best adventure travel watch

Best outdoor watch 2024: rugged timepieces for adventurers

We rank the best outdoor watches currently available, whether you're taking to the mountains or hitting the high seas

• 1. Best overall
• 2. Best for swimming
• 3. Best for hiking
• 4. Most sustainable
• 5. Best for mountaineering
• 6. Best mid-range
• 7. Best budget
• 8. Best analogue
• 9. Best marine-focused
• How to choose
• How we test

Best outdoor watch 2024: Quick links

00. Top 3↴ 01. Best overall : Garmin Enduro 2 02. Best for hiking : Huawei Watch Ultimate 03. Best for swimming : Apple Watch Ultra 04. Most sustainable : Suunto Vertical 05. Best for mountaineering : Coros Apex 2 Pro 06. Best mid-range : Polar Grit X 07. Best budget : Amazfit T-Rex 2 08. Best analogue : Elliot Brown Bloxworth Heritage Diver 09. Best marine-focused : Garmin Quatix 6X Solar 10. How to choose 11. How we test 12. FAQ

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.

Best outdoor watch overall

Right now, the Garmin Enduro 2 is the best wearable for anyone interested in the Great Outdoors. It has an insanely long battery life, a rugged build, accurate GPS and an accurate heart rate sensor. Garmin also added offline TOPO maps to make outdoor navigation easier. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny.

Read more below

Best outdoor watch for swimming

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 features a rugged titanium case and a large AMOLED display. We used it to run marathons and ultramarathons, and we also took the Ultra scuba diving; it performed well under these circumstances. It's a premium wearable with plenty of health and safety features.

Best outdoor watch for hiking

The Huawei Watch Ultimate is a premium outdoor smartwatch that makes you look classy without compromising on the outdoor prowess of the wearable. The watch has a dedicated physical button to summon its Expedition mode, which is fun to use, even if you aren't planning on re-conquering the Arctics.

The best outdoor watch to buy right now

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

Best overall

1. Garmin Enduro 2

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Garmin Enduro 2 is the best outdoor watch right now, despite the insane competition it faces, even within Garmin's own stable. There is the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro , the Garmin Epix Gen 2 , and countless Garmin Instinct variations – why would you choose the Enduro 2 instead?

For one, it has an extremely long battery life, longer than any other watch from Garmin. The brand not only optimised GPS performance via SatIQ but also added the solar harvesting Power Glass to help maintain battery power longer.

The watch is mega durable, thanks to the scratch-proof Power Sapphire glass lens, the lightweight yet tough titanium bezel and the fibre-reinforced polymer watch case with a titanium rear cover.

Finally, Garmin also added offline topographic maps, something the watch's predecessor lacked, as well as various other outdoor-ready features, such as TrackBack and more.

Read our full Garmin Enduro 2 review .

Best for swimming

2. Apple Watch Ultra 2

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

3. Huawei Watch Ultimate

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 .

Most sustainable

4. Suunto Vertical

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

5. Coros Apex 2 Pro

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 mid-range

6. Polar Grit X

While it's not exactly cheap, the Polar Grit X delivers plenty of bang for your mid-range buck. Part of a new focus on adventure watches from Polar, this outdoor watch offers a wide range of tracking, training and recovery tools, including a number specifically designed for use on trails and mountains – Hill Splitter, FuelWise and WeatherWatch, for example. It's robustly built, easy to navigate and boasts up to 40 hours of battery life in full activity mode.

Read our full Polar Grit X review .

Best budget

7. Amazfit T-Rex 2

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 analogue

8. Elliot Brown Bloxworth Heritage Diver

Of course, you don't need to go for a smartwatch when heading into the great outdoors, and our current pick from the analogue market is the Elliot Brown Bloxworth Heritage Diver watch (or, for women, the Bloxworth Hali). Sure, there's no GPS, but you're also getting years of battery life, with no need to ever hunt down a charge point.

This outdoor watch is ultra-robust, with a toughened, anti-reflective sapphire crystal face framed by a ceramic bezel. There's a movement shock protection system that'll withstand a bashing from a 3kg stainless steel pendulum mallet, and it's waterproof to 200m, too. Details are geared towards use in the great outdoors – the coin-edged bezel is deep enough to grip with a gloved hand, for example, and if you decide to opt for the bracelet strap version, there's a ratchet buckle that lets you fit it perfectly over your wetsuit.

Head to our guide to the best dive watches for some more tech-free options. 

Best marine-focused

9. Garmin Quatix 6X Solar

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.

What is an ABC watch?

An ABC watch refers to a type of outdoor watch that typically includes altimeter, barometer, and compass functionalities. The altimeter measures altitude or elevation, the barometer monitors atmospheric pressure for weather forecasting, and the compass provides directional guidance. Together, these features help users navigate terrain, track changes in weather conditions, and stay safe during outdoor activities.

Do I need a GPS watch for hiking?

GPS watches offer several benefits for hikers, including accurate navigation, route tracking, distance measurement, and location sharing. They can be particularly useful for exploring unfamiliar trails, remote areas, or challenging terrain where traditional maps and compasses may be less reliable. However, if you primarily stick to well-marked trails, are proficient in map reading and navigation, or prefer a simpler approach to hiking, a GPS watch may not be necessary.

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Matt Kollat is a journalist and content creator who works for T3.com and its magazine counterpart as an Active Editor. His areas of expertise include wearables, drones, fitness equipment, nutrition and outdoor gear. He joined T3 in 2019. His byline appears in several publications, including Techradar and Fit&Well , and more. Matt also collaborated with other content creators (e.g. Garage Gym Reviews ) and judged many awards, such as the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance's ESSNawards. When he isn't working out, running or cycling, you'll find him roaming the countryside and trying out new podcasting and content creation equipment.

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Home » Gear » Best Outdoor Watches

16 Best Outdoor Watches of 2024 • Every Adventurer’s Must-Have Gadget

Welcome to the ultimate review of the  BEST OUTDOOR WATCHES !

One of the things that we take for granted in the modern era is the importance of a good, rugged watch. Most of us probably tend to use our smartphone and all of the amazing apps available to us in our day to day use.

The modern outdoor lifestyle offers many opportunities to track important data points and the technology is here to integrate that data into our daily routine. Do you want to track your fitness stats are you train for a marathon? Maybe you are keen on keeping tabs of the altitude every time you go out on a hike?

Whether you want access to topo maps in the mountains or to monitor your daily step count – there is a watch on my list for every type of outdoor/fitness enthusiasts. So, let’s get on with it and show you the best outdoor watches.

Pro Tip on Buying Watches – When buying an outdoor watch (or any outdoor gear) we have found it usually pays to pay buy from the manufacturer or from an outdoor specialist.

Not only are these companies a lot more deserving than everybody’s favourite online mega-store, but they will offer YOU better service in the result that something goes wrong with your product.

This isn’t your grandpa’s pocket watch—these outdoor watches can do everything from monitor your heart rate to access global navigation satellite systems to track your every move. With so many options on the market right now, you can choose the perfect travel watch for your own needs and your budget.

Maybe you already have an outdoor watch, but it isn’t holding up to the wear and tear you put on it, or the battery life isn’t long enough for your purposes. Through years of outdoor experiences, we’ve discovered what is necessary for the makings of a good outdoor watch, and we want to share our expertise with you, as well as give you the low down on how to decide what the best outdoor watch for your personal needs is.

So whether you need a reliable hiking watch for a 2-week excursion on the Annapurna track Nepal, or just a smartwatch with altimeter capabilities for the average weekend warrior camping trip, we’ll show you the best outdoor watch to fit your needs, style, and budget.

Want to find out what the best watch for backpacking is, well, read on amigos…

Here we’ve got a rundown of heaps of different options including the best camping watch, outdoor watches for men, GPS watches and more.

Quick Answer: These are the Best Outdoor Watches of 2024!

The best outdoor watches of 2024: performance breakdown, how to choose the best outdoor watch, how we tested this gear, faq about the best outdoor watches.

• Garmin Instinct Solar GPS Watch – The Best Overall Outdoor Watch
• Suunto Core Watch – The Best Non-GPS Hiking Watch
• Garmin Fenix 7s Pro Multisport GPS – The Best GPS Watch for Hiking
• Suunto 9 Peak Pro Watch – The Best Fitness Watch Overall
• Garmin Forerunner 255 Music GPS Watch – The Best Fitness Tracker For Men
• Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS Watch – The Best Fitness Tracker For Women
• Fitbit Versa 4 Watch – The Best Outdoor Watch Under $200
• Timex Ironman 30-Lap Digital Watch – The Best Outdoor Watch Under $100
• Suunto Core Watch – The Best Barometric Altimeter Watch
• Garmin Forerunner 265 – The Best Satellite Altimeter Watch
• Casio Pro Trek PRW3500-1 Multifunction Watch – The Most Rugged Watch for Backpackers
• Garmin Marq 2 Adventurer Watch – The Best High-End Outdoor Watch for Pros

Garmin Instinct Solar GPS Watch

• > Smart Device Compatible
• > Programmable Routes

Suunto Core Watch

• > Straightforward Interface
• > Pressure Readings Under Water

Garmin Fenix 7s Pro Multisport GPS

• Price > $$$
• > Long Battery Life
• > Storm Warnings

Suunto 9 Peak Pro Watch

• > Accurate Altitude
• > Covered with a gorilla glass face

Garmin Forerunner 255 Music GPS Watch

• > Heart-rate monitor
• > 14 days battery life

Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS Watch

• > Built-in safety features
• > Emergency alert

Fitbit Versa 4 Watch

• > 2 different global navigation systems
• > Different sized bands

Timex Ironman 30-Lap Digital Watch

• > Waterproof up to 100 meters
• > Illuminated backlight

• > Detects pressure changes
• > Precision accuracy up to 29,500 feet

Garmin Forerunner 265

• > Customizable smartwatch features
• > 2 separate satellite navigation systems

Casio Pro Trek PRW3500-1 Multifunction Watch

• > Mud, shock, and water-resistant
• > LED-lit face with digital and analog readings

Garmin Marq 2 Adventurer Watch

• Price > $$$$
• > Storage capacity for up to 2,000 songs
• > Waterproof up to 100 meters underwater

Whether you’re in the market for a new watch, or just trying to learn more about outdoor watches for when you are ready to buy, this article is the right place to start! With years of outdoor experience, sport/fitness experience, and a taste for technology, we bring all the expertise to you, so you don’t have to do the legwork on researching many individual watches.

Below, I break down my top picks based on a variety of factors including price, technological capabilities, best uses, and battery life as well as including categories like the best outdoor watches as well as fitness and more everyday options.

Let’s start with my favorite current watch…

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#1 – The Best Overall Outdoor Watch

• Battery Type -> Lithium Ion
• Display Size -> 1.2 inches
• Water Resistant Depth -> 100 Meters
• Tracks Steps? -> Yes
• Altimeter -> Pressure Based
• Gender -> Unisex

This watch has every tool you could need as an experienced, health-conscious, tech-savvy traveler. With scratch, shock, thermal, and water resistance, this watch is extra durable with a breathable, flexible silicone-based wristband that feels great on your wrist. You can wear it anywhere, making it one of the top camping watches on the market.

Including smartwatch capabilities, fit watch applications, a barometric altimeter, a compass, and 3 different GPS systems, this watch does it all and is best suited for the man (or woman) always on the go. You can track your calories, answer a text message, and check your altitude all in the same breath. And if you are a swimmer, this watch has got you covered—it will track your laps for you (as long as you don’t take it any deeper than 100 meters, of course.)

With a watch that does everything, you’ll need a battery that is willing to take on challenges as big as you do. In smartwatch mode, one charge will last two weeks straight! But, to be expected, it will need to be charged more often when you’re using the GPS to navigate your way down a mountain.

The best part is that this hiking watch is in the same price range as your average mainstream fitness watch, and less expensive than a name-brand smartwatch.

Our team felt this was the best outdoor watch simply because it is chocked full of a whole heap of features whilst at the same time it’s super easy to set up and use. They are also really fond of the solar charging feature as it means it lasts a LONG ass time, making it perfect for multiday trips. The built-in compass has also been a really useful feature for our team on many a trek.

• Full Featured
• Easy to Use Interface
• Inconsistencies in milage tracking
• Struggles with satellite communication under tree cover

#2 – The Best Non-GPS Watch

• Battery Type -> User replaceable battery (good up to one year)
• Display Size -> 1.875 inches
• Water Resistant Depth -> 30 Meters
• Tracks Steps? -> No

This is the perfect watch for the avid hiker, whose main goal is to navigate and record altitude during their trip. The digital watch face is backlit and easy to read, displaying the time, altitude, and compass direction all at the same time for quick reference.

This watch also includes a barometer, which can detect changes in atmospheric pressure and predict harsh weather. If there’s a storm coming, you’ll be the first to know when the storm alarm goes off. But don’t worry, this watch is water-resistant and that’s useful for more than withstanding a downpour. It even has accurate pressure readings up to 30 feet below the water’s surface for our underwater trekkers.

This watch doesn’t just tell you the time of day, it even lets you know how much daylight you have left with sunset and sunrise reminders! A simple watch with extraordinary technology, you have every tool you need to blaze your own trail.

This is another watch that will price you around the same price as a fitness watch, but luckily this watch battery will last for a year, so no need to worry about trying to find a place to charge it when you’re hiking through the middle of nowhere! Just replace the battery on your own about once a year.

Our team loved the features on this watch such as the barometer and the compass, they found these super useful for hiking, especially if there’s a risk of a storm. They told the alarm system has saved their arses on a number of occasions! The altimeter is also a useful feature for tracking their hikes in much more detail.

• Accurate Altitude
• Long Battery Life
• Storm Warnings
• Not Smartwatch Capable
• Battery Not Rechargeable
• Iffy Software Reliability

#3 – The Best GPS Watch for Hiking

• Tracks Steps and Calories? -> Yes
• Altimeter -> Pressure-based

This high-end watch comes with a high-end price tag, but what good investment doesn’t? If you like to ski, swim, hike, run, walk, sleep, or have a heartbeat… this watch can track it for you. And while you’re doing it, this watch will play your favorite song for you, too. Pair it with your smartphone to check your notifications quickly and conveniently.

This watch can seamlessly transition from a fitness watch with compatible apps and smartwatch capabilities to a rugged hiking watch with the push of a button and look good while doing it. Don’t let the looks fool you, however. This watch will hold up in the roughest conditions with a gorilla glass face and water resistance up to 100 meters below the surface.

Satellite navigation, a 3-axis compass, multiple global navigation systems, road maps, and topographical maps are all easily accessible– with this outdoor watch, you’ll never get lost!

Our team were big fans of this outdoor watch due to the addition of the preloaded topo and ski route maps, they found this was super useful for keeping them literally on track! They also loved that it has a battery saver mode for those longer than expected days on the mountain. They felt the number of additional apps and widgets mean they feel they have a real powerful device right on their wrist exactly when they needed it.

#4 – The Best Fitness Watch Overall

• Display Size -> 43 millimeters
• Water Resistant Depth -> 100 meters

With more than 70 pre-configured sports modes, this watch is every health nuts dream. Take it swimming, running, or (of course) on a good, long hike! The wrist heart sensor will keep your heart rate in check while the GPS tracks your every move. In fact, it’s one of the most powerful watches Suunto has ever made!

This Google-based watch is already hooked up with Google Wear OS, Google Fit, and Google Pay, for a quick, convenient payment swipe on an after-run pick me up. If you already have a beloved fitness app of choice, no problem! You can download different apps to sync up with this smartwatch and record your workouts.

Whether you’re 100 meters underwater, climbing a rock wall, or anywhere in between, this rugged watch has got you covered with a gorilla glass face and water-, dirt-, and shock-proof exterior. So no matter how you like to get your body moving, this watch can definitely keep up with your pace!

The watch will automatically download local maps when connected to wi-fi and save maps for offline use, as well as the GPS function. But be sure to charge this fitness watch every day to make sure you have enough juice to record your next workout!

This watch isn’t the most inexpensive on our list, but if you are a fitness guru obsessed with tracking and logging your every step, with the added convenience and style of top smartwatches, this one is a game-changer.

Our team really love the route creation and turn assistance feature of this watch for their runs and bike rides. They love that it buzzes within 300 yards of a turn on your preplanned route meaning you can really maximise your efficiency and times. They also love the option to download songs from Spotify too, another game-changer for their runs!

• All Day Battery Life

#5 – The Best Fitness Tracker for Men (Runners)

• Display Size -> 1.3 inches
• Water Resistant Depth -> 50 Meters

Are you a big runner? Do you strive to achieve better form, balance, and vertical ratio? Have you ever wanted to record your ground contact time? This is the watch for you! It’s basically a personal trainer on your wrist.

With a heart-rate monitor located on the band, a triple-axis digital accelerometer, and a GPS, this watch can track your run down to the last drop of sweat (and it is water-resistant, so sweat away!)

Sync it up to your favorite streaming service to save tunes for when you’re offline and on the go, or download up to 500 songs with in-watch storage! The Garmin Pay feature allows an easily accessible way to pay when out and about.

With a battery life of up to 14 days when in smartwatch mode, this watch is great for the everyday fitness user. It’s worth mentioning if you do like to go out for a hike here and there, of course this watch is equipped with GPS, compass, and altimeter as well; but the battery won’t last as long in GPS mode, which is why this is better suited as a fitness watch mainly.

Our team feel this watch really works well as a one-stop watch for those who love to run, hike and head to the gym and has just enough features for each activity to really shine, without costing a fortune. One feature they really loved was the VO2 max recording and other performance tracking like showing you your training load.

#6 – The Best Fitness Tracker for Women (Runners)

• Display Size -> 1.04 inches
• Altimeter -> No

So, we’ve covered some of the best men’s outdoor watches, but what about something for the ladies?

If you’re a fitness lover and don’t have a workout buddy, this might just be the solution for you. This watch will not only track your calories, heart rate, sleep patterns, runs, workouts, and all that, but it even has built-in safety features to ensure your safety is a priority.

As a female runner myself, I have been out in the early morning hours alone on a run. Having a smartwatch to track my run and knowing it could send out an emergency alert with my location in case of a fall, bike-crash, or any other emergency would be life-changing.

Of course, it also has all the fun features as well! From fitness apps to music streaming, this watch is the perfect workout companion. With a battery life lasting up to seven days, don’t stress about it too much if you’re too tired after your workout to plug it in after you climb in bed.

Our team feels this watch brings a lot to the table for a little price tag and it’s super comfortable to boot. They love that for the cheaper price, it still houses all the key features they need for tracking their walks, workout and runs like their V02 max. In particular, they also felt that safety features like incident detection and built-in tracking also made them feel much safer whilst out on a run.

#7 – The Best Outdoor Watch Under $200

• Display Size -> N/A

If you want to try out an outdoor watch but are on a budget or unsure of if you would enjoy using one so aren’t ready to invest, this one has a little bit of everything included for a steal!  From hiking watch capabilities to fitness apps to smartwatch notifications, this watch is up there with the best of them.

Coming with different-sized bands, this unisex watch is the perfect fit for anyone who wants a reliable outdoor watch. Fitbits are known for their customizable interfaces and fitness applications, but did you know this watch has 2 different global navigation systems, as well as an altimeter for those of us who like to get off the grid from time to time.

This watch will track your workout, your heart rate, your sleeping patterns, and your laps in the pool. Keep it charged every few days and you’re ready to take it on your next adventure!

Our team were super impressed by this budget watch and felt it packed in all the important features without being overly complex and bumping up the price. One element they really loved was the fact that this watches battery could last 4+ days and could also track their sleep too, pretty good for around 200 bucks.

#8 – The Best Outdoor Watch Under $100

• Battery Type -> User replaceable battery
• Display Size -> 1.5 inches
• Altimeter -> None

This watch is the least expensive on the list, and as such, it doesn’t have all the same specs as some of the others. But if you need a reliable watch that can keep up with your fast-paced needs, and aren’t big on smartwatch technology, then this is the perfect watch.

It is waterproof up to 100 meters so you can take it just about anywhere, and with the illuminated backlight and large digital numbers, you can read the face at a glance. So, when you’re taking a few laps around the track or pool, timing a bike ride, or challenging yourself to beat a countdown, this watch can record your times up to 100 hours and recall up to 30 laps.

Our team felt that if a reliable watch is all you need, look no further. They like that this watch was simple, tracked the basic things they needed for their runs and hikes and was also super light and comfortable. They also felt being on the cheaper side it was ideal for backpacking in areas where they might not want something that looked super flashy.

#9 – The Best Barometric Altimeter Watch

You’re not seeing double– this watch is really solid and, our team have been using them for years.  As we said above about the Suunto Core, this watch just has amazing barometric technology. The way the watch detects pressure changes based on not only your altitude for the altimeter but also when you’re standing still to detect the weather is incredible.

With precision accuracy up to 29,500 feet, this altimeter can’t really be beaten. And the watch will record your altitude while on your journey to show you your data later. And if you are unsure of your starting height, that’s okay! This hiking watch even has a “start from 0” option to allow you to compile data on your altitude changes anyway.

Our team felt that if you are a die-hard mountaineer, this may just be the watch for you. They really appreciated the accuracy with which the weather and altitude could be read and predicted on this watch and felt it was a real lifesaver in the mountains. They also loved the lowkey design of the watch that doesn’t stand out or look too flash.

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#10 – The Best Satellite Altimeter Watch

• Battery Type -> Lithium Ion
• Altimeter -> Pressure-based

This outdoor watch can track your workout, count your calories and steps, and monitor your heart rate through the convenience of the wrist strap or more accurately through a chest strap! Having complete running and cycling metrics allows it to help you improve on your balance and form as well.

The swimming-specific features of this water-resistant watch are very useful in underwater depths up to 50 meters. But if the fitness aspects aren’t enough to convince you, customizable smartwatch features and interface might be.

The more hardcore fitness buffs on our team really loved the extra functionality of this watch when it came to accurately tracking their races, training and workouts. These folks are the sorts of people who take running and working out super seriously and like to really analyse their performance in detail and they love that this watch allows them to do that with ease.

• Battery life isn’t the longest

#11 – The Most Rugged Watch for Backpackers

• Battery Type -> large-capacity solar battery
• Display Size -> 2.2 inches
• Water Resistant Depth -> 200 Meters
• Tracks Steps and Calories? -> No
• Altimeter -> Yes

This rugged watch is made for the toughest adventurers whose fears know no bounds. This watch is mud-, shock-, and water-resistant up to an astounding 200 meters underwater! That’s at least twice the depth of any other watch on this list.

The design of this watch itself is made with the adventurer in mind. A large, LED-lit face with digital and analog readings allows one to view the time, temperature, compass direction, and more in just a split second. Not to mention the buttons are designed to resist dirt or mud build-up.

Knowing an outdoorsman is always on the go, the battery lasts about 2 years. This outdoor watch is rugged enough to withstand almost anything.

Our travelling team love many of the features of this watch but what is a super cool feature for them is the ability to have more than 30 times zones loaded onto this thing. Trust us, when you’re travelling a lot, have friends and family as well as business partners and customers all over the world, this is a game changer! On top of that our team loves to get dirty (keep your mind out of the gutter!) and this watch really offers them that next level of protection.

• Tough as Hell
• Deep water resistant depth
• Minimalist Design
• Massive display face
• Solar powered battery
• No fitness tracking capabilities

#12 – The Best High-End Outdoor Watch for Pros

• Display Size -> 1.2 inches

Although all the watches on this list look good, they can’t compete with this classy watch. For the day-to-day wearer who wants to look good and have the convenience of an outdoor watch, smartwatch, and fitness watch capabilities.

Don’t let the sleek looks fool you, however– this high-end watch has incredible features, including a storage capacity for up to 2,000 songs as well as access to streaming services. But that’s not the only apps available on this smartwatch, so customize it however you want.

This watch also comes with 3 different global navigation satellite systems, a barometric altimeter, and the Climbpro ascent planner, which allows every mountaineer to measure their climb’s gradient, distance, and elevation gain. If you are more of a golfer or skier than a climber, this watch has over 41,000 golf courses and 2,000 ski resorts programmed as well as many other sports and fitness-related apps and trackers.

Even though this watch looks decorative, it still has all the amazing features of other outdoor watches and is waterproof up to 100 meters underwater. You can still track your heart-rate, steps, calories, or even blood-oxygen saturation; but for this watch and all the high-end features, you’ll be paying the high-end price as well.

Wow, our team really fell in love with this watch and they couldn’t sing it’s praises enough. They felt that though it was pretty expensive, it really did offer everything you’d expect for the money and more. Above all else they loved that it was packed full of all the features you need from an outdoors watch; GPS, compass, Altimeter, VO2 Max, topographical maps ect, whilst looking so elegant and smart. This watch is one that can literally go everywhere with you, from a buiness meeting straight into the gym or the mountains, our felt it was really an incredible bit of kit.

• Superior craftsmanship
• Pulse Ox sensor monitors your blood oxygen saturation levels
• Receive emails, texts and alerts plus has music storage
• Very expensive
• Probably overkill for the average person
• No other cons – it is a badass watch

More of the Top Outdoor Watches

Garmin fenix 7 solar multisport gps watch.

Another watch that has it all, this watch is an older model of another watch that made our list—the best GPS watch for hiking, the Garmin fenix 7 Solar Multisport GPS Watch. This watch comes with a lot of similar features, such as 3-axis compass, gyroscope, barometric altimeter, built-in GPS and GLONASS navigation systems.

Not only does this watch have color TOPO U.S. mapping, but it also gives you the option to plan a specific distance you would like to run/hike/bike/etc., and it will actually give suggestions of good trails near you!

This is another fitness watch that can function as a smartwatch as well, with the option to customize with your own choice in compatible apps and widgets. Everything you need available at flick of your wrist—er, touch of your wrist(watch).

Grouptrack technology allows you to monitor your group’s individual locations in real-time; Livetrack allows other to track your adventures live! You can also track your calories, your heart rate, and your form and performance in a workout.

This rugged watch is scratch-resistant and water-resistant up to 100 meters below the surface, so wherever you go, it can keep up. Easy to change silicon-based watch bands mean you have the perfect fit and style for every occasion.

This is a great pick with a more modest price tag than it’s newest counter-part.

Our team felt this was a pretty understated but smart looking watch that ticked off all the major features most of them would ever need from a watch without breaking the bank. For them the stand out feature was the Grouptrack technology which worked perfectly when a bunch of them took it out into the backcountry.

Garmin Vivoactive 4 GPS Watch

This watch is more focused on fitness. With pre-loaded apps for about any sport, you’ll be able to track your every movement and calorie burned. The wrist-band heart rate monitor makes it easy and convenient to track your heart rate as well as your blood oxygen levels.

Pre-loaded animated workout instructions make your fitness routine even easier. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned fitness pro, you’re sure to find an app to amp up your work out! For runners, there is even a training program to work your way up to running 5k, 10k, or even a marathon which properly paces and pushes you at crucial times and adjusts your plan based on your progress.

With smartphone capabilities, stay connected anywhere you go. The Garmin Pay app also allows you to make purchases with the swipe of your wrist.

All in all, a solid choice for a fitness watch and much less expensive than the average name brand smartwatch. Our team loved how low profile and smart this watch looked, especially the Shadow Grey which they felt would still look pretty professional in an office setting. They also love that it can even track their laps in the pool which is pretty cool!

Fitbit Versa 2

Another watch coming in at under $200, this Fitbit comes with all the apps, trackers, and widgets these smartwatches are best known for. If you like recognizable tech, this might be the watch for you!

This smartwatch can store 300+ songs or listen to songs via music-streaming platforms. Use Amazon Alexa to help access anything you may need on your watch or within your home (that is Alexa-compatible, of course.)

Some fitness features include 24/7 heart rate monitoring, fitness apps, Sleep Score, and SmartTrack which allows you to track different workouts, like swimming or running, and see your stats. Interchangeable wrist bands allow you to choose between the silicon workout band that you can easily wipe clean, or a jacquard patterned decorative band for everyday wear.

Overall, a great choice for a reasonably-priced, reliable fitness watch. Our team quite liked the different style the Fitbit watches offered, looking a little less technical and instead having a more minimalist vibe. They also liked that with this watch you could pick out different straps too which meant it looked good with street wear, office gear and at the gym.

Casio Pro Trek

This watch looks rugged, while maintaining water resistance for outdoor wear, a comfortable cloth wristband, a large display face, and a slim design for daily wear.

The bold face has both analog and a large, digital numeral display that allows the wearer to read immediately while on the go. The mechanical components are highlighted with glow-in-the-dark markers while the digital face is illuminated.

This watch is rechargeable via solar power, making it very convenient for long hikers/campers who don’t have the convenience of electricity as regularly as a smartwatch would need.

The perfect watch for the minimalist who wants a watch to do what watches do best— tell time, set alarms, or use as a stopwatch, while being compatible with the reusable green energy of the great outdoors.

This watch split the team a little but for those who loved it, they really loved it! They felt it offered a more old school and utilatarian style to the other super mondern options and rather than having heaps of complicted programs and apps, the team just loved that it kept to the basicas and did them well!

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

#1 – GPS (Satellite) vs. Barometric Altimeters

Altimeters come in handy in many outdoor situations. Whether you’re hiking in high elevations, rock/mountain-climbing, or even skiing, having an accurate altitude reading is not only an interesting conversation piece but an important safety precaution.

Barometric Altimeters use pressure readings to determine altitude. The closer to earth you are, the higher the pressure, so the higher your elevation, the lower the pressure. The only issue is weather also effects pressure; so when there is a storm rolling in or a cold front/heat wave, it may affect your altimeter’s readings.

Some watches may try to combat these discrepancies by utilizing GPS readings as well, to determine if you are currently moving (so the pressure differences are likely due to a rising elevation) or in staying one location (pressure differences likely due to an incoming storm.)

The most surefire way to ensure your barometric altimeter is accurate would be to calibrate it every day (or at least when you need it to be accurate.) This can easily be done if you know your current elevation, which can be found on Google Earth.

An altimeter that uses satellite readings simply determines your elevation by getting a reading of how far you are from Earth much in the same way it determines your position on Earth. This isn’t necessarily accurate, as the satellites position also affects your altimeter reading.

This would mostly be accurate if there is a satellite orbiting basically directly above your position. If a satellite can get a reading, it is usually within 35 to 75 feet of your actual reading (GPS is much more accurate horizontally than vertically.)

But satellite readings aren’t always available, especially when in the deep wilderness. So, it’s hard to get an accurate reading. If accuracy is critical to your purpose, a barometric altimeter might be the best choice for you.

#2 – Performance Features

Another thing that one needs to consider is which performance features are most important for your needs. If your main purpose for wanting a watch is to track your daily health, like sleep tracking, calories burned, and your heart rate, a fitness watch might be right for you.

If your hobbies include hiking, skiing, rock-climbing, or even scuba diving, you might be more interested in a watch that supports GPS mapping– perhaps map download capabilities for when you’re off the grid, as well as an altimeter.

If you enjoy water sports, water resistance is important. Although all the watches on this list are water resistant, depending on how deep you dive, you may need to ensure they are resistant into a greater depth. Some watches even have special functions for underwater operation or are specialized to track you laps in the pool.

If you desperately want to stay connected with your favorite apps, ensuring your watch is compatible and customizable might be the most important aspect when looking to buy! So these are some things to determine before picking the best watch for you.

#3 – Smart Technology

Most people rely on smart technology in our daily lives. Whether it be for business or pleasure, having access to the our favorite apps, media, email, and of course our cell phones has become almost expected of us.

For some, this is a blessing– it makes work, school, and entertainment as easy and convenient as the push of a button. But others may want to escape the hyper-technological world and disconnect for a while. Or maybe some just don’t have a need or desire for smart technology in every aspect of their lives.

For these people, having a watch that connects to the world around them isn’t necessarily that important. Maybe you just want a watch that has a good, solid altimeter and a compass for when you get away and get off grid.

Whatever is the best fit for your lifestyle and needs should be the first priority for picking a watch. Also, watches with smart technology need to be charged on a regular basis. Which brings us to our next point.

#4 – Battery Life

For some people, choosing a watch with a long battery life is of the utmost importance. If we plan on using our outdoor watch on long hiking trips where we won’t have easy access to electrical outlets for charging our watches, then something with a long battery life is very important.

Of course, a watch that doesn’t have a rechargeable battery means the battery will need to be replaced. This could be once a year or two approximately, but when the time comes, you have to consider if the watch can be changed by you personally or if you will have to pay to have it serviced. How convenient is that for you?

If you don’t plan on staying off grid for too long, than the average smart watch or fitness watch might suit your needs. A lot of watches hold a charge for several days, especially if you aren’t using the GPS/mapping/bluetooth music functions. So this can be very functional for the average user.

#5 – Price

Price is always a selling point. Of course we all want to get the most for our money. There are a lot of factors that go into determining the price of a good watch. Most of which are the features we’ve already highlighted, but there are other features, as well.

Some rugged watches are made of really durable material, which may be more expensive than the average watch. There are also high-end watches that are made with quality material, like the best high-end watch on our list which is made with Italian leather.

But all of our budgets are different, and we have to find something that best fits our needs and our wallet. The most expensive watch on the list might not be the best, or even the best for you.

Therefore, once you determine what other features you require in your watch, finding one that hits hopefully all or at least most of your points within your budget should be relatively easy– especially since our list goes over watches within every price range.

There is no perfect or exact science when it comes to testing out travel and outdoor gear. Nevertheless, the team here at The Broke Backpacker does have a LOT of experience telling time throughout our lives and think we’ve gotten pretty good at knowing a good watch when we see one.

Whenever we test a piece of gear, one of our team takes it out for a spin and puts it through its paces. In all cases, we pay close attention to how well-made a piece of gear is, how heavy or light it is, what it feels like, and how well it fulfills its primary purpose. 

Finally, we also take into account how an item is priced – for example, expensive items that perform averagely will lose points, whereas budget items may be given more leeway and minor failures treated more sympathetically.

Still have some questions about the best adventure watches? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:

What is an outdoor watch?

An outdoor watch is specifically designed for adventures. It normally has more features that can be useful on travels than normal watches have. They’re also made from more durable material.

Which is the best overall outdoor watch?

The Garmin Instinct Solar GPS Watch is our top pick for the best outdoor watch. You get all of the important features in one watch, and on top of that, it’s also designed very subtle and stylish.

Are all outdoor watches waterproof?

Not all outdoor watches are waterproof, but they should be at least water restistant. We wouldn’t recommend getting a watch for outdoor adventures if it doesn’t have one of those features.

What performance features should my outdoor watch have?

This always depends on what you need during your travels, but these are the main features: 1. GPS tracking 2. Water resistance 3. App compatibility 4. Heartrate sensor

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Final Thoughts on the Best Outdoor Watches

By now, you are well-versed in the world of outdoor watches. In recent years, the technology and capabilities of the once-humble watch has exploded and us outdoor and adventure people are here to reap the benefits.

From heart-rate tracking and step count to email and blood-oxygen level readings, there is not much that some of these watches can’t do. Since I spend a lot of time in the mountains and work as a guide, I love having a watch that gives accurate altitude readings, storm alerts, and tracking points – all vital data points when leading groups in the mountains.

The best watch for your own needs to going to be different. Hone in on what sort of performance you need out of a watch and make your purchase based on that information.

From all of the watches on our list, it may be hard to pick a favorite. If you are looking for a good all a-rounder that will serve you in a variety of settings, go with our top pick: the Garmin Instinct GPS Watch .

Once you get your hands on a badass outdoor watch, there is no going back. You’ll see.

Need more tech for your adventures? Check out our guide to the best satellite phones next!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Aiden Freeborn

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After some study over the last few weeks, conclusions: First, the ABC watch market isn’t selling to the larger buying public, it’s a niche market with numerous models with short market runs. That implies that the technolody isn’t stagnant and as new models are introduced there is some pressure on makers to offer “me too” models in looks. The basic engines that run these tend to remain static as their presentation changes.

There is also a major divide between digital and analog. Digitals are the main offering and for the most part rearranging the display creates the new model. Analogs have more issues, a driver pushing an axis requires stasis over it’s location over several model runs, same as any other analog watch. Even the introduction of multi axis stepper locations (TX) keeps them from being moved around as much as Marketing may like.

Stacking features also limit what can be offered, not expand, as conflicting physical issues won’t allow competing features to coexist as readily as we like. It’s hard to stack an LVD readout with backlighting and solar recharging. While Solar is a great way to achieve almost continous use, there are limits, too.

One way to determine a watch’s long term appreciation is to check on the resale market and reviews from owners. First, in the ABC watch market, there is a distinct difference between knowledgeable users and consumers entering the market. The experienced hiker knows and can utilize data they understand may be corrupted from sources – meteorology unfortunately baselines its barometric numbers as “pressure at mean sea level.” What you get for air pressure reported from Denver is actually for Denvers pressure as if it were at sea level, 5,000 feet lower. Weather services do this to get a common metric relating to weather calculations – which are all wrong for those needing to see altitude changes. The consumer, not knowing this, then reports “the altitude is always wrong!” not understanding there is a 5,000 foot “mistake” they are introducing into data they enter into the watch at that location.

Temperature is the same – if the watch is next to the skin, then it’s reporting skin temperature, not air temp. Explaining it has to be taken off and then fixed away from body heat doesn’t endear owners who expected the sensor and computations to correct for this.

There is also a price to pay for these observations – power must be consumed to enable the sensor and computer to send data to a display. When left constantly on, with a battery power source, it will deplete. After a certain run time then batteries need replacing, and if the battery is contained within the watch envelope, it needs a port to easily replace it. Taking the back off in the field with fiddly screws or a caseback isn’t a successful application for the general public. A battery port cover that lacks durability for frequent field changes is eventually a non seller, too. And that port must retain water resistance, which is already compromised with a sensor requiring direct contact with the air.

This directly leads to some watches getting a relatively accurate WR rating, some as low as 30 meters, but reviewers grossly overstating how that relates to physical activities. WR – water resistance – is not directly imputed by it’s numbers. While it may be thought that a WR30 rating would imply the ability to go 100 feet underwater, the WR system is manufacturer assess, there is no standard of testing, and it’s placement by market niche is what controls it. A WR30 rating is the next step above “hand wash resistant,” not “snorkel qualified.” Not at all – it’s another area where the experienced users understand the bait and switch used in the industry and how ISO standards are inflated, not directly measurable. The consumer who claims they were “duped” or “cheated” does have a valid point. What happened is that the clear language interpretation and their expectations based on it were misleading compared to the technical performance based in reality.

Where am I going with all this?

Ratings that put the Suunto Core as a “best of” recommendation. It’s a decent ABC watch with usable sensors and readouts, IF you already know that 1) garbage in garbage out 2) the water resistance is often highly overrated by the less knowledgeable 3) power consumption and frequent battery replacement means its not as convenient and it will compromise water resistance further. As for the “all black” LCD presentation, it’s not the better version – it takes a lot of direct light to make it work. A “positive” ie normal LCD display is frequently better for most.

That means all the hype about it being a great “military” watch is just that – many in the military did try it out and were less than impressed by it’s not so stellar performance. That also goes to how abusive real field use can be – an electronic device with display must be protected from abrasive contact with rocks, vehicles, and equipment. The duty standard, G Shock, even falls apart after a few years of continuous abuse. And Casio knows it, which is why you can purchase new straps, case armor etc. Suunto is not offering bezels, and many convert their strap to a standard fabric one with Nato or Zulu rings to wear it. Battery port covers are also not in ready stock, at best it’s a kit with battery and oring for the cover.

Heres the takeaway – for actual field performance, start with WR200 water resistance. A non electronic compass will last decades vs electronic, and a mechanical barometer/altimeter won’t need any batteries. Incorporated into a watch requires much better features and specifications that both users AND reviewers are knowledgeable about. If an all in one device is preferred, the current state of the art still shows that the traditional tools we have been using for over 100 years remain the mhch more infallible standard. And saying a cell phone can do it better isn’t well qualified – back to the power source and daily charges? It’s an exponentially expanding list of requirements, a cable, power backup good for enough recharges for the entire trip plus emergency delay, which then leads to a solar panel for recharging, etc. Which hikers and backpackers who have endured their learning curve with it’s discomforts already know – but the new entry level consumer discovers, on rare occasions, to actually be life and death.

Don’t rely on your gear, rely on what you know, first. A good watch, map and compass is the start, and remains the redundant back up. Know how to use them and the electronic “gucci” gear falls into it’s place as the luxury veneer.

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The Best Outdoor Watches in 2024, Tested by Gear Experts

These bad boys have everything you need for hiking, biking, camping, and more.

Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?

Remember, most outdoor watches provide double duty as a rugged fitness tracker . If your hobbies include hiking , camping , trail running , kayaking, mountain biking, etc, then an outdoor watch is right up your alley.

The Best Outdoor Watches

Best Outdoor Watch Overall

Garmin fenix 7 pro solar edition.

Best Outdoor Watch for IPhone Users

Apple watch ultra 2.

The Toughest Outdoor Watch

Casio g-shock rangeman gprh1000-9.

Best Outdoor Watch for Training

Suunto race.

Best Bang for Your Buck Outdoor Watch

Coros pace 3.

Most Underrated Outdoor Watch

Casio pro trek prg601pe-5, what to consider when buying an outdoor watch.

When buying an outdoor watch, it's important to first start by taking inventory of which activities you plan on using your new device for. Do you need an outdoor watch to track your endurance training or extreme sports? Do you need an outdoor watch for camping or hiking? Understanding your wearing habits can tell if you need a more basic outdoor watch as opposed to a more advanced outdoor watch (think $500+).

When it comes to selecting an outdoor watch, the case is one of the most important options to consider. The physical housing for your watch, the case needs to be tough, lightweight and large enough to provide space for an easily-readable display. Top of the line outdoor watches will have steel or titanium cases, while most mid-range and affordable options will be made of plastic or resin. A lot of the benefits of wearing an outdoor-specific watch come from what is housed in the case, but without a sturdy case, your watch won't live long enough to provide you with any insights.

Battery Life

Perhaps the most important consideration when it comes to an outdoor watch is battery life. A watch is no good for exploration if it dies after a few hours, right? The best battery life generally comes with the most expensive watches, as it takes a lot of power to keep GPS, heart rate, mapping and music all going at once. In our opinion, the higher price is worth the better battery—getting halfway done with your activity only to realize you don’t know what time it is or where you’re going is literally a life and death situation.

Further, for true endurance adventurers (or those who hate finding a charging point), opting for a solar-powered watch is an absolute no brainer. Most of them will last for days, even in the dark, and just need a few hours to greatly extend their power output. As watches get more complicated and provide more details, batteries have to evolve, too, and for now, solar is the best way for your tech to outlast you.

Water Resistance

Outdoor watches are almost all built with the intention of being worn into harsh conditions. Withstanding sweat is just the beginning. Rain, snow, bodies of water and even high humidity can affect the performance of a technical piece of equipment like your outdoor watch, so it’s imperative to find one that can handle whatever wetness comes its way. The industry standard is for a watch to withstand water as deep as 100 meters, which is plenty for most aquatic adventures, barring some SCUBA depths. At that level of waterproofing, the watch will be able to withstand any adventures on dry land, whether you're caught in a summer monsoon or deep winter blizzard.

How We Selected

We update our roundup of outdoor watches seasonally, so you can expect the our information takes into account the latest watch releases. When comparing outdoor watches, our editors and writers look at factors such as comfort, user-friendliness, battery life, GPS tracking, materials used, and more. We also consider price, as some outdoor watches provide better overall value than others. While there’s never one “best” outdoor watch, the list below represents our honest picks of some of the best outdoor watches worth buying in 2024. Keep scrolling to learn more.

WIth three case sizes, five trim levels with varying price points, and a handful of delightful color options, the Garmin fenix is the outdoor watch we’d recommend to anyone trying to make the most of their adventures. Specifically, we recommend the Pro 7 Solar, which has a battery capable of lasting a whopping 57 hours in full GPS mode—plenty of time to complete a multi-day backpacking trip, an ultramarathon or your bike club’s latest century ride.

You get all the basic stats like heart rate, distance, calories, and a GPS map. But then you also get a bunch of more interesting stats like cadence, stride length, fastest mile, ground contact time, and time spent in each heart rate zone. You even load your own music onto the watch for phone-free listening.

There’s also a lot to love with when using the fenix for weight lifting sessions. Hitting the “Strength” mode gives you timer that keeps you on track, breaking down each working set my working sets—it attempts to count your reps, but this feature was a little buggy at times. The best highlight of the strength mode is it counts your rest time, which helps ensure proper rest while also keeping you from getting distracted.

If you’re an outdoor multi-hyphenate who wants a watch for every activity (including sleeping), this is the one.

The regular Apple Watch is decent for outdoor adventures, but the Ultra 2 is designed specifically with sport in mind. A titanium case makes it incredibly tough, resistant to scratches and dings that we expect to happen when venturing outdoors, while the ultra-bright display is visible even in direct sunlight—a huge boon when you find yourself in high-exposure areas.

As you'd expect from Apple, the watch is full of ingenious tech and utilizes a processor capable of handling all sorts of real time data. The S9 SiP chip is one of Apple's most innovative yet, allowing for zero-touch control—just double tap your pointer finger and thumb to control the watch without getting sweat on the screen. Another awesome feature of the Ultra 2: zone heart rate monitoring for training.

Added tools like a dive rating up to 100 meters, a barometer, a compass, and an emergency SOS system gives the Ultra 2 legs to stand on in the outdoor watch space. The Ultra 2 appeals to Apple users only, of course, but it makes sense to those who want a multi-functional watch they can wear all day, every day.

Editor's Note: Apple has been sued by California-based Masimo over potential patent infringement of its blood-oxygen monitoring technology, though the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has temporarily granted Apple the ability to sell the watch in the United States.

Is there any outdoor watch that looks tougher than a G-Shock? We don’t think so. These days, though, G-Shock is more than just a watch you can chuck into a canyon with zero consequences. The solar-powered Rangeman is loaded with smart features that makes it more than just a rugged watch.

Underneath its shock-resistant, bio-based resin case is a heart rate monitor, GPS and 200 meters of water resistance. The watch comes with built-in sport modes for running, cycling, HIIT workouts and more. For alpine adventures, the Rangeman has a barometer, altimeter, and can notify you if bad weather is on the way. For water sports, the Rangeman has a tide graph to show readings on low and high tide.

One drawback to the Rangeman is the connected app's user experience could improve. Casio (G-Shock's parent company) is always making improvements to the app, so there's hope the software can get to as smooth of a point as a brand like Garmin. A counterpoint to that qualm, though, is this is more of a hybrid watch than a true smartwatch. The button navigation is actually pretty easy to learn, and the simplicity of the watch user experience itself is pleasant. You also can't forget you have better durability on the Rangeman than you do any true smartwatch.

If you’re someone who like to prioritize strength and utility, and doesn't care too much about fancy features, then the Rangeman fits the bill. It will still track health metrics and the environment around you like a champ too.

Suunto makes a number of awesome outdoor watches, but we found the Race model to be the most enjoyable experience when it came to use for outdoor training. The Race provides data on heart rate variability (HRV), GPS tracking, zone training, workout intensity, and Vo2 max (estimates). We were a little weary about the performance of the Suunto app, but to our surprise the interface was smooth and the design was easy to read.

Our two favorite highlights from the Race includes the GPS system (the Race connects to 5 satellite systems to track your routes on outdoor trails), and the titanium case edition. The titanium case is $100 more than its stainless steel model, but the titanium is much lighter (the titanium edition weighs 69 grams compared to the stain steel's 83 grams).

The titanium model comes out to about $549. However, when you compare that to the more expensive models of the Suunto outdoor watches, like the best version of the Vertical at $839, the Race in titanium makes a lot more sense in terms of value. It's true you might find better use in the Suunto Vertical if you prefer to go up for specs like boosted daily use battery and the ability to get solar charging. These two benefits appeal to diehard outdoorsman who are exceptionally active and "off-the-grid" for extended periods of time.

For those who are at a beginner to intermediate level in outdoor hobbies, who also want everyday use and great function for training, the upgraded titanium Race provides a better value. It's got an insanely comfortable strap, a super bright AMOLED display, and a huge battery life compared to other outdoor watches that could be suitable for training. Really the better battery life alone on the Race, compared to something like an Apple Watch Ultra, is enough to sell trail runners, mountain bikers, and kayakers.

Turn-by-turn GPS navigation is a stellar feature on the Pace 3, and the ability to build your own routes in the Coros app is a plus that makes it easy to explore new roads. An advanced optical heart rate monitor provides accurate workout metrics, sleep tracking, and SpO2 data. One of our favorite features to use on the Pace 3 was installing the weather widget. The weather widget sources data from Apple Weather and provides a mapping of hour-by-hour weather on your watch, making it useful on days when you are dealing with intermittent bursts of rain.

Where the Pace 3 falls a bit behind is durability. It doesn't have any special metal materials (it's a mostly plastic construction), leaving it susceptible to the damage that comes from outdoor exploring. The watch is also barebones, which is great for simplicity in use but a drawback if you want advanced features and fun touchscreens.

However, you have to remember the price point. For under $250, you get a solid GPS smartwatch that's dead set on helping track and improve your fitness. If you're looking for a deal on an outdoor watch that won't dig too far into your pockets, then this is the pick.

If you prefer the look and feel of an analog watch but still want a capable companion for exploration, the Casio Pro Trek is the watch for you. A cloth band and steel bezel keep the watch casual enough for daily wear, whether you’re on a business trip or a rollicking journey through a new country.

Under the hood is a solar-powered battery that can last up to seven months with regular use and a digital display for keeping track of another time zone or a specific fitness activity. LED lights help you keep time in the dark while the digital compass, barometer/altimeter, and thermometer Triple Sensor keeps you privy to any changes headed your way.

If you want to move away from smartwatches, this timepiece gives you a few interesting tools that can come in handy for outdoor hobbies.

More Notes on Buying an Outdoor Watch

Every watch serves one essential function: it tells time. But beyond that, the extent to which your watch can aid you is almost limitless—you just have to decide what you want.

Weather Instruments

If you’re a backcountry explorer who lives for high-altitudes, pick a watch with an altimeter and barometric pressure sensor. These features are generally paired with a storm alarm and when used together, your watch will ensure that you know about incoming weather before you can see it.

Heart Rate Monitors

Many outdoor watches are now equipped with heart rate monitors and pulse oximeters, which work together to help you pace yourself and prevent over exhaustion. One caveat to wrist-based heart rate monitoring is that it’s not always the most accurate. Excess sweat, and sometimes tattoos, can affect the accuracy of wrist-based heart rate—so if you’re going to be depending on your watch to keep an eye on your pulse, we’d recommend pairing a chest strap heart rate monitor (almost all of which can be paired directly with your watch).

Help from Product Pages

Luckily, most brands put together a comprehensive product page that goes over the ins and outs of every watch in their lineup. Product pages are also helpful in determining the value old model outdoor watches have over the new model, so you can breakdown if the latest features are worth the increase in price. So, to be sure you’re getting the right watch for you and your activity preferences, do a good bit of reading before you pull the trigger. After all, your outdoor watch could get you out of a sticky situation some day.

What Is the Best Movement for an Outdoor Watch?

Outdoor watches have come a long way in the past decade. What was once an area dominated by mechanical watches from legacy brands (like Rolex, Omega, Breitling) the best outdoor watches have ventured into quartz movements and smartwatches models that are less than $1,000.

Quartz movement watches have been shown to hold up better than mechanical; mainly based on the fact that mechanical watches need to be shored up with design notes to help protect the inner hardware. Smartwatches, while dependent on regularly needing to be charged, contain a whole world of features and metrics that provide one with the best tools tech has to offer.

This isn't to say you shouldn't invest in an adventure-ready mechanical watch from any of the legacy brands mentioned above, but if you're looking for an outdoor watch that's wallet-friendly and/or loaded with features, you'll want to save the mechanical watches for collecting.

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Can I wear a travel watch every day? ⌚14 Best Travel Watches: Your Perfect Journey Companion

Can I wear a travel watch every day? Yes! Travel watches are designed for daily wear, offering durability and versatility suitable for various occasions.

Traveling is an adventure, and every adventurer needs a reliable companion on their wrist. Enter travel watches – the perfect blend of style, functionality, and durability.

Whether you’re climbing mountains or exploring vibrant cities, having the best travel watch is essential.

Your style, particularly your accessory choices, reveals a lot about you. Watches are one of the most popular purchases for men and women, but which ones are the best travel watches?

• Classy or bold?
• Digital or analog?
• Leather or titanium?

In this guide, we’ll explore the world of travel watches, helping you choose the perfect timepiece for your journeys.

🤷🏻 how many watches can I travel with?

2. type (digital or  analog ), 3. characteristics, 4. material, 5. water resistance, 7. dial size and style, 1. sne329 sport solar-powered stainless steel watch by seiko, 2. casio g-shock gravity master, 3. samsung galaxy watch 4 44mm smartwatch with ecg monitor tracker for health fitness.

• 4. Women's Ironman Transit 33mm Watch By Timex

5. Premium GPS Running / Triathlon Smartwatch By Garmin

• 6. Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Quartz Men's Watch By Citizen 

7. Rugged Outdoor Watch With GPS By Garmin

• 8. Men's 3051 EVO Navy SEAL Colormark Watch By Luminox

9. Fitbit Charge 2 Heart Rate + Fitness Wristband

• 10. The Runwell Quartz Movement Blue Dial Men's Watch By Shinola

11. Wrist-Top Computer Watch With Altimeter By Suunto

12. suunto traverse gps watch, 13. garmin fenix chronos.

• 14. Nordgreen Pioneer Men's Gun Metal Chronograph Watch

Q. Are travel watches water-resistant?

Q. do travel watches require special care during flights, q. are travel watches suitable for different time zones, q. can i replace the watch battery on my own, q. do travel watches come with warranties, q. how do i choose the right travel watch for my needs, q. are water-resistant watches necessary for all travelers, 😇 conclusion, ✉ which travel watch from the list above is your favorite let us know in the comments..

While we don’t advise taking lots of watches on the trip, if you do, think about getting a lockable carrying case. To avoid deterioration, place each piece in a watch travel case or roll, like the one available from the shop. Keep in mind that you should ALWAYS take your watch(es) with you and never put it in your checked luggage .

🧐 Things To Consider Before Buying The best smartwatch for travel [Buying Guide]

Finding and purchasing a new watch is confusing because there are so many different elements to consider. However, it is important to choose the ideal watch for your personality and lifestyle.

We should look at the most important factors to consider when purchasing a watch. 

Watches come in a variety of styles and sizes. Watches can be categorized into one of the following styles.

• Sports Watches   
• Luxury Watches
• Casual Watches
• Vintage Watches

The style you should choose is dependent on how often you plan to wear your watch.

Like mobile phones, digital watches have large numbers across the face that indicate the time. Analog watches include clock hands and either Roman numerals or numbers around the outside, making them appear a little more antique.

The majority of athletic watches feature digital displays, whilst luxury and casual watches have analog displays. While digital watches are simpler to read and often provide more functionality, they are far more complex to use.

Decide on how you’ll use the watch. This is also related to the watch’s style and type.

How much more do you require, even if you have decided that you require more than a basic timepiece?

A timer and stopwatch are standard on most sports watches , but you might also want GPS, a speed calculator (tachymeter), or several alarms.

If you’re buying a watch for camping, it’s probably a good idea to look for a watch with a lot of functions.

The most common materials (for the band and case) are as follows:

• Leather (just for the band)

Although canvas and plastic watches appear to be less expensive, they are often more durable and useful outside.

The metal materials, on the other hand, all look fantastic, but gold and silver watches can quickly become too costly.

Leather is less durable than metal, but it is lighter and gives the watch a more classic look.

Nowadays almost all watches are water-resistant , so you won’t have to worry about water splashing on them when you’re washing your hands.

Many watches (especially sports watches) are splashproof or appropriate for swimming and diving.

It is one of the important things that we need to consider while purchasing the watch.

Brand matters if you’re buying a watch for fashion purposes, such as flaunting at work. A low-cost Rolex has more brand recognition than a high-end Timex watch. Rolex , Omega , and Seiko are some of the most well-known watch brands.

The case and the outside of the face are usually referred to as the dial. In general, select a dial size that matches the size of your wrist.

Choose a dial with a tiny height and diameter if you have thin, small wrists. If your wrists are thick, choose a larger face and a higher casing.

The weight of the watch is a final consideration. Some watches are so light that they barely feel like they’re on your wrist, while others are as heavy as a brick.

Look for anything that makes you feel at ease. If you enjoy a watch but prefer a lighter version of the watch , go for a model with a leather strap rather than a metal band.

• 100 M Water Resistance
• 10-Year Battery
• Extra Wide Face
• LED Backlight (Illuminator) with Afterglow

• Adjustable green 20mm nylon strap fits up to…
• Black dial with date window at 3 o’clock; full…
• Black 40mm brass case with mineral glass crystal
• Indiglo light-up watch dial; luminous hands

• 🏆【3 Watch Straps, 3 Wearing Styles】…
• 🏆【24H Care for Women’s Health】The smart…
• 🏆【Perfect Figure, Perfect Women】The fitness…
• 🏆【Don’t Miss Anything】The callable smart…

Last update on 2024-04-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

✉ List Of 11 Best Travel Watches For Men And Women

After reading a lot of reviews and research we have shortlisted some of the best watches for travel .

A solar-powered watch is what catches everyone’s eye! Having a beautiful, yet pleasantly understated look. Having an analog with a day and date display makes it easy to read. It is a perfect watch for travel lovers .

A battery having a reserve of 10 months and deceptively light by nature is what makes it even more attractive. Having a 100m water resistance makes it suitable for swimming but not for scuba diving.

• Round watch with gleaming sunray dial featuring…
• 43 mm stainless steel case with Hardlex dial…
• Solar-powered Japanese quartz movement with analog…
• Nylon band with buckle closure. Operational…

Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Also Read : 10 Best Smartwatches For Kids That Ideal For Travel

If you are a daring adventurer and lover of outdoor activities, this Casio G-Shock gravity master watch is all that you need! Having an automatic synchronization to the time zone tells you about your destination.

A 200m water resistance, water-lovers this is a Jackpot. Having a compass that is easy to calibrate and a thermometer along with an analog/digital display makes the day easy.

Being bulky is a drawback, but the pros surely outweigh the cons. This watch comes under the list of best luxury travel watches.

• Sports Watch Men’s Master Of G Gravitymaster Black

Also Read : 12 Best Cool Cheap Sunglasses For Travel

Are you a fitness freak? or a marathon runner? This Samsung Galaxy watch is what calling you. Having an inbuilt GPS always keeps you on track. With the silver touch, it gives an aesthetic appeal.

Keeping your hands free connects you with your loved ones’ calls and messages and detects every moment of yours automatically.

From counting your steps to average heartbeats a built-in sleep tracker for peaceful sleep is what makes it perfect for you. However, 50m water resistance and regular charging are something to look out for.

• BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS: Galaxy Watch4 is the…
• BETTER SLEEP STARTS HERE: Wake up feeling…
• BE SMART ABOUT YOUR HEART: Take care of your heart…
• MAKE EVERY WORKOUT COUNT: Get the most out of…

Also Read : 7 Best Headphones For Travel

4. Women’s Ironman Transit 33mm Watch By Timex

This stylish and elegant watch from Timex is available in 8 vibrant colors to carry from the pool to a nightclub! Plenty to choose from.

With an Adjustable [with respective color] 12mm resin strap that fits up to a 7.5-inch wrist circumference and a grey digital display, the Indiglo light-up watch dial makes it more versatile.

All those women who are into swimming this watch is calling for you with 100m water resistance.

Digital display and day-date-month calendar are what make it more preferable. Due to its variety of uses, it comes under the best watch for adventure travel .

• Adjustable purple 12mm resin strap fits up to…
• 100-hour chronograph with 10-lap memory; 24-hour…
• Customizable alarm; 24-hour military time mode; 2…
• Purple and chrome 33mm resin case with magenta…

Also Read : 11 Best Stylish Camera Bags For Travel You’ll Love To Use

Who does not like to hear songs? This Forerunner 945 watch allows you to take your music where you go.

With full-color, onboard maps, you’ll never get lost, and it has a battery life of 2 weeks in smartwatch mode.

A sports lover can find tons of sports categories in mind blogging. Sleep tracker, training metrics and the lightweight make this watch a full package of what you can truly desire. Also, it is one of the best smartwatches for travel.

• Premium GPS running/triathlon smartwatch with…
• Download songs to your watch, including playlists…
• Performance monitoring features include Vo2 Max…
• Garmin Pay contactless payment solution (available…

Also Read : 15 Best Travel Pillows That Will Make Your Journey Comfortable

6. Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Quartz Men’s Watch By Citizen 

SCUBA diving enthusiasts, here you go!!! This Citizen watch is 200m water-resistant and is the perfect wear for all sorts of marine activities.

Having luminous hands and markers, with the analog display can enable you to read the time how deep in water you are, or simply where you are.

The light-powered eco-drive is another breathtaking feature where the watch recharges itself continuously in any light for eternity. This is worth every penny you spend.

• Iconic Promaster watches with advanced functions…
• 3 Hand, Date
• Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
• Luminous Hands and Markers and Anti-Reflective…

Also Read : 11 Best Sleep Masks For Travel That Will Make Your Journey Comfortable

Too picky when it comes to choosing the color? This is the best automatic travel watch that best world travel watch offers you plenty of options. The Strap material made up of Silicone is what makes it more attractive.

The battery lasts for 14 days in smartwatch mode and the GPS navigation mode, it’s packed full of useful features (like the navigation and the ability to control Spotify) and yet it looks like a normal watch.

Having thermal, shock, and water resistance of 100m. It estimates your heart rate, activity and stress throughout the day, telling you how hard you work. Every feature makes this watch a must-buy!

• Solar charging capabilities allow you to extend…
• Rugged GPS Watch is water-rated to 100 meters and…
• Built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter…
• Track your activities for running, biking,…

Also Read : 11 Best Beach Towels For Travel Lovers

8. Men’s 3051 EVO Navy SEAL Colormark Watch By Luminox

If you’re on the lookout to purchase an EVO navy seal color mark watch that’s as handsomely rugged as it is practical, you may want to consider that one.

The glow is peerless: you will see time no matter how dark it is outside, making it a remarkable feature.

Water-resistant to 200 m, suitable for professional marine activity [except scuba diving]. Its lightweight and durability add to the reasons why to buy this one.

• Precise Swiss-quartz movement
• Mineral crystal
• Case diameter: 43.9 mm
• Polyurethane case; black dial; date function

Also Read : 10 Best Outdoor Blankets For Travel That Will Keep You Warm On The Go

Everyone wants calmness and this fitness wristband watch provides this! Tracking all-day activities like steps taken, calories burned, floors climbed and active minutes helps you to find moments of calm throughout your day with personalized guided breathing sessions based on your heart rate.

You can also see call, text & calendar notifications on the OLED display on your wrist. A perfect guide for your everyday reminder!

• Pure Pulse continuous, automatic wrist-based heart…
• Maximize your workouts using simplified heart rate…
• See call, text & calendar notifications on the…
• Get a better understanding of your fitness level…

Also Read : 09 Best Portable Chargers For Travel To Make Your Life Easy On The Go

10. The Runwell Quartz Movement Blue Dial Men’s Watch By Shinola

Shinola, based in Detroit, has a growing fan base on both sides of the Atlantic, and travelers old and new will undoubtedly fall in love with the Runwell.

This analog watch has a classic design with a genuine leather band, as well as a large face that makes it easy to see whatever the lighting conditions are.

The sapphire crystal window is scratch-resistant, which is great for traveling, and the watch is water-resistant to 50 meters, which is plenty deep for a swim in the hotel pool !

This electric black watch counts your ascent or descent, measures your overall progress on a climb, and identifies your present elevation—making it perfect for mountaineers, skiers, and wilderness visitors.

Along with a Compass to navigate and pinpoint locations to safely find your way through the wilderness and in whiteout conditions.

Keeping a close eye on air pressure tends. Lightweight and 1-year battery life. This should be on your list if going to the mountains next time!

The Suunto Traverse Alpha combines a strong, high-quality design with a comprehensive array of outdoor functionality. With GPS/GLONASS navigation, it provides your companion in the wild, keeping you on course.

Specific hunting and fishing features, such as automatic shot detection, moon phase calendars, sunrise alerts, weather trend alerts, and red backlights for use at night, provide useful tools for your activity.

• Features a rugged, knurled stainless steel bezel,…
• Suunto’s automatic shot detection technology keeps…
• Gps tracks your path, helping you find your way…
• Location based moon Phase calendar with moon rise…

Along with estimates of your VO2 max and training status, advanced training elements like PacePro provide grade-adjusted pace guidance throughout your exercise.

The battery life in smart Watch mode is up to 14 days, in GPS and music mode is up to 10 hours, in expedition GPS activity mode is up to 28 days, and in battery saving, Watch mode is up to 48 days.

• Fit for performance with rugged, sophisticated…
• Advanced training features include PacePro for…
• Navigate the outdoors with preloaded TOPO maps,…
• Support for Garmin Pay contactless payments (not…

14. Nordgreen Pioneer Men’s Gun Metal Chronograph Watch

Our design is a simplified reflection of the characteristics and elegance of Copenhagen, where we are from. a constant push to do better.

Our objective is to provide customers with more than just a watch, but also a taste of inspiring Copenhagen, where enduring aesthetic value is combined with accuracy and usefulness.

• Minimalist Scandinavian designer watch designed by…
• 42mm Gun metal men’s Chronograph watch with a…
• Interchangeable black 20mm soft rubber watch band…
• Domed scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass in…

We hope you find this helpful and can find what you were looking for.

🙋🏻‍♀️ FAQs About Best Travel Watches

A lot of questions are asked by consumers when purchasing travel watches. The answers to a few frequently asked questions are provided here.

A. Yes, many travel watches come with varying degrees of water resistance. It’s crucial to check the specifications of each model to understand its capabilities.

A. While most travel watches are equipped to handle changes in air pressure, it’s advisable to check the manufacturer’s recommendations for air travel.

A. Yes, many travel watches feature multiple time zone settings, making them ideal companions for globetrotters.

A. While some travel watches have user-replaceable batteries, it’s recommended to have battery replacements done by professionals to ensure proper sealing and water resistance.

A. Yes, most reputable brands offer warranties on their travel watches. It’s essential to register your watch and adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for warranty coverage.

A. Consider factors like durability, features, and design that align with your travel style.

A. While not mandatory, they are recommended, especially for those engaging in water-related activities.

In the realm of travel, time is both a constant companion and a precious commodity. The Best Travel Watches seamlessly blend style, functionality, and durability, ensuring your journeys are not just measured in miles but in moments. Elevate your travel experience with the perfect companion strapped to your wrist.

Also, don’t forget to book your personalized holiday package with  Fiery Trippers . Let us make your vacation a romantic as well as a dreamy getaway.

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Rahul Siddharth

He is a dedicated travel writer with a wealth of 10 Years + experience that enriches his narratives. He holds a degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from IHM Dehradun, which he couples with hands-on expertise in the field. Drawing from his diverse experiences, Rahul's writings offer readers a captivating glimpse into the world of travel. Embark on a journey of exploration and inspiration with Rahul as your guide. Read More

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The Best Outdoor Watches Are Built for Everyday Adventures

By Jeremy Freed

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Your parents were onto something when they told you to go play outside—and strapping one of the best outdoor watches on your wrist before you head out the door is equally smart advice. Not only is taking a stroll among the trees and critters good for your body, but studies have shown that it’s one of the best ways to improve your mental health, too. Also a good way to improve your mental health? Looking at those trees and critters instead of your phone. A properly rugged timepiece means you can keep an eye on the time (and maybe more) without getting sucked into your notifications. And even if the most intense thing you do all day is fish the last beer out of an ice-filled cooler, an outdoor-ready watch teams up nicely with a sturdy pair of boots , some stylish-yet-weatherproof outerwear , and a flannel or sweater .

We should say: we've left smartwatches and fitness watches out of this round-up for a reason (and we've got a whole separate guide to the best dive watches ). Outdoor watches can handle a whole lot without needing to sync over Bluetooth. Essential features to look for include shock-resistant cases, water-resistance ratings of at least 100m (enough to handle rainy hikes and impromptu lake swims), and dials with a backlight or bright lume (a.k.a., the glowing stuff on the hands, face, and bezel). You can always your inner Bear Grylls with more advanced integrations like compasses, barometers, altimeters and tide trackers.

To help you narrow the field, we’ve selected our favorites, from feature-packed G-Shocks to classic field watches , all of which will be right at home in the forest primeval.

The Best Outdoor Watches Under $200

Forester Watch

Defender Watch

3067 EVO Navy Seal Watch

Expedition Tide Temp Compass Watch

A-2T Original Classics Watch

Commuter Watch

The Best Outdoor Watches Under $500

Pro Trek Watch

Timex x Todd Snyder Utility Ranger Watch

Todd Snyder

Mudmaster Watch

Falcon SIII Watch

I.N.O.X. Professional Diver Titanium Watch

Sea Quartz 30 Watch

Airfield Commuter

Prospex SNJ025 Watch

The Best Outdoor Watches Under $1,000

Stainless Steel Navigator Watch

Khaki Field Expedition Auto Watch

More Watch Guides from GQ

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Summary: Our top outdoor watch picks

Outdoor watch key considerations, apple watch ultra, garmin fenix 7, garmin forerunner 965, garmin instinct solar 2, garmin epix (gen 2), coros vertix 2, garmin enduro 2, garmin fenix 6 series, polar grit x pro, amazfit t-rex 2, suunto 9 baro black, best hiking and outdoor watches for adventurers and ultra runners.

Table of contents

• 1. Summary: Our top outdoor watch picks
• 2. Outdoor watch key considerations
• 3. Apple Watch Ultra
• 4. Garmin Fenix 7
• 5. Garmin Forerunner 965
• 6. Garmin Instinct Solar 2
• 7. Garmin Epix (Gen 2)
• 8. Coros Vertix 2
• 9. Garmin Enduro 2
• 10. Garmin Fenix 6 series
• 11. Polar Grit X Pro
• 12. Amazfit T-Rex 2
• 13. Suunto 9 Baro Black

People who love hiking, trail running, and the great outdoors need a reliable GPS watch - and one that features decent battery life.

And as well as tracking off-piste adventures, they can also be great safety tools. Thanks to the likes of Garmin, Suunto, and Polar, and newcomers like Coros, there's a wealth of great devices to choose from.

• Learn : How to add GPX routes to your Garmin watch
• Buy : Best Garmin sports watches for your needs

If you're into hiking, ultrarunning, skiing, trail running, or wild swimming, outdoor watches can measure the altitude and speed of your downhills, offer GPX guidance, and track multi-day jaunts.

Buying the right outdoor watch is mostly about avoiding features you don't need. Long battery life is great, but you don't need 100 hours of GPS tracking to do a 10K trail run.

Those involved in multi-stage races with insane elevations, on the other hand, will likely require every iota of battery life and detail.

We have extensively tested every sports and smartwatch on the market – and here are our picks of the best hiking and outdoor GPS watches for every budget and need.

• Best outdoor watch : Garmin Fenix 7 – Full review

The Garmin Fenix 7 has the best mix of tracking features, full mapping support, and a level of battery life that will keep you covered for potentially weeks of outdoor time.

• Best outdoor watch for maps : Garmin Epix (Gen 2) – Full review

If you can afford to spend more than a Fenix and like the idea of a color screen that does elevate the mapping experience and offer the same level of tracking with a drop in battery life, then the Epix is the one to go for.

• Best cheap outdoor watch : Amazfit T-Rex 2  – Full review

The T-Rex 2 offers real-time breadcrumb navigation, and the ability to upload and follow routes plus gives you a great color touchscreen and a battery life that's capable of going the distance when you do.

Big watches should see an upgrade in the robustness of the device and offer room for more sensors and a bigger capacity battery – but at the sacrifice of comfort.

A smaller and lighter watch may be better suited to anyone that's planning to turn to it for a speedier outdoor time like trail runs or ultra runs where every extra gram of weight matters.

If you're planning to use it for high-velocity water sports such as surfing, opt for a watch with a 100m waterproof rating as opposed to the standard 50m.

One of the big reasons many turn to a dedicated outdoor watch as opposed to a standard multisport watch.

Some watches will also allow you to upload maps and routes to the watch by first uploading them to a companion app and then syncing them over.

Check the type of file formats that are supported. The key one here is GPX, which is one of the most common mapping file formats.

Other watches will offer full maps preloaded onto the watch already. Garmin's top-end outdoor watches offer TOPO-style maps that are either preloaded or downloadable depending on the model.

That means you'll be able to see rich levels of mapping data on your watch screen as opposed to a simple line directing you, which we'll get into next.

Most good outdoor watches will offer the ability to follow routes on the watch with simple breadcrumb navigation.

So you're following a line on the screen that will nudge you in the right direction.

You should look for that breadcrumb navigation and features that guide you back to your starting point as desirable features to have at your disposal.

Battery life

The key here is GPS battery life. While most outdoor watch-makers will primarily express battery performance in smartwatch terms of typical usage terms, when you're using that watch to track, these are the numbers you want to know about.

Some watches offer different GPS battery life numbers based on offering the option to reduce the accuracy of that GPS tracking to improve battery performance.

These power-saving modes will make sure you have good data for expeditions where you might need to spend multiple days tracking and don't have the facilities during that time to charge.

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Apple Watch Ultra's key specs and features

• 49mm case size
• Multi-band GPS
• Digital Crown and extra button designed for use with gloves
• 36-hour battery, 12 hours of GPS
• 100m water resistance and suitable for diving

Apple's all-new smartwatch is pitched as an outdoor partner, and it's certainly got the credentials.

The 49mm Ultra is a different beast from the mainstream Apple Watch, with a sturdy reinforced case, 100m water resistance, multi-band GPS, dive computer, and an all-new compass app that can navigate to waypoints.

Pound-for-pound, it can't touch the likes of the Garmin Fenix for outdoor prowess. The main misses are battery life, which has been upped to 2-3 days (with around 12 hours of GPS tracking) but pales in comparison to the 40-odd hours of multiband promised by top Garmins.

And we couldn't help but miss native GPX navigation, although there's a whole App Store of options to plug feature gaps like that.

But the Apple Watch Ultra is certainly no flop. It's an incredible smartwatch for weekend warriors, day hikers, and trail runners, who will make use of the standard Apple Watch features when they're not conquering the wilderness.

But most of all, we love the macho design, that finally adds some personality to the Apple Watch collection.

• Read our full Apple Watch Ultra review

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Garmin Fenix 7 key specs and features

• Comes in multiple designs and finishes
• Multi-continent Topoactive maps
• Multi-band mode
• Tracks skiing, hiking, mountain biking, surfing
• Touchscreen display
• 18-22 days smartwatch battery, 10 hours-74 days GPS battery life
• Garmin Pay and music player
• Waterproof up to 100 meters

If you want the best new outdoor watches that deliver the best mapping experience out there, then the Fenix 7 series is what you need on your wrist.

It's pricier than most other watches, but whether you go for the Fenix 7 (pictured), 7S, or the 7X, you're getting a more typical Garmin transflective display now with touchscreen capabilities along with a rich array of sports and activity modes including hiking, climbing, and skiing.

Like the Fenix 6, you're getting a similar rugged look, with the option to pay more for a tougher Power Sapphire lens, which still gives you a more substantial solar battery boost than the 6. The Fenix 7X we tested is capable of delivering up to 28 days in smartwatch mode (or 37 days with solar), 89 hours of GPS battery life (122 hours with solar), and 62 days (139 days with solar) in Expedition GPS mode.

You're still getting full-color Topo maps, with multi-continent maps either preloaded or downloaded. Beyond the standard 7 series models, you'll have access to multi-band GNSS support to increase outdoor tracking accuracy in more typically problematic satellite coverage areas.

There's the ability to upload maps and use turn-by-turn navigation and back-to-the-start features, while new features like real-time stamina aim to give you a better sense of how far you can train or run.

The 7X also exclusively includes an LED flashlight, to give you a visibility boost with the choice of white and red light options to pick from.

If you want an outdoor watch that's great to look at maps on, helps you navigate your way, and give you heaps of battery life, this is the one you want. The Fenix 7 or 7S will likely serve most people best, but if you want the best and the biggest, it's the 7X you want.

• Reviews: Garmin Fenix 7 | Garmin Fenix 7X |   Garmin Fenix 7S

Check price:  Buy Garmin Forerunner 965

Garmin Forerunner 965 key specs and features

• AMOLED touchscreen display
• Multi continent Topoactive maps
• Multi-Band GPS/GNSS tracking
• Detailed tracking for running, cycling, triathlon, and other sports modes included
• 7 days in always-on mode, 20 hours of GPS battery life
• Waterproof up to 5ATM

The most premium of Garmin's Forerunner models, the 965 is the perfect option for those who don't require the heft of the Epix 2/Fenix 7 range - or don't want anything to do with the price tag.

It's still a considerably expensive watch, but the move over to an AMOLED display in the latest generation means the built-in mapping and navigation are much improved over the last-gen Forerunner 955 . 

With the touchscreen support also included, we like to think of this one as a mini Epix 2 - it still offers all the premium training features, superb battery life, and smart features like offline music playback, but in a package that's much more lightweight.

You're not missing out on any mapping features, either. You get the same key ABC sensors (altimeter, barometer, and compass) powering turn-by-turn navigation, Garmin's extremely accurate Multi-Band GNSS/GPS tracking, and 32GB of internal storage to help store all those maps.

We should note that we do have a slight reservation about the Forerunner 965 as a pure outdoor device, however. 

We've found in testing (and detail this more in our full review) that the display and titanium bezel isn't as durable or hard-wearing as the display or case present in the Fenix/Epix, so keep this in mind if your outdoor excursions can get a little rugged. 

Everything else makes it a superb option, so it's still certainly one to consider - especially if you aren't fussy about dings and scratches, or plan on protecting it with a couple of third-party accessories. 

• Read our full Garmin Forerunner 965 review

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Garmin Instinct Solar 2 key specs and features

• Comes in solar and standard models
• Upload routes and breadcrumb navigation
• Heart rate and Pulse Ox sensor
• Safety and tracking features
• Rich tracking modes
• 28 days-unlimited battery in smartwatch mode, 30 hours-unlimited in GPS battery
• Garmin Pay and Connect IQ store support

The Garmin Instinct 2 packs in a lot of the same hiking features found on Garmin's Fenix series watches, but for substantially less money. If you opt for the solar edition as well, and you spend enough time outdoors with it, you're going to enjoy seriously big battery life for your adventures too.

The Instinct 2 is an excellent outdoors watch and cheaper at $349/£299. Adding in solar pushes the price up to $449/£329 , but outside of Garmin's PowerGlass lens, offers the same features as the regular Instinct 2.

The Instinct's biggest miss over the likes of the Fenix 7 and Vertix 2 is mapping features, but you do get course navigation of uploaded GPX routes, elevation data, storm alerts, and TrackBack (for following waypoints back to your starting location).

There's a heart rate monitor on board that should be good enough for your big treks, Garmin's Pulse Ox sensor to aid trekking and training at altitude, and now offers all of the training analysis available on Garmin's Forerunner watches.

Garmin has now added full Connect IQ Store access and Garmin Pay to make it a better smartwatch but does still lack a built-in music player

When it comes to battery life, the Instinct 2 offers a significant jump in performance compared to the original Instinct and Instinct Solar. You're now getting 28 days in smartwatch mode and 30 hours of GPS battery. That's boosted when you factor in that solar support, which can technically help the watch enjoy unlimited battery.

Garmin also offers Surf, Tactical, and Camo versions of the Instinct 2 for some added tracking support. Though for most, the Instinct 2 should offer enough to make it a good outdoor watch companion.

• Read our full  Garmin Instinct 2 review | Instinct Solar review

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Garmin Epix (Gen 2) key specs and features

• Tracks the likes of skiing, hiking, trail running, mountain biking, surfing
• 6-16 days in smartwatch mode, 10 hours-14 days GPS battery life

If you like the idea of having a Fenix-style watch but would rather have a color touchscreen instead of Garmin's usual transflective one, then the new Epix will give you that.

It only comes in one size, but matches the 47mm case of the Fenix 7 and plants a bright AMOLED display in the middle, which is perfectly suited to mapping and navigation.

Like the Fenix 7 series, you're getting all of the same outdoor tracking modes and those key ABC (altimeter, barometer, and compass) sensors and features like turn-by-turn navigation, multi-continent Topo map, and the multi-band GNSS support to offer superior outdoor tracking accuracy.

You're getting an array of smartwatch features here too, including Garmin Pay and a music player to pile on tunes for offline use. You can also connect additional sensors like an external heart rate monitor if you yearn for more accurate heart rate data during more intense treks.

It won't give you the same level of battery life as the Fenix or the Enduro (below), but you can still get an impressive 16 days in smartwatch mode, or 6 days when the screen is in always-on mode. It's up to 42 hours in GPS mode and 21 days in battery saver mode.

You'll get a great outdoor watch with the best of Garmin's tracking features plus a vibrant color display, which offers strong visibility outdoors and doesn't drain the battery.

• Read our full Garmin Epix (Gen 2) review

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Coros Vertix 2 key specs and features

• Works with Strava, Komoot, TrainingPeaks, and more
• Preloaded landscape maps and downloadable Topo regional maps
• 1.4-inch screen
• Dual-band mode for improved outdoor tracking accuracy
• ECG sensor to measure HRV
• 32GB music player and GoPro/Insta 360 camera controls
• 60 days battery in daily use, 50-240 hours GPS battery life

With an incredible 140-hour full GPS battery life, the Coros Vertix 2 offers serious levels of stamina to take on what you'll get from Garmin's top-end Fenix 7 series watch.

With such colossal battery life, it's aimed at multi-day trekkers, but also ultrarunners and those with a keen interest in performance levels.

The Vertix 2 includes a dual-system GPS, mapping, music, and EvoLab – a powerful new suite of training insights to potentially rival Garmin and Polar.

Like the Apple Watch and the new Fitbits, there’s also an Electrocardiogram (ECG) Sensor in the outer bezel for taking heart rate variability readings. You won’t find that ECG tech on Garmin equivalents, though Coros’ tech is not approved or designed for medical use.

It's cheaper than something like the Garmin Enduro and around the same price as the cheapest Fenix 7 series option.

On paper, the Vertix 2 claims up to 140 hours of GPS battery life and up to 240 hours in UltraMax lower power mode.

Even when you turn on the All Systems GPS with Dual Frequency to squeeze out extra accuracy, you still get 50 hours. However, we didn't see any evidence that the mode added meaningful extra accuracy in our in-depth testing.

Standard GPS usage with music cuts your adventure time to 30 hours and claimed general smartwatch usage is 60 days, with an expedition mode stretching that to 65 days.

In our tests, the Vertix 2 largely lived up to the billing. On rest days, smartwatch usage barely drained 2-3% battery. It took 15 days to burn 50% with training, including more than 10 hours of GPS-tracked workouts, covering a mix of indoor and outdoor sessions. That translates to at least 30 days on a single charge while training an hour a day.

Fitness data includes real-time training load, VO2 Max, pace and intensity guidance in the form of threshold pace and HR estimates, base fitness tracking, ongoing fatigue level, load impact, and recovery time recommendations. It’ll also assess your running performance level and give you a marathon level for benchmarking.

If you’ve got big wrists, deep pockets, and a serious dedication to more serious adventures, this is an indisputably capable multisport tool with a feature set – and a price tag – to rival the leading top-end outdoor watches.

• Read our full Coros Vertix 2 review

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Garmin Enduro 2 key specs and features

• Power glass display for solar charging
• Multiband GNSS support
• SatIQ smart satellite technology
• Tracks the likes of skiing, hiking, trail running, mountain biking
• Mapping and music
• 34-46 days battery in smartwatch mode, 68 hours all systems GNSS battery life
• Grade adjusted pace

Garmin recently introduced the Enduro 2, which brings some features that were missing from the first Garmin Enduro .

It's now only available with a titanium case, dropping the bulky and heavy stainless steel option.

It still features the solar PowerGlass display to boost battery life when you're out in the sun.

There's also the addition of an LED torch, which is more powerful than the one featured on the Fenix 7X.

On the tracking front, there's the same gamut of features covering everything from ultra runs to multi-day hikes. It will track rest stops at aid stations, offers ClimbPro analysis of hills on routes, waypoints, and points of interest, trail runs VO2 Max, and full performance and recovery analytics.

Garmin has brought over its multiband GNSS mode from the Fenix, Epix, and latest Forerunners, which will improve outdoor tracking accuracy when a reliable signal around tall buildings or forested areas can be problematic. It's also added SatIQ, a new Garmin technology that will smartly toggle off power-sucking multiband when it's not needed.

There's now a built-in music player and full-color mapping, which was surprisingly missing from the first Enduro and that doesn't come at the expense of battery life.

It offers 110 hours of GPS battery life (150 hours with solar), and 68 hours with All Systems and multiband GNSS mode (81 hours with solar). The expedition mode will cover you for 77 days if you want to go long. In short, this is an outdoor watch for those that stretch the limits of endurance.

Garmin has taken the Enduro and beefed up its battery and tracking skills, you'll just need to spend a big wad of cash to get it on your wrist.

• Read our full Garmin Enduro 2 review

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Garmin Fenix 6 key specs and features

• Comes in standard and solar editions
• Preloaded Topographic maps, real-time breadcrumb navigation
• Tracks running, cycling, swimming (pool and open water) skiing, climbing, and more
• Garmin and Strava Live segments
• 14-16 days smartwatch battery, 36 hours-36 days GPS battery life

While the Fenix 7 series might now be on the scene, we don't think you should rule the older Fenix out as an option to grab. Especially if you can find it at a good price.

In true Fenix fashion, it tracks everything from trail running to XC skiing and includes a hiking mode.

For those that are really into fitness, there's heart rate, which feeds into VO2 Max stats for high-intensity sports, with Training Effect and recovery data.

But let's stick to why this watch is the best option for outdoor types. You can upload GPX routes from the Connect app or third-party apps like Strava. You also get so much more data than any other outdoor watch option.

The Fenix 6 Pro uses topographic maps, which adds a whole dimension to wrist-based navigation, and you can even find places of interest straight from the watch. They're the best maps around though navigating your surroundings using the watch's five buttons can take some getting used to.

And battery life is another huge plus. UltraTrac mode offers 42 hours of GPS tracking. That's a weekend of hiking without charging, which is a big plus for multi-day runners or walkers. Switch to Expedition mode and get weeks without charging. The solar edition will also get you a couple of extra days in smartwatch mode too./p>

Whether you go for the Fenix 6S, 6, or 6X, go Pro to get those all-important mapping features and you'll get one of the best outdoor watches in the business. There are also Fenix 6 and 6S Solar versions, which add three days of smartwatch use to the already generous longevity. However, only extreme adventurers will benefit from the upgrade.

The key things you're missing out from the Fenix 7 series are longer battery life with or without solar, touchscreen functionality across the range, more accurate outdoor tracking, and some software features that will likely roll out to the older 6 to help make it still feel like an enhanced outdoor watch option.

• Reviews:   Garmin Fenix 6 Pro review | Garmin Fenix 6S review | Garmin Fenix 6X review

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Polar Grit X Pro key specs and features

• Military-grade design
• FuelWise fuelling recommendations, HillSplitter analytics
• Breadcrumb navigation and upload routes via Komoot
• Running performance tests
• 130 sports profiles
• Nightly recharge measurements
• 7 days in watch mode, 40 hours in GPS battery, and 100hrs in training mode
• Notifications and music controls

The Grit X Pro is an upgraded version of the Grit X watch Polar rolled out in 2020, adding features that probably should've appeared on the original to make it an affordable outdoor option to Garmin's top-end outdoor watches.

Polar puts a big focus on endurance and recovery, so major features are things like FuelWise, which enables you to plan your adventure, and Polar works out when and how much you should eat, and reminds you on the go.

We found it worked well, but the reminders were a little easy to miss.

There's sleep tracking with a focus on recovery, which we found outstripped Garmin in terms of accuracy – and running stats and VO2 Max are a big part of the feature set, thanks to the 10-LED array heart rate monitor.

A big part of Polar Grit X is navigation, but this is something that falls compared to Garmin's Fenix series. It's done with a tie-in with the navigation app Komoot, but you need a paid-for account to get useful navigation and it's a pretty simplistic point-to-point interface. While Garmin's TOPO mapping is hardly detailed, it adds a lot of useful detail.

There's a Hillsplitter feature that tracks your ascents and descents and tries to tell you whether you're losing time on the slopes.

In terms of what you're getting over the original Grit X, there's an added trackback feature for navigation and the ability to view route and elevation profiles. Those features seem unlikely to come from the original either.

Polar has also added the three recovery-centric tests from its Vantage V2 watch. That's the leg recovery test along with running and cycling performance tests.

Outdoor watches need good battery life, and that's ticked off here with 40 hours of full GPS tracking that can be extended to 100 hours using power saving.

The Grit X doesn't quite match the Fenix for depth of data and features – especially when you add in that Garmin packs on-wrist music playback from Spotify and Connect IQ apps. However, it resoundingly beats Garmin on price, so unless you're testing the limits of endurance and sports science, the Polar Grit X Pro comes highly recommended.

• Read our  Polar Grit X Pro review and Polar Grit X review

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Amazfit T-Rex 2 key specs and features

• 150+ sports modes
• Up to 24-day smartwatch battery life
• 26-58 hours GPS battery life
• Dual-band tracking mode
• Real-time breadcrumb trail navigation
• Ability to upload routes
• PeakBeats training insights
• Zepp OS with app store
• Works with Android and iOS

Successor to the T-Rex Pro, the T-Rex 2 finally feels like a sports watch that's built for rugged use and worthy of a space on your wrist when spending time out in the great outdoors.

Like the Pro, it features a 47mm case that's now got a whole raft of military toughness certificates and includes a similar high-quality AMOLED touchscreen display that's responsive to touch and offers good viewing angles.

Amazfit has introduced a new dual-band mode that noticeably improves tracking outdoors where it's trickier to get a more reliable signal from one of the five supported satellite systems. You're now also getting the ability to import routes to the watch via the companion phone app, though the functionality wasn't live during our testing. We could use the new real-time breadcrumb navigation, which works as well as it does on other outdoor watches that offer the functionality.

Elsewhere, you're getting over 150 sports modes to pick from with 8 of those activities offering automatic exercise recognition tracking. Amazfit has also included its PeakBeats training insights that offer recovery time, training load, and recovery data primarily powered by the onboard heart rate monitor. That heart rate monitor that's an okay performer but has its inaccurate moments. Unfortunately, you can't pair up an external heart rate sensor to remedy those accuracy issues.

When it comes to battery life, you can expect up to 24 days in smartwatch mode or 10 days in heavy usage. There are now multiple GPS battery modes, so the highest accuracy will get 26 hours, and the power-saving GPS mode will get you 58 hours of tracking.

Unlike the previous T-Rex watches, the T-Rex 2 performs like an outdoor watch and offers big features for less than the competition. If you don't want to spend big and want a good mix of tracking and smartwatch features, this is a strong option.

• Read our full Amazfit T-Rex 2 review

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Suunto 9 Baro Black key specs and features

• Over 80 sports modes
• 25-170 hours in GPS battery life
• Military standard design
• Follow maps on Suunto app
• Route planning with heat maps
• Storm alerts and sea level pressure data

The lack of Suunto watches on this list is largely down to the improved competition. If you do want to go to Suunto and looking for the best option, we'd say opt for the Suunto 9 Baro Black for the best experience.

The multisport GPS watch is waterproof up to 100 meters and has a military standard-tested design and has been tested to hold up in extreme temperatures and withstand drops, humidity, and freezing rain. It covers the five key satellite systems and has an optical heart rate monitor with the ability to pair up external sensors as well. Suunto includes its new FusedAlti technology that combines GPS and barometric data to improve the accuracy of altitude data.

Other outdoor-friendly features include the ability to see sunrise/sunset times on the watch display and receive storm alarms when there's a sudden drop in air pressure. There are also route navigation improvements to help you get to your destination safely and with the best route, with mapping pushed out to the companion app while you can enjoy real-time breadcrumb navigation on the watch and use Suunto's heat maps to find popular adventuring spots.

Like other Suunto watches, it'll track over 80 sports with running, cycling, and swimming being the core modes. Battery life is anywhere from 25 hours to 170 hours with Suunto's intelligent battery mode on board to make sure you have enough power for your next expedition.

• Read our full   Suunto 9 review

How we test

By James Stables

James is the co-founder of  Wareable , and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.

He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found  Wareable in 2014 .

James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

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James Gurney Jeremy White

6 of the Best Travel Watches Around Right Now

If nothing else, the last year or so has made foreign travel an adventure again, at least for those who enjoy navigating their way through vaccination regimes and test requirements. It feels long ago when instead the burning question was whether it’s cocktail hour at the destination yet.

For the well-prepared traveler, the answer is on your wrist, as one of the few really useful complications watchmakers offer is the ability to show two or more time zones at a glance. Simply put, a “complication” in watch parlance is any function on a timepiece other than showing the time, such as a stopwatch or moon-phase display. Of course, you can do it in your head or use a world-time app on your phone, but a GMT or worldtimer saves you the bother and looks considerably more stylish. 

However, as easy as it is for you to decipher, showing multiple time zones is a significant challenge for both the watchmakers and the designer, as there’s always a tradeoff between simplicity and utility. How do you want the second time zone to be set? Should it link to the date? Do the time zones need to be named? How do you make sure the “travel” time is sufficiently distinct from the “home” time? What about places with just 30-minute differences? 

Here is our edit of some of the best mechanical worldtimers you can get right now, from entry level to high-end. All should serve you well, wherever your travels—once they begin again in earnest—may take you.

The standard approach to a GMT watch is exemplified by the Explorer II from Rolex, which has a second hour in bright orange that runs on a 24-hour cycle: set this 24-hour hand for your second time zone, then read the hour off the bezel scale, and minutes as normal. 

The design is built entirely around the presence of the extra hand and the bezel, with the contrast between hour and GMT hands being a feature rather than a hindrance (whether that’s a good thing is a straightforward matter of taste).

It’s simple, effective, and, as it’s a Rolex, bomb-proof. And even if you’re not traveling across time zones, Rolex points out that it might be useful for distinguishing day from night, should you emerge from a storm in an Arctic high summer.

This new version retains the signature 42mm sizing (want a larger case? Look to the brand's rugged 43mm Sea-Dweller and 44mm Deepsea). Inside is the in-house caliber 3285 power plant, new in the Explorer II, and the same currently found in the GMT-Master II. 

The really good news is this 3285 automatic movement—powered by the natural movement of the body as you wear it—packs in the best that Rolex currently offers: Chronergy escapement, 70 hours of power reserve, blue Parachrom balance spring and Paraflex shock absorbers. What does all this mean? A much more accurate, efficient, and robust piece that keeps running much longer after you've stopped wearing it. 

Parker Hall

Carlton Reid

Ryan Waniata

Price:   £7,550 | Watches of Switzerland | Goldsmiths

The same solution seen in the Rolex is behind Bell & Ross’s BR03-93 GMT, but the design makes the GMT more subservient to the watch design, obviously derived from the modular format of cockpit instruments, an aviation-inspired look that Bell & Ross has come to dominate over its 30-year history. 

One difference here is that the bezel can be turned, giving the watch more flexibility in terms of the extra time zone (the bezel is rotated however many hours difference between home time and the third zone to see the time in that destination without having to set the watch). Some will welcome that, others will see it as a complication too far, but it’s a smart watch that delivers a design presence that Rolex doesn’t look for. Speaking of which, the popular colorways of red and black—the "Coke" look as opposed to the red and blue "Pepsi" style—will justifiably draw attention.

The sturdy 42mm watch also has 100-meter water resistance, a 42-hour power reserve, curved anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and a small, subtle rounded date window towards the 4:30 position. Yes, you get a black calfskin leather strap, but we prefer this ultra-resilient synthetic fabric option.

Price:   £3,550 | Selfridges

Breitling’s Chronomat UTC offers a brutally effective, if not especially subtle, solution to the demand for worldtimer watches: fit a completely separate mini, quartz-powered watch into the strap . 

It helps that the Chronomat is a hefty piece of kit to begin with—44mm by 14.45mm, so the extra bulk shouldn’t be an issue. The mechanical movement has 70 hours of power reserve, which is the length of time it continues to tick once you have removed the Chronomat from your wrist. It's also water-resistant up to 200 meters.

The “UTC" name references Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC , the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time and is not adjusted for daylight saving, making it effectively a successor to Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT, which is where worldtimers derive their alternative moniker from.

The Chronomat was inspired by the Frecce Tricolori watch that Breitling created for the Italian Air Force’s aerobatic fleet back in 1983, and is very much an all-purpose sports watch, which explains why the second time zone function was incorporated into the strap and not the watch itself.

Price: £7,990 | Jura

There’s an alternative solution that can be seen in Chopard’s latest travel watch, the L.U.C Time Traveler One Black, which is to show time everywhere in the world at once, via an arrangement of counter-rotating discs on the edge of the dial. 

Amazingly, it’s almost suspiciously easy to read—the number below the city is the time there—but it needs a sensitive designer to manage the hierarchy of information delivered. Going monotone, as Chopard’s watch shows, is a beautifully effective way of doing just that. 

It's actually based on the Time Traveler One launched back in 2016, but now with an added dose of modernity thanks to that monochrome color palette that extends to the 42mm ceramised titanium case (which has a hardness of 700 Vickers when 316L stainless steel has a hardness of 150 to 200 Vickers). On closer inspection, it's not black but myriad subtle shades of gray. This is the secret to the watch's legibility. 

One the outside of the dial is a city disc, marked with 24 locations around the globe. The crown at 4 o’clock lets the user rotate this city disc. When the chosen city for the local time is set at the 12 o’clock position, you can determine the prevailing hour in all of those 24 locations simultaneously.

Price: £13,600 | Chopard

TAG Heuer has just dropped three new 2022 Autavia models comprising two new chronograph models and this, a three-hand GMT model—a first for TAG's Autavia collection to mark the line's 60th year.

Fitted with an automatic movement that will keep running up to 50 hours after you've taken the watch off, the piece focuses on simplicity and legibility: numerals and hands coated with glow-in-the-dark Super-LumiNova on an uncluttered blue dial contained in a 42mm steel case that's water-resistant to 100 meters. 

The addition of easily interchangeable straps is another boon, with traditional stainless-steel or  leather straps as well as on-trend woven NATO bands, too.

Price: £3,500 | Watches of Switzerland | Goldsmiths

Not all globe-trotting GMT watches cost the Earth. Christopher Ward's C63 Sealander GMT has a pleasingly classic style yet costs a fraction of the other pieces here. You get a round stainless steel 39mm case secure to 150 meters, a power reserve that extends to 56 hours, and this piece is the first from the brand to use its new automatic movement that not only adds the display of a second time zone (indicated by the large orange hand), but also allows for a slightly more precise GMT setting than the previous version. 

It is available in black, white, green or blue polished lacquer dials, boasts an anti-shock system and is compatible with a range quick-change straps that includes this options made from recycled ocean plastic.

In the past, a criticism levied at Christopher Ward has been a tendency to add unnecessary information and clutter to its dials, as it did with its 2014 C900 Worldtimer, but here there are no such issues. It's smart and simple. 

Price: $950 | Christopher Ward

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This article was originally published by WIRED UK

Julian Chokkattu

Eric Ravenscraft

Adrienne So

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Best adventure watch

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.

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

• 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.
• 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.

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

• 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.
• 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.

Display Type: Analog/Digital

Case Material: Carbon, Resin

Case Diameter: 55 mm

Case Thickness: 6 mm

Dial Color: Black

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 200 meters

• 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.
• 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.

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 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

• 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.
• 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.

Display Glass Material: Mineral Crystal

Dimensions: 49.1 x 49.1 x 14.5 mm

Weight: 64 g

Case Material: Composite

Band Material: Elastomer

Bezel Material: Aluminum

Battery Life: 12 months in Time Mode

Water Resistance: 30 meters

• 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.
• 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.

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

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

Memory: 32 MB

• 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.
• It’s the most expensive watch on our list. Look for deals and coupons if you can.
• The stainless steel bezel feels kinda flimsy.

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.)

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The Best Adventure Watches of 2021

After a year of being cooped up inside, adventure finally beckons! Months of binge-watching nature docs have readied you for the arctic tundra, the occasional Bear Grylls show for life in the remote wilderness. No cliff face is insurmountable, no peak unattainable. Just, you know. Once you’ve prepared a bit. After all, preparedness is next to godliness and part of that is making sure you have the right equipment.

While we’re perhaps not the best source to tell you which rope will best hold your weight on the Matterhorn, we can advise you on what you should bring as your most vital companion: your watch. So, whether you’re after something able to survive a rockfall, an everyday practical tool watch, or something with the prestige of the explorers of old, we have you covered for your next outdoors adventure.

The Beaters – Under £800

These are the watches that you expect to keep working no matter how much you knock them around – and you will be knocking them around. Sturdy and resilient yet accessible, these aren’t watches to be handed down, but instead used and abused.

Boldr Venture Wayfarer Black

Inspired by classic 24-hour subdial watches, designed for use by those who spent more time underground than any sane person should, Boldr’s dark, rocky take on their flagship Venture field watch doesn’t need the sun to tell you what time of day it is.

The organic, printed matte dial has something of a coal mine about it, paired with a black canvas strap for a mix of textures in what is otherwise a monochromatic piece. Between it’s field appropriate 38mm size and its titanium construction, it’s also the kind of outdoor watch you won’t notice until you need it – the perfect, well-designed tool watch. And if you do knock it a bit too much never fear; accessible doesn’t even come into it.

Case/Dial: 38mm titanium case with 200m (20 bar) water resistance Movement: Miyota 8217, automatic, 40h power reserve Strap: Black Nylon NATO Price: £255

Casio G-Shock Mudmaster GWG-2000

You can run over one of these with your car and it’ll survive completely scratch free so no adventurer’s kit would be complete without one. This particular version looks liable to survive a tank. The first Mudmaster built from forged carbon is a beast.

It’s typically shock resistant of course – it can probably survive a jagged cliff face better than the rest of your equipment – but is lighter than ever. It also has everything the professional explorer could need, from a digital compass and radio to a barometer to check the changing weather. It’s mud resistant, water resistant and probably resistance to anything short of Armageddon. And even then it would be a toss-up.

Case/Dial: 61.2mm forged carbon case with 200m (20 bar) water resistance Movement: Solar powered digital movement, up to 25 months of charge Strap: Resin Price: £699

Luminox Commando Raider

Oozing more machismo than an Expendables/ Fast & Furious crossover, the Commando Raider is the most tactical timepiece from Luminox, which given their previous track record, is saying a lot.  Everything from the militaristic stencil numerals to the intimidating dimensions – the case measures in at 46mm across and chunky to boot – screams that this is a watch that longs to take everything you can throw at it.

The Commando Raider comes equipped with both a countdown and a compass bezel, along with a dual time zone hand. All of that is housed in an advanced CARBONOX case, making the watch about as rugged as it looks – which is to say a timekeeping tank.

Case/Dial: 46mm CARBONOX case with 200m (20 bar) water resistance Movement: Ronda 515.24H quartz movement, 50-month battery life Strap:  Rubber Price: £529

Seiko Prospex Tortoise

“But the Prospex is a diver!” I hear you yell, and nine times out of 10 you’d be right. In this instance however, Seiko has swapped out the usual unidirectional diving scale for a compass, turning the famous shell-like proportions of the fan-named ‘Turtle’ into its land clambering cousin, the Tortoise.

It still has that famous Prospex crown at four o’clock, but the addition of the compass along with a few terra firma colourways – including a particularly handsome khaki version – and decidedly non-diver straps make the Tortoise a serious explorers watch. Don’t worry though, they still have 200m water resistance. Anything less would be a travesty.

Case/Dial: 42.2mm stainless steel case with 200m (20 bar) water resistance Movement: 4R34 calibre, automatic, 40h power reserve Strap: Stainless steel bracelet Price: From £400

Christopher Ward C63 Sealander

I’m sure there are many collectors out there that see the Sealander as a substitute for when you can’t afford a Rolex and while there’s certainly some truth in that, it’s hard to knock as a watch in and of itself. Yes, it doesn’t exactly stray far from the Explorer’s overall design – or the Explorer II in the case of the GMT version – but that’s no bad thing, especially as it means no waiting list for the 2021 versions!

Still, even taken on its own merits, the Sealander is a solid timepiece. The white dialled version’s particularly handsome and the Sellita SW200-1 inside is a classic workhorse movement. It’s pared-back, unfussed and a huge amount of watch for the money. Even for Christopher Ward.

Case/Dial: 39mm stainless steel case with 150m (15 bar) water resistance Movement: Sellita SW200-1, automatic, 38h power reserve Strap: Cordura® and rubber hybrid Price: £595

The Adventurers – £801 – £2,500

Style and substance both, these are the outdoor watches that elevate their utilitarian roots with cool designs and funky twists that will not only weather the storm, but look good doing so. Yes, they might pick up a ding or two, but at the end of the day they’ll be wearing their adventures on their – and your – sleeve.

Farer Field Automatic

Field watches are the perfect beater watches, built to be rugged, readable and ready for action. They do unfortunately have a tendency to be a little uninspiring. Enter Farer, who in a fashion that’s become typical of the British brand, has interpreted the humble field watch in their own unique style.

The Field Automatic – powered by a solid Sellita SW221-1 movement – comes in three variations: the green, militaristic Exmoor, the loch blue Lomond and the Pembroke, in nautical blue and white. Add in unusual flashes of colour and different dial layouts and you have, finally, a field watch that doesn’t look straight out of army surplus.

Case/Dial: 38.5mm stainless steel case with 200m (20 bar) water resistance Movement: Sellita SW221-1, automatic, 38h power reserve Strap: Leather strap, NATO strap and steel bracelet Price: £875

Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic Far Cry 6

After spending the last 50 years or so getting more screen time than James Hong, Hamilton is making their way to the small, digital screen via the latest instalment in Ubisoft’s giant of an FPS franchise, Far Cry. This wouldn’t be the first time a product’s been created specifically for a game; check out some of the insane cars in racing games. But it is as far as I know the first watch.

That said, you might not know it’s a tie-in to look at it. The limited edition takes the tried and tested Khaki formula and adds a couple of Far Cry touches like the split six form of the game’s title screen on a black vinyl dial and the year the game is set – 1983. Otherwise, it’s the field watch we all know and love, just lighter and a touch cooler. Oh, and in case you were worried, it’s a freebie in the game. No paid DLC here.

Case/Dial: 42mm titanium case with 100m (10 bar) water resistance Movement: Hamilton H-10 calibre (base ETA C07.611), automatic, 80h power reserve Strap: Brown calf leather NATO with additional brown Nubuck strap Price: £1,000, limited to 1,983 pieces

Ralf Tech Académie Veteran

If you know of Ralf Tech it’ll be through their serious, spec ops style dive watches so the Académie might come as a bit of a surprise. Yet this utilitarian undercurrent of a collection holds some of the brands coolest pieces, including the decidedly militaristic Veteran. With a silhouette inspired by the tool watches of the 1950s and 60s, the blueprint for the watch comes from Ralf Tech designer Frank Huyghe’s grandfather’s timepiece.

Those vintage roots are pushed back even earlier with the distinctive Dirty Dozen twang to the dial, including the broad arrow of the Ministry of Defence. Also, unlike some of the brand’s headlining watches, it has an automatic movement. Like I said, it’s not what we’ve come to expect from Ralf Tech, but I want to see more of it.

Case/Dial: 41mm stainless steel case with 200m (20 bar) water resistance Movement: RTA003, automatic, 44h power reserve Strap: “Navy” Vintage hand-sewn fabric Price: €1,800 (approx. £1,532), limited to 100 pieces

The 220 Watch Company William Walker

While it’s not actually a diving watch, the William Walker from British watch brand, The 220 Watch Company, takes its inspiration from the brass and copper diving helmets of the early 1900s. The entire case is made from copper, which means that, similar to bronze, it’s designed to age over time, the kind of timepiece that’ll show off your adventures in every nick and dent.

In fact, it’s the copper in bronze that goes green, so expect some intriguing changes over time from this one. It comes on a canvas NATO strap for that vintage military look, but otherwise the blue dial and clean indexes speak for themselves, leaving it in the sweet spot between utilitarian tool piece and stripped back slice of design-led minimalism.

Case/Dial: 40mm copper case with 100m (10 bar) water resistance Movement: STP calibre 1-11, automatic, 44h power reserve Strap: Canvass with secondary blue NATO strap Price: £995

Von Doren URÆD Green Sea English Weekdays

Inspired by the seafaring voyage of Norwegian innovator and nautical pioneer Ole Brude, the URÆD is designed to carry you across the Atlantic as surely and safely as its namesake lifeboat. Part tool watch, part ode to the Art Nouveau style of the early 1900s, it has everything a budding wayfarer could need.

That includes a solid automatic Swiss movement, a day date available in English (as here) or Norwegian and 100m water resistance to survive the rigours of life at sea. It also comes in a trio of handsome dials, of which the most attractive is most definitely the sea green. For Norway’s first serious watch brand, Von Doren certainly know how to make a splash.

Case/Dial: 40mm stainless steel case with 100m (10 bar) water resistance Movement: STP 4-13, automatic, 44h power reserve Strap: Silicone rubber and secondary stainless steel bracelet Price: €1,379 (approx. £1,168)

The Gentleman Explorers – Over £2,500

Sure, these timepieces could survive a trek to the poles or a climb up Everest, but they’re not the pieces you’ll want to bash about without a care in the world. They are however some of the best-looking adventuring watches out there, drawing inspiration from the harshest environments with a complication or two thrown in for good measure.

Bremont MB Savanna

Anything built to survive the shock of 1) an ejector seat and 2) an emergency landing on uncertain terrain will probably serve you well, no matter what you put it through. That’s been the raison d’etre of Bremont’s flagship Martin Baker line since its inception and in the new Savanna version adds desert colouring to the mix.

It’s similar in look to IWC’s Mojave pieces but far more minimal and shock resistant, making it a far more appropriate beater watch. The titanium case is wonderfully lightweight and the movement is surrounded by an anti-magnetic Faraday cage. Funnily enough, despite having arid inspirations, it has everything a polar explorer could want.

Case/Dial: 43mm titanium case with 100m (10 bar) water resistance Movement: Calibre 11 ½’’’ BE-36AE, automatic, 38-hour power reserve Strap:  Savanna rubber Price: £4,595

Montblanc Geosphere UltraBlack Limited Edition

While this is indeed inspired by the lofty peaks and the men who risk life and limb to clamber up them, Montblanc’s dual hemisphere worldtimer is more for the gentleman adventurer than your typical adrenaline junkie hanging off the Dawn Wall. Between the compass bezel and twin globes, it harks back to the good old days before Google Maps.

This version of Montblanc’s flagship is the sleekest yet in full black, but with a seriously cool distressed stainless-steel case for more of an antique, in-the-wars kind of feel. It’s fittingly solid too, as is the movement inside, typical of Montblanc’s previously-Minerva manufacture. The Geosphere’s high end for a tool watch of course, but it’s worth it.

Case/Dial: 42mm distressed steel case with 100m (10 bar) water resistance Movement: MB 29.25 calibre, automatic, 42h power reserve Strap: Brown calf leather NATO with additional brown nubuck strap Price: £5,600, limited to 585 pieces

Ball Engineer M Pioneer

Back in the early days of the American Railroad, Ball were responsible for the accurate timekeeping of the then-pioneering system. Now 130 years on and the Engineer M Pioneer is the successor to that original example of chronometric excellence, combined with the practicalities needed to keep it ticking wherever it goes.

Despite its deceptively elegant appearance, the Engineer M Pioneer has incredible resistance to both shock and magnetism (2,500 gauss to be precise) and a rainbow of H3 gas tubes that will light the dial up on the darkest of nights. It’s a whole lot of advanced watchmaking in a practical, utilitarian design – everything an explorer could need.

Case/Dial: 40mm stainless steel case with 100m (10 bar) water resistance Movement: BALL calibre RRM7309-CS, automatic, 80h power reserve Strap: Stainless steel bracelet Price: £2,950, limited to 1,000 pieces

Rolex Explorer 36mm

The original adventure watch, the timepiece that first summited Everest and the flagship piece of Rolex’s 2021 line-up, the Explorer is one for the purists. Originally created in 1953, the latest version goes back to that vintage sizing with a diminutive 36mm case. Sure, bi-colour isn’t super practical (and was a little divisive when this was released) but it’s hard not to give it points for style.

While the outside is a carbon copy of the first Explorer, the 3230 movement inside is the latest generation Rolex automatic and has a specs sheet to match the prestige. Otherwise, this is the most understated watch in the brand’s catalogue – and other than the Air King, the most underrated. Just don’t expect that to negate a wait list. It is still a sports Rolex.

Case/Dial: 36mm Oystersteel and yellow gold case with 100m (10 bar) water resistance Movement: In-house calibre 3230, automatic, 70h power reserve Strap: Yellow Rolesor and stainless steel two-tone bracelet Price: £8,700

Zenith Chronomaster Revival Safari

Zenith have continued their trend of modernising their revived archival pieces – rerevived maybe? – and of the various funky iterations of the 1969 original, this is possibly the most interesting. The microblasted titanium case is far darker than you might expect and the mix of the metallurgic grey and safari green makes for a seriously cool statement piece.

It’s equipped with the classic El Primero column-wheel chronograph of course and makes for a charming – if pricey – adventure-themed chronograph. It’s also pleasingly svelte at 37mm, true to its archival roots.

Case/Dial: 37mm titanium case with 50m (5 bar) water resistance Movement: El Primero automatic movement, 50h power reserve Strap: Rubber Price: £7,500

Also check out our article The 10 Best Military/Field Watches in 2021 if you found this interesting.

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About the author

Sam Kessler

Legend has it that Sam’s first word was ‘escapement’ and, while he might have started that legend himself, he’s been in the watch world long enough that it makes little difference. As the editor of Oracle Time, he’s our leading man for all things horological – even if he does love yellow dials to a worrying degree. Owns a Pogue; doesn’t own an Oyster Perpetual. Yet.

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The 8 Best Travel Watches: Your Perfect Time Companions!

• July 29, 2023

Join us as we explore the best travel watches available today. We’ll discuss the key factors to consider when buying one and provide you with a curated list of top-notch options that combine style, functionality, and durability.

Did you know that in 2019, over 1.4 billion people traveled internationally? Whether you’re a frequent globetrotter or just planning your dream vacation, having the right accessories is essential for a smooth journey.

Get ready to embark on your next adventure with the perfect travel companion!

Key Takeaways

• Travel watches are essential accessories for travelers, offering convenience and additional features such as multiple time zone displays and alarms.
• Consider factors such as the material (stainless steel, titanium, canvas), the purpose of travel (business or outdoor), water resistance, durability, and personal style preferences.
• Travel watches should be durable, withstand harsh conditions, and offer accuracy and precision, especially for tracking multiple time zones.
• Some recommended options include SUUNTO Core, Amazfit Cheetah, Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, Fitbit Sense 2, and Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar, each offering unique features and capabilities.

Table of Contents

Things to consider when buying a travel watch.

First, think about the material of the watch. Stainless steel or titanium are great options for durability and style.

Also, consider the purpose of your travels – do you need a watch for business meetings or outdoor adventures?

Next, water resistance is important if you encounter any unexpected water activities.

Lastly, check the durability and accuracy of the watch to ensure it can withstand different climates and time zones.

When considering the material, two popular options are stainless steel and titanium cases. Stainless steel watches are known for their strength and resistance to corrosion, making them ideal for frequent travelers.

On the other hand, titanium cases offer a lightweight yet sturdy option that is also rust-resistant. Apart from these options, steel cases are also available, which provide a classic look with added durability.

For those seeking a casual or sporty style, canvas, and plastic watches can be great choices as they offer flexibility and comfort. If you prefer a touch of elegance, gold and silver watches are perfect for both luxury and casual occasions.

Ultimately, when selecting a watch based on its material, it’s essential to consider your personal style preferences, desired features, and durability.

Water Resistance

Water resistance is an important consideration when buying a travel watch  Water resistance is indeed an important consideration when purchasing a travel watch. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Outdoor activities: When traveling, you might engage in various outdoor activities such as swimming, snorkeling, or water sports. A water-resistant watch ensures it remains functional and unaffected by water exposure, preventing potential damage. 2. Weather conditions: Weather conditions can be unpredictable during travel. Sudden rain showers or accidentally getting your watch wet can happen. A water-resistant watch keeps it safe from water damage and ensures accurate timekeeping. 3. Durability: Water resistance is usually an indicator of a watch’s overall durability. Watches that withstand water exposure are generally built with more robust materials and construction. This durability helps them withstand potential impacts or drops while traveling, making them more reliable and long-lasting.

Altimeter or Barometer

If you’re an adventure seeker who loves exploring the great outdoors, having an altimeter or barometer on your wrist can be incredibly useful. Not only will it help you navigate through different terrains, but it will also provide you with important weather information.

When searching for the best travel watch, consider these options:

• Altimeter: This feature measures your altitude, which is crucial when hiking or climbing mountains.
• Barometer: A barometer tracks changes in atmospheric pressure and can predict weather patterns.
• Fitness wristband watch: A fitness wristband watch with altimeter/barometer capabilities is an excellent choice for those who prioritize fitness tracking alongside outdoor adventures. Consider the high-quality offerings from Garmin or Fitbit.

Overall, having an altimeter or barometer on your favorite travel watch ensures you stay prepared and informed during your explorations.

Best Travel Watches

If you’re looking for the best travel watch options, there are several top contenders to consider.

The SUUNTO Core, Amazfit Cheetah, and Garmin Instinct 2 Solar are all excellent choices for outdoor enthusiasts with their durable designs and advanced features.

For fitness-focused travelers, the Fitbit Sense 2 and Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar offer a wide range of health-tracking capabilities to keep you on top of your wellness goals while on the go.

SUUNTO Core

Embrace the adventure with the Suunto Core, your compass to exploration and connection with nature. This imported classic outdoor sports watch combines intelligent features with a durable design, making it the perfect companion for hiking, biking, camping, and other outdoor activities.

With its Storm Alarm, Altimeter, Barometer, and compass, you can stay prepared for any weather conditions or changes in altitude. The Suunto Core also offers dual times, date display, alarm functions, and predicted times for sunrise and sunset. It even has a depth meter accurate up to 30 feet, making it suitable for swimming and diving adventures.

• Suunto Core: This classic outdoor sports watch is packed with intelligent features like a Storm…
• Essential for Adventure: This watch has dual times, date display, and alarm, plus predicted times…
• Suunto Sports Watches: Versatile and durable, Suunto sports watches are great for running, swimming,…

Product Specs:

• Storm Alarm
• Date display
• Alarm functions
• Predicted sunrise and sunset times
• Depth meter accurate up to 30 feet
• Versatile and durable design
• Tracks sports, daily activity, and sleep
• Easy access to important information such as sunrise and sunset times
• Readable display in bright light or low light with backlight
• Some users may not prefer silicone watch band
• Concerns about battery replacement and warranty support

Amazfit Cheetah

The Amazfit Cheetah is a lightweight smartwatch designed specifically for runners. It features advanced GPS technology called MaxTrack, which ensures accurate tracking even in dense cities or areas with tall buildings and high trees. This makes it perfect for navigating bustling city streets or lush forest trails.

One of the standout features of the Amazfit Cheetah is its personalized AI-powered Running Coach, known as the Zepp Coach. This coach generates customized running plans based on your current level, target race type and date, and race goal. It provides a tailored training program to help you reach your running goals.

In addition to its GPS and running coach capabilities, the Amazfit Cheetah offers precise route navigation and offline maps. You can download color maps from the Zepp App, giving you a detailed understanding of your surroundings. This is especially useful when exploring new running routes or traveling to unfamiliar locations.

The watch’s BioTracker PPG optical sensor is another notable feature. It accurately monitors heart rate, blood-oxygen levels, stress levels, and sleep quality. This comprehensive health and fitness monitoring capability lets you track your progress and make informed decisions about your training and recovery.

The Amazfit Cheetah has a streamlined and lightweight design, making it comfortable to wear during runs. It is made with durable fiber-reinforced polymer material, ensuring its longevity and resistance to wear and tear.

• MaxTrack: Industry-leading GPS Technology: Amazfit’s dual-band circularly-polarized GPS antenna…
• Personalized AI-powered Running Coach: The Zepp Coach harnesses the power of AI to provide…
• Precise Route Navigation and Offline Maps: With this sport watch, you’ll always know where to run….

Overall, the Amazfit Cheetah offers accurate GPS tracking, customized running plans, detailed route navigation, and comprehensive health and fitness monitoring capabilities. Its lightweight design adds to its appeal for runners. However, it’s worth noting that some users have reported inaccurate heart rate readings during exercise if not checked frequently.

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar

The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar offers a wide range of features, making it a versatile option for outdoor enthusiasts. It has solar charging, which provides unlimited battery life as long as you wear it all day with 3 hours of direct sunlight. The watch also has dedicated tactical features like Jumpmaster activity and waypoint projection, making it suitable for military or adventure use. It has a built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter with multiple global navigation satellite systems for accurate positioning information. The Instinct 2 Solar also provides comprehensive health monitoring features such as heart rate tracking, sleep analysis, and Pulse Ox measurement.

• Go longer than ever with solar charging that gives you unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode…
• Battery life: in smartwatch mode, unlimited with solar charging in 3 hours of direct sunlight…
• Dedicated tactical features include Jumpmaster activity, waypoint projection, dual-position GPS…
• Solar charging for unlimited battery life
• Dedicated tactical features
• All-day health monitoring
• Built-in compass and altimeter
• Multiple global navigation satellite systems
• Solar charging capability
• Tactical features for military or adventure use
• Comprehensive health monitoring functions
• Potential inaccuracy in heart rate and sleep measurements

Fitbit Sense 2

Immerse yourself in a world of advanced health and fitness with the Fitbit Sense 2. This smartwatch effortlessly tracks your stress levels, heart rate, sleep patterns, and daily activity.

The Fitbit Sense 2 offers all-day stress detection with cEDA technology. It provides a daily Stress Management Score to help you better understand and manage your stress levels. The ECG app allows for assessing atrial fibrillation, and irregular heart rhythm notifications keep you informed about potential issues.

You can easily monitor your overall well-being with SpO2 measurement and a health metrics dashboard. The Fitbit Sense 2 also features personalized sleep profiles, daily sleep stages, and a Sleep Score to help improve your sleep quality.

Stay connected with on-wrist Bluetooth calls, texts, phone notifications, customizable clock faces, and even make payments with Fitbit Pay. The built-in GPS and workout intensity maps make this watch perfect for tracking outdoor activities.

Other features of the Fitbit Sense 2 include an Active Zone Minutes tracker for optimal exercise intensity and water resistance up to 50 meters.

• Learn to manage stress, sleep better and live healthier with Sense 2—our most advanced health and…
• Manage stress and live healthier: all-day stress detection with cEDA and daily Stress Management…
• Measure and improve sleep quality: personalized Sleep Profile(5), daily sleep stages & Sleep Score,…
• Advanced health and fitness smartwatch
• All-day stress detection with cEDA technology
• ECG app for atrial fibrillation assessment
• Irregular heart rhythm notifications
• SpO2 measurement
• Health metrics dashboard
• Personalized Sleep Profile
• Daily sleep stages and Sleep Score
• Smart wake alarm and do not disturb mode
• Built-in GPS and workout intensity map
• Accurate tracking of stress levels, heart rate, sleep patterns, and activity
• Comprehensive health metrics dashboard
• Personalized sleep profiles for improved rest
• On-wrist Bluetooth calls, texts, and phone notifications
• Customizable clock faces
• Water resistant up to 50 meters
• Limited options for custom watch faces
• Difficulty in setting timers/alarms
• It lacks some slick features compared to other smartwatches

Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar

The Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar offers advanced performance tracking with built-in sports apps and 24/7 health monitoring, making it a reliable companion for fitness enthusiasts. With over 30 built-in sports apps, you can easily track your workouts and monitor your progress. The watch also features 24/7 wrist-based heart rate monitoring, Pulse Ox (not available in all countries), stress tracking, and enhanced sleep tracking, ensuring a comprehensive view of your overall health and wellness.

In addition to its fitness features, the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar is equipped with outdoor navigation capabilities. For accurate positioning, it supports multi-band frequency and GNSS networks (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo). The watch also comes preloaded with TopoActive maps and maps for thousands of golf courses and ski resorts worldwide.

Other notable features include smart notifications, music storage, Garmin Pay contactless payments (in supported countries), and built-in Wi-Fi for easy map downloads without a computer. Its durable design features a scratch-resistant Power Sapphire lens and mineral blue DLC titanium color scheme with a Whitestone band; the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar is both functional and stylish.

• Long-running solar powered multisport GPS watch with scratch-resistant Power Sapphire lens and…
• Battery performance: in smartwatch mode, up to 18 days while indoors or up to 22 days with solar…
• Take your training to the next level with endurance and real-time stamina tracking, training status,…
• Product Dimensions: 1.85 x 1.85 x 0.57 inches
• Item Weight: 2.56 ounces
• Battery Performance: Up to 18 days in smartwatch mode or up to 22 days with solar charging; Up to 57 hours in GPS mode or up to 73 hours with solar charging
• Extensive sports app selection
• Comprehensive health monitoring features
• Accurate outdoor navigation capabilities
• Preloaded maps for various activities
• Durable design
• Limited availability of Pulse Ox feature in certain countries
• Relatively small display size compared to other smartwatches
• Pricey compared to other fitness watches

Citizen Men’s Promaster Air Skyhawk Eco-Drive

Now, let’s shift our focus to another contender for the title of the best travel watch – the Citizen Men’s Promaster Air Skyhawk Eco-Drive. While the previous subtopic highlighted the impressive features of the Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar, we’ll explore what sets the Promaster Air Skyhawk apart this time.

This watch is a true standout with its renowned craftsmanship and advanced technology. The Eco-Drive technology ensures you’ll never have to worry about replacing batteries, as it harnesses power from any light source. Additionally, its titanium construction makes it incredibly lightweight and comfortable for extended wear during your travels.

One aspect worth noting is that setting the time can be challenging without instructions. However, with online resources readily available, mastering this process becomes much more manageable.

• Modern, pilot-inspired Promaster timepieces equipped for professional use to discover the world from…
• Synchronized to Atomic Time Clock for Superior Accuracy, Atomic Timekeeping Technology with…
• Black Stainless Steel

Now let’s delve into the specifications, pros, and cons of the Citizen Men’s Promaster Air Skyhawk Eco-Drive:

• Eco-Drive technology
• Titanium construction
• Lightweight and comfortable to wear
• Self-setting feature within half an hour
• Outstanding craftsmanship
• Challenging to set without instructions initially

SEIKO Dress Watch (Model: SSG021)

The SEIKO Dress Watch effortlessly combines style and functionality with its sleek design and advanced features. The black dial with blue accents gives it a modern and sophisticated look, while the angular black ion finish stainless steel case adds a touch of elegance.

This luxury watch is visually appealing and highly practical for travelers. Powered by light energy, you don’t have to worry about changing batteries, and the watch automatically receives radio signals to adjust time and calendar, ensuring accuracy wherever you go. Additionally, once fully charged, the 6-month power reserve provides peace of mind during long trips.

The integrated black bracelet offers comfort during wear, while the sapphire crystal and cabochon crown enhance durability. With a water resistance of up to 100 meters, this watch can withstand various travel activities.

• BLACK DIAL: this men’s watch features a bold, black dial, two-tone stainless steel watch case and…
• LUMIBRITE HANDS & MARKERS: never struggle to tell the time in low light conditions, with LumiBrite…
• RADIO SYNC SOLAR CHRONOGRAPH: this Seiko chronograph watch automatically receives radio signals to…
• Case Diameter: 44.5mm
• Features chronograph, radio signal reception display, power reserve indicator, date calendar
• LumiBrite hands and markers
• Stylish design with black dial and blue accents
• Powered by light energy with no need for battery change
• Automatically adjusts time and calendar through radio signals
• Long-lasting power reserve of up to six months
• Inadequate packaging from Amazon lacks collision protection

TAG Heuer Formula 1

Now that we’ve discussed the SEIKO Dress Watch, let’s move on to the TAG Heuer Formula 1, another great option.

This stainless steel timepiece offers a sleek, durable design that can withstand various outdoor activities. Its water resistance of up to 200 meters makes it suitable for marine activities and surface water sports. The luminous hour markers and date display ensure easy readability even in low light conditions. The scratch-resistant glass bezel adds to its durability, while the Swiss quartz movement ensures accurate timekeeping.

• Stainless steel watch with unidirectional black bezel and dial with luminous hour markers and date…
• 41 mm stainless steel case with synthetic-sapphire dial window
• Swiss quartz movement with analog display

Now, let’s take a closer look at the TAG Heuer Formula 1:

• Stainless steel case with synthetic-sapphire dial window
• Rubber band with buckle closure
• Water resistant to 200 m (660 ft)
• Good entry-level TAG watch
• Decent size and quality
• Scratch-resistant glass bezel
• It comes in a nice box
• The rubberized strap may not be as durable as a steel strap
• The band is slightly less than 20mm, limiting replacement options

Matt Francis

Hi, I'm Matt Francis. A digital nomad, blogger, web developer and all-around good egg! I am the brains (and brawn) behind Everyday Ape. My website features a wide range of topics, with a focus on travelling and working online.

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The Trekker’s Timepiece: What Are The Best Watches To Travel With?

Whether you’re hopping time zones for work, vacation, or just on a whim, you may just may be the kind of person ( read: watch nut ) who obsesses about which wristwatch to take.

You could always grab a trusty watch roll and pick out a couple of different timepieces. Yet, there exists unmatched convenience in being able to put on a watch and not take it off again until the wheels touch home tarmac once more.

For this reason, we’ve put together a guide on the best travel watch. We’ve also differentiated them by the complication which you may find most useful on your trips:

• Alarm Travel Watch
• World Time Travel Watch
• GMT Travel Watch
• Diver Travel Watch
• Time-Only Travel Watch

The Best Travel Watches

• Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Memovox Ref. Q9038670
• Patek Philippe Complications World Time Ref. 5230G-014
• Tudor Black Bay GMT Ref. M79830RB
• Panerai Submersible 42mm Ref. PAM00683
• Rolex Oyster Perpetual Milgauss Ref. 116400GV

As you can gather by the list above, our men’s travel watch selections are all mechanical timepieces. Indeed, there are countless quartz-powered, even smartwatches, which could make for apt travel wirstwatches.

Regardless, if you’ve checked out any of our other watch guides and reviews , you’ve certainly come to find that we’re rather biased towards traditional horology. You may be, too, if like us you lose sleep over which watch will serve you best on a trip. Don’t worry, you can trust that there’ll be no judgment here.

See Bespoke Unit’s Watch Reviews

Best Men’s Travel Watches

Jaeger-lecoultre polaris memovox ref. q9038670 [alarm travel watch].

Image: Jaeger-lecoultre.com

Jaeger-Lecoultre may be considered by some the king of the alarm complication in the modern day. In fact, we’ve even named their contemporary Memovox model as one of the best alarm watches today .

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that one of their alarm watches, the limited edition Polaris Memovox in this case, would ring true when considering an ideal adventure travel watch with alarm.

With its rubber strap and sporty demeanor, this may not be the ideal choice if you’re jetting to close a business deal. Quite the opposite, actually. With its 200m water resistance, the Polaris Memovox is well-equipped for most aquatic treks.

Considering the intended applications, JLC has not overlooked aesthetics. The watch boasts the familiar master compressor profile along with a black dial and applied indices with “old radium” luminous fills.

Styled after a 1968 offering, the vintage feel of the watch is evident and also quite attractive. Additionally, its functions include a date, the iconic alarm with its inner dial indicator, and a rotating internal bezel actuated by one of the flanking crowns.

Whether you’re diving the depths or just hanging by the pool, the Polaris Memovox will gladly accompany you on the journey.

Patek Philippe Complications World Time Ref. 5230G-014 [World Time Travel Watch]

The Complications 5230G-014 is one the brand’s contemporary world time offerings, and easily one of the most attractive timepieces of the entire catalog.

The watch’s 38.5mm case diameter is the opposite of cumbersome, unlike the rest of your luggage. Its white gold heft, though, still serves as a nice reminder of the exclusive timepiece on your wrist.

Image: Patek.com

Another virtue of the 5230G is its functionality. More specifically, how easy it actually is to use. All it takes to change the time is actuating the pusher at 10 o’clock to shift ahead one hour. The outer dial, the inner AM/PM ring, and the hour hand will all move in unison to indicate the correct time for the corresponding city at 12.

This being a Patek Philippe , there’s a second story to be told through the sapphire case back. The intricate details of the hand-finished movement can be admired for hours on end, making for an adequate distraction if you’re unlucky enough to get a flight without wi-fi.

Though one needs not a travel occasion to enjoy the World Time 5230G-014, it just seems fitting to make this your choice next time you’re looking for the one-and-done travel wristwatch.

Tudor Black Bay GMT Ref. M79830RB [GMT Travel Watch]

Upon its introduction, the Tudor Black Bay GMT “Pepsi” was instantly compared against Rolex’s parallel Pepsi bezel, Jubilee bracelet GMT-Master II release. Unfortunately, this resulted in the overshadowing of a great timepiece.

If you’ve ever held a Tudor, particularly any of the many Black Bay versions, then you’ve probably been witness to the brand’s distinctive construction.

Image: Tudorwatch.com

The same is true for the Black Bay GMT. Its quality is literally palpable. Everything about the watch feels solid. The bezel turns with a satisfying click. The case itself is intricately finished, with contrasting-finish edges for light to reflect off of.

A perfect GMT watch, the Tudor Pepsi GMT is the one you go for when you don’t want to make too much fuss. There’s barely any flash from the brushed steel case, which means you get to keep a low profile.

Moreover, the GMT function also allows you to keep an eye on the time back home, or anywhere that you’re not, if inconsiderate calls are a concern. It’s also certain to brave any excursions without issues or complaints – how many travel companions can you actually say that about?

Panerai Submersible 42mm Ref. PAM00683 [Diver Travel Watch]

If you’re planning on skipping town and going on a subaquatic adventure, there may only really be one watch brand to serve you best.

We’re talking Panerai . The manufacturer of one of the most recognized dive watches continues innovating and creating outstanding sports timepieces in the modern day. The PAM 683 is such an example.

Image: Panerai.com

Perhaps most noticeable on this Submersible is the reduced case size; this one comes in at 42mm vs. the regular 47mm. A negative aspect for some, the decrease in dimension truly makes the watch more wearable for more people, as well as less unwieldy.

With a 300m water depth rating, the PAM 683 is the ideal travel watch if underwater adventures are on the docket. Maybe you’re not planning on putting that rating to the test, but at least you’ll be properly equipped if the opportunity pops up.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Milgauss Ref. 116400GV [Time-Only Travel Watch]

It’s also possible that you’re the kind of person who doesn’t really care too much about the complications of your watch when you’re traveling.

Image: Rolex.com

Maybe you just want a timepiece with which you won’t have to worry if it takes a couple of knocks, and one that can come along if you decide to take a dip. Still, you may have a nice dinner or two while away, and you’ll want to bring a bit of swagger on your wrist.

The Rolex Milgauss 116400GV may just be your best bet. It’s got the highly-desired Rolex sports profile, the oustanding Oyster bracelet, and a curiously colorful face.

An excellent timepiece in its own right, the Milgauss can also easily slide into the tough slot of being a travel watch. Touting the remarkable Rolex quality without all the hassle of its overhyped siblings, you may find yourself wearing this one long after you step off the jetway.

Final Thoughts & More Watch Reads

All in all, it’s all going to depend on the traveler themselves to determine which watch will make the best trip partner. But we believe the ones highlighted here would be particularly adept at making sure you’re properly armed when taking on new lands.

If you can think of any other ideal travel watches that we may have missed, make sure to let us know in the comments! If you’re looking for more watch content, definitely check out some of these other articles:

• Which Brand Made The First Pilot’s Watch & The Top Aviator Styles
• The Best Dress Watches For Men
• How Thin Is Too Thin? Find Out W/ Our List Of The World’s Thinnest Watches
• The Top American Watchmakers & Their Latest Models
• All Of Our Watch Reviews

"I generally travel with just one watch and keep it on my wrist the whole time. It's one less thing to keep track of when packing. I've also heard plenty of horror stories about collections disappearing on vacation trips, so I rest easier, too!"

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Best Travel Watches For Men & Women – Top Picks Reviewed

Those who love to travel know how specific time is since they are at its mercy. From checking in a hotel and catching a flight to meeting up with someone and or going to far-flung tours, time keeps them on their toes. And we are sure nobody wants to let the time slip from their fingers. This is why we will show you the best travel watches that will save you hassle at times.

Table of Page Contents

Here is the Quick Answer for The Best Travel Watches in 2022:

• Best Travel Watch for Men: Citizen Watches Men’s Eco-Drive
• Best Travel Watch for Women: Gramin Fenix Chronos Smart Watch
• Best Travel Watch for Kids: Waterproof Smart Watch
• Cheapest Travel Watch: BUREI Men’s Analog
• Best Travel Smart Watch: Samsung Galaxy Smart Watch
• Best Smart Watch Apple: Apple Watch Series 4
• Best Stylish Watch: Tissot Seastar 1000
• Best Waterproof Watch: Hamilton Men’s 

Travelers carry all the necessary gadgets while traveling , but they rely on their smartphones for the time. Have you ever considered that smartphones can die at any moment, and you might miss your journey because of not getting an accurate time estimate?

Here’s when a reliable and robust wristwatch helps you track time while you travel. Yes! That’s true. Though we know that smartphones have usurped wristwatches, there’s still something classy about them. You can’t pull out your phone in certain instances, for example, while swimming, but you can check time anywhere with the help of a watch.

And let us tell you something significant; this timeless tool serves as an excellent accessory for modern travelers to stick to their schedule. It’s more important the essential travel accessories for long flights .

But what is the best travel watch?

Want to gear up for a trip but don’t know how to select the best travel watch according to your requirements? Let us help you in doing this!

Let us help you in doing this!

First things first , reflect upon the features you want in a wristwatch. Still confused? We consider a watch the best which has certain features including;

Time zone- Can it adjusts itself with the time zone, or is it manual?

Stylish- Consider, is it good if you are going on a fine dinner or to formal events?

Durable- The most important thing; is it robust and sturdy?

GPS – Does the watch has a GPS tracker to help you make way if you are lost?

Visibility- Especially for night travelers. Can I see in low light or dark?

Water-resistant/Water-proof – For the marine adventurers or those who love to swim and snorkel.

Tachymeter- It can be a useful feature to consider as it lets you estimate short time frames.

Risk – Shock free and knock free

Alarm- Does the watch has a built-in alarm?

Versatility – Will it suit on formal occasions as well?

Battery timing – Do I need to charge it every 24 hours, or can I go without charging for months?

The strap – Will I feel comfortable while wearing it?

Having said that, to save you from the frustration of missing your journey because of improper time tracking, we have listed some of the best travel watches for you.

Best Travel Watches for Men

Gone are the days when the wristwatches used to tell time only. For travelers to be more proactive, manufacturers are coming up with unique and innovative designs. From up-ticking accurate time to pinpointing locations, these watches are helpful and range from being affordable to incredibly expensive. 

In a rush? Let’s have a look at the best travel watches for men . Find the best and the cheapest travel watches on this page for men who like to wear stylish watches.

1. Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster Diver

With all its style and simplicity, this beautiful timepiece is a technical dive. This watch is specially designed for travelers who have packed their bags for an overseas adventure. And did we tell you that it works underseas too?

It has a mineral crystal dial and is an epitome of a style that is wearable. The time and date display are crisp because of the anti-reflective mineral crystal. This watch features a one-way rotating bezel and comes with an adjustable strap plus buckle to ensure it does not fall down your wrist.

With having a water resistance of 660ft (200m), you can wear this wristwatch while snorkeling or swimming. It is also suitable to wear this watch while in the shower. Want to do scuba diving? Well, we can’t get enough of this watch as you can wear it underwater without any worry.

Travelers have given this watch some extra points because it comes in scuba tank display packing. And the best thing, there is no need to insert batteries every time because of its Eco-Drive technology powered by light. It can convert artificial or natural light into energy, so it recharges and runs forever.

• Light power
• Water-resistant
• No batteries required
• A little bulky
• Analog display

2. Casio G-Shock Gravity Master

A combination of robustness and style, this timepiece is excellent for serious travelers. But what makes this watch the best? This watch’s microchips and inner dials are encased in a body, hence protecting the inner workings from any sudden shocks, for example, centrifugal forces, knocking, and vibration. Want to plan a scuba diving while wearing this watch? G-Shock Gravity Master, besides being shockproof, is also water-resistant. So, you can dive into the water for a maximum of 200 meters. 

We bet that this travel watch is best for globetrotting explorers as its technology is one of a kind.

Using a combination of GPS and radio waves, this Gravity Master synchronizes with the time zone once you reach your desired destination. It allows you to travel without worrying about time. Plus, the hybrid system ensures that the time displayed is correct every time wherever you are. Isn’t this a cool feature?

Save yourself from the hassle of setting the time manually.

• It has a calendar
• Its body is protective
• Water Resistant up to 200m
• It automatically synchronizes with the time zone
• Built-in thermometer
• G-shock resistant
• Some might find it bulky
• Analog-digital display
• Its diameter is of 52m

3. Bulova Precisionist 98B257

For travelers who want a sporty yet classy look, this watch serves their demand. Wanderers particularly like this watch because they can flaunt a sporty façade while wearing it.

Bulova has been making time watches for ages, and the watches they make are still the best. This flawless timepiece comes with a stainless-steel strap which is ion-plated and has a black matte finish, hence giving it a sophisticated look. Moreover, as perfect as the name, this perfectionist 98B257 can tell insanely accurate time because of its high-frequency quartz. A tachymeter coupled with a precision chronograph and vibrating at 262 kHz makes it stand out among high functional travel watches.

However, serious divers who want to dive into the water below 300 meters cannot wear this watch as it is not waterproof. Therefore, this watch is more towards recreational diving.

• Stainless steel strap
• Precise chronograph
• Gives insanely accurate time
• Ultimately sophisticated
• Great for fine dining or beach
• Low water resistance
• Not recommended for scuba divers
• Lack of pressure relief

4. BUREI Men’s Analog-Digital Sport Watch

Is adjusting your watch to different time zones every time seems a hassle? Buy this BUREI Men’s Analog Watch. This watch offers a convenient style while having the ability to adjust time itself in different time zones and that too with precision. The digital display makes it easy to view time in a second.

Now you won’t need to put an alarm on your phone as the watch comes with an alarm clock to wake you up at the set time. Moreover, the inner workings are enclosed in stainless steel, and its soft band makes it easy to wear.

Travelers can wash hands without worry while wearing this watch as it is splash-proof.

• Splash proof
• Auto adjustment to different time zones
• Digital display
• Not water resistant
• No GPS tracker

5. Hamilton Men’s 

This watch is among the perfect watches built for travelers. The dial of this watch is aviation-inspired and easy to read dial hence enabling the users to watch time quickly when they are in a rush. Along with the luminous hands, you can see a day/date window.

The dials and inner workings are encased in stainless steel, making no way for rust with a screw-in case displaying date and day. Travelers who go out on a day full of marine activity can use this wristwatch as it is water-resistant up to 600 ft.

Its brown leather strap and pin buckle make it less intricate for those who love minimalist style.

• Stainless steel
• Imported from the U.S.A.

6. Suunto Core All Black – Military

This masterpiece from Suunto has a robust case and is coal black. It has various features, including an alarm clock, altimeter, and a compass; so, you can locate your desired destination anytime, anywhere. You can see the air pressure and prediction about changing weather because of its built-in barometer.

However, please note that it is water-resistant for only 30 m. Moreover, it displays record sessions, shows elevation, and displays ascent or descent. Did we tell you that it tracks the sun and temperature as well? This watch is the best travel watch for those who want to plan their activities, keeping in mind the weather. 

The best part? It also tells you the drop in air pressure and senses any upcoming storm due to its storm alarm intelligence.

• Intelligent storm detector
• Weather trend graph
• In-built compass
• Heavy on pocket
• Water-resistant up to 100ft.

7. Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

Among all the best travel watches, Samsung Gear S3 is at the top of the list. Its top-notch features and simple yet elegant design will make you forget any other watch. But how?

This powerful gadget plus timepiece has a round and bezel design with a built-in GPS feature. Find nearby attractions or restaurants for mouth-watering food with this gadget instead of having a hard time locating them on maps.

Travelers who want to keep themselves fit and active will love this watch as it comes with an activity tracker and keeps their heart rate and fitness level checked. And the best part; you won’t have to take out your phone every time it buzzes with notifications because you can directly check notifications from your Samsung Gear S3 as it synchronizes via Bluetooth on Android devices.

What else might one need? It can be used as a payment method through Samsung pay.

But there are more features as well, including detecting high temperatures, shockproofing, and withstanding water above 5 feet.

The battery life of this watch is 2-3 days, which is not bad for a device like this, but travelers have to charge it constantly, which is cumbersome for those who move frequently.

• Activity detector
• Manually synchronizes with your phone
• Detects high temperatures
• The constant need to recharge the battery
• Is not compatible with iPhone users

8. Citizen Eco-Drive World Time AT9010-52E

The citizen Eco-Drive offers something best for the travelers. Those who are always on the move particularly love this watch. Its stainless-steel construction gives it a chic view. If you like something contemporary, then you won’t want to miss this watch. Moreover, it offers radio-controlled synchronization of time means that the time can be synchronized in 26 zones. It is adjusted to synchronize to an atomic clock and gives a superior time accuracy. This feature makes it stand out among the best travel watches.

This timepiece also offers a scratch-resistant feature, and it’s orange accented dial makes time watching an easy job. The combination of rechargeable lithium-ion battery and solar power holds charging forever, hence making it easy for frequent travelers always on the run. It converts light into energy and recharges in any light.

It has a built-in alarm, an indicator that displays power reserve, and has an anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

• Best for travelers who like to hop around different time zones
• Radio-controlled time keeping both automatically and manually
• Striking and functional
• Not suitable for serious scuba divers

9. Tissot Seastar 1000

As the name implies, Seastar is a travel watch explicitly designed by keeping marine adventurers in mind. Swiss watchmakers have come up with the idea of creating an entry-level watch for travelers; so they can quickly move between land and sea. Its classic and aesthetic design is loved by all types of travelers, let alone marine adventurers.

With a delicately crafted bezel, which is dive-style, it is available in different colors, keeping in mind their customers’ choice. The 42mm dial of this watch makes it exquisite and adds depth to it hence implying the serious water adventurers.

This timepiece will not let you feel out of place and features a silicone band hence pushing it towards the end of the spectrum. The hands of this watch are luminous and will not hurt your eyes, which makes this watch easy to read even at night or in situations where light is low.

Forget worrying about watching time during water sports. Moreover, it has a water resistance of up to 984 feet and a valve to depressurize the watch.

• Best travel watch for the marine enthusiast
• Fulfills all the land or in-water functions
• Up to 300m water resistant
• It cannot withstand shocks
• Lack of GPS can make travelers lose their track

10. Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS, 40mm)

I am presenting you with the game-changer watch, a leader of watches if we talk about form and function. This apple watch is a mix of splendor and more than a tech accessory.

We recommend you buy this top-notch travel watch, which will make people’s heads turn wherever you go. Its 30% enhanced display is the new incarnation in this series.

Want to monitor your heart activity after a day full of adventure? This watch comes with an ECG heart monitor so you can check your health any time, anywhere. Take the ECG on your wrist!

Also, it features a gyroscope for detecting falls. Along with this, GPS, a world clock, and a sleep tracker in this watch will make you choose this over other timepieces every time you look for the best travel watch.

Oh! And did we tell you that you can calculate currency exchanges and see real-time weather with this watch? Isn’t this something out of the world?

No need to fish around in your pocket or purse because this apple watch is everything.

Wait! We have another great feature of this watch. Now you can handle text messages and phone calls on your wrist. Use your favorite apps while on the go with Siri Shortcuts.

• ECG heart monitor
• 30% large dial
• Tracks sleep

Hey! We Gotcha. You are looking for the best Apple Watch charger, and that’s why we have listed this for you.

11. Ugreen Portable Charger

This is a certified charger best suited for charging smartwatches. And the best thing about this charger is its compatibility with all the Apple smartwatches, including a series of four-time pieces.

It is a portable charger and is compact, which means that you can take it anywhere hence making it ideal for travelers. Its design is foldable, and the charging module is magnetic and is known for its reliability. Moreover, its design has a contemporary touch.

And the best thing about the charger is that it is pocket-sized, which makes it more worthy. This charger has short circuit and overvoltage protection, and when you order this, you will get a 4 ft USB cable so you can charge the device by plugging it in any socket or PC.

12. Casio Men’s Digital Watch

This watch is the upgraded version of the Casio calculator watch, which was there a long time ago. And it is one of the highly recommended watches. Why?

Because it has the world time feature through which it allows travelers to access and set, not 10 not 20, not 25, but 31 (yep, you read that right) time zones and displays 48 city codes. A perfect choice for thrifty travelers that will keep you stick to the time anywhere. It comes in a stainless-steel case, which adds a class and style to it. Also, the strap is adjustable and comes with a buckle.

Moreover, it features five daily alarms that can be configured easily, or you can set only one alarm. It allows you to disable the alarm anytime you want.  And at the top of that, you can adjust it in a way and turn on an hourly time signal that beeps after every hour.

It is water-resistant up to 100m which is suitable for everyday snorkeling or swimming but not good for serious scuba divers or marine adventurers.

• Great on pocket
• 31 time zones
• 48 city codes
• No light for night wanderers

Best Travel Watches for Women

Not only men but women also travel frequently due to specific reasons such as job requirements, or they are cabin crews, or they might have a seminar to attend or they are traveling for leisure or are wanderlust. Thus, to make their traveling more comfortable, we have come up with some of the best travel watches for women that they can carry while on the go.

1. GARMIN FENIX CHRONOS

Manufactured according to the taste of women, keeping delicacy and style in mind, the GARMIN timepiece features a sapphire lens that is scratch resistant. This resistance is a convenience for those who move around a lot for one reason or another.

Moreover, it has a hand-brushed forged titanium hybrid link that makes it lightweight at the same time. Logically, it has a built-in GPS and a TracBack feature so you can reach the place from where you started your tour.

There’s a fitness tracker in the watch hence making it ideal for women who work out. Its VO2 max estimator provides data like the speed of running, heart rate, beats per minute, and a recovery advisor. Plus, if you connect it with a compatible smartphone, you can receive e-mails, messages, and alert displays anywhere.

• A.B.C. (altitude, barometer, compass) readings
• 8-day battery life
• Monitors activity
• TracBack GPS feature
• Extensive monitoring
• Up to just 100m water resistant
• Requires USB charging
• Leather strap

2. Timex Women’s Expedition Mini Watch

Are you looking for a travel companion? This slim and delicate timepiece can be a trustworthy travel companion. The Timex series is tried and tested to be water-resistant up to 165 feet. Moreover, it is ideally suited for trekkers because of its Indigo night-light. It is available in three different colors so you can choose according to your style.

• Light-weight
• Indigo light for night wanderers
• Suitable for recreational swimming
• Nylon strap
• Not useful while diving or snorkeling

3. Timex Women’s Ironman Transit

This watch is a perfect blend of style and functionality. Its strap is easily cleanable and durable. The large display makes it easy to check the time, especially when you are in a hurry or hiking on a mountain. The resin case is shock resistant, hence making your watch safe to use.

Also, this clock shows two time zones, so you will get a clear idea of the time at the place where you are and the time at home, which itself is a useful feature. You can also use its customized alarm, which is a helpful feature when you are traveling. And the best thing, this watch is water-resistant up to a depth of 100m.

What more could one want?

• Displays two time zones
• Water-resistant up to 100m
• Customized alarm
• Shock resistant
• Manual synchronization of time zone
• Resin strap

4. FOSSIL Q VENTURE HR

Let’s start by understanding the feature that is hidden in the name. ‘HR,’ which is heart rate monitoring. You can monitor your heart on your wrist.

This watch tracks your activity, including how many steps you have taken, the calories you burnt, and the distance you covered. Whether you work out, do yoga, run, or meditate, you will get precise feedback on your heart rate during all the activities.

Want to set customized goals? With this watch, you can set the health goals for yourself, such as the amount of water intake or any particular exercise. Also, this will keep you more productive by reminding you of the goals set by you.

Not to forget the splendor this watch carries because of its rose-toned stainless-steel case, which is lightweight and sturdy—hence giving you a feeling like you are wearing a bracelet. Thanks to its design, the strap is interchangeable with any 18mm.

You are tired of manually setting time when in a different time zone? This piece comes with automatic time adjustment features which prevent you from the worry of setting time. And you won’t lose track as it has a built-in GPS so you can explore any part of the earth.

You can also enjoy your favorite music while cherishing the scenic views because it stores music in itself. You can listen to any music through wide-ranging apps, including iTunes, Soundcloud, Spotify, or Google Play.

This watch helps you make online payments in places where credit cards can be used. Moreover, once you connect it with your phone, you will be able to receive calls, alarm clock, text messages, and all other notifications from your smartphone. You can also set the alarm on this watch in case you have a crucial meeting to attend or any vital work to do.

Water splashes are not a big deal as your watch is swim-proof.

Its built-in microphone enables you to give voice commands or enable any specific function to different buttons. You can also personalize this time tool according to your mood and taste.

However, the battery life is only 12 hours, which makes the frequent travelers look for other options. But its charging time is super-fast, and you get it charged up to 80% in an hour.

Not a bad deal for travelers who want to travel to nearby places.

• Elegant and stylish design
• Quick charging
• Heart rate monitor
• Light and sturdy
• Straps are interchangeable
• Its battery timing is not too good

Best Case for Travel Watches

We pack everything correctly from our dresses to small accessories, but when it comes to watches, we don’t care much. However, it’s also imperative to find the best place for our expensive travel watch.

Therefore, to keep your watches safe and well-organized, here are our favorite and best watch travel cases.

1. Cheopz Travel Watch Case

Do you want to carry an extra watch while traveling? You can go for this watch pad travel case, which is easy to carry. Its shell is hard with a Ballistic nylon exterior that keeps your watch protected and safe while traveling. The inner material of this case is soft hence preventing it from scratches and knocks.

You can’t go wrong with this travel case because of its ergonomic design, which comes with a zipper hence locking your watch in place and preventing water from going in.

And the best thing; this case can fit in any watch from your minimalistic watches to luxury timepieces.

2. ROTHWELL Watch Roll Travel Case

Protect your precious watches with this leather watch roll. Those who want to secure their collection of watches can get this as it’s designed in such a way

. It is compact, easy to store, and you can carry it along yourself anywhere. Made from high-quality leather, this roll is incredibly stylish and has plenty of space for your collection.

A lot to digest, eh? These are the best watches when it comes to traveling. From minimalist, analog, or digital clock to a watch with GPS trackers and shockproof tech, or a watch that looks stylish and classy, you can choose any from the list mentioned above.

The Conclusion

Time is money, so spend your money and invest in the best watch to save yourself from missing out on the journey. Also, read our guide about the “beach vacation packing list” for families. We tried our best to present you with the best and cheap travel watches , and we hope you like our effort. Happy travels!

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Tested: The Absolute Best GMT Travel Watches for Your Collection

By: Ethan Brehm Published: Oct 25, 2023

By: Ethan Brehm and Johnny Brayson Published: Oct 25, 2023

Contributors

With the holidays upon us, many are preparing for their trips, both near and far. But in order to travel, one needs certain accouterments. A suitcase is essential, a passport sure comes in handy, and comfy travel clothes are a must. And then there’s the GMT travel watch. You may think that you don’t need a watch while on vacation . After all, your phone tells you the time, right? But you’d be wrong, as the best GMT watches are indispensable travel partners.

Yes, your phone tells you the time, but does it tell you the local time as well as the time at home at a glance? Didn’t think so. A GMT watch will do this, offering you the time in two places at once with a quick look at your wrist. Not only that, but the best GMT travel watches will also complement any outfit you have on and act as a companion that accompanies you on all your excursions , making memories alongside you. Are we being just a bit romantic about GMT watches? Maybe, but once you know the history of the GMT watch, it’s hard not to wax poetic about them.

Best GMT Watches Breakdown

Best Quartz GMT

Q Timex GMT 38mm

Best Budget Automatic GMT

Seiko 5 Sports SKX Sports Style GMT

Best Microbrand GMT

Lorier Hyperion Series II

Best GMT Diver

Mido Ocean Star GMT

Best Office GMT

Monta Skyquest

Best Vintage-Inspired GMT

Longines Spirit Zulu Time

Best Quartz True GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN027

Best Overall GMT

Tudor Black Bay GMT

Honorable Mention

Rolex GMT Master II

The gmt’s high-flying history.

Come Fly With Me

GMT watches often conjure images of mid-century jetsetters and playboy pilots — think Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can and you’ll be on the right track. That’s because the watches were born in that era for those types of customers. Back in the early 1950s, long-haul intercontinental flights were becoming more and more common. Pan Am, the largest airline of the day, put out a request to watch companies to develop a watch that could track two timezones simultaneously so pilots could monitor the time at both their destination and origin. Two companies answered the call. The first was Glycine, which unveiled the Airman in 1953. That watch kept time on a 24-hour scale, with a rotating 24-hour bezel for tracking a second timezone. The next year, Rolex introduced the GMT Master. It kept time on a standard 12-hour scale but incorporated a fourth hand that made its way around the dial once every 24 hours. A rotating 24-hour bezel was employed here as well, allowing the wearer to track a second timezone on the fourth hand while still reading their current time on a 12-hour scale. Rolex’s design took off like a rocket, and other manufacturers began producing their own GMT watches based on the Rolex template. The age of the GMT watch had begun.

Video Guide: The Best GMT Travel Watches

While we’re suckers for the written word, nothing beats seeing our favorite GMT travel watches in all of their 4k glory.

Types Of GMT Watches

True Vs. Office

True GMT: When researching GMT watches, you may have come across the term “True GMT” and wondered what it meant. In 1983, Rolex made GMT history again. The brand introduced the GMT Master II, a new version of their travel watch icon with a handy new feature. The movement in the GMT Master II allows you to independently adjust the hour hand without stopping the seconds hand or disturbing the other hands. That means that, if your GMT hand is set to your home time, all you have to do when traveling is pop your hour hand over to quickly set your new local time. It’s a faster and more convenient way to set your watch for travel, and some watch enthusiasts consider it to be the only “true” GMT there is. That’s, of course, nonsense — there were GMT watches for nearly 30 years before this type of movement existed — but GMTs with this type of movement, also called a “flyer” GMT, are slightly better for travel.

Office GMT: The other type of (more common) GMT is the “office” or “caller” GMT. Instead of having an independently adjustable hour hand, these GMTs have independently adjustable GMT hands. This is far more convenient if you want to track a second timezone while you’re at home — as someone in a west coast office may do if they have East Coast colleagues — but it isn’t the most convenient arrangement when traveling.

Having said that, we’re talking about a minute or less in the difference it takes to set your local time on a “true” vs “office” GMT, so really any GMT watch will work just fine when traveling.

How We Tested

Our Selection Process

You could easily make a case that enthusiasm for wristwatches has never been higher than it is right now. We’ve seen a definite influx among younger wearers, who are taken by the idea of mechanical masterpieces adorning their wrists, as well as a plethora of new brands cropping up, many of which have something to offer. Not only that, the market now offers us more variety than we’ve ever seen, with wide-ranging prices as well as an increase in specialization. Sure, this means that there are more options out there to delineate, but it also means that the world is proving that digital technology isn’t always what people want.

Nevertheless, selecting the perfect timepiece in any category or price point has become more difficult. To tackle the task of finding the best GMTs out there, we began by selecting the watches we suspected would be the best candidates. Using both the eye test (e.g., design, color , dial configuration) and our expertise in the space to dig through specs (e.g., size, materials, strap, movement), we whittled all the options down to the ones we thought could be worthy of making the cut for this list. We also factored in price, value, and the reputation of the watch’s manufacturer itself, which is an earned quality in this industry.

And then there was the matter of testing the timepieces themselves. Any watch collector can tell you that, regardless of what you read on paper, you truly have to wear a watch on your wrist to get a feel for it and get a sense of the user experience. After acquiring the demo pieces for our initial shortlist, we put the watches on our wrists and put them through a variety of scenarios to see their fit, comfort, and wrist presence firsthand. The overall process took us weeks, but finally we were able to land on the list of the best GMT watches you see before you.

Why It Made the Cut

• Timex’s retro reissue is an incredibly inexpensive option for those into vintage-style timepieces, featuring an integrated bracelet and Pepsi-style bezel.

Best Quartz GMT: We’re so happy that Timex has been embracing retro-style models with its Q lineup. Inspired by the dive style of the original Q from 1979, this 38mm timepiece is still very much a GMT, with its bi-directional “Pepsi” bezel, domed acrylic crystal, hooded lugs, and functional battery hatch on the caseback. It has loads of nostalgia and is a steal at just over $200.

Recently revived in 2019, the Q Timex Reissue features an integrated bracelet with its 38mm barrel-shaped case. It’s incredibly compact, wears small, and feels even smaller than the dimensions suggest, but we love the sharp, angular styling and mix of vertical and horizontal brushing across the top of the main case. If you’re looking to save some shekels with a quality quartz-powered movement and a retro style, this will be your best bet.

Case Size: 38mm Water Resistance: 50m Movement: Quartz

• Seiko taps into the ethos of its discontinued SKX with this 5 Sports watch, featuring vintage charm, an exhibition caseback, and a fair price tag.

Best Budget Automatic GMT: After Seiko discontinued its beloved SKX dive watch, it revamped its entry-level Seiko 5 Sports range, albeit with loose relation to the outgoing models. However, with the debut of the first-ever GMT in the 5 Sports lineup, it finally gave the SKX the homage it deserved. Harkening back to its progenitor with similar color schemes and design ethos, the new 42.5mm GMT features an independently adjustable fourth hand and a rotating 24-hour bezel.

The larger case helps with visibility, as do the Lumibrite-coated hands and indices and the date window magnifier. It also ditches the 5 Sports’ Oyster-style bracelets and opts for a five-link Jubilee-style stainless steel option instead. We love the exhibition caseback to display the 4R34 movement, and the divisive five-row jubilee bracelet adds some charm and comfort that some third-party options forego. Despite the 100m of water resistance, this one certainly has that vintage Seiko diver character. However, the off-centered push-pull crown at 4 o’clock might make you cautious of taking this timepiece on your most aqueous adventures.

Case Size: 42.5mm Water Resistance: 100m Movement: Automatic GMT with manual winding capability

• Lorier’s handsome vintage-inspired watch is very robust, inexpensive, and endlessly classy.

Best Microbrand GMT: The very first Rolex GMT Master in the 1950s was the ref. 6542. It originally came with a lumed red and blue “Pepsi” bezel made of a plastic predecessor called Bakelite. However, concerns over the brittle bakelite cracking and exposing the radioactive tritium lume below caused Rolex to switch to aluminum bezel inserts after just a few years. These days, original bakelite bezel 6542s regularly sell for six figures, but you can get the same vintage feel for far less with this stunning microbrand GMT.

Series II of Lorier’s Hyperion uses Hesalite for its lumed Pepsi bezel insert and domed crystal, offering serious retro vibes to go with its traffic-stopping looks. For just $100 more than the Seiko GMT above, you can get a true GMT with an independent hour hand at an accessible price point. We love everything about this timepiece, including the price, the mid-century-inspired aesthetic that evokes the heyday of aviation, the robust construction featuring a marine-grade steel case and the aforementioned impact-resistant crystal, and, of course, the classy Pepsi bezel.

Case Size: 39mm Water Resistance: 100m Movement: Automatic “True” GMT

• Mido found the perfect middle ground between GMT and dive watch with this Ocean Star, sporting a graduated Pepsi-style bezel.

Best GMT Diver: Dive watch GMTs are becoming more and more popular, as you can see from this guide alone, and while there are several notable examples, our favorite has to be this Pepsi-bezeled Ocean Star from Mido. Whether you’re jet-setting or simply heading out on the trail –– or both –– this 44mm timepiece will do the trick. Boasting 200m of water resistance, the true GMT could have easily copied the styling of the iconic Rolex, but instead, Mido does its own thing with a fixed internal 24-hour bezel on top of the traditional rotating one on the outside.

Mido is a member of the Swatch Group. That means the brands have access to some of the same movements, such as the ETA Powermatic 80 GMT caliber that’s found here, with 80 hours of power reserve. Sure, the 44m steel case feels heftier on the wrist, but that translates to a superb wrist presence for those who want a bit more attention on their timepiece. Fortunately, the flat sapphire crystal helps with the thickness, erring more towards a modern styling in that regard. In terms of the bracelet , we also loved how you could adjust it quickly thanks to the double push button system within the clasp.

Case Size: 44mm Water Resistance: 200m Movement: Automatic “True” GMT

• With 300m of water resistance, the Skyquest from Monta showcases the brand’s unique design language while featuring superb on-wrist comfort.

Best Office GMT: American-owned and Swiss-made, Monta is one of the most highly-regarded microbrands in the business, and the Skyquest is arguably their best watch. The finishing is comparable to watches that cost twice as much, the fully-articulating bracelet features a quick-adjust clasp, the bezel is made of scratch-resistant ceramic, the water resistance is an impressive 300m, the hands are diamond-cut and rhodium-plated, and the GMT hand sports a quirky and ingenious bend that allows it to clear the applied indices while reaching to the outer edges of the dial.

Opposed to some other office GMT models, the Skyquest may be a little pricier, but with that price, you get a lot more than you’ve bargained for. This includes the in-house M-23 automatic movement , the overall build quality and finishing, and the Coke bezel, which nods to Rolex’s Pan Am collab in the ’80s. At 40.7mm across, the timepiece wears slightly smaller than you’d expect thanks to the lugs, which curve slightly towards the wrist. Operating with its own unique design language, the Skyquest is truly a sight to behold in person, with its features popping off the wrist and its contrast lending to nice visibility. We also love the bracelet, which features fully articulating links and supreme comfort.

Case Size: 40.7mm Water Resistance: 300m Movement: Automatic “Office” GMT

• Longines nods to its aviation-filled past with the Spirit Zulu Time, which pops off the wrist thanks to its 18K gold accents and handsome design.

Best Vintage-Inspired GMT: Longines may be one of the oldest Swiss watch manufacturers in existence — the brand was founded in 1832 — but they remain on the cutting edge of the industry, even credited with having the first watch with more than one time zone. Last year, it added a true GMT to its Spirit line. Named after a watch from about 100 years ago (which took its name from the military term for “GMT”), the Zulu Time is a watch made for true globetrotters, with 72 hours of power reserve and an independently set hour hand.

As classy as ever, the Spirit Zulu Time is a pilot’s watch through and through, with inspired colorways, a 72-hour power reserve, superb dial visibility, and easy adjustment. At a wearable 39mm, the stainless steel timepiece was dropped down a few sizes from its 42mm predecessor and the difference in comfort is noticeable on-wrist. Aesthetically, the 18K yellow gold accents truly pop and bring a great deal of wrist presence to the timepiece. Not to mention, Longines has several other variants if this handsome anthracite version isn’t for you.

For a deeper dive, read our Longines Spirit Zulu Time watch review .

Case Size: 39mm Water Resistance: 100m Movement: Automatic “True” GMT

• Pricier for a quartz watch, Grand Seiko proves that it’s movements are no cheap endeavor, while also finding a compromise between sportiness and class.

Best Quartz True GMT: The first watch to feature a GMT version of Grand Seiko’s lauded 9F High-Accuracy Quartz movement — arguably the best quartz movement in the world — this may be the ultimate “grab and go” travel watch. Accuracy is conservatively rated to within 10 seconds per year (1 second per year anecdotes are not unheard of), the finishing is easily the best you can get for the price thanks to Grand Seiko’s famed distortion-free Zaratsu polishing, and the handmade, fully-decorated, thermocompensated movement is a “true” GMT. Plus, it’s got looks for days.

Decidedly sportier than Grand Seiko’s typical options, this SBGN027 is certainly more expensive than your average quartz piece, but here it serves to preserve the timekeeping of the watch itself. Even when the offset crown is pulled out, the quartz GMT continues to keep the time. In-person, the 39mm diameter and 45.9mm lug size are about as perfect of proportions as you can get for everyday watch wearing. We’re also fans of the fixed 24-hour bezel with its black embossing and radial-brushed steel. The three-link steel bracelet looks beautiful, matching the case finish, and is easy to adjust with the screw posts and push-button clasp.

Case Size: 39mm Water Resistance: 200m Movement: Quartz “True” GMT

• Tudor’s near-perfect GMT utilizes its iconic Black Bay as the base layer, continuing to challenge conventions while maintaining a traditional ethos.

Best Overall GMT: As the more affordable sister brand to Rolex, Tudor has long had the reputation of offering Rolex quality and style for less eye-watering prices. And that’s never been more true than with this modern classic. Based on the brand’s popular vintage-inspired Black Bay diver, this GMT boasts a bi-directional bezel with a beautiful aluminum Pepsi insert, a subtly textured dial, and an in-house automatic movement with a “true” GMT function. It’s the closest one can get to a Rolex GMT — vintage or modern — without coming close to approaching the five-figure mark.

First debuting in 2018, the Black Bay GMT is still a favorite today. Boasting 200m of water resistance, this piece may have some definite diver properties, but we love it as a travel watch the most. Inside the 24-hour Pepsi bezel is a pearl-like opaline white dial, which is a nice change of pace from the typical dark GMT dials. Despite the modern touches, this automatic true GMT has some vintage design cues, including the aforementioned bezel with its coin edge and the domed sapphire crystal. Hopefully, Tudor will soon include its T-Fit adjustment system on the newer Black Bay GMTs, even if the bracelet is still really comfortable.

For a deeper dive, read our Tudor Black Bay GMT watch review .

Case Size: 41mm Water Resistance: 200m Movement: Automatic “True” GMT

• You can’t have a “Best GMT” list without including the most lusted-after GMT in the world.

Honorable Mention: You knew this was coming. The descendent of the original GMT watch, the GMT Master II remains the most lusted-after GMT in the world. The waitlist to purchase a new stainless steel Pepsi bezel variant is years long, and they routinely sell for more than double the retail price on the secondhand market. But the watch commands such demand for a reason. It’s unspeakably gorgeous, with an iconic design that few watches in the world can match. It’s also robust, dependable, and luxurious, and there’s not a person alive who wouldn’t want one of these on their wrist while traveling the globe.

As legendary as the Rolex GMT is, we couldn’t acquire the watch in time to perform in-studio testing. However, of all the pieces here, the reputation of the GMT Master II should be able to precede it.

Case Size: 40mm Water Resistance: 100m Movement: Automatic “True” GMT

Tested: The Best Dive Watches to Buy

Looking for a solid diver to add to your collection? We’ve done the work for you and tested out the best dive watches on the market today.

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The Best Travel and GMT Watches of Watches & Wonders 2024 and The Geneva Week

The geneva week gave us some pretty cool watches for travellers....

Long praised for being some of the most practical and relevant timepieces around, Travel and GMT watches are classics that most brands need to have somewhere in their collections. Whether we’re talking about classic multi-time zone watches with a central 24-hour hand, dual-time models with additional indications on their dials or complex world-time timepieces , the Geneva Watch Week and Watches and Wonders 2024 gave us the opportunity to discover a myriad of new models in these categories. And here are the 5 most appealing Travel and GMT Watches we’ve seen.

Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT

Let’s start strong, with an absolute winner… It’s not often that we are as enthusiastic as that, but the new Black Bay 58 GMT is a fantastic watch, a new model that simply answers what the watch community was asking for; a more compact, slimmer BB GMT. And here we are, with a 39mm case with 12.8mm thickness, still capable of diving, with an almost “coke” bezel (sorry Rolex fans…) and a mix of modern and vintage features. The gilt accents on the bezel and the dial have been a topic of discussion but I feel they work great in the constant of the 58. The rest… typical Tudor, with a true GMT movement, now Master Chronometer certified, a third time zone function thanks to the rotating bezel, some slight differences with a classic Black Bay 58 (the crown, for instance) and overall impressive quality/price ratio. Tudor gives the choice between a rivet steel bracelet or a rubber strap, both with micro-adjustment (the latter option is good but not as visually appealing as the steel bracelet).

Quick facts : 39mm x 12.8mm steel case – bidirectional bezel with black and burgundy anodised aluminium inserts and gilt markings – sapphire crystal, screwed crown and back, 200m water-resistant – matte black dial with gilt hour markers and hands – calibre MT5450-U (Kenissi) with true GMT function, 4Hz, silicon hairspring, 65h power reserve, Master Chronometer – rivet-style steel bracelet or black rubber strap, both with Tudor T-fit clasp with micro-adjustment – EUR 4,420 on rubber, EUR 4,630 on steel

Rolex GMT Master II 126710GRNR “Bruce Wayne”

The watch community was expecting a GMT Master II “Coke” in white gold… Rolex gives a “Bruce Wayne” in steel . While nothing has changed technically speaking, this new version adds something missing in the collection; a more subtle, more discreet, almost monochromatic watch – somehow the direct descendant of the old black bezel version ( the 116710LN ), sharing the same green hand and GMT mention. The main difference comes from the use of a two-tone bezel (a prerequisite now on all GMT Master II), in a grey and black version introduced last year in Rolesor and yellow gold editions . Sitting next to the Batman (black-blue), the Pepsi (blue-red) and the Destro or Sprite (black-green), this new 126710GRNR a.k.a Bruce Wayne is the most discreet, most timeless version. And that’s actually a very pleasant thing! Apart from that, the GMT Master II is still one of the best traveller’s watches on the market.

Quick facts : 40mm x 11.9mm Oystersteel case – bidirectional bezel with 24-hour monobloc Cerachrom insert in grey and black – sapphire crystal, screwed crown and back, 100m water-resistant – Black lacquered dial with white gold hands and markers, green lacquer 24-hour hand – Calibre 3285, true GMT, in-house, automatic, Superlative Chronometer, 4Hz, 70h power reserve – Oystersteel Jubilee or Oyster bracelet with Easylink comfort extension – 126710GRNR – EUR 11,000 on Oyster bracelet, EUR 11,200 on Jubilee bracelet

Santos de Cartier Dual Time

Praised for its sporty-chic style and the casual elegance you expect from a Cartier, the Santos now receives for the first time a traveller’s function , but not in the classic shape of a GMT hand. Instead, and to keep the original design of the watch almost untouched, Cartier went for a so-called dual time solution, adding a 24-hour sub-dial on its sports watch. Independently adjusted by the crown, the integration of this function is elegant and fairly practical. The rest is typical Santos, with a slightly large case (but it’ll be hard to have this function in the mid-size edition ) and a subtle grey dial. The movement is outsourced – Cartier doesn’t tell the origin, which is most likely Sellita.

Quick facts : 40.2mm x 47.5mm x 10mm steel case – sapphire crystal, solid back, 100m water-resistant – anthracite, sunray-brushed dial, dual time indicator with day/night function at 6 o’clock – outsourced automatic movement with dual time function by the crown, 4Hz, 40h power reserve – steel bracelet with QuickSwtich interchangeable system and additional alligator strap – CHF 8,800

Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164G Denim Blue

While many Patek fans mourned the discontinuation of the Aquanaut Travel Time 5164A in stainless steel earlier this year (Patek is removing steel references one after another…), the brand compensates with an edition in white gold with a handsome denim blue colour scheme (which is the theme of the year at PP ). Apart from this new precious attire, the watch remains very casual in this subtle grey-blue tone and still wears like a charm thanks to its relatively compact dimensions. Like all 5164 references, it relies on a practical dual-time function with two pushers on the side to adjust the local hour hand in one-hour increments forwards and backwards. Surprisingly, the water-resistance is now rated at 30m but that’s a topic we’re investigating… Besides that, the Aquanaut Travel Time 5164G is a truly lovely watch!

Quick facts : 40.8mm x 10.2mm white gold case – sapphire crystal front and back, screwed crown and back, 30m water-resistant – dual time function with pushers on the side of the case (local hour hand in one-hour increments forwards and backwards) – denim blue dial with embossed Aquanaut pattern, white gold applied numerals and hands, day-night function – calibre 26-330 S C FUS automatic, in-house, Patek seal, 4Hz, 35-45h power reserve – Denim blue composite strap with white gold folding clasp – EUR 62,600

Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1

Last but certainly not least, here’s one of the most impressive traveller’s watches ever, and one of our highlights of the Geneva Watch Week 2024, the Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1 … The watch that addresses one of the major challenges faced by traditional world-timers: Daylight Saving Time (DST). The solution is this incredibly complex central module with each of the 24 rollers having four positions, which can be switched by pressing the crown: UTC, AST (American Summer Time), EAS (Europe and America Summer Time), and EWT (European Winter Time). This fascinating take on the world timer is powered by a 10-day hand-wound movement with 744 components, a flying tourbillon and a perpetual calendar with rollers. Quite a watch, quite a price tag but clearly a technical feast that needs to be explored in length in our in-depth article .

Quick facts : 46.3mm x 17.85mm titanium, platinum or pink gold case – sapphire crystals front and back, 30m water-resistant – openworked dial with blue aventurine – world time function on 24 rollers with complete DST function, perpetual calendar on rollers – calibre R28-70-00X, in-house, hand-wound, 744 components, 2.5Hz one-minute tourbillon – alligator strap with folding buckle – from CHF 650,000

2 responses

Grand Seiko released 3 with GMT function

You did not mention the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time in the pink gold and green dial, which to me was one of the nicest releases of the entire show.

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Our editors’ favorite smartwatches of 2024

Smartwatches are like tiny smartphones strapped to your wrist. Most support texting, calls, voice assistants, maps, fitness tracking , tap-to-pay and more. For many folks at NBC Select, a smartwatch is an essential wearable that enhances your everyday life.

But the best smartwatch for you is almost entirely decided by which smartphone is in your pocket. Many of the best smartwatches only work with iPhone or Android phones, not both. Some even have features that only work when paired with a specific type of smartphone. Smartwatches are often tailor-made to a specific smartphone, like a square peg built for a square hole, working in-tandem to deliver the best experience possible.

That’s why I’ve tested over a dozen smartwatches using Apple, Samsung and Google phones. Below you’ll learn about how smartwatches work and where each brand excels.

SKIP AHEAD Staff-favorite smartwatches in 2024 | How to get the most out of your smartwatch

Selected. Our top picks

How we picked the best smartwatches

Most NBC Select staffers use a smartwatch — either for notifications, exercise or sleep tracking. Combining their experience with my time testing, we selected smartwatches keeping the following in mind:

• Ease of use : Smartphones have so many features and options that they can easily become overwhelming. We selected products that are easy and enjoyable to use out of the box, both glancing at your wrist and scrolling in the app. We also favored watches that let you customize settings, watch faces and notifications to your liking.
• Compatibility : Not all smartwatches are compatible with all smartphones — it’s quite the opposite. We included wearables for people with all kinds of smartphones.
• Price : Most smartwatches cost between $100 and $500. We included wearables across different price points, but again, your choices are largely limited by which smartphone you own.

How I test smartwatches

I’ve tested over a dozen smartwatches for NBC Select. I am a runner and cyclist, and often use them to track and monitor stats like heart rate, pace and time. I am also the tech reporter at NBC Select, so I tend to spend hours tinkering with product settings, exploring what a product offers out of the box and what I can fine tune later.

I receive smartwatches from different brands, and test each watch for at least a week, using as many of the features as possible. I pair each watch with either an Apple, Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel smartphone, depending on its compatibility.

select We tried Apple, Sony and other top earbuds. Here are our favorites

Staff-favorite smartwatches in 2024.

Most of our top overall picks come from Apple, Samsung and Google, companies that make up a large majority of smartphone sales in the U.S. All of our top picks have very similar features — they can all send and receive texts, make calls, use a voice assistant, track health and wellness metrics, log workouts, use apps, find your phone and more. 

Our budget picks are slightly more limited — some cannot answer calls or lack an on-watch keyboard to type out texts. We discuss all of these limitations in each recommendation.

We linked to the Wi-Fi versions of these devices, but many of them also have Wi-Fi plus cellular versions that, when set up with their own phone plan, can do most tasks without being connected to your smartphone.

Best smartwatch for iPhone users: Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9

• Info-rich display
• Syncs with most iOS apps
• So-so battery life

Despite constantly testing new smartwatches, the Apple Watch stubbornly remains on one of my wrists most of the time, at the very least to compare to other smartwatches. This Series 9 model is an NBC Select Wellness Award winner and a popular pick among the NBC Select team.

It has a large, square, always-on display with narrow bezels (the frame that borders the screen). The watch’s form-factor means it can comfortably show a lot of text on screen at once — I find it easy to read and swipe through notifications without accidental misclicks or swipes.

Compared to the previous model, the Series 9 has faster speeds, a brighter screen, improved Siri voice assistant functionality and a new gesture called “double tap.” When you raise your wrist and pinch your index finger and thumb together twice you can answer calls, open incoming notifications, control music and more. In cold-weather, “double tap” is much faster than peeling off my gloves and pulling back my long-sleeve layers to touch the watch’s screen. You can learn more about this feature in our Apple Watch Series 9 review . 

It easily syncs with Apple apps like Health and Fitness to show data about your workouts, health and sleep. It can also take calls, send texts, make requests via Siri voice assistant and more. 

The Series 9 gets up to 18 hours of battery life — less than Android options like the Galaxy Watch 6 and the Pixel Watch 2. It comes in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, with many watch band options.

Display: 41mm, 45mm touchscreen | Battery life: Up to 18 hours, fast charging | Built-in GPS: Yes | Sleep tracking: Yes | Heart-rate monitor: Yes, with EKG | Water resistance: Yes, up to 50 meters | Compatible with: iPhone

Best smartwatch for Samsung users: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

• Sleek and comfortable
• Easily customizable
• Needs Samsung phone to use EKG

Voted the best smartwatch for Android in our NBC Select Giftable Tech Awards , the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 stands out because of its sleek design, comfortable fit and customizable screen.

It has a circular always-on display that’s colorful and responsive. The watch has two buttons, which, by default act as a home and a back button. More importantly, you can reprogram these buttons to do other things like open a specific app or show your most recently used apps. I love physical buttons on watches — touch controls are not ideal for outdoor runs, hikes or bike rides, especially in bad weather or while wearing gloves. 

You can customize watch faces directly on the watch itself or through Samsung’s Galaxy Wearable app. I used it to create multiple faces with custom stats, colors, fonts and layouts in minutes, and found the experience easier and more intuitive than with most other wearables.

It is compatible with all Android phones, but some of its features only work if you pair it with a Samsung phone, such as EKG readings, irregular heart rhythm notifications and smartphone camera control.

Like other smartwatches, it can send texts, answer calls, receive app notifications and more. It supports tap-to-pay, which I used to pay for groceries and public transport with no issue.

Display: 40mm or 44mm touchscreen | Battery life: Up to 40 hours | Built-in GPS: Yes | Sleep tracking: Yes | Heart-rate monitor: Yes, with EKG | Water resistance: Yes, up to 5 feet for 30 minutes | Compatible with: Android phones

Best smartwatch for Google users: Google Pixel Watch 2

Google Pixel Watch 2

• Syncs easily with Google apps
• Automatic workout detection
• Love it or hate it round shape
• Fiddly charger

The Pixel Watch 2 is a massive improvement from the original, with a plethora of upgrades that make it one of the best options for anyone with a Google Pixel phone. It has improved battery life, charging speed, health sensors, fitness tracking, safety features and more. It syncs easily with your Google account (think apps like Gmail, Google Calendar and YouTube), providing a similar seamless experience to an Apple or Samsung watch. 

The watch has built-in Fitbit fitness tracking. Similar to the Fitbit Charge 6 , it automatically detects walking, running, biking, treadmill, elliptical, rower and spin exercises after 5 minutes (15 for walking), and asks if you’d like to start the workout. As someone who often forgets to log walks, I love this feature.

Like the original Pixel Watch, the Pixel Watch 2 has a rounded watch face design. It is much rounder than the other watches on our list. While I found the curved look stylish and aesthetically-pleasing, I did not find it as comfortable for swiping and tapping compared to the flatter watch screen seen on something like the Samsung Galaxy Watch.

It is available in one size, with dozens of watch bands available .

Display: 41mm touchscreen | Battery life: Up to 24 hours, fast charging | Built-in GPS: Yes | Sleep tracking: Yes | Heart-rate monitor: Yes, with EKG | Water resistance: Yes, up to 50 meters | Compatible with: Android phones

Best smartwatch for fitness: Garmin Venu 3

Garmin Venu 3

• Excellent battery life
• Robust fitness tracking
• No on-watch keyboard on iPhone

Garmin makes some of the best fitness trackers, and the Venu 3 is one of its smartest wearables.

It is one of the most comfortable smartwatches I’ve tested. It has a metal case and silicone band that feels soft and flexible. The watch itself is very flat, mostly because the sensor on the back is much flatter than sensors on the Apple Watch and Google Pixel Watch. It has three buttons along the side that are especially useful for starting and stopping a workout, or logging laps or reps mid-exercise.

The Venu 3 puts fitness and health data front and center, with detailed charts and graphs about metrics like pace, heart rate, cadence and more. It is also very customizable — you can change everything from the home screen to the exact metrics that appear when doing different workouts. This is great for anyone who loves data, but can be a little overwhelming for Garmin newcomers.

Another strength is battery life — the Venu 3 gets up to 14 days of battery life. 14 days. That is far longer than our other top picks, and more than most smartwatches on the market. Switching to always-on mode, I still averaged 6 days before needing to charge.

The Venu 3 (linked above) is available in black or white, and the smaller Venu 3s is available in five colors.

Display: 41mm, 45mm touchscreen | Battery life: Up to 14 days, fast charging | Built-in GPS: Yes | Sleep tracking: Yes | Heart-rate monitor: Yes, with EKG | Water resistance: Yes, up to 50 meters | Compatible with: iPhone and Android phones

Best budget smartwatch for iPhone users: Apple Watch SE

Apple Watch SE

• Competitive price

The Apple Watch SE cost much less than the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 , but has much of the same design and features that make those watches great.

It syncs seamlessly with your iPhone and iPhone apps — it feels like a natural extension of your phone, straight out of the box. Like the Series 9, it connects with Apple Health and Fitness apps to show detailed workout, sleep and health data, with more info than many competitors at this price point, no subscription required.

Compared to the Series 9, the SE is a little slower, smaller and has a dimmer screen that cannot be changed to an always-on mode. It also does not have an on-screen keyboard — you can send pre-set responses or dictate using voice-to-text with Siri. It comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, with many watch band options.

Display: 40mm or 44mm touchscreen | Battery life: Up to 18 hours | Built-in GPS: Yes | Sleep tracking: Yes (not including naps) | Heart-rate monitor: Yes, no EKG | Water resistance: Yes, up to 50 meters | Compatible with: iPhone

select I wore the newest Fitbit for 3 weeks straight and I loved that it didn’t give me too much info.

How to get the most out of your smartwatch.

Smartwatches have so many features that they can be overwhelming out of the box. Most people I know complete the initial setup and never customize anything aside from the background on the watch face. Below are a few of the most useful features across every smartwatch you may want to try out:

Almost every smartwatch lets you customize the default watch face. Scroll through the watch or watch companion app settings and tinker with customizing the watch face. All of our top picks let you change the layout, colors, background and stats, with many more options if you dig a little deeper. One NBC Select staffer has her Apple Watch face set to a picture of her cat, for example.

Safety tracking

Most smartwatches have robust safety features available. This means you have the option to manually or automatically send your live location to a list of emergency contacts, depending on how you set it up. If you are planning an activity where you would feel safer having the option to automatically reach out to emergency contacts (or emergency services), be sure to set up this feature.

Contactless payments

Smartwatches generally support one form of contactless payment, think Apple Pay, Samsung Wallet, Google Wallet or Garmin Pay. These apps can store your debit or credit information and let you tap-to-pay at supported businesses like cafes, restaurants and even most public transport. This is a useful feature to set up if you hate carrying your wallet everywhere you go.

Battery-saver settings

You can get much longer battery life if you change a few of the settings on your smartwatch. Turning off the always-on display, lowering your screen brightness and adjusting background app refresh settings, can all help extend the time you get between charges.

Why trust NBC Select?

Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on fitness trackers , running shoes , workout earbuds and more. For this piece, he tried over a dozen top-rated fitness trackers and smartwatches. For a broader perspective, he spoke with other NBC Select staffers about their experience with smartwatches.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter for Select on NBC News.

CinemaBlend

11 Great Adventure Documentaries To Watch

Posted: May 19, 2023 | Last updated: August 3, 2023

Ready for some adventure?

Over the years, adventure documentaries have taken us on journeys few of us have been lucky enough to experience in our real lives. To the peaks of the highest mountains and depths of the deepest and darkest caves, and everywhere in between, these spellbinding documentary films put us in the passenger’s seat of some of the world’s grandest adventures. 

This is true with gems like the many mesmerizing Werner Herzog movies like Encounters at the End of the World, and 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible . Here is our list of the best adventure documentaries to watch.

By Philip Sledge

14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible

Most people who are brave, experienced, and crazy enough to attempt to reach the summits of all 14 of Earth’s 8,000-meter mountains do so over the course of years and decades, but the subject of the 2021 Netflix documentary, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, isn’t one to hold back. In this daring and inspiring adventure documentary film, Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja sets out to reach all 14 summits in seven months instead of spreading the climbs out over the course of numerous years.

With a goal like that, it’s easy to imagine that 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible is a thrilling ride of a documentary, but like all good adventure stories, Nims Purja’s heart and devotion will leave you in awe.

180° South: Conquerors Of The Useless

The 2010 documentary, 180° South: Conquerors of the Useless, follows adventurer Jeff Johnston as he sets out to recreate the epic 1968 trip made by Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia, in hopes of climbing Cerro Corcovado, a 7,500-foot volcano in the Andes Mountains. The real beauty of this breathtaking and transfixing documentary is the journey itself, which Johnston completes not by flying to his destination but by sea, which presents additional obstacles and dangers.

What sets 180° South: Conquerors of the Useless apart from a lot of other documentaries like it is the heartfelt tone and relaxed pacing of the film, especially when the expedition gets delayed and the crew spend several weeks exploring Easter Island before resuming their journey.

Encounters At The End Of The World

You can’t make a list of the best documentaries without including Werner Herzog, and so we have to talk about Encounters at the End of the World . In this 2007 documentary, Herzog and cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger travel to Antarctica to spend time with the researchers, construction workers, and various support staff who live and work at the South Pole. 

Even though Encounters at the End of the World is far from the most adventurous documentary on this list, it is hard to not be inspired and carried away by Werner Herzog’s excitement and quest for adventure, as shown in multiple scenes where he grows tired and upset of being stuck in what is essentially a small town.

Free Solo , which took home an Academy Award for Best Documentary and a staggering seven Primetime Emmy Awards in 2019, follows the death-defying Alex Honnold as he attempts to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without ropes, harnesses, or other safety equipment. This multi-faceted documentary doesn’t just include Honnold’s various attempts at the impossible, as it also focuses on what brought him to that point and everything he has sacrificed for that dream.

Another great aspect of Free Solo is how it focuses on co-director Jimmy Chin’s preparation to shoot the monumental feat, and how he and his crew developed techniques that made the whole thing possible.

Valley Uprising

After you check out Free Solo , you should really give Valley Uprising a watch, a 2014 documentary that sheds light on the rebellious climbers who honed their skills and gave birth to a counterculture in Yosemite National Park throughout the mid to late 20th Century. With interviews with some of the biggest figures of the movement and those they inspired, the film explores the impact of the group of young, talented, and wild climbers who were willing to risk it all and go up against just about anyone (including the National Park Service) to make their dreams come true.

Touching The Void

The 2004 documentary Touching the Void recounts the terrifying and near-fatal descent carried out by mountaineers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, after they successfully reached the summit of the West Face of Siula Grande in Peru. But, unlike most documentaries on this list, this film combines interviews with the two men, and dramatizations of the incident with actors filling in for them. Regardless, this white-knuckle thrill ride is something that needs to be experienced by anyone who’s a fan of the genre.

Sunshine Superman

There are few activities on the face of the Earth that are more exhilarating and deadly as BASE jumping, which was brought to the forefront by Carl Boenish. The 2015 documentary, Sunshine Superman, explores the life and legacy of the man many consider the father of BASE jumping, someone who devoted everything to the sport and wanted nothing more in life than to share his love with those around him. 

With stomach-dropping footage of some of Boenish’s biggest and most dangerous jumps and interviews with those closest to him, the documentary paints a loving portrait of the legendary thrill-seeker.

The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young

In 1977, James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr. nearly 10 years earlier, escaped from the Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Tennessee, but only covered eight miles in the span of 55 hours. Years later, Gary Cantrell claimed he could run at least 100 miles during that same stretch of time and created the Barkley Marathon, a 60-hour ultramarathon where only 40 runners are allowed to participate, after submitting an essay, random articles of clothing, and having paid the $1.60 entry fee.

Over the course of the 2015 documentary, The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young , a group of dedicated (and crazy) runners attempt to complete a race that has only seen a couple of finishers since it was first held decades ago.

Desert Runners

The 2013 documentary, Desert Runners, follows a group of non-professional athletes who set out to achieve one seemingly impossible and dangerous goal: complete 4 Deserts, a series of ultramarathons in Chile, Mongolia, Namibia, and Antarctica. Over the course of the 90-minute documentary, the participants test themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually, as they stay true to their goals and themselves, unwilling to throw in the towel. 

Expedition Happiness

Driving from one end of America to another makes for quite an adventure, but traversing the length of the entire continent of North America is something entirely else. In the 2017 documentary, Expedition Happiness , Felix Starck and Selima Taibi (and their dog), convert an old school bus into a home on wheels and drive from Alaska to Mexico in hopes of finding peace, meaning, and happiness on the open road. This proves to be no easy task as the travel companions battle the elements, open road, and dangers that await around every turn.

Losing Sight Of Shore

The 2017 documentary, Losing Sight of Shore, follows a group of four women known as the Coxless Crew as they set out to achieve the impossible: row 8,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco, California, to Australia, with nothing but a modest-sized boat, their strength, and each other. This empowering and challenging documentary shows just how far a group of people can push themselves to make their dreams come true. With only a few stops for supplies along the way, the fearless and tireless group spends nine months crossing the ocean, doing something no one has done before.

These are just some of the great adventure documentaries that are worth checking out, as there are hundreds of amazing and inspiring true stories of thrill-seekers, adventurers, and those unwilling to back down from anything even when their lives are on the line.

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• Experiences

The Top Adventure Travel Experiences for 2024

Our carefully curated list includes the very best adrenaline-pumping itineraries on Earth.

By Samantha Coles

Whatever adventure means to you — whether it’s venturing into an ice cave, exploring the deep ocean or heading on a months-long expedition through several countries — it’s an ever-blossoming category of luxury travel that always manages to excite. In this year’s annual collection of the best itineraries and adventures on Earth, we’ve covered all bases (and all continents) to bring you the adrenaline-pumping, the never-done-before and the truly spectacular.

[See also: Experience the Healing Power of India at Six Senses Vana ]

Flying the Skeleton Coast, Namibia

A vast, ethereal expanse of land, the Skeleton Coast — named for the whale and seal bones and the many shipwrecks that once littered the shore — stretches from south Namibia up to Angola. It is a hauntingly beautiful place full of barren desert plains, huge sand dunes, fossil beds, curious vegetation and desert-adapted creatures such as the endangered black rhino and desert dwelling elephant.

The coastal stretch is so gargantuan — 24 miles wide and 310 miles long, as well as being a hostile landscape — that it would be nearly impossible to see it all in one fell swoop, so take to the skies and take it all in from above. Look out for unsettling shipwreck remains along the coast and the ever-changing geological formations. Accommodations during this otherworldly safari consist of tented desert camps that merge into the natural surroundings.

From $9,000 per person for four nights. Contact [email protected], +44 136 785 1018, explorationscompany.com

[See also: See Sossusvlei from Above with Namib Sky Balloon Safaris ]

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Swiss time, switzerland.

Accessible via a smooth boat ride across Lake Lucerne, followed by a delightful ascent in the lacquered, pillar-box red funicular, Bürgenstock Resort stands high above the clouds at 1,640 ft up from the lake. Within the village in the green-grassed (or snow-capped, depending on when you visit) mountains, the resort is comprised of four hotels: the striking architectural masterpiece, Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa; the historic Palace Hotel; the state-of-the-art Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence center; authentic Swiss chalet Taverne 1879; and the residences.

Of course, the Swiss are known for their excellent timepieces , so where better to create your very own watch. Fly via helicopter to the Cyrus workshop in Geneva , where you can sit at the bench with Cyrus’s master craftsman to design a unique timepiece. Unwind in the resort’s fabulous infinity pool that overlooks the mountains and return a few months later for another stay when the personalized watch is ready to be presented in all its bespoke glory.

From $27,900. Contact [email protected], +41 416 126 000, burgenstockresort.com

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On the rocks, iceland.

Talisker distillery’s first-ever 45-year-old single malt Scotch release, the Talisker Glacial Edge 45 Year Old, is the culmination of its Xpedition Oak series. Aged for over four decades, the liquid was then finished in casks that had been ice fractured in piercing Arctic winds for 96 hours. Naturally, to mark the launch of the Scotch, Talisker hosted a group of keen adventurers (including American surfer and activist Greg Long) on a trip to Iceland , where they explored the Langjökull Glacier, aka the ‘Long Glacier’ — the second-largest glacier in the country at 361 square miles; it sits atop a commanding volcanic landscape in Iceland’s Highlands.

The group explored the glacier’s labyrinth caves under the ice, abseiling and exploring crevasses. Inside the glacier, they learned how Talisker’s new whisky was made and enjoyed a tasting of this wild liquid. Travel specialist Abercrombie & Kent provides bespoke itineraries to the glacial landscapes of Iceland, and offers the opportunity to book a similar trip to the excursion that Talisker’s guests experienced.

Contact [email protected], +44 333 060 3434, abercrombiekent.co.uk

Road Trip, New Zealand

Known for its sublime scenery, New Zealand’s rich geography of fjords, mountains, beaches and lakes means it is practically built for adventure (its magical scenery has served as the setting for a number of famed movie trilogies such as The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit). This 14-day, self-drive itinerary from Wayfairer Travel journeys from North Island to South Island. On North Island, you’ll visit Waiheke Island for a wine and gourmet tour (think: fresh oysters and local wines); drive to the enchanting glowworm grottos of Waitomo; learn about Maori culture in the Kaimanawa Range with Tom Loughlin, a renowned tangata whenua (person of the land); watch steam rise from the Wai-O-Tapu geothermal pools during a private tour; and sample the best wine in Hawke’s Bay.

Fly down to South Island and board the TranzAlpine for a scenic train journey into the Southern Alps; embark on a fly-in, fly-out heli-hike — take in views of lake icebergs and the iconic Hochstetter Icefall from the sky before a leg-stretching hike around Tasman Glacier’s otherworldly ice formations; and visit Ben Lomond High Country Sheep Station, a 33,360-acre expanse of forests, lakes, rivers and grazing lands (as well as mining huts and tracks leftover from the gold mining era). Finish the adventure with a jetboat ride through the Shotover River Canyons.

From $13,200 per person. Contact [email protected], +44 117 313 3300, wayfairertravel.com

[See also: The Ultimate Luxury Guide to New Zealand ]

Heli-ski the Seventh Continent, Antarctica

Getting to the seventh continent is no easy feat. Sure, a number of well-known cruise liners will head to ‘The Ice,’ but only those with serious ice-breaking capabilities can venture beyond the tip of the peninsula. And even then, landings are dictated by Mother Nature. But even with all being well, heli-skiing is probably out of the question even if you’re on an all-bells-and-whistles cruise.

So, what to do? Charter La Datcha, a 252-ft SeaXplorer with an ice-classed, IMO Polar Code compliant hull. She has two helicopters on board, a fully certified primary helideck, a standby deck for a second chopper and a below-deck hangar; she is one of the only operations that can provide efficient and safe heli-skiing across the frozen continent. Begin at Puerto Natales, staying at Awasi overlooking the Torres del Paines National Park in Chile, before flying on to King George Island (skipping the infamously choppy Drake Passage) and embarking on a seven- to 10-night voyage for you and up to 12 guests to heli-ski where no one has heli-skied before.

From $985,000 for 12 guests. Contact Oli Corkhill, CEO, [email protected], +44 128 536 6039, leotrippi.com

Great Silk Road, Multi-destination

Consisting of several routes that connected the East with the West and crossing through Central Asia, the Middle East and some parts of Africa, the Silk Road is a momentous historical network that played a crucial role in developing the regions it traversed. This epic odyssey from Wild Frontiers covers the entirety of one major Silk Road route — spanning some 7,460 miles and six countries, the 48-day itinerary begins in Xi’an in central China (this ancient city is famed for being the starting point of the Silk Road) and concludes in Istanbul .

Throughout the fascinating route, you’ll explore important landmarks such as the Wei-Jin tombs in Jiayuguan that date back to 220-420 AD, the Göreme Open Air Museum in Cappadocia, the Registan Square in Samarkand and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, as well as traversing through incredibly scenic mountains and deserts. Along the way, you’ll stay in an eclectic mix of abodes including an overnight sleeper train , five-star hotels (and some a little more rustic), as well as authentic homestays.

From $18,550 per person. Contact [email protected], +44 203 925 6494, wildfrontierstravel.com

Photo Safari, Borneo

Think of safari and you likely think of searching for the Big Five in Africa. But for a different take, head to Borneo. The third-largest island in the world, it is home to splendid beaches and ancient, biodiverse rain forests where a diverse array of wildlife — including orangutans and clouded leopards — reside. This expert-led, 10-day expedition by Natural World Safaris takes enthusiasts into the rain forests guided by Charles Ryan, a renowned wildlife photographer whose work has graced the pages of National Geographic; he has also appeared in programs on BBC and Netflix.

Visit the Sepilok Forest Reserve where captive orangutans are reintroduced into the wild — observe them at their feeding stations in the rain forest and snap a few close-ups. The Kinabatangan River is home to one of the highest concentrations of wildlife on the island; cruise at dusk to look for orangutans, pygmy elephants, silvered langurs, hornbills and proboscis monkeys. A short boat ride and overland transfer delivers you to Gomantong Caves, where you’ll spend the afternoon walking in the reserve and visiting the bat cave — on a clear day, millions of bats can emerge from it.

From $9,240 per person. Contact Will Bolsover, founder and CEO, [email protected], +44 127 369 1642, naturalworldsafaris.com

Off-piste Pros, Austria

Ski resort of choice for royal families, Lech is a top-draw destination and the only place in Austria that permits heli-skiing. The place to book is The Arula Chalets, an exceptional 30-bedroom abode with ski-in/ski-out access and amenities that easily outdo some five-star hotels — think: a subterranean two-level spa ; outdoor hot tub, firepit and alfresco dining space; and a generous wine cellar, bar, living area and alpine-chic dining room. Guests of The Arula Chalets have access to some equally exceptional ski experiences, too: heli-skiing , naturally, where you can receive exclusive ‘first up’ morning access to Schneetäli and Mehlsack to guarantee fresh tracks.

But there’s also the opportunity to hit the slopes with Arula’s little black book of former ski champions, including Olympic Gold Medalist Franz Klammer, candidly known as ‘the king of the downhill,’ who can take guests through the six key components of downhill skiing: technique, courage, speed, risk, physical condition and judgment. Or head out with Nadine Wallner, the inspirational double freeriding World Champion who first began skiing in the Arlberg region: She can provide firsthand knowledge of Lech’s terrain, as well as share tales over fondue back at the chalet about her incredible career.

From $10,000 per person. Contact [email protected], +43 664 467 4616, thearulachalets.com

Polar to Polar, Antarctica and the Arctic

A frankly astounding voyage, this itinerary from Viking spans 87 days and 12 countries. Available for the 2025-2026 season, the saga begins in Nuuk, Greenland where you can explore the Nuup Kangerlua Fjord by boat or kayak, witness floating icebergs and hike the Arctic coast; it concludes in the ‘Last Continent,’ where you’ll follow in the footsteps of intrepid adventurers and spend days exploring the dramatic landscapes.

In between the far North and extreme South, you’ll explore Canada (look out for whales at the Saguenay Fjord and explore Toronto’s bustling foodie scene); Mexico (sail the Gulf of Mexico and visit a sacred pre-Columbian Mayan religious site); Panama; Ecuador; Peru ; Chile (navigate the dramatic Chilean fjords) and Argentina (visit the ‘End of the World’ in Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego National Park). Your vessel is the Viking Octantis, a 655-ft Polar Class purpose-built expedition ship. Book the Owner’s Suite, a 1,238-sq-ft, multi-room suite with a Nordic balcony, garden lounge area with badestamp (a traditional wood-sided hot tub), separate dining area/boardroom seating six and library. Guests of the Owner’s Suite also get first dibs on embarkation, restaurant reservations and spa treatments.

From $80,995 per person. Contact +1 800 304 9616, vikingcruises.com

Land of the Rising Sun, Japan

Soaring mountains, bustling markets, tranquil shrines, onsen hot springs, unique cuisine, centuries-old traditions and futuristic cityscapes — Japan is a land of contrasts, and there is so much to experience that it can be hard to squeeze it all in during one trip. Enter: Tully Luxury Travel. The itinerary planning expert can create a custom journey through the land of the rising sun with private guides to showcase the culture and history.

Visit Tokyo and weave through the sprawling Tsukiji Market to indulge in local delicacies and enjoy a private sushi-making master class. Head north of Tokyo into the mountains to the town of Nikko — the scenery and sacred mountains have been the backdrop of Shinto and Buddhist worship since at least the 8th century. Visit the Toshogu Shrine and uncover the natural beauty of Nikko National Park with its lush forests and tumbling waterfalls.

You can also immerse yourself in Japanese craftsmanship during two distinct private workshops. First, discover Kintsugi, the art of using gold to fix broken pottery; it’s a component of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi that embraces impermanence and flaws. Then head to legendary swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara’s workshop and watch him shape a katana blade; Yoshihara’s work is on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For a different pace, board Guntu, a floating ryokan with 19 rooms, as it glides along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea.

The voyage begins in Hiroshima and includes visits to magical hidden corners and notable spots such as Naoshima, a renowned art destination you can explore with a private guide. Exploring new lands is thirsty work — quench your thirst at the Nishiyama Sake Brewery. Established in 1849, the brewery is set against Tamba’s scenic mountains and still creates sake using time-honored methods. Enjoy a sake pairing lunch in a traditional Japanese tatami room, surrounded by a private Japanese garden that is not accessible to the general public. Round off your Japanese adventure by staying at Moku Iseshima, a private villa perched on Masakijima Island. The owner of the villa is a skilled sushi master and can prepare sushi kaiseki using the freshest local seafood (if you wish, you can head out on a private fishing trip to catch your own).

Price on request. Contact Martha Jacobs, senior travel designer, [email protected], +1 855 360 7618, tullyluxurytravel.com

Skyrunner, Italy

Ran a marathon — perhaps even an ultra marathon — and looking for a new challenge (or a run to brag about)? Enter: Skyrunning. Pioneered in the 1990s by Italian mountaineer Marino Giacometti and a handful of fellow climbers, skyrunning is a type of mountain running that takes place at high altitudes, typically above 6,600 ft where the incline exceeds 30%. It combines elements of trail running, mountain climbing, and sometimes even scrambling over rough and technical terrain.

The courses often include steep ascents and descents on mountainous trails, rocky paths and alpine ridges. And where better to take up a bit of skyrunning than in the glowing Dolomite Mountains , a Unesco World Heritage Site? Make your way to Hotel Sassongher, a traditional South Tyrolean family-owned hotel located in the chic town of Corvara. The hotel’s expert mountain guide will test guests’ mettle along steep mountain running trails, pausing to gaze at the majestic scenery. Come afternoon, take some well-deserved rest in the rooftop whirlpool and sauna, and dine in one of the three traditional stubes (one of which dates back to the 16th century).

Skyrunning from $300 per day; suites from $675 per night. Contact [email protected], +39 047 183 6085, sassongher.it

Deep Sleep, Multi-destination

‘Adventure’ and ‘sleep’ are not two words you would usually associate with one another, but this itinerary from TCS World Travel, the most awarded private jet company, blissfully combines the two. Good quality sleep is intrinsically linked to our overall health and well-being, yet the vast majority of us don’t get enough decent shut-eye. This unique and customizable itinerary takes guests to remote destinations around the world, to get away from the overstimulation of everyday life and retreat to landscapes where silence and darkness are the norm.

Follow your circadian rhythms in dark sky destinations with little to no outside light pollution and designated quiet ecosystems around the globe, visiting nine secluded locations to hone the habits that lead to improved sleep. Throughout the 25-day journey, you’ll visit Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka , Saudi Arabia, Sweden and Canada. Highlights include: marveling at the night sky from Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in Hawaii ; spending time in the heart of the Outback at a private heritage site; staying on a secluded island in the Gulf of Thailand’s Koh Rong archipelago; sipping cocktails at a watering hole where elephants come to drink in Sri Lanka; looking out for the northern lights from one of Arctic Bath’s (a floating spa hotel) open-air hot tubs, and, if you’re feeling brave, take a dunk in the icy river water.

From $230,000 per person. Contact [email protected], +1 206 995 8655, tcsworldtravel.com

Private World, Mexico

While best known as a private jet charter company, VistaJet’s Private World offers a collection of exceptional experiences. Well-versed in creating adventures in the sky, the experiences take it one step further. Think: a master class with the world’s best winemakers, including the chance to have your own cellar curated or following in Picasso’s footsteps through France and Spain. One of the newest launches in the Private World collection, launched this year, is a wellness-focused journey in Mexico.

The 10-day trip begins with three nights at Todos Santos, where you’ll stay at the Rancho Pescadero, tucked between the sublime beaches of the Pacific coastline and the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains. Spend time in the indoor-outdoor spa; head into the desert for a private guided trek and cool off in the waterfalls; tap into ancient Mayan and Aztec traditions with a cacao ceremony; and salute the sunrise with rooftop yoga. Fly by private jet to Punta Mita, where you’ll spend three nights at the One&Only Mandarina , hidden away on the Riviera Nayarit’s spellbinding coastline. Go snorkeling around the coral reefs of Marieta Islands (the islands are home to dolphins and sea turtles), explore by horseback or spend time in the spa — each treatment room is built within a volcanic rock garden, and treatments are inspired by indigenous and pre-Hispanic cultures.

The final destination is Yucatán, where you’ll stay deep within the Mayan forest at Chablé Yucatan and receive a personalized wellness program. Immerse yourself deeper into Mayan culture at Granada community; there, you will meet resident Mayan women and learn how to cook a traditional recipe. Finally, visit Mexico’s most famed archaeological site, Chichen Itza, followed by a trip to a private cenote within the ruins of a historic ranch. Enjoy a three-course Yucatecán lunch (with tequila , of course) in the shade of the garden.

From $20,700 per person. Contact [email protected], +1 833 853 8872, vistajet.com

Champagne Cruising, France

What, in this world of ours, could possibly be more deliciously romantic than gently floating along France’s pastoral canals on board a chic riverboat? Belmond’s latest addition to its riverboat fleet, Coquelicot, will be officially launching in April. Named for a vibrant shade of red (the term ‘coquelicot’ was originally a French vernacular name for the wild corn poppy of the same hue), the boat has been designed by French architects Humbert & Poyet and has three cabins, an indoor salon with a bespoke champagne bar, and an extensive outdoor deck with an open-air kitchen and dining area.

Days can easily be spent languidly lazing on the boat, but exciting experiences await. Visit the champagne houses of Epernay or — thanks to Belmond’s exclusive partnership with Ruinart — visit the world’s oldest champagne house and head out on a tour of the vineyards before returning to the barge for a private lunch by Maison Ruinart’s chef-in-residence, accompanied by the sommelier’s premier selection of bottles, naturally. The barge is also available for private charter.

Contact +1 800 058 1237, belmond.com

The Perfect Pairing, Marrakech

An enduringly popular destination, Marrakech is pure magic: The frenetic energy of the mazelike souks; the striking Moorish architecture ; the bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa square; and a number of gorgeous boutique riads. This itinerary by Scott Dunn begins at one such riad, albeit a seriously luxe one — La Sultana is a slice of tranquility in the heart of old Marrakech. Rise with the sun and head out on an early morning run with a personal trainer to witness the vibrant city at its most tranquil, before ticking off all the big sights (including the veritable treasure chest of the Medina) with a private guide.

The next day, head into the stony desert to explore the rocky sand dunes and otherworldly landscape on quad bikes, before retreating to a plush nomadic tent; take in the vast desert while dining under the night sky. Then it’s on to the famed Atlas Mountains — making a pit stop at a local farm in the Kik Plateau, populated by Berbers, to see their traditional way of life. Explore the majestic High Atlas Mountains, hiking through breathtaking landscapes and cascading waterfalls. Arriving in Ourika, guests will saddle up for a mule ride through the Berber Villages to explore their tribes and traditions.

From $8,900 per person. Contact +1 212 738 9597, scottdunn.com

[See also: A Luxury Guide to Marrakech ]

All-terrain Drive, China

Songtsam (meaning ’paradise’ in Tibetan) was founded in 2000 by Baima Duoji, a former Tibetan documentary filmmaker. In 2001, he established the first boutique lodge in Diqing, Yunnan Province — named the Songtsam Lvgu Lodge. Since then, the award-winning collection of boutique hotels has grown to include 16 properties across the Tibetan Plateau — and Songtsam Tours provides an opportunity to combine visits at these different hotels and lodges, designed to discover the region’s diverse culture, rich biodiversity, scenic landscapes and unique living heritage. Songtsam has had a partnership with Land Rover since 2018; its guides have traveled on the Yunnan-Tibet line (where the company’s properties are found). But now, the two have joined forces to introduce two self-driving adventures behind the wheel of a Land Rover Defender.

The two all-terrain routes — Kawagebo Peak Route in Yunnan and the Southeast Tibet Route — provide a fun and seriously off-the-beaten-track experience. Songtsam’s professional drivers will subtly accompany you throughout the journey (and replace you as the driver if you fancy being a passenger), as well as a professional photographer to capture the trip. The journey from Shangri-La to Meili Snow Mountain covers the varied landscapes of the Hengduan Mountains, spanning from Yunnan’s highest point, Kawagebo Peak (22,113 ft), to the Lancang River Valley (altitude below 6,562 ft). This three-mile elevation difference shapes the diverse terrains, including snowcapped mountains, glaciers, meadows, forests and hot dry valleys.

Contact [email protected], songtsam.com

Under the Sea, Maldives

Home to the most astonishing turquoise waters and interesting marine life, the Maldives is a haven for seafarers. At Patina Maldives, Fari Islands in the North Malé Atoll, guests can head a little deeper thanks to a new partnership with pioneering diving and water sports operator Dive Butler International. Ocean Pearl is a two-person submarine that has been engineered by the world-renowned SEAmagine Hydrospace Corporation (SEAmagine submersibles have accumulated over 12,000 dives — surpassing the total number of dives accumulated by all of its competitors combined) and will be operated in conjunction with Dive Butler. Its submarine pilots have gone through extensive training certification, including the completion of SEAmagine’s rigorous training program.

Every expedition is led by an onboard pilot and a surface co-pilot. Ocean Pearl can get up close to reefs safely — and has a 360-degree cabin view, meaning you’ll have an unobstructed peek at the world beneath the surface. Ocean Pearl also offers an opportunity to participate in interactive programs under the sea, contributing directly to the preservation and protection of the marine ecosystem. Under the guidance of marine biologists and environmental experts, guests take part in data collection and documentation, and help ongoing research efforts.

Dives from $2,500 per person; Beach Villas from $1,900 per night. Contact [email protected], +960 400 0555, patinahotels.com

Land and Sea Safari, Africa

Dorsia Travel was founded by couple Tom and Lucie Cahalan after they’d spent many years concocting their own experiential travel itineraries (and creating dream itineraries for their friends). In fact, Tom’s blog, The Good, The Bad and The Luxurious, detailed his self-funded trips (no influencer trips here) and he quickly became a trusted authority on all things luxury travel — a number of the blog’s earliest readers now count among Dorsia Travel’s long-standing clients. Dorsia (yes, named for the fictional restaurant in American Psycho where it is impossible to get a ‘res’) has unveiled new itineraries for 2024, including the Helping Hands Land and Sea Safari.

It begins with five nights at Kenya’s Ol Jogi, an exceptional 11-bedroom estate on a private 58,000-acre conservancy. The over-the-top lodge is a lesson in maximalism (according to Tom: “It looks like the Addams Family designed it, whilst on mushrooms”), with riotous decor, secret tunnels, a real bank vault on-site and a sprawling pool with a waterfall. But dig a little deeper and there’s more to it — the owners fund a world-leading veterinary clinic, finance sustainability initiatives at neighboring conservancies and fund locals’ schooling.

During the five nights, guests can help out by feeding elephants and having other close encounters with the animals with the support of Ol Jogi’s committed guides. For a greater overview of Ol Jogi’s surroundings, Dorsia Travel can organize naturalist-guided helicopter tours over Mount Kenya and nearby lakes. A private charter to Rwanda allows for a four-night stay at the four-bed Singita Kataza House and the opportunity to interact with gorillas in the wild. After additional days hiking and admiring playful golden monkeys, there’s time to decompress during a five-night stay at Tanzania’s paradisiacal Thanda Island . This idyllic five-bed retreat is surrounded by the serene Shungi Mbili Island Marine Reserve. Along with supporting coral reef-restoration projects and potentially observing nesting turtles, stays here from October to March provide the possibility of swimming in the Indian Ocean’s warm waters with whale sharks.

From $650,000 for eight people. Contact Tom Cahalan, founder, [email protected], +44 122 375 5195, dorsiatravel.com

[See also: Experience Luxury South Africa with Completely Unique Safaris ]

This article appears in the 04 Mar 2024 issue of the New Statesman, Spring 2024

Samantha Coles

Latest in luxury, the explorer.

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The 14 Best Travel Watches for the Holidays

We’ve curated some of the best GMTs, 12-hour bezels and digital travel watches available, from the ultra-cheap to the ultra-premium.

By Oren Hartov

While any watch can accompany you on a journey, there are certain types of timepieces that are particularly suited to travel . GMT and other types of dual-time watches, analog or digital world timers and even simple date watches can be particularly helpful when trying to keep track of multiple time zones. While these types of watches can be incredibly affordable or wildly expensive, the good news is that there’s a great travel watch for everybody. So when you’re looking to buy someone the perfect watch for that next adventure, do yourself a favor by starting here:

Casio AE1200WH-1A

The AE1200WH-1A features a world timer with 31 time zones, city code display, daylight savings feature, LED screen with afterglow, 10-year battery and 100m of water resistance, all for $25. Pretty much the most watch you can possibly get for the cost of a salad and a soft drink in NYC, and perfect for the traveling adventurer.

Timex Navi Ocean

The Navi Ocean may have a fairly standard field watch look to it, but it’s the 12-hour bezel, which can be used to track a second time zone, that makes this a great, inexpensive travel companion. With its grey leather Nato strap, quartz movement and quickset date, this black-dialed watch can go just about anywhere with you.

Dan Henry 1963

It’s not all that difficult to guess who made the watch the 1963 is based upon (hint: it rhymes with Schmeitling), but the benefit of this modern quartz version is that it’s distinctly affordable, and the additional strap, canvas strap roll and bi-directional 12-hour bezel make it perfect for travel.

Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster Nighthawk

A highly technical dial with an integreated slide rule inner chapter ring operated by an extra crown, the Nighthawk clearly takes inspiration from the pilot’s watches of yesterday but improves the feature set with a quartz analog display, second time zone, Eco-Drive light-powered movement and 200m of water resistance.

Orient Polaris GMT

Orient consistently delivers incredible value for money, and the Polaris is no exception. You get an automatic movement powering an independatly-adjustable GMT hand, power reserve indicator and date function, all housed in an elegant, white-dialed 42mm case with blue steeled hands for $415.

Luminox RECON Nav SPC-8832.MI

A 46mm case may be large, but Luminox fit a ton of watch in here: you get a 24-hour bezel, a tachymeter scale in miles, an alarm function, a GMT function, 200m of water resistance, a countdown quadrant, and a black rubber strap with raised scale and compass. To want anything more for $500 would be a heavy ask.

Junghans Max Bill Mega

The Mega may look like any other Bauhaus-inspired watch in the Max Bill line, but this latest version, which is available in four dials, features a radio-controlled movement with perpetual calendar, accurate up the year 2400 without manual adjustment. Probably the perfect travel dress watch.

Mido Multifort GMT

The Mido Multifort is one of our favorite affordable, automatic GMTs. With a dual-crown design, inner rotating bezel in two colors and dial featuring a Geneva stripe motif, the Multifort GMT melds different influences to bring a fresh look to the dual-time zone complication.

Hamilton Jazzmaster GMT Auto

Hamilton consistently comes through with great value propositions, and the Jazzmaster GMT Auto is no exception. With a 24-hour hand and an inner, rotating city ring with 24-hour scale, this is the perfect complicated travel watch. Features include a 42mm steel case and automatic movement (a version on a bracelet is also available for an additional $50).

Farer Lander GMT

Probably one of the most beautiful GMTs of the last few years, the Lander combines a gorgeous sea-colored sunray dial with the workhorse ETA 2893-2 automatic GMT movement in a 39.5mm case for the perfect dual-time watch. Farer’s GMT is available in two other dial colors, but there’s something about the way the Lander catches the light that makes it special.

Monta Skyquest

If you’re looking for a technical, tool watch-GMT, look no further: the Skyquest is one of the best. Available in multiple bezel, dial and strap combinations, the Skyquest is water-resistant down to 304m and can actually give you the time in three different time zones thanks to the presence of a 24-hour rehaut on the dial.

Sinn 857 UTC VFR

Most modern pilot’s watches are really pilot- inspired watches, but the Sinn 857 is the real deal. Tested in accordance with a DIN standard for pilot’s timepieces, the 857 UTC features a 24-hour hand, countdown bezel and integrated de-humidfying technology for increased legibility. One of the toughest travel watches you can buy, hands-down.

Tudor Black Bay GMT

The Tudor Black Bay brought the functionality and look of its Rolex big brother to the masses at a much more stomachable price. With its COSC-certified, in-house GMT movement, beautiful dual-color bezel and 200m of water resistance, the BB GMT could potentially be the only travel watch you ever need.

Rolex GMT Master II 126710BLRO

The travel watch, or at least the latest iteration of it, in steel again — praise be to the Watch Gods! Featuring a new and improved movement, a Jubilee bracelet and Cerachrom bezel, this is the watch to wear in 2018, and the prototypical jetsetter’s timepiece. Good luck finding one available at MSRP, however.

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5 amazing holidays to Japan for an unforgettable adventure

Considering a once-in-a-lifetime Japan holiday? Look no further with these magnificent options

While the country's big-hitting cities such as spiritual Kyoto, cosmopolitan Osaka and vibrant Tokyo, Japan's capital and a popular springboard for Mount Fuji, are all must-sees, there are the sunny southern islands of Japan to discover too. With breath-taking beaches and a slower pace of life, they're the ideal spot for a more leisurely trip. And then there are the Japanese Alps, vast and verdant, and a hugely popular choice for a Japan skiing holiday.

While you need to consider where you'd like to visit on your epic Japan adventure, there's also the case of how . Flights go direct from London to Tokyo, but when it comes to choosing how to traverse this incredible country there are numerous options – from guided coach tours to luxury cruises.

For a helping hand with where to start, we've rounded up some of our favourite ways to discover Japan, including a group tour across the Japanese Alps , a 17-day cruise during beautiful cherry blossom season, and an indulgent inclusive break in sun-drenched Okinawa.

A tour of Japan's essential highlights

Embark on this thrilling 13-day roundtrip from Tokyo, which showcases the magical, ancient heritage of Japan as well as its futuristic, neon-lit metropolises. This guided tour, which includes coach travel and hotel accommodation, will give you plenty of time to soak up the colour and culture of Japan's capital, which boasts the bustling shopping district of Ginza, vivid Harajuku, iridescent Akihabara electric town, and world-famous Meiji Shrine in Shibuya, the commercial district.

Beyond Tokyo, you'll visit majestic Mount Fiji, Japan's tallest peak; ride the Shinkansen, the high-speed bullet train; see the resident deer in the city of Nara; spend the day in Hiroshima, which has been rebuilt into an attractive, modern city; and have the chance to stay in a ryokan , a typical Japanese inn, in Kyoto. This accessible and fully-organised tour covers all the essentials and more.

Join us on the Good Housekeeping 13-day Japan tour in August 2024.

A cruise in beautiful cherry blossom season

One of the biggest draws to Japan is undeniably its picturesque cherry blossom season and the custom of hanami , admiring the beauty of it. Every spring, millions of locals and visitors alike patiently wait for the first sakura (the Japanese term for cherry blossom) buds to bloom, showing off their delicate, baby pink-hued petals. The abundance of blossom flowering is celebrated with festivals, picnics and the eating of seasonal, sakura-themed delicacies.

If experiencing this springtime phenomenon is on your bucket list, then this 17-day cruise in Japan is for you. While giving you the opportunity to catch the cherry blossom in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, the leisurely sailing with Holland America enables you to see plenty more of Japan, too. Other port stops include Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Aomori and the lively, karaoke-loving city of Busan in South Korea. And all of this is without mentioning the incredible entertainment, food and bars onboard your ship, of course.

Embark on a 17-day cherry blossom cruise around Japan with Good Housekeeping in 2025.

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A jaunt through the Japanese Alps with plenty of tradition

While this group tour ticks off the unmissable cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, it takes its guests on a journey through the beautiful Japanese Alps, a series of mountain ranges on the island of Honshu. This mountainous region is home to an abundance of picturesque cities and towns, all offering a glimpse into Japan's rural life. On this 13-day tour you'll visit the pretty city of Takayama, which brims with Edo Period houses, food and craft markets and traditional restaurants.

You'll also get the chance to wander the village of Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its thatched roof farmhouses that are said to resemble the praying hands of Buddhist monks. Along with admiring gorgeous scenery, you'll have the chance to get on hands-on with activities such as miso-making, washi paper-making, gold leaf crafting and origami. If you're craving a taste of traditional Japan, you'll find bags of it on this brilliantly-curated trip.

Explore the Japanese Alps with Good Housekeeping in 2024 or 2025.

A city break in Tokyo, Japan's energetic capital

If you've got limited time or would prefer to dedicate your trip to just one destination in Japan, then Tokyo is the answer. Known as Edo until 1868, the Japanese capital is the world's most populous city and thus it's a melting pot of activity, culture and cuisines. As city breaks go, you'll be spoilt for choice here: see the Imperial Palace and many landscaped gardens (we like Koishikawa Korakuen and Hama Rikyu) in central Tokyo, the museums and towering Skytree viewing platform for city-wide views in northern Tokyo, and the busy shopping and entertainment districts of Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku in the west.

For easy access to all of this (and so much more) it's best to base yourself centrally, and a hotel would give you the benefit of a helpful concierge to offer recommendations, book transfers and advise on transport throughout your trip. In a city with so much to offer, a bit of local knowledge goes a long way.

Plan a Tokyo city break British Airways, where you can book flights and hotels as a package.

A relaxing all-inclusive holiday in Okinawa

The idyllic island of Ishigaki is part of the Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan, where the climate is tropical and the weather is warm and humid all year round. It's here that you'll find Club Med's Kabira Ishigaki resort , perched on the edge of the Kabira peninsula with endless views of the turquoise ocean ahead. A family-friendly resort, Kabira Ishigaki is the ideal way to see Japan with a hearty side of rest and relaxation. You can lounge around the freshwater pool and unwind with a treatment in the spa, or, on days where you can muster the energy, try your hand at windsurfing or kayaking in the crystal-clear sea.

The ocean is sacred here, as it's home to manta rays and other marine life, and guests wanting to learn more about life under the water's surface can book eco-friendly snorkelling tours or day trips to nearby islands. There's the chance to experience local culture on dry land too, as guests can take part in sanshin lessons (an Okinawan musical instrument that's similar to a banjo) and sample Okinawan flavours with a selection of traditional dishes, all served in a restaurant that offers 180-degree sea views. Sounds like paradise to us...

Soak up the sun, sand and sea of southern Japan at Club Med's Kabira Ishigaki resort.

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More From Forbes

The most comfortable u.s. airlines—according to a new report.

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To determine the most comfortable airlines, WalletHub considered things like leg space in economy, ... [+] free Wifi and snack service.

Plenty of metrics can be used to rank the best airlines, from safety measures to customer satisfaction ratings and how their fleet and crew does at getting passengers to their destinations on time. But which airlines are the most comfortable for passengers? According to a new study from WalletHub , there’s a tie between two U.S. airlines: Both Delta and JetBlue earned the honors for being the most comfortable airlines.

WalletHub, a personal finance company, released its 2024 best airline rankings this week, using several metrics to gauge reliability, comfort, safety, and affordability.

The best U.S. airline overall is Alaska Airlines, according to the rankings. However, Spirit Airlines was ranked the best for affordability and safety and Delta ranked the highest for reliability.

How Are the Most Comfortable Airlines Determined?

Passenger airplane taking of at sunrise

To determine which airlines are most comfortable, research analysts considered factors such as legroom in economy, entertainment options like live TV or movies, Wi-Fi availability (and whether it’s free), and if there’s free snacks and drinks on domestic flights over two hours.

Free amenities like Wi-Fi and complimentary snacks and beverages set Delta Airlines and JetBlue Airways apart from other airlines when it comes to in-flight experiences, according to the report. Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines are tied for third place in the category.

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In addition to being the most comfortable, Delta Airlines also is the most reliable, according to the study, with the lowest rate of cancellations, delays, mishandled luggage and denied boardings.

How Can Airlines Make Flights More Comfortable?

Profile view of a young man using computer on vehicle seat during his flight by plane.

Along with safety, comfort is top of mind for lots of travelers. Cramped quarters with not enough leg room, dry air, and lackluster snack options or meals are all some of the comfort woes passengers face. In March, low-cost carrier Frontier began offering a $49 upgrade to customers that don’t want anyone next to them in the middle seat. The “UpFront Plus” upgrade blocks out the middle seat giving passengers more elbow room, and is available in the first two rows of the plane.

So, what are some ways airlines can improve passenger comfort?

“As for on-board comfort, the obvious answer is better seats, but this improvement will tend to increase weight and that converts to increased fuel costs which the airlines will understandably avoid if they possibly can (and not an easy change to implement),” says Don Koorse, an assistant professor the College of Aeronautics at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.

The offering of increased on-board amenities such as food, and Wi-Fi without charge is always appreciated, Koorse says.

Another idea? Having apps update faster so you can get out of your middle seat reservation when a fellow passenger in an aisle or window gets upgraded, suggests Matthew “Monty” Montgomery , the department chairman of the Department of Professional Aviation at Louisiana Tech University.

“There have been many times I sat in the gate area mashing the refresh button repeatedly, hoping to get out of the middle when other passengers upgrade to first,” he says. “Having that ability is huge and why I chose one airline over the other.”

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