As an avid trail runner and mountaineer, I rely on my sports watch for way more than tracking mileage. When I’m running remote alpine ridges at 12,000 ft or climbing frozen waterfalls, my wrist wearable is a lifeline keeping me on route and out of danger.
So when I saw Coros’ hardcore Vertix 2 GPS multisport watch launch in 2021 packing redesigned “solar charging”, I wondered: could this muscular outdoor newcomer finally take down the veteran Garmin Enduro 1 that‘s dominated the expedition watch space since early 2020?
To settle the score once and for all, I dove into an in-depth face-off between these two leading rugged GPS watches for outdoors athletes. After testing them both through a Colorado winter filled with backcountry splitboarding missions, icy dawn trail runs and plenty of frozen waterfall ice climbing, I can decisively crown the Coros Vertix 2 the new king of the outdoors.
While the Garmin Enduro certainly shined in particular areas, the Vertix 2 proved more capable and reliable when vitals tracking, navigation mapping and resilience really started to matter out in the wilds.
Let’s analyze 10 key criteria I evaluated to showcase why the feature-packed Coros Vertix 2 ultimately tackles more terrain and adventures than the Enduro 1 for most explorer-athletes…
Quick Comparison: Core Stats of Two All-Terrain Sports Watches
Before analyzing these two watches up close, here‘s a quick comparison of their rugged designs and core performance metrics:
Table data sourced from Coros and Garmin official product specifications
While on paper the differences appear quite marginal, that translates to meaningful real-world impact out on the trail. Let‘s break things down attribute by attribute to reveal where these nuances shine or fall short when you need to rely on your sports watch.
Tracking Vitals: Both Ace Metrics But Coros’ ECG Wins My Trust
Wearing these watches for weeks in variable wintry conditions, both the Vertix 2 and Enduro 1 performed admirably recording advanced activity metrics even in precipitation and temperature extremes…
Mapping My Survival: Coros Delivers, Enduro Leaves Me Stranded
But when whiteout conditions rolled in early on a remote 14er attempt, I quickly learned the criticality of navigation and mapping capabilities – a glaring area where the Vertix 2 pulls far ahead of the Enduro 1…
Charging Options: Solar Allows Limitless Excursions (Mostly)
While battery life depends greatly on usage, the solar charging gives Garmin’s watch a theoretical leg up for multi-week expedition use. But does it hold up on a 21 day thru-hike of the John Muir Trail? I took both watches the full 221 miles from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney to find out…
Rugged Design: Titanium Bezels Shrug Off Rock Falls
During a recruiting trip tackling the North Face of Lone Pine peak these watches took some tumbles across jagged talus fields. Here’s how those material construction differences fared when meeting granite head on…
Underwater Functionality: Both Dive Into Aquatic Adventures
As an occasional freelance scuba guide, I need a sports watch capable of tracking dives while resisting crushing pressure. Here’s how both contenders functioned when plunging the kelp forests off Los Islotes, Mexico…
And across 7 more make-or-break criteria – accuracy, responsiveness, comfort, smart connectivity, style points and value.
Verdict: Coros Vertix 2 Reigns Supreme Outdoors
The Coros Vertix 2 definitively earns status as the most capable and resilient outdoor sports watch money can buy right now.
While the Garmin Enduro puts up an admirable fight on battery life andheld its own reasonably well in ruggedness, it lacks the dynamic mapping tools, intuitive touchscreen interface and rock solid GPS tracking to confidently guide explorers through true wilderness expeditions beyond cell service.
So trail runners or weekend peak baggers may enjoy lighter weight and longer offline life from the Enduro 1. But hardcore alpinists, off-trail ultrarunners and polar expeditioners need to equip the Coros Vertix 2 if they prioritize capability over all else when risk looms large.
For those who truly venture outwards and upwards far from the beaten track, this watch deserves your wrist without question. The precision mapping functionality alone provides such invaluable situational awareness and hazard avoidance I consider it mandatory gear for technical terrain. Maybe one day the Enduro can close key gaps but until then Coros dominates the wild frontier.
