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Preparing for a trip can be both a little scary and incredibly exciting. It’s not uncommon to walk around with that nagging feeling of having forgotten something, whether that be your cellphone, cellphone charger, wallet, deodorant. We all do it. That inevitable stress doesn’t go away just because we reach our travel destination either – suddenly we have to keep track of all those tours we’ve pre-booked.
We also want to make sure to wake up on time, and there’s so much more. But to avoid taking stress with us on our vacation, why not invest in a high-quality traveler watch? It’ll help you remember everything important. All you need to do is sit back and relax.
Travel watches can be incredibly useful when out in the world, which is why we have put together this product guide to help you find the best travel watch for you.
View The Best Travel Watch Below
1. Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire
The Garmin Fenix 5X has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal covering the large round dial, which in itself is a feature that indicates quality and durability. Inside the dial, surrounded by a stainless steel bezel, you have three smaller sub-dials, displaying altimeter, barometer, and gyroscope, complete with a three-axis compass.
It’s one of those products that can do it all; it has GPS and GLONASS thanks to built-in sensors, luminous hands, accurate time-telling, and much more to make it perfect for travelers. If that wasn’t enough, it’s also a Smartwatch! This means you can receive all your Smartphone notifications, such as social media and incoming phone calls, directly to your digital travel watch.
Pros:
+ Extended battery life
+ Multiple time zone options
+ Smartwatch features
+ Full-color TOPO mapping
Why We Like It – If you want adventure watches that can do it all, you’re going to love this black Smartwatch and all its traveling features. These are premium timepieces that fit both women and men.
2. Samsung Galaxy Active2 Watch
These travel watches are available in three different colors and with several watch bands and watch faces; You can pick the one that goes best with your personality and style. It’s water-resistant and rechargeable with a long battery life which can last over a day on a single charge. The heart rate monitor will alert you to any drastic drops or peaks in heart rate. This is a great field watch by Samsung.
Thanks to all the Smartwatch functions, and it can be paired both with both Android and iOS devices for your convenience. This sets it apart from the Apple Watch, which is only compatible with iOS devices. You can check your social media accounts to make sure you don’t miss anything while traveling, use GPS, Maps and more, and do it in style with this smart, water-resistant travel watch.
Pros:
+ Durable water-resistant construction
+ Compatible with both iOS and Android
+ Exchangeable strap and multiple colors
+ With stainless steel or aluminum
Why We Like It – The reliable pairing with both iOS and Android devices makes this digital watch one of the best travel watches for trips to populated areas, and when traveling to remote locations.
3. Casio ‘G-Shock’ Quartz Resin Sport Watch
This is a brand that has been around for a long time, offering excellent products often at an affordable price. The G-Shock has a large 48.5 mm resin case, which not only looks impressive but also makes for easy use when out on the road. It has a digital display and quartz movement, multiple alarms, afterglow EL backlight, a countdown timer, and an auto-calendar.
This Casio watch is a great option for the active traveler who needs a watch with a variety of sports features. These travel watches are water-resistant to 200 meters, and can be used for water sports, but not scuba diving. You can get the perfect field watch with time zones, a track function and compass all for a reasonable price.
Pros:
+ Large 48.5 millimeters resin case
+ 200-meter water resistance
+ Automatic movement and alarms
+ Daily alerts and email notifications
Why We Like It – With a digital travel watch like this, you get great features for outdoor sports and activities. The price is surprisingly low, considering everything you get for your money.
4. Samsung S3 Frontier Smartwatch with Bluetooth
It’s a massive advantage not having to pull out your smartphone every time you need something. With this digital watch, you can get travel tips, useful features, and turn it into the perfect travel gadget for your next trip once paired with either an iOS or Android device. It can also track your heart rate, map out travel routes and more, and the battery is strong enough to last for a whole day.
With impeccable military-grade performance, this travel watch won’t let you down. It has built-in GPS to help you navigate in unfamiliar locations, so you won’t waste time on routes that won’t get you anywhere, or worry about getting lost.
Pros:
+ Rotating steel bezel
+ Samsung Pay option
+ With military-grade performance
+ 380mAh Li-ion battery
Why We Like It – This Samsung S3 is a smartwatch with automatic movement and military-grade performance, which gives you excellent accuracy, and a sporty watch style you can’t say no to.
5. NIXON Regulus Watch
Add this sleek, stylish and sporty watch to your list of potential travel watches and let it surprise you with function after function, all there to aid you in whatever activity you decide to take part in. The watch has been made to withstand heat, cold, rain and more. It was designed after receiving valuable input from real U.S. Special Operations personnel, which sets it apart from pretty much all competing products.
You can set multiple time zones, list relevant alarms, use the light to see the dial at night and experience a watch that’s water-resistant. This watch is a style appropriate for the adventurous traveler – it has a looper lock strap that can be adjusted to fit any wrist. When you’re on the hunt for a travel watch, this black beauty is one you need to consider.
Pros:
+ Resistant to all the elements
+ Comfortable looper lock strap
+ 100-meter water resistance
+ With dual-chronograph
Why We Like It – The batter of this travel watch lasts for five years. It has water resistance down to 100 meters and is made to be durable enough to accompany you on trips and adventures.
6. Timex Ironman Essential Watch
Are you not loving the idea of a plain black watch? These Timex watches come in colors like orange, navy, blue, and yellow, giving you a unique opportunity to find a watch that properly fits your personality. Wear it with pride and make use of functions like the 100-hour chronograph, the Indiglo Light up watch dial, the stopwatch, a 10-lap memory, two time-zone options (set the time zone you’re currently in, and the time zone you’re traveling to).
You also get a digital clock, a calendar (complete with day, date and month), an easy-to-set alarm function and much more, and while this watch is comparable to the Timex Expedition, the Timex Ironman is even more apt for traveling and travel-related activities.
Pros:
+ Wide comfortable strap
+ Indiglo Light-Up Watch Dial
+ Two options with time zones
+ 100-hour chronograph
Why We Like It – Water-resistance is one of this watch’s top features. It has all the perks you would get with the Timex Expedition, at a surprisingly affordable price.
7. Tissot Analog Display Quartz Watch
Looking for something a little fancier? These watches suit a classier style, for anyone who likes to look their best while traveling. Instead of a strap, it has a gorgeous stainless steel bracelet that sits securely around your wrist. Sapphire crystal glass protects the dial. These durable watches come with dual time zones – perfect for traveling from one time zone to another.
They make the list of the best travel watches, thanks to the ultimate combination of style, design, price, tough construction, and accurate time-telling ability. If you plan to be traveling in the city, this master watch is a product you can wear whenever you feel like it, and for anything from a night out, to a fancy lunch date or a business meeting.
Pros:
+ 39mm diameter case
+ Reliable quartz movement
+ 330 feet water resistance
+ Stainless steel bracelet
Why We Like It – A travel watch can be a man or a woman’s best friend when traveling. If you want a watch that stands out and can be worn to any event, these watches have class.
8. SUUNTO Core Military Outdoor Sports Watch
For an adventurous soul who wants a watch that can be used for any activity, the SUUNTO Core is a watch you can’t go wrong with! These watches will track the movement of the sun, inform you of the weather, provide accurate barometer and altimeter and much more, making it the ultimate travel watch to wear the next time you book a train, plane or bus ticket.
You should always love the watch you wear. This isn’t hard with this sporty and unique design, and clever features to make sure your trip goes as smoothly as possible. This watch can prevent you from getting lost if you’re into outdoor challenges.
Pros:
+ Barometer for air pressure trends
+ Altimeter to measure elevation
+ With weather trend graph
+ Suunto core weather tracking
Why We Like It – This watch can do it all; it has an altimeter, barometer, weather trend graph and many other things. It’s easy to start using, even when you have never used a sports watch like this before.
9. Fitbit Charge 2 Heart rate and Fitness Wristband
Traveling can mean so many different things depending on who you ask. For some, a good trip is doing something physical like hiking or backpacking in an exotic location. If you’re interested in fitness and training when you travel, then perhaps a Fitbit fitness tracker should be at the top of your list.
These Fitbit watches are made to show you everything you need to know in regards to your health. It tracks your sleep automatically, showing you how many times you wake up, how long it took to fall back asleep, whether you rested properly, etc. It also has a special tracking feature for women, providing you with important information and updates regarding your period, ovulation and more.
Pros:
+ Automatic sleep tracking
+ Female health tracking
+ Fitness guidance and tips
+ Lightweight and small in size
Why We Like It – These watches come at a reasonable price and are perfect for anyone who enjoys sports and active holidays. The lightweight design makes them easy to wear for hours at a time.
10. Swatch Once Again White Dial Watch
There’s something very modern about this 33mm plastic watch. It’s perfect for the travel enthusiast who wants a lightweight watch with largely visible Arabic numerals. The round white dial creates a nice contrast with the black details. There’s a date window right there at 3 o’clock to keep track of important dates throughout your travels.
It’s water-resistant to 30 meters, meaning it is fine to spill water on it, but you should not take this watch with you when you go swimming on your next vacation. Swatch is a highly respected watchmaker, and these watches are guaranteed to keep up with your globetrotter lifestyle!
Pros:
+ Quartz movement with analog display
+ Plastic wristband with buckle closure
+ Large easy-to-read Arabic numerals
+ Durable plastic dial window
Why We Like It – You will love these watches if you’re someone who wants basic functions at an affordable price. These watches are also water-resistant to protect them from the elements.
Travel Watch Buyers Guide
The first thing you’ll want to ask yourself is what matters the most to you when you’re traveling? Do you want a simple and lightweight travel watch to help you keep track of time, or are you looking for something a little more sophisticated, with fitness tracking, GPS, or a compass? Do you fancy a diver watch, or perhaps a classy timepiece with a leather strap?
Knowing what you’ll be using your travel watch for will make it easier for you to find the best one for your personal needs. This buyer’s guide will make it a little easier to find your ideal watch, by providing you with useful tips in regards to what to look for.
Time Zones
If you travel frequently to parts of your own country, or to another part of the world where there’s another time-zone, you could benefit from purchasing a travel watch with dual-time, which means it has two time-zone options. These watches are often referred to as GMT watches. They’re great for cross-continent traveling.
A watch like this can work in a few different ways, but analog watches will usually have two hourly hands to simultaneously show time in both zones, and that way you don’t have to get confused when you land, or when you want to make a phone call to someone back home, etc. etc. Instead, you get the best possible coverage no matter where you are traveling to or where you are coming from, so consider getting a dual-time watch if you enjoy being out and about.
Fitness Tracker
Want to keep track of your fitness and health while out there? This is useful if you just want to know how far you’ve walked while sightseeing, if you enjoy counting your steps, or if you want to monitor your heart rate or sleep. It could be for someone who engages regularly in more extreme fitness activities like climbing, hiking, and biking while traveling.
If you want to make the best of your active travel holiday, you need your new travel gear to have a fitness tracker (such as the Apple Watch or a Fitbit), and you will find a variety of models offering this useful feature.
Battery Life
It’s not unusual to be out for hours at a time when you’re traveling, and you don’t want your watch to run out of battery-time while you are busy doing something fun. This could have negative consequences when you’re traveling, as you could easily miss a flight, be late for a booked activity, or miss an important work appointment.
Whenever you plan to use a watch for traveling, make sure you check the product specifications to see how much battery-time you get on a single charge and use that information to determine whether it’s the best option for your needs.
Price
When looking for the best deal, it’s also a question of how much you want to pay. Not everyone has hundreds of dollars to spend on a watch, and that’s okay! The good news is that there are great alternatives available in all price classes, and it’s possible to get the best functions for a reasonable price.
You might notice that the more things you can do with your watch, the pricier it gets, but this is more of a tendency than an actual rule. One thing’s for sure – you should never settle for anything but the best, regardless of how big or small your budget is. That’s why we have included a variety of options in this review, to make sure there is something for everyone.
Does it matter what the watch looks like when you travel?
When choosing the best watch for your trip, consider where you’re going and what you’ll be doing. If you’re going to an area with a high risk of theft, choosing a more discrete watch might be a good option, but other than that, you should choose a watch that you like, since you’ll probably be wearing it for hours at a time.
Is it important for a travel watch to be water-resistant?
Traveling often means spending a lot of time outdoors, especially when you’re traveling in big city environments, as sightseeing tends to be done outside. This means you run the risk of being caught in unexpected rain. A water-resistant watch will make sure that’s is the least of your concerns, so you can continue enjoying your holiday and laughing about the fact that you got wet.
Conclusion
Having a good watch when you travel is something you might have never thought about, but once it sits there on your wrist, you’ll quickly discover the many benefits. The battery of a watch tends to last much longer than that of a phone, so your travel watch could become your lifeline when trying to find your way using GPS, or when you need to set alarms to keep track of important things like flight times and departures.
There are thousands of watches out there to choose from, so you want to make sure you pick the best one. Hopefully, this guide will have given you the tools you need in order to find the perfect travel watch for your next big adventure. Having a good watch is so much more than just a fashion statement, and it has the potential of making your traveling experiences a lot more enjoyable.
Expert Tip
Make sure you keep your travel watch clean and in top condition, as this will prolong its overall lifespan, so you can enjoy your traveling timepiece to the maximum.
Did You Know
Watches have been used for traveling since they were first invented, but a modern travel watch can do so much more for you with modern features like heart rate monitoring and GPS.
