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Although I never thought I’d be bothered by it, I really like to track my rides and keep tabs on my stats.
But as a bike tester, swapping a GPS bike computer between bikes can be problematic. I’ll either forget the mount required or forget the computer itself.
Having used GPS watches in the past, I can see their appeal, although they've rarely, if ever, ticked all the right boxes for me.
The Coros Nomad could change that. It has the ability to track a vast array of activities, providing just about all the data I could want and a decent battery that won't die after only one long ride.
All I need to do is put it on my wrist every morning, so it’ll always be with me, no matter what bike I’m riding.
Jack of all trades
The Nomad watch is built for a beating. The screen is made from hardened mineral glass and is anchored in place with a dual-layered bezel that is said to make it tough without adding too many unnecessary grams.
Coros say it’s water resistant to 5 ATM (so it’s capable of surviving a downpour and can be worn while swimming). It can operate in temperatures from -20˚C to 50˚C, upping versatility further.
But it’s what’s inside the watch that makes it interesting.
You’ll need to download the Coros app in order to set up the Nomad, but doing so opens up a plethora of info and customisation options.
If you like to keep tabs on more than one activity, there’s a good chance the Nomad will have you covered. That’s because it features settings for everything from mountain biking and running through to kayak fishing, boxing and yoga. There’s also a whole host of training features if you’re looking to get buff or boost your lung capacity.
Coros claims the Nomad can last up to 50 hours when using the GPS system, which is pretty impressive and a real plus for those who do multi-day trips.
What’s more, you can use the Nomad to keep track of weather data, elevation and even the tides.
If you’re so inclined, you can also monitor your sleep, heart rate variability and recovery, and get a wellness check, whatever that might be. It’ll record your steps, tell you to get moving when you’ve been sat still for too long and give you some idea how many calories you’ve been burning.
Watches tend to be a little hit and miss when keeping tabs on heart rate, but the Nomad can be paired with an arm or chest strap for more accurate data.
When you’re done, you can easily sync to Strava and other cycling apps to upload your activity.
Don’t get lost
In the app, you can create GPX routes and follow them on your watch with turn-by-turn navigation. While the Nomad won't re-route you should you venture off-track, it will warn you if you've deviated from your chosen route.
Thanks to the touchscreen watch face, you can easily scroll the route or map to check on waypoints or look for a destination. It also means you can scroll quickly and easily between screens to keep tabs on pacing or ride data if you're competing in an event.
The downloadable colour maps offer plenty of detail, including street names and points of interest, and differentiate clearly between streets and trails.
If you’re keen on recording more detail about your activity, the Nomad enables you to record voice pins directly to it, geotagging them to your route. You can then listen back to these via the Coros app, along with adding pictures and video using the 'Adventure Journal' tool.
Regular pins can also be saved if there’s something significant that needs flagging. These will then be added to your route and can be viewed on the app.
Computer killer
With so many features and so much functionality, there’s a good chance I’ll stop taking my Garmin computer out with me on every ride soon enough. I’m forever losing the 3mm bolt for the handlebar mount and consistently bad at remembering to charge the computer.
Maybe the Nomad will be the end of all of that and enable me to ride hassle-free, safe in the knowledge that all I need to do is put it on in the morning.
I’ll be sure to write a full review, so keep checking back if you want to know more about the Coros Nomad GPS watch.
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