The Best Smart Watch for Kitesurfing

No one mentions water resistance. Are they all really good enough today? My experience with regular sport watches as both a kiter and a windsurfer is that at 10 ATM or below, water will get inside. In a crash the pressure can get extreme for a fraction of a second. I've had several 5 and 10 ATM but they all broke. My latest is 20 ATM (in orange...😉). It can take the beating. No IP-standard is enough. (After years of watching your excellent YT-channel, why is half the kite scene over there Russians? In Canada. Hmmm 🙂)

I love my vivoactive 4…

damn, sounds like Ontario is a town somewhere in Russia ... ;)

Garmin Instinct Solar for me. Noticed the striking white watch on King of the Air Champ Kevin Langeree. Had to get one, no regrets 🤘🤙

I use Garmin Fenix 5s plus sapphire, and it's absolutely brilliant watch. This watch comparable with woo, and track all my activity. But have only one con, because it's "s" version and have smallest battery, compare to other Fenix series watches. It's 20% battery life for 2 hours session, so I need to charge it every 2-3 days.

I bought one of the apple se cellular watches, I already had an Apple Watch first generation which are not water proff or have cellular,
Absolutely love using it with the new woo app, it really gives you everything you need and can use it as a phone on the water aswell if needed

Great comparison of the various smart watches for Kiting. Helps me decide if I really need one and which one to buy.

I have the Garmin Fenix 5x. I bought it because of the battery life -- I wanted to track all day ski sessions no matter how cold it got. It has excelled at that. The one thing I don't like about it is that the connector gets fouled, and I have a hard time charging it now. Exposure to salt water has probably contributed to that problem.

I'm thinking about getting the Apple Watch series 7, because I'd like the cellular connection for safety purposes. I want this feature for kiting, where I'd rather not carry a regular phone. Also, the Apple Watch has connector-less charging. The battery life is a concern, though.

It seems that Garmin should be coming out with a Fenix 7. They usually come out with new models around this time of year, but I have a sense that it is delayed. If the Fenix 7 has a phone and connector-less charging, it will be the no-brainer choice.

I have the Fenix 6x pro solar and it's amazing

Great video. I missed however Samsung Gear and Coros watches. Also the aspect of sustainability. The battery life of my smart watch dropped significantly down after 2 years. And I don't think I will get any new one as the the pollution created with buying such watches every 2 years hardly matches the value. And I enjoy the freedom when kiting even more :-)

Great video, thank you. I did not see any comment about cellular phone or text access while kiting. I am a physician and this would allow me more days on the water. I know Apple watch does this, but Apple doesn't seem attractive compared to the others. Any advice??

Garmin Venu2...amazing, and I link all my sessions to Strava. Woo does not interest me. I found myself fixated on height instead of progression. Kiting is much better without Woo (Love your vids)

I quite liked the video, thanks! Some time back I would have bought Garmin / iWatch, but my priority now is a new 9mts, otherwise there is nothing to track…

Lol, i also use the same Casio watch 😂😂😂 gives you time and battery lasts for years xD

Don’t buy the Mi Watch for Kitesurfing! It has a dedicated Kitesurfing mode but it track nothing than the pulse. No speed, no jump , no GPS is activated. No distance. I try sailing, other Watersports and paddle board mode but same, GPS is not activated. Only open Water track GPS but it’s a swimming mode that track Arm movements and swimming style that is not compatible with Kitesurfing. No idea what mode to use than.
Surfr App I try too. But you have to take the phone with you and get only max speed, total distance and time on water. Simple gps track. Disappointing too, was light wind foiling day so no jumps.

Suunto 5

Amazfit GTS - GPS track, distance, session time w\o pauses, max and overage speed, small size, 1 month work, 20-30 hours with GPS, statistic in smartphone, mode - Sailing (no kite boarding). Price - 50-100$ Good gadget for beginner and amateur

Hello, great video. You forgot to mention the safety of having a phone when you kite in the Apple Watch :-)

Aleksi is a badass !

Question for Alexei. I recently bought a Garmin Tactix Charlie which is apparently based on the Fenix 5X. Do you think the app will ever enable active jump display on the non "plus" Fenix 5 models?

If you want music on the water get a Samsung or a Garmin! Download your spotify playlists to your watch and connect up to your waterproof speaker (I use UE wonderboom) and you've got music whilst you ride! Great for long Kitefoiling missions :)

Hi there! Guys, you're doing great content, 10x a lot for that! talking about "smart"watches: no one mentioned Honor watch GS-Pro , I use it for a couple months, it equipped with GPS-tracking profiles, waterproof, and 2 weeks life battery. I bought it for 230 USD so it's pretty affordable. Privet from Moscow!

Suunto 9 Baro is the best. Tough, accurate, tracks every single things

I have an Apple Watch series 3. Works great on the water and I haven’t had issues with battery life at long as its charged up before a session.

Does the Woo app work on newer Polar watch models (namely the Vantage V2)? Any plan to make one in case not?? 🙂

could you ask the developer if he wants to develop an app for the garmin instinct solar surf?? That whould be great!!!

Thank you for your very informative and pertinent video as usual 🙂🤙

Has anyone used the tag heuer connected and is it compatible with the woo app?

hello, is the developper alexis considering developping an woo app for RTOS ? There is many affordable watch like the amazfit trex pro (10 ATM) using this OS :)

Samsung 46mm with Strava App...awesome

Can that guy make an app for wingfoiling?

Hi, thanks for the video, how do I take Alexei's proposal for developing an app, can you share his contact info. Cheers!

Is it ok for using apple watch 5 for kitesurfing? Is it water resistent good enough for doing kitesurfing?

Добрый день.
Подскажите, пожалуйста, как на часы Tic Watch Pro 3 LTE поставить приложение WOO с дисплеем.
Спасибо!

The most important feature for a smart watch for kitesurfing imo is LTE. You want to be able to send a distress call or message on a 4g network if you need to (not able to come back and being dragged offshore, stranded on a beach with a damaged kite, etc...).
Also, I lost an expensive Garmin Epix watch while kitesurfing. It was a bit unlucky, I had my left hand on my board and was relaunching the kite when the lines slid on top of my left arm and popped the watch right off. It happened really fast and the watch was never to be seen again...
Probably would never happen again but these watches are bulky, they do stand out very much from your wrist. They can get entangled in stuff. Also I don't see the point of going to kitesurf with a 900$ watch that can't help you if you're in trouble. Now I switch my expensive Epix for a cheap (150$) galaxy watch 4 4g when I go out on the water. I buy a data package for it just before a kite vacation. Should I have a problem I can call or send a msg to someone on the beach and send them my location. For iphone users, I think the apple watch se cellular would be the equivalent.

How do you attach the hairband to the watch to create a safety strap?

What software is it that you are showing in the video around 28 secs in with the mapping of speeds etc over the run?

i have a garmen phenix 6 pro i love it for kiting and for me jumps on woo . and for me top speed . i down load on strava i recomande this watch

Is the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro the beginning model of Garmins that have the kiting mode or does the Fenix 6 also have it?

Does the Fenix 5X Plus support the kitesurfing mode?

Your Polar Ignite is the first edition?

Does anybody has any experience with the Garmin Instinct 2 Surf Edition in combination with Woo?
Would you recommend it (if you don't want to spend a lot of money for a fenix)?

Can any Garmin watch track a kite session?

hello , can somebody recommend kitesurfing app for garmin forerunner955. Thanks

Does the Garmin Fenix shows woo height in real time? Does it shows Surfer app in real time?

I lke SUUNTO watches, bought this season SUUNTO RACE 2024, battery life is great, no warries about durability 100 in water deeo supported. So it easy cheaper than gamin models

Absolutely love your authentic & unbiased user feedbacks / reviews, it is not so common these days on YT.
I used to enjoy my blue Galaxy Watch 5 as is was so good looking, not the monster sport watch for alpha males. Unfortunately UI is sluggish to be nice, and it died twice on the water, definitely not kiteproof (bc if repeated chocks, maybe). Will opt for something more ruggedized & really waterproof next time.
Would you consider shooting an update of this video since a lot has changed since (lots of new hardware, incredible surfr app...).