Move along smartwatches – your tougher and more rugged cousin is in town. Yes, the best smartwatches are still cool, but a hiking watch stakes a new claim to your wrist. These hiking watches for men often offer features that smartwatches also boast. They may be able to count calories, play music, pair with fitness applications and more. But they also offer a number of features to help you battle the elements on weekend camping trips with the family, or on adventures through the mountains with your wolfpack.
Whether it’s keeping you from getting lost or warning you from an incoming storm, let these watches be your guide – and let us guide you through the best hiking watches for men right here! We’ve been at work researching the best hiking watches for men. We dropped the interns in the mountains all wearing a different hiking watch and the ones that made it back to our head office have had their watch featured below. That’s not exactly the whole truth and we promise that no interns were hurt in our research. We did however manage to find the best hiking watches on the market in other ways.
Discover eight of the best hiking watches currently available below. We have taken a detailed look at their features and even discussed the areas where they fall short. Use this information to help you make a smart choice when looking to buy one of these awesome watches. You should also stay tuned to the end of this guide where we provide a greater insight into these products and discuss the ways that you can buy a hiking watch that is suitable for your needs. So, strap in and let’s take a look at our phenomenal findings.
To test the waters when it comes to hiking watches, choose the Suunto Outdoor Watch and take advantage of extensive features, including a compass, altimeter, sun and weather predictions.This a high-performing hiking watch for such low price.
If you already understand the worthiness of investing in a quality hiking watch for men, then don’t look past the prime quality and outstanding features in the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus model. This model offers a lot for men who are prepared to spend a little more.
Our editor has chosen this Garmin model because it houses all the hiking features you could need in a sophisticated design that won’t look out of place around the table at an important business meeting. Get the everyday benefit of this hiking watch for a friendly price.
Every man who wants a hiking watch should consider the Garmin Fenix 5 model. This isn’t the only hiking watch that we’ll be featuring from Garmin and when you see the quality on offer here you’ll be thankful for that. This hiking watch for men has come with color options and you can even choose between different strap materials.
The watch is made for your adventurers into the wilderness with a strong and rugged exterior that you can count on. It’s made with both stainless steel and carbon to combine exceptional durability with a sleek aesthetic and lightweight convenience. With one single charge, the watch will last an impressive ten days. Moreover, if you put it in one of its more energy-consuming functions, it will still stay working for around eight hours!
Now onto some of its cool features that any hiker will really like. It has a three-axis compass, so you can monitor your path on your treks. This is as well as a gyroscope and a barometric altimeter. But the most impressive feature is that this hiking watch includes multiple satellite navigation systems. By calling upon different systems, the watch can provide more accurate data for challenging and remote environments that are common to hikers or climbers.
This watch doesn’t just provide survival features, it will also provide you with entertainment for your hike. In fact, this model can hold up to 500 songs and includes Bluetooth technology so you can pair the watch with your speakers or headphones and enjoy your own playlist wherever you are. If you’re not in the mountains, then this hiking watch is also a great buy to use around town.
You can use it to monitor and track your jogging performance and it includes a contactless payment solution, so you can use the watch to buy your Flat White on your way to work without being late. What else do you need – a heart rate monitor? Oh, it has that too. Whether you’re running, swimming, golfing or heading for a caveman-like weekend with the guys, this hiking watch for men is a phenomenal product!
If you don’t want to spend the big bucks with the Garmin hiking watch above, then you can still dazzle your pals with a quality watch at a cheaper price. This Suunto Outdoor Hiking Watch offers many features to benefit any hiker – all encased in a stylish and robust design.
When navigating the mountains and the dangerous elements that often go hand in hand with hiking, you need the help of devices to keep you safe. This hiking watch does exactly that. It offers the wearer easy access to air pressure readings which can then be used to predict incoming storms. These reading will then let you prepare shelter or plan a safer route back to camp in time.
You also get effortless access to a whole host of other important information such as an altimeter so you can track your current elevation and ensure you stay below a safe altitude. The watch has a compass installed so if you do go into unknown territory, you can explore with the knowledge that you have a personal and accurate guide on your wrist.
However, not only does this hiking watch record your altitude, the weather, and your direction with ease and precision, this model will also keep you updated on the sun’s movements. Unfortunately, it doesn’t transform into a spaceship but it does present the times that the sun will set and rise so you can plan putting up your reliable tent or getting back to base in good time for an awe-inspiring view.
To top off an outstanding hiking watch, this Suunto design is capable of being tailored to your tastes. You can grab this watch and then purchase a number of different types of straps at an affordable price. All of which are just as durable and aesthetically awesome.
For the guys who want to explore the great outdoors without having to think about battery life, and for men who like to live an environmentally-friendly life, there is only one hiking watch for you. It goes by the name of the Casio Pro Trek Sports Watch. We say this because this watch is solar powered. Having a watch that can ultimately “live off the land” is perfect for long-term adventurers and serious campers who survive without electricity. In fact, this model will last nine months before needing to see the sun again. That means it will even survive the Wisconsin winters – just about.
This hiking watch is also water resistant up to 100 meters and will continue to work in really cold temperatures right down to 14-degrees Fahrenheit. So, whether you’re cooling down in a lake or trudging through the snow, this watch will be your favorite hiking companion.
Now we move onto its features. This model can tune to one of 31 time zones, including almost 50 cities. This is important because the watch has a full calendar and can operate up to four alarms at once. When on the trails, being on time can be crucial and this watch will certainly make sure you never put yourself in danger. Other top features found here are a barometer and a 16-point compass. Not to forget an accurate altimeter reader that will provide you with real-time data between -700 meters to 10,000 meters.
One of the coolest and more unique parts of this hiking watch is that the display includes a bright LED backlight. This will let you consult key information about your whereabouts in low-light conditions. So, if you do get in trouble, this light could make all the difference. You might have heard of Casio before – but have you heard of such a good hiking watch for men?
Another option for men who want a sophisticated Garmin hiking watch but don’t want to pay top dollar is this model. Garmin has made this design available in up to six different awesome colors which will all look great in the office or in the forests. It’s not just a good-looking hiking watch either. This watch is made to withstand tough impacts and extreme elements. From water to shock, the watch was manufactured using US military standards, so you know you can rely on it on every outing.
This watch also has one of the most appealing battery life capabilities. In its battery-saving mode, the watch will stay working for around 40 hours, whereas it will be in use for 14 and 16 hours when in its smartwatch and GPS mode, respectively.
That information may have given away some of this watch’s cool features away, but we still need to give you the details. It has a three-axis compass to ensure that you stay in the right direction and it has heart rate and activity monitors to see how hard you’ve worked on your jog or on today’s hike. In terms of keeping fit, this watch can automatically pair with the Garmin fitness community to upload your performance data – which can be consulted with your smartphone. This is why it is also considered a part-time smartwatch as well!
But we’ve saved the best until last. This watch has three satellite navigation systems built in to provide you with accurate and invaluable information when trying to find your way in more remote areas. The help of the GLONASS, GPS and Galileo systems will ensure you’re never lost in the most dangerous places. Run, bike, hike or heading out for a quick nine? This hiking watch for men is top of its class!
The Lad Weather Hiking Watch is the perfect introduction into the world of these awesome watches. This model is one of the cheapest hiking watches on the market without compromising on quality, durability and extensiveness of features. These are the main reasons why this watch has made it onto our buyer guide and offers many readers an option who don’t want to invest a lot into these watches – just yet.
This watch is available in multiple colors for you to pick from. But color choices are by far not the most exciting part of this watch. It has been crafted to be able to monitor the current air pressure and use this information to provide you with accurate weather forecasts. You can then use this information to plan hikes and seek cover in time before the storm hits, keeping you and the family safe and protected!
This isn’t the only feature of this hiking watch that will make your adventures safer and more enjoyable. It also includes an altimeter to ensure that you don’t stray into areas with lower oxygen levels, a compass to keep you on track, and a thermometer so you know how many layers you need to dig out of your tactical backpack. There is even a timer and a stopwatch in case you’re out of the mountains and need to time your workouts and jogs before work.
It will even come in handy when you’re in low-light conditions due to a backlight that illuminates all the information above. This means your watch is never out of action and especially there for you when you need it most. To learn even more about this affordable hiking watch for men, hit the button below!
Another Garmin model has made our list of the best hiking watches for men. We’re not being paid by them we promise – they just make some phenomenal watches that deserve the attention. This design is much more gentlemanly and sophisticated than other outdoor watches. While it still offers many of the features you want when battling the elements, this watch also wouldn’t look out of place in the boardroom.
This hiking watch has been built to last and includes stainless steel design with a sapphire lens that is scratch resistant. The lens has also been made to prevent the glaring sun from making it difficult to see the important information. This is partially achieved with a high-res chrome display.
One of its best features is that it includes a high-performing GPS system. The steel omnidirectional EXO antenna makes sure your coordinates are accurate at all times. You’ll never get lost with low supplies with this phenomenal watch on your wrist. Moreover, this watch also has wireless connectivity, so you can sync data with the manufacturer’s app or update software when required.
You can choose to get this hiking watch in a range of designs and colors – and you can opt for a model with a heart rate monitor if needed. Click the button below to find out how you can get this hiking watch that leads another life as a successful and sophisticated city gent. The only drawback is that this model does not include an altimeter. This is surprising, but it may not be a big deal to many guys who don’t go on extreme adventures up K1 and alike.
If you want to navigate the mountains without losing your sleek and cool look then the Suuntro Traverse Hiking Watch is for you. This awesome and smooth watch is available with different straps colors for your preferences. The straps are made of Silicone to combine durability and lightweight comfort. In fact, this is one of the lightest hiking watches on the market.
This watch is geared up to serve you when on an outdoor adventure with the guys or with the family. It will send you timely alerts of upcoming storms and when you should consider finding safe shelter. It can even give you crucial information such as when the sun will rise and set so you can plan your hiking routes with the knowledge of when you will lose visibility.
Yet, one of the most appealing features of this outdoor watch for men is in its GPS capabilities. The watch doesn’t just take advantage of a GPS system, it also uses the GLONASS system to provide even more accurate coordinates and terrains. As you move through your journey you can save points to retrace your steps later with a saved trail. No need to drop breadcrumbs with this cool hiking watch!
Other features of this watch that you need to know about are a backlight for low-light use, an altimeter to monitor your position and a water-resistant casing. The watch also has wireless technology so you can save your routes to a tangible app that is easily accessible via Android and iOS devices. Your routes that are uploaded to this app are recorded in a 3D map with all the key metrics so you can recall all the important information of your route.
We’ve trusted TomTom to help us navigate our way through the urban jungle for years. Now maybe it’s time to let these guys guide you through your mountain hikes, weekend trails and workouts? This waterproof hiking-come-sports watch can even be put into different sport modes to let it track your movements more accurately. From skiing and swimming to jogging or hiking, this watch caters to all men with different needs.
It’s even supplied with Bluetooth earphones that are both waterproof and sweatproof. If you’re running in the wilderness and want some music to motivate you then there are no reasons why this watch wouldn’t be for you. All of your workout performance stats can then be recorded and stored into an accompanying app which is easily accessible via your smartphone.
Some of this hiking watch’s most appealing features include a built-in heart rate monitor, step calculator, speed tracker and it will even count the number of calories you have burned. Aside from these activity-like features, there are a number of features that make this watch your go-to accessory when taking to the great outdoors for hikes and adventure. These include a barometer, an altimeter and a compass. It even has a basic GPS system that may come in useful to some hikers.
This orange and black hiking watch doesn’t just look the part, it will fast become a necessity for any man who likes to monitor their workout goals and enjoys trips into nature with family and friends. To learn more about this cool product simply tap the button below.
When you escape into nature for an adventure, the last thing you really need is to be monitoring the time. After all, you just escaped your daily schedule, and those meetings and deadlines can be forgotten about. Well, that’s not exactly true. You still need to keep track of time for your safety, especially when taking on trails that take days or even weeks. But this isn’t the main reason why you need a specialist hiking watch for your adventures. A hiking watch provides you with valuable information about your surroundings that will keep everyone safe when in the wild.
Choosing a hiking watch means choosing to equip yourself with a device that provides real-time information to help you navigate the dangers and threats that mother earth can throw our way. We’re going to discuss these specific features in more detail shortly. However, the main benefits that a hiking watch offers – which are also the reasons why you should get one – includes accurate GPS systems, temperature gauges, air pressure predictions which can therefore predict storms, altimeters and much more. Keep reading below to learn about these must-have and convenient features to stay safe when exploring with the guys.
What Additional Features Can Hiking Watches Have?
We’ve alluded to the key features that a hiking watch includes above. But now it’s time to discuss these core features which sets these watches apart. However, we also need to take a look at the additional features you may find on a hiking watch. You can then use this information to help you decide what features you will be useful to you and which ones are surplus to your requirements.
The Main Features
Satellite navigation – one of the key features on a hiking watch is a satellite navigation system. Or should we say multiple satellite navigations systems? That’s right! Many of these watches choose to call upon different types of systems to provide more accurate navigation for remote areas where people go hiking and adventuring. Some models will even pair your route with an app so you can track your journey and save your route for the next adventure.
Altimeter – for those who like to climb or like to go on intense hiking trips in the mountains, an altimeter may be a must-have device. These devices will monitor your altitude to ensure that you don’t end up in areas with dangerously low oxygen levels. Having one built into a watch also leaves more room for another tin of beans.
Air pressure gauge – many models will include an air pressure reader. This is important because by monitoring air pressure the watch can warn you of any incoming storms and let you know when you need to head back to camp or seek out shelter.
Sun monitoring – similarly to the above, these watches will often include a feature to let you know when the sun will rise and set. This is important for serious explorers as they can plan their daily trails and stop-offs by taking into account when they will lose light and need to turn in for the evening. Without this feature, it is easy for hikers to get caught out. Nobody wants to put a tent up in the dark with wildlife buzzing around.
Additional Features
Fitness features – some of the additional features on a hiking watch surround fitness-related performance stats. This includes monitoring calorie expenditure, recording your jogs on an app, counting steps and more. These can be useful for hikers but are also features you will find on smartwatches. Two for one!
Music – not all, but some hiking watches can even store your music and pair with earphones using built-in Bluetooth technology. This means you can add your favorite soundtrack to your walks and create the perfect day out with the kids.
Alarms – some models can keep a number of alarms which are great for different uses. They can help you get to the meeting in time or wake up for sunrise as you eat your camp meal.
It’s clear to see that these hiking watches offer a number of features that are designed for the outdoor lifestyle. However, these products also house many smartwatch-like features that make them perfect for day-to-day use.
iPhone/iWatch Vs GPS Hiking Watch
Many prospective buyers of a hiking watch may look at these products, and before they hand over their card details, they will want to know why they should choose a hiking watch over just using their smartphone or instead of buying a smartwatch. After all, many of these devices have some features that a hiking watch has. This is a good question and if you have been asking these questions then you’re a savvy buyer. However, would you wear swimming shorts to go snowboarding?
A smartphone and a smartwatch are very different from a hiking watch. First, let’s start with their design. Compared to a hiking watch, a smartphone or smartwatch is generally not made to withstand the elements. They are not as rugged and not as good at withstanding impacts – without being damaged. Although many smartwatches are water resistant, they are not as water resistant or scratch resistant as a hiking watch. Hiking watches can often function at very low and very high temperatures. Some smartwatches and certainly most smartphones will not be able to remain in working condition in these low and high temperatures that a hiking watch can withstand.
There is also battery life to consider. Many smartwatches may be able to keep up with hiking watches, but your smartphone is likely not to last you a weekend in nature – especially if you get snapping those cool panoramic views and waterfalls! Moreover, some hiking watches are solar powered, so you never have to think about charging, unlike your smart devices.
Last but certainly not least are the features themselves. A hiking watch usually has more sophisticated satellite navigation systems to ensure you stay on track in remote areas. These systems are rarely if ever found on smartwatches and on smartphones. There are also many features on a hiking watch that are implemented to keep you safe in the great outdoors that are less likely to be found on your smartphone or smartwatch. When putting on your hiking boots, there really is only one option. Don’t run into bears trying to find a mobile signal and stay in the right direction with a quality hiking watch.
Top Brands Of Hiking Watch
This isn’t our first rodeo at Men’s Gear. We’ve provided our readers with hundreds of buyer guides looking at the best gear and accessories that men would love to own. For that reason, we know how to research the current offerings and find the products being offered by the most trusted brands. The same goes for this buyer guide and to make it perfect we sourced the best manufacturers of hiking watches.
This doesn’t mean we only looked at the well-known brands. We also looked at lesser-known brands to find hidden gems. Nevertheless, many of the hiking watches in our guide above have come from household names and companies that we may have bought other devices from before. The likes of Casio, TomTom, Suuntro and Garmin are just to name a few. Buying from these brands and any of the other brands listed above should give you the confidence that you’re buying top quality and that you’re getting exactly what is as advertised.
Key Considerations When Buying A Hiking Watch
There are many considerations when buying a hiking watch, such as finding one with the features you need, a battery life that will suffice and choosing one within your budget. However, we would like to bring you a few lines on one consideration that may be overlooked. This consideration is related to the amount of time that you spend hiking.
Some of the models on our list also offer many features that are seen on smartwatches. These features have been mentioned earlier and include the ability to play music, pair with fitness apps and more. If you’re not going to be hiking every weekend, then you may want to consider a hiking watch that doesn’t stray too far away from the smartwatch design. Consider how much you would use your hiking watch and think about the features on offer to get the most value and use out of your hiking watch purchase. You may just get two types of modern watches in one.
Which Hiking Watch Is On Your Watch List?
Have you added one of the above hiking watches to your watch list? We certainly hope you managed to find a hiking watch that is perfect for your needs and within budget. To make sure we catered to all types of guys, we produced a top eight that lists a variety of features and sits at different ends of the price spectrum.
If you’re yet to settle on one model, then why not compare your shortlist in more detail? You can click on the buttons of each feature to discover even more about these hiking watches and learn about their features in more depth. This will give you more knowledge and a better understanding of each hiking watch. But more importantly, it will help you make the choice that is perfect for your wants and needs.
Thanks for joining us to take a look at the best hiking watches for men. These models come from trusted brands that have a proven reputation for delivering quality products that last. If you’re putting your camping arsenal together then why not consider other cool products perfect for the outdoors such as tactical shirts? Or maybe even a tactical belt? If these don’t catch your interest, then there are plenty of other awesome products to browse on our other buyer guides. Join us in the near future and uncover other products that the modern man must have. Time!
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