review CLEVER STUFF THE BEST The already excellent what3words app, GPS WATCH which converts locations into three- word codes for easy YOU’VE NEVER finding and sharing, has added a smart new function: photo HEARD OF tagging. The free app, which divides The new Coros Vertix rivals the latest advances the globe into 57 trillion 3m x 3m from Garmin and Suunto, but is it better? squares each with a REVIEW: NICK HALLISSEY unique three-word name, is a great way N RECENT MONTHS We’VE although the fenix is slightly more of sharing meeting places or great I given favourable reviews to the slick at that. Where it really scores viewpoints, and now you can add latest GPS smartwatches from both over the Garmin is ease of use: it a w3w tag to your favourite photos Garmin (the fenix 6 series) and has three simple buttons, unlike the to share their location or find them Suunto (the Suunto 7). And then fenix’s baffling five, and starting again. And just because we love along came a much newer name a track is dead easy – just two taps the names, here are a few of our to the market, with a watch that has of the main button. Coros also claim favourite what3words locations: impressed us out of all proportion it has the most accurate altimeter on Summit of Mam Tor: to its brand profile. the market, although in lockdown I’ve ///hubcaps.utensil.elevator You probably haven’t heard much only been able to test it in the Fens, Lizard Point, Cornwall: from Coros, but the Vertix (or as they where I struggle to rise above sea ///airbag.hopes.ratio shoutily style it, VERTIX) takes aim at level. The Coros app is great too. Summit of Snowdon: both the above, especially the fenix. So does it leave the fenix in the ///perfectly.traffic.decking It competes on price (it’s £520; the dust? Well no, because Coros are entry-level fenix is £530), it looks upfront that it’s dedicated to the similar and weighs about the same outdoors and not meant to excel as at 56g. It has roughly the same build a ‘lifestyle’ smartwatch, whereas the quality, with titanium bezel and fenix wants to rival an Apple Watch Sapphire glass face. It also has the as well as being a GPS device. same absurdly long battery life; in Yes you’ll see text messages and fact slightly more so: with regular use, call notifications if Bluetooth is on, including GPS tracking, it will run for but the Vertix doesn’t offer music more than a month without needing storage and multi-app management to be charged. Even with all GPS like the fenix does. Also the Coros functions running, it will go for app lacks a desktop version, which 60 hours solid. That is stunning. Garmin has; route-plotting is much GPS signal location is just as quick easier on a desktop than on a phone. GOOD READS as the fenix’s, and syncing your Finally, the fenix boasts a wider If you’re looking for a great read right activities to the Coros app is near- range of specialised bio-monitoring now, try Just Another Mountain by instant, just as it is with the fenix. functions like VO2 Max and adaptive Sarah Jane Douglas. Released last year Accuracy is great, although very training, if those are your thing. and now out in paperback, it’s the raw, occasionally (twice in 22 routes) the But if you don’t need that fancy real and hugely uplifting story of how post-sync map overlay is slightly off. stuff, and you’re looking for a reliable, artist and blogger It’s reasonably easy to import easy-to-use GPS watch that’s built for Sarah battled back routes to the watch if you want to, the outdoors and hardly ever needs from losing her charging, the Vertix (sorry, VERTIX!) mother to cancer is definitely worth a very close look. – and then coros.com enduring cancer treatment herself ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – to conquer VERDICT Kilimanjaro and all PROS: Accuracy, ease of use, 282 of Scotland’s speed of sync, value for money. Munros. One of CONS: Lacks lifestyle features and our favourite reads enhanced biometric monitoring. of last year. £9 from Amazon and Waterstones. 16 COUNTRY WALKING JUNE 2020 .