Best outdoor watch 2024: rugged timepieces for adventurers

The best outdoor watches are genuinely sophisticated wearables. These rugged smartwatches manage to pack a considerable number of potent sensors and tools for modern life into a tiny package. They're often able to track position more precisely than smartphones and typically offer far better battery life. Here, we listed all models worth considering, including Garmin, Suunto, Polar, Huawei, Apple, and more.

While screen real estate is limited, adventure watch manufacturers have taken many tips from smartwatches. Indeed, many outdoor watches do double duty as smartwatches, as well as hiking GPS units, running watches, training aids, and music players, to name but a few functions. Read on for our ranking of the best outdoor watches right now – whatever you're into.

The Top 3

The best outdoor watch to buy right now

Best overall

The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro is our top pick for outdoor watches right now because it enhances the Fenix 7 range with innovative features like a new Memory-in-Pixel display and an advanced bio-sensor. These updates, coupled with an ultra-long battery life and a physical flashlight now available across all sizes, solidify its position as a premium outdoor watch.

The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro inherits all original Fenix 7 features and subsequent upgrades like the Hill Score and Endurance Score metrics, enhancing athlete understanding. Better still, the map features now include weather overlays and relief shading for enhanced navigation.

Speaking of upgraded navigation, the Fenix 7 Pro also features the Up Ahead mode, as seen on the Enduro 2. It provides points-of-interest navigation, like aid stations, among other objects, which might be useful when using pre-loaded maps on races.

For those seeking cutting-edge performance and durability in a rugged outdoor watch, the Fenix 7 Pro delivers with its extensive feature set and durable construction. With a sleek design and an array of advanced metrics, it's a compelling choice for outdoor enthusiasts looking to take their adventures to the next level.

Read our full Garmin Fenix 7 Pro review.

Also consider: The Garmin Enduro 2 has the longest battery life in Garmin's lineup, and it boasts optimised GPS performance and solar charging. Its durability is unmatched with scratch-proof glass, titanium components, and a rugged polymer case. Plus, it offers offline maps and advanced outdoor features.

Best for swimming

Apple's second-generation Ultra rugged wearable is prettier, more intelligent and faster than before – without a price increase.

Of all the outdoor watches, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is your best option for swimming. It's water-rated to 100 metres and meets the EN13319 standard for dive accessories. Better still, unlike its predecessor, the second-generation Ultra can be used for freediving (the Ultra was only suitable for scuba diving). Apple also revamped the Dive app, making it easier to see your dive history on the watch and to share your dives via the app on your iPhone.

Another big outdoor update is the operating altitude range of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which has been increased to -500-9000 meters (-1640 feet to 29,500 feet), exceeding the current standard of other Apple Watch models of 0 meters to 3000 meters. Battery life could be (much) better, but apart from that, this is a terrific outdoor wearable!

Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review.

Also consider: Thanks to the release of the Ultra 2, the original Apple Watch Ultra can be bought for less than RRP these days. It's a super-capable wearable that can track your adventure both below and above the waterline. Read our full comparison between the two iterations here: Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra.

Best for hiking

The Huawei Watch Ultimate is your best outdoor watch option for hiking. In Expedition mode, the Watch Ultimate tracks your movements in three dimensions, day and night, as well as letting you add waypoints and markers as you go along on your adventure. 

The watch can also be used for commercial diving, which we're sure everyone will appreciate (considering the number of commercial divers out there). We suspect it's one of those niche features Huawei added just to have a stab at Apple, but the watch has some interesting additional diving features, such as Apnoea training and Apnoea test.

The Huawei Watch Ultimate has a large, bright AMOLED display and a surprisingly long battery life, which is why we listed it so high in this outdoor watch roundup. It's a shame you can't buy it in the US, but if you live in a country where it's available, we recommend checking it out.

Read our full Huawei Watch Ultimate review.

Best mid-range

The Polar Grit X2 Pro is a feature-packed multisport watch designed for outdoor enthusiasts. Its rugged yet sleek design, featuring a stainless steel case and bezel and Sapphire Glass lens, offers comprehensive tracking for various activities, such as running, hiking, and cycling.

The watch boasts impressive battery life, lasting up to 100 hours in GPS mode, making it ideal for multi-day adventures. The Grit X2 Pro features advanced, multi-band GPS and Polar's Elixir bio-sensing platform, providing accurate data to optimise training and recovery.

It also offers detailed navigation features, including route planning and turn-by-turn guidance via Komoot. It includes a range of smartwatch functionalities such as notifications, music controls, and weather updates. No offile music storage still, sadly, bu there is plenty of space to store maps on the watch.

The Polar Grit X2 Pro excels in providing comprehensive tracking, navigation, and smartwatch capabilities, making it a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a high-performance multisport watch.

Read our full Polar Grit X2 Pro review.

Most sustainable

The Suunto Vertical has superb mapping features, long battery life aided by solar charging capabilities and a durable build – everything you can ask from a capable outdoor watch. 

It's not as slick as Garmins; the CPU could be faster, and the touch interactions smoother. If you prefer non-AMOLED wearables for outdoor activities, the Suunto Vertical is one of the best options for you on this list.

One of our favourite things about the Suunto Vertical is that it was made using 100% renewable energy, and the little carbon generated by the production is offset by the company in Africa. It's an admirable effort and something we'd like to see more from other brands.

Read our full Suunto Vertical review.

Best for mountaineering

Like most Coros watches, the biggest appeal of the Apex 2 Pro is that offers an updated heart rate sensor, dual-frequency GPS chip, plenty of trail running and outdoor sports features, rugged titanium and sapphire glass design, an okay touchscreen display, a lot of training support via the Coros app and the Coros EvoLab for half as much as the Garmin Enduro 2.

Aimed at ultra-runners, the Coros Apex 2 Pro will surely appeal to people who liked the first iteration of the watch and are fans of the brand – a group that's getting increasingly numerous these days. We'd imagine Garmin users might not be swayed quite as quickly, but that's fine; there is room for two (three, four...) wearable brands in the outdoor watch market.

Read our full Coros Apex 2 Pro review.

Best budget

Until recently, our pick for the best budget outdoor watch was the Amazfit T-Rex Pro, and while you'll still find it at the bottom of this round-up, it's been thoroughly superseded by the latest version: step forward, the Amazfit T-Rex 2. It's a significant upgrade to the T-Rex Pro, with a larger and brighter AMOLED display, longer battery life and a much better GPS chip, and if you're after a cheap alternative to the Garmin Fenix, this is about as good as it gets right now.

It's rugged and surprisingly lightweight – put that down to the polycarbonate case – with a new BioTrackerTM 3.0 PPG biometric sensor that supports 24-hour health management functions, as well as over 150 sports modes (most of which you'll never use).

The GPS accuracy is fine, if not super-accurate, while the heart rate accuracy is a little hit-and-miss, but on the whole, you get a lot of functionality and plenty of bang for your buck. We can't help but feel that the chunky design is there for the sake of it, but if you can live with that and if you're on a budget, this is definitely an outdoor watch worth considering.

Read our full Amazfit T-Rex 2 review.

Best marine-focused

If you're a water lover, the best outdoor watch for you is the Garmin Quatix 6X Solar. This watch takes the land-based tools and tech found in our top-ranking 6X range and adds a whole bunch more geared towards more watery pursuits. There are plenty of features aimed at boat owners, SUP riders, windsurfers, kayakers and more.

Additions include wrist-based autopilot control, dedicated marine mapping and bespoke sailing tools. You'll also get Garmin's solar-boosted battery, which means this watch will run and run... and run. While it's absolutely excellent for marine sports, it's probably unnecessarily complex for land lovers.

In April 2022, Garmin released a new version of this watch. The upgraded version adds a touchscreen AMOLED face and some more sea-specific tools, although the former does impact battery life somewhat. Check out our full Garmin Quatix 7 Sapphire review for the full low-down on that one. 

Read our full Garmin Quatix 6X Solar review.

How to choose the best best outdoor watch for you

Looking to gear up for your next outdoor adventure? Hold on to your compass and let's talk outdoor watches! With so many options out there, it's like navigating through a forest maze. Before you take the plunge, let's hash out how much tech you really need. 

Too much gizmo, and you'll be stranded with a dead battery faster than you can say "lost in the woods." But skimp on the tech, and your training routine might suffer more than a hiker with a hole in their boot.

For those epic expeditions, smartwatches and GPS trackers can be more power-hungry than a bear at a picnic. Opt for solar-powered or simple models that can keep up with your trailblazing spirit in any weather.

If you're eyeing a tracking model, ask yourself: are you tracking your steps for fitness or navigating through the wilderness like a seasoned explorer? Sometimes, they're as compatible as a camper and a cactus.

Sure, models with GPS and fancy sensors might offer pinpoint accuracy, but they also drain your battery faster. The newest models come with settings to balance accuracy with battery life.

Ultimately, finding the perfect outdoor watch is like finding the perfect trail mix—personal preference reigns supreme. So, choose wisely, strap on your boots, and hit the trails with confidence!

How we test the best outdoor watches

Testing outdoor watches involves putting them through their paces in real-world conditions to evaluate their performance and features.

Field testing is essential; we often take watches out on outdoor adventures such as hiking, camping, or backpacking trips. During these excursions, we pay close attention to how the watch handles different terrains, weather conditions, and altitudes.

We test GPS accuracy by comparing its readings with known landmarks, maps and hiking GPS units.

We monitor the watch's battery life during extended use, particularly when utilising features like GPS tracking or heart rate monitoring. Test how long the battery lasts in various modes and settings, and compare it with the manufacturer's claimed battery life to ensure it meets your needs.

If we can, we check if the watch withstands accidental drops, scratches, and immersion in water. That said, we don't purposefully try and damage the watch – think more like real-life scenarios, like your arms brushing against thorny bushes.

We also test the watch's user interface and navigation features to ensure they are intuitive and responsive, even when wearing gloves or in harsh weather conditions (if applicable; we can't really test this in the middle of summer).

We wear the watch for prolonged periods to assess its comfort and fit, particularly during strenuous activities. We check if the strap is adjustable, breathable, and comfortable for long-term wear.

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