Top Hiking Watches You Need to Buy in 2024

A reliable watch is a must-have for any hiking or camping trip.

Whether you want pinpoint coordination with your group, keep track of your progress on the trail or simply want to know what time it is without draining the battery on your phone, the ideal outdoor watch needs to be accurate, durable and intuitive. 

Today, we’ll be taking a look at our top picks for the best hiking watches of 2024, from affordable options to high-end smartwatches loaded with features so that you can choose the ideal model to wear on your next trip out in the Great Outdoors!

Let’s get started.

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Suunto Core

Size and Weight: 45 x 45 x 14.5mm ∙ 64g

Case and Bezel Material: Composite plastic ∙ Aluminium

Glass: Mineral Glass

Main Features: Integrated barometer, barometric altimeter, digital compass, thermometer, sunrise and sunset indicator, weather forecast, user-replaceable battery, thermometer, 30 meter water resistance.

First released all the way back in 2007, the Suunto Core is a reliable ABC (altimeter, barometer, compass) watch that still manages to hold its own against the more modern competition, helped in part by an affordable price tag and by a lightweight, rugged design. 

While it won’t win any awards for best accuracy, the Core’s sensors offer pretty solid readings that will definitely come in handy when navigating the trail. The barometer even provides a useful weather forecast, along with an optional storm alarm. In addition, the reliable sunset and sunrise indicator is extremely handy when determining the best time to set up camp, along with when to set back out on your hike. 

When it comes to durability, the Core is made for the outdoors and can take a beating, even though the plastic case will definitely collect some scratches over time.

The glass screen is made of shatter-resistant mineral glass, and is protected by an aluminium bezel that does a good job at protecting it from any glancing blows. 

As for the battery, the Core runs on a self-replaceable CR2032. Battery life averages 12 months, although this can vary slightly with use. With that said, CR2032 batteries are extremely common, and being able to easily replace them yourself means that its very unlikely for your watch to run out of battery during your trip, assuming you keep note of the last time it was changed.

All in all, the Suunto Core is a perfect option for anyone looking for a cheap, tough and efficient watch to take on their next outdoor adventure, no matter how extreme.

Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar

© Suunto

Size and Weight: 49 x 49 x 13,6mm ∙ 74g or 2,61oz

Case and Bezel Material: Glass fibre reinforced polyamide ∙ Titanium

Glass: Sapphire

Main Features: Solar charging, extreme battery life, GPS navigation, training features, integrated health sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, touch screen, digital compass, barometer, barometric altimeter, 100 meter water resistance.

For a while, Suunto lagged behind the competition when it came to their smartwatches; from unintuitive menu layouts to an underdeveloped app, there always seemed to be a better alternative to their lineup. Fortunately, the Vertical Titanium Solar is here to show that Suunto is definitely back on the right track. 

Boasting one of the most impressive battery lives we’ve ever seen, this impressive device can push up to 60 days in smartwatch mode or 30 with 24/7 tracking, completely eclipsing pretty much anything currently available on the market.

And this is without taking account of the integrated solar panel, which Suunto claims can push the battery life in daily mode up to 1 year with adequate sunlight exposure!

In addition, the Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar comes loaded with training features and, most importantly, pinpoint dual-frequency GPS navigation. Also in that regard, this watch outperforms anything else we’ve tried before. The maps are also crisp, detailed and available for free, which is a huge bonus. 

This is also an extremely rugged watch; with a large sapphire glass screen and titanium bezel, this device is ready for any outdoor activity. 

The Vertical Titanium Solar is proof that Suunto still has what it takes to produce some of the best outdoor and sport watches available on the market. Sure, it’s pricy, but we really can’t recommend it enough, it is just that awesome. 

Garmin Fenix 7 Pro

© Outdoor Gear Lab

Size and Weight: 47 x 47 x 14.5 mm ∙ 73g

Case and Bezel Material: Fiber-reinforced polymer ∙ Titanium

Glass: Sapphire

Main Features: Solar charging, GPS navigation, training features, integrated health sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, touch screen, digital compass, barometer, barometric altimeter, thermometer, 100 meter water resistance.

Garmin’s Fenix series has long been a standard for what to expect from a premium sports and outdoors watch, with GPS navigation, accurate sensors and a huge number of training and health features. The Pro version carries that over with a new generation optical heart rate sensor which, combined with Garmin’s array of amazing apps and intuitive menu layout, makes this watch an incredibly powerful tool to bring on your hikes. 

The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro is made for extreme sports; it’s cased in reinforced plastic with a titanium bezel and underside, and comes with a sapphire glass screen coated with an anti-reflective coating. The watch is also tested to U.S. military standards, so you can be sure you’ll have to put in some serious work before damaging it. In addition, all models in the Pro series come equipped with a built-in flashlight, a nice little addition that could come in handy if you’re caught unprepared after dark.

When it comes to finding your way on the trail, the Fenix 7 Pro has you covered with an accurate and easy to use dual-frequency GPS mapping system. In addition to being able to download or create custom tracks through your smartphone via the Garmin Explore app, you can also record your hikes and save them as a new itinerary.

As for battery life, the Fenix 7 Pro can push an average of 2 weeks in daily mode, and around 50 hours with an active GPS; these values are pushed up to 3 weeks and 70 hours with solar charging. While fairly average for a Garmin device, it is far superior in this regard to the majority of other smartwatches currently available. 

The Fenix 7 Pro is one of the best choices for extreme athletes and hikers who want to get the most out of their devices; it’s tough as nails, will provide a mountain of health-related information and its GPS system will make sure you always remain on track. With its price tag it is definitely an investment, but one that will accompany you during many years on the trail.

Garmin Enduro 2

© Garmin

Size and Weight: 51 x 51 x 15.6 ∙ 70g

Case and Bezel Material: Fiber-reinforced polymer ∙ Titanium

Glass: Sapphire

Main Features: Solar charging, GPS navigation, training features, integrated health sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, touch screen, digital compass, barometer, barometric altimeter, thermometer 100 meter water resistance.

Just in case you liked the Fenix 7 Pro but thought the battery life wasn’t enough to last through your hike, check out the Garmin Enduro 2!

This watch offers the same functionality as the 7 Pro, except with an average of 34 days in daily mode, which is pushed up to over 40 with the addition of solar charging. The GPS use is also boosted, and can offer up to 150 hours with regular sun exposure. 

In terms of build and functionality, the Enduro 2 does not offer anything new; it’s also cased in plastic with a titanium bezel and underside, and a durable sapphire glass screen.

Another difference is that, contrary to the Fenix series, the Enduro only comes in one size, which will make it unsuitable for people with small wrists. It is also equipped with a comfortable nylon band instead of the standard silicone you would get on the majority of Garmin watches. 

If you’re looking to go long distance, the Enduro 2 is one of the best options. It doubles the battery life of the Fenix series and, while it still cannot compete with the Suunto Vertical in that category, it has access to the entirety of the amazing Garmin ecosystem. Whether that’s worth the huge price tag, however, we leave up to you to decide. 

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar

© Garmin

Size and Weight: 45 x 45 x 14.5 mm ∙ 53g

Case and Bezel Material: Fiber-reinforced polymer

Glass: Power Glass

Main Features: Solar charging, training features, integrated health sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, GPS connectivity, digital compass, barometer, barometric altimeter, thermometer, 100 meter water resistance.

The Garmin Instinct 2 is an awesome outdoor watch, perfect for hikers looking for some handy navigation features while looking to keep track of their health when on the trail. 

The Instinct 2’s main distinctive feature is the screen; contrary to all other Garmin watches, the display is monochromatic, which allows it to run for up to 28 days in smartwatch mode. Not only, with the addition of solar charging the Instinct 2 is the only smartwatch in the world that can technically run permanently without having to ever be recharged via cable!

It does, however, lack a fully developed navigation feature. Maps cannot be displayed because of the basic screen, but it does come equipped with GPS connectivity, a digital compass and the ability to indicate in which direction to go when following a pre-determined track or re-tracing your steps. In addition to the compass, the Instinct 2 is also equipped with a barometer and a barometric altimeter.

While it lacks the more developed navigation feature you would find on higher-end models, the Instinct 2 is no less durable; the hard rubber-like casing is built to military standards, and is extremely resistant to impacts. The bezel is also shaped to protect the screen from any glancing blows, but keep in mind that this watch is not equipped with sapphire and is more at risk of scratching and shattering. 

While the absence of navigation features might put some people off, we find that the Instinct 2 is a great option for hikers looking for a feature-rich smartwatch with an old-school throwback to take into the wild. 

Coros Apex 2 Pro

© GadgetGuy

Size and Weight: 46.1 x 46.5 x 14mm ∙ 66g

Case and Bezel Material: Titanium

Glass: Sapphire

Main Features: GPS navigation, training features, integrated health sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, touch screen, digital compass, barometer, barometric altimeter, thermormeter, 50 meter water resistance.

For hikers looking for an affordable sports smartwatch with high-end navigation features, the Coros Apex 2 Pro is a tough one to beat. 

While it is of course loaded with smart training features and health sensors, this watch’s main selling point for outdoor use is the dual frequency GPS, with offline global topographical and the ability to easily create your own itineraries on the go. This system is by far the most advanced for its price point, and an extremely useful tool to have while on the trail. 

In addition to the variety of features, the Apex 2 Pro is also built like a tank; it’s cased entirely with titanium, along with a sapphire glass screen. Again, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more heavily built watch in in this price range. 

Battery wise, the Apex 2 Pro does not come with solar charging, but it can still push easily over 3 weeks in normal use and over 60 with an active GPS. This will give you more than enough battery life even for long distance hiking.

Of course, the low cost does come with some restrictions. The Coros’s mobile app is not among the best, and the GPS is not as pinpoint accurate as some higher-end models. With that said, if you can look over a few small inconveniences the Apex 2 Pro might just be the best bang for your buck currently available on the market.

G-Shock Mudmaster ∙ GWG-2000

Size and Weight: 61.2 × 54.4 × 16.1 mm ∙ 106g

Case and Bezel Material: Stainless steel

Glass: Sapphire

Main Features: Solar charging, mud-resistant construction, radio-adjusted time, digital compass, barometer, barometric altimeter, thermometer, 200 meter water resistance.

If there ever was an award for the most ridiculously overbuilt watch ever made, the GWG-2000 Mudmaster would win it for sure, and by a pretty large margin. This is the watch equivalent of a tank, and if you manage to break it there’s a good chance you’re no longer around to tell the tale. 

The huge case is made of wear-resistant resin, while a steel bezel protects the sapphire glass screen. The Mudmaster also has a mud-resistant gasket construction that keeps dirt away from the internal components, and allows it to function in even the grimiest terrains. In addition, it is also shock-proof and boasts a 200 meter water resistance. 

The Mudmaster is also equipped with all the sensors currently available on G-Shock models, such as a barometer, barometric altimeter and a digital compass, all useful tools to have while on the trail. Another useful feature of the Mudmaster is Multi Band-6, a technology that allows it to sync its time via radio signals emitted by towers spread across the world.

With that said, it remains an analog and digital hybrid, which means the information collected from the sensors is not very easy to read on the tiny digital display. It of course also cannot compete with a smartwatch in terms of pure functionality. This watch is also huge, and will be really uncomfortable for people with small wrists. 

All in all, the G-Shock Mudmaster GWG-2000 excels at what it is, and that is being arguably the toughest watch in the world. It doesn’t have any fancy training features or health tracking, but it will definitely outlast anything you compare it to.

G-Shock Mudman ∙ GW-9500

Size and Weight: 56.7 × 52.7 × 14.8 mm ∙ 81g

Case and Bezel Material: Bio-based resin

Glass: Mineral glass

Main Features: Solar charging, mud-resistant construction, radio-adjusted time, digital compass, barometer, barometric altimeter, thermometer, 200 meter water resistance.

The G-Shock Mudman is a more affordable alternative to the more expensive and imposing Mudmaster, while still retaining all of its features. It is also fully digital instead of partially analog, making it much easier to read the data collected by the sensors. 

With that said, the Mudman still retains the trademark G-Shock level of durability; the new bio-resin casing is built to withstand extreme shocks and temperatures, and the watch is also equipped with mud-resistant gaskets. It does, however, use mineral glass instead of sapphire, meaning it will be slightly more prone to scratching and shattering. 

As we mentioned, the Mudman retains all the capabilities of its higher-end version; it comes with, among other things, barometer, barometric altimeter and a digital compass. It is also equipped with Multi-Band 6, allowing it to synch its time via radio signal. 

With a comparatively affordable price, loads of functions and an ultra-tough build, the Mudman is everything we’ve wanted from a G-Shock. If you can deal with the lack of sapphire glass, this might just be our new favourite from their lineup!

And there you have it!

These 8 incredible hiking watches are perfect to bring on your next adventure in The Great Outdoors. 

For the moment, we’ll be sticking with our old-timey G-Shock Mudmaster, that has just entered it’s fifth year of service on the road. Which one will you choose? 

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