• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Reviews
  • Guides
    • Fitness & Sports Watches
    • Cycling
    • Running
    • Swimming
    • Diving
    • Classic Watches
    • Designer Watches
    • Kids Smartwatches
    • Safety and SOS
    • Sleep Monitoring
  • Brands
    • Apple
    • Garmin
    • Fitbit
    • Samsung
    • Xiaomi
    • Suunto
  • Comparisons
Superwatches - Smartwatches for smart healthy people

Superwatches

Super Smartwatches and Wearables

  • Health and Fitness
  • How To
  • Deals
  • About Us
  • Generic selectors
    Exact matches only
    Search in title
    Search in content
    Post Type Selectors

Best Hiking Watches

By Emma Morris. Updated: Dec 31, 2021

Woman hiker checking watch
Hiking watches

Looking for the best hiking watches on the market? You’re not alone. During the last decade, hiking has exploded in popularity. This is partly due to the invention of hiking watches. Indeed, hiking watches are great because they help walkers feel safe in the mountains.

So, what are the best hiking watches? Well, a good hiking watch should have a barometer, altimeter, compass, and GPS/GLONASS.  Also, it should be durable.

The Garmin Fenix 6 Plus and Suunto 9 are market leaders, but there are a few other good options.

Garmin 010-01733-00 Fenix 5X Sapphire - Slate Gray with Black Band
Garmin 010-01733-00 Fenix 5X Sapphire - Slate Gray with Black Band
    Check Amazon Price

    Trekking watches cost a premium so think about which features you want. And which you could leave behind! To help you on your way, I’ll compare 5 of the best hiking watches.

    Table of Contents

      • What to Look for in a Hiking Watch
    • 1. Garmin Fenix 6X Pro
    • 2. Garmin Vivoactive 4
    • 3. TomTom GPS Multisport
    • 4. Suunto Traverse
    • 5. Casio Pro Trek PRW2500R Tough Solar Digital Sport Watch
    • 6. Apple Watch 6
    • Choosing a Trekking Watch
      • Do you want your watch to record your routes automatically so you can view them later?
      • When you are hiking, do you want to know your exact altitude?
      • Need a watch with great battery life?
      • Finally, if you’d like a watch that displays topographic maps.

    What to Look for in a Hiking Watch

    A good hiking watch will not only capture your fitness data, but it will also help you navigate and forecast the weather. These additional features will keep you safe in the outdoors. So, when choosing a hiking watch, look for the following features:

    Barometer

    This detects changes in air pressure so it can tell you if a storm is on the way.

    Altimeter

    This shows you how high above sea level you are, which is very useful for navigation.

    Compass

    Again, a compass is useful for navigation. In conjunction with a map, you can use a compass to find your exact location.

    GPS or GLONASS

    GPS tracks your location. And GLONASS is the most advanced version of GPS available. When combined with an altimeter and barometer, GPS/GLONASS is extremely accurate.

    Heart-rate monitor

    This allows you to monitor your heart rate (HR) and avoid exertion too early in a hike.

    Maps

    Most hiking watches display basic GPS maps, but one watch even displays topographic maps (paper-style maps).

    Hard-wearing design

    Hikers are out in all weathers, so they need a watch that’s built to last. Some watches have a Sapphire glass covering, which is near impossible to scratch.

    With that in mind, here are 5 hiking watches that are packed full of useful features.

    Using smartwatches while hiking

    1. Garmin Fenix 6X Pro

    Garmin Fenix 6x pro hiking apps

    When it comes to hiking watches, the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro is the market leader. The solar version is also fantastic for true outdoor adventurers. It is extremely accurate at measuring location and predicting the weather. As such, it can keep you safe in unpredictable terrain.

    One of the best features is that you can view pre-loaded topographic maps. This is a distinguishing feature because most hiking watches only display barebones maps. Topographic maps are much better for navigating, so you’re less likely to get lost.  

    How to use your Apple Watch to trac...

    To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

    How to use your Apple Watch to track Hiking

    Another great thing about this watch is that it can connect to your smartphone camera. So, you can position your smartphone on a rock, and then gather together for a group photo. When it’s time to say ‘cheese’, you can take the photo directly from your wrist. So, if you have a Garmin Fenix 6X Pro, no one needs to be left out of the photo.

    Garmin ProductSupplier
    Fenix 7AmazonView Offer
    Fenix 7eBayView Offer
    Fenix 7GarminView Offer
    Fenix 7TargetView Offer

    Pros

    • Multi-sport tracking
    • Durable and hard-wearing
    • Supports GLONASS
    • Storm alerts
    • 3 Sizes
    • Maps

    Cons

    • Battery life – Around 20 hours of battery life in full GPS mode
    • Buttons – A touchscreen might be preferred
    • Price – Because the Garmin Fenix is feature-packed, it’s expensive

    Check out our comparison of the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro and the new Apple Watch Series 6.

    2. Garmin Vivoactive 4

    Garmin Vivoactive 4 hiking features

    The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is not, strictly speaking, a hiking watch, but it can be used to track casual hikes of less than 8 hours. It includes some of the features of the Fenix but it costs less. Like the Fenix, it is a great multi-sport watch, so it’s perfect if you have multiple hobbies.

    So, what’s so good about the Garmin Vivoactive 4? Well, it has GPS and GLONASS to track location, distance, and pace. It also has a barometric altimeter to accurately map altitude. As mentioned, this is useful for accurate navigation. Also, the weather app and sunrise/sunset alerts are great safety features.

    One of the downsides of this watch is that it cannot display topographic maps. It is also not as durable as the Fenix 6X Pro. Finally, because it doesn’t have a dedicated trekking mode, it might not capture/show all the relevant data. But, if you have an android phone, you can download an app like Hike 2 to make sure all your hiking data is captured.

    More, it has advanced health features including a pulse OX sensor, energy monitoring, music control and animated workouts.

    All in all, this watch is ideal if you are a causal hiker with multiple hobbies, and you want a reasonably priced fitness watch. Respectively, it’s an ideal running watch, too.

    Pros

    • Affordable
    • Multisport watch
    • Smartwatch features
    • Lightweight

    Cons

    • Battery life – The battery life is not quite as good as the Fenix. It offers 13 hours in GPS mode and 7 days in smartwatch mode. It is fine for the causal hiker, though.
    • No hiking mode – There is no inbuilt hiking mode with the watch. Although additional apps can be downloaded, people new to fitness tracking might find this difficult.
    Garmin Vivoactive 4, GPS Smartwatch, Features Music, Body Energy Monitoring, Animated Workouts, Pulse Ox...
    Garmin Vivoactive 4, GPS Smartwatch, Features Music, Body Energy Monitoring, Animated Workouts, Pulse Ox...
      Check Amazon Price

      3. TomTom GPS Multisport

      TomTom GPS Multisport black and red

      This is a great mid-range watch for outdoorsy people. It has a sleek and stylish design. Also, because it is lightweight, it would not look too bulky on a slender wrist. Although it doesn’t offer as many features as the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro, it is easier on the eye, and more comfortable on the wrist.

      As you’d expect, it has GPS to measure location and a barometer to measure air pressure. It does not have a GLONASS sensor so it may not measure location and altitude as accurately as the Garmin devices, but it is still pretty accurate.

      This watch is great for cautious explorers. This is because you can upload a chosen route and the watch will give you a breadcrumb trail to follow. This is a fun way of ‘navigating’ if you are new to hiking.

      Like many hiking watches, it’s a ‘multisport’ device so it can measure lots of sports in addition to hiking. In fact, if you are into skiing and snowboarding, you will find this watch particularly useful. This is because the barometer can accurately measure ski lift versus downhill run time.  

      So, all in all, this watch is great for outdoorsy types that like hiking and other winter sports. Having said that, if you are very serious about hiking and navigation, you may find the HIKE features a little simple.

      Pros

      • Stylish and lightweight design – Particularly suited to women.
      • Multisport features – Especially suited to winter sports enthusiasts.
      • Stores up to 500 songs – This is a great feature if you like listening to songs or podcasts on long walks.

      Cons

      • No maps – Specifically, it doesn’t have topographic maps.  
      • Battery life – Again, the battery life isn’t great (up to 20 hours on HIKE mode)
      • No GLONASS – So, it may not measure altitude and location as accurately as some other devices.
      TomTom Multi-Sport GPS Watch, Bright Green/Bright Green,
      TomTom Multi-Sport GPS Watch, Bright Green/Bright Green,
        Check Amazon Price

        4. Suunto Traverse

        Suunto watches are renowned for their accuracy and reliability. Any watch in the Suunto range would make a good trekking watch but the Traverse is particularly good.

        Why is this? Well, it has an altimeter, barometer, and GLONASS sensor to map your location and altitude with precision. It also has a compass to help with navigation, as well as a thermometer. The thermometer and barometer can be used to predict weather changes. So, with all these features, you know you’ll be safe in the mountains.

        The Traverse isn’t a multisport watch, so it doesn’t offer a bunch of other settings. Neither is it a smartwatch, so it doesn’t offer payment features. But because of all this, the hardware is nice and light, so it has a minimalist and chic design.

        If you want very detailed fitness information, you might be better off going for the Suunto Ambit 3 Peak HR. Similarly, if you want a multisport device, the Suunto Ambit 3 Peak, or one of the Garmin watches will be a better choice.

        But, if you are more interested in the joy of hiking than monitoring your fitness, the Traverse offers great value for money.

        Pros

        • Lightweight and stylish design – so, the watch can be worn 24/7 if you want.
        • Great battery life – up to 100 hours in GPS mode and 14 days in regular mode!
        • GLONASS sensor – To track your location with precision.

        Cons

        • Minimal fitness tracking – it might not offer enough fitness data for the keen athlete.
        • Not a multisport watch – so, it’s not great for people with multiple hobbies.
        SUUNTO Traverse, Black
        SUUNTO Traverse, Black
          Check Amazon Price

          5. Casio Pro Trek PRW2500R Tough Solar Digital Sport Watch

          Suunto Traverse, Casio Pro Trek
          Suunto Traverse, Casio Pro Trek

          As we’ve seen, one of the biggest problems with hiking watches is the poor battery life (except perhaps the Suunto Traverse which has 100 hours in GPS mode). GPS/GLONASS is such a great feature to have in a hiking watch, but it does run the battery down. So, these watches aren’t that practical for multi-day hikes.

          The Casio PRW2500R doesn’t have an in-built GPS. At first glance, you might think it’s not even worth considering a hiking watch that doesn’t have GPS. But, don’t be too quick to judge.

          Firstly, this watch is solar powered so it’s unlikely that you’d ever run out of power. This is a huge benefit if you hike for days at a time.

          Secondly, it forces you to navigate in the traditional way. It comes equipped with a barometer, altimeter, and compass so it’s still a great piece of kit.

          So, if you are learning to navigate, or you are already a very confident navigator, the Casio PRW2500R might be a great option for you.

          Pros

          • Solar-powered
          • Good quality hardware
          • Durable
          • Training tool – Because this watch doesn’t have GPS/GLONASS, you can practice old school navigation skills. This means you won’t rely too heavily on technology, which is important for staying safe as a hiker.

          Cons

          • Cannot track routes – Because there is no GPS, your routes are not automatically stored in the app.
          • Needs calibrating – In GPS watches, the altimeter is automatically calibrated via GPS. Calibration will need to be done manually on a regular basis.
          • Price – Considering it doesn’t have GPS, some people consider this watch to be overpriced.
          Casio - Casio Protrek Multi Band 6 Ato (PRW2500R-1CR)
          Casio - Casio Protrek Multi Band 6 Ato (PRW2500R-1CR)
            Check Amazon Price
            Best hiking watches - quick comparison

            6. Apple Watch 6

            Though not specifically designed for hiking or outdoor, there is much to say about the Apple Watch 6 as the best all-rounder smartwatch. Especially if you already own an iPhone – the Apple Watch 6 will seamlessly integrate with a lot of familiar apps and give you that edge in terms of functionality.

            For hiking, you could find many supported Apps that will record, analyze and allow you to re-live your tracks. Lots of health features will make sure to take your measurements during your hike and following. For extra ruggedness, we suggest buying a case that will protect your watch for the outdoor. The Apple Watch has many case options that suit this need. The Apple Watch a great watch for many things. we expect the upcoming Apple Watch 7 to improve the overall benefits even further.

            Choosing a Trekking Watch

            If you are still feeling a bit uncertain, ask yourself the following:  

            Do you want your watch to record your routes automatically so you can view them later?

            If so, choose a watch with GPS/GLONASS, such as the Garmin Fenix, Garmin Vivosport, or Suunto Traverse.

            When you are hiking, do you want to know your exact altitude?

            If the answer is yes, the Garmin devices and Suunto Traverse are best for this. The TomTom and Casio may not be as accurate.

            Need a watch with great battery life?

            Choose the Suunto Traverse or Casio. And if you want a multisport device, choose the Fenix, Vivoactive, or TomTom.

            Finally, if you’d like a watch that displays topographic maps.

            There’s no better choice than the Fenix.

            Most people would agree that the Fenix is the market leader, but it’s not necessarily the right watch for you.

            Hopefully, this article has opened your eyes to 5 great hiking watches – each promising in their own right.  So, which one will you choose?

            Emma Morris
            Emma Morris( Editor and Social Media Manager )

            Emma brings over a decade of freelance copy and content writing experience and is our Editor, Social Media Manager, and regular contributor. Specializing in long-form content such as blogs, articles, lead magnets, and white papers, Emma also provides businesses with email marketing, website copy, and landing pages.

            Notice: Qualifying purchases through links may support us with commission. Read our editorial policy.
            August 8, 2019 By Emma Morris Filed Under: Buying Guides, Fitness & Sports Watches, Reviews

            You are here: Superwatches > Buying Guides > Best Hiking Watches

            Primary Sidebar

            News

            samsung galaxy watch size guide

            Samsung Pay Broken On Galaxy Watches

            June 21, 2022

            Contactless payments are big right now. If you’re not already embracing this tech, make sure you get started soon! Samsung Pay is one of the most popular methods of contactless payments, especially for Android and Galaxy Watch users. But, reports are suggesting that this feature isn’t running so smoothly… Have you noticed your Samsung Pay […]

            Google pixel watch

            Google Pixel Watch Possible Bands And Straps

            June 20, 2022

            The Google Pixel Watch is exciting news for all smartwatch lovers. Announced at the I/O conference in May, we finally saw an official visual for the upcoming smartwatch. We can’t wait to see the potential bands and straps coming with this watch. The buzz around this smartwatch is immense, with many exciting features and a […]

            Woman sat on desk meditating using stress monitoring watches

            Fitbit Add Smartwatch Mental Health Features

            June 17, 2022

            Mental health is just as important as physical health. But, unlike fitness, not all smartwatches offer tools for your mind. However, new Fitbit smartwatch mental health tools have been released to help users de-stress and maintain calm when out and about. It’s no secret that mental health issues have increased since the start of the […]

            TAG HEUER CONNECTED Calibre E4

            New Tag Heuer Watch NFT Feature

            June 16, 2022

            A Tag Heuer watch is a symbol of fine craft and watchmaking tradition. But what happens when you mix the latest tech trends with a Swiss watch? Well, with Tag Heuer’s latest watch, you can find out! The Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 wearable is compatible with a new function that allows you to display […]

            Amazon Prime Day Sale of smartwatches

            Are You Ready For The Prime Day Sales?

            June 15, 2022

            Amazon’s Prime Day is one of the year’s biggest shopping events.  This international retailer focuses on providing a two-day shopping sensation each July. Expect thousands of deals on all products, including fitness trackers and smartwatches.  We like to keep readers up to date with the latest smartwatch deals, and this is one of the most […]

            Latest Superwatches Reviews

            Garmin Forerunner 955 Review

            June 17, 2022 By Superwatches

            Meet the Latest TAG Heuer Smartwatch – The Connected Calibre E4

            March 14, 2022 By Isobel Coughlan

            Instinct 2: Reviewing Garmin’s GPS Watch

            March 11, 2022 By Bernadette Gallagher

            Latest Guides

            Official Apple Watch 7 colors and band options

            Apple Watch Accessories- 20 Best in 2022

            Best diving smartwatches in 2022

            More guides

            Watch Our Videos

            our videos

            Affiliate Disclosure: Superwatches.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchase.
            Our participation in affiliate programs is at no extra cost to you.


            Copyright © 2022 · Superwatches.com · Privacy · FAQ · Terms · Contact us

            facebook      twitter       pinterest      instagram       tumblr       superwatches youtube channel   superwatches tiktok channel


            Superwatches is a trading name of Lezgo Limited. US Correspondence address: Lezgo Limited, 935 N Beneva Rd, Ste 609 PMB 2021, Sarasota, FL 34232
            Lezgo Limited is a company based in Israel. Company Registration #516280674