Mastering the New HYROX Season: Garmin, Apple Watch & Strava Tips for Smarter Training

The 2025 HYROX season is here, and whether you're a first-timer or chasing a new PB, tracking your training and race performance is crucial. With the right Garmin or Apple Watch settings, combined with Strava integration, you can get more accurate data, better pacing, and a clearer picture of your overall fitness.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

• The best watch settings for HYROX on Garmin & Apple

• How to connect your watch to Strava for deeper analysis

• Common FAQs about watch functionality for HYROX

• Why your watch strap choice matters for training vs race day

1. Setting Up Your Garmin for HYROX Training

Garmin remains the most popular choice for HYROX athletes thanks to its advanced tracking features and customisation options. While Garmin doesn’t yet have a dedicated “HYROX” activity profile, you can customise existing modes for more accurate data.

Recommended Garmin Settings

• Activity Profile → Use Strength Training or Cardio for in-gym workouts, and Running for race simulation.

• Data Screens → Add heart rate, pace, lap distance, and calories burned.

• Auto Lap → Set to 1km for accurate pacing during runs. Sometimes Miles can be preset, for Hyrox, it's important to swap this to KM for a more accurate representation.

• Multi-Sport Mode → If your Garmin supports it, create a custom multi-sport profile for your HYROX race:

  • Run → SkiErg → Sled Push → Sled Pull → Burpees → Row → Farmers Carry → Wall Balls

• Strava Integration → Sync your Garmin Connect account with Strava for more detailed performance analysis and segment tracking.

• ROXFIT App → Alternatively, you can also use the ROXFIT app with both Garmin and Apple as an alternative. Highly recommended for training!

Pro Tip: On watches like the Garmin Fenix 7/8 or Forerunner 955/965, you can set up custom alerts for pace, cadence, or heart rate, which can be a game-changer on race day.

2. Using Your Apple Watch for HYROX

Apple’s built-in Workout app has come a long way, and paired with Strava, it’s a powerful tool for HYROX athletes.

Optimise Your Apple Watch Settings

• Workout Mode → Use Functional Strength Training for compound gym sessions and Outdoor Run for race prep.

• Segments → Mark key intervals (e.g. 1km run → sled push → ski erg) to track each HYROX station separately.

• Heart Rate Zones → Set custom zones to monitor your output and avoid burning out early.

• Strava App on Apple Watch → Install the Strava app directly on your watch for better real-time data and easier uploads.

Apple’s optical heart-rate tracking is solid, but pairing with a Bluetooth chest strap improves accuracy during sled pushes and ski erg work — worth considering if you’re chasing a PB.

3. Why You Should Connect Strava to Your Watch

Strava is the go-to platform for analysing performance across training blocks. For HYROX athletes, it’s especially useful because:

• You can track cumulative mileage between workouts

• Compare pacing and heart rate across sessions

• Analyse splits for each HYROX station

• Join HYROX-specific Strava clubs for motivation and tips

Whether you’re on Garmin or Apple, syncing to Strava gives you a central hub for all your training data and insights.

4. Choosing the Right Watch Strap for HYROX Training

During HYROX training and race day, comfort and durability matter just as much as tracking accuracy. Your watch strap can make a surprising difference in performance, especially when workouts involve sled pushes, burpees, or sweaty ski erg sessions.

Nylon vs Silicone Straps

At The Time Club, we stock premium Garmin and Apple watch straps in both nylon and silicone. Many athletes prefer nylon for training (more comfort, less irritation) and silicone for competition (better grip and water resistance).

5. Common FAQs About Garmin, Apple & HYROX Tracking

Q: Can I track HYROX as a single activity on Garmin?
Not yet natively — but you can set up a custom multi-sport profile to simulate HYROX.

Q: Does the Apple Watch have an HYROX workout?
No, but using Functional Strength Training + Outdoor Run works well, and Strava integration adds deeper analysis.

Q: Is Strava better than Garmin Connect?
Strava isn’t necessarily “better” but offers community features, heat maps, segment analysis, and race comparisons that many athletes find useful.

Q: Which watch strap is best for HYROX?
If you want maximum comfort, go for nylon straps for training. For race day or sweaty sessions, silicone straps are a better choice.

Final Thoughts

The new HYROX season is the perfect time to optimise your Garmin or Apple Watch settings and integrate Strava into your training. With better data comes smarter pacing, improved splits, and faster recovery.

And don’t forget your strap choice, a simple swap between nylon and silicone can improve comfort, grip, and overall performance.

Upgrade your setup and check out our full range of Garmin watch straps and Apple watch straps to make sure your gear matches your training.