{"id":1625,"date":"2017-08-08T11:40:56","date_gmt":"2017-08-08T07:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/?p=1625"},"modified":"2021-02-08T17:14:58","modified_gmt":"2021-02-08T13:14:58","slug":"best-hiking-watches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/best-hiking-watches","title":{"rendered":"10 Best Hiking Watches for 2018, Detailed Buyer’s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Best<\/h2>\n

A hiking watch is part of my checklist when packing for a hiking trip along with my GoPro camera<\/a> and hiking mounts and accessories<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hiking watches have become quite advanced and modern. Not only do they show the time and the date, but these days majority of the good hiking watches come with features that assist in your hiking and keep your health in check as well.<\/p>\n

Some of these features include a GPS, compass, weather predictor, altimeter, barometer, heart rate checker and more. Now some watches may have all of these features, while others may have only a handful of them.<\/p>\n

The number of features usually depends on the budget and the brand you are going with. Note that you may find yourself attracted to a cheaper hiking watch that claims to have all the features.<\/p>\n

Usually, any such watch is a Chinese knockoff and will, in no way, have any premium features that usually bump up the price of the watches.<\/p>\n

Now you may be wondering that how can you get yourself a hiking watch, without falling for a knockoff or low quality model.<\/p>\n

Do not worry as in this review I am going to discuss, with you, how to pick out a hiking watch while listing the best hiking watches for 2018.<\/p>\n

Note: The hiking watches list in this review has been continuously updated to give you only the most popular and reliable models in the market.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Buyer Guide<\/h2>\n

If it is the first time you are purchasing a hiking watch or you have had a bad experience from purchasing one before, it is a good strategy to learn how to pick a quality hiking watch.<\/p>\n

I will give you some tips in this buying guide section regarding what to look for when buying a hiking watch and the features which should make or break the deal for you.<\/p>\n

Navigation, Altitude and Weather Aids<\/h3>\n

Any good hiking watch should have a mix of navigation, altitude and weather checking features. Of course, at times you may not get all of them in one watch, but generally most high quality watches have them all, which makes it a good sign to judge a watch with.<\/p>\n

For help with navigation, the watch must come with a compass. This is usually found even in the lower end of hiking watches and is an expected feature.<\/p>\n

It gives you your position through the four cardinal (North, South, East and West) and the bearing. This makes it quite handy for determining your location and also ensuring that you are moving in the correct direction.<\/p>\n

An altimeter helps you in determining your altitude by showing you how high you are from the sea level. It uses a barometer inside or GPS to make this determination.<\/p>\n

Most high end hiking watches have a GPS backed altimeter, as it is more accurate and requires no calibration to use. Using an altimeter and a compass together, you can easily estimate your current position on a map quite precisely.<\/p>\n

\"Hiking<\/p>\n

For checking and predicting the weather as you move along your hiking trail, you should have a barometer installed in your watch.<\/p>\n

A barometer can measure the changes in atmospheric pressure and hence can give you readings to predict the weather, including the buildup of any storms.<\/p>\n

If the atmospheric pressure is increasing, the weather is about to get sunnier and clearer (improving), while on the other hand if the atmospheric pressure is decreasing, it is a sign of rain or a storm growing (worsening).<\/p>\n

A good barometer feature will even have a storm alarm to directly notify you about the imminent danger in weather, so that you can make appropriate arrangements right away.<\/p>\n

You may also find thermometer on some of the hiking watches, however having one is not a must. A thermometer is handy to tell the temperature outside so that you can dress appropriately. It works best when the watch is not on your list, as otherwise the temperature can be influenced by your body heat.<\/p>\n

Durability and Construction<\/h3>\n

This is a no-brainer. Hiking can be a grueling experience on your body as well as the accessories on your body.<\/p>\n

You need a watch that has a solid construction, impact resistant straps and case, a high quality glass (preferably scratch free), etc. What could be worse than having your watch broken while you are at the top of an uninhabited mountain? Check for the durability of the watch you purchase.<\/p>\n

GPS<\/h3>\n

\"Suunto<\/p>\n

If you get a high end or a premium hiking watch, you are definitely going to get a GPS in it. In less advanced hiking watches, a GPS may not be guaranteed. However, it is desirable to get a watch with a GPS since you get to know your coordinates instantly.<\/p>\n

Depending on the GPS on your watch, you can also get updates regarding wind speed, distance, altitude and other common GPS based information. You can also update your routes, in GPX format, on your watch and use them to navigate yourself accurately and track all your activities.<\/p>\n

Some GPS watches can connect to mobile apps and give you a history of all your hiking activity, like time traveled, distance traveled, ascent, descent, speed, etc. Do note that having a GPS activated on your watch will reduce your watch\u2019s battery.<\/p>\n

Heart Rate Checker<\/h3>\n

Having a heart beat meter on your watch is quite handy as it will give you guidance to help maintain a steady pace through the hike, which is especially required when travelling in groups.<\/p>\n

These are all the features that should be in your hiking watch. You may find other features as well, but as a general rule, keep the aforementioned features as a check list when you are selecting a hiking watch.<\/p>\n

\n

My Picks for the Best Hiking Watches For 2018<\/u><\/h2>\n

Comparison Table<\/h3>\n

Here’s a comparison table for you to have a quick glimpse at the features of the hiking watches I listed below:
\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Brand<\/strong><\/th>Price<\/strong><\/th>GPS<\/strong><\/th>Altimeter<\/strong><\/th>Barometer<\/strong><\/th>Heart Rate Monitor<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Garmin Fenix 5<\/strong><\/td>$$$<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Suunto Ambit3 Peak HR<\/strong><\/td>$$<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Casio PRW 2500T-7CR<\/strong><\/td>$$<\/td>No, Compass only<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Suunto Traverse<\/strong><\/td>$$<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Suunto Core Crush<\/strong><\/td>$$<\/td>No, Compass only<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Garmin Tactix<\/strong><\/td>$$$<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Casio Pro Trek PRW 3000 1A<\/strong><\/td>$$<\/td>No, Compass only<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lad Weather Adventure<\/strong><\/td>$<\/td>No, Compass only<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Timex Unisex Expedition<\/strong><\/td>$<\/td>No<\/td>No<\/td>No<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Casio Men's PAG240-1CR<\/strong><\/td>$$<\/td>No, Compass only<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n
\n

Garmin Fenix 5<\/h3>\n

\"Garmin<\/p>\n

Garmin<\/a> is the authority brand in the world of hiking watches. Its Fenix line of modern hiking watches have been huge successes, with the Fenix 3<\/a> ruling over for many years. Now, finally, Garmin has introduced a new model in this line called the Fenix 5.<\/p>\n

There is little surprise here that soon after its release, the Fenix 5 became an instant it. The watch takes an approach of combining the best of a smart watch and a conventional watch.<\/p>\n

Its dial has a great contrast and a high resolution, giving you a clear view even in the harshest of conditions.<\/p>\n

The body of the watch is quite rugged, with stainless steel bezel protecting the dial, reinforced rubber straps giving an assured wrap and sapphire glass lens resisting any scratches. However, despite these security features, the watch still looks quite stylish and appealing.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s special about it:<\/h4>\n

The Garmin Fenix 5 is loaded with features that are bound to excite you.<\/p>\n