GPS Watches

Reviewed by BigRed

A modest looking GPS, heart rate monitor, and smart watch that delivers reams of training information. Pairs with a mobile phone to deliver loads of other features and is fully customizable. A good choice for athletes engaged in systematic training, it also works well for more casual users that can put the smart watch features to use.

I (almost) never would have bought this watch for myself. I’m not that serious or systematic about training. I just go out and run by feel, and these days that usually means keeping a moderate pace, enough to be breathing easy on flats and downhills and work up a bit more steam on the uphills, which there are plenty of in my backyard. SO what’s a guy like me doing with a fancy training watch? Well, back in 2013, my ultrarunning daughter gave me a Forerunner 245 as a timely birthday present, a few weeks before we started together in the Oslo Skogsmaraton, wherein she dropped me after about 20 km.

Read more: Garmin Forerunner 645 review (1)

Reviewed by BC Heath

The Garmin Instinct is meeting my needs and lifestyle.

I’m quite happy with this purchase...happy enough that I‘m contemplating getting a second one when they’re on sale again. I‘ve only had this watch for about six weeks but in that time I’ve come to appreciate it. All the features that come with it seem pretty accurate when I compare them to other devices/known points of reference. This is one of the most comfortable watches I’ve ever worn...I really don’t notice it’s on my wrist. The silicone straps are supple, easy to adjust, and have two loops to secure the band.

Read more: Garmin Instinct review (1)

Reviewed by Stephen Upton

The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is a fantastic data tracker for the person who needs immediate information at the click of a button. Great for hiking and backpacking if you have the time to figure out how to work it.

I received my Garmin Fenix 6 Pro as a gift from my wife the week it was released (what's it been, 2 years?) to replace my 1st Gen Apple Watch. As a person who likes to spend a great deal of time outdoors, the purchase just made sense. Maps, Altimeter reading, Barometric Pressure, steps, etc...all things I wanted in a compact package, which also allowed me to leave my handheld Garmin E-trek at home. I spent the first two days trying to get it all set up and calibrated, while learning where to find certain pages on the fly.

Read more: Garmin fenix 6 Pro review (1)

Reviewed by Badass Outdoors

The Apple Watch Series 5 is the best of the three high dollar “adventure watches” that I have used. I have tested it on all terrain, across multiple sports, and my initial skepticism was proven completely wrong.

Connecticut River The My Sun/Moon app is crucial for planning sunset pictures It’s been almost a full year of wearing the Apple Watch Series 5 44mm Aluminum every day, all day. This year included (beyond Corona Virus and Social Unrest) 50 days of alpine skiing, 50 days of Nordic skiing, +/- 100 miles of road cycling, +/- 100 miles of hiking, 120 days of paddling so far, including four trips (four days each) of solo canoeing. Three night solo basecamp I have to assume that if a person is interested in gear, they are interested in using that gear, vis a vis they are interested in fitness.

Read more: Apple Watch Series 5 review (1)

Reviewed by Tam McTavish

A terrific durable all purpose watch for whatever activity you happen to be into. I used a AMBIT 3 PEAK SAPPHIRE HR for this review.

So I used a Ambit 3 Peak Saphhire HR for this review. The non-saphhire Peak model is a little tiny bit less durable, and fashionable but otherwise the same. The sport model is the same operating system but is less accurate for altitude. The run is just a timepiece with the run function pre-programed into the watch with no adjustments.  Overall I love this watch. Flipping through settings is easy. The silicone strap is comfortable, and weight is on the heavier side, but very reasonable. Less then most deluxe watches on the market.

Read more: Suunto Ambit3 Peak review (1)

Featured review by Mystro

The Suunto Ambit is the most advanced ABC/GPS Navigation Trainer watch. It's a Game Changer.

Suunto Ambit reviewed by a hunter/outdoorsman's perspective. I am going to try to do a review of the new Suunto Ambit Black GPS navigation training watch. This is going to be difficult because the Ambit is an evolving product with many firmware updates planned by Suunto for additional features. As a longtime multiple ABC watch owner, I can safely say that the Ambit is in another league. It's a “game changer” for outdoor watches. It is so much more advanced over my beloved Suunto Core, that it would be like comparing an 8-year-old basic Cell phone to the latest iPhone smart phone.

Read more: Suunto Ambit reviews (2)

Reviewed by Geoffrey Mohan

I have both the Ambit and Ambit2. The first got a cracked cover eventually—user abuse, so no bad on Suunto on that. The second's battery quit after three years (just outside warranty) of similarly intensive use, and the recharge cable also wore out (contacts snap off, fyi). I'd be disappointed if not for the fact that Suunto replaced the entire watch with a new Ambit 3, despite the fact that the warranty had expired. They probably took one look, saw the gouged bezel, scratched cover, and decided it was time to upgrade me.

This is still a niche-leading watch, despite some advances that now have competitors nipping at Suunto's heels.  Suunto's once-sluggist customer service also has really stepped up its game. They replaced my older version, which was beyond its two-year warranty and no longer responded to a battery charge, with the Ambit 3. At first, Suunto service said they'd change the battery and do some maintenance for $63. Instead, they sent an entirely new Ambit 3 Peak. I was pleasantly shocked.  Understand, this watch was not bought as an accessory to athleisurewear, or a show-off gadget at the office.

Read more: Suunto Ambit2 review (1)