Watches

Reviewed by Shane

This watch is nearly perfect for any outdoor adventure. From running to hiking to swimming to boating, it gets the job done well. I will not hit the trail, road, or lake without it!

Out for a day hike I know my Garmin Fenix 7X (Solar Sapphire) has been on the market for around three years. And I know that tons of people have written excellent reviews about it. You can also find great reviews of it on YouTube. So I won't go into all sorts of detail here because others have done that well.  I'll just give a brief run down of this watch. Also, I'm guessing that future iterations of the Fenix will also be excellent so this review will likely apply to newer Fenix watches.

Read more: Garmin fenix 7X review (1)

Reviewed by Sammy312

The Garmin 245 was one of the top three devices used to track running activities on Strava in 2024 (I don't think they differentiate between the 245 and 245 Music). This watch is still a very capable tracking and training tool!

  This is the screen I usually use, but you can choose or customize based on your needs After using a Garmin Vivoactive 3 for about a year, I wanted something with more metrics and running support. There have been two more generations of this watch (the Forerunner 255 and 265). This watch is amazing if you find a good price and don't need the altimeter and other features of the newer or premium watches. This watch has been a great motivator and training tool when I decided to work on running to improve my orienteering performance.

Read more: Garmin Forerunner 245 Music 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 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)

Reviewed by Charles Polidano

Solar-powered altimeter, barometer and compass (ABC) watch with radio time calibration, temperature sensor, world time, stopwatch, and timer.

  The Casio PRW3500 digital hiking watch in compass mode, with three dots representing north and single dots representing the other points of the compass The Casio PRW3500 is one of the older models in Casio’s Pro Trek series of hiking watches (previously known as the Pathfinder series). I believe it has been discontinued, but it is still available for sale. This watch looks basic. It has no fancy graphics, just a digital display reminiscent of the 1980s. It is an altimeter–barometer–compass (ABC) watch with a temperature sensor and world time.

Read more: Casio PRW3500-1 review (1)

Reviewed by Evan

Features for days! Altimeter, barometer, compass, thermometer, sunrise/sunset data, and much more. Ease of Use: This is something that I felt could use some help. I may be spoiled on the ease of touch screens now, but cycling through all the menus is a pain. Price For a solar powered "ABC" watch with a ton of features that can stand up to the abuse the Rangeman can and still look great, I think the price is a steal.

While the Rangeman may be the best G Shock watch on the market, it doesn't mean it's the best choice for everyone. Don't know if it's right for you? Just take our little test and see which side you fall on: It's for you You enjoy the outdoors You need a watch that can take some abuse You like knowing things like your current altitude, the exact minute the sun will set, or exactly which way North is You own at least one article of camo clothing It's not for you You have bad eyesight You don't ever leave your house You don't know what a barometer is You've never spent more than $100 for a watch G Shock Rangeman Watch Features Barometer Before the days of weathermen and weather apps, we had to figure out ourselves if it was going to rain.

Read more: Casio G-Shock Rangeman GW9400-3 review (1)

Reviewed by Jerry Moore

I owned gshock watches prior to buying the Pathfinder PAW1500.  I was very happy with them but wanted some of the features of the Pathfinder series.  The PAW1500 seemed to have the best of both worlds plus compass, solar rechargeable, and Atomic time setting.  Number one; it keeps perfect time day in and day out despite the abuses of being hit and banged, or going straight from the sunlight on a 95 degree day into a cold stream of water. I use the tidal and moon phase data to help me make fishing decisions similiar to; well it's time to go home.   The back light is clear and bright, however I wish it stayed on a few seconds longer instead of the 2 to 3 seconds at a time.

Read more: Casio Pathfinder PAW1500-1V review (1)

Featured review by Idnod

5 batteries and 3 straps ago, from Asia to the North America and it's still serving me like it did when I first got it - not to mention the original transmitter - whew! I've used this in the tropics backpacking from beaches to 9K+ ft peaks, running, swimming, work, parties ... and the great thing is it helped me monitor, record and improve my fitness. I wish Polar will come up with a second/third generation of AXNs and also replacements for the wrist strap "plates" (those 2 black plastic plates under the strap each secured by 2 screws).

Read more: Polar AXN500 reviews (3)

Featured review by Bill S

Timex provided me with two of their outdoor watches at the Outdoor Retailer Show for review. They are the Expedition WS-4 and the Expedition e-Altimeter (W257). The e-Altimeter is one of several "analog" watches with special instrumentation for various aspects of outdoor use. The series is really a "street" watch, more for showing your "lifestyle" than for real use in the outdoors. The watch itself is rather large and heavy on the wrist, although you get used to it after a while.

Read more: Timex Expedition WS4 reviews (2)