13 Best Hiking Watches Under 200 Dollars: Best Picks for 2023
Are you wondering which are the best hiking watches under 200 dollars?
As there are so many different options available, it can be challenging to decide which to buy.
Your decision depends on what kind of hiker you are.
Explorers who research and follow trails in unfamiliar terrain may require a barometer, altimeter, and compass to stay on track.
Day-trekkers and campers might simply require a durable watch that will withstand hard knocks and splashes.
Those who view hiking as a workout could opt for an affordable outdoor watch with smartwatch features such as GPS tracking and a heart rate monitor.
Casual hikers looking for classic daily wear might prefer a “field watch” from Citizen or Seiko.
Below, you will find a range of excellent options in my list of the 13 best hiking watches under 200 dollars.
Affiliate Link Disclosure
This article may contain some affiliate links which means I may earn some commission when you click on it, but at no additional cost to you. Hope you will find this article helpful.
Related Posts
- 15 Best Hiking Watches Under 100 Dollars: Best Picks for 2022
- Essential Guide To Hiking For Beginners
- 11 Best Budget Hiking Pants of 2022
- Best Lightweight Long Sleeve Hiking Shirt
- 15 Best Knee Brace for Hikers With Optimal Knee Support
Quick Guide to the 13 Best Hiking Watches Under 200 Dollars
This watch is hands-down, the best Casio ABC watch (featuring an altimeter, barometer, and compass).
- Best for Those Who Want to Splurge: Casio Protrek Tough-Solar PRW3500-1 Multi-Band 6 Triple Sens
A sleek and handsome outdoor ABC watch which is specifically built with hikers in mind.
- Best for Those On a Budget: Casio Men’s Pro Trek PRG-270-1
Rugged and packed with features, this is the best budget hiking watch you can get your hands on.
13 Best Hiking Watches Under 200 Dollars (2022)
1. Best Overall Casio Pathfinder Men’s Tough Solar Triple Sensor World Time 51mm Digital Watch
The Casio Pathfinder is beloved by hikers and lovers of the outdoors for its durability and features.
This watch is one of the best hiking watches under 200 dollars.
The Pathfinder can handle the most extreme conditions: from the desert to the snow, and high mountains. It can be immersed in water, buried in sand, and banged hard against rocks. The Pathfinder is built to last.
It has a handsome, rugged, and utilitarian look that sits comfortably on the wrist.
You will not find a better ABC watch (containing an altimeter, barometer, and compass) for this price.
What I Like: It is lightweight, durable, and comfortable.
What I Don’t Like: The strap may run a little long and the alarm sounds/ chimes are rather soft
Key Features:
Weight: 2.12 Ounces
Case Diameter: 57mm
Window Material: Glass
Case Material: Resin
Band Material: Plastic
Band Width: 27mm
GPS: No
Weather Functions: Temperature
Altimeter: Yes
Barometer: Yes
Compass: Yes
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Other Features: Solar Charging, Sunrise/Sunset
Movement: Quartz
2. Best for Those Who Want to Splurge: Casio Protrek Tough-Solar PRW3500-1 Multi-Band 6 Triple Sens
This Casio Protrek was built with hikers in mind.
In addition to the ABC (altimeter, barometer, and compass) features, this beauty also features the ability to log data from your treks.
Outstanding water resistance of up to 200 meters and a Full Auto LED Display means that this watch performs beautifully even in heavy rain or at night.
This solid timepiece is not only sturdy but is also handsome and has fantastic value for money.
What I Like: It has one of the best water resistance features and is definitely affordable
What I Don’t Like: It may be a little big for you if you have smaller wrists
Key Features:
Weight: 3.2 Ounces
Case Diameter: 56mm
Window Material: Mineral
Case Material: Resin
Band Material: Plastic
Band Width: 26mm
GPS: No
Weather Functions: Temperature
Altimeter: Yes
Barometer: Yes
Compass: Yes
Water Resistance: 200 meters
Other Features: Solar charging, 5 Daily Alarms, Stopwatch, Full Auto LED display Illumination
Movement: Quartz
3. Best for Those On a Budget: Casio Men’s Pro Trek PRG-270-1
Cheap hiking watches like this lower-budget Casio Pro Trek can give you a great bang for your buck.
As with the Pro Trek Tough-Solar PRW3500-1, this model Pro Trek is also solar-charging.
This means that there will be no worry about your batteries draining as you use the ABC (Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass) functions.
Based on longitude and latitude, the sunrise and sunset times are a bonus.
This watch is big enough to use while wearing gloves, but not excessively bulky.
It might not have the solid, steel ring of the more expensive Pro Trek, but it is still highly durable and a fantastic hiking watch for those on a budget.
What I Like: It is extremely durable and is perfect for those who are looking for an affordable but fully functional hiking watch.
What I Don’t Like: It is a little flimsy and not as solid as I would like to see in a hiking watch.
Key Features:
Weight: 2.36 ounces
Case Diameter: 52mm
Window Material: Mineral
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Plastic
Band Width: 26mm
GPS: No
Weather Functions: No
Altimeter: Yes
Barometer: Yes
Compass: Yes
Water Resistance: 100m
Other features: Stopwatch, Luminous, Sunrise/Sunset Data
Movement: Quartz
4. Best for Sturdiness & Durability: Casio Men’s GW2310FB-1CR G-Shock Shock Resistant Multifunction Watch
For those who want a cheap hiking watch with great durability, you can’t go past this G-Shock watch by Casio.
Without the features of an ABC watch, this hiking watch is a little leaner and lighter.
For this price, however, the inclusion of solar power and atomic synchronization makes for an amazing deal.
What I Like: It charges quickly and is also perfect for daily use.
What I Don’t Like: It does not come with all the features that one would expect in a hiking watch so it may not be the watch for you if you are a serious hiker.
Key Features:
Weight: 1.83 Ounces
Case Diameter: 46.4mm
Window Material: Mineral
Case Material: Resin
Band Material: Plastic
Band Width: 16mm
GPS: No
Weather Functions: No
Altimeter: No
Barometer: No
Compass: No
Water Resistance: 200 meters
Other Features: Solar-powered, 4 Alarms, Countdown Timer
Movement: Quartz
5. Most Stylish All-round Outdoor Watch: Suunto Core Watch
Looking for a men’s hiking watch with ABC features, but with a more streamlined look compared to the chunkier Casio models?
The Suunto Core Watch has military-standard durability and includes an altimeter, barometer, and compass.
Despite this, it still maintains a sleeker look when compared with a Casio Pathfinder or Pro Trek. This is due to the smooth design and all-black profile.
This makes the Suunto Core slightly more versatile, as even though it is military-grade it can be worn from the trails to the office.
What I Like: I absolutely love the sleek design of this watch and it has all the features I need during my long hiking trips.
What I Don’t Like: The display is rathers small and the strap tends to get flimsy and crack after prolonged use.
Key Features:
Weight: 2.26 Ounces
Case Diameter: 49.1mm
Window Material: Mineral Crystal
Case Material: Composite
Band Material: Elastomer
Band Width: 24mm
GPS: No
Weather Functions: Weather Trend Graph, Storm Alarm
Altimeter: Yes
Barometer: Yes
Compass: Yes
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Other Features: Sunrise/Sunset Times, Depth Meter for Snorkeling, Multilingual Menu, Backlight
6. Most Popular Fitness Tracker to Use on the Trails: Fitbit Versa 2
When looking for the best hiking watches under 200 dollars with GPS, you will definitely want to consider a fitness tracking watch.
It’s obvious that fitness trackers don’t have the durability or ABC features of military-grade outdoor watches. But if you are a casual hiker and do not venture off the beaten path into extreme environments, this is not a problem.
Just like most wearables from Fitbit, the battery on this watch is incredibly long-lasting. A full charge will give you 6+ days of battery, and just 12 minutes charge will get you one day of battery.
Interchangeable bands mean you can customize this little beauty to suit your style.
What I Like: The customizable bands that allow me to change the watch according to my mood! The fast charging feature is definitely a winning factor for me.
What I Don’t Like: It can be a little flimsy and does not have some of the key features I would expect to see in a hiking watch.
Key Features:
Weight: 0.16 Ounces
Screen Size: 35mm
Window Material: Gorilla Glass
Case Material: Aluminum
Band Material: Silicone
Band Width:
GPS: Yes
Weather Functions: Can check weather conditions
Altimeter: Yes
Barometer: No
Compass: No
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Other Features: Heart Rate Monitor, Breath and Oxygen Tracker, Workout Tracking Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa Built-in, Sleep Tracker, Music Player, Bluetooth
7. Best Hiking GPS Watch: Garmin Vivoactive 3 – GPS Smartwatch
Just like the Fitbit Versa 2, on the Garmin Vivoactive 3, you can track your steps, activities, workouts, sports, sleep, heart rate, and more.
With a round face, this Garmin looks more watch-like than the Fitbit, which clearly has the look of a fitness tracker.
If you’re looking for a hiking GPS watch this is it. Unlike the Fitbit Versa 2 which depends on your smartphone for GPS, this Garmin has a built-in GPS.
The Garmin Vivoactive 3 is simply one of the best hiking watches under 200 dollars with GPS.
What I Like: I think this is one of the best combination watches that works effortlessly as a fitness tracker that has GPS features. This is it if you’re looking for a simple, straightforward hiking watch.
What I Don’t Like: None that I can point out!
Key Features:
Weight: 1.52 ounces
Screen: 1.2 inches
Window Material: Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Case Material: Reinforced Polymer
Band Material: Silicone
GPS: Yes
Altimeter: No
Barometer: No
Compass: No
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Other Features: Heart Rate Monitor, Preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, Smart Notifications, Bluetooth, Garmin Pay
8. Best GPS Hiking Smartwatch for Hikers on the Go: Garmin Forerunner 35
Though technically a running watch, we’ve included the Garmin Forerunner 35 on this list of men’s hiking watches.
The Garmin Forerunner 35 is one of the best hiking watches under 200 dollars.
Being a smartwatch fitness tracker, it’ll track all your health and fitness metrics including activity and sleep.
The advantage to the Forerunner 35 is that the device can detect what type of activity you are doing by assessing your movement.
This means that you do not need to stop and alter the configuration of the watch when you change to a different activity.
The heart rate monitor functions through a feature called Garmin Elevate which makes use of optical sensors. This measures your heart rate at your wrist.
What I Like: The solid feel of the watch and how it auto-detects the activity I’m doing.
What I Don’t Like: There is no color display and the band tends to run a little small
Key Features:
Weight: 1.6 Ounces
Screen Size: 2.36 cm
Window Material: Chemically strengthened glass
Case Material: Fiber Reinforced Polymer
Band Material: Silicone
GPS: Yes
Weather Functions: No
Altimeter: No
Barometer: No
Compass: No
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Other Features: Heart Rate Monitor, Smart Notifications, Bluetooth
9. Best All-round Active Watch with GPS: Garmin 010-02173-11 Venu
At first glance, the Garmin Venu is very similar to the Vivoactive 3.
It’s a smartwatch fitness tracker with all the bells and whistles of the Vivoactive 3, making it a great hiking watch.
Both track fitness and sleep, and come with a GPS, Heart Rate Monitor, a Barometer, and more.
The battery life is a little shorter than the Vivoactive. The Venu will last for five days on one charge whereas the Vivoactive 3 will last for 7.
Either way, if you are using the GPS, both watches will need to be charged more often.
What really sets the Venu apart from the Vivoactive 3 is its bright AMOLED display. It’s gorgeous and will not disappoint.
What I Like: The beautiful display. I couldn’t stop staring at it! More practically, the battery life is relatively amazing as well.
What I Don’t Like: It is a little pricey and the Gorilla Glass isn’t entirely scratch proof so you have to be a little careful with that.
Key Features:
Weight: 1.6 Ounces
Case Diameter: 43mm
Window Material: Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Case Material: Fiber Reinforced Polymer
Band Material: Silicone
GPS: Yes
Altimeter: No
Barometer: No
Compass: No
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Other Features: Garmin Pay, Bluetooth, Music
10. Best Rugged Smartwatch: Amazfit T-Rex Pro Smart Watch with GPS
Most of the best hiking watches under 200 dollars are either durable ABC watches without GPS or fitness GPS smartwatches that lack durability and ABC features.
This incredible smartwatch not only features GPS and ABC features but is also highly durable.
This watch has gone through 15 military-grade tests, which means it can handle extreme environments from hot deserts to humid rainforests and snowstorms.
The Amazfit features an 18-day battery life with typical usage, 9 days with heavy usage, and up to 40 hours using the GPS.
If you’re after a smartwatch that is rugged and durable, you cannot go past this excellent timepiece.
What I Like: The extreme durability and incredible battery life.
What I Don’t Like: Honestly – nothing!
Key Features:
Weight: 2 Ounces
Display Size: 1.3 Inches
Window Material: Corning Gorilla Glass
Band Material: Silicone
GPS: Yes
Barometric Altimeter: Yes
Compass: Yes
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Other Features: Blood-oxygen Saturation Measurement, Sleep Quality Monitoring, Over 100 Sports Modes, Sunrise/Sunset Monitor, Supports Four Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Music Playback, Bluetooth
11. Most Stylish Field Watch for Hiking: Citizen Eco-Drive Garrison Men’s Watch, Stainless Steel with Nylon Strap, Green
Are you looking at men’s hiking watches, but finding other models to be too utilitarian?
Consider the Eco-Drive Garrison by Citizen.
This beautiful timepiece comes with a light-powered eco-drive which means you’ll never need to change the battery.
Classed as a tactical watch, the Garrison is more rugged than a dress watch and ideal for casual hikers.
This handsome alternative to ABC watches and fitness trackers will suit those who just want a durable and good-looking watch that tells the time.
With a light-powered eco-drive, this watch will recharge continuously in any kind of light and can run forever with no need to change the battery.
What I Like: The classic style and durability – and of course – never needing to change the battery!
What I Don’t Like: Nothing that I can find!
Key Features:
Case Diameter: 37mm
Window Material: Mineral Crystal
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Nylon
Band Width: 18mm
GPS: No
Weather Functions: No
Altimeter: No
Barometer: No
Compass: No
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Other Features: Solar charging
Movement: Quartz
12. Best Hiking Watch That Charges as you Walk: SEIKO Men’s SNK809 SEIKO 5 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch with Black Canvas Strap
For hikers who are sick of changing batteries in their watches, you’ll want to check out an “automatic” watch by Seiko.
An automatic, or “mechanical” watch charges automatically from the movements of your body when you are wearing the watch.
Turn the watch over and you will be able to see the mechanics of the watch through the see-through back.
This is a classic and unique timepiece that is great for daily wear but is also tough enough for casual hiking.
What I Like: The gorgeous see-through feature and the fact that it charges just from me moving around. That’s nifty indeed!
What I Don’t Like: It may not be useful to you if you are a serious hiker as it doesn’t have certain features that may be useful to you such as an altimeter or compass.
Key Features:
Case Diameter: 37mm
Window Material: Hardlex Mineral
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Nylon
Band Width: 18mm
GPS: No
Weather Functions: No
Altimeter: No
Barometer: No
Compass: No
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Other Features: Day of Week, Water Resistant, Scratch Resistant Hardlex Crystal, Luminescent Hands
Movement: Automatic
13. Best Hiking Watch for Wearing from the Office to the Trails: Citizen Watches Men’s CA0621-05L Eco-Drive
Are you looking for a hiking watch that you can also wear to the office?
Casio hiking watches and fitness watches are functional but perhaps too utilitarian for your work environment.
Enter, this beautiful watch by Citizen. It is powered by light, which means you will never need to deal with batteries or winding.
Crisp white numbers set against the dark face of the watch make it very easy to read the time.
The chronograph works like a stopwatch, allowing you to easily keep a track of elapsed time. This is incredibly useful for keeping track of your time and distance traveled while on the trails.
Topped off with a comfortable leather band, this is one of the best hiking watches under 200 dollars when you’re looking for maximum lifestyle versatility.
What I Like: I love how easy it is to read the time with this watch. Additionally, the leather band is extremely comfortable.
What I Don’t Like: The date window blends in with the background of the watch so it may be a little difficult to read. Again, because it is a classic watch, there are no high-tech hiking features as such.
Key Features:
Case Diameter: 42mm
Window Material: Mineral Crystal
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Leather
Band Width: 22mm
GPS: No
Weather Functions: No
Altimeter: No
Barometer: No
Compass: No
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Other Features: Powered by Light, Chronograph
Movement: Quartz
How to Choose a Hiking Watch
1. ABC: Altimeter, Barometer, Compass
An ABC hiking watch is a hiking watch that includes an altimeter, barometer, and compass.
Within the $100 to $200 range, you can access a range of ABC watches: particularly from Casio.
ABC watches are not essential for hiking, but they are extremely useful, particularly for those who venture out of cellphone range.
In this way, having these navigation features within your hiking watch offers you a greater level of convenience and safety.
2. Altimeter
Have you ever wondered what an altimeter does? An altimeter is used for measuring altitude. Altitude is the distance above sea level.
Typically, altimeters will measure altitude by calculating the air pressure of the surrounding location.
When you have an altimeter in your hiking watch, you can cross-check the altitude of your location against a topographic map of your location. This means that an altimeter will help you to navigate and stay on course.
3. Barometer
Barometers measure atmospheric pressure in units of measurement that are called “atmospheres” or “bars”.
When a storm is on its way, you will notice your barometer indicating a rapid fall of pressure.
A steady or slowly climbing reading during rainfall usually means that fair weather is on its way.
When you are on a long trek, particularly when you are out of cellphone range, it is very handy to have the ability to forecast the changing weather.
Having a barometer within your hiking watch will be invaluable in such cases.
4. Compass
A compass within a hiking watch is incredibly useful.
A compass is a device that will show you the direction you are moving in. It utilizes a magnetic pointer that aligns with the magnetic field of the Earth.
The benefit of having a compass within your watch is that you’ll never go off track. Glance down at any time at your hiking watch, and you will easily be able to see the direction you are moving in.
5. GPS
GPS, or “global positioning system” enables you to see and track your exact location as it moves.
Typically, hiking watches with GPS functionality tend to be fitness trackers that record information about where and how far you traveled.
GPS is also useful when used as a navigation feature, particularly when you sync your smartphone with your watch and use a navigation app.
6. Durability And Water Resistance
When you’re looking for a hiking watch, durability is a key factor.
If you hike or work in extreme environmental conditions, you will definitely want to consider purchasing a Casio, Core, or Amazfit hiking watch.
Military-grade durability features will save your watch from bumps and scratches, heat, and cold.
However, if you are a casual hiker, then a fitness-tracker smartwatch or a smart field watch will provide sufficient durability and water resistance.
7. Heart Rate Monitor
Modern fitness watches typically include a heart rate monitor. This is fantastic for hikers who want to monitor their fitness and health.
Information about your heart rate is helpful for numerous reasons: from improving your athletic performance to tracking your heart health, to managing your stress.
You need to know that heart rate monitors within watches are not medical devices and are not always precisely accurate – particularly during a workout or if they don’t fit so well. If you have concerns you should always see your doctor.
As long as you take the data with a grain of salt, a heart rate monitor is an excellent feature to have in your hiking watch.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the best hiking watches under 200 dollars, you are spoilt for choice.
From versatile Casio watches to the feature-packed Garmins, there’s a hiking watch to suit all types of outdoor adventure.
Not everyone needs an in-built altimeter, barometer, and compass. But it can be hard to go past the Casio Pathfinder, which packs in these features along with a classic appeal and rugged durability.
If you enjoy tracking your routes and monitoring your fitness, you’ll love using a Garmin or Fitbit on the trail. Smartwatch fitness trackers typically include a GPS which means you can track your hikes.
Alternatively, for seeking simplicity and versatility, a classic field watch from Seiko or Citizen might do the trick.
What watch do you wear hiking? Let me know in the comments section below.
Related Posts:
![Can You Use Hiking Boots For Snowboarding [Personal Experience!]](https://womenwanderingbeyond.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/can-you-use-hiking-boots-for-snowboarding-5-768x512.jpg)
![Can You Wear Running Shoes For Hiking? [Personal Experience!]](https://womenwanderingbeyond.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Can-You-Wear-Running-Shoes-For-Hiking-2-768x576.jpg)