Hiking Watches

There are so many choices among watches these days that it’s hard to know which one to choose.

But if you want a watch for a specific purpose, the choices become somewhat easier.

If you’re a hiker, you need to look for some specific features in a climbing watch. Generally, a watch for hikers will serve a different purpose than a dress watch, for instance.

You likely want your climbing watch to find directions, to help you determine weather conditions, and to track performance if you are also looking for distance measurement and fitness levels. The best hiking watches are also constructed to withstand the elements.

So, let’s take a look at what to look for if you’re searching for the best watch for hiking.

Best Golf GPS Watches

Garmin Fenix 6 Premium Men's Hiking Watch

Garmin Fenix 5X Men's Hiking Watch

Suunto 9 Baro Men's Hiking Watch

Tomtom Hiking Adventurer Men's Hiking Watch

Suunto Spartan Sport Men's Hiking Watch

Freestyle Shark Mini Leash Mint Women's Hiking Watch

Garmin Fenix 6 Premium Men's Hiking Watch

Highlights

This outdoor sportwatch has GPS, and other navigation features that make it ideal for multiple outdoor sports. The crystal is protected by a rugged stainless steel bezel (the top ring on the watch that surrounds the crystal) and the watch is tested to U.S. military standards for thermal, shock and water resistance.

There are satellite navigation and tracking functions, along with a 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter.

The GPS combines with GLONASS and Galileo to track your position more accurately than GPS alone, meaning you can hike or trail ride in more challenging environments.

Activity features include enhanced wrist heart rate, built-in activity profiles, Vo2 Max estimates and more. The built-in activity profiles are for trail running, swimming, running, biking, hiking, rowing, skiing, golfing and more.  There’s also performance metrics and training load balance readings, advanced sleep monitoring and the ability to read altitude acclimation at high elevations. Use the watch to track your training load balance, training status, and running and cycling dynamics.

A great feature is the customizable power manager, where you can monitor how various settings and sensors impact battery life, allowing you to adjust to extend your battery life. The battery has four modes with different performance life depending how you use it: up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 36 hours in GPS mode, up to 28 days in expedition GPS activity mode, and up to 48 days in battery saver watch mode.

The display is readable in sunlight and is “always on,” meaning you can easily check it while climbing or cycling. When paired with a compatible smartphone, you can receive notifications and use Garmin Pay™ contactless payments. Also when paired with a smartphone, the watch will sense an incident and send your location to emergency contacts.

Specifications

Material:Stainless Steel Bezel and Black Band
Size:1.85 x 1.85 x 0.58 inches
Weight:2.82 ounces

Specifications

Pros

  • GPS combines with two other systems to provide accurate tracking capability.
  • A multitude of activity monitoring, including built-in activity profiles.
  • Customize what features you’re using to extend battery life.
  • Garmin is known for its GPS products.

Cons

  • Despite the ability to adjust battery modes, this watch will need lithium battery replacement on a regular basis if you use the advanced features on a regular basis.
  • The multitude of features may be too much for some users.

Why We Chose This

Besides the Garmin name being synonymous with GPS capabilities, this watch has a multitude of fitness features for the outdoor enthusiast. It has rugged construction with a stainless steel bezel to protect the crystal. A bonus is being able to monitor battery life and adjust settings to extend it.

Hiking Watch Buying Guide

Design & Style

A good hiking watch will be built for the outdoors. That means a durable watch face, usually a silicone strap, and a steel case or back. It’s a good idea to watch for a decent level of water resistance as well. You don’t need a watch rated for diving, but you want to be sure you can wear it in the pouring rain and not worry about it. You may have a preference for the size of the watch face itself, the color of the strap, or the ability to use touch-screen or operate the watch with buttons. Let’s not forget the ability to tell time! Watches usually let you choose between 12-hour and 24-hour modes, and provide alarms and timers too.

Related Posts

As two of the most popular extreme sports, the world of skiing and snowboarding are famously difficult to master. As

Also known as the best outdoor watches, these designs feature a solid build and a certain ruggedness that fits well

A watch is an accessory many people like to wear day-in, day-out, but if you’re someone who has an active