Alimimeter, barometer, and compass watch, in short, ABC watches, can predict the weather, altiditue, and change in atmospheric pressure and provides essential data much needed for outdoor activities. They are sturdy timepieces that can handle extreme wear and tear which is a must for a serious outdoorsman. These also double up as great sports watches as most of them are equipped with additional sports features. Most of them are water resistant to some extent and can resist shock or accidental drops. Here’s what you need to know before purchasing an ABC watch: Built-in GPS and Tracking: Keep in mind that not all ABC watches have GPS or tracking. If it’s important for you, it’s worth spending a few dollars on a watch that includes GPS. Some advanced models have satellite navigation systems like Galileo and GLONASS. Sports Features: If you are a sports person an ABC watch with altimeter, barometer and compass won’t suffice your needs. There are watches that come with many sports features like a heart rate monitor, pedometer, pacer and many more. Make sure your watch has the most basic features like alarm, stop watch, storm alert if possible. Build Quality: ABC watches are built to withstand extreme wear and tear. Don’t compromise on the build quality. Make sure the strap is made of good quality material be it nylon, plastic or metal, and the screen is scratch resistant. Another important thing is water resistancy. Your watch should be resistant to water for at least 30 m under water. In this article we have compiled a list of the best ABC watches on the market right now. The reviews are made based on performance, user experience and reviews. We have tried to include options from variable price ranges so that all of you can find something to match your needs. There’s also a detailed “Buyer’s Guide” that talks about all the factors that one needs to take into account before purchasing an ABC watch. Read the buyer’s guide if you do not want to miss out on anything important.
Best ABC Watch Reviews In 2023
Best ABC Watch Reviews
1. Garmin Instinct Watch
Starting our ABC watch list with the Garmin Instinct which according to us is the best overall. We think it packs the most impressive features and offers a great deal for the price. You get 3 axis digital compass, altimeter and barometer plus advanced navigation systems, including GLONASS and Galileo. Coming to its build quality, the watch is made to resist water under 100 meters and is shock resistant and maintains U.S Mil std-810 for temperature. The GPS-enabled watch keeps count of your heart rate, stress levels and activity levels. It even has pre-loaded profiles for multiple sports like running, biking and swimming. The convenience of smartphone connectivity makes the job easier for you. Along with smart notifications, you can also stay connected with the Garmin fitness community to keep track of your group members, data upload and live tracking. The best part is having GLONASS and Galileo satellite navigation systems rather than GPS alone. They are made for backcountry travelling, mounting, hiking, camping, typically anything you can imagine. The battery life is sufficient considering 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 16 hours with GPS on and a max of 40 hours with battery saving mode. The strap is made of silicone, and the dial is around 44mm wide. Overall, it’s the best deal for under 200$. There’s nothing to dislike about the product apart from the bigger size dial. Best Features:
Built-in 3 axis compass, barometer and altimeter Up to 100 m water resistance Strap Material: silicone Dial Size: 44 mm GPS, Glonass and galileo Heart rate monitor, activity level monitor, stress level monitor Bluetooth Up to 14 days battery life Pre-loaded activity modes
Pros:
Amazing quality Great battery life Easy to use Touch-screen Comes with a heart rate monitor
Cons:
Customizations are limited
2. SUUNTO Core Sports Watch
The next ABC watch on the list has around 15K reviews on amazon. And it’s the best budget ABC watches that one can own. The digital Altimeter Barometer and compass watch have all the basic features to keep you updated on weather conditions whether you trek, hike or camp. The digital ABC watch has storm alerts, altitude graphs, and sunrise/sunset timings. Not only that, it’s completely water resistant for up to 30 meters underwater. The built-in barometer can predict the slightest change in air pressure and senses forthcoming storms. The altimeter can show current elevation and also keep a record of your ascending and descending graphs. The watch is most suitable for running, biking, hiking, and gyming. You get a 42 mm size standard dial. It boasts a simple sports watch design. It doesn’t have a GPS, and it’s not made for backcountry travelling. The build quality is worth every penny you spend. The battery life is also sufficient. The only drawback is the visibility under sunlight and that there’s no way to connect it to your smartphone. It’s a basic ABC watch functioning at its best. Best Features:
Dial Size: 42 mm Strap Material: Rubber 30m water resistance Barometer altimeter and compass 12 months battery support Storm alert, altitude graph Temperature change Sunrise/sunset timing
Pros:
Great build quality Storm alert works great 30 m water resistance
Cons:
Hard to read
3. CASIO Solar Watch
Do you know that Casio was the first to introduce ABC watch? If you have a thing for Casio, the Rangeman is the best you can get. This might not be the most futuristic watch, but considering the quality, trust, and band value, it’s a solid timepiece to invest your money on. Along with an altimeter, barometer, and a digital compass, the Casio Rangemen also comes with a thermometer. Still, the best thing about this was the solar-powered battery. Another exciting feature is the atomic clock feature which makes a great adventure watch. The ability to sync with a nearby transmitter provides accurate location and tracking that is unmatched. Like most Casio G-shock models, the Rangeman also boasts World-Time with accurate timings set for 31 different time zones. Other notable features include sunrise and sunset timings, a stopwatch, alarms, and countdown timers. Talking about the design, the watch features a classic G-shock oversized dial ( 53 mm in diameter). The case has a stainless steel construction with a plastic band while the screen is made from scratch-resistant mineral glass. The raised edges provide a sporty look, and the cylindrical buttons along the sides make operating easier. The interiors are fully-protected with a metal cover. The watch is resistant to shock, mud, and water ( 200m ) and is ready to withstand years of abuse. The battery can last for upto 8 months without being exposed to any source of light. Best Features:
Comes with altimeter, barometer, and compass Dial Size: 53mm Dial Material: stainless steel Strap Material: Plastic Screen: Mineral crystal glass Power Source: Solar-powered World timing of 31 zones Atomic Clock feature GPS tracking and wireless connection Water-resistant up to 200m
Pros:
Solid quality Brand reputation Comes with a thermometer Solar powered World clock
Cons:
A little expensive
4. Casio Pro Trek Solar Sport Watch
Those of you who are looking for a basic ABC watch that won’t cost you a fortune should definitely check this one out. This is our best budget pick from Casio that will fit your bill under $150. Casio Pro Trek features an authentic and Casio-certified LCD screen with a large numeric display and a smooth-press-raised button at the edges. The sensory features include a built-in altimeter, barometer, digital compass, and thermometer. The performance as an adventure watch is more than good. It’s great at predicting weather conditions, assessing altitudes, tracking, and navigation. It’s a fully feature-loaded watch for extended backcountry trips. It comes with basic functions like an alarm, stopwatch, timer, and more. However, the two major drawbacks of this budget watch are the lack of Bluetooth connection and activity tracker. It comes with a 52-mm dial which might seem bulky compared to other Casio models, which measure somewhere between 57 to 63 mm. On the positive side, it is also solar-powered and has a solid build resistant to moisture and shock. All in all, it’s a good watch to start your backcountry exploration. Best Features:
Comes with an altimeter, barometer, and compass Dial Size: 53 mm Dial Material: stainless steel Strap Material: Plastic LED backlit with full-illumination Comes with a thermometer Power Source: Solar-powered Resistant to shock and moisture
Pros:
Affordable Great quality ABC watch with a thermometer Backlit with afterglow
Cons:
No Bluetooth connection No GPS
5. LAD WEATHER Watch
LAD Weather is the best choice for a beginner or for gifting purposes. It’s the most affordable option on our list and it comes with some big compromises. Still, you get a basic altimeter, barometer and digital compass watch along with a thermometer that does its job perfectly. The budget watch can predict accurate weather forecasts, comes with a stopwatch, timer, alarm, and is water resistant for up to 30 meters. There’s also a thermometer, multiple program display, altitude and barometric history recorder, and a 10-laps stopwatch. Coming to its material and design, the watch has a 45 mm diameter, stainless steel case, acrylic glass and polyurethane strap. Ofcourse, the quality and functionality are not comparable with the over-mentioned premium options. But at a fraction of the cost of the other models, the LAD weather is a solid buy. If your budget is restricted or you want a basic ABC to watch for outdoor recreations, this is the best option. Best Features:
Alimtere, Barometer and Digital compass Thermometer LED display 45 mm diameter Stainless steel case, polyurethane strap Up to 30 feet water resistant Weather forecast, stopwatch, timer, alarm
Pros:
Economical Includes all basic features Comes with a thermometer Up to 30 m water resistant
Cons:
No Bluetooth No GPS
6. COROS Apex Premium GPS Watch
COROS might not have the reputation of premium ABC brands like Garin, Casio but considering functionality and features COROS as an ABC watch is no less good than the rest two. It has got all that it needs to go for backcountry exploring. Apart from being an altimeter, barometer, and compass watch, the COROS apex is also great at tracking your activities. The COROS APEX comes with built-in Bluetooth, supports ANT+, can connect to smartphones, shows heart rates, and has training modes with 200 preloaded exercises. The best part is that it comes with GPS GlONASS and BEIDOU. It allows you to upload new routes and shows them as bread crumb trails, tracks real-time location and updates on elevation and unfamiliar turns to help you stay on your track. It also has additional features like a nutrition alert when you get dehydrated and tired after long hours of activities. There’s an AI trainer that keeps a count on your energy and stamina levels so that your body gets the time to recover before your next activity session. The battery life is quite sufficient with 25 hours of service and comes with a battery indicator as well. What’s more, is that it is water resistant for up to 100 meters. It has stainless steel casing, and the straps are made of silicone. Other notable features include satellite signal strength checker, storm alert, intelligent stride mode, sunrise and sunset timings, timer, alarm etc. Overall, the watch is a smart purchase, an all-rounder for exercising and exploring backcountry sides. Best Features:
Stainless steel case with silicon band Built-in barometer, altimeter and compass Up to 100 m water resistant Bluetooth and ANT+ support Preloaded maps with bread crumb trails 25 hours battery life on full GPS mode Storm alert, sunset sunrise timings Heart rate monitor, nutrition alert, recovery alert, 200 preloaded exercises Customizable home screen
Pros:
Feature loaded Location tracker Multi-purpose use Wireless connectivity
Cons:
The heart rate monitor lacks accuracy
7. AVTREK Mens Survival Watches
The AVTREK has made it on the list with its smart functions, superior build quality, and affordable price tag. Not to mention that the watch looks extremely elegant and classy when it comes to design and appearance. The watch stands out with its black strap and a big dial with stainless steel bezel, tempered glass cover that’s both comfortable and durable. Coming straight to its features, the watch boasts the standard altimeter, barometer, and digital compass. It comes with a thermometer, pedometer, stopwatch, alarm, dual timings, hourly chimes, and super EL backlight. The pedometer and pacer will keep a count on your steps and speed, while the memory storage can save the last 7 day’s data of step-speed burnt calories and covered distance. It lacks the features like GPS and Bluetooth connectivity which means you can’t connect it to your smartphones. But considering the price and the quality, the features are enough to suffice your needs. A lot of ABC watches that we have come across were only 30 meters water resistant while AVTREK is upto 50 water resistant. It’s sufficient for running, hiking, swimming, exercising and other outdoor sports but not recommended for backcountry travelling. It’s a good-budget ABC watch that does what it claims. Best Features:
Altimeter, barometer, compass watch Stainless steel dial Nylon belt 50 mm diameter Up to 50 m water resistant Comes with a thermometer, pedometer, pacer Includes stopwatch, alarm, world time, countdown, double alarm Lithium battery powered
Pros:
Great for outdoor sports Good build quality Easy to read Value for money
Cons:
Compass has to be calibrated often for accurate reading
ABC Watch Buying Guide
Now that you know the best ABC watches you can go for, you should now understand the basics of an ABC watch and that will help you choose the one that suits your requirements the best! There are many factors to consider while buying an ABC watch and each and every detail is discussed in this Buying Guide below.
1. Durability
The outdoors can be pretty hard on your watch. And hence, the ABC watch should be made of the right elements. Screen: The most delicate part of any watch, the glass screen should be hard enough to resist scratches and withstand the humidity in the weather. It should at least come with mineral crystal glass. Under $100 watches can be a good deal for you but most of the time they compromise on durability by providing a plastic or acrylic screen that won’t last. The best ABC watches have sapphire glasses which are pretty high on the price. Strap Material: When it comes to strapping material, you can pick almost any as long as it feels comfortable to you. The only problem with metal straps is that they are heavier. Resin is extremely light and comfortable on the skin, but plastic will do just fine. Just make sure the material is weather resistant and is able to guard the interiors against extreme conditions. Water Resistance and Shock Resistance: Your ABC watch doesn’t need to have solid protection from water. After all, it’s not a dive watch. But it must offer protection against splashes and extreme weather conditions. To make sure of your and your watch’s safety, look for a watch that has a minimum water resistance of upto 30m. To be on the safer side choose one with a water resistance rating between 50-100 m. It’s advisable to choose a watch with a shock resistance rating if you are going to explore under extreme temperatures.
2. Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass Feature
The basic level ABC watches have a barometer that checks the atmospheric pressure, a compass, and an altimeter to measure altitude at any given time. You might also find must-have features like a stop timer, backlit, lap timers, alarm, and sometimes a temperature sensor. At a higher price, you can expect to have advancements in quality as well as features. The construction might change as you will notice less use of plastic, more durable and comfortable bands, immune to weather and scratches, and easy to read. Besides, the best of the best kind of ABC watches can provide you with in-depth information regarding mapping, altitude gain/loss, shifts in atmospheric pressures, warnings with alarms also atomic timekeeping if you need it.
3. Built-in GPS and Mapping
Currently, most altimeter watches feature in-built GPS tracking. They pack the function of a hiking GPS tracker, fitness tracker, and altimeter watch. They are compatible with multiple satellites and may offer Galileo and GLONASS along with GPS for better range coverage and accuracy. Other than this, there are preloaded maps or options for downloading a new route, tracking to recount a journey, and good battery support, all of which are great for mountaineering, hiking, skiing, and long-distance biking sports. ABC watches vary widely when it comes to mapping. Usually, you will find two types of mapping: simple mapping and topo mapping or topographic mapping, which is a more detailed mapping with contoured lines. ( it comes with only the most expensive ABC watches) However, topo mapping functions better in terrains and landscapes, considering the change in altitude or when you want to go off-rail on a different route.
4. Other Sports Features
Are you into running, biking, swimming, or skiing? Then make sure your ABC watch all of your sports. They pack useful features for multi-level sports like a heart monitor, compass, stopwatch, tachymeter, thermometer, and tide indicators. Keep in mind that many ABC watches don’t come with a barometer. In that case, especially if you are into triathlons, you need to make sure your watch supports all three types of activities and has dedicated modes for swimming, cycling, and running.
5. Connectivity
It goes without saying that smartphone connectivity is a necessity. Though most of the ABC watches are smartphone-enabled, a few of them still don’t have the option. Usually the non-GPS are not smartphone enabled or support very few activities. In general, the phone and the watch are connected via Bluetooth to activities like pop-up notifications, text messages, downloading data, or sharing data between the two. However, some out there can connect to earphones and let you control the volume boost.
6. Size and Fit
The physical appearance of the ABC watch is another thing you need to consider. Perhaps you will be wearing the watch for an extended period of time. In that sense, it has to be comfortable and right for the size of your hand. We have already mentioned the diameters of all the watches on our list. If you have a wrist larger than the average, it’s better to opt for a bulky watch since it will complement your looks. For those who prefer sleek and slim designs, there are plenty of options for you. But you need to make sure that you don’t compromise on readability. Also, keep a close eye on the material used. It goes without saying that choosing a smaller size watch will make you compromise a little on the battery life and screen size, which is still better than jeopardising the comfort.
7. Power Source
Lithium Battery: Similar to smartphones, ABC watches with GPS are powered by rechargeable lithium batteries. And like a smartphone, these watches soon drain their batteries while keeping you connected to your smartphones and satellites for continuous location tracking. Therefore they last for only a while between the recharges. However, the technology is improving, and now you can find watches that can last 14 to 30 days, and some last upto 60- days with a single charge. With growing technology, the ABC watches are equipping themselves with battery-saving modes that cut down the use of smart features and instead save the power only for satellite connections to increase battery life. Solar Power: Having the sun to charge your watches means you don’t need to worry about carrying a replaceable battery or time for the next recharge. Solar-powered watches are self-sufficient tools that offer excellent convenience and efficiency during backcountry trips. Besides, you don’t need to worry about recharging any time soon since these devices can store the charge for months. Casio makes the best solar-powered ABC watches, but Garmin is also gearing up with the game. Coin Cell Battery: Conventional watches are powered by coin cell batteries. It typically includes the non-GPS ABC models that have a battery life of upto two years. They will notify you before the battery comes completely drained out but changing the battery in time is a big deal. Most of the basic level designs include coin-cell batteries. They are good value for money and not suitable for backcountry travel.
Conclusion
If you are a frequent traveller, explorer or sports person, you can’t do it without an ABC watch. We suggest you go for a fully-equipped model if you are interested in backcountry travelling. But then, everyone has their budget limitations. Here are our top three recommendations for you.
If you want the best of both worlds, go with Garmin Instinct Watch. This is one of the most rated, widely popular models from Garmin, and it has got every little thing that you will ever need, be it hiking, trekking, mountaineering, multi-level sports, or backcountry exploring. You get features like GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, Bluetooth connection, and sports features like heart rate monitor and stress monitor. It’s up to 100 m water resistant. The build quality is also excellent from this price point of view. If your budget is restricted, you can choose Suunto Core Sports Watch. It’s a basic ABC watch which still provides you with most of the must-have features like a storm alert, altitude graph, 30 m water resistance, and even comes with a thermometer. The battery backup is also decent. If you want the best quality, function and reliability, you can go with CASIO Solar Watch. The solar-powered watch comes with GPS and tracking. It has world-timing for 31 zones and is 200 m water resistant making it a great watch for water sports. There’s no activity tracker, but the quality is unmatched.
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