Garmin Vivoactive is a watch that is most focused on lifestyle athletes. It is a perfect all-day watch that doesn’t look too much like a sports watch. It integrates good quality activity modes for running, swimming, and cycling like higher-end models. This is why I am going to make a review of this watch from the point of view of a triathlete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does Garmin Vivoactive have a triathlon mode?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nGarmin Vivoactive watches do not have a triathlon mode or a multisport mode. It means that you cannot record all 3 sports in one single activity. You can hopefully still record each sport individually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is true for both Garmin Vivoactive 4 (latest model) and Garmin Vivoactive 3 (previous model). <\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/joyfultriathlete.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Garmin_vivoactive_watches.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nCan you use Garmin Vivoactive for triathlon?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nGarmin Vivoactive is not intended for triathlon. It lacks open water swimming mode meaning you can’t use the GPS to record a swim. And there is no multi-sport mode. Though it is possible – but not ideal – to go through the trouble of changing activity during a race to record your triathlon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Garmin has reserved the multi-sport activity profiles for its higher-end watches (like Garmin 735XT, 745, 945, and Fenix watches), with one exception: Garmin Forerunner 255. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are comparing several watches, I recommend you check out this article dedicated to the entire list of triathlon watches with a multi-sport mode<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis means that Garmin Vivoactive is not a triathlon watch: it does not allow recording a triathlon event in a single activity with just a few lap presses to launch the next activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that doesn’t mean you can’t train with it for triathlon. Indeed, the Garmin Vivoactive is compatible with Garmin Connect IQ. This means that it can embed a multisport mode thanks to third-party apps from the Garmin Connect IQ store and even record open water swims. I will review them below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are third-party apps worth for triathlon on Garmin Vivoactive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Swimming App Professional<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/joyfultriathlete.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/SwimAppProfessional.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThis app allows you to record an open water swim on Garmin Vivoactive, even though there is no open water swim capability on the watch natively. The accuracy of the data might not always be spot on, especially with the distance. This is because Garmin has full control about the GPS track. The app here uses an algorithm to try to rectify the track and get as much data as possible when the watch is above water. Indeed, GPS does not record points when your watch is underwater. However, the app is doing a good job at recording open water swims on a watch that is not recording enough GPS points for it. It might not always be perfectly spot on but the accuracy is pretty good. I recommend you give it a try if you already own a Garmin Vivoactive. You can download Swimming App Professionnal here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Triathlon MultiSports<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/joyfultriathlete.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/triathlon-multisports.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAs mentioned before, you can’t record a triathlon with Garmin Vivoactive. But thanks to Garmin Connect IQ Store you can find a couple of apps that allow you to record a triathlon by only pressing a button between each leg. I have tested a couple and I think Triathlon MultiSports is best compromise. It looks good \ud83d\ude42 but also it’s practical. You can change sport by pressing the button on your watch. <\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/joyfultriathlete.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Triathlon_multisports_vivoactive-1600x388.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIt will save as one single activity with a lap per activity. If you upload it to Strava, there are some tools available on the platform to cut the files and split them into different activities. The good thing about this app is that it also records the transition. You can download Triathlon MultiSports here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- DWmap <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/joyfultriathlete.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/dwmap.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nGarmin Vivoactive is lacking mapping features. This can be helpful, especially when training for a triathlon. You might want to explore new directions on your long runs and rides, and having a trace on your watch is a good way not to get lost. This isn’t possible on Garmin Vivoactive but DWmap app from Garmin Connect IQ Store will allow you to create a route on your phone and load it on your watch over the internet by sharing data to your watch. You can download DWmap here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nGarmin Vivoactive best features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nCan you use Garmin Vivoactive for triathlon?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nGarmin Vivoactive is not intended for triathlon. It lacks open water swimming mode meaning you can’t use the GPS to record a swim. And there is no multi-sport mode. Though it is possible – but not ideal – to go through the trouble of changing activity during a race to record your triathlon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Garmin has reserved the multi-sport activity profiles for its higher-end watches (like Garmin 735XT, 745, 945, and Fenix watches), with one exception: Garmin Forerunner 255. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are comparing several watches, I recommend you check out this article dedicated to the entire list of triathlon watches with a multi-sport mode<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis means that Garmin Vivoactive is not a triathlon watch: it does not allow recording a triathlon event in a single activity with just a few lap presses to launch the next activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that doesn’t mean you can’t train with it for triathlon. Indeed, the Garmin Vivoactive is compatible with Garmin Connect IQ. This means that it can embed a multisport mode thanks to third-party apps from the Garmin Connect IQ store and even record open water swims. I will review them below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are third-party apps worth for triathlon on Garmin Vivoactive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Swimming App Professional<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
This app allows you to record an open water swim on Garmin Vivoactive, even though there is no open water swim capability on the watch natively. The accuracy of the data might not always be spot on, especially with the distance. This is because Garmin has full control about the GPS track. The app here uses an algorithm to try to rectify the track and get as much data as possible when the watch is above water. Indeed, GPS does not record points when your watch is underwater. However, the app is doing a good job at recording open water swims on a watch that is not recording enough GPS points for it. It might not always be perfectly spot on but the accuracy is pretty good. I recommend you give it a try if you already own a Garmin Vivoactive. You can download Swimming App Professionnal here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Triathlon MultiSports<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
As mentioned before, you can’t record a triathlon with Garmin Vivoactive. But thanks to Garmin Connect IQ Store you can find a couple of apps that allow you to record a triathlon by only pressing a button between each leg. I have tested a couple and I think Triathlon MultiSports is best compromise. It looks good \ud83d\ude42 but also it’s practical. You can change sport by pressing the button on your watch. <\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIt will save as one single activity with a lap per activity. If you upload it to Strava, there are some tools available on the platform to cut the files and split them into different activities. The good thing about this app is that it also records the transition. You can download Triathlon MultiSports here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- DWmap <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Garmin Vivoactive is lacking mapping features. This can be helpful, especially when training for a triathlon. You might want to explore new directions on your long runs and rides, and having a trace on your watch is a good way not to get lost. This isn’t possible on Garmin Vivoactive but DWmap app from Garmin Connect IQ Store will allow you to create a route on your phone and load it on your watch over the internet by sharing data to your watch. You can download DWmap here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nGarmin Vivoactive best features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This means that Garmin Vivoactive is not a triathlon watch: it does not allow recording a triathlon event in a single activity with just a few lap presses to launch the next activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that doesn’t mean you can’t train with it for triathlon. Indeed, the Garmin Vivoactive is compatible with Garmin Connect IQ. This means that it can embed a multisport mode thanks to third-party apps from the Garmin Connect IQ store and even record open water swims. I will review them below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are third-party apps worth for triathlon on Garmin Vivoactive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Swimming App Professional<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
This app allows you to record an open water swim on Garmin Vivoactive, even though there is no open water swim capability on the watch natively. The accuracy of the data might not always be spot on, especially with the distance. This is because Garmin has full control about the GPS track. The app here uses an algorithm to try to rectify the track and get as much data as possible when the watch is above water. Indeed, GPS does not record points when your watch is underwater. However, the app is doing a good job at recording open water swims on a watch that is not recording enough GPS points for it. It might not always be perfectly spot on but the accuracy is pretty good. I recommend you give it a try if you already own a Garmin Vivoactive. You can download Swimming App Professionnal here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Triathlon MultiSports<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
As mentioned before, you can’t record a triathlon with Garmin Vivoactive. But thanks to Garmin Connect IQ Store you can find a couple of apps that allow you to record a triathlon by only pressing a button between each leg. I have tested a couple and I think Triathlon MultiSports is best compromise. It looks good \ud83d\ude42 but also it’s practical. You can change sport by pressing the button on your watch. <\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIt will save as one single activity with a lap per activity. If you upload it to Strava, there are some tools available on the platform to cut the files and split them into different activities. The good thing about this app is that it also records the transition. You can download Triathlon MultiSports here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- DWmap <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Garmin Vivoactive is lacking mapping features. This can be helpful, especially when training for a triathlon. You might want to explore new directions on your long runs and rides, and having a trace on your watch is a good way not to get lost. This isn’t possible on Garmin Vivoactive but DWmap app from Garmin Connect IQ Store will allow you to create a route on your phone and load it on your watch over the internet by sharing data to your watch. You can download DWmap here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nGarmin Vivoactive best features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThis app allows you to record an open water swim on Garmin Vivoactive, even though there is no open water swim capability on the watch natively. The accuracy of the data might not always be spot on, especially with the distance. This is because Garmin has full control about the GPS track. The app here uses an algorithm to try to rectify the track and get as much data as possible when the watch is above water. Indeed, GPS does not record points when your watch is underwater. However, the app is doing a good job at recording open water swims on a watch that is not recording enough GPS points for it. It might not always be perfectly spot on but the accuracy is pretty good. I recommend you give it a try if you already own a Garmin Vivoactive. You can download Swimming App Professionnal here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned before, you can’t record a triathlon with Garmin Vivoactive. But thanks to Garmin Connect IQ Store you can find a couple of apps that allow you to record a triathlon by only pressing a button between each leg. I have tested a couple and I think Triathlon MultiSports is best compromise. It looks good \ud83d\ude42 but also it’s practical. You can change sport by pressing the button on your watch. <\/p>\n\n\n It will save as one single activity with a lap per activity. If you upload it to Strava, there are some tools available on the platform to cut the files and split them into different activities. The good thing about this app is that it also records the transition. You can download Triathlon MultiSports here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Garmin Vivoactive is lacking mapping features. This can be helpful, especially when training for a triathlon. You might want to explore new directions on your long runs and rides, and having a trace on your watch is a good way not to get lost. This isn’t possible on Garmin Vivoactive but DWmap app from Garmin Connect IQ Store will allow you to create a route on your phone and load it on your watch over the internet by sharing data to your watch. You can download DWmap here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nGarmin Vivoactive best features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/joyfultriathlete.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Garmin_vivoactive_3_menu.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/joyfultriathlete.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Garmin_vivoactive_3.jpg\")