Are you wondering what is the best hiking smartwatch? If you are looking to buy the best GPS watch for hiking then you have clicked on the right article. I’ve done the due diligence and curated a list of the best GPS watches for hiking, running, trekking, cycling, and other such outdoor activities and adventures.
These watches have all the sensors, features, and tools that you will require while traveling, So without wasting any time, let’s get to it.
Top Picks
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Best GPS Watch For Hiking  | Suunto 9 Peak |
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Best Overall  | Coros Vertix 2 |
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Best GPS Hiking Watch With Smart Features  | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
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Best Affordable Watch For Hiking  | Garmin Instinct |
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Best Smartwatch For Hiking With GPS
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1. Polar Grit X2 Pro
When it comes to accurate sports and outdoor activity tracking, only a few brands can measure up to Polar smartwatches. So, let’s start out the list with one of the best Polar Smartwatches, the Polar Grit X2 Pro.
It is a premium outdoor watch that is rugged to the core and excels at outdoor activity tracking, thus it can be a great companion for your adventure. The Polar Grit X2 Pro has a stainless steel case and bezel. It is certified for military-grade toughness, it can survive extreme temperatures and conditions. It is also water resistant for up to 100 meters so you can take it anywhere without worrying about damaging it.
This smartwatch comes with an AMOLED display and sapphire crystal glass protection which provides good visibility and adds to the durability of this smartwatch. It has an ambient light sensor, which allows it to adjust its brightness according to its surroundings.
This smartwatch comes with built-in sensors like optical heart rate, barometer, magnetometer compass, and accelerometer. The Polar Grit X2 Pro has advanced navigation, it has dual-frequency GPS for accurate positioning and route tracking. Furthermore, with the support of offline maps, you won’t have to rely on networks or a Wi-Fi connection for navigation.
What makes it the best smartwatch for hiking or trekking is the amount tracking and navigation features it offers. It has 5 satellite navigation systems along with, multiple useful features like turn-by-turn navigation, TrackBack, Hill Splitter, Route & Elevation Profiles, Back to Start, Route guidance, and more. It can track more than 150 sports and activities with great accuracy.
Apart from these features, this Polar smartwatch is equipped with Polar Elixir Biosensing technology that analyzes numerous health metrics and accurately shows data like heart rate, blood oxygen levels, wrist-based ECG, and Skin temperature. It has many other training stats and recovery features like training load, energy sources, FuelWise, fit spark, and more.
All of these features combined with the long-lasting 10-day battery life make the Polar Grit X2 Pro the best GPS watch for hiking.
2. Suunto 9 Peak
The next watch on the list is the Suunto 9 Peak and it is equipped with great features making it one of the best outdoor GPS watches for hiking. It features a case made out of stainless steel and glass fiber-reinforced polyamide and sapphire crystal glass protection making it an extremely tough and durable smartwatch. This Suunto smartwatch boasts an impressive 100 meters of water resistance, so you won’t have to worry about wearing it in the rain, or during swimming.
It is one of the best GPS smartwatches under $300 that offers various activity-tracking features and 5 satellite positioning systems. Some of its key activity tracking features are Point of Interest, Waypoint and visual route navigation, Breadcrumb trail, Heatmaps, Tracklogging, Bearing navigation, Snap to route, and many more which can prove to be very useful while traveling, hiking, camping, or out on any adventure.
The Suunto 9 Peak can track more than 80 sports and activities with great accuracy while simultaneously showing important stats like heart rate, speed, altitude, etc. You can use the Suunto app to plan your routes ahead of time and let your watch guide you.
Apart from this, the Suunto 9 Peak also offers some health-tracking and training features like heart rate tracking, VO2 max, stress & sleep tracking, recovery time, training load, and much more. These can help you stay informed about your health and body condition.
The Suunto 9 Peak has an impressive battery life, it can last for up to 7 days on a single charge. It is one of the best Suunto watches for hiking and running if you are on a budget.
3. Garmin Instinct 2 Solar
Next up on our list is the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar edition. Now Garmin is a name that has been long synonymous with high-end activity tracking. The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar smartwatch lives up to the name and offers some advanced tracking features that can be very useful during outdoor activities and adventures.
First and foremost, what makes this smartwatch one of the best GPS watches for hiking, trail running and outing is the unlimited battery that this watch offers. It can last for up to 28 days in smartwatch mode and if you expose it to 50,000 lux every day, be it sunlight or artificial light. However, it recharges faster in sunlight due to being optimized for the spectrum of sunlight.
Not only that, it is also built tough. This rugged GPS smartwatch can handle whatever you throw at it. It is thermal resistant, and shock resistant thanks to its fiber-reinforced case. Moreover, the watch’s display is protected with chemically strengthened scratch-resistant corning gorilla glass, further enhancing its durability. It is also water resistant for up to 100 meters so taking it for a swim is not an issue.
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar comes with multiple global satellite navigation systems such as GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo for increased accuracy in outdoor activities. It is a great smartwatch for hunting and fishing as it comes with ABC sensors (Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass) that can show you important weather data, elevation status, and direction.
Using the trackback routing feature, you can retrace your steps and go back using the same route to the starting point without getting lost. You can also pin locations like water streams or camp along your route using the reference point feature. These are some of the many features offered on this Garmin GPS smartwatch.
The Instinct 2 Solar also offers 24/7 health tracking along with all-day heart rate tracking, stress tracking, blood oxygen measurement, high/low heart rate alerts, body battery energy monitoring, sleep tracking, and much more.
This watch offers so many useful features that it would require a separate article to cover them all. So, to conclude, I will say that this watch has every feature that you will require while out on an adventure. It is the best Garmin GPS watch for hiking and other outdoor activities.
4. G-Shock Move GBD H-2000
Casio is best known for its affordable G-Shock watches, but did you know that they also make G-Shock GPS watches for hiking? The G-Shock Move GBD H-2000 is tough, rugged, and one of the best sports watches for hiking.
This is a solar-powered watch so you won’t have to worry about charging it, making it perfect to take on your camping trip, or any outdoor activity. With exposure to just 2 hours of direct sunlight, this G-shock smartwatch can last up to a full week.
It offers GPS and Bluetooth connectivity along with multiple sensors like a gyroscope, accelerometer, pressure sensor, thermal sensor, optical heart rate sensor, and magnetic sensor for tracking your outdoor activities and health stats. It can also track your sleep and blood oxygen saturation.
Since it’s a G-Shock it is pretty much assumed that it is tough and extremely durable. The watch can survive submersion in water for depths up to 200 meters, so you can wear it while swimming, snorkeling, jet skiing, and other water sports or activities without any worries.
Overall, it is a tough and durable watch with basic activity tracking, and since it offers solar charging, it is one of the best hiking GPS watches.
5. Apple Watch Ultra 2
Next up we have the toughest watch by Apple. Yes I know, Apple watches are not really known for being the best in terms of outdoor use, however, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has proven otherwise.
It features a 49mm titanium case with IP6X dust resistance and 100 meters of water resistance. Moreover, the display is covered with sapphire crystal glass making this watch resistant to scratches and incredibly durable. It is an always-on retina display with 3000 nits of peak brightness eliminating visibility issues even in the brightest environments.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes with a dual-frequency GPS for accurate positioning and route tracking. It comes with features like backtracking, compass waypoint, Fall detection, and Emergency SOS that can be very useful when going camping, hiking, or trail running. It shows details like elevation, incline, latitude, and longitude along with TOPO maps, it also has a siren that can be heard up to 600 feet away.
The watch can measure numerous workouts with great accuracy all the while keeping track of your overall health and body condition. It can track your sleep and measure your heart rate, ECG, temperature, and blood oxygen saturation as well.
Moreover, you get smart features with this watch. You get to make and receive calls, messages, and notifications right on your wrist.
It can last for up to 2 days on a single charge while providing you with all the smart features that other watches do not offer. Overall it is one of the best smartwatches for hiking.
6. Coros Vertix 2
Coros is a relatively new brand as compared to others on this list. However, its smartwatches are neck to neck with top brands like Garmin and Suunto and this smartwatch is no different. The Coros Vertix 2 is a rugged adventure GPS watch that offers top-of-the-line tracking features.
It features a touchscreen always on memory LCD display with the protection of sapphire crystal glass. The bezel and cover material are made out of grade 5 titanium alloy with PVD coating. The watch is also water resistant for up to 100 meters so durability is not an issue with this one.
The Coros Vertix 2 features all satellite dual frequency GPS with 5 satellite positioning systems to track your activities and routes with remarkable accuracy. It comes with a barometer, and an altimeter and is preloaded with global landscape maps.
You can also download regional Topo maps on this watch. It offers many additional features like a checkpoint, deviation alert, and back-to-start that can come in handy when hiking, camping, trail running, and other such outdoor activities.
Apart from that, it features advanced health-tracking capabilities like heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen saturation, body temperature measurement, ECG monitoring, sleep tracking, and HRV. Moreover, it has numerous advanced features like VO2 max, recovery advising, and interval training to help you train and keep track of your body status while engaged in activities.
Don’t worry this watch won’t run out of juice and can last well over a month, 43 days to be exact, making it a perfect companion for your adventures.
7. Garmin Instinct
Perhaps. this is the only watch that a hiker will require and which also doesn’t come at a premium price like Garmin Instinct Solar. This is the best Garmin hiking watch for under 200 dollars.
The watch has all the essential sensors a hiker may require for an outdoor adventure. This smartwatch comes with not one but 3 navigation systems namely GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. Therefore, you won’t have to rely only on one navigation satellite system and also would be able to know your location on the remotest corners of the earth.
Moreover, this smartwatch offers 16 hours of battery life in GPS mode ensuring that you can cover several miles before needing to stop for a recharge. Garmin Instinct would last you up to a week on a single charge even if you use it regularly.
Furthermore, if you get lost in the wilderness then Garmin Instinct also has Garmin’s TRACBACK feature. It allows you to retrace your steps back to the starting point of the hike so you will never get lost.
This smartwatch is also compatible with the Garmin Explore app available for both Android and iOS. The app allows users to plan their trips and download maps on the smartwatch. Once the map is synced with your smartwatch you can get real-time directions on the watch screen itself.
The smartwatch also has an inbuilt hike activity profile that can track the distance covered by you, average speed, altitude, descent, start and stop location, and more. You can also earn Garmin Badges for your hiking activities which make your adventures more fun and interactive.
Garmin is well known for its in-depth analysis of all sports activities and this smartwatch is no different. You can track your workout sessions, run, swimming, and more with the watch. To conclude, this affordable GPS watch for hiking will be your perfect companion whether you are outside in the wild or sweating on a treadmill.
Things You Should Keep In Mind
1. ABC Sensors
ABC Sensors are better known as Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass sensors. They are very crucial must-have sensors in a hiking watch. An altimeter sensor is used to measure your current elevation level while hiking, trekking, or any other similar activities.
Knowing your present elevation level can help you make plans for acclimatization. It simply means getting used to a new altitude level by staying at that altitude for a night or longer before continuing the journey.
A barometer sensor on your hiking watch would help you avoid potential storms. Weather can change suddenly on hilly mountains and seas as atmospheric pressure can fluctuate quickly causing sudden storms. Therefore, a barometer sensor would help you avoid unpleasant weather conditions.
The compass feature on the watch would give you a general idea of which direction you came from and where you are heading while exploring the wild.
2. GPS And Navigation Capabilities
Your hiking watch must come with GPS and navigation capabilities. Not all smartwatches allow you to download your hiking route map on the watch and then use GPS along with it. Also, check whether or not the watch supports third-party hiking apps like Komoot.
Furthermore, you should also look at all the navigation systems the watch supports. There are many navigation systems available worldwide but the most popular ones are GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.
3. Battery Life
GPS can take a toll on your smartwatch battery hence battery becomes a very important factor in a hiking watch. It is important that your smartwatch can track at least 12 hr of your hiking activity with GPS enabled. Otherwise, what’s the point of a hiking watch if it can’t last until the end of your day?
