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Three things to know:
- £219 (at time of writing) – strong value for runners upgrading from entry-level watches
- Accurate tracking and long battery life – GPS locks on fast and lasts up to two weeks
- Lightweight and marathon-ready – comfy rubber strap, durable design and easy-to-use interface
Our rating:
Accuracy and performance
Battery life
Durability and comfort
Ease of use
When I started out running, I wasn't ready to invest in one of the top-end smart watches. But five years into my running journey I'm now training for a marathon, and I found myself seeking a product with more accuracy and training support than my previous basic model.
My marathon training has given me plenty of opportunities to put the Coros Pace 3 through its paces and test how it can support runners at all stages in their journey.
Accuracy and Performance
Spring marathons always mean a lot of winter training, so I was looking for a watch that could support treadmill runs and offer accuracy at the same time. Smartwatches always have a tough time monitoring accurate indoor running distances, and although every so slightly off (about 150 metres over 8km), that could be down to my short stride. In addition, I tend to tie-in marathon training with other sessions such as spinning and swimming, which I can also track via the Coros Pace 3. The heart-rate monitoring, distances, elevation and speed all seem fairly accurate offering great insights into training performance and inputs.
Battery Life
The battery life is also another big positive. My previous smart watch needed charging every night, it's a huge plus that the Coros Pace 3 only needs charging once a week at most. After using the the watch for 11 workouts over two weeks, the battery was still over 50% charged. If you were to wear the watch everyday I would imagine you'd need to charge it more frequently.
Durability and Comfort
Firstly, the watch is super lightweight, weighing just 30g. My previous smart watch had a metal strap which rubbed on long runs, but the Coros Pace 3 is made of rubber and the difference in comfort is considerable. It's incredibly comfortable and easily adjustable and the wristband doesn't pinch or snag at all. This is a useful feature during the sweaty hotter months, and in colder temperatures when wearing long sleeves.
The watch face itself is also a decent size, finding the balance between a screen I can actually read, and also not dominating my entire wrist or restricting any movement. There are also multiple colour options for those that like to match their watch to the rest of their kit.
Ease of Use
The user experience of the watch is great, with clear buttons and instructions to help you get the most out of it when training, and the prompts are clear and easy to understand. The display is also very responsive and easy to navigate.
One of the most useful features of the Coros Pace 3 is the pause and stop function. Runners will know how frustrating it is when a watch pauses itself during a long run, or when you accidentally press finish instead of pause and lose all your progress. To finish your workout with the Coros Pace 3 you need to hold a button down for over three seconds, and so far so good, all my runs have been tracked in full.
In addition, the connectivity to the actual Coros app and Strava is essentially instant, meaning even more time to gain that extra kudos with other runners on the app (if you know, you know).
Features
The GPS on the watch also connects really quickly, meaning no annoying running on the spot before starting your run so it can figure out where you are. The route planner option also allows you to plan your miles ahead of time and stick to a route.
The running analytics are fairly impressive, with running performance, training load, score and pace ranges. You can also track other activities like swimming, but it's worth noting you can’t log yoga or Pilates which some would argue are an essential part of marathon or long distance running training. It's an impressive amount of features for the reasonable price.
Value for money
The product is a great entry-level option for those looking at their first smart watch or an upgrade to a tired existing one used for training. Sitting at around £219, although a considered purchase, it is much more reasonable than some of the more advanced models on the market. The Coros Pace 3 does exactly what you need it to, and is enjoyable to both wear and use.
Sustainability
The product itself although made of nylon and plastic, and comes with minimal recyclable packaging. It’s important to note Coros doesn't offer repairs to old products, instead it claims to focus its efforts on creating products that are durable and long lasting.
Should you buy?
The Coros Pace 3 is an ideal running partner for those new to running, slightly more established athletes or those training for their first marathon. The low price point makes it less of an investment compared to other products on the market, and will genuinely make training easier. For those looking for something more premium in both look and ability, they may be best referring to the other Coros models.
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