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How to Choose a GPS Watch

How to Choose a GPS Watch
The Coros Apex Pro is a high value choice because of its great features and more-than-fair price.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Friday April 29, 2022

The market for GPS watches continues to grow and gain in popularity with new people coming to the outdoor space. So which GPS watch is best for you? We've constructed this guide to offer you a look at the ins and outs of the various design and features found in today's offerings. Take careful consideration of your needs and budget as this will greatly influence your decisions.

As technology has increased over the years, so has price. We've tested a variety of GPS watches with you in mind, and our testers hope to convey what product is best for you. When searching for a GPS watch, keep your use case in mind, what's most important to you, and how your budget influences what tools and features you need most. For example, maybe you don't need the latest and greatest, and those extra battery life hours will never be used anyway — so save yourself the money.

gps watch - testing gps watches high above durango, colorado.
Testing GPS watches high above Durango, Colorado.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

How to Choose a GPS Watch


The first thing to consider is what you'll be doing with your GPS watch, what kind of features you need, and what you're willing to spend. Most likely, you are here because you already know you want a timepiece with GPS capabilities. There are many options out there that range from simple to complex, with the price going up as the features get better. So what are you in need of?

Features


Before diving into all the features, set a price and consider what options are best for your needs. Most GPS watches integrate a smartphone app to give you the best user experience. While the feature field is blowing up with options, there are simpler constructs that omit extraneous options that you probably don't need. In fact, most recreational athletes that might be training for an ultra run or their first 5K don't really need more than a simple GPS.

gps watch - some top-of-the-line devices, like the garmin fenix 7, even...
Some top-of-the-line devices, like the Garmin Fenix 7, even integrate with other devices like this satellite messenger.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Simple Construction


GPS information will be used to track your position for training purposes only if you want to stay basic. The device collects this information and displays speed, distance, and other data that you can view in real-time on the watch and analyze further after your activity in the software platform that accompanies the watch. If your pursuits are always on trails or roads, this sort of device is more than adequate. They will have just the basics, namely GPS location, speed, distance, time, probably an optical heart rate monitor, a step counter, alarm, and stopwatch. It might also incorporate a simple map with a bread crumb trail. Most of the watches in this review come complete with all the basics and actually have graduated to the next level with smartphone notifications.

gps watch - the coros pace 2 has great features, a lightweight design, and is...
The Coros Pace 2 has great features, a lightweight design, and is great for those on a tight budget.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Featured Smartwatch Trainers with App Integration


Over the years, most of the GPS watches we've continued to test are now smartwatches with basic fitness tracking capabilities. Not only do they track sports activity, but they track steps, sleep quality, and heart rate, and some have started to include a blood oxygen saturation monitor as well. They come armed with smart notifications, and as the app industry continues to develop, are being developed in conjunction with Google and other platforms to offer other exotic features like music storage, wireless payment, and more. Many of the Garmin watches have all these features, in addition to the ability to download workouts and take advice from virtual coaches.

gps watch - this menu accesses all the apps that you can load up and use when...
This menu accesses all the apps that you can load up and use when connected to cellular or wifi service.
Credit: Amber King

Navigational Features


We find the most useful features in a GPS watch to be bread-crumb mapping and a dedicated ABC (Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass). Because most of our training and testing takes place in the mountains or in technical terrain, these features can be essential when bushwhacking down the side of the mountain with a minimal line of sight. If you think you will venture off the beaten track, we highly recommend a watch with these features. And while navigation apps like Gaia or TrailForks are helpful, you can't beat the accessibility of an on-wrist compass guiding your path.

gps watch - the coros vertix 2 in all its navigational glory. this is an...
The Coros Vertix 2 in all its navigational glory. This is an impressive device.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Some high-end contenders offer turn-by-turn navigation with onboard maps that contain layers, points of interest, and more. These same watches will allow you to upload a course from the app to follow on your watch with beeps signaling turns. If you're caught in a heavy fog, sight n' go might be a helpful feature. Here, you point your watch at a given point, and your watch will guide you to that point. For backcountry users, most will find navigation via your smartphone easier than a small watch screen. But for minimal decisions like which way to go on a bike trail, a quick glance at these maps can be easier than pulling out your phone and looking at an app like Gaia.

Data Collection and App Platforms


All of the GPS watches we tested in this review integrate with some kind of app that will take your data and store it in their database. Here you can typically check out your logbooks, explore data, and share your activities with friends. Some databases are more robust than others, so this should be a consideration in choosing a brand that you like.

gps watch - a look at the garmin connect app that offers many features. if you...
A look at the Garmin Connect app that offers many features. If you purchase a Garmin product, you get access to it.
Credit: Amber King

Garmin is known as one of the best GPS watchmakers in the world, not only because they have top-notch products but because they have the most robust online platform we've seen. The platform uses Garmin Connect to store your information, but you can take that data and use it across many different platforms. Garmin has its own app store as well, with included integrations from a variety of third parties. You can become a part of Garmin's ecosystem and enter challenges, upload workouts, add new apps, and add new features as you wish. You can give kudos to others and compete within friend groups for motivational support. If this is the type of user experience you seek, Garmin is what we recommend.

gps watch - a look at the popular app platform homepages. left: garmin. middle:...
A look at the popular app platform homepages. Left: Garmin. Middle: Coros. Right: Suunto
Credit: Amber King

Other platforms used by Suunto, Coros, and Polar are simpler apps that also offer you the ability to easily share and extract data to use it as you wish. However, they don't come with a dedicated app store with access to hundreds of apps. Suunto, for example, has third-party integrations on their system, but Coros is yet to get there. That said, for these systems, you can easily have all your data sync to other platforms like Apple Health, Strava, Training Peaks, or whichever ecosystem you might choose to be a part of. On that note…

Social Networks


Maybe you don't already have brand or platform loyalty, but you might have friends who do. If you have a fitness community that inspires and motivates your activity, linking your digital record books can provide further inspiration. Strava and TrainingPeaks have a robust user base and collect information from all platforms. Most of the manufacturers in this review have apps that will seamlessly integrate with these platforms. But in this rapidly evolving industry, we recommend that you make sure your particular watch choice will integrate with your chosen sports social media and/or training platform if that's important to you. Ask around among your friends and training partners. Perhaps one social media platform is more widely used in your circles, and that could, in turn, inform your choice of training devices. That said, most of the platforms integrate easily as they are quite popular in the fitness community.

gps watch - a look at our lead testers strava profile.
A look at our lead testers Strava profile.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Accessories


Many users will be content with the instrumentation inside their GPS watch. However, there are certain categories of information that can only be gathered with an additional accessory that links to your watch through Bluetooth. For example, many of the onboard optical heart rate sensors aren't very accurate because they lack the fit needed to get a good reading. As a result, many folks like to wear a heart monitor strap to get a precise heart rate measurement.

gps watch - a heart rate monitor is a good investment if you want precise...
A heart rate monitor is a good investment if you want precise measurements.
Credit: Amber King

There are many other accessories that you can buy, such as cadence and speed sensors for biking, running dynamics pods, and heart rate monitors. These are just a few categories among the many options. All these sensors link via a Bluetooth or ANT+ connection. Before buying a product, check to see what platforms your watch supports — not all work with both Bluetooth and ANT+ connections.

Battery Life and Distance Goals


As popularity increases for endurance sports, so has the need for ample battery storage for these devices. Humans are constantly pushing the boundaries of physical and endurance challenges, and now, multi-day staged endurance runs are becoming popular. Distances of 100+ miles (we've seen 250-mile running events) are being added to the roster of challenges, and we know the demand for battery life during these events is large. If you're searching for a watch for ultra distances, be sure to check the battery life specs. Think about the maximum time you will be tasked with performing without a charge, and maybe you can get away with bringing a power brick and USB cable that will allow you to recharge on the go.

gps watch - deep in the canyons of utah, our lead tester hiked through the...
Deep in the canyons of Utah, our lead tester hiked through the riverbed finding the hardest place for satellites to reach.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Several variables contribute to wearing down battery life. This includes using features that are battery life hogs (i.e., map processing, listening to music, smart notifications, buzzers for miles, etc.) and travel where the GPS signal is low (poor view of the sky). For example, if satellites are having a hard time communicating with the receiver, more power is used. So in areas of heavier overgrowth or canyons, expect the battery to run out faster.

Many watches will offer battery-saving modes like UltraTrac or Endurance Mode. These modes aren't recommended as they turn off watch features, capture less data, and take fewer GPS points. This means a sacrifice that can cause inaccuracy. Isn't the point of a GPS watch to get an accurate representation of what you're doing? That said, we recommend looking at the specs for regular GPS battery lifetimes, as this is the setting you'll want to run your device in during your events.

gps watch - hiking in to ice climb, we took the coros vertix 2 because we knew...
Hiking in to ice climb, we took the Coros Vertix 2 because we knew we'd be out for a long mission.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

When considering battery life, think of the longest distance you'd like to go and the time you think it'll take. Then add 5-6 hours. Finally, look at what's out there. If you plan on just doing 5K runs, you won't need more than one hour of GPS. However, if you're planning a 100-mile race, 30+ hours would be ideal (depending on your speed and the course). For marathon or 50K running distances, a watch with 8 to 12 hours of GPS is ideal to ensure you don't need to always be charging between training sessions and to give yourself a battery life buffer (especially if you plan on using music features).

There are many watches that boast an incredibly long GPS battery life. We've found that it's difficult to find the golden goose that also has a long smartwatch life. For example, Garmin products with a battery life of 30+ hours will only have a smartwatch life of 1.5 - 2 weeks, based on our research. Coros, however, seems to do it all. Both the Apex and Pace 2 have 25-30 hour battery life and a smartwatch use life of 20-30 days, but they come with fewer features.

Charging Devices On The Go


It's only recently that GPS watches have breached the 30+ hour GPS mark in regular smartwatch mode with most features turned on. However, if you simply can't afford to throw down on an ultra-expensive watch that with loads of battery life, the next best thing is to carry a small charger with you on longer missions.

gps watch - we love the suunto baro 9 (middle) for charging on the go. this...
We love the Suunto Baro 9 (middle) for charging on the go. This offers the most powerful connector, especially if you need to charge in the middle of a long adventure using an external battery pack.
Credit: Amber King

All the devices we tested can charge while still tracking activities. The hard part is that you have to take the watch off your wrist and put it into a pocket while charging. While this allows you to still capture your GPS data, heart rate and other data points can't be captured while this is occurring. As the watch market evolves, we hope that major companies consider this and develop a watch that has a charger on the side so you can do both. Some of the earlier GPS models had this functionality, but the chargers have mostly been moved to the back of the watch. None of the watches in our current review can charge without being taken off. If you happen to find one with this design, we would likely recommend it.

Design


Now that you've thought about the features, apps, software platforms, battery life, and uses, consider the design. For many, the weight and size can make or break buying a product. Many products also come in a range of sizes. However, the size does affect battery life and other features, so be sure to double-check the specs if you happen to go for a smaller versus a bigger watch face option. Larger watch faces are easier to see, but they are heavier and tend to get stuck on clothing if they're not thin enough.

gps watch - slight design differences can make a big difference on those super...
Slight design differences can make a big difference on those super long days out.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Consider the materials of the watch face and look for high-quality options like Gorilla Glass and sapphire glass, which are more scratch-resistant. The display is also an important consideration. Those that aren't crisp or with poor backlighting are difficult to see in both high and low-light conditions. If you get a touchscreen, make sure it works in cold and rainy weather. Also, be sure the font and text are large enough for your eyes to see at a glance, so you don't spend time staring at your watch when your eyes should be on the trail.

Conclusion


The GPS watch world is evolving quickly. Nowadays, software and GPS watch integrations are becoming crisscrossed to create a mind-blowing number of features and capabilities that we would never have thought possible a decade ago. In the search for your perfect match, don't forget to keep your eye on the ball. Establish a budget, highlight the features you want or need, then consider battery life and design. It's easy to get wrapped up in extras that you may not use. Enjoy the process, and we look forward to seeing you on the trail!

gps watch - backpacking in winter gets dark quickly. our cozy sleeping bag is...
Backpacking in winter gets dark quickly. Our cozy sleeping bag is the perfect time to mess around with various functions on the Vertix 2.
Credit: Matthew Richardson