Management and myself are hikers and enjoy exploring new areas using OS maps, Strava and similar tools. These are accessed on an iPad/ phone and I often print out a route for reference. We were in Italy last year and managed to get lost on a route despite the signs. This year we want to do some walks from point A to B rather than circular routes,relying on public transport where necessary.
However going adrift can severely impact plans and it occurs to me that a smartwatch with gps and a downloaded map could keep us better oriented without the hassle of digging out an iPad or phone, and making reference easier and therefore more frequent.
Having had the idea planted I have looked around a little and £500+ seems an awful lot to me for something that would not be used every day, although admittedly important from a safety and practical perspective. I really have little idea what to aim for, but something that shows real time position on a route and maybe measures steps and key health parameters.
I would welcome advice and suggestions, this is a closed book to me. I don’t need the biggest and best and happy to buy used/ old model to manage the cost down. Thoughts welcome!
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If your doing point to point then surely the humble compass would serve you well?
Wife's got a smart watch, not my sort of thing, as far as I'm aware they all need a phone signal in order to function?
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>> If your doing point to point then surely the humble compass would serve you well?
Even with Smart Watch/phone etc having a compass and knowing how to use it is a good idea.
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Doesn’t a smart phone that nearly everyone, and possibly you also, have in their pocket do exactly the same thing?
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If you are talking that sort of money, why not get a local map ? :-)
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Navigating with a map and compass is fun of course. And a real map at the right scale and detail probably can't be bettered by a small screen even with the same map loaded.
Where digital scores is that you can have a map with a dot on it showing your location. My dad loved maps but never saw this miracle. I'd love to have known what he would have thought of it.
A phone is a pretty good size IMO if you can get a decent app and map. I have a now discontinued Garmin handheld GPS (76CSx) with mapping, really a marine thing, which I used to take walking. I have a UK map loaded with footpaths and contours on. Don't do so much walking now. The Garmin is a really impressive bit of kit but the screen is small and fairly low res.
I imagine a watch as being more difficult to use.
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I would stick to a map/decent gps app loaded on the phone. GPS on a watch is an expensive low res (poor)duplication of function.
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If you do use Google maps then the map instructions will also come on your Apple Watch.
Used this to good effect in central London when I didn’t want to keep pulling my phone out due to all the tea leafs about.
Just buzzed my wrist every time we had to change direction.
Not sure Google maps on a hill is a thing though but if you do get an aftermarket app, then it may well be able to do the same with the watch?
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>> Not sure Google maps on a hill is a thing though but if you do
>> get an aftermarket app, then it may well be able to do the same with
>> the watch?
Apple Watch Ultra 3: While not preloaded with native OS maps, the WatchOS platform supports the official OS Maps app, allowing for interactive mapping on a high-resolution display.
Not many london tealeaves on a hill in the wilds. Might be the odd northern "scally" tho.
Last edited by: Zero on Wed 13 May 26 at 20:03
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Drop an email to ‘GPS Training.co.uk’. Tell them your requirements and you will get a quick reply.
i’m told they sell pre owned.
You can add european maps to your GPS unit, it will have much better battery life, and there is a GPS unit to suit all pockets and requirements.
For maps contact ‘Dash4 it’ who i personally recommend…just bought two maps for Vallee d’Aspe in French Pyrenees.
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I have an Apple Watch, but one of the main issues at our age is simply reading the screen.
Stop, dig around to find reading glasses, then scroll around tiny screen to see what's going on
Maps can be used, but then you need to often download the section to get them visible on the watch.
If you give Apple Maps on your phone some directions, the watch gives you the turn by turn directions which is handy if you are in a place known for pick pockets and you don't want your phone on display, or don't want the faff of digging it out of your pocket all the time.
One of the main reasons I got it though was to measure your heart rate, and also when you feel your heart going pear-shaped, to do a quick single-trace ECG. Even if you don't do that it will tell you if something is amiss.
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Stop, dig around to find reading glasses, then scroll around tiny screen to see what's going on
Tried varifocals?
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>> Tried varifocals?
>>
... finding maps to load on them is challenging.....
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Even worse on reading glasses
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A busy week but thank you all for your input. I do use a map and in fact always buy one when going to a new area, and subscribe to OS maps too. When out for a hike we have the map or a print out, mobile phone and power bank, first aid kit etc and I have tried a hand held Garmin sat nav.
The role of a watch is to provide reliable turn by turn and easily referred route guidance on a Yorkshire moor/ Dolomites mountain etc where wind and weather make maps impractical. Unfortunately Google/OS maps, compass etc are irrelevant when walking a path when it’s blowing a gale or pouring down and you come to a fork in the track. A phone is better but not ideal, it has to be pulled out of a pocket, doesn’t necessarily have the gps capability needed and battery life doesn’t compare to a suitable watch. In such circumstances I see a phone as a safety device. A map etc gives a macro view, but a watch loaded with the route can give a micro view. Having got hopelessly lost up a mountain last year and missed the view, and the photo (I lugged all my gear up there especially) we invested a day for I am determined to get it right. I’ve tried iPhone and OS etc, and although an Apple user I find their watch poor value for my purposes.
Thank you L-lad for your comments, knowing you to be heroic level walker they are particularly valuable. After googling around I initially looked at an Amazfit but I don’t need all the exercise content. I am coming down to a Garmin Epix/ Fenix/ 965 with Topo maps ready installed and then I can update with additional routes from OS in the UK and local sources elsewhere. I will certainly follow up the suggestions, it’s a few weeks before our trip to Scotland.
Thanks all, now where did I put my walking poles?
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As i said, email GPStraining.co.uk
Their MD should contact you within hours, recommend different models dependent upon screen size, features & your particular requirements.
They can supply pre loaded maps on your choice of GPS in 1:25k and 1:50k.
Thread drift but should you ever get the chance, walk in the Picos. My 4th visit next month after the Pyrenees trip, and again in September 2026 …two weeks on the Costa Verde before slowly heading south via Segovia then wing it from there.
Last edited by: legacylad on Fri 15 May 26 at 21:54
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Last year’s Pilgrim Walk was navigated by a combination of paper OS and phone based OS map with a dedicated route overlay
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Makes you wonder how all those pilgrims made it without so much as a smart watch :-)
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Smart watch - Paul 1963
