Ironman Triathlete Tries The Apple Watch Ultra - Is It Worth It?

[@Superz3ro]

(3:45) @ 100% battery, I took the Ultra off the charger on a Friday @0800, kept it on the solar watch face mainly, monitoring my activity circles, and used the cross training workout app at least once Friday/Saturday/Sunday, and the Ultra ran out of juice Monday around 12:07 Afternoon. I even took several calls, and set the watch to wake when I raise my wrist. So Always-On-Display was off. The second time, I attempted to monitor battery usage, it lasted roughly 56 Hours (Two days and Eight hours), I was less aware of what I did in regards to the watch this time. Currently testing the duration of the battery again, hopefully more cognizant of my usage compared to the previous time… 🤔

[@GeekCulture]

If you understand how Lucas trains it’s different than some cross training. He does two a day workouts from open sea swimming to cycling etc.

[@Superz3ro]

@@GeekCulture Yeah I get that. Basically, The Ultra is marketed to people who think they workout like Lucas. Apples target demographic is hugely broad, compared to Garmin’s consumers. Apple’s marketing will entice certain adventure types that would usually buy Garmin, but realistically, most likely buyers that are just “active,” not extreme. Garmin products are marketed to a niche set of adventurers and extreme athletes. Which is why they charge more for a product that technically does less and is more limited. With the ability to fine tune its power consumption, the Ultra has more potential to evolve into a more capable tool for the extreme adventurers, especially once the upcoming low power mode is available. Then there is always the ability for the Ultra to become anything it wants, with the simple download of an app…

[@5irefly]

Love the unvarnished presentation by Lucas.

[@GeekCulture]

Thanks. We do too

[@Cookefan59]

Last November, After about 3 months going back and forth between Garmin and Apple, I chose Apple by a millimeter 😮 because it fits into my lifestyle. I am not a high end athlete but I am a high end professional. I’ll never win a competition but I do like to compete against myself. I’ll be trying the Ultra in a Reverse Sprint Triathlon this morning. It did allow me to create a multi sport event like that. I’m inclined to use the action button for transitions and such. My last sports watch was. Garmin 910XT and it still works 100%. I’m thinking about wearing it as well for a comparison. Great video, great guest and much appreciated topic!

[@Ha_Kr1]

Hi what do you think for aw ultra ?

[@frnc3sk]

@@Ha_Kr1 I'm a thriatlete too (non professional) and I'm an apple fan. But no, Apple Watch Ultra (in 2024) is NOT ready to be the one who's going to replace my Garmin FR955. Reasons: You can't follow a swimming structured workout with it or a power running workout. You need 3rd party apps and pay for it (even paying, the experience it's poor).

[@DavidBlodgett]

audio is blown out. Good review

[@JustinIngrey-t7q]

Can you customize the screen, so it just shows pace and distance travelled? I'm long sighted so need large numbers so I can read my pace and distance travelled but need them to be large so they are readable.

[@RunnerRemRem]

The lack of swim features and the restrictions when it comes to the use of buttons when swimming is unfortunately a big no for me.

[@GeekCulture]

Yes something Apple will probably work on for the next version.

[@mateuscabrera]

Can u name some of the swim features ?

[@kyrreloftaas]

FYI you don't need a strap to measure cadence with Garmin.

[@earthwatcher2012]

What about the cycling ? Can you set it to figure out how many miles you've pedaled ?

[@GeekCulture]

Yes you can

[@earthwatcher2012]

@@GeekCulture thank you 🙏🏽

[@djbwhizz]

Does it not able to connect to bluetooth cycling sensors?

[@GeekCulture]

No it can’t. Only heart rate monitors

[@jamesharrell4131]

@@GeekCulture it can if using the workoutdoors app he mentioned.

[@rickaguirre8193]

Olympic Tri on an ultra got only 15% drain for 3 hours of racing in Tri mode workout. Catch at least for me is the open water shows zero yards but fully map the route I did.

[@GeekCulture]

Open water was also an issue for Lucas

[@paulzhang1992]

It also has very limited data. For example, I got no NP for cycling, no km split data for running😢

[@milanpintar]

He looks like Mark Dacascos

[@GeekCulture]

Haha a bit yes