Best Smartwatch for Hunting
With technology constantly evolving, outdoor activities are becoming easier and more fun. There are lots of useful gadgets that you can bring on your hunting adventures and they will help make the trip easier. The best example of this are smartwatches for hunting that offer access to dozens of useful features. As all hunters will agree, it’s easy to get lost in the moment and get carried away when stalking prey. This can lead to losing track of the camp and fortunately, in situations like this one is where smartwatches for hunting come in and save the day.
Using a smartwatch for hunting is the best way to make sure that you are always one step ahead of everything that could go wrong. The built-in GPS tracker will monitor your location, the compass will help you find the right path, and the weather alerts will keep you updated with the latest forecast. If you are finding it difficult to decide what are the best smartwatches for hunting, you have arrived at the right place. Today we will give you a rundown of the top 5 smartwatches that are perfect for hunting.
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Best Smartwatch for Hunting
Samsung Galaxy Watch
Even though Samsung doesn’t create devices that are dedicated exclusively to hunting and other outdoor activities, no one can deny the fact that the Galaxy Watch is one of the best smartwatches in the world. The premium build and ergonomic design make Galaxy Watch a great choice for hunters, especially since the sleek design makes it possible to wear the device on all occasions, even formal ones.
Leaving the sleek design aside, what makes Galaxy Watch good for hunting is the fact that it keeps track of all your activities. The smartwatch will breakdown down everything that you do in multiple metrics such as steps, calories burned, and distance traveled. The built-in GPS tracker ensures that you will never get lost and that you can always check out the route you traveled when you are finished hunting.
Galaxy Watch is equipped with a microphone and speaker that make it possible for you to use the device like a smartphone. You never know when you might need to call someone and it’s always better to have the option to do it from multiple devices.
Your phone can always get damaged when hiking or trying to find good spots and the Galaxy Watch will be there to provide an alternative. Moreover, the battery of the device is designed for endurance. It lasts for more than 24 hours on a single charge and it can also be charged via “Wireless Power Share” from another Galaxy smartphone. Nonetheless, the device is equipped with so many cool features that you will need to spend at least one hour to test them all out.
Suunto Traverse Alpha
Are you searching for a smartwatch that is built to last? If that is the case, you will love the Suunto Traverse Alpha. The smartwatch is made from durable materials such as the glass fiber reinforced composite case and stainless-steel knurled bezel and pushers.
You can bring the Suunto Traverse Alpha on all your outdoor adventures without having to worry about accidental damage. In fact, it’s quite difficult to even get a scratch on the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal display. The built-in GPS system tracks your path every step of the way and ensures that you don’t get lost. Another cool feature that we want to highlight is Suunto Traverse Alpha’s location-based moon phase calendar. You can find all types of information such as moonrise/moonset times to help you determine what is the best hunting or fishing times.
Since the Suunto Traverse Alpha is designed especially for hunters, it should come as no surprise to find out that it is equipped with a special automatic shot detection system. The system keeps track of all your shots and maps them with GPS coordinates.
You can use this information when the hunt is finished to see where you encountered prey. Suunto Traverse Alpha is fueled by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can last for days on end. If you use the “time mode”, the battery will last for 14 days. If the “training mode” that includes GPs is enabled, the battery will last around 10 days. The last feature that we want to highlight is the built-in flashlight that you can use to illuminate your surroundings.
Casio G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400
G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400 is one of our favorite smartwatches for hunting and this is thanks to the wide range of features that it offers. The device is designed for outdoor activities and therefore, it features a tough exterior and multiple displays that will not break anytime soon.
You can rely on the G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400 to be your trusty hunting companion for the years to come. Some of the most notable features that the smartwatch offers are a digital compass, barometer, altimeter, thermometer, timestamp, Mb6 atomic timekeeping, and daily alarms. It’s also worth noting that the G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400 is water-resistant up to 660 feet (200 meters). Therefore, you can bring the device scuba diving without having to worry about water damaging the display.
One of the features that make the G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400 stand out when compared to all the other smartwatches featured on our list is that it’s a solar-powered device. This means that no matter how long the hunting trip will last, the smartwatch will not run out of power.
Furthermore, the manufacturers have equipped the device with a significant memory capacity that can hold up to 40 records. You can use the records to track bearing, barometric pressure, temperature, and other information that might prove to be useful. In addition, the G-Shock brand is renowned for creating some of the world’s most durable watches and this model is not an exception to the rule.
Garmin Instinct
If you are a big fan of durable smartwatches that are designed for outdoor activities, this means that you are probably familiar with the Garmin brand. This company designs military standard smartwatches that deliver outstanding performances in terms of resistance and useful features.
Garmin Instinct is a bestselling product with more than 17,000 positive reviews that highlight its premium features. The smartwatch ships with a fiber-reinforced polymer bezel and case that is paired with a chemically-strengthened scratch-resistant display. That’s not all.
The wearable device uses a silicone strap that makes it one of the toughest smartwatches on the market. If that is not impressive enough, you should know that Garmin Instinct is constructed to US Military standard 810G that guarantees thermal, shock, and water resistance.
The durability and premium design of Garmin Instinct are not the only features that make it a great smartwatch for hunting. Instead, the wearable device can also monitor your heart rate, activities, and stress level. The manufacturers have equipped Garmin Instinct with a smart notification system that automatically syncs all the data so that you can analyze when the hunt is finished.
Take for example the tracking feature that allows you to navigate back to where you started. You don’t have to worry about getting lost ever again.
Moreover, Garmin Instinct connects with smartphones and it makes it possible to receive direct notifications from your smartphone. While it might seem that all these features are battery drainers, we assure you that this is not the case. Garmin Instinct’s battery lasts for two weeks in smartwatch mode enabled and up to 16 hours in GPS mode. In case you are running low on battery charge, you can always activate the battery saver mode.
Suunto Core Military Watch
This is the second time that a smartwatch from Suunto makes an appearance on our list and, there is a good reason for that. The company excels at making military-grade sports watches and the Suunto Core Military Watch is the perfect example of that being equipped with an altimeter, barometer, compass, GPS, a full-color map, and location memory.
To make things even better, the smartwatch is compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones. Therefore, you can get all the data directly on your smartphone and analyze every step you took.
Even though Suunto Core Military Watch is built for outdoor activities, the design is stylish and versatile. Therefore, you can wear it on all occasions and not only when hunting. The smartwatch ships with a round dial that is paired with a rotating bezel which can be used to access the plethora of features that the Suunto Core Military Watch offers.
What makes the smartwatch ideal for hunting is the fact that it is equipped with special software that helps users stay one step ahead of danger. For example, Suunto Core Military Watch can detect upcoming storms and the best places to set up camp. Not just that, but you will also receive constant weather predictions.
Best Smartwatch for Hunting Buying Guide
When searching for the best smartwatch for hunting, there are a couple of factors that you need to take into consideration. Check out the buying guide below to learn what are the top three features that the best smartwatches for hunting need to offer:
- Durability
Everyone who enjoys outdoor activities knows how easy it is to break gadgets when hiking on mountain tops or trekking through the woods. This is why you need to make sure that the device you get is built from durable materials that will not break at the first accidental drop. Since the smartwatch is a wearable gadget, it’s even easier to damage it and therefore, durability is essential. In addition, water resistance is a nice feature to have because you never know when you might need to cross a body of water on your hunting adventures.
- GPS Tracker
It can be really easy to get lost in the woods when tracking prey and fortunately, you can prevent this from happening by using a smartwatch with a built-in GPS system. The GPS will track your movement and make sure that you never get lost again. For example, Garmin Instinct is equipped with a useful app that allows you to instantly trackback your steps to the camp. It would also help if the smartwatch is equipped with an altimeter that can provide you with even more detailed statistics of your outdoor adventures.
- Long Battery
If there is one thing that all hunters will agree about, then it has to be the fact that you never know how long a hunt will last. It’s impossible to predict when you will manage to catch something and you might end up spending more days at the camp than anticipated. Here is where the smartwatch’s battery life comes into play. You want to make sure that the battery lasts for at least 16 hours and that it features a battery saver mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the toughest smartwatch?
It’s super easy to hit your watch if you take it on outdoor activities and this is why picking one that is durable is a great decision. All the smartwatches featured on our list today are designed for outdoor activities and therefore, they all are durable. However, the toughest one has to be the Suunto Traverse Alpha.
Can you swim with a smartwatch?
Not with all of them. On the bright side of things, all the smartwatches featured on our list are waterproof and you can take them swimming or diving. However, they all have a different dive limit that you need to consider.
What is the best Garmin watch to buy?
Since Garmin is an industry leader and its smartwatches are loved by people who enjoy outdoor activities, it should come as no surprise that it’s difficult to pick one as the best. If we had to choose one, then we would definitely go with Garmin Instinct. The smartwatch is packed with so many useful features that you can even leave your smartphone at home. Take the G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400 is for example which can be used on dives up to 660 feet.
