https://www.futbal.uk/collection. Built to handle the extremes, GPS watches have a distinct look with durable, scratch-resistant faces and large screens flanked by glove-friendly buttons. Beyond GPS tracking, these watches include ABC basics (altimeter, barometer, and compass), as well as modern fitness tracking technology, such as heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, and custom workout suggestions. You’ll see a lot of familiar faces in our top picks for 2025, including Coros, Suunto, and GPS giant Garmin.
ourlist. We also swapped the Garmin Fenix 7 to the more widely available Fenix 7 Pro Solar, replaced Coros’ outgoing Vertix 2 with the 2S, and added Suunto’s Vertical Titanium Solar in place of the 9 Peak Titanium. Finally, we incorporated feedback and photos from recent testing and updated our comparison table to reflect battery life in GPS mode rather than price and performance. The Instinct is all business on the outside, with a durable case, a monochrome display, and a five-button interface that’s easy to use in wet weather or while wearing gloves. This watch also features impressively modern tech, including a host of sensors, numerous activity modes with accompanying data analysis, and everyday features like health monitoring, contactless pay, and music control. To top it all off, the headlining feature is the Instinct’s substantial built-in solar panel, which gives the watch a significant boost in battery life compared to similar designs (up to 48 hours while tracking and unlimited in smartwatch and Expedition modes).The Garmin Instinct falls into a bit of a ‘tweener category, combining the looks and savvy of an altimeter watch with the features of a multisport GPS design. While most hikers and mountaineers will love the added technology (many ABC watches don’t include GPS, activity tracking, or smart features), those looking for a simpler timepiece can save a lot of money with non-GPS models (we cover a few in our buying advice below). On the flip side, if budget isn’t a concern, Garmin’s own Fenix 7 Pro below is double the price but much more
