How to choose a smartwatch for hiking — 5 things to look for
I love to hike, and I also love testing the latest smartwatches. So naturally, I have some strong opinions on what makes the ultimate smartwatch for hikers.
Of course, if you'd rather physical product recommendations, check out my five favorite smartwatches for hiking round-up. That said, the five options in that piece are far from your only choices.
With so many models to choose from, ranging in price from less than $100 to more than $1,000, here are the five most important things to consider when shopping for the perfect smartwatch that will track your next hike like a champ.
The best smartwatches for hikes have onboard GPS. This means the watch tracks your location rather than piggybacking off your smartphone, which might have died 5 miles back at the bottom of your backpack.
Want the best GPS-tracking accuracy? Keep an eye out for smartwatches that boast dual- or multi-band GPS. In simple terms, the more bands, the more reliable and precise the tracking.
High-end smartwatches — like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra — have dual-band, but you don't need to spend big, big bucks on a device for top-notch GPS. The $399 Garmin Instinct 3 has multi-band, as does the $279 Amazfit T-Rex 3.
The one downside of onboard GPS is that it can be a major drain on battery life. This is why most smartwatch manufacturers list both a standard battery life rating, along with a separate rating for battery life when using GPS tracking.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
For example, the Apple Watch Series 10 is rated to last up to 18 hours under normal use but just 7 hours when using GPS to track an outdoor workout. In actuality, that's likely closer to 6 hours. For this reason, the Series 10 likely wouldn't be my top choice for an avid hiker.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2, on the other wrist, can last up to 12 hours with GPS tracking (longer in low-power mode, still with GPS). The Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED, meanwhile, can GPS track for more than 24 hours on a single charge; the Instinct 3 Solar can track for a whopping 40 hours. The lighter, more affordable Garmin Forerunner 165 — a personal favorite of mine — can GPS track your adventures for up to 17 hours.
The second most important onboard piece of tech you'll want in a proper hiking smartwatch is an onboard altimeter to keep tabs on elevation changes. This is especially important when you're hiking somewhere with lots of elevation gain, like the Cascade Mountains, where I live.
While devices without an altimeter or barometer to track elevation/pressure changes will still usually report 'climb' data for your hike, in my experience and testing, these metrics often need to be taken with a grain of salt because they aren't super precise.
One of my favorite things about rocking a smartwatch while hiking is being able to check in on our stats on the fly, mid-trek. Of course, a bright screen, preferably AMOLED, is a must if you want to be able to read your watch's screen in direct sunlight without some serious squinting.
The crème de la crème of bright and beautiful smartwatch displays are on devices like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, but even sub-$100 smartwatches boast impressive screens in 2025, including the Amazfit Active 2.
Durability is another factor worth considering, especially if you're like me and prone to bumping and scraping your wearables against everything from car doors to rocks. While most modern smartwatches have scratch and shatter-resistant glass protecting their displays, devices like the Instinct 3, T-Rex 3 and Galaxy Watch Ultra have the added protection of an oversized bezel.
Many of the highest-end outdoor adventure smartwatches feature the ability to save map regions for offline navigation when you're off-the-grid/outside of cell range.
Garmin and Polar's offline maps are the gold standard when it comes to ease of use, in my experience, with turn-by-turn directions, topographic maps and points of interest marked. However, Garmin saves the feature for only the brand's highest-end models, like the Fenix and Enduro Series, which will both set you back a pretty penny.
Polar makes the barrier to entry a bit more reasonable. The Polar Vantage M3 has offline maps and starts at around $400.
Budget-friendly models like the $99 Amazfit Active 2 and T-Rex 3 also offer support for offline maps, but the user interface is a bit rough around the edges, and the usability is nowhere near as good as Garmin's or Polar's.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
3 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
5 reasons why the Garmin Venu X1 could be my new favorite Apple Watch Ultra 2 alternative
Garmin has officially declared war on Apple with the launch of the Garmin Venu X1, a square-shaped wellness-tracking powerhouse with an enormous AMOLED screen, slender titanium case and several high-end smartwatch bells and whistles. In short, it looks a whole lot like an Apple Watch Ultra 2 with a similarly heady price tag to match: $799. Full disclosure: I've yet to get the Venu X1 on my wrist — my colleague Nick has — but based on specs and initial impressions alone, Garmin's new sporty smartwatch seems to have a lot going for it. Will it be enough to lure away prospective Apple Watch Ultra 2 customers? It could be! As someone who reviews smartwatches for a living, I field a lot of questions from folks considering ditching their Apple Watch for something new. While their biggest Apple Watch complaint is regarding battery life… or lack thereof, a deficiency of advanced fitness tracking and training tools is another criticism I hear a lot. That, and a shortage of support for nuanced workout types. While Garmin watches don't have nearly as many third-party apps and smart features found on the best Apple Watch models, they generally excel when it comes to battery longevity, holistic tracking reliability and high-end exercise features. The brand also supports well over a hundred workout types, including everything from disc golf to boxing. Prior to the X1, Garmin already had solid alternatives for the Apple Watch Series 10 with the Garmin Venu 3, and the Apple Watch SE (2022) with the Garmin Vivoactive series. Now, the Kansas-based brand has a potentially worthy model to take on Cupertino's premier flagship. With that in mind, here are the five biggest things the Garmin Venu X1 has going for it, along with three things that could potentially hold it back from competing with the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Not only is this Garmin's first high-end smartwatch with a square face, but the screen, which stretches from bezel edge to bezel edge, is the brand's largest ever. In fact, it's slightly bigger than even the Apple Watch Ultra 2's display. Garmin doesn't provide max brightness figures for devices, but 2,000 nits is a likely bet. That's not quite as bright as the Ultra 2's 3,000 nit max brightness figure, but it's still impressive and means that the X1 will be visible even in very bright light. At just 7.9mm, this is also Garmin's thinnest smartwatch case to date. Compare that to the Apple Watch Ultra 2's 14.4mm case depth, and suddenly it feels downright clunky. Fortunately, despite the thin case, my colleague Nick reports that it feels anything but flimsy on the wrist. On a similar note, the sapphire crystal offers peace of mind when it comes to screen protection. By the way, at 9.7mm in thickness, even the latest Apple Watch Series 10 isn't as thin as the Venu X1. For its price, the Garmin Venu X1 ought to sport Garmin's latest and greatest holistic sensor tech. Thankfully, it does, which means you're getting equally as reliable (if not more) heart rate data from the X1. Garmin's sleep tracking insights are also the best in the biz, and more detailed and actionable, IMHO, than Apple's. Plus, Garmin's workout training and recovery tools blow Cupertino's out of the water. And that's not an opinion. That's a fact. Like the Garmin Instinct 3, the sporty, new Venu X1 has a built-in LED flashlight, something you won't find on any Apple Watch. Tucked into the top of the case, the nifty onboard 'torch' has an adjustable output and can be set to white or red light. Perfect for late-night dog walks and finding items in a darkened bedroom without waking a sleeping partner, this is a feature I truly wish Apple (and Google and Samsung, etc.) would rip off and add to their own devices. The best Garmin watches aren't exactly known for their smart features. While most higher-end Garmins offer the basics, like onboard music storage, NFC payments and mirrored smartphone notifications, that tends to be where the list ends. The Venu X1 offers a bit more. It isn't Garmin's first smartwatch with an onboard microphone and speaker, but it's a nice addition for folks who want to take phone calls from the wrist, as you would with an Apple Watch Ultra 2. Of course, Garmin doesn't offer cellular connectivity on any of the brand's smartwatches, so you'll need to have a paired phone nearby to make the most of the mic and speaker. While the Garmin Venu X1 has a lot going for it against the Apple Watch Ultra 2, battery life is one area it doesn't impress. Sure, in smartwatch mode, you can get up to eight days of usage, but that drops to just two days when using the always-on screen mode. And when using GPS to track an activity, battery life is just 14 hours. By comparison, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is good for roughly 36 hours in smartwatch mode (or 72 hours in low-power mode) with the always-on display and 12 hours when using GPS to track an activity. Another downside to the Venu X1 compared to the Ultra 2 is that the former doesn't have multiband GPS; the latter does. The advantage of multiband is better tracking reliability, particularly in areas where the sky may be obstructed. Finally, the Garmin Veny X1 has just 50 meters of water resistance. That's enough for brief periods of surface-level swimming but nothing more. The Ultra 2, meanwhile, offers 100 meters of water resistance and is suitable for scuba diving.
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
I walked 5,500 steps with the Apple Watch 10 vs Garmin Forerunner 570 — here's the winner
The Garmin Forerunner 570 is one of Garmin's newest AMOLED-screen sporting smartwatches aimed at runners. It boasts loads of training tools, Garmin's best heart rate sensors and a small smattering of smart features. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Series 10 is perhaps the best full-featured smartwatch on the market today. It's also no slouch when it comes to fitness and wellness tracking. While the Garmin Forerunner 570 is a tad pricier than the Apple Watch Series 10, both are well equipped to keep tabs on your daily workout efforts, whether you're a runner, walker, hiker or prefer the gym. Each watch sports an onboard GPS and the best holistic tech offered by Apple and Garmin, respectively. The question is, which one is more accurate when it comes to tracking a basic workout? I decided to find out. The Apple Watch Series 10 is my favorite full-featured smartwatch in 2025, sporting a thin and attractive design, gorgeous screen, endless apps and loads of useful onboard features. It's also a mighty reliable fitness and sleep tracker. The Garmin Forerunner 570 is one of the brand's latest smartwatches aimed squarely at runners and outdoor athletes, boasting Garmin's best holistic tech, excellent training and recovery tools, a bright AMOLED screen and a fun, colorful case design. For this walk test, I wore the Apple Watch Series 10 on my left wrist and the Garmin Forerunner 570 on my right wrist before setting out on my manually-counted jaunt around Seattle, Washington, on the longest day of the year. To keep track of my steps, I clicked an old-school tally counter every time my count hit 100 before starting over again at one. With my left foot taking only odd-numbered steps and my right foot only making even-numbered ones, I trekked three miles before ending tracking and examining the results. In addition to the manual count, I also recorded my walk using Strava as a control for distance, elevation and pace data. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. See all the results below: Apple Watch 10 Garmin Forerunner 570 Control Step count 5,568 steps 5,542 steps 5,500 steps (manual count) Distance 2.99 miles 2.98 miles 3.00 miles (Strava) Elevation gain 216 feet 207 feet 212 feet (Strava) Average pace 18 mins 23 secs per mile 18 mins 28 secs per mile 18 mins 6 secs per mile (Strava) Average heart rate 128 bpm 128 bpm n/a Max heart rate 163 bpm 164 bpm n/a Calories burned 437 calories 375 calories n/a Device battery usage 12% 6% n/a Both the Garmin and Apple Watch were within 100 steps of my manually-counted total, an impressive showing for sure! However, while the Series 10 overcounted by 68 steps, the Forerunner 570 only overcounted by 42. Strava, meanwhile, calculated my total steps at 5,548. All three devices measured roughly the same total distance covered and fairly similar elevation gain metrics. Assuming Strava is correct here, both watches are within five feet of the actual total. Pace data also matches up nicely across the board. It's worth noting that both Garmin and Strava offer two average pace figures, including a moving average and an elapsed average, the latter of which is reported above. Garmin's average moving pace for my walk was 16 minutes and 4 seconds per mile and Strava's was 16 minutes and 48 seconds per mile. Despite the Apple Watch being worn on my right wrist and the Garmin adorning my left, heart rate data is a near match between the two, though Apple calculated slightly more calories burned during my roughly 50-minute walk. Finally, the Series 10 burned roughly twice as much battery using its onboard GPS to track my trek compared to the Forerunner 570. Before acknowledging our winner, it's worth pointing out that both the Garmin Forerunner 570 and Apple Watch Series 10 did extremely well in this walk test, and I'd gladly reach for either before recording my next adventure. However, the Garmin Forerunner 570 officially takes the belt in this bout against the Apple Watch Series 10. The margin may be razor thin, but a win's a win. Which smartwatches or fitness trackers would you like to see me test head-to-head in a future walk test? Let me know in the comments below. Until then, get those steps in!
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business Insider
Bybit P2P Summer Draw Turns up the Heat with iPhone 16 Pro Max and Premium Tech Prizes
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 19th, 2025, Chainwire Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, announced the launch of its latest P2P Summer Draw, offering users the opportunity to win premium technology gadgets, trending crypto rewards, and P2P coupons all on Bybit P2P. From now until September 10, 2025, the Bybit exclusive event features an extensive prize pool designed to reward active P2P trading participants throughout the summer months. To participate, eligible users may register for the lucky draw, and complete simple deposit, trading, or referral tasks in exchange for lucky draw tickets. The Summer Draw's prize selection includes high-value technology products headlined by the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods Max. Additionally, lucky winners can win crypto bonuses, exclusive P2P trading coupons, and popular tokens, creating multiple reward categories to appeal to diverse user preferences. The event is exclusive for eligible Bybit's P2P users, reenforcing Bybit's commitment to driving P2P trading adoption and enhancing user experience through engaging and rewarding activities. Bybit P2P facilitates the direct buying and selling of crypto holdings between users, bridging the diverse needs among traders across asset types, while providing a rewarding experience for users. With over 600 payment options and zero fees on crypto transactions, Bybit P2P is a popular marketplace for P2P traders, trusted for its 24/7 customer support, convenience, and escrow system. Rewards are on a first-come, first-served basis. Restrictions apply. For more benefits and rewards, users may explore Bybit P2P. #Bybit / #TheCryptoArk About Bybit Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open, and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at For media inquiries, please contact: media@ Contact Bybit
