Coros Vertix 2S: a connected watch for climbers
Connected watches now promise much more than simple performance tracking: they have become real training and physiological monitoring tools for climbers. Driven by curiosity, La Fabrique verticale tested the Coros Vertix 2S, a robust smartwatch designed with climbers in mind. With its reworked ergonomics, dedicated features, and impressive battery life, here is a review that confirms its potential in vertical environments.
I’ve been wearing a connected watch for 9 months now. As anecdotal as this may be, it remains a major event for me, since I’ve pretty much never worn a watch at all!! But having written about connected object usage in climbing and being a bit of a tech geek, when I saw IG posts from Stefano Ghisolfi climbing with his watch attached to his harness with a special carabiner, I was definitely intrigued. After identifying the model—a Coros Vertix 2S—I got one myself.
After 9 months of continuous testing, here are my impressions.
Warning: The following lines do not constitute an exhaustive review of the Coros Vertix 2S. Those interested can consult some very good reviews on the web.
I will only adopt the viewpoint of a climber, curious about how such a device might be used in sport, training, and climbing practices.
Background
The climbing boom has inevitably impacted the smartwatch market. For several years, leading brands have added climbing-specific features to their “adventure” models. Yet based on user feedback from our community, these features have been far from complete. Activity tracking is often inaccurate, and there are few indicators for session intensity. In short, climbing—a strength sport par excellence—cannot be monitored like trail running or cycling.
Then Coros arrived
With the Vertix and then the Vertix 2S, the brand offers an adventure watch targeting all mountain athletes, from ultra-trail runners to alpinists—and, of course, climbers. Key advantages include robustness, resistance to temperature changes, and extremely long battery life for multi-day activities.
A major innovation touted by the brand is the use of new GPS technology, called dual-frequency GNSS, paired with a more effective algorithm for tracking vertical movement in environments where regular GPS typically struggles, such as cliffs and canyons.
Biological data
HRV, oxygen saturation, sleep scores, recovery, and training load are among the variables that can be collected and extrapolated using the latest-generation optical sensor. Using the Coros heart rate strap also hugely improves data collection during physical activity.
Widgets and customization
As with most watches in this category, you also have access to a wide variety of widgets to optimize daily usage. These include, in no particular order: barometer, altitude, notifications, sunrise/sunset, training plans, etc.
And everyone can easily customize the watch face, making it truly unique.
On that note, as I wear the watch on my left wrist, I appreciated being able to rotate and configure the screen so the buttons are on the left (and thus less likely to activate when flexing the wrist).
A watch optimized for climbers
My first experience with a smartwatch for climbing was with a Su…o. I have to say, wearing that elegant piece on my wrist while climbing immediately felt awkward and impractical, even if cracks are not the lines I climb most often. Anyway…
That’s why Coros’s system—allowing you to carry the watch on your harness while capturing physiological data via the heart rate armband—has changed things dramatically.
Yes, at the start of every session, you have to remove the strap to put the case in its carabiner holder, and then reverse the process before leaving the gym or crag. But these steps easily blend into other little routines.
Famous ambassadors
To enter the climbing market, Coros relied on well-known climbers such as Stefano Ghisolfi, Babsi Zangerl, and Jacopo Larcher. For those following the news, it may not have escaped notice that Laura Pineau and Kate Kelleghan wore Vertix 2s during their Yosemite Triple Crown.
It’s also possible to download sessions from some of these athletes on the Coros Training Hub. It’s not very sophisticated from my perspective, but it can serve as a good starting point for creating your own sessions.
Climbing-specific modes
On the Vertix 2S, three modes have been developed for climbers and alpinists, ranging from bouldering to multi-pitch outings.
“Bouldering” mode
This mode lets you record and analyze your bouldering sessions. After setting your grading scale (V or Font), you just start the watch before each attempt, then pause and record the outcome (topped, onsight, flash, redpoint or attempt) once you’re back on the ground. If you use a color-based system, you’ll need to assign it a standard grade—an instructive exercise.
“Indoor Climbing” mode
This is for rope climbing indoors, or on outdoor single-pitch routes.
As with bouldering, you pre-set your grade scale (French, UIAA, etc.), and once the session starts, the watch records different data. You can then analyze your session by number of routes tried, falls or sends, total height climbed, and the difficulty levels you attempted. If you used the armband, you’ll also get your heart rate data across the session.
Each time you return to the ground, you input the outcome (onsight, flash, redpoint, attempt) and the grade.
In practice, on flat ground, it’s simple. Once the session starts, the watch automatically logs a new route after you start climbing (when your feet leave the ground by 1–2 meters). Upon returning to the ground, a discreet beep prompts you to input the grade and whether you sent it.
However, on uneven terrain or when moving up/down between routes without actually climbing, the watch sometimes logs a new route due to its high sensitivity. Coros allows you to later mark false starts, but this can be annoying. To avoid this, I pause the program whenever I’m on uneven ground.
Among the data collected during ascents are falls (number and height). Coros specifies that in top-rope climbing, falls aren’t detectable due to their low amplitude. The same applies if you’re hanging on the rope to work a section. So at present, this data isn’t very useful. As for fall heights, I’ve outgrown jumping from anchors after unclipping (those who get the reference will appreciate it), so it doesn’t interest me much.
That said, being able to correct session data afterwards via the app would be helpful—like fixing route grades or adding poorly recorded info. Some other brands offer this, and given frequent firmware updates, I expect Coros to provide it soon.
“Outdoor Climbing” mode
This is for big multi-pitches or alpine outings.
It’s very comprehensive, integrating all phases, from the approach to the hike back, including rappels if needed.
This is where the new COROS algorithm and dual-frequency satellite tech really matter. From what we observed, GPS tracks during mountain or multi-pitch days in Spain were very accurate.
The Vertix 2S for training
Like all connected devices, the Vertix 2S provides raw or algorithm-processed data to the user, who then decides what’s relevant and analyzes it as needed.
For activities like running, hiking, trail running, etc., the COROS Vertix 2S is top-tier. Location reliability, heart rate accuracy, enormous battery life—all things elite athletes value. At UTMB 24, over 40% of the top 30 finishers used COROS watches.
Things are different for sports like climbing, where performance mainly depends on strength and (especially in forearms) muscle reperfusion capacity after sustained effort.
Of course, on hard routes, your heart rate rises sometimes quite high, but this increase is more due to mechanical factors (strong isometric contractions, increased intrathoracic pressure) and adrenergic effects (adrenaline and noradrenaline release).
So, what’s the point of wearing a connected watch?
After several months of testing, I still use the Vertix 2S in various physical activities (running, strength training, swimming, climbing).
I find it has several advantages.
Climbing
When I climb, the Vertix 2S helps me track my training volume rather precisely. It’s convenient, for example, not having to note down the number of bouldering tries on paper. Since I usually climb without a timer, I can check after the fact if my rest periods were adequate.
Same for outdoor climbing—it’s a simple way to sum up meters climbed over weeks or months.
Session to session, I can track perceived effort and progress.
However, I don’t rely on the training load data from the watch, as it’s based on heart rate calculations.
Instead, I prefer to watch my heart rate variability, which is a better indicator of general fatigue and recovery.
Strength training
COROS’s latest strength training updates have made their watches much more functional. Now, after each set, you can correct the number of reps and added weight. This is great for exercises the watch doesn’t detect well, like pull-ups or push-ups, where your wrist barely moves.
COROS offers a “heat map” for quickly visualizing which muscle groups have priority. As climbers, it’d help to be able to further distinguish between arms and forearms.
Running and swimming
This is where connected watches excel. As with all cardio activities, I can gather useful info about my progress.
To conclude
Smartwatches have clearly become commonplace in both sport and daily life. And, for physical activity alone, the amount of info these devices provide is enormous—exciting for anyone into technology, as I am!
Despite this, in both training and everyday life, the feedback (fitness, fatigue, stress) I prioritize comes from my own sensations. With experience, these become increasingly fine-tuned [see related article]. What the Vertix 2S provides are indicators that often confirm my own feelings. That said, for aspiring athletes, a smartwatch can be a precious aid—especially during the “learning phase” for developing bodily awareness.
Additionally, using the smartwatch lets me gather info on all my activities in one place. Ultimately, I like having the app to revisit specific sessions or get an overview of my physical activity for set periods.
In summary:
What I love
- The battery life
- The intuitive interface
- The carabiner mount
- Regular software updates
- The training hub
- The variety of sports modes
Areas for improvement
- Ability to correct session data afterwards
- The watch’s thickness (can be tricky under sleeves)
- Adding images to sessions
- Training load algorithm for strength sports
