Coros Vertix 2s Review - We explore the standout features of the Coros Vertix 2s, its robust construction, cutting-edge GPS accuracy, and user-friendly design
The Coros Vertix 2s has earned its place as a top contender among premium adventure GPS watches, built for outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, and anyone tackling extreme conditions. Combining advanced features, exceptional battery life, and rugged durability, the Coros Vertix 2s redefines what a multisport wearable can achieve.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore the standout features of the Coros Vertix 2s, including its robust construction, cutting-edge GPS accuracy, and user-friendly design. Whether you’re a trail runner, ultra-endurance athlete, or weekend hiker, this watch might just be your perfect companion.
Battery Performance
As I personally embark on new challenges taking part in multi day events such as the Montane Spine, Windermere Lap ultra events etc, I was looking for a watch that would potentially go the full distance without the worry of regular charging.
I have been using my Coros Vertix 2s the last few months set as the 'All Systems On' Satellite mode and have been very pleased with the battery life, I have also listening to music during my activities which I know has a bigger drain but I can see already from my results that my Coros Vertix 2s watch will achieve and potentially exceed the battery life figures quoted by Coros, which is great to see.
Also when taking part in multi day events where you might come into a checkpoint for a rest there is a great feature on the Coros Vertix 2s watch, where from a single button press you can pause your recording & select resume later , this will take your watch back to a standard watch face and turns of Satellite recording to save battery but with a databox set to total activity time, when you come out of the checkpoint a simple press of the start button takes you back to a Resume option and your total activity time will show your total event time.
Manufactures Battery figures below:
Standard Connects to GPS and QZSS
118 Hours
32 Hours (With Music)
All Systems On Connects to GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS
73 Hours
27 Hours (With Music)
Dual Frequency Connects to GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS in Dual Frequency
43 Hours
22 Hours (With Music)
Daily Use
40 Days - With daily and sleep tracking
36 Days (With Daily Stress) - Monitors your stress level throughout the day
Charging Time
Less Than 2 Hours
One of the features of the Coros Vertix 2s is its Toolbox menu, which includes a comprehensive battery management screen. This feature provides real-time insights into your watch's battery performance and usage patterns, making it an invaluable tool for ultra runners and endurance athletes.
Key Battery Features in the Toolbox
- Battery Life Estimation:
The Coros Vertix 2s displays the expected battery life remaining based on your current settings and usage. This helps you plan for long activities or multi-day events without worrying about running out of power.
- Battery Usage History:
A unique feature lets you scroll back through previous days to analyze how various functions, such as GPS tracking or music playback, have contributed to battery consumption. This transparency allows users to better manage their watch settings for optimized performance.
Real-World Testing
The screenshots below showcase battery performance with the Coros Vertix 2s set to 'All Systems On' Satellite mode. This mode maximizes tracking accuracy while still delivering Great battery longevity—a feature ultra runners and outdoor adventurers will appreciate.![]()
Satellite Accuracy and Lock Speed: Coros Vertix 2s Performance
Over the last few months, I’ve thoroughly tested the Coros Vertix 2s during a series of hikes and an off-road trail marathon. Its satellite accuracy and lock speed have consistently impressed me, making it a reliable companion for trail running and outdoor adventures.
Real-World Testing: Off-Road Trail Marathon
During my first test—a trail marathon through fairly dense forested areas—the Coros Vertix 2s delivered exceptional performance:
-
Mile Marker Precision:
I set 1-mile distance alerts, and the watch accurately aligned with the event’s mile markers almost perfectly. By the end of the marathon, the watch recorded a total distance of 26.22 miles, showcasing minimal drift even in challenging environments like tight forest corners.
-
Tracking Accuracy:
Reviewing the recorded route, the tracking was precise, with only slight deviations in areas with tight turns—a common challenge for GPS devices in dense tree cover.
Quick Satellite Lock
One of the standout features of the Coros Vertix 2s is its speed in locking onto satellites:
-
All Systems On Mode:
Using this mode, the watch consistently locked onto satellites in just 4-5 seconds after starting an activity. This speed is ideal for runners and hikers who want to get moving without delays.
-
Satellite Overview Screen:
The Coros Vertix 2 includes a dedicated Satellite screen, which provides an overview of orbiting satellites, how many are visible, and which ones the watch is currently locked onto. This feature is both informative and practical for monitoring connection quality during activities.
Why Satellite Accuracy Matters
For runners, hikers, and adventurers, precise GPS tracking is essential for route planning, distance measurement, and ensuring you stay on course. The Coros Vertix 2s quick satellite lock and high accuracy make it a standout choice for anyone navigating challenging terrains or dense forests.
Large Screen and Sunlight Visibility: Coros Vertix 2s
The Coros Vertix 2s features an impressive 1.4-inch display with a resolution of 280 x 280 and support for 64 colors. This large screen is designed with Memory in Pixel (MIP) technology, making it exceptionally well-suited for outdoor activities, even in bright sunlight.
Superior Visibility in Bright Sunlight
The MIP display technology ensures that the screen remains clear and easy to read in direct sunlight, providing reliable visibility during hikes, runs, and other outdoor adventures. This makes the Coros Vertix 2 a standout choice for trail runners and ultra-athletes who need a dependable, sunlight-readable display.
Flexible Data Box Layouts
The Coros Vertix 2s offers extensive customization for activity data screens, allowing you to tailor the layout to your preferences:
- Choose between 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 data boxes per screen.
- Create up to 5 data box pages, enabling you to organize and view all the information you need for your activity.
Designed for Accessibility
For users who wear reading glasses, like me, the 3-data box layout is particularly helpful. By customizing the background colours, you can enhance readability:
-
Main boxes: Set to black for better contrast.
-
Smaller box: Set to a white background for optimal visibility.
This setup works exceptionally well for me, allowing me to clearly see my data without needing to wear reading glasses.
Below are some examples of the data box layouts I use on my Coros Vertix 2s. These layouts showcase how customizable and clear the screens are, even in challenging conditions like bright sunlight or during fast-paced activitity.
The Coros mobile App makes it incredibly simple to customize your activities and adjust the data box screen layouts to suit your preferences. Whether you’re preparing for a trail run, hike, or ultra race, the app provides a user-friendly interface to tailor your watch settings
Clear route navigation line, off course alerts & track back function
With ultra events like the Montane Spine Winter & Montane Spine summer race and the Montane Spine Challenger events the organisers will provide you with GPX files of the route which can be loaded very easily onto your Coros Vertix 2s Watch using the Coros Mobile App & Bluetooth connection to your watch.
With the Coros Vertix 2s Watch, you can leverage the Coros App to download Topo and Landscape Maps for any region worldwide. Featuring an impressive 32GB internal storage, this watch can easily accommodate extensive mapping data. For instance, mapping all of Europe only takes about 7GB, leaving plenty of room for additional resources.
Pros and Cons of Coros Mapping
While the Coros maps are convenient, there are some limitations:
- The maps are less detailed than some Open Source Topo Maps.
- The watch doesn’t support live auto-routing, meaning you cannot request directions to a specific location unless you’ve pre-loaded a route.
However, there are also key advantages:
- Following a pre-loaded route is clear and user-friendly. The route line includes very clear to see directional arrows, making it easy to stay on track. On more detailed maps, it can sometimes be harder to distinguish your route from other map features.
- The off-course alerts are highly effective. If you stray about 80 feet off your route, the watch vibrates, emits an audible tone, and shows the distance you are off-course on the map. A red line points you back to the route for quick correction.
User-Friendly Navigation Features
The scroll wheel is intuitive for zooming in and out on the map, and you can also use the touchscreen to move around the map seamlessly. Additionally, the scroll wheel lets you zoom in and out on the elevation graph screen, giving you a detailed view of your route’s terrain.
When recording a route, you can switch to the navigation screen anytime and select the option to follow your breadcrumb trail back to the starting point.
Enhanced Data and Checkpoints
In addition to the map screen, your navigation experience is enriched with an elevation graph and customizable data fields for your activity. There’s also a dedicated navigation screen showing the distance to your destination and the elevation remaining to reach it.
With the Coros App, you can create checkpoints along your route. These can be named, and you can set proximity alerts for them. On your watch, an extra screen will display the distance to each checkpoint, helping you stay organized and prepared during your journey.
As well as Route navigation the Coros watch does also have an electronic compass & barometric altimeter.
As of January 2025 the Coros Vertix 2s watch now can be set for Great Britain to use Ordnance Survey Grid Refences rather than just BNG to give you a Grid Reference to cross refer with your paper Ordnance Survey map.
Tough and Robust Construction: Coros Vertix 2s
The Coros Vertix 2s is built for durability, making it an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts and endurance athletes who need a watch that can withstand the toughest conditions.
Sapphire Screen: Unmatched Durability
Having previously used the Coros Apex 2 Pro for two years, which features the same Sapphire screen as the Vertix 2, I can confidently say that the screen is remarkably tough. After extensive use, my Apex 2 Pro’s screen remained unmarked, and I expect the same level of durability from the Coros Vertix 2s.
Premium Materials and Rugged Design
-
Bezel Material: Grade 5 Titanium Alloy with PVD Coating, offering strength and resistance to wear.
-
Cover Material: Titanium Alloy with PVD Coating, adding to the watch's rugged styling and robust feel.
-
Water Resistance: Rated at 10 ATM, suitable for surface water activities but not for diving.
-
Temperature Resistance:
-
Operating Temperature: -22°F to 122°F (-30°C to 50°C).
-
Storage Temperature: -22°F to 140°F (-30°C to 60°C).
Interchangeable Bands
The Coros Vertix 2s comes with two band options:
-
Silicone Band: Ideal for general use and water activities like swimming.
-
Nylon Band: My personal favorite for trail runs and hikes due to its:
- Lightweight design.
- Precise adjustments for a comfortable fit.
- Quick-drying material that’s easy to clean.
Both bands feature a 26mm quick-release system, making them easy to swap. Additionally, third-party 26mm quick-release bands (such as those from Garmin) are compatible, providing even more customization options.
Easy-to-Use Controls
The Coros Vertix 2s features large, user-friendly buttons and an intuitive scroll wheel:
- The scroll wheel is excellent for unlocking the screen and navigating menus or screens effortlessly.
- The controls are especially convenient during activities when quick adjustments are needed.
Conclusion: Why the Coros Vertix 2s Stands Out
After several months of using the Coros Vertix 2s, including hikes, a marathon, and gym HIIT sessions, I’m thoroughly impressed by its performance. This watch has exceeded my expectations in several key areas:
-
Battery Life: The battery consistently outperforms expectations, even during intensive activities.
-
GPS Accuracy: Tracking has been precise, even in challenging environments.
-
Large Screen: The 1.4-inch display makes data boxes easy to read during activities.
I wasn’t looking for a smartwatch with a wide range of non-essential features. Instead, I prioritized a tough, reliable watch with:
- Accurate activity recording.
- Clear, easy-to-read data.
- Exceptional battery life.
- Simple route navigation.
- An uncomplicated interface for both the watch and app.
The Coros Vertix 2s delivers on all these fronts. While it includes some handy smart features, such as phone call and text message alerts, it doesn’t allow you to reply or answer directly from the watch. This keeps the focus on performance rather than distractions.
Music Playback
Music playback works well with paired Bluetooth headphones, but it’s worth noting that the watch only supports MP3 files transferred via USB connection to a computer. While this isn’t as convenient as streaming, it fits the minimalist, focused design of the watch.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the market for a robust GPS watch with a Sapphire screen, great battery life, and accurate GPS recording, the Coros Vertix 2s is an excellent option. It’s easy to use, reliable, and designed for athletes who value simplicity and functionality over unnecessary extras.
This is the watch I’m now using personally, and I’m confident it will perform well during the ultra events and marathons I have planned for this year.
More information can be found on the Coros Vertix 2s here
We also stock the smaller Coros Apex 2 Pro & Coros Apex 2 Watches
