| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | COROS |
| Type | GPS multisport and triathlon watch |
| Also known as | Pace Multisport, Pace M1 |
| Series | PACE |
| Released | June 2018 |
| Price at launch | GBP 249.98 / USD 299.99 / EUR 260 |
| Predecessor | None. COROS’s first sports watch |
| Successor | COROS Pace 2 (August 2020) |
| Status | Discontinued. No longer sold by COROS or retail partners. |
| Sizes | One size |
| Colours | Black/Grey, Red/Black, Blue/Black |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Further reading
Expert opinion
The original Pace was COROS’s first watch and a credible entry into the triathlon and multisport middle market, aimed at the Garmin Forerunner 735XT and Suunto Spartan Trainer rather than the flagship end. For a first device the hardware was competent, and it made ANT+ sensor support, including power meters, work from launch.
GPS accuracy for running was good, though not as consistently excellent as the best individual test scores suggested, and distance measurement was closer to average. Cycling GPS was average but fine. Open water swim GPS was the weak point, along with optical heart rate during swimming, both notably worse than for running or cycling. There was no touchscreen, no offline mapping, no AMOLED, and no COROS online training platform at this stage, workouts synced through the COROS app or Strava. Data export via FIT file worked but was not fully reliable.
Later firmware added EvoLab, Track Run mode and Bluetooth heart rate broadcast until the watch’s internal storage filled. COROS now issues bug fixes only for the original Pace, with no new features.
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 1.2 inch |
| Type | LCD, button operated. No touchscreen |
| Resolution | 240 x 240 pixels |
| Physical | |
| Controls | Four buttons. No digital dial or touchscreen |
| Water rating | 50m |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GPS | GPS and GLONASS, always enabled together. Single-frequency |
| Heart rate | Optical heart rate monitor |
| Other sensors | Barometric altimeter, compass |
| Not fitted | Pulse oximeter, ECG, microphone, speaker |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | ANT+ for accessories, including heart rate monitors, speed/cadence sensors, indoor trainers and power meters. Bluetooth for phone only. No Wi-Fi, no NFC |
| Music | Not supported |
| Onboard maps | No |
| Data export | FIT file via email or the COROS app, or upload to Strava. No dedicated COROS online training platform at this stage |
Battery life
The figure below comes from COROS’s stated launch specification.
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| GPS workout (GPS + GLONASS) | 25 hours |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Features
Feature explanations are covered in the the5krunner COROS hub. Compared with later Pace watches, the original Pace’s feature set was basic.
Training
- Heart rate and power zones
- Cadence, heart rate, pace and speed alerts
- Manual lap, autolap, autoscroll
- Resting heart rate and VO2 max shown in the app
- Metronome
- Custom pool length setting
Daily
- Phone and app notifications, with a do-not-disturb time range
- Calorie counter
- Workout history on the watch and in the app
Navigation
- Compass
- Air pressure and elevation profiles over time, with 3D-GPS and manual elevation calibration
- No breadcrumb navigation and no maps
Third-party integration
- Strava upload via the app
- ANT+ power meter pairing, including cadence and power from a single pedal-based meter
Activity profiles
The original Pace supported seven sport profiles, including triathlon with transitions.
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Run | Run |
| Bike | Bike, Indoor Bike |
| Water | Open Water, Pool Swim |
| Other | Triathlon (with transitions), Multisport |
Further reading
- the5krunner COROS Pace review
- COROS Pace 2 specifications, the successor
- COROS watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming watches
Related watches
Looking at alternatives to the original Pace?
- Successor: COROS Pace 2, with a digital dial and better GPS.
- Current entry model: COROS Pace 4, with an AMOLED screen, maps and dual-frequency GPS.
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR1100SE: 1,100 lumens under your Garmin, and up to 46 hours on slow flash.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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