Coros Apex 4 Review

Testing the COROS Apex 4

I took the COROS Apex 4 on the Salento Trail with some friends earlier this year and really enjoyed it. I’ve filtered through different watches over the years, but none really stuck. I’d been hearing about the COROS from friends and athletes in the endurance sports field for its different functions, and thought it was time to try it out.

My first impression was how comfortable it is. I have average-sized wrists and I don’t like the look of big and bulky watches taking up so much space on my arm. The Apex 4 is about 46mm and felt very natural to me. It’s also fairly light, only 64 grams. I like that!

My next impression was over how easy the maps function is on the watch. Apart from using it to track my basic trail metrics, the most important use of the watch for me was the map. I wanted to be able to stay off my phone while staying on trail, especially on sections where there were fewer markings to point us in the right direction.

Finally, I like the interface. I know some people are split on their opinions of it, but I found the UI to be intuitive. There are plenty of design options to choose from for the watch face, and the MIP screen does a good job under daylight. There are fewer customization options than Garmin, but I prefer that it stays simple, so I’m okay with fewer choices.

When we were on trail, I could confidently lead the group, and it was awesome to only need to charge it once in the full 5 days we were out there. Plus it was such a relief to only need a USB-C cord for it. Less to pack is always a win over here. All in all, I like it as a thru-hiking watch and will keep taking it along on future trails.

About the Apex 4

The Coros Apex 4 is the latest in the Apex line from COROS. So far, they’ve produced 4 variations of the watch: the Apex, Apex Pro, Apex 2, and now Apex 4. This product line was created for runners, climbers, skiers, and alpinists. I think that thru-hiking and long-distance hiking fit in there somewhere! Some things about the watch that I like are that the screen is made of sapphire glass with a titanium bezel, which gives it fantastic durability. With this, I’m not worried about using my arms and scrambling when I reach a peak.

It also does a great job of performance tracking, and I found the UI on the metrics after our hike each day easy to read and comprehend. I know I’ve also been mentioning this a lot, but the main draw for me to the watch is the maps. Loading the GPX onto the map was easy and no problem to access. The only critique I have is that when it’s time to turn, the notification takes over a large portion of the screen, so I can’t actually see the turn on the map. It’s not a big deal for me, since there’s usually only one option for where to go, but it’s still something to keep in mind.

Otherwise, the COROS Apex 4 is very intuitive and easy to use, especially when I’m tired and don’t want to deal with technology. They built the watch with endurance athletes in mind, and that feels very clear every time I use it.

Conclusion

I see what the hype is about. COROS keeps their product line small, so they can perfect each item that they produce. I was really pleased with the Apex 4 and will continue using it. And while I haven’t needed to reach out for any support help from them, it’s really reassuring knowing that they have the care to help if something goes wrong with my watch and that there’s a two year warranty on it. The watch is a great addition to my kit and I look forward to putting it to the test again soon.