Best smartwatches for hiking
Smartwatches make navigating the great outdoors simple and enjoyable. Here's our pick of the best devices for anyone ready to do some exploring.
The latest hiking smartwatches
What to look for
Built-in GPS
Track your location and record your distances with built-in GPS technology, helping you hike with confidence.
OneNumber plan benefits
Share your phone’s airtime and data allowances with your smartwatch, so you can stay connected while out on your adventures.
Heart rate monitoring
Keep track of your health throughout your journey with heart monitoring features.
Seamless smartphone pairing
Sync with your smartphone to receive texts, emails and social media notifications while you're out hiking. All thanks to our OneNumber Connectivity Plan.
Apple smartwatches for hiking
Apple Watch Series 9
Featuring double tap, a magical way to interact with Apple Watch¹
Faster on-device Siri and Precision Finding for iPhone²
Keep an eye on your blood oxygen³, and take an ECG anytime
Get notifications if you have an irregular heart rhythm
The Workout app gives you a range of ways to train plus advanced metric for more insights about your workout performance
Fall Detection⁶ and Crash Detection can connect you to emergency services in the event of a hard fall or a serious car crash
Emergency SOS lets you call for help with the press of a button⁷
Crack-resistant, IP6X-certified dust resistant⁸ and swim proof with 50m water resistance⁹
Send a text, take a call listen to music and podcasts, use Siri and get notifications on the go
Apple Watch Series 9 is a powerful hiking companion. Find your way with the Compass app with Waypoints and Barracks, and an even-brighter display makes your route easier to read, even when your wrist is down.
Plus, your health is at hand with apps tracking your blood oxygen³ and heart rate⁴, along with Fall Detection⁶ and Emergency SOS⁷ which provide peace of mind for when you tackle more challenging hikes.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The most rugged and capable Apple Watch
Designed for outdoor adventures and supercharged workouts
Lightweight titanium case, extra-long battery life¹ and the brightest-ever display
Featuring double tap, a magical way to interact with Apple Watch²
Up to 36 hours of battery life and 72 hours in Low Power Mode
Large Digital Crown and customisable Action button for instant control over a variety of functions
100m water resistance³
Advanced metrics and views in the Workout app, including Heart Rate Zones, custom workouts, and new cycling workout views
The Compass app delivers helpful views and details like elevation, incline, longitude and latitude.
The most rugged and capable Apple Watch. Designed for outdoor adventures and supercharged workouts, with a lightweight titanium case, extra-long battery life¹ and the brightest-ever display.
Elevation and Compass Waypoint additions aid outdoor exploration, while Fall Detection⁴ and Crash Detection can connect you to emergency services in the event of an accident.
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
GPS and cellular connectivity to help you navigate the trail¹
Up to 20% faster than the previous Apple Watch SE²
Advanced safety features including Fall Detection and Emergency SOS³
Get high and low heart rate and irregular rhythm notifications⁴
Listen to your favourite music, podcasts, and audiobooks (for use with GPS models)
Heavy on features yet light on price, Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) keeps you active with customisable workouts and advanced views and metrics.
Stay motivated by challenging your friends to see who can hike the furthest and your favourite music, podcasts, and audiobooks will keep you entertained along the way.
Track your health while out and about with high and low heart rate and irregular rhythm notifications⁴, plus Fall Detection and Emergency SOS³ have your back in case the trail takes an unexpected turn.
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) comes with 3 free months of Apple Fitness+, featuring 11 different workout types, including yoga and meditations⁵, to help you unwind after a hard hike.
Android smartwatches for hiking
Samsung Galaxy Watch6
The largest screen on a Samsung Galaxy watch yet
Keep an eye on your cardio health by monitoring your heart rate
Stay on top of your blood pressure and get heart rhythm readings with the built-in ECG¹
Reach your personal fitness goals by measuring your body composition²
Keep on track all day and night with a long lasting battery
Your go-to apps, tunes and podcasts are always at hand, thanks to 16GB of storage³
Sync with your phone for a truly connected experience⁴
Navigate even the trickiest terrain like never before, with the Samsung Galaxy Watch6.
With a plethora of advanced health features, from blood pressure and heart rate readings to body fat and muscle density measurements, you can hike with confidence, knowing the Watch6 is keeping an eye on you every step of the way.
It's also the perfect partner if you have a Galaxy smartphone, offering seamless connectivity for ultimate convenience.
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro
BIA body composition¹
Bioactive sensor
Heart rate and blood pressure monitor³
Turn by turn GPS navigation
Blood oxygen level tracking
Track back - return home guidance
Fall detection monitoring⁶
Uses Samsung Health
When it comes to hiking in the great outdoors, Galaxy Watch5 Pro is your performance coach and lead navigator.
Import pre-plotted routes and receive turn-by-turn instructions throughout your journey, thanks to active GPS guidance. Monitor your body composition, heart rate and blood pressure³ to make sure you’re in perfect condition for a strenuous hike.
Keep yourself safe whilst exploring with sophisticated fall detection², that can call and text an emergency contact if needed.
Take on the rugged terrain with a tough titanium frame, magnetic d buckle strap, and a durable sapphire crystal glass screen. And with long-lasting battery life, your outdoor adventure is only over when you say it is.
Google Pixel Watch 2
A lighter, more advanced design¹
Fitbit's most accurate heart rate tracking
Track skin temp changes
Assess your heart rhythm with the ECG app
Check your blood oxygen level
Reach your goals faster with Pace Training
Feel more at ease with Safety Check
Get help if you need it with Emergency SOS²
With its lighter design and advanced health and safety features, the Google Pixel Watch 2 is the perfect companion for your hiking adventures.
Three new sensors enable heart rate tracking, skin temperature tracking and stress management³, so you can keep on top of your health mid-trek, while Safety Check and Emergency SOS help to keep you safe wherever it is you’re hiking to.
Trail apps for hiking
Choosing a third party hiking app for your smartwatch
Your smartwatch will track and store all your hiking data for you. However, there are several great hiking apps available that allow you to monitor your progress and achieve your goals.
Here are a few third party hiking apps that are an ideal companion for when your on the trail - they're free to download via either the App Store or Google Play (depending on smartwatch compatibility).
AllTrails
AllTrails is an essential app for avid hikers of all skill levels. Loaded with over 50,000 trails from around the world, you’ll have no shortage of amazing outdoor adventures. You can even filter for trails that are dog-friendly and wheelchair-accessible.
MapMyWalk
If you enjoy keeping on top of your performance whilst you hike, then MapMyWalk by UnderArmour is made for you. Get audio-feedback on your GPS-tracked hikes and view in-depth insights such as calories burned, distance, duration, pace, and elevation.
Hiking Project
Looking for some trail inspiration? Use Hiking Project to find full GPS route details, elevation profiles, and photos of more than 74,000 miles of trail. You can even save interesting points on the trail as "gems" so you can easily revisit them.
Looking to use your hiking watch for running too?
If you love going running just as much as hiking, then discover the best smartwatches for running to find the perfect device for when you want to pick up the pace.
Plus, if you are a workout fanatic that loves all kinds of exercise, then check out the best smartwatches for fitness to find out which device can help you beat your personal best.
Terms and conditions
Apple Watch Series 9 requires iPhone XS or later with iOS 17 or later.
¹Available late 2023. Requires Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2.
²Requires an iPhone and Apple Watch with second-generation Ultra Wideband chip.
³The Blood Oxygen app is for wellness purposes only and not for medical use.
⁴The ECG app is available on Apple Watch Series 4 and later (excluding Apple Watch SE) and can generate an ECG similar to a single-lead electrocardiogram. Intended for use by people 22 years old and over.
⁵Irregular rhythm notification requires the latest versions of watchOS and iOS. It is not intended for use by people under 22 years old or those who have been previously diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF).
⁶Fall Detection updates are available on Apple Watch Series 4 and later with watchOS 8 and later.
⁷Emergency SOS requires a cellular connection or Wi-Fi calling with an internet connection from your Apple Watch or nearby iPhone.
⁸Apple Watch Series 9 is rated IP6X dust resistant.
⁹Apple Watch Series 9 has a water resistance rating of 50 metres under ISO standard 22810:2010. This means it may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. Apple Watch Series 9 should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and can diminish over time. For additional information, see support.apple.com/HT205000. Apple Watch Series 9 is also rated IP6X dust resistant.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 requires iPhone XS or later with iOS17 or later.
¹Battery life varies by use and configuration. See apple.com/uk/batteries for more information.
²Available late 2023. Requires Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2.
³Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a water resistance rating of 100 metres under ISO standard 22810 and may be used for high-speed water sports and recreational scuba diving (with compatible third-party app from the App Store) to 40 metres. Should not be used for diving below 40 metres. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and can diminish over time. For additional information, see support.apple.com/HT205000. Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also rated IP6X dust resistant.
⁴Fall Detection updates are available on Apple Watch Series 4 and later with watchOS 8 and later.
Apple Watch SE requires an iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16 or later.
¹Wireless service plan required for cellular service. Contact your service provider for more details. Connection may vary based on network availability. Check apple.com/watch/cellular for participating wireless carriers and eligibility. See support.apple.com/en-gb/HT207578 for additional setup instructions.
²Results based on the performance of common user tasks. Testing conducted by Apple in August 2022 using preproduction Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and shipping Apple Watch SE (1st generation), each paired with an iPhone; all devices tested with prerelease software. Results reflect the approximate performance of Apple Watch.
³Emergency SOS requires a cellular connection or Wi-Fi Calling with an internet connection from your Apple Watch or nearby iPhone.
⁴Irregular rhythm notification requires the latest versions of watchOS and iOS. It is not intended for use by people under 22 years old or those who have been previously diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (Afib).
⁵A subscription is required for Apple Fitness+.
¹ECG and BP feature only to be used by 22 years+. For accurate BP readings, monthly calibration required by GP or BP monitor and arm cuff. Requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 10 or above.
²Do not measure your body composition if you are pregnant, have an implanted pacemaker or other implanted medical devices.
³User memory is less than the total memory due to storage of the operating system and software used to operate the watch features.
4Requires Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Android 10 or above.
¹Do not measure your body composition if you are pregnant, have an implanted pacemaker or other implanted medical devices.
²Can initiate Emergency call and message if you take a hard fall and don't seem to move. Galaxy Watch4 Series cannot detect all falls. The more physically active you are, the more likely you are to trigger Fall Detection due to high impact activity that can appear to be a fall. Sending SOS calls and messages requires network connection and smartphone pairing.
³ECG and BP feature only to be used by 22 years+. For accurate BP readings, monthly calibration required by GP or BP monitor and arm cuff. Requires a Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 or above.
¹Compared to first generation Google Pixel Watch
²Emergency SOS requires location-enabled and 4G LTE service or an internet connection. Emergency SOS is dependent upon network connectivity and other factors, and may not be reliable for emergency communications or available in all countries or languages. See g.co/pixelwatch/personalsafety for more details.
³Some features require the Fitbit mobile app. Performance of heart rate tracking may be affected by physiology, location of device and your movements and activity. Skin temperature tracking not available in all countries.