In theory, to go hiking all you need is a pair of sturdy hiking boots, a pack and some warm layers. But talk to an expert, and they’ll gently remind you that it’s best to have snacks, a tried and true pair of socks, water, a trail map and some sort of GPS tracking device — you know, just in case. Our Outdoors and Fitness team recently had to plan (and pack) for a hike in upstate New York. We set out to hike the highest peak in the state, Mount Marcy. We figured it would be the perfect time to test out some of the top-rated GPS tracking watches out there.
While there are tons of GPS tracking watches out there, we looked for ones that had an impressive battery life, accurate GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring and a sleek profile.
Best for Long Distance Hikes: Garmin Fenix 5S
Garmin’s highly accurate GPS status holds true here. With a battery life that lasts up to a week (without GPS), this watch is a game-changer. The official count is 11 hours with GPS, but typically the 5S will last at least a week, even while logging runs up to five times a week. We had to do some laps in the parking lot of the Adirondak Loj to get it to sync with the satellites, but after that, we had zero issues. Our tester was able to see exactly how long we had left during our hike thanks to a breadcrumb method. After six-plus hours out in the mountains, we were able to use the sunrise calculator to plan our next day’s sunrise hike. It was extremely accurate.
Battery Life: up to 11 hours with GPS
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Key Features: wrist-based HR, barometric altimeter, accelerometer and gyroscope, thermometer, Garmin Connect app, compass, multisport, waypoints
