With the constant advancing of modern technologies, there is a growing demand for more specialist watches for sports men and women to aid them in their various activities. Hiking, much like cycling and running, is a sport that can benefit from the use of a good quality built-for-purpose watch. Many hiking watches are of the smartwatch variety and offer additional features such as GPS and Bluetooth connectivity. However, smartwatches are not the only kind of great hiking watches; there are many high-quality and useful analogue models too.
A good hiking watch needs to be durable and display the time and date with impeccable accuracy in order to keep the wearer aware of sunset times and the length of their hikes. Resilience is a vital factor in choosing a hiking watch as it needs to be able to withstand any knocks and bumps it may encounter in the great outdoors. Some additional features can be beneficial as they can make a hike more enjoyable and easier to track or aid the wearer in some manner. Some useful features might be a barometer to aid in predicting the weather, an altimeter to show how far above sea level the wearer has travelled, or a compass to aid in general navigation. If you are in the market for a watch to accompany you on hikes, keep reading for our complied list of the top 5 hiking watches.
Top 5 Hiking Watches
Seiko Alpinist | Green Nylon Strap | Green Dial SPB212J1
This model from Seiko is part of the Prospex Alpinist Collection. The first Alpinist watch was launched in 1959 and has become an iconic model within the Seiko family. The Prospex collection was specifically created for adventure seekers, with models being designed for sky, sea and land. This watch comes from the Land collection, meaning that is has been precisely engineered to be able to withstand land-based treks and adventures. The watch has an eye-catching appearance with a 38mm hard-wearing stainless steel case and a polished yellow gold bezel. The gold colour of the bezel adds a touch of glamour to an otherwise very sturdy and practical timepiece. The brushed green dial and date display are protected by anti-reflective curved sapphire crystal. This material is known for being strong and scratch-resistant and the anti-reflective coating will ensure that the dial remains readable, even in the brightest of sunlight. This model is water-resistant up to 200 metres (20 bar), so it will be more than able to survive any rainfall or deep puddles that might be encountered on a hike. The watch is powered by an automatic calibre 6R35 movement that is accurate up to +25 to -15 seconds per day. This means that the wearer will always keep perfect time and will not be left unaware at any point in the hike. The watch is finished with a comfortable brown and green nylon strap. It fastens with a deployment buckle that will ensure the watch remains secure on the wrist.
Luminox Men’s Bear Grylls Survival Master 3741 Black Orange Strap XB.3749
This bright, statement watch is part of the collaborative collection produced by Bear Grylls and Luminox. Grylls is a famous adventurer and survival expert, so his expertise ensures that this watch would make an excellent companion for even the most challenging of hikes. Luminox are trusted by elite forces worldwide, having built a reputation for creating incredibly resilient watches.
This model is powered by a precise and reliable Swiss quartz movement which is housed in a 45mm black Carbonox case. This material is trademarked by Luminox and is very strong whilst remaining lightweight. The black dial features three sub dials and a date aperture can be found at 6 o’clock to ensure for optimal timekeeping. Gas tube illumination and bold, glowing indices make it possible to read the dial even in the dark. The dial is protected by scratch-resistant and anti-reflective sapphire glass. This model is water-resistant up to 200 metres (20 bar), making it suitable for diving with the uni-directional rotating bezel. An orange PU strap secures the watch on the wrist. This flexible and waterproof material ensures that the watch will be comfortable to wear. As an additional hiking utility, a compass can be found on the strap of the watch in order to aid with navigation.
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Gorilla Glass | Multisport Smartwatch | Black Rubber Strap 010-02158-02
As technology progresses and smartwatches are becoming more popular, there has been a great demand for hiking specific smartwatches. Known for their specialism in navigation, Garmin have produced a series of smartwatches that can be used for a wide range of activities, including hiking, cycling, and running. This Fenix 6 Pro is the only smartwatch in our list of top 5 hiking watches. It comes in a classic all-black colour scheme to ensure that it will match any outfit and can be worn for occasions outside of adventuring. The watches from this collection feature a wrist-based heart rate and Pulse Ox sensor to give the wearer insight into their fitness activities. This watch is capable of measuring performance in a multitude of ways whilst simultaneously giving insight into the wearer’s health statistics. The digital screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass DX to ensure that it will be able to withstand the bumps that can be expected on a hike. The case is made of fibre-reinforced polymer to ensure a lightweight finish, making the watch comfortable to wear. In smartwatch mode, the watch has a 14-day battery life, and whilst GPS is being used the battery life is 36 hours. This model does have an Expedition GPS Mode which ensures that the battery will last up to 28 days. The watch is water-resistant up to 100 metres (10 bar) and has many features that will aid a hiker, such as GPS, a barometric altimeter, a compass, a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a thermometer. This smartwatch also has many features that will aid the wearer in day-to-day life, so it can be a practical and robust accessory for everyday wear.
Timex Gent’s Expedition Chronograph Watch T49905
This strong and robust model from Timex has a very traditional appearance and a muted colour scheme, making it an attractive accessory for daily accessorising as well as when trekking through the outdoors. The black dial features three sub dials and a date aperture for optimal timekeeping. A tachymeter display surrounds the dial, adding an additional utility to the watch that will be useful during a hike. This model is powered by a precise and reliable quartz movement, meaning that the wearer can always depend on this model to be accurate. The watch is water-resistant up to 100 metres (10 bar), so it can withstand some water-based activities. This water-resistance rating will allow the wearer to hike through heavy rain without needing to fear for the watch’s survival. The hour and minute hands are luminous, so the dial can be read even in the dark. This makes the watch suitable for camping or overnight hikes. This model is finished with a classic brown strap with cream contrast stitching.
Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Altichron Diver’s Strap BN4044-15E
This model is part of Citizen’s Eco-Drive range, meaning that it ‘charges’ when it meets light. This watch is perfectly suited to hiking in the great outdoors, as it will have a constant power source due to the natural light. The black dial has defined sections for each complication which, in combination with the red and yellow detailing, makes it easy to read whilst on the move. The luminescent hands and indices ensure that the dial is visible in the dark or underwater. Anti-reflective mineral crystal protects the dial and ensures that it is visible even under direct sunlight. This model is water-resistant up to 200 metres (20 bar), making it suitable for most water-based activities. The watch includes features that make it a great hiking companion including a date display, an electromagnetic compass, a power-reserve indicator and a shock-detection function. The watch is powered by a precise and reliable calibre J280 quartz movement. The movement is housed in a 46mm stainless steel case which features a crown and two pushers on the left-hand side. This watch is fastened with a lightweight and comfortable black polyurethane strap.
What are your thoughts on our top 5 hiking watches? Will you be adding any to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!
