Smartwatches are trendy smart wearable today, with so many options ranging from health-tracking watches, GPS watches, fitness trackers, etc. The price of each watch can vary depending on its main features. Smart watch with advanced health tracking functions or GPS capabilities are usually more expensive than others. The Apple Watch Ultra 2, for example, starts at $799.
Do you really need a GPS watch? Take this quick quiz, you might save money!
QUIZ
1. Do you usually do outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, trail running, etc?
2. Do you need higher precision in tracking activities?
3. Do you need higher precision in tracking activities?
4. Do you need advanced metrics like routes, navigation, elevation, pace, etc?
5. Do you often use GPS features?
6. Is GPS features a priority to you?
You’re an outdoor pro who needs precision and navigation. You definitely need a watch with GPS! Your frequent outdoor activities require a rugged watch with GPS capability, precise tracking, and performance monitoring features. Brands like Garmin or Runmefit will be worth every penny.
A mid-range GPS watch or a hybrid tracker would be better for you! A mid-range watch with built-in GPS, like the Runmefit GTX2 GPS Adventure Watch, can meet your outdoor adventure needs as well as everyday use for health and fitness tracking.
Just save money and get a smartwatch or fitness tracker that meets your main needs. Find the best option for your lifestyle in How to Pick the Best-Fit Smart Watch or Fitness Tracker for Your Lifestyle. The Runmefit GTR3 AMOLED or GTS7 Pro Smart Watch, for example, can easily cover your indoor/light outdoor needs.
How GPS Works on Smart Watch
A GPS watch, in simple terms, is a smartwatch with a built-in satellite-based positioning system for precise location tracking. It communicates with a network of orbiting satellites, each is constantly moving and sending signals with its position and the exact time the signal was sent. By receiving signals from at least 4 satellites, smartwatches equipped with GPS can calculate their own location.
A GPS watch allows users to track their location, pace, distance, and routes while outdoors, making it perfect for athletes, hikers, and those who looking for precise data tracking during outdoor activities.
Why a GPS Watch Can Be a Game-Changer
GPS-enabled watches like Garmin, Coros, and Runmefit can provide precise metrics you care most about when you’re outdoors. For example, your heart rate, calories, routes, speed, distance, and other metrics from environment to physical health. So who would benefit from a GPS watch?
Adventurers
For adventurers, a GPS watch is like a digital compass. Brands like Suunto and Garmin offer specific models with premium outdoor offline maps, storm alerts, and sunrise/sunset tracking. These features are essential for long-distance hiking or backcountry skiing, whether you want to track your trails or plan where to go. GPS watches help you transform your adventure into a data-driven exploration, every steps and every turns will be precisely recorded and easily retraced.
Outdoor Enthusiasts
For runners, hikers, climbers, cyclists, and people who loves outdoor recreation, a GPS watch offers real-time data tracking such as routes and distance traveled. Moreover, it offers actionable insights into your performance by tracking your pace variety, mapping trails and hiking elevation, monitoring HRV during endurance workouts. So then you can precisely monitor your physical metrics during training, and timely adjust your training plan to improve your performance and push your limits.
Fitness Buffs
For fitness enthusiasts, gym-goer, pro athletes, and swimmers, a GPS watch can monitor your daily activities more effectively, providing detailed performance metrics during workout. When you want to set new goals and track your progress, a GPS watch collects comprehensive fitness data to motivate you to stay active. The performance details and training insights are a game-changer for everyone who wants improvements.
What to Look for When Buying a GPS Watch
Buying in a GPS watch is all about matching it to your lifestyle. So you’ll need to evaluate your exercise habits, think about your long-term fitness goals, and consider which features on these watches you care most about.
- Battery life: If you need to use the watch for extended outdoor activities, long battery life is a essential feature for you. Pay attention to the specs and reviews to make sure it reach your requirement.
- Durability and Water Resistance: If you like to wear your watch in different conditions and environments, such as forest, desert, and open waters, you need to make sure that the watch is water-resistant and can withstand the harsh conditions.
- Off-line Maps: If you often explore or run outdoors where the network connection is limited, offline maps is particularly useful and reliable for outdoor navigation without a constant network connection.
- Health Tracking: If you focus on your workout performance and recovery, you might buy a GPS watch with advanced health-tracking features like sleep analysis, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and blood oxygen levels tracking.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a pro cyclist or an outdoor adventurer, a GPS watch can help you record your milestones and optimize your plan. With detailed tracking and route mapping, a GPS watch transform your workouts into measurable, progress-driven sessions.
If your quiz results indicated that a GPS watch is a must-have, then it’s time to explore one that fits your lifestyle.
