Sigma has released two new multisport smartwatches, the iD.TRI and iD.FREE.
Both watches have nearly all of the features you’d expect from a premium multisport smartwatch, but come in at bargain prices (relatively speaking).
Sigma might not yet be a household name in cycling, but being a current sponsor of Team Sunweb, it has plenty of experience in making GPS cycling computers and wearables for use at the highest level.
With an RRP of €179.95 for the Sigma iD.TRI and €169.95 for the iD.FREE, we can’t say that either of them are cheap, but when stacked up against some of their competitors, they do appear to offer great value.
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Sigma iD.TRI and iD.FREE smartwatch specs and prices
The iD.TRI and iD.FREE share the same hardware, but there are slight differences in software that account for the iD.TRI's extra €10.
The iD.FREE is pitched as a general-purpose multisport watch and has preloaded profiles for cycling, running, swimming, hiking, fitness and skiing.
The iD.TRI is triathlon focussed, so comes preloaded with profiles for swimming, cycling and running. It also gets access to extra modes for structured workouts and competition planning, which the iD.FREE lacks.
Both watches have an extra profile that can be fully customised to any sport (via the Sigma companion app on a smartphone or tablet), and include daily activity tracking features, such as steps, distance, calories and sleep.
The watches have a compact, rectangular design — similar to the Apple Watch at first glance. They weigh just 42g, feature mineral glass displays and are rated as waterproof up to 50m.
The displays are black and white only, have relatively large bezels and aren’t touch-sensitive, but these appear to be the only major compromises made to hit this price point.
Both watches feature barometric altimeters, a three-axis compass, as well as GPS recording and navigation — enhanced by integration with the Komoot smartphone app.
A ‘smart notification’ system is also able to display incoming calls and texts from your phone, and an inbuilt ‘smart light’ can provide visual cues on upcoming turns and notifications.
Sigma claims the battery will last for seven days in its always-on mode or up to 12 hours when recording GPS data.
As expected, both watches feature integrated optical heart rate sensors. While the on-bike accuracy might not match a dedicated chest strap, it’s perhaps the data that can be gathered from more general use (which can potentially be used to provide extra insight into recovery) that makes smartwatches attractive to those that take their training seriously.
Nevertheless, both watches support ANT+ and Bluetooth smart devices, so you can also pair external heart rate monitors, power meters and speed/cadence sensors.
Though we hope you’d never have to use it, both watches also feature automatic crash detection. If linked to a smartphone, they can notify emergency contacts that you’ve fallen and can automatically show medical and location information on the display.
The watches come bundled with a bike mount as standard, and there are four different colours of silicone band available for each watch.
Sigma iD.TRI
- Price: €179.95
- Colours available: Black, Red, Neon Green, Neon Mint
Sigma iD.Free
- Price: €169.95
- Colours available: Grey, Plum, Green, Blue
Do you use a smartwatch to track your cycling or daily activity? Are you a data nerd or do you perhaps think that the modern obsession for tracking and quantifying every part of our lives is a bad idea? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
