A quality watch is an accessory favored for its style and pragmatism, and today’s timepieces have come a long way since their start as simple time trackers. Modern watches can track everything from the calendar to your heart rate to your current altitude. Watches with an altimeter function rely on barometric sensors and GPS receivers to precisely determine a wearer’s elevation above sea level, a capability that’s particularly useful for mountain bikers, trail runners, hunters, aviators, soldiers, and more.
When it comes to exploring in the great outdoors or navigating the wild blue yonder, the more tools at your disposal, the better. Of course, these watches come in a variety of styles, colors, and features—each geared toward different tasks and environments. To make your shopping experience easier, we’ve selected the best altimeter watches on the market.
Best Overall
Suunto Core
Best Value
Casio Twin Sensor
Honorable Mention
Garmin Instinct Solar
Benefits of Altimeter Watches
- Land navigation. In addition to a map and compass, an altimeter can be a helpful tool for land navigation, and when combined with a watch into a single unit, it can be incredibly convenient as well. With an altimeter watch, geographic location no longer needs to be a guessing game.
- Track workout performance. Mountain bikers and trail runners know that tracking mileage is only a nominal way of monitoring workout performance. With an altimeter watch, outdoor athletes can better track their path and performance during any given workout.
- Aviation instrument backup. Once upon a time, aviators relied heavily on their watches to navigate and orient themselves in the clouds. Today, most pilots rely on integrated aircraft instrument panels for navigation, but if push comes to shove, having an altimeter watch as a fail-safe backup never hurts.
Types of Altimeter Watches
Traditional Watch
Traditional timepieces are the most common type of altimeter watch on the market. These watches rely on quartz movements, barometric altimeters, and battery power to provide their users with the time and current altitude readings. They tend to be tough, rugged, and durable, thanks to their relatively small displays. But due to their internal barometers, these watches can be quite large, often more than 50 millimeters across, compared to the more common watch face sizes in the 42- to 46-millimeter range.
Smartwatch
First came the smartphone, then came the smartwatch. The debate of smartwatch vs. traditional watch is gaining more and more traction, and may soon displace the analog-vs.-digital and quartz-vs.-mechanical rivalries. Smartwatches are capable of an impressive variety of feats, thanks to their computer-based internals and the ability most have to read and display GPS-based data. What makes them even more impressive is their ability to do more than traditional timepieces with a smaller physical footprint.
Top Brands
Casio
In 1946, Casio first saw the light of day when Kashio Tadao launched the Casio Computer Co. in Tokyo, Japan. Today, the company’s U.S. headquarters are in Dover, N.J. Casio produces quality, affordable calculators, electronic instruments, office supplies, cash registers, and watches, like the Casio Twin Sensor.
Citizen
Citizen was founded in Japan at the end of the first World War in 1918 with a sole focus on watches. The company’s focus has never wavered, and today, it puts out quality products such as the Citizen Promaster Altichron. Citizen maintains its U.S. headquarters in Torrance, Calif.
Garmin
Garmin is an Olathe, Kan., company that specializes in GPS products for virtually any activity. Whether for sports and fitness, outdoor recreation, automotive applications, boating, aviation, or military use, Garmin covers it all. Now, with products like the Garmin Instinct Solar, athletes of every type can monitor time, geography, vitals, and much more without stopping to catch a breath.
Suunto
In 1936, Finnish adventurer Tuomas Vohlonen invented a liquid compass with a needle designed to handle difficult environments. Today, Suunto specializes in compasses and watches, such as the durable Suunto Core.
Altimeter Watch Pricing
- Under $100: These are entry-level and casual options. Often, the altimeter will have limited accuracy in exchange for a more budget-friendly cost.
- $100 to $250: These mid-tier watches are for those who want strong performance without completely wrecking their bank account. The extra cash usually results in better performance.
- $250 and up: These top-quality watches are designed for serious athletes, soldiers, and professionals. They often use GPS-powered sensors, and many are capable of syncing health and performance data with third-party software.
Key Features
Power Source
When purchasing any watch, arguably the most important feature to consider is its power source, and particularly so when selecting an altimeter watch. By definition, these watches are electrically powered, and all such watches rely on a battery to store and dispense power. Most commonly, traditional watches use either a traditional, disposable battery or a cell designed to store solar-derived power. On the flip side, most smartwatches rely on a rechargeable battery.
Altimeter Type
Altimeters measure one’s altitude above sea level, and in an altimeter watch, these measurements are derived from either a barometer or a GPS signal. Barometric altimeters rely on a physical barometer to generate readings, but these gauges will be only relatively accurate, depending on the day’s weather. On the flip side, GPS altimeters rely on satellite data to determine altitude with great accuracy. That said, GPS dead spots do still exist in the world.
Water Resistance
Those interested in an altimeter watch usually want a timepiece with significant water resistance. Water resistance is measured according to water pressure with ratings listed by meter depth or pressure units. A watch rated at 100 meters matches a watch rated at 10 standard atmospheres (atm), and the same can be said for 200 meters and 20 atm. For those planning to immerse their watches often, we recommend a bare minimum rating of 100 meters.
Other Considerations
- Weight/Comfort. On their own, watches are simple machines, but with each added feature (usually called “complications”), the watch’s size and weight will increase. This, in turn, affects a watch’s overall comfort, and combined with the watch’s shape and (usually replaceable) band will determine its comfort level. Ultimately, no one wants to wear an uncomfortable watch, so be sure to choose carefully.
- Analog vs. Digital Display. Ah, yes, the age-old argument: Analog or digital? While one might think altimeter watches are only available with one display or the other, the truth is that both options exist, allowing buyers to select their preferred choice. That said, altimeter watches skew heavily toward the digital side, so those wanting an analog altimeter watch will have fewer options from which to choose.
Best Altimeter Watch Reviews & Recommendations 2021
Best Overall
Suunto Core
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Best Value
Casio Twin Sensor
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Premium Pick
Garmin Instinct Solar
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Most Durable
Casio Pro Trek
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Honorable Mention
Casio G-Shock Rangeman
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Honorable Mention
u0026nbsp;Coros Apex
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Best Overall
Polar Grit X
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Honorable Mention
Citizen Promaster Altichron
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Tips
- When considering a GPS-based altimeter watch, determine what kind of terrain in which you’ll use it. Without a reliable signal, GPS-based altimeters can be off by as much as 400 feet.
- Most individuals needing an altimeter watch also need a water-resistant watch. Find one with a minimum rating of 30 meters (about 100 feet). For swimmers (and those who shower with their watches), start with a 100-meter (330-foot) rating.
FAQs
Q: What is the best altimeter watch?
A: There are a number of tough, reliable altimeter watches on the market, but our premium pick is the Garmin Instinct Solar. It combines powerful navigation tools and technology with reliable solar energy and health monitors to create an impressive all-around package.
Q: What is the most accurate altimeter?
A: GPS-based altimeters are the most precise units available. Unfortunately, dense foliage, heavy clouds, and rock formations can disrupt the GPS signal, throwing readings off by up to 400 feet. Barometric altimeters are less precise and susceptible to weather conditions but do not rely on wireless signals to work properly.
Q: How accurate are watch altimeters?
A: GPS-based watch altimeters usually are quite accurate. Barometric altimeters in wristwatches are often less precise and can be influenced negatively by inclement weather conditions, such as a sudden storm.
Q: How do you read an altimeter?
A: Traditional altimeters often use a needle-and-dial system to provide data readings. Watch altimeters usually reside in digital watches or smartwatches that can provide readings in a traditional written format.
Final Thoughts
The award winner for Best Overall Altimeter Watch is the Suunto Core. This is a durable watch combined with navigation tools and a mini mobile weather station. For more casual buyers, the Casio Twin Sensor is another great choice.