The world is your playground. From picturesque mountain hiking trails to scuba diving getaways, there’s too much to see out there and too little time to see it.
If you’re an adventurer, you need the kind of accessories that make it easier to go, go, go. That includes an adventure timepiece from one of the best watch companies out there today.
Don’t settle for less. There are hundreds of merely okay adventure timepieces out there which may not be worth the investment. We’ve scoured through dozens of contenders to create our informed list of the Top 6 Outdoor Watches In 2021. From shock resistance to advanced features, these rugged beauties have it all.
Let’s get things going with our #6 entry.
6) Casio Pro Trek Men’s Tough Solar Digital Sport Watch
- Tough Solar Power,100M Water Resistant,Low Temperature Resistant (-10 C / 14 F),Module 3415,Approx. Battery Life: 9 months on full charge (without further exposure to light)
- Accuracy: +/- 15 seconds per month ,Full Auto Calendar (Pre-programmed until the year 2099),5 Daily Alarms (4 one-time and 1 snooze alarm),World Time 31 time zones (48 cities + UTC), city name display, daylight saving on/off
- Full Auto LED (Super Illuminator) Backlight with Afterglow,Countdown Timer Measuring unit: 1 second Countdown range: 24 hours Countdown start time setting range: 1 minute to 24 hours (1-minute increments ans 1-hour increments)
- Barometer Display range: 260 to 1,100 hPa (7.65 to 32.45 inHg) Display unit: 1 hPa (0.05 inHg),Thermometer Display range: -10 to 60 C (14 to 140 F) Display unit: 0.1 C (0.2 F)
- Digital Compass Measures and displays direction as one of 16 points Measuring range: 0 to 359 degrees Measuring unit: 1 degree 60 seconds continuous measurement Graphic direction pointer Bidirectional calibration and Northerly calibration function Magnetic declination correction Bearing memory
One of two sports watches on our list, the Casio Pro Trek Men’s Tough Solar Digital Sport Watch is a beast. The Japanese quartz movement is chargeable by both natural and artificial light, and the full automatic LED backlight is primed for night hikes. It also features an altimeter/barometer/compass combination — a heck of a deal for a sports watch that retails for barely over $100.
Specs
Dial Window Material: Mineral
Display Type: Digital
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 52 mm
Case Thickness: 14 mm
Band Material: Plastic
Band Length: 9 inches
Band Width: 26 mm
Band Color: Black
Dial Color: Gray
Bezel Material: Resin
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Pros
- Tough Solar technology means you can charge this watch quickly with many different sources of light.
- The Japanese quartz movement is quite precise.
- The compass is especially accurate for a watch that’s so affordable.
Cons
- It is prone to annoying random resets.
- It may be too big for smaller wrists.
5) Apple Watch Series 6 (44 mm)
- GPS model lets you take calls and reply to texts from your wrist
- Measure your blood oxygen with an all-new sensor and app
- Check your heart rhythm with the ECG app
- The Always-On Retina display is 2.5x brighter outdoors when your wrist is down
- S6 SiP is up to 20% faster than Series 5
While it doesn’t offer the battery life of smartwatches later on our list, the Apple Watch Series 6 may earn your business on name value alone. After all, Apple makes some of the best gadgets out there! This state-of-the-art device is packed with features like a compass/altimeter/barometer combination, a heart rate monitor, music streaming capabilities, and advanced sync capabilities with iPhones and other Apple products.
Specs
Watch Size: 44 x 38 x 10.4 mm
Display Type: Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display
Display Resolution: 368 x 448 pixels
Chips: S6 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, U1 Chip, W3
Available Case Materials: Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Titanium
Connectivity: LTE/UMTS, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Pros
- The heart rate monitor is the best one that Apple has produced so far.
- The display is gorgeous. It’s like having a smartphone on your wrist.
- There are so many apps available. You can customize this watch to fit your wants and needs, both in appearance and substance.
Cons
- The battery life is poor compared to other smartwatches.
- If you don’t own other Apple gadgets, you won’t be able to unlock its full potential.
4) Casio G-Shock Mudmaster Tactical Analog/Digital Watch
- This watch features a carbon core guard structure case, in black with grey accents, that allows the internal mechanics of the watch to be protected from shock-induced damage
- Additionally, this watch connects via Bluetooth to a special G-Shock app that helps with the configuration, as well as records altitude data, route information, and step counts
- This watch is mud resistant with metal buttons that form a tight seal on the case, a dual back cover that consists of a stainless steel panel back and an outer cover made of shock resistant fine resin embedded with glass fibers, and the bezel has three layers of fine resin with carbon fiber inserts
- The Quad Sensor capabilities provide instant access to a compass, altitude/barometer, thermometer, and an accelerometer that keeps track of your step count
Do you like to get down and dirty on your outdoor adventures? The Casio G-Shock Mudmaster Tactical Analog/Digital Watch would love to come along! The carbon core guard structure watch case protects the insides of the watch from the elements, sudden impacts, and water. It’s fully mud-resistant and even includes an accelerometer to help you keep track of your steps. The image above doesn’t do this baddie justice. It’s one heck of a strong watch.
Specs
Dial Window Material: Mineral
Display Type: Analog/Digital
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Carbon, Resin
Case Diameter: 55 mm
Case Thickness: 6 mm
Band Material: Plastic
Band Color: Black
Dial Color: Black
Movement: Quartz
Water Resistance: 200 meters
Pros
- This watch can go deep into the mud and the water without incident.
- The accelerometer is a nice touch for a sports watch.
- The carbon/resin case is expertly crafted to protect your watch for years to come.
Cons
- The digital display can be pretty hard to read for those adventurers who are farsighted.
- From an aesthetic standpoint, this watch is kinda clunky.
3) Garmin Instinct Rugged Outdoor Watch
- Rugged GPS watch built to withstand the toughest environments.Supported Application:Phone. . Wireless comm standard:Bluetooth
- Constructed to U.S. Military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance (rated to 100 meters)
- Built in 3 axis compass and barometric altimeter, plus multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, Glonass and Galileo) support helps track in more challenging environments than GPS alone
- Monitor your estimated heart rate, activity and stress; Train with preloaded activity profiles. Strap material: Silicone
- Stay connected with smart notifications (with a compatible smartphone) and automatic data uploads to the Garmin connect online fitness community
A cost-efficient blend of smartwatch technology and old-school adventure watch gumption, the Garmin Instinct Rugged Outdoor Watch is one of our favorite entry-level active watches. It’s constructed to meet the U.S. military standard 810G. That means it can handle shocks and sharp changes in temperature without crapping out. It also provides up to 14 days of battery life on a single charge. You don’t have to be tethered to an electrical outlet to get the best out of it.
Specs
Display Glass Material: Chemically-Strengthened Glass
Dimensions: 45 x 45 x 15.3 mm
Weight: 52 g
Case Material: Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
Case Color: Black
Band Color: Black
Band Material: Silicone
Bezel Material: Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
Battery Life: Up to 16 hours in GPS Mode >> Up to 40 hours in UltraTrac Mode >> Up to 14 days in Smartwatch Mode
Water Resistance: 1oo meters
Memory: 16 MB
Pros
- This watch is insanely rugged. It’s nearly impossible to ding, scratch, or break.
- Includes constant sleep and stress trackers for optimal health tracking.
- The battery life is pretty great for a smartwatch at such a low price point.
Cons
- The buttons extend out the housing and are easy to accidentally press.
- Garmin’s Explore app could use some work.
2) SUUNTO Core All Black Military Outdoor Watch
- Suunto Core: This classic outdoor sports watch is packed with intelligent features like a Storm Alarm, Altimeter, Barometer and compass to keep you informed of conditions while you hike, bike, or camp
- Essential for Adventure: This watch has dual times, date display, and alarm, plus predicted times for sunrise and sunset to help maximize your daylight hours and a depth meter accurate up to 30 feet
- Suunto Sports Watches: Versatile and durable, Suunto sports watches are great for running, swimming, cycling, gym workouts, hiking, and other outdoor sports; Whatever your needs, Suunto has a watch for you
- Adventure Starts Here: Combining Scandinavian design with ultra durable materials, our watches track your sports, daily activity, and sleep to help you keep life, training and recovery in balance
- Authentic Heritage: Founded in 1936, Suunto brings over 80 years of high quality heritage craftsmanship, relentless accuracy, and pioneering innovation to our watches, compasses, and dive products
This is our number-one pick for the best budget outdoor watch. The SUUNTO Core All Black Military Outdoor Watch offers a plethora of features. And, it does so for a normal price of just over $100 a pop! It features an extremely reliable altimeter/barometer/compass combination. It also has other cool inclusions such as an intelligent storm alarm and an easy-to-read weather trend graph.
Specs
Display Glass Material: Mineral Crystal
Dimensions: 49.1 x 49.1 x 14.5 mm
Weight: 64 g
Case Material: Composite
Case Color: Black
Band Color: Black
Band Material: Elastomer
Bezel Material: Aluminum
Battery Life: 12 months in Time Mode
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Pros
- It’s the perfect size for most wrists.
- This watch is built with the modern adventurer in mind. It’s both rich in features and as durable as they come.
- The included storm tracker syncs quickly. It’s quite useful.
Cons
- The included instructions are pretty useless.
- It doesn’t come with GPS capabilities.
1) Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Smartwatch
The Garmin Fenix 6X Pro is the most complete adventure watch we’ve ever used. It’s got the best battery life. It’s the most rugged. It’s simply the best outdoor watch for your money. It also offers you options in terms of display glass and band material, which adds a really rad element of customization. This watch has all the smartwatch features you need and a casing that will hold up against anything that comes its way.
Specs
Display Glass Material: Corning Gorilla Glass DX or Sapphire Crystal
Dimensions: 51 x 51 x 14.9 mm
Weight: 93 g
Case Material: Fiber-Reinforced Polymer With Metal Rear Cover
Case Color: Black
Band Color: Black
Band Material: Silicone, Titanium, Nylon, or Leather
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel or Diamond-like Carbon
Battery Life: Up to 15 hours in GPS + Music Mode >> Up to 60 hours in GPS Mode >> Up to 120 hours in Max Battery GPS Mode >> Up to 21 days in Smartwatch Mode >> Up to 46 days in Expedition GPS Activity Mode >> Up to 80 days in Battery Saver Watch Mode
Water Resistance: 1oo meters
Memory: 32 MB
Pros
- It combines ample memory with the most durable construction elements available on our countdown.
- It offers the best battery life of the smartwatches we’ve tested.
- From accurate GPS technology to music-streaming capabilities, this smartwatch has it all.
Cons
- It’s the most expensive watch on our list. Look for deals and coupons if you can.
- The stainless steel bezel feels kinda flimsy.
FAQs
What is the best adventure watch?
Our hands-down pick for the best adventure watch right now is the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Smartwatch. From its top-level GPS tracking to its customizable (and sturdy) build quality, the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro is one of the best watches ever released. While there are cheaper watch deals elsewhere on our countdown, this multi-sport wonder is your perfect partner when exploring the Great Outdoors.
What are the key user features for the best outdoor watches?
Whether you’re looking for hiking watches, biking watches, or smartwatches for hunting and fishing, there are some qualities you need to look for before making a purchase. Key features include a barometric altimeter, a scratch-resistant display window, heart rate tracking capabilities, a moon phase calendar, a blood oxygen sensor, a digital compass, accurate built-in GPS navigation, and a sturdy water-resistant casing.
What level of water resistance should you look for in a GPS watch?
The more water-resistant your watch is, the deeper into the blue you can go. However, as low as 30 meters of water resistance is plenty for a hiking watch. If you’re going scuba diving with your adventure watch, look for a timepiece with at least a 10 ATM rating — good for 100 meters of moisture resistance.
Be sure to be mindful of your watch’s ATM rating. Such high-end technology is a dream for a hiker, but not when it’s water-damaged. Then, it’s useless.
Closing Thoughts
Our list of the 6 best outdoor watches runs the gamut. From solar-powered timepieces to top-of-the-line smart devices, there’s something for everyone on our list. If you’ve got the spirit of adventure in you, one of these watches will do wonders for getting you where you want to go (or didn’t know you wanted to go.)