Best Outdoor Watches in 2025
The best outdoor watches are genuinely sophisticated wearable items. These rugged smartwatches manage to pack a lot of powerful sensors and tools for modern life in a small package.
They are often able to track more position than smartphones and offer longer battery life.
Best Outdoor Watches in 2025
1. Garmin Instinct 2S Solar
The Instinct 2S Solar from Garmin is my top overall choice for several reasons. In the simplest terms, I like it because it walks the line between useful features without stumbling, durability, and lightweight design.
After having it with me for several miles around the park, it wasn’t until I stopped to check the time and my step count and heart rate that I remembered it was on my wrist .
The watch is programmed with activity profiles specific to any type of exercise or physical exercise. These include hiking, swimming, trail running, rock climbing, horseback riding, fishing, and mountain biking, among others.
So, no matter what kind of adventure you have ahead of you, the watch can effectively measure and record your activity.
In terms of durability, the Garmin watch performs well across the board with its ATM 10 rating when swimming in open waters up to 100 meters deep. It’s also shock-proof and made with scratch-resistant glass for maximum protection.
This outdoor adventure watch could be chosen as the best overall for any one of these reasons, but it’s the combination of features that puts it in the top spot no matter which way you bent down.
2. Coros Apex 2 Pro
One of the first things we noticed about the Coros Apex 2 Pro is how little you have to charge. This fantastic GPS outdoor sports watch boasts a battery life of 75 hours in standard GPS mode.
We can attest that we went for over three weeks before recharging, despite using it on several local walks and runs and spending countless hours with its features passed.
Many outdoor enthusiasts look to Coros as a slightly more affordable alternative to Garmin. So while the Apex 2 Pro looks expensive, you get a lot for your money here.
Firstly, it looks great with a lightweight and comfortable nylon strap, a 1.3-inch sapphire glass screen, plus chunky buttons and a titanium dial that you can operate using a pair of thin gloves.
In terms of performance for mountain going, the Coros 2’s redesigned dual GPS antenna feels reliable and the offline maps are decent (if not particularly detailed).
It is not entirely waterproof rated but is designed to withstand water to 50m and temperatures from -30°C to 50°C. So no worries there.
In terms of nice extra touches, you also get a touchscreen, MP3 music player, night mode, blood oxygen sensor and heart rate monitor, among other things we haven’t discovered yet.
If you want an even stronger endorsement from us, it’s also the watch brand of choice for hillbilly superman Killian Journette, so it must be doing something right!
3. Garmin Instinct 2
Garmin’s Fenix range is fantastic but predictably expensive. Garmin also makes the Instinct 2 range, which is available for about half the price of the Fenix 7.
In terms of functional hiking and trail running, the Instinct 2 has everything you need. In fact, it’s hard to find something we used on the Fenix that isn’t also available on the Instinct 2.
Like the Fenix, there’s a solar and lightweight S version of the Instinct 2. In terms of features, there’s still a wealth of GPS-trackable sports modes including five running types.
You can also use the Instinct 2 to receive phone notifications, make payments, and control music.
And if you want to customize it further, you can add widgets, additional apps, and the like by heading over to the Connect IQ Store.
For the value this watch offers, it’s hard to refuse until you turn to the app. The Instinct 2 uses the Garmin Connect app as follows.
It prioritizes stats and notifications over your activity archive, and each activity in the archive list is displayed by its stats instead of a quick visual of the route, as seen in others. It’s also difficult to reach your cumulative miles for weeks, months, and years.
But overall, the Instinct 2 is very good. It’s hard to justify paying more for top-end models here unless you’re a serious player.
4. Garmin Fenix 8
The Garmin Fenix 8 is adding an AMOLED display to the mix to replace both the Fenix 7 Series and the Apex Gen 2, a first for the Fenix watch.
The standard AMOLED model is ideal for users who prefer a sharp, vibrant display that enhances visibility in varying lighting.
This screen option has little impact on battery life, especially compared to MIP models, which focus on extended endurance with solar charging, making them ideal for long outdoor excursions.
For rugged use, the Sapphire Solar model is the top-tier choice, featuring scratch-resistant sapphire lenses and a robust titanium case, though it comes at a higher price.
This model stands out for those who need stability along with premium tracking convenience.
Across the range, each model goes beyond multisport and fitness tracking, including the latest real-time stamina and strength training metrics, making it a versatile for different activities, from hiking to diving Make a choice.
While the Fenix 8 models are expensive, they offer a balanced trade-off between display quality, battery life, and durability, catering to everyone from weekend adventure-minded gamers.
5. Casio G-Shock Mudmaster GG-B100
This Casio G-Shock watch is a unique rugged sports watch. Fans of the G-Shock range will know that in terms of styling, they have the opposite approach to the Sunto 9 Pac Pro. The GGB100 is meaty and chunky and proudly so.
This watch doesn’t have a heart rate monitor or built-in sports apps like other watches. Instead, it has a magnetic compass, altimeter, barometer, accelerometer, and gyrometer.
It also has a step counter and thermometer Again, in terms of performance, it’s relatively straightforward. But you can still connect the GGB100 to a smartphone via Bluetooth to record activity logs and adjust the watch.
The app is quite entertaining it is in the form of a combat strategy game and is easy to use, but it is also quite basic.
Rigor is important here. The case looks like carbon fiber and has ‘Carbon Core Guard’ written on the bottom. It’s actually a carbon fiber reinforced resin but still very tough.
The mineral glass is scratch-resistant and protected by a protruding bezel. The Casio is water resistant down to 200m. In short, it’s the most rugged watch here.
This type of watch appeals to some and not to others. But what appeals to all is the sublime level it is made of and how incredibly comfortable it is to wear.
6. Garmin Enduro 3
Designed for those who prioritize battery endurance and outdoor reliability, the Garmin Enduro 3 is ideal for ultra-endurance athletes and adventurers who need consistent tracking over long periods of time.
With an astonishing 90 days of battery life when solar charging is enabled, the watch removes distractions like AMOLED screens to focus on pure performance.
It retains Garmin’s advanced GPS and mapping tools, including the upgraded Clamp Pro feature, which helps navigate hilly areas, and terrain suitable for all types of endurance training Offers concentrated increases.
Although the watch is on the larger side with a 51mm case, its lightweight frame makes it very comfortable for extended wear, accommodating all-day campaigns without the weight of the wrist.
The Enduro 3 also includes advanced heart rate monitoring, added sensors, and durable materials that can withstand harsh conditions, though it only has diving support and some of the lifestyle features present in Garmin’s Phoenix model Features are lacking.
7. Suunto Vertical
Our testers loved this watch so much that we just had to stick it at the top of this list as the second Suunto offering.
领英推荐
The vertical smartwatch marks an impressive leap forward for the Finnish brand as they have refined their interface to a super intuitive and accessible level.
A responsive (and rugged) touchscreen combines with three side buttons for a simple setup. scroll up and down and select with the buttons; Draw a map around, adjust the music volume, and deal with text messages by tapping on the screen.
Easy as pie although it can take a while to scroll through the 97 (!) preset sport modes that include additional customization options.
The construction of the vertical is nice and durable, although this makes it a bit heavy. Both versions come with sapphire glass, which can bang, scratch or crunch against dense gabbro and still look ready for Oscar night.
With military-grade testing and waterproofing down to 100m, this watch can accompany you on some seriously hardcore adventures.
8. Amazfit T-Rex 3
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is a rugged, budget-friendly smartwatch designed for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a comprehensive feature set at a reasonable price.
Its standout feature is the durable construction paired with a bright, 1.5-inch AMOLED display, which is visible in various lighting conditions and supports reading on the move.
Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 27 days in basic mode, which allows adventurers to track extensive activities without having to recharge frequently.
With 177 sports modes, strong GPS accuracy, and health metrics like heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring, the T-Rex 3 suits active users looking for activity in multiple sports.
It also supports features like sleep tracking, breathing exercises, and weather updates, making it versatile for everyday health tracking.
However, some software limitations, including occasional touch sensitivity issues and limited automatic exercise detection, may slightly affect the overall user experience.
Compared to premium competitors, the T-Rex 3 offers a strong value for those looking for essential features without a high price tag.
It doesn’t offer the polished ecosystem or advanced metrics of high-end brands, but it provides solid performance for fitness and adventure tracking, making it an ideal entry point for budget-conscious outdoor enthusiasts.
9. Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple’s second-generation ultra-rugged wearable is sleeker, smarter and faster than ever – without a price increase.
Of all the outdoor watches, the Apple Watch Ultra2 is your best option for swimming. It is rated for 100 meters of water and meets the EN13319 standard for diving accessories.
Even better, unlike its predecessor, the second-generation Ultra can be used for free diving (the Ultra was only suitable for scuba diving).
Apple has also revamped the Dive app, making it easier to see your dive history on the watch and share your dives through the app on your iPhone.
Another major outdoor update is the Apple Watch Ultra 2’s operating altitude range, which has been extended to -500-9000 meters (from -1640 feet to 29,500 feet), up from 0 meters to 3000 meters of other Apple Watch models is higher than the current standard of.
The battery life could be (much) better, but other than that, it’s an awesome outdoor outfit!
Thanks to the release of the Ultra 2, you can buy the original Apple Watch Ultra for less than RRP these days.
It’s a super wearable thing to track your adventures below and above the waterline. Read our full comparison between the two iterations here: Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra.
10. Polar Grit X2 Pro
The Polar Grit X2 Pro is a feature-packed multi-sport watch designed for outdoor enthusiasts. Its rugged but sleek design, featuring a stainless steel case and bezel and sapphire glass lenses, offers comprehensive tracking for various activities, such as running, hiking, and cycling.
The watch boasts a long battery life, lasting up to 100 hours in GPS mode, making it ideal for multi-day adventures.
The Great X2 Pro features advanced, multiband GPS and Polar’s elixir biosensing platform with accurate data to optimize training and recovery.
It also offers detailed navigation features, including route planning and turn guidance via Komote. It has a range of smartwatch functionality like notifications, music controls and weather updates.
No file music storage yet, sorry, there's plenty of space to store maps on the bow watch.
The Polar Grit X2 Pro features comprehensive tracking, navigation, and smartwatch capabilities, making it a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a high-performance multi-sport watch.
11. Garmin Quatix 6X Solar
If you’re a fan of the water, 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 ready towards more aquatic exploration. There are many features for boat owners, SUP riders, wind surfers, kayakers and more.
Features wrist-based autopilot control, dedicated nautical mapping and custom sailing tools. You also get Garmin’s solar-enhanced battery, meaning this watch runs and runs… and runs.
While this is perfect for marine sports, it’s probably unnecessarily complicated for land lovers.
In April 2022, Garmin released a new version of the watch. The upgraded version adds a touchscreen AMOLED face and some more ocean-specific tools, though the former affects battery life somewhat.
12. Amazfit T-Rex Pro
For most walkers, this review could start and end here. The T-Rex Pro is tough, reliable, reliable, accurate, and it does what you need it to do: track, record miles (with aggregate stats for weeks, months and years, ideal for #walk1000miles creates), and presents data is provided very simply on a free app called zip.
The buttons are convenient, and importantly, it’s a fraction of the price of its big-name rivals. In fact, it’s the same price as many more basic trackers.
So what are the drawbacks? First, the cosmetics: it looks cheap. The watchface’s options are naff, and its polycarbonate shell feels like plastic compared to the titanium its rivals use (although it’s still very sturdy and lightweight).
Secondly, it’s from a low-cost Chinese tech company rather than a dedicated outdoor brand, which could have an impact on aftercare and longevity.
So it’s ‘just’ a tracking watch but a device that knows about you and wants to become part of your life. But in a year of intense use, the T-Rex Pro never let us down on positioning speed, recording accuracy, or battery life.
On the latter, it can’t compare to the extensive battery stats of its rivals, but if fully supplied it can track you for at least six to five miles of walking with no top-up required Before 10, that seems fine and fair to us.
So if you don’t need all the bells and whistles, the T-Rex Pro is an absolute no-brainer.
13. Suunto 9 Peak Pro
Thinking Peak Pro is too dent and pretty to hold a candle to others here is wrong. It has two variants: standard and titanium.
The second has a titanium bezel, compared to the stainless steel on the standard version. We’re testing the standard version, unleashed on trails and ‘accidentally’ grazing on hard surfaces. No scratches on the face of the sapphire glass.
Sunto has improved the interface of the 9 Peak Pro compared to the 9 Peak. In terms of display and menu organization, everything is much clearer.
It still takes a few days of playing around with it to feel at home with the system, but it’s a big improvement. Once you’re used to it, you can configure the interface to your liking, and your recently selected sports will always be placed at the top of the sports menu.
However, we expect it to take a bit longer to sync your app and find your location than with Garmin watches. But it’s extremely accurate and the Sunto app is arguably the best here.
This will open in your activity archive instead of irrelevant statistics. You therefore immediately look at what you have done.
You can also easily toggle between decent topographic mapping and satellite imagery, and even view a walkthrough of your route to see your speed, altitude, and heart rate as you go.
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