Not all smartwatches can sustain harsh conditions. You may end up scuffing up the dial or shattering the display if you’re on rocky terrains. A ruggedized smartwatch is generally constructed with materials that can sustain such abuse. In this post, we’ve curated a list of some of the best tough and durable smartwatches that you can buy for adventurous activities. Make sure you pick one up before your next trek! Here are some other articles that we think you may like before getting to the heavy-duty smartwatches –
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Let’s get to some tough smartwatches now!
1. Meoonley Military Rugged Smartwatch
Water resistance: IP68
The first thought that would come to mind when you see the Meeonley smartwatch is that it’s rugged. It has a metallic exterior with boxy edges. The screws on the chassis are exposed to emphasize the rugged look. You can wear the Meeonly watch to the pool as well thanks to the wearable’s IP68 rating. The watch comes with 100+ sports modes and can track steps, distance, and calories burnt. Since the watch connects to your phone via Bluetooth, you can also answer calls on the smartwatch itself. Many users mention that the Meeonley Rugged smartwatch fared better than they anticipated. The metallic exterior does pick up dings easily but even then, the device should outlast a run-of-the-mill, fashion-centric wearable.
2. Garmin Instinct
Water resistance: 100m
Garmin’s smartwatches are generally known for excellent precision and accuracy. So, if you’re someone who really cares about metrics and recording proper data, you will be pleased with the Garmin Instinct. What’s more, the tracker’s built-in GPS, compass, and altimeter should come in handy when you’re on a hike. Long-term owners of the smartwatch have said that they are happy with the performance and have no major complaints. The software is slightly basic and the app library is limited so don’t expect the same level of functionality as say, an Apple Watch.
3. Amazfit T-Rex 2
Water resistance: 100m
Aside from the regular health-tracking features found on smartwatches, The Amaxfit T-Rex also offers dual-band GPS, real-time navigation, and heart rate monitoring. It goes without saying that you can view your notifications, answer calls, and track regular workouts with the T-Rex 2 as well. Another big advantage of the Amazfit T-Rex 2 is its insane battery life. You can go up to 24 days without charging the smartwatch which is a huge plus. And, on the off chance you’re planning to swim with the watch, the wearable should be fine till a depth of 100m. While the rugged construction of the Amazfit T-Rex 2 is what makes it close to indestructible, there are several reviews that say the smartwatch looks rather bulky. So, make sure to factor that in before you purchase the device if you have small wrists.
4. Casio G-Shock Move GBD-H2000
Water resistance: 200m
If you fancy a G-Shock’s aesthetics, then you will be impressed with the G-Shock Move GBD-H2000 too. The reinforced chassis should cushion most blows, thereby keeping the display in mint condition. You’ll also be impressed with the Move GBD-H2000’s capabilities. To wit, the wearable is water-resistant up to 200m and supports solar charging, which means you can go without connecting it to a charger for two months. There’s a built-in GPS module for activity tracking and the watch links to your phone to display notifications as well. As per the user reviews, the only downside of the watch is that the UI takes some getting used to. The Casio app for your phone isn’t very feature-rich either. If you want a smarter watch, we suggest picking up something else from this list. But, if your priority is a rugged watch that can also track your health metrics, the G-Shock GBD-H2000 will serve you well.
5. Apple Watch Ultra
Water resistance: 40m
The Apple Watch Ultra is undeniably the most versatile and functional rugged smartwatch on this list. It’s backed by Apple’s app ecosystem, so you get everything from an app to track your workouts to fun games when you’re stuck in a boring meeting. Standard features like GPS, compass, and barometer are present and accounted for as well. It’s important to note though that while the Apple Watch Ultra is certainly more rugged and durable compared to previous iterations, it’s still not invincible like the G-Shock. Hence, we would recommend getting a case for the Apple Watch Ultra to further its shelf life. If you have the budget for it, the Apple Watch Ultra is truly the ultimate rugged smartwatch in terms of features.
Strong and Smart
A rugged smartwatch can bear the brunt of extreme conditions while providing you with the smarts required to track your activities or even keep you safe in some situations. So, instead of wearing your regular watch when on an adventure, we suggest picking up a rugged smartwatch. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.