Coros isn’t well-known in cycling, but the brand has built a reputation among the running and ultra-running communities for its user-friendly smartwatches with long battery life. The company has just launched its first cycling computer, the Dura, which has a claimed run time of 120 hours. Coros also claims that for every hour spent riding in full sunlight, the device’s massive solar panel will provide an additional two hours of run time, meaning you could theoretically go weeks or even months without needing to charge it. The Coros Dura Cycling Computer is here to shake up the cycling market, but does the company have what it takes to compete with Garmin?

Related: COROS Vertix 2S Gives Flagship Lineup a Nudge Forward

I received my test sample last week, so test time is very limited. Furthermore, software updates need to add quite a bit of functionality for this cycling computer to compete with any existing head unit. In fact, enough functions are still in development that I won’t even call this a first-ride review, simply an overview of the device. However, if Coros can deliver on its promised software updates, many of which the company claims will be available when the device is available to consumers in mid-July, then it could be a serious competitor to Garmin and Wahoo. Read on for the details.

 

Coros Dura Highlights

• Claimed up to 120 hours of ride time on a single charge with full GPS support
• Up to 2 extra hours of ride time per hour from solar charging
• Fully customizable 2.7″ MIP color screen with adaptive backlight
• Responsive touchscreen for simple and safe use on the bike
• Digital dial and single-button for one-finger control with ease
• Dual-frequency satellite tracking with auto GPS mode selection
• Turn-by-turn and smart rerouting powered by Google Maps (coming soon)
• Built-in global offline maps for navigation on all types of terrain
• Upload post-ride data in seconds, regardless of activity duration
• Gain complete fitness insights with COROS watches and sensors
• Bluetooth and ANT+ support and third-party integrations
• MSRP: $249
• Available for pre-order now, devices will begin shipping July 15
• For more information: https://coros.com/dura

Designed to Go The Distance

According to Coros’ co-founder Lewis Wu, the name comes from the Spanish word “Dura” for hard. With an impressive 120 hours of claimed continuous use, Coros is targeting endurance cyclists participating in all-day and multi-day events. Think Unbound XL or the Tour Divide, or as the company positions the Dura, “adventure meets training performance.”

What does 120 hours of run time mean? According to Wu, it means you can connect a power meter and heart rate monitor and have single-band GPS navigation enabled for your ride. Using dual-band GPS will cut the run time to 70 hours. These run times don’t take into account the large solar panel that dominates the top quarter of the screen. Coros claims that riders can get up to two hours of additional run time for every hour spent riding. These figures are based on 75,000 Lux. Bright sunlight is between 120,000 and 110,000 lux. In theory, at least, you can actually end your ride with more battery power than when you started.

During the media presentation, Wu joked that the name also indicates how difficult it is to enter the cycling market. He’s not wrong. Taking market share from Garmin and, to a lesser degree, Wahoo, will take a lot of work. To the company’s credit, setting the price at $249 with a host of promised features usually found on higher-priced devices is a good start if Coros can deliver.

Always Ready To Go

As cycling becomes increasingly connected to electronics that require charging and updates, having a device that is always ready to go becomes very appealing. Coros is attempting to create a set-and-forget cycling computer you can leave on your bike. It automatically syncs rides, puts itself to sleep, and performs software updates in the background, so long as it’s connected to a Wi-Fi network. This is how I’ll be testing it over the next few months, with the goal of never recharging it.

Related: COROS Debuts an External Heart Rate Monitor (That Athletes Will Actually Want to Wear)

…But Not Actually Ready For Consumers Yet

As I mentioned, my pre-launch test unit lacks enough features that I haven’t been able to reasonably compare to cycling computers from Garmin and Wahoo. Here’s a list of what’s currently lacking but in development. 

• Turn-by-turn navigation
• Ride with GPS Integration
• Strava Live Segment Integration
• On-Ride Rerouting
• Climb/gradient mapping
• Cycling activity pages and cycling workout support on COROS Training Hub
• Outdoor temperature readings
• Media controls for playback on the phone via Bluetooth

Coros claims most of these features will be ready prior to consumer availability in July. The exception is Strava Live Segments, which, according to Wu, is in development but does not have an official launch date.

Let us know if you think the Dura’s impressive battery life is enough for it to make riders switch from Garmin and Wahoo.