Hiking lovers can now enjoy the ultimate technology on their routes thanks to these new and modern watches.
More technologically advanced, these practical watches help us on our hiking trails with an altimeter, a barometer, a compass, GPS and many other features. They let us determine our average speed, the number of calories we have burned or the distance we have left until we reach our destinations. Built with modern and contemporary designs, these watches can be used not only by hikers, but also by backpackers, travelers or any outdoors lovers.
I’m going to review the Top 10 Best ABC Hiking Watches of the year so that you can see what’s new, the differences between them, their features and their designs.
Check out other gear reviews to find the best outdoor watches, best tactical watches, sling backpacks and GPS for hiking!
THE BEST HIKING WATCHES – OUR LIST:
- Garmin Fenix 7X
- Garmin Tactix Delta
- Garmin Instinct
- Suunto Spartan
- Suunto 9
- Casio PRG 279
- Casio PAG 240
- Suunto 5
- Casio PRT -B50
Top 10 Best ABC Smartwatches for Hiking, Review
GARMIN FENIX 7X Solar
SPORTS: Multi-sport
GPS: Yes
ABC: Altimeter, barometer, compass
FEATURES: Solar battery, touchscreen, TOPO maps, thermometer, Chroma display, Wi-Fi, heart rate monitor.
PROS: Has virtually all the functions you’ll need.
CONS: Expensive. The solar charger could be more effective.
The Garmin Fenix 7X is definitely one of the best GPS watches you can find on the market. It’s not a toy you’d buy for your kids. This is a watch for serious hikers!
This high-tech watch has absolutely all the outdoor navigation features you’ll need on your routes, including a three-axis compass, GPS, TOPO maps altimeter, barometer, solar battery, WIFI software, sunlight readable color Chroma display, high-strength domed sapphire lens, connect IQ compatibility for customized apps, widgets that show the progress of your workout, watch faces, and many more.
Besides being fully equipped with technology, the Garmin Fenix 7X has a sophisticated and stylish design. This watch is suitable for hiking, running, swim training, skiing and other outdoor activities.
I’ve used this watch on many mountain trails, and I think it’s great. What I like most is the quality of the maps, which is exceptional. You can upload tons of trails from apps like Wikiloc and use its advanced navigation system to complete the hike you want. I had a Garmin Fenix 5, which doesn’t have a touchscreen, and it was quite cumbersome when I zoomed in/out on the maps. This model does feature a touchscreen, which makes a big difference. It’s really easy to navigate. In my opinion, this is the best hiking watch of the year!
You can get the Garmin Fenix 6X now for a great price!
GARMIN INSTINCT
SPORTS: Adventure, multi-sport, hiking
GPS: Yes
ABC: Yes
FEATURES: GPS, strong construction, TrackBack function, 14-day autonomy.
PROS: Inexpensive. It has very good features for its price. The overall construction is quite solid.
CONS: Simple navigation system (but easy to use)
The Garmin Instinct is one of the most popular watches among hikers and adventurers. With a sturdy military design, it’s highly waterproof and shock resistant. Also, it features an altimeter, a barometer, a compass and GPS technology to help you navigate your mountain trails.
The navigation system is a bit simple if compared with most Fenix models, but it’s easy to use and follow. This model is really versatile, as you can use it for lots of sports such as running, hiking, swimming, climbing, and more. It tracks a bunch of important metrics that will help you improve your performance, such as heart rate, speed, distance, etc. Best of all, it has an incredible price!
GARMIN TACTIX DELTA
SPORTS: Trekking, military, hunting
GPS: Yes
ABC: Altimeter, barometer, compass
FEATURES: Wi-Fi, non-reflective design, rechargeable batteries, night vision capability, jumpmaster mode.
PROS: Resistant; can be used for many activities. It includes unique tactical functions.
CONS: Expensive. It doesn’t have a touchscreen.
The Garmin Tactix Delta is a great outdoor watch for adventure lovers. Based on the Garmin Fenix, this amazing watch comes with some extra tactical features.
The Garmin Tactix Delta features an all-black, non-reflective and resistant design built for the tactical environment. Its dual-mode operation optimizes the sunlight-readable display for daily use or night vision goggle compatibility.
In my opinion, this is a great watch for people who combine hiking with military activities. If this isn’t the case for you, then I would opt for the Garmin Fenix. Based on my experience, I find that the Fenix is better suited for 100% mountain activities. The main advantage of the Fenix is that it has an easy-to-use touchscreen, which really helps when you’re navigating the maps.
SUUNTO SPARTAN SPORT WRIST BARO
SPORTS: Multi-sport, hiking
GPS: Yes
ABC: Barometer, altimeter, compass
FEATURES: Heart rate monitor, calorie and step counter, thermometer, good design, touch screen, Bluetooth
PROS: Resistant; has many features; energy saving setting. I find the GPS to be very accurate.
CONS: Expensive. I don’t like the navigation system that much.
Suunto Spartan: This ABC watch has a sophisticated, elegant and even futuristic design. It features a beautiful steel bezel for extra strength and a minimalist touch-screen for easy use. If you’re wearing gloves, don’t worry: it includes side buttons to access all the menu controls.
You can use the Suunto Movescount app to prepare your hiking routes. There are three options; you can create them from scratch, from existing routes or by importing existing trails as GPS files.
In addition, it features an altimeter, a barometer, a thermometer and a three-axis compass. Because it’s designed not only for trekking but for a wide variety of sports, it offers a complete overview of your activities: traveled distance, duration of workout, burned calories, heart rate, etc. As you can see, it’s one of the most complete smartwatches of the year!
If I were to compare the Suunto with the Garmin Fenix, I’d say that this model is a bit outdated. While both include easy-to-use touchscreens and highly accurate GPS systems, the Suunto is 5 grams lighter, which doesn’t make a huge difference. The Garmin Fenix stands out from its competitor due to the quality of the maps and the navigation system. In that sense, the Garmin Fenix is a much more advanced hiking watch.
SUUNTO 9
SPORTS: Hiking, multi-sport
GPS: Yes
ABC: Compass, barometer, altimeter
FEATURES: Calorie counter, heart rate, solid design, storm alarm.
PROS: Good features for its price. Good batteries
CONS: Expensive. The navigation system leaves a lot to be desired. It doesn’t have a touchscreen.
The Suunto 9 is one of the best outdoor watches with heart rate monitor. This multi-sport GPS watch helps you track your progress while you are hiking, running or swimming.
It measures time and tracks distance walked, altitude, temperature, pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate. It comes with other features like: GPS, digital compass, storm alarm and barometer, and can receive push notifications from your smartphone.
This model has a simple GPS navigation system that helps you find your way around the mountains. You can access the Movescount Suunto Application, which tracks all your hikes and stores them in an online cloud so that you get an overview of your routes. This is definitely one of the best watches you can find in the market.
I think this model has the same downside as the Suunto Spartan: The navigation system is too basic. I prefer the Garmin Fenix’s navigation system, which has highly detailed maps.
However, it does have an attractive price (much lower than that of the Garmin Fenix). For this reason, I would say that it’s one of the best mid-range mountain watches.
SUUNTO 5
SPORTS: Trail, multi-sport
GPS: Yes
ABC: Compass
CHARACTERISTICS: 50-meter water resistance, daily activity tracking, intelligent battery mode
PROS: Despite being a budget model, it features a navigation system.
CONS: The navigation system is simple, although that’s to be expected.
The Suunto 5 is another good watch you can find for a reasonable price. It comes with features like: 50M water resistance, altimeter, and GPS, and it’s one of the lightest on the list.
This model doesn’t offer as many advanced features as the Suunto 9. Also, the Suunto 5 lacks a barometer, has a shorter battery (40 hours instead of 120 hours), and is smaller (46 mm instead of 50 mm). The main advantage of the Suunto 5 is that it’s much cheaper. It’s like the budget version of the Suunto 9.
CASIO PRG 270
SPORTS: Everyday use, hiking
GPS: No
ABC: Compass, altimeter, barometer
CHARACTERISTICS: 200-meter water resistance, moon calendar, thermometer
PROS: Nice design; rechargeable solar battery
CONS: No GPS or navigation system.
The Casio PRG 270 has a beautiful traditional design suitable for any occasion. The watch’s main features are: digital compass, 200M water resistance, moon data, altimeter, altimeter memory, barometer and thermometer. Features like a barometer and thermometer will help you determine what weather will greet you during your hikes.
In my opinion, the main drawback of this watch is that it doesn’t have a navigation system. I love to take unknown paths, so I need a watch with a reliable mapping system. That’s why this isn’t my favorite watch. However, it can be a good option if you are looking for a model with basic features.
CASIO PAG 240
SPORTS: Trekking, outdoor activities
GPS: No
ABC: Barometer, compass, altimeter
CHARACTERISTICS: Low temperature resistance, several alarms, 100-meter water resistance, thermometer
PROS: Good price. Robust construction.
CONS: No GPS. Like many Casio Pro Trek series watches, it feels quite large on the wrist.
The Casio PAG 240 is is another great model with one of the most beautiful designs on the list. It has a round stainless steel case with a mineral dial window and a strong titanium bracelet with double-locking fold-over clasp.
As you can see, this model is similar to the Casio PR270. One of the main differences is that this watch doesn’t have a solar charging battery. The other features are quite similar. Unfortunately, these types of watches don’t come with GPS, which means they lack mapping systems.
CASIO PRT-B50
SPORTS: Outdoor sports
GPS: No
ABC: Yes
FEATURES: LED light, 100-meter water resistance, stopwatch, thermometer
PROS: Solar battery; good functions, design
CONS: No GPS
The Casio PRT-B50 sets itself apart from previous Casio models by having an analog and digital display with a multi-function dial.
It features a triple sensor altimeter, digital compass, barometer, thermometer, world time (29 cities), five daily alarms, LED light, 100M water resistance, 1/100-second stopwatch, power-saving function and countdown timer. The battery is recharged by a solar panel.
It’s a beautiful option for those looking for a stylish and attractive hiking watch with all the main features, except GPS.
Considerations to take into account when choosing the Best Trekking Watches:
FEATURES
A wide variety of watches are available on the market. Therefore, it’s important to know exactly what you’re looking for. For hiking lovers, an easy-to-read GPS and a large and easy-to-use display are must-have features.
There are apps from which you can download maps of the area where you’re planning to hike, as well as routes created by other people. Devices equipped with a storm alarm can be very helpful, too. They warn us when the weather is likely to get a bit ugly.
If you need a watch designed for running and fitness, look for other features. In this case, take a look at models that monitor heart rate, steps, traveled distances and burned calories. Most of them allow you to download all the data to fully track your activities and evolution.
For hunters and fishermen, some models show useful information about sunrise and sunset times, tides, fishing and hunting calendars, moon phases, etc. They tend to be especially resistant to harsh weather conditions and possible impacts.
The main features are:
GPS
Possibly, the most important function of all, a GPS helps us locate our situation, making it easier to explore unknown mountains. GPS is based on information received from several satellites. These satellites are synchronized with each other and constantly inform us about their exact position. They act as reference points for land navigation. The GPS receiver detects and processes the signals from the satellites to show us all the information on a map.
The main disadvantage of built-in GPS watches is the duration of their batteries because this system consumes a lot of energy. In some cases, the battery life is only a few hours. Fortunately, these models include rechargeable batteries.
Keep in mind that GPSs may fail. For example, if you’re walking through deep canyons or thick forests, the GPS might not get the signal properly and may therefore provide inaccurate information.
ALTIMETER
Altimeters work in a different way. They use a pressure sensor that measures the actual atmospheric pressure. In this way, they create an approximate calculation of the height in relation to that atmospheric pressure. These height measurements are made according to ISA (International Standard Atmosphere) values. In most models, you can download the route information.
BAROMETER
The barometer helps us understand what weather is coming. It measures the atmospheric pressure and indicates climatic trends. The higher we climb, the lower the barometric pressure. When the atmospheric pressure increases, the weather will likely improve. When the pressure decreases, you should put on your raincoat.
COMPASS
A compass includes a sensor that uses the earth’s magnetic field to indicate direction with great accuracy. Most models include a three-axis digital compass, although some models (not included in the list) incorporate a real compass attached to the strap.
THERMOMETER
A thermometer can be useful in some circumstances. It helps us anticipate the weather ahead. Most models can measure in a range of -10º C to 60º C.
HEART RATE MONITOR
Some models include a heart rate monitor. Most new models feature wrist-based heart rate monitors. However, in some cases you must use a chest strap transmitter. They offer valuable information for tracking your fitness activities.
WATERPROOF
Obviously, all trekking watches are water-resistant. The only difference is the depth they can resist; most are designed to resist 100 meters.
DURABILITY
As we would with any hiking gear, we’ll focus on quality and durability. These watches are specially adapted to potential hiking-related situations such as scratches, impacts, extreme temperatures and water.
CONCLUSION:
All the watches mentioned above are great mountaineering watches that you can find on the market this year.
If you are willing to spend some money, I’d recommend that you get the Garmin Fenix 5 X for a nice design and best maps.
Another amazing watch is the Suunto Spartan, which comes with all the best and more modern features.
If you are not that interested in having GPS but still want the most attractive and stylish design, the Casio PRW 2500T-7CR might be your watch.
A few tips for enjoying your ABC Hiking Watch:
– New models come with so many features and apps that you can be overwhelmed at first sight. Take the time to read the instructions and play with your new toy.
– Some watches are recharged by a solar panel. If they run by regular batteries, be sure your hiking watch is fully charged before you explore the mountains.
– Most manufacturers want to keep their models up to date, so they release new apps and software. Check that you have installed the latest firmware on your watch.
– Have a plan B. These watches include the latest technology and they are all great. However, you can’t rely on only the watch’s GPS when hiking. This doesn’t happen often, but you may find that the satellite doesn’t work in certain “dead zones.” Always bring along a good map with your watch.
– Import the tracking data of your routes to your computer or phone and check your progress.
A personal story
A few years ago I was hiking the Huayhuash trek in Peru. Absolutely spectacular place. At that time I didn’t have a GPS, so we were using a map. That’s also cool. I mean, I like to read maps and it’s kind of adventurous, but this was a 10-day trek. One day it was snowing pretty hard and the snow covered the path. We tried to follow the right trail but we got lost. We ended up on a steep hill; it was really cold and we couldn’t pitch our tent. It wasn’t fun. After that day, I thought, ‘I want a hiking watch with GPS for my next hike!’
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Hi, I’m Miguel; Adventure traveler, scuba diver and hiking lover. I have been traveling the world for the last 12 years and I hope my experiences, photos and hiking routes inspire you to travel the world too.
Asier says
Great review and very useful information for having a nice experience.
Stella says
Ah this is what I need! This will help me pick out a good watch for hiking but with a reasonable price. Appreciate this post! Thanks.
Travelsauro says
Thank you Stella!
Peter says
Thank you for your great review, only thing that troubles me is why you need the GPS in the first place? I was tought to read a map and if you can do that why you need the GPS! I think I just takes the fun and skill out of the hike….
Travelsauro says
Thank you Peter! Yes, I like to read a map too.. it’s more fun, but sometimes when you face a long trek, or some routes in which it’s hard to get a good map.. bringing a GPS might be very helpful.
Thanks for your comment!
Mark says
Great article!
Very informative write up regarding watches with compass. I am torn between Casio Pathfinder and Garmin Fenix. They were made of good quality and referred by my friends too.
Stay safe and cool!
Cheers!