How to choose the best smartwatch for hunting and fishing? When it comes to spending their weekend, the vast majority prefer hunting and fishing over other activities. While some do it as a hobby yet for some’s purposes, it is a method for earning some extra income.
Regardless of what motivates you to go on a hunt, if you have the right gadgets with you then it makes hunting and fishing easier and more fun to do. The gadgets you should have when going for a hunt are GPS, Altimeter, Compass, Barometer, Watch, Weather Detector, etc. Sounds terrifying right?
Try not to be concerned you don’t have to carry such countless gadgets because here we bring to you the best hunting and fishing smartwatches that have a large number of features built-in. Thus, let the hunt for the best smartwatch begins!
Table of Contents
Top 5 Best Hunting And Fishing Smartwatches
1. Suunto Traverse Alpha
Pros
- Automatic shot detection
- Point of Interests
- ABC (Altimeter, Barometer, Compass) sensors
- Great durability
- Shows the right time for hunting and fishing
Cons
- Does not have health-tracking features
- No solar charging
Suunto Traverse Alpha is indeed the best smartwatch for hunting and fishing and we don’t say it only for say. It has every one of the features that hunters will succumb to. The first and most important feature of this watch is automatic shot detection. It allows you to automatically create a point of interest when you fire a shot using a rifle or shotgun. This helps you track your shot distance and elevation and record your hunt so you can view it later.
Likewise, with the integrated GPS on this watch, you can create a manual point of interest along your path for later visits or for marking animal territory and fishing locations. GPS is not alone as you additionally get GLONASS support on it. Both navigation systems help you track back to your initial position using the automatic breadcrumb trails.
It additionally has an integrated sunset and sunrise alarm that keeps you aware of the day and reminds you to get back before it’s excessively dull. There is likewise a moon phase calendar on this watch that tells you which is the right time to go hunting and fishing so you don’t come back empty hands.
Besides that, it additionally alerts you for weather changes and storms in advance using its integrated Barometer. So you always stay safe with this watch on your wrist. There’s likewise an Altimeter that measures the elevation and a Digital Compass which is helpful in knowing the direction you head in.
In terms of durability, this watch is super tough and can easily handle even the extremest conditions. Be it mountains, fields, jungles, deserts, or lakes this watch is ready to take it all.
Overall, if you are serious about your hunting or fishing game then this smartwatch is an unquestionable requirement for you. Moreover, it has automatic shot detection which likewise makes it the best smartwatch for shooting.
2. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
Pros
- Good display
- Military Grade Durability
- Multiple navigation systems
- Fitness tracking
- Good battery backup
Cons
- Expensive watch
- No solar charging
Garmin’s Fenix watches are dedicated to adventure and rugged outdoor use. What’s more, Fenix 6 Pro is their latest and most premium offering to its users who need to use a Garmin watch for outdoor adventures.
You will get to see some top-notch features on this watch as you get an always-on display which is likewise 18% larger than the one you would see on the older Fenix watches. Likewise, the screen is bright enough to be readable under direct sun, which is helpful in viewing the details on the watch when you are hunting or fishing in the broad daylight.
Besides a good display, the smartwatch likewise has great navigational features, for example, TOPO maps, multiple navigation systems including GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS along with a Digital Compass. These features make sure you are always on the right path and never get off course even if you are hunting in a totally unfamiliar place.
Additionally, you get some other cool features like heart rate monitoring, oxygen sensor, and VO2 max that help you keep track of your health and fitness.
However, at this price point, the watch ought to have provided solar charging or if nothing else wireless charging except for you don’t get that on this watch which is its main disadvantage. The battery however is quite decent and will easily last a couple of days. So you can charge it once before going out on a hunt and it will surely survive the entire day even if you use the GPS more often.
Overall for hunting, fishing, or whatever other outdoor adventure, this watch from Garmin is a good option however provided that you have a good budget to spend on a watch.
3. Suunto Core
Pros
- Affordable watch
- Military-grade durability
- ABC sensors
- Storm alert
- Sunrise/Sunset Alarm
Cons
- No GPS
- No fitness tracking
If you are on the hunt for a budget smartwatch that can assist you in your hunting and fishing activities then the Suunto Core watch is what we can recommend to you. Costing a little over $100 this watch is the best budget alternative for tactical smartwatches that costs you several hundred bucks.
For cost-cutting, Suunto has removed the GPS chip from this watch. However, you still get an Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass sensors on it that will help you in your hunting and fishing.
You get sunrise and sunset alarm along with incoming storm alerts which makes this watch an unquestionable necessity for outdoor conditions in order to stay safe and sound.
Moreover, the watch is super durable and furthermore waterproof up to 100 meters. So you are getting a military-grade watch at a reasonable price, which makes it a good buy because the durability of a watch is equally important as its feature when talking of a watch for outdoor purposes.
Likewise, the watch looks elegant, so apart from adventures, you can likewise take it to the office and clubs. So you don’t have to invest in two different watches for outdoor and daily use purposes.
Overall, Suunto Core is a watch to keep in your priorities if you can’t spend much on an expensive tactical smartwatch that can likewise assist you on a hunt.
4. Casio G-SHOCK RANGEMAN
Pros
- Solar + GPS watch
- Triple sensors
- Super Durable
- Bluetooth for Phone Connectivity
- Moon Tide Sensor
Cons
- Expensive
- No Phone Notifications
G-Shock Rangeman is the first-ever watch from G-Shock that features a GPS navigation system. It is likewise the first GPS watch to support solar charging, which makes it a survival tool more than a fancy smartwatch.
You can take it on your hunting and fishing adventure as it can navigate you through the right path using its built-in GPS, which doesn’t need Google Maps to operate. It creates a breadcrumb trail along your tracking path so you can safely get back home even if you are wandering in a dead zone.
Along with GPS navigation, this watch likewise has a triple sensor i.e Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass, which combined help you know better about your surroundings and make better decisions in tough situations.
It likewise shows you the moon and tide data which is a useful feature when fishing in the ocean. Likewise, it’s a 20 ATM watch so it can easily handle heavy water pressures.
Moreover, it’s a solar-powered watch that will charge without help from anyone else when you are hunting in the daytime. Apart from that, this watch likewise supports wireless charging, so you will not have a hard time keeping this watch fully charged.
Talking of durability there is not a lot to tell it’s a G-Shock and the name is enough.
Overall, if the budget is not an issue for you and you need to get a super rugged smartwatch that can last for quite a long time then this watch is definitely for you.
5. Garmin Instinct
Pros
- Has multiple navigation systems
- Military-grade durability
- Fitness tracking
- Phone notifications
- ABC sensor
- Solar charging
Cons
- No moon phase calendar
Garmin Instinct is a rugged military-grade smartwatch from Garmin that is meant for outdoor adventures and it can easily be your next watch for hunting and fishing purpose.
The watch has robust navigation features and is one of the most reliable location trackers for however long smartwatches are concerned. It has multiple navigation systems including GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS that can track you even if you’re wandering in the remotest part of the earth.
It likewise has a compass, barometer, and altimeter which help you know your direction, elevation, and atmospheric pressure which is important to have in your hunting or fishing watch.
Yet, what makes this watch a real deal is the fact that it can track your fitness while you are out in the wilderness and show you how your heart performs when you are in the middle of the action.
Besides that, it additionally gets connected to the phone and shows you notifications on its screen. With the goal, you always stay connected to the world even when you are on a hunt.
The watch however doesn’t feature solar charging yet the battery is decent on this watch and will last you a few days if you don’t use the GPS quite often. Overall, if you need a budget Garmin smartwatch that can track your fitness, keep you connected to the world, and furthermore assist in your hunts then there’s no better option than Garmin Instinct.
Buyer’s Guide: Best Smartwatches For Hunting And Fishing
Durability
The smartwatch that you are going to buy for hunting and fishing purposes should be tough and durable. It needs to be waterproof up to something like 100 meters. Since you are going to use it for fishing it is in contact with the water so keep that in mind.
GPS
GPS is a navigation system that helps you find and track your location. Having a GPS on a hunting or fishing watch can help you mark animal territory or fishing locations for later visits. Moreover, GPS can help you get back home if you happen to be lost in an unfamiliar location.
ABC Sensors
Altimeters, Barometers, and Compass sensors help you are familiar with elevation, atmospheric pressure, and directions, which help you find out about your surroundings.
Solar power
Having solar power on your watch gives you extra time in the outdoors as your watch will be itself charged using ultraviolet sunbeams. It is a feature to look out for if you spend more time outdoors than indoors.
Automatic Shot Detection
Shot detection is a unique hunting feature that you get on the Suunto Traverse Alpha watch, it helps you keep track of your shot’s distance and elevation.
Best Smartwatch For Hunting And Fishing FAQs
What Is A Hunting Watch?
A hunting smartwatch has some special features like GPS, weather alert, moon-based calendar, etc. that makes hunting easier for you.
What Is The Best Hunting Watch?
Suunto Traverse Alpha with automatic shot detection is absolutely the best hunting watch you can buy.
What Is ABC Sensor On A Hunting And Fishing Watch?
ABC sensors are Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass, these are used for calculating elevation, atmospheric pressure, and direction respectively.
Final Verdict On Choosing The Best Hunting And Fishing Smartwatches
Buying the right smartwatch for hunting and fishing is not tied in with getting features that you don’t need for your hunting activities. All the smartwatches listed above are good when it comes to features however you should choose the one which does the required work. The best hunting smartwatch ought to come with basic features like GPS, Altitude, Digital compass, Activity tracker, and Barometer. Both Garmin Instinct and Suunto Traverse Alpha are good smartwatches for hunters.
However, if you need to choose one smartwatch then the clear winner is Suunto Traverse Alpha. This smartwatch has got everything a hunter would need for hunting and navigation, for example, a Built-in barometer, Altimeter, Radio transceiver, GLONASS, and GPS. Likewise, it has an auto-shot detection feature which is wonderful for people who go on hunting every day, and a stunning design that looks beautiful on your wrist. Hopefully, the above list will make it easier for you to choose the best smartwatch for hunting and fishing.
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