What This Hyrox Fitness Watch Comparison Really Tests
This fitness watch comparison pits the Garmin Forerunner 970 and the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro against each other in a real Hyrox race, examining how each device handles structured running and functional workout stations under pressure rather than focusing on specs alone. Hyrox combines eight 1 km runs with eight workout stations, including sled pushes, rowing, burpee broad jumps, walking lunges, and wall balls, so any watch used needs to track frequent transitions and mixed effort. In this test, both watches were worn simultaneously during a 01:36:48 race, turning one debut performance into a side‑by‑side laboratory. The goal was clear: find out which device gives more reliable Hyrox race tracking, more useful data, and an easier in‑race experience when your heart rate is spiking and your brain is busy surviving the next station.
Setup and Hyrox Modes: Native Support vs Workaround
From the moment you prepare your watch, the differences start to appear. The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro includes a built‑in Hyrox race mode in its workout menu, so you pick “Hyrox” and the watch already understands the alternating pattern of runs and stations. Data capture is structured from the first press of the start button, which removes most chances for setup mistakes. The Garmin Forerunner 970, despite its reputation for depth and precision, does not offer a native Hyrox profile. To mimic the same structure, you must install Roxfit, a third‑party app that integrates with Garmin Connect and the wider Hyrox ecosystem. According to Lifehacker’s Meredith Dietz, Roxfit “works, but it requires setup ahead of time,” and any missed step means a confusing mid‑race experience when you can least afford it.
In‑Race Experience: Icons, Lap Transitions, and Focus
Once the race starts, user experience matters more than raw specs. The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro immediately stands out thanks to on‑screen icons that show which station is coming next. When your grip is fading and your lungs are burning, these small visuals become critical cues, so you do not waste mental energy remembering the course order. Hyrox requires you to trigger each transition yourself as you move between runs and stations, and the Cheetah 2 Pro’s lap button logic feels natural during that chaos. The Garmin Forerunner 970, though powerful, feels clunkier to handle in this context, especially if the Roxfit setup is not perfect. In this specific type of race, the winner is the watch that disappears into the background so you can focus on pushing sleds, not pushing buttons.
Post‑Race Hyrox Data: Zepp vs Garmin Connect
After the finish line, Hyrox race tracking shifts from survival to analysis, and the companion apps tell very different stories. Zepp, paired with the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro, presents a clean timeline that mirrors the race structure, using icons to mark each 1 km run and each station in order. You can scan your performance the same way you remember racing it, making patterns and weak spots easy to spot. Garmin Connect treats the Forerunner 970’s recording as a sequence of running intervals, especially if your Roxfit configuration was off. That means more manual detective work: cross‑referencing timestamps with heart rate spikes and trying to guess which segment was sled push versus walking lunges. For Hyrox‑specific analysis, Zepp turns out to be more helpful, while Garmin Connect feels better suited to traditional running sessions with fewer moving parts.
The Unexpected Winner for Hyrox Racing
Both watches keep up on core metrics like heart rate, but Hyrox exposes which features matter most when racing through organized chaos. The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro combines a native Hyrox mode, on‑screen station icons, intuitive lap transitions, and clearer post‑race data in Zepp, creating a package that feels purpose‑built for this event. The Garmin Forerunner 970 remains a favorite for standard road running, intervals, and deep running‑dynamics analysis, and its owner still calls themself a “die‑hard Garmin fan.” However, in this specific fitness watch comparison focused on Hyrox race tracking, Amazfit wins on ease and reliability. One caveat remains: pairing the Cheetah 2 Pro with a chest‑strap heart rate monitor would provide extra confidence during intense station work, where wrist sensors can struggle with changing wrist positions and heavy upper‑body effort.