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There have been major advances in technology concerning hiking or outdoorsman watches over the past few years. Almost every watch will have an integrated GPS navigation system to assist you with your journey. Many can show you numerous time zones at once, can track your calories if you are trying to lose weight, and can even give you updates on the weather!
Having a watch with all the features you want and need is vital in ensuring your hiking journey is comfortable, enjoyable, and safe. We are aware that it can be hard to know where to begin, especially if this is your first time purchasing a hiking watch. With all these features and styles to choose from, it can be incredibly confusing! Below, we have listed our Top 10 choices of watches for hiking, which highlights a few vital features that your watch should have.
View The Best Hiking Watches Below
1. Casio G-Shock Quartz Watch
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Number one on our list of best hiking watches in 2020 is the Casio G-Shock quartz watch. The Casio G-Shock is also the hiking watch, which we have rewarded the title of best overall choice from all hiking watches mentioned on this list.
This watch is made from Case and Bezel material, meaning it is extremely shock-resistant and water-resistant up to 200m below sea level. This is the perfect watch if you wish to wear this while hiking in rough terrain, or taking part in adventure sports! With the Casio G-Shock watch, you can see the world time, use a stopwatch, countdown timer, and set up to five daily alarms.
The Casio is available in either stainless steel or a variety of different colored plastics. You will definitely find a style to suit you in the Casio G-Shock! Although the Casio may be a little bit on the expensive side for some, we believe it’s worth paying the extra price for reliability and durability.
Pros:
+ Shockproof
+ Waterproof
+ Variety of styles and colors
Why We Like It – The Casio G-Shock Quartz watch is the perfect hiking watch for those who will be out in tough terrain or weather and need a reliable and durable watch! As it’s not the most expensive on the market, it’s ideal for those not wishing to spend too much money on their watch.
2. Garmin Fenix 5x Plus
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Next up on the list, and the one we believe is the most Premium quality of hiking watches is the Garmin Fenix 5x plus watch. This premium hiking watch is a multi-sport GPS watch that can estimate your heart rate. This makes it the perfect partner when out hiking for long periods, and you wish to check your heart rate.
The Garmin Fenix 5x hiking watch is incredibly durable as it’s made from either stainless steel or diamond-like carbon titanium bezel. So you don’t have to worry about this premium watch becoming damaged when you are on a hiking trip! Because of this, we believe it’s worth paying the premium price for the Garmin Fenix 5x plus.
It also includes a built-in navigation system, an altimeter barometer, a digital compass, alongside a barometer compass, and a multiple satellite system. You will never lose your way while you are out in nature with the Garmin Fenix! As the Garmin Fenix includes an altimeter barometer compass, it can measure the altitude and air pressure of where you currently are standing, which is an amazing feature to have when you are hiking over mountains!
Pros:
+ Incredibly durable
+ 10-hour battery life
+ Navigation system
Why We Like It – The Garmin Fenix 5x plus hiking watch is a premium watch for many reasons. The main one being the inclusion of a navigation system with an altimeter barometer compass. This is an amazing feature to ensure you will not get lost while camping or hiking in nature!
3. PALADA Digital Sports Watch
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Number three is the Palada Digital sports watch, which is one of the best budget hiking watches or mountaineering watches that you could choose from. The Palada is a fashionable digital watch with a sporty design.
The Palada is water-resistant up to 50m below sea level, so it is perfect if you will be taking part in adventure sports, swimming, or generally like being able to hop in the shower without taking your watch off! It’s also completely shock resistant, meaning you don´t have to worry about damaging this outdoorsman watch when you are out and about in nature!
Although this is one of the most budget-friendly hiking watches on the list, it features many things that make it great value for money. This includes a military-grade LED light. This means that the actual digital display is incredibly durable and won’t scratch easily!
Pros:
+ Budget Price
+ Fashionable Style
+ Water and Shock resistant
Why We Like It – The Palada Digital hiking watch is the perfect choice for those on a budget who don’t want to miss out on vital features!
4. Garmin Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch
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Next up on our list of best hiking watches is the Garmin Instinct rugged outdoor watch. This is one of the best watches for the outdoorsman and those that love hiking but need a reliable and durable watch. Although the Garmin Instinct is not as expensive as other Garmin watches (for example, the Garmin Tactix Bravo), it still includes all the main features that you’d be looking for in your hiking watch.
It includes all that the Garmin Tactix Bravo supplies! This GPS watch is durable enough to withstand tough terrain and weather. It is shock and water-resistant and features the ability to check your heart rate with a heart rate monitor. It has a built-in digital compass with an altimeter, barometer, and other navigation satellite systems.
You can also measure atmospheric pressure when you are mountaineering, making this one of the best mountain watches on the market! It also features a Tracbcak ability so you can navigate your way back to your starting point. It features up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 16 hours in GPS mode. There`s no need to worry about running out of power while out on a long hike!
Pros:
+ Shock and water-resistant
+ Altimeter Barometer
+ Great Battery life
Why We Like It – We love the Garmin Instinct because of the amazing built-in navigation system. It’s also cheaper than the Garmin Fenix!
5. Casio Multifunction Sport Watch
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Next up on our list of the best hiking watches is the Casio Multifunction sports watch. The Casio features Day, month, date display with an LED light display unit. It is shock-resistant and water-resistant up to 50m below sea level. This watch is great for someone who swims recreationally, snorkels, or hikes in tough terrain.
Although the Casio Multifunction watch does not feature GPS functions and it’s not able to read the air pressure like more expensive watches on this list, the Casio is a great budget choice for your hiking watch. It is a perfect watch for those on a budget who do not wish to have one of the altimeter watches. The Casio Multifunction watch is incredibly durable and built to last. You don´t have to worry about this watch becoming damaged or needing to be replaced while you are on your camping trip!
Pros:
+ Budget Price
+ Durable
+ Water-resistant
Why We Like It – Not only is Casio a very reliable brand for watch brands, but this particular model is perfect for those on a budget who need a simple watch that’s durable and comfortable when they are hiking.
6. Garmin Forerunner 35 GPS Running Watch
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The next watch on our list is the Garmin Forerunner 35 watch. Although a little bit more expensive than the Garmin Fenix, the Garmin Forerunner watch is an excellent choice as a hiking watch, and it’s worth the extra money. The Garmin Forerunner features a polar precision heart rate monitor, meaning it can measure your heart rate at a higher and more precise level than other monitors. This is a perfect watch for those who are serious about training while hiking!
The Garmin Forerunner features are the highest tech out of all the watches mentioned on this list! This watch includes the ability to text, call, or email using the enhanced digital display. It also includes an inbuilt training guide to assist you with your training and your fitness goals! No other watch on this list features this!
You can also track the sunset times to ensure that you will not be out hiking in the wilderness after dark! It has an integrated GPS ability that also gives you the ability to track your distance and route! This GPS is one of the most advanced in the list of watches here. Should you have trouble with your sleeping at night, the Garmin Forerunner watch will provide you the ability to track your sleep to analyze what´s going wrong.
This will also give you the information in the morning on what exercise plan will be best for you. We believe the Garmin Forerunner watch is one of the best hiking watches on the market right now, and it’s not too expensive either. It also comes in 7 different colors to choose from. The Garmin forerunner watch does not include an Altimeter compass. However, the GPS system is so advanced for this price that we don´t think you will need one!
Pros:
+ Variety of colors
+ GPS ability
+ Text, call or email
Why We Like It – We love the Garmin Forerunner because, not only is it cheaper than the Fenix 3, the Tactix Bravo, or the other models of Garmin, it also includes the ability to assist you with your fitness and training program! If tracking your training is important for you, then this is the best hiking watch to purchase.
7. SUUNTO Core Military Outdoor Sports Watch
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The Suunto core outdoor hiking watch features an Altimeter Compass and a barometer to tell you the atmospheric pressure of where you are. This is an amazing feature to have while you are hiking or mountaineering. It can really help with your training! The Altimeter barometer will track your vertical movement while mountaineering.
The Suunto Core watch also features the ability to track the weather for you. This means you don´t have to worry about getting stuck on top of a mountain in the middle of a snowstorm with the Suunto Core watch! The weather graph on the watch will present you with sunrise and sunset times also so that you won´t get caught in the dark.
The Sunnto core also features an intelligent storm alarm that tells you the drop in air pressure and notifies you when storms are approaching! This is an amazing feature that no other watch on this list includes. If you are hiking in an area where the weather can become unpredictable, then the Suunto Core watch is the best hiking watch for you! However, the Suunto Core is not a GPS watch, so if GPS is important to you, then other watches would be better.
Pros:
+ Variety of styles and colors
+ Altimeter Compass
+ Durable
Why We Like It – The Sunnto Core watch is the best choice if you will be traveling or hiking to an area where the weather will be unpredictable. With the ability to tell you when storms are approaching, and what the sunrise and sunset times are, you will be well prepared with this watch!
8. Timex Expedition Vibration Alarm
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Number 8 is the Timex Expedition Vibration Alarm watch that features a 24 hour military time mode, three time zones, and a hydration timer! This is perfect if you will be hiking for long periods. The Timex is water-resistant to up to 100m under sea level, so it’s also one of the best watches for snorkeling or swimming.
The Timex Expedition also features a 100-hour chronograph, a 24-hour countdown timer, and three vibrating daily alarm settings. The included adjustable black 22 mm strap is comfortable and can fit up to an 8-inch wrist circumference.
Pros:
+ Budget Price
+ Water-Resistant
+ 24-hour military time mode
Why We Like It – We love the Timex Expedition Vibration alarm as it’s one of the best watches for people who love to be outdoors!
9. Suunto 9 GPS Sports Watch
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Number 9 on our list of best hiking watches is the Suunto 9 sports watch, which features a long-lasting battery life of up to 120 hours through intelligent battery modes. It will also give you a reminder when the charge is running low, and when you need to plug in! This battery life is the best out of every one of the watches on this list!
You don’t have to worry about charging your watch while away camping for the weekend! The Suunto 9 watches are waterproof up to 100m below sea level, so are perfect if you wish to go swimming or take part in some water sports. The Suunto is an accurate GPS watch with tracking navigation from the beginning point.
These are excellent features if you are mountaineering or trekking in nature and are nervous about getting lost! The Suunto watch can track your heart rate using a heart rate monitor, and also the number of calories you have burned! This is perfect if you are exercising to lose weight. Although the Suunto does not include an Altimeter barometer, and it can not check the atmospheric pressure, we think it still makes an excellent choice as a hiking watch.
Pros:
+ Waterproof
+ Calorie tracker
+ GPS feature
Why We Like It – The Suunto 9 GPS watch is a great choice for those who are looking for a reasonably priced watch that will be able to help them with their fitness and weight loss! Thes watches can help you track your calories during your exercise.
10. Timex Expedition Shock Watch
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Last but not least on our list is the Timex Expedition shock watch. Not only are these watches selling at a budget price, but they also come in a variety of styles to choose from. Unfortunately, these watches do not include GPS or altimeter compasses. This means that the Timex expedition may not be the best watch if you are far out in the wilderness, or you need assistance with direction or tracking air pressure.
The Timex is waterproof up to 100m below sea level, so this watch will be a great help should you wish to take part in water sports or go snorkeling or swimming! It features an adjustable black 22mm strap which is extremely comfortable and stylish. The display is available in 24 hours of military mode, and can also provide two time zones at once.
Pros:
+ Budget Price
+ Variety of styles
+ 24-hour military mode
Why We Like It – The Timex Expedition watches are a great choice for those who are on a budget. Although they do not feature GPS, they are still great for when you are out hiking or trekking. At this price point, the lack of GPS is not such an issue!
Hiking Watches Buyer’s Guide
We know how confusing it can be knowing what features your hiking watch should have. Even though we have compiled a list of our top 10 choices, it can be a tough decision to make! Especially as some of the watches on this list are very expensive, it is vital to know what features you need before you make your purchase.
Below we have compiled a very short list of the main and most important features that you must think about before you purchase your device. After reading this list, we are sure that you’ll know exactly what specifications you will need, and what particular choice will give you these specifications. Remember, it’s important to think about your wants and needs for your particular hiking journey!
Altimeter, Compass or Barometer
These are very important features on a hiking watch and will be able to help you tremendously with your journey. The barometer allows you to track the atmospheric pressure, which means you can accurately detect changes in the weather. A barometer will help you on weekend trips when you have no idea when the weather will change drastically.
You don´t want to get stuck in a snow storm! An Altimeter will allow you to see how high above sea level you are. It’s usually much more precise than a barometer. It means that you can use it for navigation and finding your place on a map should you get lost. A compass is a vital feature on a watch if you are hiking in the wilderness. A compass will show you North, East, West, and South.
This is crucial for navigation and working out where you are and where you need to be. With a compass, you can easily determine your location. If you are a person that gets lost easily or has a hard time figuring out the landscape, then a compass is a necessity for you and your hiking watch! Usually, most hiking watches on the market today will feature a compass.
GPS
Many hiking watches on the market these days will feature GPS location and navigation systems, especially the more expensive ones. GPS features will allow you to check where you are and your coordinates instantly. It can also show you your current speed, descent and ascent, and distance from the starting point. All these features are necessary should you wish to trek or hike in the wilderness, and you are not familiar with the landscape.
If you are a person that is new to hiking in nature, a GPS system will help you tremendously with navigating where to go and when you will return to your starting point. A GPS system will ensure you will not get lost or stray too far from your original starting point. One thing to think about is the GPS watches tend to have short battery lives.
So if having a long-lasting battery life is a priority to you, you may want to consider if you will really need GPS features or not. But you can also buy watches with GPS systems builtin and rechargeable batteries. That way, you solve both problems! Perhaps you could also purchase a solar power charger for those long hiking or camping trips. Then you can have GPS but also a charger at hand to charge up your watch whenever you want!
Heart Rate Monitor
Most of the more expensive watches, including a few that are listed here, will feature a heart rate monitor. This is a great feature when you will be hiking strenuous terrain for long periods, and you wish to know how your heart rate is doing. It’s also a great feature if you’re training for an up and coming sports event and need to track your rate continuously.
Durability
One of the most obvious things to think about when you are hiking is if your equipment will be able to withstand the wear and tear. It’s important to know how durable your hiking watch is. You don´t want to purchase the perfect watch only to find out that it needs to be replaced a few months down the line because it wasn´t as durable as you thought! You should look for materials that are strong and display units that won´t scratch easily. You may have to pay a little bit of extra money to get a durable watch, but we believe it is definitely worth the extra price!
