The best GPS watch for hiking is the one which has an extensive range of physical and technological features including a comfy design, long-lasting battery, air pressure sensors, weather prediction, compass, GPS, and a durable carcass. However, paying 250 bucks for a high-end smartwatch may cause a severe dent in your pocket. Conversely, the cheap ones are outdated, and usually, don’t even have half of these features. What’s the solution then? You may ask. How to find a hiking smartwatch which is affordable as well as enhances your hiking experience? Please don’t fret about it. We will discuss some of the solutions in our list of the best hiking watches under 100 USD. Read on for details!
Casio Men’s Pro Trek PRG-270-1
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Of course, the first one from the list of Best GPS Watches For Hiking has to be from CASIO – time and again tested brand for quality. The Pro Trek PRG -270-1 was launched back in 2015, and it is still holding up its position as one of the best hiking watches in 2019. It is waterproof, has a sturdy plastic case and weighs at 67g which isn’t as much as its chunky display looks when you glance at it for the first time. A solar-powered battery makes it suitable for prolonged outdoor usage. The compass, temperature, altitude and Barometer pressure readings are just one press of a button away. The large-sized buttons make the three sensors all the more accessible.
What we loved:
It has a very uncluttered and legible display, unlike most of the modern camping watches. The ABC functions are quite fast and accurate as per our observation. We particularly love the snooze alarm since it is not very loud and distracting. The backlighting is perfect. Unlike previous models from Casio, this one uses sideways LEDs instead of a backlight display LED.
What we couldn’t love as much:
Considering that this camping watch came out in 2015, it’s design feels outdated. Secondly, The Casio replacement bands are sometimes hard to find in the market and a bit expensive when compared with competitors. Moreover, the temperature feature works when taken off your wrist, and it takes some time to acclimate, which can be frustrating on a hiking trip.
Casio recently released better models. However, Pro Trek PRG 270-1 still holds its own by providing for basic hiking needs at a relatively low price. Due to its simplistic design, you can also use it for everyday wear.
Amazfit BIP by Huami Smartwatch
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Amazfit BIP by Huami offers many similar features as Garmin but at an unbelievably low price. It includes GPS tracking, heart-rate monitoring and an activity tracking option that can be synchronised with your smartphones (both Android and iOS) for enhanced functionality. Its display is small and lightweight. As per the manufacturer, its battery lasts for 45 days on a single 2.5 hr recharge. Unbelievable right? It is available in four stylish colours White Cloud, Onyx Black, Cinnabar Red and Kokoda Green.
What we loved:
Designed as a nod to The Pebble Steel, BIP’s hardware is surprisingly elegant for its price. The rubber band is soft. Its marathon battery life is another plus. Think in weeks not days. You can wander around without worrying about low-battery. You can even save some more battery by turning off the heart rate, changing the watch faces, smartphone notifications and other such battery consuming features. The display is always on – which has already spoiled me as I hate tapping my wrist to count my steps. Furthermore, the screen is quite readable in direct sunlight.
What we couldn’t love as much:
As unbelievable as it sounds, BIP does have some limitations. New apps cannot be installed. So you are stuck with a handful of built-in factory apps like MiFit, fitness summary app, AliPay Payments QR code-based mini-app, weather, timer, stopwatch and a compass. Timer and stopwatch don’t run in the background, which can be frustrating for some users. Lastly, synching with smartphone tested our patience. Perhaps Huami needs to work on the software upgrade next time.
All in all, Amazfit BIP by Huami is a fantastic camping and hiking watch under 100 USD suitable for everyone. It has a simple display, affordable price, elegant design, and excellent battery life. We couldn’t ask for a better GPS watch in the same budget range.
Timex Expedition Grid Shock
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While Timex is relatively new to the hiking watch industry, the Expedition Grid Shock is an excellent value for money. The large screen and square body give it a bulky feel. It has a countdown timer, stopwatch, Hydration alarm and vibration alarms. The stainless steel top ring helps make it shock-resistant and durable. It is also water-resistant up to a hundred meters. The indigo night light feature ensures visibility after dark.
What we loved:
This camping watch is quite sturdy and comfortable. It doesn’t feel cheap or fragile. We particularly enjoyed the hydration alert feature. It alerts the user if they haven’t taken enough water. This feature is quite useful during the long hiking expeditions. The battery life is good for its price, and the vibrating alarm feature makes it all the handier. It alerts you without bothering other people with constant beeps. What’s more, it also has a killer altimeter.
What we couldn’t love as much:
The design of this watch leaves a lot to be desired. It is uninspiring and mindful of the digital watch explosion of the early 2000s. The surface is easily scratchable, though you can avoid it using a screen protector. It doesn’t have daylight saving time feature. So if you are travelling to another time zone, you better adjust the hour manually. Additionally, It has no GPS either. The face of the watch is rather significant. While we had no issues when we tried it, people with smaller wrists may find the display too large.
At the end of the day, if you need the best hiking watch under 100 USD, this sweet baby has got your back. It is lightweight, durable and water-resistant. The display looks terrific after dark due to indigo lightening. This watch can also serve as a first camping watch for your children if you are planning on taking them out on a hiking trip.
Lad Weather ABC Hiking watch
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The very first model of Sensor Master Series has now become a global standard of multifunction watches. It has a round shape and digital display. Its prominent features are a thermometer, altitude, Barometer, compass, stopwatch, weather forecast, water-resistant display, track-mode, countdown timer and alarms. The plastic case makes it durable and lightweight.
What we loved:
The track mode which measures the relative altitude comes quite handy on long hiking trips. It measures the ascending or descending elevation between two points. Furthermore, you can check your altimeter history for the last 34 hours. The compass and weather forecast are also entirely accurate. There are six different primary colours of the aluminium ring to choose from. The display is also available in two different colours, either positive or negative.
What we couldn’t love as much:
Now, this might be a deal-breaker for some people. It has no GPS or Bluetooth functionality. Secondly, the choice between the alarms is minimal since there are just two. Finally, the initial calibration process for the compass is excruciating. We had no issues with compass afterwards though.
The Lad Weather has all the features you would expect from a modern hiking watch. Besides, the ABCs are accurate and work great under all conditions. It’s durable and water-resistant. The colour options make it equally suitable for women’s hiking watch. Furthermore, you get all this awesomeness at a quarter of the price. It is undoubtedly one of the best hiking budget watches.
Pyle PSWWM82GN – Best GPS Watches For Hiking
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The Pyle PSWWM82GN multifunction sports watch has a stylish futuristic design. It boasts a chronograph in addition to the usual features of a modern trekking watch. Furthermore, the dual time zone function displays a second-time zone. The power saver mode detects low battery and adjusts various features accordingly. Like the Lad Weather, it also has a 34-hour memory to store data. The electroluminescent display ensures convenient readings in low light. Its surface is also water and scratch-resistant.
What we loved:
With a clean finish, readable and pleasant display colours, no wobbly buttons and a durable design, we loved the entire package. The ABCs and other features work fine. The battery lasts longer than we expected.
What we couldn’t love as much:
It has a low contrast watch face which means the display gets harder to read when you are at 45 or above degree angle. Also, it has a relatively low backlight when compared with other hiking watches on this list.
The Pyle PSWWM82GN is a lightweight but heavy-duty and colourful camping watch. It works great when attached to your wrist, but when connected to your pack, it becomes instrumental. The different colour options make it equally suitable for everyone.
Phew! That concludes our list of the Best GPS Watches For Hiking under 100 USD. Regardless of your requirements, this list boasts the right balance of style, comfort, cost efficiency and your basic hiking needs. You too can now start hiking with confidence without breaking your bank. So what are you waiting? Strap a suitable hiking watch on and start your adventure.