What Are the Best Outdoor GPS Watches?

 If you enjoy hiking, camping, or any type of outdoor activity, you need a GPS watch that works reliably and has a decent battery life. These watches can be a valuable safety tool and come from a number of top manufacturers, including Garmin, Suunto, Polar, and Coros. Many of these watches also measure altitude, provide GPX guidance, and track your activities over multiple days.

Some of the most popular outdoor GPS watches are built for active lifestyles, and feature touch-screen features. Some models feature music controls, while others do not have access to other apps. They also display time, step counts, and the time of day and sunset. An Apple Watch is also a great choice for hunting or hiking because of its ability to tell you the time of day and tell how many steps you've taken.

Another great option is the Garmin Edge 500. This watch is designed specifically for outdoor activities and uses Google Wear OS technology. You can also download applications to the watch so that you can access maps while you're on the go. The Edge 500 is rugged and 50-meter-waterproof, and includes a compass, altimeter, and sunrise and sunset screens. It also features a touchscreen and features a full-featured Ordnance Survey map.

Other options include the Garmin Fenix 7 series. These are more expensive, but they feature touchscreen capabilities, and they have numerous sports modes. They can connect to satellites, which can help you get more accurate directions. In addition to displaying the route, Fenix watches can also display the user's heart rate and VO2 Max stats.

Whether you're training for a marathon, hiking, or cycling, a GPS watch can make your exercise easier and safer. These watches can also be used in the ocean and are water-resistant. They also offer other features, such as a GPS antenna and barometric altimeter.

GPS watches with altimeters and barometers are ideal for hikers and trail runners. These watches can measure altitude to precision of 29500 feet. This is a great feature if you plan on doing ultra runs or hiking in the mountains. These watches are made for extreme endurance athletes and can last for many days in GPS mode. They can also last for up to 300 hours when in max battery mode.

Another great choice is the Coros Vertix 2. This model has the features of a GPS watch with a barometer and altimeter. It has a 1.4-inch display and has a battery life of 140 hours in time mode. It also has a waterproof rating of up to 150 meters.

The Suunto 9 series is another great option, offering waterproofing to 100 meters. The watch connects to a companion app and offers turn-by-turn navigation and step tracking. This GPS watch also has great map tracking abilities, making it one of the best outdoor gps watches.

The Polar Grit X watch is another top option when it comes to outdoor GPS watches. The watch supports GPS, altimeter, and compass functions, and has a great battery life. It also supports different modes of outdoor activity, including various sport modes. Other features that make it an ideal choice for outdoor activities include heart rate monitoring, step counts, and sleep tracking.

GPS watches are big investments, but can also provide valuable information for active lifestyles. Generally, more expensive GPS watches offer more advanced fitness tracking and sport tracking features. However, if you only need a basic fitness tracking device, then the budget-friendly models can be an excellent option. Some of these watches will count steps, monitor heart rate, and give you an altimeter.

Another good option for outdoor activities is the Suunto Ambit3 Peak, which features exceptional battery life. This watch can run for more than 30 days without GPS, thanks to its unique battery saving modes. You can set it up to ping every five or 60 seconds, so that it doesn't drain your battery as often as you do when it's not in use. You can also find non-GPS watches with longer battery life that can last weeks without charging. Some models can even be recharged via solar power.