Wahoo Elemnt Rival multisport watch review

Wahoo proves less is more with its first multisport watch that it says is "radically simplified" so you can concentrate on your performance rather than your equipment

Wahoo Elemnt Rival watch
(Image credit: Future)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

If you’re not interested in the triathlon-specific Touchless Transition feature you could argue that you're not left with as many functions as some multisport watches (although there will be future Wahoo updates), but if you want a sports-focused watch with the trademark clean design and usability of Wahoo’s cycling computers, reliable pairing and syncing, an intuitive app and exceptional battery life, the Elemnt Rival does all that.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Simple to use

  • +

    Reliable pairing and syncing

  • +

    Intuitive app

  • +

    Accurate wrist-based HRM

  • +

    Lightweight

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Doesn't have fitness tracking functionality (yet)

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

The Wahoo Elemnt Rival is a GPS smartwatch that’s designed to work seamlessly with Wahoo’s bike computers in a triathlon. Its USP is a feature called Touchless Transition, whereby data automatically transfers between watch and computer leaving the user to concentrate on the race rather than pressing buttons. That feature may not interest non-triathletes, but cyclists who prefer the security of a wrist-based cycling computer for more rugged off-road riding, commuting or who run in the off-season will be very interested in the fact that the Rival shares the exact same user-friendly, intuitive functionality as Wahoo’s excellent cycling computers and uses the same app.

Not only that, but compared to other smartwatches it is lightweight and comfortable, the GPS is very accurate, battery life is incredible and the optical heart rate monitor could be the most reliable out there.

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