GPS watches are great gadgets designed to ensure that you don’t lose your way while trekking or hiking. If you are into hiking or trekking, you probably already know how easy it is to lose your way. Although navigation is the primary purpose of a GPS watch, the developers are always adding extra features to the watches.
The additional features are great and handy, but you have to pay more. On the other hand, the standard ones will provide you good assistance in navigation without breaking the bank. And this makes the choice so hard.
However, today we have assembled the top 8 Best GPS Watch for Hiking. These watches have been selected and ranked according to their design, functions, convenience, and price to performance ratio. We also used a trustworthy Amazon price tracker to ensure you’ll buying them at the best price.
We have tried our best to make sure that you get the very best GPS watch for hiking! Without further ado, let us dive right into it.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents:1Overview: Best GPS Watch for Hiking28 Best GPS Watch for Hiking (Reviewed)1. Suunto 92. Garmin Fenix 5X3. POLAR Grit X4. Garmin Epix5. Casio Pro Trek WSD-F306. Suunto Core7. Amazfit T-Rex8. Casio Men’s SGW-10003Final Words
Overview: Best GPS Watch for Hiking
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Product Image |
Product Name |
Features |
Price Range |
Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Suunto 9 |
Accurate and smart GPS Sapphire glass for protection Waterproof up to 100 meters |
$$$ |
|
 |
Garmin Fenix 5X |
Accurate GPS, the user can plan routes and the watch will guide through Can measure the uphill and downhill speed 40-hour long battery life Sleep activity tracker |
$$$ |
|
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Wanderings Passport Holder |
Accurate GPS, the user can plan routes and the watch will guide through Can measure the uphill and downhill speed 40-hour long battery life Sleep activity tracker Training guide |
$$$ |
|
 |
Garmin Epix |
High-resolution touchscreen The watch can be read under sunlight Customizable Comes with built-in sensors |
$$$ |
|
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Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30 |
Displays full-color map Can track different activities Battery life can be extended Can display information regarding sunrise, sunset, and tide |
$$$ |
|
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Suunto Core |
The barometer can track and inform you about the weather An altimeter can display height or depth accurately Has an accurate compass Displays accurate sunrise and sunset times |
$$$ |
|
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Amazfit T-Rex |
Superior comfort Health parameter sensors Displays seven days of forecast |
$$ |
|
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Casio Men’s SGW-1000 |
Comes with the triple sensors A durable, water-resistant watch Has a battery life of three years |
$ |
8 Best GPS Watch for Hiking (Reviewed)
Best Overall
1. Suunto 9
The Suunto 9 GPS watch comes with a comfortable wrist band. It has been designed for those who are really into endurance sports and it’s built for professionals. This watch comes with 120-hour long battery life. The GPS is very accurate and it can satisfy even the most meticulous enthusiasts.
Interestingly, this watch comes with eighty different modes. These modes are perfected to fit with every kind of sport there is. You will get a heart rate tracker as well.
The watch has a sapphire glass that can withstand water pressure up to 100 meters. The Suunto 9 watch is available in multiple colors and designs as well.
Pros
- Accurate and smart GPS
- Sapphire glass for protection
- Waterproof up to 100 meters
- 120-hour long battery life
- Heart rate, step counter, and calorie sensor
Cons
- Expensive
- Workout analysis is not that developed
Runner-Up
2. Garmin Fenix 5X
Other than being the second-best GPS watch for hiking, the Garmin Fenix 5X is a great sports watch as well. It has a robust design that makes the watch very durable. The bezel is stainless-steel coated with PVD. The watch is water-proof up to a hundred meters.
The specialty of this watch is on the display. It has a high resolution, colorful display with a transflective technology. This feature allows the user to read the watch even under intense lighting.
The sapphire glass protector is very durable and scratch-resistant. You can even connect the watch to other devices via Wi-Fi.
Pros
- Full-color high-resolution display
- Robust, durable build
- Built-in highly accurate GPS, three-axis compass, barometric altimeter, gyroscope
- Wi-Fi features
Cons
- The metal bezel can be scratched easily
Military-Grade Sports Watch
3. POLAR Grit X
If you are looking for a military-grade sports watch, the Polar Grit X definitely deserves a shot. This watch has a sleek design. Although it might not seem to be much, it’s as durable as watches can be.
What’s more, this watch is water-resistant up to 100 meters. The best part is, the watch is very lightweight despite its robust build.
The watch comes with a built-in GPS. You can set a definite route for your running workouts, and the watch will guide you. There is another feature that determines the uphill and downhill speeds for you.
There is a drink reminder that reminds the users every time they need some nutrition. This feature is very convenient for people who work tirelessly.
Pros
- Accurate GPS, the user can plan routes and the watch will guide through
- Can measure the uphill and downhill speed
- 40-hour long battery life
- Sleep activity tracker
- Training guide
Cons
- Expensive
- Bad customer support
Sturdy Build
4. Garmin Epix
The Epix by Garmin is yet another amazing product from Garmin and it secures its position as the fourth best GPS watch for hiking. It has a full-color map and you can download multiple maps.
Its internal memory has been increased to eight GB, which allows the user to store more maps than ever.
The watch comes with sensors that provide real-time information by auto-calibrating themselves. The user will get information on the altitude with the altimeter. Again, he or she will get weather forecasts as well.
The square touchscreen is 1.4 inch and it can be read even in intense sunlight.
Pros
- High-resolution touchscreen
- The watch can be read under sunlight
- Customizable
- Comes with built-in sensors
Cons
- Not that stylish
- Processes information very slow
Best Software
5. Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30
Casio is a renowned brand when it comes to watches. And it’s no surprise that their Pro Trek WSD-F30 watches are the fifth-best GPS watch for trekking one can get. The Pro Trek WSD-F30 watches are suitable for every kind of sport. And they are full of amazing functions.
The watch can deliver a fully colored map from Mapbox or Google Maps. If you are out of range of data or Wi-Fi, make sure that you download the map beforehand. You will get multiple map types with this watch.
You can keep track of your location and route. In fact, you can add various information on the routes. This is very convenient for campers as well. During activities, you can set different instructions such as, if the speed exceeds 50 km per hour, it will be displayed.
Pros
- Displays full-color map
- Can track different activities
- Battery life can be extended
- Can display information regarding sunrise, sunset, and tide
Cons
- The battery isn’t that great
- History cannot be deleted
Most Advanced
6. Suunto Core
The Suunto Core is the second Suunto product of this list, and it’s the sixth-best GPS watch for hiking. This is one of the affordable watches for sports. Although it doesn’t come with tons of features, it does pack the absolute necessity.
The watch has a barometer that will inform the slightest change in air pressure. With this feature, you will get the forecast for the following day as well. The altimeter is great if you are a mountaineer, hiker, or trekker.
It will inform you about your ascent and descent. The compass will help you find your way through the wilderness. And finally, it’ll inform you about the sunrise and sunset schedule.
The Suunto Core is full of great features. It’s not that flashy, but it comes with the basic necessities. If you want the basic functions at an affordable price, we highly recommend you get this one.
Pros
- The barometer can track and inform you about the weather
- The altimeter can display height or depth accurately
- Has an accurate compass
- Displays accurate sunrise and sunset times
- Affordable price
Cons
- Lacks the advanced functions
- Functions are more or less analog so might be harder to use for some
Value for Money
7. Amazfit T-Rex
T-Rex is a great smartwatch and it comes from Amazefit. This smartwatch is really durable and it’s designed to withstand every kind of weather. It’s tested to withstand seventy degrees of heat and minus forty degrees of frost.
The watch will last for up to twenty hours at a single charge. Although it is nothing compared to the watches of a higher tier, it’s still a good bet for its price. It comes with built-in optical sensors to monitor health parameters. The watch is water-resistant and it’ll last up to 5 atmospheric pressure.
Moreover, the watch shows the weather forecast for the next seven days. This is a great feature and the accuracy and convenience of this feature rival that of the high priced watches! Another great addition is that the watch will flash every time.
The GPS chip used in this watch is from Sony. Unfortunately, it works only for four hours. While it’s definitely not great, judging by its price it can be forgiven. The wrist band is resistant to sweat and made of breathable materials. So, you will be comfortable wearing this watch for hours.
Due to its features, it delivers at such an amazing price point, we think that the Amazfit T-Rex is the seventh-best GPS watch for hiking.
Pros
- Superior comfort
- Health parameter sensors
- Displays seven days of forecast
- Durable build
Cons
- Low battery life
- GPS works for four hours only
Most Affordable Pick
8. Casio Men’s SGW-1000
“If you want a functioning smartwatch for hiking, you need to spend at least a hundred dollars”, this is what we usually believe. But those days are past now. You can get a durable, functioning smartwatch under a hundred dollars, and the product is the Casio SGW-1000.
The SGW-1000 packs some necessary features. It’s water-resistant up to a hundred meters, which is great for divers and snorkeling. You will get an altimeter, which is great for determining the height and depth of the user.
You also get built-in barometer that provides weather forecasts that are more or less accurate. Again, the user can program up to five alarms each day.
The Casio Men’s SWG-1000 is not even a close match for the higher-end watches. However, if you want a functioning watch under a hundred dollars, this is the most you will get.
Pros
- Comes with the triple sensors
- A durable, water-resistant watch
- Has a battery life of three years
Cons
- Lacks a lot of functions
- Harder to use than a lot of other watches
Final Words
The products that you have seen up to now are the best GPS watches for hiking that you can get in 2020. We understand that GPS watches are a must for hiking, trekking, and some other endurance sports. Even if you are into cross-country, a watch with GPS can help you a lot.
Among the watches mentioned above, the Suunto 9 and the Garmin Fenix 5X are the best.
Suunto 9 is the best GPS watch for hiking. It’s stylish, plus it packs tons of different features. It has all the functions a hiker or trekker may need.
Again, the Garmin Fenix 5X is the second-best GPS watch for hiking. It packs features similar to that of the Suunto 9. However, it falls behind when it comes to product quality and battery life.
Rest assured that all of the aforementioned products are amazing. You just have to pick the one that meets your budget and requirements.
However, the price difference between the watches isn’t huge. And if you can manage some money to get the better watch, make sure you do that and it will certainly pay off.
