Outdoor Watches – Our pick of the Best

Finding an outdoor watch model can be daunting when faced with the immense choice available on the market. Today’s outdoor watches are nothing short of amazing and combine the best tools in a small bundle at your wrist. They are made to be indestructible- ready for anything you may throw at them during your outdoor adventure time.

If you do not know where to look next, keep reading to discover the list of our top ten outdoor watches. Of course, we cannot say which particular model will be best suited to you. This will depend on your usual outdoor activities and the features you seek in a watch. Whether you decide to go for a classic timepiece or a smartwatch is the first important decision to make. There are many high-quality brands out there that offer a variety of features. The price difference between outdoor watches may also be quite significant. Even so, this article will guide you in understanding available options.

Before making any decision, determining the usage, you will make of your outdoor watch is key. Several aspects must be taken into consideration.

• Are you after a basic model, to track distance of hikes or runs?
• Do you need a watch suited to sub-zero temperature expeditions? Or one that will continue to work in humid areas?
• Does it need to be functional in remote locations and have a solar charging capacity?
• Do you need a robust model that will be waterproof and shockproof?
• Do you need your outdoor watch to have the capacity to connect with your smartphone, your heart rate monitor or any other tech gadgets?

If you are already an outdoor watch owner, you will know what features are most important. If this is your first purchase, do not panic buy and make sure you take the time to understand the different options and what you get. This guide is a great place to start and will introduce you to some terrific options.

Suunto 9 Peak

The Suunto 9 Peak watch is part of the newest generation of smart outdoor watches, boasting a lightweight for quite a big frame. The bulky look of the Suunto 9 Peak calls for adventure and is sturdy. This smart outdoor watch offers a wide variety of data for you to view in real-time. Like sports watches and fitness trackers, it displays time, pace, distance, calories burnt, and your heart rate. Other information includes data such as steps, average speed, and elevation gain. These key data points will be helpful if running is one of the things you will be doing with your watch outdoors. As well as this, the smartwatch boasts an accurate altimeter and an accurate integrated GPS. These two last features differentiate it from being a sports watch, making it a real contender for the outdoor.

Despite the bulky frame, the Suunto 9 Peak has a relatively high-tech look thanks to the touchscreen and high-quality display. Indeed, the LCD is specially designed for visibility outdoors, using minimal battery life. You can expect around 10 days of battery life, allowing you to take it along on your trekking expeditions!

Garmin Fenix 6

This outdoor watch by Garmin comes in several sizes. You will have the choice between the 6S, 6, and 6X, the latter being the slimmest model of the range. You can also add options to your watch, such as music, solar charging, Wi-Fi, or even sapphire glass. These add-ins allow you to tailor the watch you choose to match your needs. Depending on the outdoor activity you will be carrying out, you may consider sapphire glass or music a must.

The accuracy of the integrated maps and GPS is impressive on the Garmin Fenix 6. Garmin is known for its high-end GPS watches, so if this is a feature you require for your outdoor watch- it may just be the ideal option. The smartwatch navigates through forested regions, and the altimeter is just as precise. The more expensive models of the Fenix 6 also feature high-quality topographic maps. You will even be able to use pre-loaded ski maps on some of the best Garmin models.

This watch also sports a highly accurate wrist-based heart rate monitor and a good battery life. Its LCD is designed for outdoor visibility with minimal battery use. Similar to the Suunto Peak, model it will last you around 10 days before needing a recharge. It is worth noting that the Solar Fenix model is another option you may decide to go for. The battery will last you up to 24 days on this model!

Garmin Vivoactive 4 and 4s

The Vivoactive 4 and 4s are much more affordable than the Fenix 6 model and the only real difference between the 4 and 4s is the size. This is a mid-range outdoor watch offering great value for money. This outdoor watch comes in three different editions, and you will be able to choose from two different sizes. Its circular frame is available in a 40mm version or a 45mm version, making it comfortable, with a neat silicone strap perfectly adapted to exercising.

This smart outdoor watch is quite close to a regular smartwatch. It has got features such as step counting, guided breathing, sleep tracking, Garmin Pay through NFC, phone notifications, and more. As with a regular smartwatch, you can add many apps via your phone. Naturally, the features you use on the smartwatch will heavily influence the watch’s overall battery life. Garmin watches usually offer strong battery life, unlike some other smartwatches on the market that will last for no longer than a day at a time.

Lastly, the features that really set the Garmin Vivoactive watch apart from classical smartwatches are the ABC. Altitude, barometer, and compass, that is. These three tools together make it a functional daily watch that is also adventure-ready.

Polar Grit X

As a fourth outdoor watch, we come to you with the Polar Grit X. This model is designed as a real outdoor activity watch. You will not have the ability to add applications to the watch as you would with some other smartwatches. Instead, you will quickly see it is designed specifically for treks on mountains and trails. Integrated to its system are useful adventure tools such as Weather Watcher or Hill Splitter. The Polar Grit X has quite a large frame and is robust, boasting up to 40 hours even when in full activity.

Suunto 7

The Suunto 7 outdoor watch is perfect for those searching for an option on a smaller budget. It is perfectly adapted to being an outdoor watch while also blending with being the perfect everyday watch. It boasts good mapping and tracking features, as would sturdier outdoor watches.

Built for Adventure VAER

This sixth watch is something quite different from the models we have mentioned until now. Indeed, it is not a smartwatch but a classical three-handed, mechanical watch. If the idea of authentic adventure, undisturbed by technology, appeals to you, this might just be the one for you. After all, the first explorers were successful without LCD screens, so why not give it a try? If this is something for you, then you will definitely need to consider the VAER watch. Its case is extra sturdy, boasting a sapphire crystal and 100m of water resistance. The hands on the watch have got five layers of Super-Luminova for incredible specs, making this a great outdoor watch all-round.

Casio G-Shock Rangeman GW9400-1

This seventh watch is another terrific option for those wanting to stay away from a smartwatch. This digital outdoor watch is as good as it gets in terms of rugged survivability and is an iconic adventure watch. It has an altimeter, a thermometer, a barometer, and a digital compass. Its 53mm frame resists pretty much any weather conditions and can withstand water up to 200m. It is mud and damage resistant and benefits from Multi-Band Atomic Timekeeping. This shockproof adventure watch is the one you need for true outdoor treks and trail routes. It is affordable and will not disappoint.

Seiko Prospex “Alpinist”

The origin of this outdoor watch goes all the way back to 1961. It was one of the first watches built for Japanese alpinists and mountain climbers in general. Naturally, the watch has undergone several upgrades since then but is just as well suited to the outdoors in 2021. Like most adventure watches, it boasts a resistant sapphire crystal, is resistant to water up to 200m depth, and has an integrated rotating compass. It is both sleek and robust and a favorite by Seiko.

Luminox bear Grylls Survival Chronograph Master Series

This 9th watch will be a favorite for all Bear Grylls lovers. The famed explorer co-designed this fabulous adventure watch with Luminox. Known as the toughest watchmakers, Luminox has brought us an absolute beast of a watch, ready for just about anything. It sure is on the costlier side, featuring a CARBONOX case, water-resistance up to 300m depth, and an integrated physical compass. It also benefits from Luminox’s always-on illumination, known to last for over twenty-five years.

Amazfit T-Rex Pro

This 47mm case watch is pretty much a military-certified watch with regards to sturdiness. It is specifically built for rugged outdoor conditions and can go up to 100m under water. It is the perfect blend between an outdoor adventure watch and a sports watch, given it has 100 different sports modes. Furthermore, it tracks heart rate and blood oxygen through its BioTracker sensor to go with you in your physical efforts. Not just this, but it encompasses a built-in GPS also supported by satellite systems for accurate positioning. As well as this, it contains a built-in barometer to track your elevation. This T-Rex outdoor watch will last 18 days for standard usage and 9 days for heavy GPS and sports mode usage.

What choice to make?

All in all, it will depend on your budget and the functionalities required. As you will have realized, all types of watches offer some great models, so the choice is yours. Whether you need an all-around daily watch suited to the outdoors, a sports watch, or an adventure-only watch is up to you! Deciding between a smartwatch, a digital, or a mechanical watch will also be key. Whatever you decide, rest assured that out of these 10 top outdoor watches- no decision will be a bad one.

If rugged watches are your thing, check out these great military-grade watches.

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Last Updated on November 16, 2021