 6 activities (4 runs, 2 hikes, total GPS operation for about 16 hours). The GPS can operate continuously for up to 38 hours, which is plenty of time for ultramarathons, and even if you use it for daily running, you’ll probably only need to charge it once every week to 10 days.
This time, the satellite systems are: “Standard GPS mode (GPS/QZSS)”, “All systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS)”, “All systems dual frequency on (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS)” Since I selected the entire system setting from “, the battery will last longer in standard GPS mode, and the battery will be consumed a little faster if the entire system is set to dual frequency.
Ultra lightweight and stress free
It’s great that it has a long battery life and is super lightweight. The COROS PACE 3 I borrowed this time is equipped with a silicone band and weighs 39g. Even the 39g silicone band is light enough and comfortable to wear without any stress or discomfort, and does not interfere with arm swing. When equipped with a nylon band, it is even lighter at 30g, making it the lightest in the industry. Silicone bands are the mainstream for GPS watches, but nylon bands are lighter and have a better fit, and many people who have actually used them are addicted to nylon bands.
At the time of purchase, you can choose between a silicone band and a nylon band. Of course, you can also purchase the belt separately, so you can replace it.
↑APEX2 Dusty Pink nylon band
CHOIRS PACE 3The route creation function is also interesting!
Until now, when I was running somewhere for the first time, such as on a road trip, I would open the map on my smartphone and check the route step by step. However, modern smartphones are quite heavy, and it can be a hassle to stop to check them.
If you create a route on the COROS app and send it to your watch, you won’t have to worry about that. It will notify you if you deviate from the route, so you can drive smoothly even on unfamiliar roads.
↑When I stayed in Sapporo, I wanted to go for a run in the morning, so I created a route using an app.Hokkaido Shrine and Nakajima Park have been set as detour spots.
↑I think this is an indispensable feature for those who like traveling and running, as it will guide you without opening your smartphone even in places you are unfamiliar with!
The best part is the wide variety of watch faces!
There are still many things I liked about COROS PACE 3. First of all, the design of the watch face is good and there are many types! There are over 200 types on the app, and new ones are added all the time. If you select your favorite as My Watch Face, you can also change the watch face on the main unit.
↑My favorite is like this.Some of them can change color scheme or move with animation.
Another attractive feature is the highly visible display. The display used is a 1.2-inch touch panel always-on memory display. Although it is not as bright as the AMOLED color displays that are becoming popular these days, it is clear and easy to see even under strong sunlight.
↑Resolution is 240×240.Night mode makes it easier to see in the dark
By the way, have you noticed that there are other differences between the left and right in the photo above, other than the watch face? yes! The COROS logo and button positions are reversed. This is because when you bend your wrist toward the back of your hand, the button may be pressed with the back of your hand, so to prevent malfunctions, turn the display upside down and position the button away from the back of your hand. You can wear it.
There are two buttons, a digital dial (turn and press) and a back button, allowing for intuitive operation. Touch panel operation is also possible, allowing you to choose the usage scene. Always on, ON only during navigation & activity, ON only during navigation. I like using the digital dial instead of the touch panel because the movement of the digital dial is smooth and easy to use.
Another important point is that GPS acquisition is quick before you start running! It’s very stressful to be fully prepared but unable to start running because you can’t get GPS. I ran in various places such as residential areas, buildings, parks, etc., and was able to acquire GPS in a few seconds to as long as 5 seconds. The image shows that heartbeat detection takes a few extra seconds after GPS acquisition.
↑Get highly accurate heart rate data with the next-generation optical heart rate sensor with 5 LED lights and 4 photodetectors.
“COROS PACE 3” is said to have the best cost performance!
I’ve written a lot about its charms, but I think the most appealing thing is the price. Among GPS watches that are becoming more and more expensive, this one costs 33,000 yen (tax included) and has excellent performance. Isn’t the cost performance perfect? There is no doubt that the number of COROS users will increase in the future!
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