Choosing the right Smartwatch for hikers can be challenging because no brand offers every feature for navigation and safety. Hiking watches must perform a few essential functions, including serving as a timekeeper, providing generally accurate ABC functions, and being durable enough to withstand water, dirt, and the rigors of outdoor activities.
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When it comes to hiking, popular smartwatches are great for casual turn-by-turn navigation with Google or Apple Maps, but they may not have all the features hikers need, such as detailed maps, trailhead data, and SOS tools.
Finding the perfect hiking Smartwatch can be challenging, as no brand offers every feature for navigation and safety. Hikers may want to consider fitness smartwatches with the capability to download offline GPX maps or topographic maps for treks in remote areas with no cell coverage, along with other niche navigation tools.
Alternatively, a traditional smartwatch with cellular support or access to third-party map apps like AllTrails may be preferred. Hikers should also consider factors such as battery life, durability, and weight when selecting a hiking watch.
Some of the best hiking watches on the market include the Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar, Suunto Core, and Casio Pro Trek PRW3500-1. Ultimately, the right hiking watch for each individual will depend on their specific needs and budget.
Importance of GPX Maps and Custom Courses for Hikers
Ideal Features for Hikers to enhance your outdoor experiences, consider a smartwatch with the following features:
- Custom Course Creation: Create your own turn-by-turn navigation routes using GPX files or your past runs.
- Offline Maps: Download third-party maps from apps or race organizations to follow without cell coverage.
Garmin, Suunto, and COROS support GPX file import and custom route creation within their respective apps. However, entry-level watches may use “breadcrumb navigation,” while higher-end models offer full maps.
Polar watches support Route Guidance from GPX files or past runs, but they don’t have a method to create your own routes directly. You’ll have to rely on Strava, Komoot, or another app.
Mainstream watches like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra 2/Series 9 also support GPX map turn-by-turn navigation, but they require third-party apps like Komoot or WorkOutDoors.
Komoot, a mapping app, has a direct partnership with Apple, COROS, Garmin, Polar, Samsung, Suunto, and a few other brands. If you’re building a database of routes to follow, it’s best to do so through them instead of proprietary courses that you’ll lose if you switch watches.
Smartwatch Brands and Features
- Garmin: Supports GPX file import and custom route creation within their respective apps.
- Suunto: Supports GPX file import and custom route creation within their respective apps.
- COROS: Supports GPX file import and custom route creation within their respective apps.
- Polar: Supports Route Guidance from GPX files or past runs, but they don’t have a method to create your own routes directly.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: Has a Routes tile for GPX files that you can upload through the Samsung Health app.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2/Series 9: Requires third-party apps like Komoot or WorkOutDoors to follow GPX files.
- Komoot: A mapping app with a direct partnership with Apple, COROS, Garmin, Polar, Samsung, Suunto, and a few other brands.
Ultimately, the right smartwatch for hikers will depend on your specific needs and budget.
Topographic Maps for Hiking SmartWatche
Finding and downloading routes before each hike can be time-consuming, and relying solely on GPX files may not help you if you deviate from the planned path. Pre-downloaded topographic maps for your region, country, or continent can provide a more reliable navigation solution, allowing you to improvise and explore without the risk of getting lost.
Garmin Watches: Garmin Forerunner 9XX, Fenix, and Epix watches come with preinstalled topo maps and offer the option to buy and download additional map packs. The Forerunner 965 and Epix 2 Pro provide high-quality maps, while the Fenix 7 Pro and Forerunner 955 Solar are better for battery life. These watches also offer access to specialized maps for golf courses and ski resorts, as well as the option to purchase “Outdoor Maps+” for premium contours, maximum detail, satellite imagery, and private land borders.
Suunto Watches: On Suunto Race or Vertical watches, you can download topographic data for specific regions via the app, allowing you to preemptively download maps for areas like Yellowstone Park ahead of your trip without needing a specific route.
COROS and Polar Watches: COROS watches like the VERTIX 2 or APEX 2 Pro offer 32GB of storage for landscape or topo maps, while the Polar Vantage V3 requires the use of the Polar Flow desktop app to download maps.
Apple Watch: Apple added topographic maps to watchOS 10, allowing users to download maps to their connected Apple Watch from the Apple Maps app on their iPhone. However, the Apple Watch does not have offline topographic maps, and the phone must be within range or have a cellular or Wi-Fi connection for the maps to be accessible.
Android Users: For Android users, offline topographic map options are limited. While Wear OS watches lack native support for offline topographic maps, third-party apps like Trackwear.io can provide topo map downloads for certain watch models.
In summary, pre-downloaded topographic maps offer a more reliable and flexible solution for hiking compared to GPX files. Various smartwatches, including those from Garmin, Suunto, Apple, and other brands, offer different options for accessing and using topographic maps during outdoor activities.
How to Pick the Best Hiking Smartwatch for You
When choosing a hiking smartwatch, consider factors such as GPS functionality, battery life, size and fit, weight, and other hiking watch features.
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar and the Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar are two of the best GPS hiking and backpacking watches of 2024. Other top picks include the Suunto 5 Peak, Oppo Watch Free, and Coros Pace 3.
Garmin has some unique mapping tools, such as the Around Me view, Up Ahead view, and ClimbPro view, while Suunto’s app has a heatmap showing popular hiking starting points and routes in your area.
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Polar’s Elevation Profile tells you about upcoming hills, while Hill Splitter counts how many hills you’ve climbed and gives you a useful post-hike summary of how well your endurance and speed held up over time. Apple’s Maps are more likely to have useful and up-to-date points of interest if you’re hiking in more civilized areas.
Ultimately, the choice of hiking smartwatch depends on personal preference and priorities, such as battery life, features, and brand.
What other factors to consider when picking a hiking Smartwatch
When choosing a hiking watch, there are several factors to consider. For day hikers, dual-frequency GPS ensures less signal loss from foliage or nearby mountains.
For multi-day adventurers, battery-saving modes that track GPS less frequently can extend the lifespan, or watches with solar panels can be considered. Emergency/safety features such as fall detection, messaging emergency contacts, or real-time GPS tracking for family can be important. Durability and weight are also important considerations.
A hiking watch must be waterproof and able to withstand the ruggedness of the trail. An altimeter is a critical tool for backcountry navigation, and all recommended hiking watches have a barometric altimeter. Battery life, size, and fit are also essential considerations when choosing an altimeter watch.
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar and the Garmin Fenix 7 are two of the best GPS hiking and backpacking watches for most people. The Suunto Core and the Coros Pace 2 are also great options for those on a budget.
SmartWatch for Hikers each product Details
Best Overall Hiking Smartwatch : Garmin Instinct
- Price: Varies
- Navigation System: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
- Altimeter/Barometer/Compass: Yes
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Battery Life: Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode
- Weight: 52g
- Score: 4.8/5
Best GPS Watch for Runners: Coros Apex 42mm
- Price: Varies
- Navigation System: GPS, GLONASS, BDS
- Altimeter/Barometer/Compass: Yes
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Battery Life: Up to 100 hours in UltraMax mode
- Weight: 45.6g
- Score: 4.7/5
Best Premium Hiking Smartwatch: Garmin Fenix 6X
- Price: Varies
- Navigation System: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
- Altimeter/Barometer/Compass: Yes
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Battery Life: Up to 21 days in smartwatch mode
- Weight: 93g
- Score: 4.9/5
Best Budget GPS Watch: Timex IronMan R300 GPS
- Price: $129
- Navigation System: Phone-free GPS
- Altimeter/Barometer/Compass: No
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
- Weight: Not specified
- Score: Not available
Best No-Frills Hiking Smartwatch: Casio F91W-1
- Price: $18.95
- Navigation System: None
- Altimeter/Barometer/Compass: No
- Water Resistance: 5m
- Battery Life: 7 years
- Weight: Not specified
- Score: Not available
Buy Apple Watch Ultra 2 on Amazon: visit
