Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The best hiking watches

Built to take a beating and still perform, these are the best hiking watches

When shopping for a hiking watch, there are a number of qualities to look for, whether you want it to track your exercise metrics or act as a navigational co-pilot during your trek. First, it should have a barometer and altimeter, as well as a basic compass to assist with navigation. Since it’ll likely take a beating, you’ll also want an option that’s durable and capable of withstanding various inclement weather scenarios.

Ideally, a good hiking watch also comes equipped with an internal GPS system to help you identify your coordinates. To help make your decision on what to buy easier, we’ve narrowed the sea of available options to five of the absolute best hiking watches currently on the market.

Garmin Fenix 5 Plus Series: Best overall

Fenix 5 Plus
Kelly Hodgkins/Digital Trends

Why you should buy this: If you need maps and navigation in the backcountry, then the Fenix 5 Plus is your best choice.

Who it’s for: Serious adventurers and hikers who don’t mind paying extra for all the bells and whistles.

How much it will cost: $700-$850

Why we picked the Fenix 5 Plus Series:

Garmin’s Fenix 5 Plus series of GPS watches are a map lover’s dream come true. In our review, the Fenix 5 Plus delivered easy-to-use navigation that was incredibly accurate and comprehensive. Each watch has detailed color topographic maps that load fast, and features a simple and intuitive interface. Advanced features like Climb Pro break down the ascents on your route, while Sight ‘N Go allows you to use the watch like a sighting compass.

The watch also generates routes for you and allows you to customize your own.  Each map gives you the option to zoom in and out and offers a trackback feature in case you lose your way. If you are traveling at higher elevations, the 5X Plus model has a pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen levels as you acclimate. Many hiking watches feature heart rate monitors, pacing, distance tracking, and other metrics, but few conquer navigation as well as Garmin’s Fenix 5 Plus Series.

Garmin B&H Photo

Garmin Instinct: Best budget GPS watch

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why you should buy this: The Garmin Instinct has everything you need for hiking without costing a fortune.

Who it’s for: People who want a watch to track their hikes, but don’t want to spend a lot of money.

How much it will cost: $300

Why we picked the Garmin Instinct:

From the inside out, the Garmin Instinct is built for the backcountry. The watch is rated to military standard 810G for thermal-, shock-, and water-resistance (rated to 100 meters). It’s virtually indestructible. It lacks the color topographic maps of its more expensive cousin — the Fenix 5 Plus series — but it still offers basic breadcrumb navigation and custom routing.

A built-in 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, and multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo) help ensure you won’t get lost when the terrain gets rough. If you have an inReach Mini, the Instinct can be used to read incoming messages, send messages, and even initiate an SOS during an emergency.

Buy now from:

Garmin REI

Suunto 9 Baro Black: Best for long-distance hiking

Suunto 9 Smartwatch
Kelly Hodgkins/Digital Trends

Why you should buy this: Outstanding battery life means the Suunto 9 can make it from the trail to town without needing to recharge.

Who it’s for: Long-distance hikers or ultra-runners who want the longest possible battery life in a GPS watch.

How much it will cost: $600

Why we picked the Suunto 9:

On the outside, the Suunto 9 looks like any other GPS watch on the market, but it’s what is underneath the hood that makes the watch so special. Suunto managed to eke out a jaw-dropping 120 hours of continuous exercise tracking thanks to its new FusedTrack technology. Suunto is able to extend battery life significantly by dialing down GPS tracking so it is recording one point every 2 minutes. In this low-power mode, the FusedTrack algorithm kicks in and uses motion sensor data to fill in the gaps in the GPS track. When all is said and done, you get an accurate recording of your hike and outstanding battery life.

The Suunto 9 offers more than just long battery life — it also is a capable outdoors watch. The sapphire screen and stainless steel bezel hold up well in rough terrain. A compass, altimeter, and GPS combine to keep you on the right track. You can load custom routes onto the watch before you hit the woods or create a breadcrumb trail as you hike. Integrated storm alerts, weather data, and sunset/sunrise time help you keep an eye on the weather.

Buy now from:

Suunto REI

Fitbit Versa: Best city-to-mountain watch

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why you should buy this: The Fitbit Versa is our top pick for a fitness tracker offering everything you need to track your health and your fitness.

Who it’s for: People who want a watch that’ll handle the fast pace of the business world and the rigors of the backcountry.

How much it will cost: $200

Why we picked the Fitbit Versa:

The Fitbit Versa may not be as rugged as your typical outdoors watch, but not everyone wants that “outdoorsy” look all the time. The Fitbit Versa fits the bill as a durable and water-resistant smartwatch that’ll brave the elements without looking like a tank landed on your wrist.

The Versa may not have all the bells and whistles of the Garmin Fenix series, but that’s okay. It’s not meant to be your rugged outdoor companion. It has a sleek design that is equally at home on the trail or in town. It is this flexibility that earned the Versa a spot on our list.

The Versa is a very capable smartwatch and an even better fitness tracker. It counts steps, tracks sleep, and measures your heart rate 24/7. It lacks a dedicated GPS chip, but you can pull down your coordinates using connected GPS. There is no navigation on the device either, but you can use the running or hiking exercise mode to track your activity.

Buy now from:

Fitbit Amazon

Timex Expedition Shock XL: Best non-GPS

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why you should buy this: It won’t break, won’t lose power, and is always there with the time and a bearing.

Who it’s for: People who prefer a regular watch with a simple compass over GPS.

How much it will cost: $60

Why we picked the Timex Expedition Shock XL:

Although not a smartwatch, Timex’s Expedition Shock XL nevertheless deserves a mention on any list of best hiking watches. First, it’s virtually indestructible — built with survivalist and military personnel in mind — with a band of heavy-duty resin and thick hinges. It has an Indiglo night-light, digital compass, and multiple timers and alarms, including hydration reminders.

Fully shock resistant, it also has a reverse LCD screen and a chronograph stopwatch function that measures time to 1/20th of a second. Despite its digital readout, the Timex watch is constructed with quartz movement and is fully waterproof, capable of functioning at a whopping depth of 200 meters.

Amazon

Editors' Recommendations

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Apple WatchOS 6 tips and tricks
apple watch stroke study series 5 ecg

While it may have been superseded by WatchOS 8 and WatchOS 7, it's worth remembering the huge impact WatchOS 6 delivered. An always-on display, the Apple Watch App Store, Health features like period tracking, Health Trends, and the Noise app were added, becoming the mainstays we see today.

Of course, if you're rocking an Apple Watch Series 3 or newer, you've probably upgraded past WatchOS6 now, making this guide outdated. Check out our list of the best WatchOS8 tips and tricks if that applies to you -- but if you're using an Apple Watch Series 2, you're now stuck with WatchOS 6. That's why we've rounded up the best WatchOS 6 tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your Apple Watch.
How to turn off the always-on display (Apple Watch Series 5 onwards only)

Read more
The Huawei Watch GT 3 has a shamrock to fill, not rings to close
Huawei Watch GT 3 Strap options.

The Watch GT 3 is Huawei’s latest smartwatch, following the Watch GT 2 Pro, with an upgraded health sensor array, processor, and a motivational tool called the Healthy Living Shamrock. Yes, really. Breaking away from Apple-style activity rings to close, Huawei has adopted the shamrock shape as the visual aid to monitor daily activity on its new smartwatch.

It's certainly different, but before we get into the fitness side of the Watch GT 3, let’s take a look at the design. There are two versions, 46mm and 42mm, and each is made from stainless steel with glass over the screen and a combination of ceramic, glass, and plastic on the case back. The design echoes the existing Huawei Watch 3, as do many of the specifications.

Read more
Apple Watch Series 7: Everything you need to know about the latest smartwatch
Apple Watch Series 7

The new Apple Watch Series 7 is now available, and we're putting it through its paces for our review. While the Apple Watch Series 7 doesn't feature a major redesign, it has a larger display with a curved edge and some beautiful new models and finishes. If you're thinking about ordering, here's everything you need to know.

Apple Watch Series 7 release date and price
The Apple Watch Series 7 became available to order starting on October 8, so you can order one now. It will be available in stores on October 15. The price starts at $399, the same as the outgoing Series 6. Apple will continue to sell the Apple Watch SE for $279 and the Apple Watch Series 3 starting at $199, though we strongly advise against buying the Series 3 at this point.
Ordering the Apple Watch Series 7
If you plan to order an Apple Watch, Apple's online store is the best place. Customers ordering from Apple have access to the exclusive Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop stretchable silicone bands, and they can choose their preferred case and band combination, so their watch will be perfectly suited to their tastes right out of the box.
Apple Watch Series 7 design
The Apple Watch Series 7 doesn't have the redesign that was hinted at in the leaks -- remember, leaks aren't always accurate -- but it does have some subtle changes. The Retina screen is 20% larger than on the Series 6, with a 1.7mm bezel that's 40% thinner than before. The visual change comes from a 2.5D curve around the screen, so it cascades over the edge of the body and is covered in a crack-resistant crystal that's thicker for increased durability.

Read more