Industry

Samsung Splashes into CrossFit Wearable Technology

November 22, 2022 by
Provided by Samsung
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The wearable market continues to grow industry-wide; you can spot a CrossFitter a mile away by seeing their watch, ring or band that’s tracking their workout data and sleep metrics. And while the desire for better understanding your training and recovery is not new, the latest player in the CrossFit game is.

Remind me: Samsung, the well-known technology brand, is the Official Data Wearable and Timing Partner of 2023 TYR Wodapalooza. Returning this January to Bayfront Park in Miami, the four-day fitness festival will have opportunities for attendees to test out the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 and Watch5 Pro. 

There’s already a few trusted options on the market for tracking your biometric data, and with Samsung joining the mix, it creates a competitive climate across the industry (which is great for encouraging new features) and provides more quality choices for athletes. 

Janet Lee, Samsung’s SVP of Mobile Experience, points out that while “we’ve been offering top-of-the-line smartwatches for years…Galaxy Watch5 Pro is our first device designed specifically for the extreme sports enthusiast – like those who dedicate themselves to CrossFit.”

What they’re saying: One of the first to take the new watch for a spin is none other than the reigning Fittest Man on Earth, Justin Medeiros. 

  • “Samsung is a quality brand that everyone knows and has been around for a long time. I love to introduce new brands to the CrossFit community that has given me so much. I think once people experience the community they immediately see how hard people work, how dedicated they are and how passionate they are about this sport,” he said. “My goal is to expand the sport and I think this is an amazing opportunity for Samsung and the CrossFit community.” 
  • Medeiros, who has been utilizing the technology primarily to support his workouts, said “I love how many options there are for recording training and how accurate it has been so far. I use it a ton for running, in particular to track distance, paces and heart rate.”

The 5th Fittest Woman on Earth, Brooke Wells, is another notable athlete added to Samsung’s roster.

One big thing: Historically, there’s been a delicate balance between functionality and style when it comes to wearable technology, and Samsung is prioritizing an effort to deliver on both fronts.

  • “It takes everything we’ve learned about creating a powerful smartwatch and puts it in a beautiful and rugged design that looks just as good in the gym as it does dressed up for a night out,” Lee said. “We think it’s the ideal companion for any CrossFit athlete.” 

The water-resistant watch contains features we’ve grown accustomed to across the board such as GPS tracking, HRV (heart rate variability) information, in-depth sleep insights, workout auto-detection and the ability to change bands based on your style and color preferences. 

However, there’s a few features that appear to be pushing the envelope: the ability to make calls and texts, seriously extended battery life, and a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) sensor, which supposedly gives athletes a detailed look at their body composition data, such as body fat and skeletal muscle.

With two of the top athletes in the world backing the product and a debut at the biggest beach event of the year, Samsung is making a big splash into the CrossFit marketplace and we’re looking forward to hearing more feedback on how it stacks up against the competition. Is the Galaxy Watch5 Pro the right fit for you? Give it a whirl in Miami, and let us know what you think! 

As for Medeiros, he’s continuing to refine his edge and not planning on missing out on valuable data anytime soon. 

  • “As the sport gets more and more competitive, the one-percents matter and being analytical in my approach is big,” he said. “Getting real time feedback helps me maintain my heart rate targets, paces and overall allows me to train smarter.”

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