What This Hyrox Race Test Tells Us About Both Watches
This sports smartwatch comparison between the Garmin Forerunner 970 and the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro examines how each device tracks and supports a full Hyrox race when worn side by side, focusing on real-time reliability, structured multi-sport tracking, and post-race analysis features under competitive conditions. Hyrox is a demanding format: eight 1 km runs broken up by functional workout stations like sled pushes, rowing, lunges, and wall balls. In this test, both watches were worn during the same 01:36:48 race effort, giving a rare like‑for‑like look at Hyrox race tracking. Core sensors such as heart rate were previously found to be closely matched, so the question here is not basic accuracy. Instead, the race exposed which watch better supports the athlete’s brain and body when fatigue, transitions, and messy workout stations start to pile up.
Hyrox Race Modes and In‑Race Usability
In race conditions, the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro gains an early lead thanks to a built‑in Hyrox race mode. From the workout menu you select Hyrox, press start, and the watch already understands the order of runs and stations, shaping the data from the first step. The Garmin Forerunner 970, by contrast, has no native Hyrox profile. To mimic that structure you must install the Roxfit app on the watch beforehand and configure it correctly. According to Lifehacker, missing a setup step meant Garmin “logged every segment as a run,” blurring the difference between runs and stations. During the race, Amazfit’s small on‑screen icons preview the next station and its lap button logic makes moving between run and station segments feel natural, while Garmin’s controls felt clunkier once the effort level rose.
Multi‑Sport Accuracy, Metrics, and Battery Expectations
Both the Garmin Forerunner 970 and Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro deliver the core metrics you expect from premium racing watches: pace, distance, and heart rate that have already been shown to match closely in earlier tests. In a Hyrox race, the challenge is less about GPS precision on straight paths and more about handling abrupt stops, sled pushes, rowing, and lunges where wrist position changes quickly. The tester notes that wrist‑based heart rate on the Amazfit held up well enough for this race, but they would prefer pairing a chest strap in future events to double‑check readings during heavy station work. Battery life was not a limiting factor for a 01:36:48 effort for either watch, so endurance over a single Hyrox event is a non‑issue. What matters more is how clearly each device presents those metrics when you glance down between gasping breaths.
Post‑Race Analysis: Zepp vs Garmin Connect
After the finish line, Hyrox athletes care about more than a single finish time; they want to see run and station splits, and where they slowed down. Here, Amazfit’s Zepp app stands out. It presents a clean timeline of the race with icons marking each station and each 1 km run, mirroring how the event is structured in your memory. That makes it easy to see how fast you moved from sled push to run, or how much a wall ball station cost you. Garmin Connect, by comparison, demands more manual detective work. Because the Forerunner 970 recorded everything as running intervals in this test, the athlete had to cross‑reference timestamps and heart rate spikes to reconstruct which segment was which. The Roxfit app is still central for official splits, but Amazfit users can treat it as a results hub rather than a crutch for missing in‑watch structure.
Which Racing Smartwatch Wins Hyrox Competition?
In this specific Hyrox race tracking test, the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro edged out the Garmin Forerunner 970 where it mattered most: providing a race‑aware interface during the chaos of eight run‑station cycles and giving clear, structured data after the event. The built‑in Hyrox mode, next‑station icons, intuitive lap transitions, and Zepp’s timeline view all reduce mental load when your brain is busy surviving sled pushes and burpee broad jumps. According to Lifehacker’s tester, the Forerunner 970 still shines for traditional running, thanks to its depth of running dynamics and normally reliable interface. However, for Hyrox’s unique mix of running and functional fitness, they concluded that “for Hyrox race day, with all its specific demands and organized chaos, Amazfit wins this one.” For athletes targeting Hyrox, the Cheetah 2 Pro’s race‑specific design is the more dependable partner.
