Sigma iD.TRI Review
The Sigma iD.TRI is a small format tri watch and it’s well made, cheap and well worth the money
I’m looking at a price on Amazon.es of 147,61 € (135 € on .fr) as I write this and the phrase that springs to mind has to be that the Sigma iD.TRI COULD be “the best triathlon watch for smaller wrists on a budget“.
If you’d like me to do a full Sigma iD.TRI review then please comment below as these things take a LOT of time. As things stand now I’ll be putting up a separate piece on accuracy and expanding the summary below as my exposure to the iD.TRI increases.
Summary Impressions
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Price - 95%
95%
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Openness & Compatability - 90%
90%
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Features, Including App - 85%
85%
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Apparent Accuracy - 85%
85%
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Build Quality & Design - 85%
85%
Summary
The Sigma iD.TRI is refreshing.
With its Germanic efficiency, it strips back functionalities to just those that are needed. But that does NOT mean “strips back functionalities to make it easier to manufacture“…NO. The iD.TRI has many PROPER triathlon functionalities included that much of the competition omits, even at much more expensive price points. For example, you can create a custom multi-sport profile.
Download structured workouts from Training Peaks and upload the results to Strava?…no problemo. Find a route on Komoot and follow it on the watch?…You betcha.
Want to add alerts to remind you to eat/drink in longer races? Yep. Want to link and sync to STRVA, GPSies and Training Peaks?Yep. Want to pair to an ANT+ power meter and a BLE chest strap? Yep. Want to follow courses? Yep. Yep. Yeppity. Yep. Yep.
Those are just examples of the many TRUE tri-related functions in the iD.TRI.
The Sigma iD.TRI is going to be a good first tri watch for many people that, in reality, you’d probably keep as you get better. If you really want a sport-focussed, small-format GPS watch then this one really is going to be very hard to beat at the price. It really does have all the ‘must-have’ functions that you NEED for a triathlon AND quite a few more relevant AND useful ones. Of course, it won’t make a latte and it won’t let you pay for one with NFC, that’s OK, you KNOW you don’t need that for sport.
Follow a route
My main stumbling block so far has been getting used to the button interface on the iD.TRI. It’s great that the iD.TRI is button-based rather than using a touchscreen but it is different to what I am used to. Yet the reality is that once YOU are used to it, you’ll be fine. The wider platform presents mixed blessings too, the various software elements just don’t seem to gel together despite working well in themselves. Instinctively I don’t like the platform, however, in truth, you are given a perfectly capable reporting tool on the app and a bit more analytical oomph on the web. More than enough for a quick 5-minutes of trend spotting.
In reality though, if the iD.TRI was my only watch, I’d probably be relying on STRAVA as my day-to-day interface with my sports data and then delving into some of Sigma’s functionality only when I want to do more unusual things like tweaking the sports profiles and loading up routes and structured workouts.
The iD.TRI is good and if you can find it for sub $/Eu/$150…it’s unbeatable.
Vaguely similar alternatives include: Apple Watch 3 (less sporty, more expensive), Garmin Forerunner 735XT (sporty, bigger and more expensive), Garmin Forerunner 920XT (sporty, much bigger and more expensive), Polar Vantage M (not too much bigger but more expensive), Suunto 5 (not too much bigger but more expensive), Amazfit Stratos (bigger, sporty, variable prices), Coros Apex 42mm (not too much bigger but more expensive).
Pros
- Price (it’s rare that price appears in this column!)
- A surprisingly, functionally-rich platform…overall
- Structured workout support
- Nice quality construction, nice and light
- Even supports a power meter – BLE or ANT+
- Valencell oHR even whilst swimming
- Crash alert with medical information displayed
- Smart light for in-zone and off-route type cues.
- Barometric altimeter with home-point calibration
- Custom pool lengths
- Upcoming route elevation profile
- Geocaching integration
Cons
- Small format and small font. This could be a big PRO point for some of you though.
- Accuracy seems unexceptional so far, fine though
- Initially confusing watch interface & app/web ecosystem
- Perhaps doesn’t have the looks to be a 24×7 watch
- No ANT+ footpod, STRYD supported only via bike power profile
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Hi! I’m split between the FR 735XT and the Sigma ID Tri. I’m currently using a Garmin Vivoactive HR since last two and half years, and it’s been on 24*7..not exaggerating..
I’ve just begun traithlons..
IT is always great to see something new, I would really like to see how it does against garmin/suunto/pola/coros (joining the big ones?)
it’s a contender at the entry-level price points
Thanks for the hands-on. Would apreciate a full review, though…
😉
Especially interested in GPS testing and handling the workouts on the watch.
Is there (apart from „following routes“) a „back-to-start“-option implemented on the TRI?
Thanks again and keep up your awesome work!
i dont think there is a back to start. (edit: apparently you CAN reverse the route you have taken)
you can reverse the track tho. i guess that would work.
but maybe you are looking for a compass heading to the start?
I am super keen to read a more detailed review. I am thinking of buying the watch for our small one because of its size and price.
it’s going to take a while to crank one out…feel free to ask any specific questions.
I was wondering whether the watch has any annoying bugs and in particular whether gps lock and syncing work reliably/speedy enough. Thanks.
not especially any bugs tht stand out (they can be fixed in any case)
its more the UI/UX experience of the platform that i would take issue with.
but for every negative there are positives. eg the interface is FAST/INSTANT/Highly responsive. with near zero lag from screen to screen
lock is more than quick enough. MUCH faster than garmin/polar/suunto. lets face it it is the interface that you interact with ALL THE TIME…so it’s an importnat factor
i’m having problems pairing/syncing to the smartphone/android app but sync over cable is fine.
Thanks a lot for your swift response.
Have you used the watch in the pool yet? I was wondering whether you have an idea regarding how reliable the distance tracking is. Thanks again!
Hi! Could you do a full review of the Sigma ID Tri. I’m really impressed by the product and the price point on offer. It should suit a newbie Triathlete like me, but a detailed insight would be handy.
Grear review, well done, thanks! Im a tri beginner trying to decide between this watch and amazfits stratos.
it’s a tricky one.
i’m not sure i have even decided that answer myself.
the stratos (the new one) is clearly super SMART with lots of 24×7 type features.
but for just a sport/tri watch then the iD.TRI becomes attractive for an hour day/sporty type usages.
Thank you very much for your reply.
I came back to your site and have just found this pleasant surprise.
I understand you perfectly… but what about the GPS accuracy? Do you have any insight?
For me the main thing is to have the most accurate workout (run, swim, bike) metrics so I can follow my development… like GPS, maps, distance, heart rate, pace, etc..
Greetings from Brazil
see the info linked to from here: https://the5krunner.com/2016/11/05/test-route-for-gps-devices/