The Coros Vertix 2S. All photos: iRunFar/Craig Randall
This spring, Coros released an addition to its flagship watch series with the Coros Vertix 2S ($700). After the original Coros Vertix, then the Coros Vertix 2, why is Coros calling this update “2S” instead of Vertix 3? It has to do with the fact that it’s not an entirely new watch; it is more of an upgrade of specific parts (like the optical heart rate sensor) and new GPS system algorithms, which are supposed to affect sport-specific GPS accuracy (like for multi-pitch rock climbs.)
Coros also made some significant changes aesthetically, with its three styles adopting a “space,” “moon,” and “Earth” aesthetic, with dark color straps and background screens. The cost of the improved antenna and better optical heart rate sensor means that overall battery life is actually slightly worse than its predecessor, the Vertix 2, when using either standard and “all systems on” GPS modes.
When we originally reviewed the Vertix 2, we acknowledged that, even among Coros’ other watch options, the Vertix series may not be the best option for pure runners.
Coros’s own marketing suggests that the Vertix 2S, just like its predecessors, is an “adventure” watch, meant for use in big mountains in all conditions. The watch uses sapphire glass and a titanium bezel that shouldn’t break under any sporting usage.
The watch’s incredible battery life will make it tempting for ultrarunners, since it will last for as long as nearly any of us might consider running. In the matrix of Coros’s ambassadors, there are rock climbers like Tommy Caldwell on one end, Kilian Jornet in the middle, and then Sally McRae, who notably has become a fixture of the 200-mile race scene, who are each using the Vertix 2S — as opposed to the Coros Apex or Coros Pace watches — seemingly for the sheer battery requirement of each person’s endeavors.
There is a trove of data to be mined from activities, as well as during rest, so it’s no wonder the notoriously analytical Jornet is at home with Coros equipment.
In the last year, Suunto has released a couple of watches that give much stiffer competition than in the past to Coros’s “best battery life” claims, and Garmin continues to be the standard bearer when it comes to the combination of battery and features.
The Vertix 2S continues to use of a couple things I find annoying about Coros watches, chief among them its digital dial and the extremely twitchy response to pushing its buttons or using the touchscreen. The complaints are minimal, so keep reading to find out about additional updates in the Vertix 2S, its performance and features and what, if anything else, has changed from the Vertix 2.
A note on certain examples and context: this review incorporates some of the same material and examples we used for our long-term test of the Vertix 2. Since the Vertix 2 and Vertix 2S share nearly the exact same hardware and software, the remarks about the Vertix 2 are still appropriate, particularly when it comes to specific race-oriented testing, particularly attributed to iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks.
The Coros Vertix 2S is one of several excellent GPS watches on the market, so be sure to also check our guide to the Best GPS Running Watches to see how we compare the Coros Vertix 2S with other top watches.
Coros Vertix 2S Size and Weight
The Coros Vertix 2S actually has the exact same screen size (1.4”) as the Vertix 2, but is now two grams lighter at 87 grams. The overall package is otherwise the exact same as the Vertix 2 — like that watch, the Vertix 2S comes with two straps — one silicone, one nylon.
In our testing, the nylon strap proved to be invaluable when trying to get the most accuracy out of the optical heart rate sensor, while minimizing discomfort on your wrist (more on that in the optical heart rate section below.)
This large size and mass are partially explained by simply needing space to house the features of a large battery and a souped-up processor.
A front view of the Coros Vertix 2S.
The other likely reason the display is so large is to allow users to display a lot of data simultaneously. You can display eight data points all at one time on the screen, which is pretty cool — if your eyesight is good enough to read them while on the move. Another reason Coros might have leaned into size with the Vertix 2 and Vertix 2S is to allow users to better navigate a map on the screen. The watch includes on-board, pre-loaded maps, and there are more you can download from the Coros website. A new extender feature allows your phone to mirror the map on your watch. We discuss this feature more in depth below.
You operate the watch using one of its three dials, as well as its touchscreen, the latter of which works with only some features.
Coros Vertix 2S Look and Feel
Coros was excited to announce the new look of the Coros Vertix 2S, and they designed three different styles inspired by Earth, space, and moon. Our test watch came in the space design, with its rugged gray color scheme and outer space background.
This is a much cleaner look for Coros, but the usability actually decreases. Although prettier than Coros’s typical Android-looking UI, the small font is harder to read and the optional data points that can be displayed (like steps, elevation, heart rate, sunrise) don’t have enough contrast to interpret quickly. This default space theme can be replaced wholesale by changing the display in the watch face menu, turning the watch face into traditional, bold Coros designs.
Like the Vertix 2, the Vertix 2S keeps its very rugged-looking form, from its burly bezel and dials to the tough-looking silicone band. It looks like you could literally run it through a wringer without issue. Without the loud orange silicone strap of its predecessor, the Vertix 2S’s lovely gray color means it won’t draw as much attention, or signal “sports watch” when you’re wearing it in non-outdoor situations, like at work.
Like Garmin watches, this watch lets you choose between a number of different screen styles, which offer a range of fonts, sizes, and colors. These screen styles also center squarely in a rugged aesthetic.
While a couple of our testers liked the look and feel of the Coros Vertix 2S, one didn’t. We’ll just put it out there — if you’re looking for clean lines or a feeling of sophistication through minimalism, you won’t find it in this watch. If you switch to the optional nylon band, the watch does shrink in size and take on a slightly less burly look. The monochromatic gray straps with the all-gray Vertix 2S unit is stylish and more subdued than its Vertix 2 predecessor.
But it’s still plenty enough watch to gather the commentary from folks about its size. In our opinion, Suunto watches have the cleanest, most sophisticated aesthetic of GPS running watches on the market today.
Size still matters though. The watch’s footprint is not just a problem of aesthetics, says two of our three testers. One member of the iRunFar test team notes that the watch is so big they sometimes struggle to get it through the wrist holes on tight running shirts or through the sleeves of extra layers, particularly while running.
Adjustability and convertibility are improved with the Vertix 2S, compared to the competition. One example is Coros’s nylon strap design — it is fixed to one end with a hook and loop to loosen and tighten on the other. This design is actually a lot better than Garmin’s take on the nylon strap; theirs isn’t fixed on either end so you have to adjust each side to make it fit. The Vertix 2S is easier to get on and off, as well as to dial in a comfortable fit, compared to Garmin.
Using the Vertix 2S during non-running activities, such as rock climbing or Nordic skiing, with frequent flexion at the wrist, results in frequently hitting the crown causing the watch to stop or start recording unintentionally. We tested the watch on our left wrist and the large dial sits right where the bones are on the wrist. If this becomes an issue for you, you can enable an auto-lock feature that prevents you from accidentally pausing the watch, but it’s an extra step.
Also of note, in the settings, Coros prompts you to select on which wrist you’ll wear your Vertix 2S so that the interface flips to accommodate your choice.
The Coros Vertix 2S collects a number of biometric data points to help you track your health and well-being outside of your training, which we’ll talk about in greater depth below. So, you have to be willing to wear this large watch all the time to make full use of its features.
Coros Vertix 2S Battery Life
For trail running and ultrarunning, battery life is arguably the most prized feature. All GPS watch brands in and around the Coros Vertix 2S’s price point have considerably stepped up their battery performance over the last two years. Some have focused on providing unique features in addition to very good battery life, while Coros has focused on providing the best battery life, almost to a fault.
A back view of the Coros Vertix 2S.
Coros has positioned the Vertix 2S the same way it positions all of its watches: exceptional, virtually class-leading battery life. To their credit, Coros has an awesome comparison function on their website, where you can quickly see several watches spec’ed against each other.
Using this function revealed that the Vertix 2S actually has slightly poorer battery performance overall compared to the Vertix 2: 118 hours (nine hours less than the Vertix 2 in standard GPS mode) and 73 hours in “all systems on” mode (15 hours less than the Vertix 2.) “All systems on” means that five of the major satellite systems are pinged concurrently: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS.
The battery drawdown is coming from the more energy-intensive and more accurate optical heart rate sensor, but if heart rate tracking isn’t that important to you, you can minimize this function by choosing to record heart rate continuously or just every ten minutes. You cannot, however, turn it off entirely (except during activity modes).
Both the Vertix 2S and Vertix 2 are huge improvements over the original Vertix, with around double the battery life of the original.
When it comes to charging the watch, that too is incredibly fast. Coros claims it takes two hours to charge from zero to 100%. Because it’s almost impossible to drain this enormous battery, we’ve not been able to corroborate this claim. What’s more normal for our test team is to charge the battery every couple of weeks, after about 25 to 30 hours of running.
In this case, the battery sits at about 30% capacity, and charging to full takes about 75 minutes. It charges fast, enough said.
For ultrarunners looking for the convenience of virtually never having to charge their watch, the Vertix 2S is one of the best options presently available. When you’re not doing really long runs or races, you could use the watch for an hour in normal GPS mode virtually every day for a month without needing to charge.
Some features like the electrocardiogram, the Insta360 camera control, and playing music add some drain to the battery, but overall, the Vertix 2S manages to sustain incredible performance despite these added demands.
The Vertix 2 and Vertix 2S use a proprietary charger, so be sure to store it safely.
iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks tested the Coros Vertix 2’s battery life at its highest settings, where the watch connects to five different satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou) in dual frequency, during the 126-mile Snowman Race stage race in Bhutan. This amounted to competing for 51 hours over five days in the high-altitude Himalayan wilderness. Coros claims the battery would last for 50 hours at this setting.
Meghan ended up charging the watch on the fourth and final night of camping, after 43.5 hours of use over 3.5 days out, ahead of the last, fifth stage, using a portable battery charger. Meghan says there was probably enough battery power to not need a recharge, but she didn’t dare tempt fate to run out of battery in the last miles of the event. The Vertix 2 at least matched this battery life claim.
Coros Vertix 2S Processing Speed
While all Coros watches have great processing speed, the Coros Vertix 2S maintains the 20% faster speed introduced in the Coros Vertix 2, a feature the iRunFar team loved. From how fast the watch scrolls between screens and sport modes, as well as how fast it reacts to button selections, it’s clear that the Vertix 2S is using a superior chip compared to Garmin, and especially Suunto.
I used the word twitchy to describe the processor in the introduction, and let me expand on that. My daily driver — and favorite GPS watch to date — is the Garmin Enduro 2. Its processing speed is perfectly adequate, and I’m very used to it from daily use. The Vertix 2S by comparison moves so much faster, to the point of inadvertent or unintentional button selections.
While it’s incredible to move around the watch’s features and functions so quickly — it really does set the standard for usability — it would be nice if there was an option to decrease the sensitivity by a quarter or half speed.
One area where the processing speed positively affects the user experience is in mapping mode. It is fantastic at zooming and moving around the landscape. You’ll also notice the speed when clicking between screens or selecting different watch functions, which you’ll see is especially fast if you are familiar with similar movements with other watches.
A final note about processing speed — unfortunately, a faster chipset doesn’t impact GPS signal acquisition. This is still satellite-reception-dependent, so even a super-fast watch will still take the same amount of time to acquire positioning as other GPS watches on the market.
Coros Vertix 2S Additional Features
Here we’ll check out a few more features of the Coros Vertix 2S.
Maps and Navigation
In a big improvement from the original Vertix, navigation features with landscape, topographic, and hybrid global mapping can be accessed in the Coros Vertix 2S. In a major upgrade from the Vertix and Vertix 2, Coros now has in-app functionality where you can build a route directly; it is very easy to use and syncs with the watch in about a second.
Another look at the face of the Coros Vertix 2S.
Unlike in competitor Garmin watches, when navigating a route or simply scrolling around an area on the maps in the Vertix 2S, there are no labels, names, or turn-by-turn navigation. This offers a generally clean appearance that allows you to see your track and the basic features of the world around you and to do very basic navigation actions, such as following along as your route moves among significant terrain features or turning from one trail to another.
However, you would not want to use the watch for detailed navigation needs. Adventure runner types should be using paper maps and mapping apps on their larger phone screens to do their detailed navigation anyway.
Mapping is the only touchscreen-enabled feature that is meaningful on the Vertix 2S. You can also use the dial on the side of the watch to zoom in and out of the maps. Both ways of using mapping are not only nifty, but also nearly instantaneous, which we previously wrote about in reference to the Vertix 2S’s processing speed.
In their April 2024 over-the-air or firmware features update, Coros announced a new extender feature for outdoor activities. The extender allows you to populate a real-time map on your phone, mirroring the data being collected on the Vertix 2S on your wrist. From a navigation perspective, this gives you two advantages: first you get a much bigger map display on your phone screen with the ability to choose between three different map types, and secondly, you can navigate landmarks much more easily because your phone now has labels, where the normal watch mapping does not.
A useful feature that has carried over from the Vertix 2 to the Vertix 2S is the navigation error alert feature. In a nod to the wild and rugged terrain the Vertix series is built for, iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks also used the Coros Vertix 2’s mapping and navigation features during the Snowman Race in Bhutan.
While the race had very good course markings, it traveled trails created by locals and their horses and yaks to carry supplies in and out of Bhutan’s remote Himalayan villages. Functional livestock trails are very different from human-constructed, Western trails, in that they become braided via livestock’s natural movements in different directions on the trail. Meghan relied on the navigation alert to be warned that she was off-route by a little bit, as well as the mapping feature, which allowed her to quickly zoom in and around the map to see where she was in relation to the race course.
Sometimes, Meghan would thusly find herself on a trail-braid and away from the Snowman Race markings. Additionally, the course was enveloped by thick fog one late afternoon and into the night, which made seeing the course markings difficult.
All of this said, iRunFar feels strongly that the Coros Vertix 2S — or any GPS running watch — should not be a primary or only navigation tool. The watch screen of any watch is too small to get the various perspectives you need to navigate, and the maps are not detailed enough to navigate properly.
You should always rely on a trail system’s supplied map signs, a paper map, or mapping apps on your phone for safe navigation. Instead, consider the mapping and navigation technologies of your GPS watch as a tool to help you make quick and easy navigation decisions and course corrections on the move.
Music Storage and Access
Like the Vertix 2, the Coros Vertix 2S technically has music and podcast capabilities, meaning it will play back files using its internal storage. Coros still hasn’t added syncing capabilities with offline playlists on Amazon, Spotify, or Apple Music to the Vertix 2S, so you’ll have to buy or otherwise source music files, download them, and then drag them over to the watch’s storage on your home computer. It’s easy to do, but somewhat slow to transfer. To listen, you must pair Bluetooth wireless headphones.
I appreciate watches that can play music, as I really don’t like running with a phone, but again — unlike the Garmin fēnix or Enduro watches, which can sync with playlists from popular streaming services — you’re limited to manually transferring MP3 files as you used to on your iPod years ago. This is a very unmodern solution, but it’s better than not having any music options.
Coros Vertix 2S GPS Accuracy
In the category of GPS accuracy, the Coros Vertix 2 debuted a first-of-its-kind on the GPS watch market for offering dual frequency GNSS. This impressive feature, replicated in the Coros Vertix 2S, allows the watch to locate the best GPS frequency available from all five of the major satellite systems — GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou — simultaneously.
This, in theory, should offer huge accuracy improvements over previous GPS units, but during our testing, it performed quite similarly to the other watches in our guide to the Best GPS Running Watches.
There is one situation where we’ve experienced increased GPS accuracy of the Coros system over that of Suunto: moving through a canyon with tight rock walls rising up around us.
One member of the iRunFar test team often does speedwork on a paved road through a canyon. And, in their previous use of several Suunto watch models in this location, they found the watch detached from the GPS system enough that they instead needed to use road signs and a timer to measure progress rather than GPS data. This has changed with the Coros Vertix 2 and Vertix 2S in the same location, as they can rely on the watch to offer accurate, live-time readouts of pace and distance while moving fast.
Though it is not a running-specific update, the Vertix 2S touts a new algorithm for improved accuracy for multi-pitch rock climbing. Even with the dual-frequency band enabled, tracking rock climbing has been very difficult with any GPS watch I’ve used — think incredibly squiggly and criss-crossed lines across your activity — because of the steepness of walls and the limited distance to clear skies.
Though on paper this update would be fantastic, I used the outdoor climb mode where this improved accuracy was supposed to take shape, and found it unfortunately produced no better track than I’ve gotten on my Suunto or Garmin watches while climbing. Fortunately, Coros is dogged when it comes to tweaks and improvements in GPS accuracy, so we expect to see this resolved or improved in the future via firmware updates.
Coros Vertix 2S Optical Heart Rate Sensor and Coros Updates
One of the most exciting updates with the Coros Vertix 2S compared to the Vertix 2, is the improvement in the optical heart rate sensor. While it’s a new and improved sensor, there are also algorithms at play that help complement the accuracy of the sensor. For example, Coros regularly updates the algorithms to support different sports and the unique movements inherent in each.
A side view of the Coros Vertix 2S.
So, for example, the ”trail running” and “running” sport modes will use slightly different algorithms to account for the different movements and motions you might employ when on an undulating trail versus a predictable road. The sensor is improved, but it also really matters how you wear the watch to get the best readings.
Wearing the Coros heart rate strap paired to my Enduro 2 on one wrist and my Vertix 2S on the other, I compared the heart rate output on multiple occasions, including a race-pace effort on a ten-mile run. The data from both devices was shockingly similar during these tests; it’s a real testament to the improvements in Coros’s hardware.
The only drawback is it can be uncomfortable and hard to keep the watch about an inch (Coros says it need only be one centimeter, but I found it to be more than that) higher up your wrist than you’d commonly wear it. Many times while running, and trying to find the sensor’s sweet spot, the readings would show my heart rate at unfathomably high numbers for the level of exertion, or cadence locked consistently on a much higher number than the exertion I was putting forth.
There are a few tips to getting the best optical heart rate data collection, according to Coros Head of User Engagement, Darian Allberry. His three rules of thumb are:
- Wear the watch tight and higher above the wrist bone.
- Ensure firmware is up to date and select the correct activity profile, i.e.: Run vs. Trail Run — this important distinction evidently accounts for the additional jostling you might experience while trail versus road running.
- Switch wrists, as some watches, for whatever reason — anatomy or otherwise — will perform better for different bodies with seemingly no rhyme or reason.
These basic guidelines can be applied to any manufacturer’s device, whether it be Coros, Suunto, Garmin, or Apple Watch, etc.
Admittedly, this comes at a time when Coros recently launched its own heart rate strap — perhaps this was intended as a supplement to existing Coros watches that haven’t been updated to the same sensor as the Vertix 2S — it can also be seen as an admission that optical heart rate capture is still in need of a huge improvement.
Despite the challenge, Coros maintains its enthusiasm and dedication to improving the optical tech so that the numerous metrics that rely on heart rate — HRV, sleep score, recovery, readiness, training load, and oxygen saturation to indicate sickness — are captured and used to create a full picture of the runner.
It would be nice at some point in the future if optical heart capture was fully and reliably “set it, forget it,” but frankly it still is not. Only when wearing the watch unusually high on your wrist is the sensor able to capture reliable data. This is where the optional nylon strap is especially useful. It’s way too uncomfortable to wear the stiffer silicone band with its pre-set adjustment notches this high up on the arm, while the nylon strap at least allows you to dial in a more precise fit in a more comfortable material.
Coros Vertix 2S Updates and External Features
The Coros Vertix 2S benefits from a number of updates that Coros bundles roughly every quarter or so through their update announcements.
Since the Vertix 2 was released in 2021, there have been countless improvements and add-ons that make the Vertix 2S more feature-rich. Note that these updates work almost universally across older watches, not just on the new Vertix 2S, and can bring an older watch up to most modern software versions.
These improvements range from algorithm updates, such as the above-noted GPS improvements for rock climbing GPS accuracy, to a Wellness Check, which combines blood oxygen saturation, HRV, sleep, and running fatigue in a very simple and easy-to-read picture in the Coros app.
Coros also offers a free coaching tool by way of the Coros Training Hub. While it is free to install and use, it requires the help of a coach to prescribe training, although Coros also offers free support through its network of coaches, allowing Coros users to get answers to questions about training directly from its team.
Coros Vertix 2S Overall Impressions
In our opinion, the Coros Vertix 2S is a top contender for trail runners and ultrarunners who tend toward long outings in wild places.
Where this watch shines the brightest is on multiday or long, nonstop outings where you have a long distance to cover before you can or want to recharge the battery.
The Coros Vertix 2S paired with its nylon strap.
iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks used the Vertix 2 with its all systems on GPS setting during the five-day, 126-mile Snowman Race stage race, which took her 51 hours to complete over 4.5 days in the wilderness. She only recharged it on the fourth and final night of camping before the last, fifth stage. Meghan admits there was probably enough battery power to not need a recharge, but she wanted to ensure that it would take her all the way to the finish line.
To tackle a similar endeavor with the Vertix 2S, please take note of the slight reduction in battery power, an unavoidable byproduct of the new optical heart rate sensor.
If you’re a person who can’t be bothered to recharge your watch every few days, and you’d like to just set it and forget it — for weeks at a time — the Coros Vertix 2S is a great option.
Fans of fitness and biometric tracking will also be able to rely on the Vertix 2S to cover most everything their Fitbit or similar tracker already records; the app will relay an impressive amount of non-running performance and health indicators.
The Coros Vertix 2S is a big, heavy watch, which some will like, and some won’t, but with its more sophisticated colors and bands, the watch won’t scream “sports!” like previous Vertix models did.
There is a lot to like about the Vertix 2S beyond battery life, but it is debatable whether this watch, with its gigantic display and equally large price tag, will be the best choice for most people who just run.
And this isn’t a knock against Coros; in fact, their Pace series is the best GPS watch on the market today when you want a simple watch for regular running. It’s that the Vertix 2S doesn’t do what some other less expensive watches do for less money.
In closing, if you’re a trail runner or an ultrarunner who loves super-long, adventurous runs — or you’re someone who doesn’t want to charge your GPS running watch every few days — the Coros Vertix 2S could be the correct watch for you.
Do make sure to also check our guide to the Best GPS Watches for Running to see how we compare the Coros Vertix 2S with other GPS running watches on the market today.
Call for Comments
- Are you running with the Coros Vertix 2S? What do you think about this watch’s features?
- How does the Coros Vertix 2S compare with other GPS running watches you’ve used?
Our Favorite GPS Running Watches
Check out our Best GPS Running Watch article to learn about our current favorite GPS running watches for running!
