Best Travel Watch

8 Best Travel Watches for your adventures in 2025!

Today’s best travel watches serve as your personal navigation system, fitness tracker, and reliable companion whether you’re hiking through remote mountains or navigating busy city streets. With international travel bouncing back stronger than ever, seasoned travelers know that the right watch can make or break a trip, especially when you’re dealing with multiple time zones, outdoor activities, or need something durable enough to withstand whatever your journey throws at you.

TL;DR: The best travel watches seamlessly integrate essential features, such as multiple time zones, water resistance, and extended battery life, with modern capabilities like GPS navigation, health tracking, and smart notifications. Top picks include the rugged Garmin Instinct 2 Solar for outdoor enthusiasts, the feature-packed Fitbit Sense 2 for health-conscious travelers, and the reliable Suunto Core for classic adventure functionality.

Key Takeaways

  • Travel watches are essential accessories for travelers, offering convenience and additional features such as multiple time zone displays and alarms.
  • Consider factors such as the material (stainless steel, titanium, canvas), the purpose of travel (business or outdoor), water resistance, durability, and personal style preferences.
  • Travel watches should be durable, withstand harsh conditions, and offer accuracy and precision, especially for tracking multiple time zones.
  • Some recommended options include SUUNTO Core, Amazfit Cheetah, Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, Fitbit Sense 2, and Garmin Fenix 7, each offering unique features and capabilities.

Best Travel Watches 2025

The market is flooded with options claiming to be ideal for travelers, but not all watches are created equal when it comes to real-world performance. Some excel at outdoor adventures with built-in altimeters and weather tracking, while others focus on intelligent connectivity and health monitoring. The best travel watches strike a perfect balance between functionality, durability, and style, providing you with the tools you need without weighing down your wrist or luggage.

The Suunto Core, Amazfit Cheetah, and Garmin Instinct 2 Solar are all excellent choices for outdoor enthusiasts, thanks to their durable designs and advanced features.

For fitness-focused travelers, the Fitbit Sense 2 and Garmin Fenix 7 offer a wide range of health-tracking capabilities to keep you on top of your wellness goals while on the go.

SUUNTO Core

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Suunto Core Classic, Outdoor Watch, All Black
  • Suunto Core: This classic outdoor sports watch is packed with intelligent features like a Storm…
  • Essential for Adventure: This watch has dual times, date display, and alarm, plus predicted times…
  • Suunto Sports Watches: Versatile and durable, Suunto sports watches are great for running, swimming,…

Embrace the adventure with the Suunto Core, your compass to exploration and connection with nature. This imported classic outdoor sports watch combines intelligent features with a durable design, making it the perfect companion for hiking, biking, camping, and other outdoor activities.

With its Storm Alarm, Altimeter, Barometer, and compass, you can stay prepared for any weather conditions or changes in altitude. The Suunto Core also offers dual times, date display, alarm functions, and predicted times for sunrise and sunset. It even features a depth meter that is accurate up to 30 feet, making it suitable for swimming and diving adventures.

Amazfit Cheetah

Amazfit Cheetah Smart Watch 47mm, Dual-Band GPS, Sleep Monitor, Fitness Watch with AI Running Coach,…
  • MAXIMUM GPS ACCURACY: The Amazfit smart watch Cheetah’s MaxTrack dual-band GPS antenna picks up…
  • PERSONALIZED AI COACHING: Zepp Coach utilizes AI to tailor running plans for fitness watches based…
  • DETAILED ROUTE NAVIGATION: Download and import color maps to your GPS watches for men and women for…

The Amazfit Cheetah is a lightweight smartwatch designed specifically for runners. It features advanced GPS technology called MaxTrack, which ensures accurate tracking even in dense cities or areas with tall buildings and high trees. This makes it perfect for navigating bustling city streets or lush forest trails.

One of the standout features of the Amazfit Cheetah is its personalized AI-powered Running Coach, known as the Zepp Coach. This coach generates customized running plans based on your current level, target race type and date, and race goal. It offers a personalized training program to help you achieve your running goals.

In addition to its GPS and running coach capabilities, the Amazfit Cheetah offers precise route navigation and offline maps. You can download color maps from the Zepp App, giving you a detailed understanding of your surroundings. This is especially useful when exploring new running routes or traveling to unfamiliar locations.

The watch’s BioTracker PPG optical sensor is another notable feature. It accurately monitors heart rate, blood-oxygen levels, stress levels, and sleep quality. This comprehensive health and fitness monitoring capability lets you track your progress and make informed decisions about your training and recovery.

The Amazfit Cheetah has a streamlined and lightweight design, making it comfortable to wear during runs. It is made with durable fiber-reinforced polymer material, ensuring its longevity and resistance to wear and tear.

Overall, the Amazfit Cheetah offers accurate GPS tracking, customized running plans, detailed route navigation, and comprehensive health and fitness monitoring capabilities. Its lightweight design adds to its appeal for runners. However, it’s worth noting that some users have reported inaccurate heart rate readings during exercise if not checked frequently.

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, Tactical-Edition, GPS Outdoor Watch, Solar Charging Capabilities,…
  • Go longer than ever with solar charging that gives you unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode…
  • Battery life: in smartwatch mode, unlimited with solar charging in 3 hours of direct sunlight…
  • Dedicated tactical features include Jumpmaster activity, waypoint projection, dual-position GPS…

The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar offers a wide range of features, making it a versatile option for outdoor enthusiasts. It features solar charging, providing unlimited battery life as long as you wear it all day in direct sunlight for 3 hours. The watch also features dedicated tactical capabilities, including Jumpmaster activity and waypoint projection, making it suitable for military or adventure use. It features a built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter, along with multiple global navigation satellite systems, providing accurate positioning information. The Instinct 2 Solar also offers comprehensive health monitoring features, including heart rate tracking, sleep analysis, and Pulse Ox measurement.

Fitbit Sense 2

Fitbit Sense 2 Advanced Health and Fitness Smartwatch with Tools to Manage Stress and Sleep, ECG…
  • Learn to manage stress, sleep better and live healthier with Sense 2—our most advanced health and…
  • Manage stress and live healthier: all-day stress detection with cEDA and daily Stress Management…
  • Measure and improve sleep quality: personalized Sleep Profile(5), daily sleep stages & Sleep Score,…

Immerse yourself in a world of advanced health and fitness with the Fitbit Sense 2. This smartwatch effortlessly tracks your stress levels, heart rate, sleep patterns, and daily activity.

The Fitbit Sense 2 offers all-day stress detection with cEDA technology. It provides a daily Stress Management Score to help you better understand and manage your stress levels. The ECG app enables the assessment of atrial fibrillation, and irregular heart rhythm notifications keep you informed about potential issues.

You can easily monitor your overall well-being with SpO2 measurement and a health metrics dashboard. The Fitbit Sense 2 also features personalized sleep profiles, daily sleep stages, and a Sleep Score to help improve your sleep quality.

Stay connected with on-wrist Bluetooth calls, texts, phone notifications, customizable clock faces, and even make payments with Fitbit Pay. The built-in GPS and workout intensity maps make this watch perfect for tracking outdoor activities.

Other features of the Fitbit Sense 2 include an Active Zone Minutes tracker for optimal exercise intensity and water resistance up to 50 meters.

Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar

Garmin fenix 7 Sapphire Solar, adventure smartwatch, with Solar Charging Capabilities, rugged…
  • Long-running solar powered multisport GPS watch with scratch-resistant Power Sapphire lens and…
  • Battery performance: in smartwatch mode, up to 18 days while indoors or up to 22 days with solar…
  • Take your training to the next level with endurance and real-time stamina tracking, training status,…

The Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar offers advanced performance tracking, built-in sports apps, and 24/7 health monitoring, making it a reliable companion for fitness enthusiasts. With over 30 built-in sports apps, you can easily track your workouts and monitor your progress. The watch also features 24/7 wrist-based heart rate monitoring, Pulse Ox (available in select countries), stress tracking, and enhanced sleep tracking, providing a comprehensive view of your overall health and wellness.

In addition to its fitness features, the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar is equipped with outdoor navigation capabilities. For accurate positioning, it supports multi-band frequency and GNSS networks (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo). The watch also comes preloaded with TopoActive maps, as well as maps for thousands of golf courses and ski resorts worldwide.

Other notable features include smart notifications, music storage, Garmin Pay contactless payments (in supported countries), and built-in Wi-Fi for easy map downloads without a computer. Its durable design features a scratch-resistant Power Sapphire lens and mineral blue DLC titanium color scheme with a Whitestone band; the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar is both functional and stylish.

Citizen Men’s Promaster Air Skyhawk Eco-Drive

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Citizen Men’s Promaster Air Skyhawk Eco-Drive Pilot Watch, Atomic Timkeeping Technology,…
  • Modern, pilot-inspired Promaster timepieces equipped for professional use to discover the world from…
  • Synchronized to Atomic Time Clock for Superior Accuracy, Atomic Timekeeping Technology with…
  • Black Stainless Steel

Now, let’s shift our focus to another contender for the title of the best travel watch – the Citizen Men’s Promaster Air Skyhawk Eco-Drive. While the previous subtopic highlighted the impressive features of the Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar, we’ll explore what sets the Promaster Air Skyhawk apart this time.

This watch is a true standout, boasting renowned craftsmanship and advanced technology. The Eco-Drive technology ensures you’ll never have to worry about replacing batteries, as it harnesses power from any light source. Additionally, its titanium construction makes it incredibly lightweight and comfortable for extended wear during your travels.

One aspect worth noting is that setting the time can be challenging without instructions. However, with online resources readily available, mastering this process becomes much more manageable.

Now let’s delve into the specifications, pros, and cons of the Citizen Men’s Promaster Air Skyhawk Eco-Drive:

SEIKO Dress Watch (Model: SSG021)

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Seiko Dress Watch (Model: SSG021)
  • Powered by light energy, with no battery change required, this timepiece automatically receives…
  • Case Diameter: 44.5mm
  • The intricately patterned black dial with blue accents features a chronograph, radio signal…

The SEIKO Dress Watch effortlessly combines style and functionality with its sleek design and advanced features. The black dial with blue accents gives it a modern and sophisticated look, while the angular black ion finish stainless steel case adds a touch of elegance.

This luxury watch is visually appealing and highly practical for travelers. Powered by light energy, you don’t have to worry about changing batteries. The watch automatically receives radio signals to adjust the time and calendar, ensuring accuracy wherever you go. Additionally, once fully charged, the 6-month power reserve provides peace of mind during long trips.

The integrated black bracelet offers comfort during wear, while the sapphire crystal and cabochon crown enhance durability. With a water resistance of up to 100 meters, this watch can withstand various travel activities.

Things to Consider When Buying a Travel Watch

First, think about the material of the watch. Stainless steel or titanium are great options for durability and style.

Also, consider the purpose of your travels – do you need a watch for business meetings or outdoor adventures?

Next, water resistance is essential if you encounter any unexpected water activities.

Lastly, check the durability and accuracy of the watch to ensure it can withstand different climates and time zones.

Material

When considering the material, two popular options are stainless steel and titanium cases. Stainless steel watches are renowned for their strength and resistance to corrosion, making them an ideal choice for frequent travelers.

On the other hand, titanium cases offer a lightweight yet sturdy option that is also resistant to rust. Apart from these options, steel cases are also available, which provide a classic look with added durability.

For those seeking a casual or sporty style, canvas and plastic watches can be great choices as they offer flexibility and comfort. If you prefer a touch of elegance, gold and silver watches are perfect for both luxury and casual occasions.

Ultimately, when selecting a watch based on its material, it’s essential to consider your style preferences, desired features, and durability.

Water Resistance

Water resistance is an important consideration when buying a travel watch.. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Outdoor activities: When traveling, you might engage in various outdoor activities such as swimming, snorkeling, or water sports. A water-resistant watch ensures it remains functional and unaffected by water exposure, preventing potential damage.
2. Weather conditions: Weather conditions can be unpredictable during travel. Sudden rain showers or accidentally getting your watch wet can happen. A water-resistant watch keeps it safe from water damage and ensures accurate timekeeping.
3. Durability: Water resistance is often a key indicator of a watch’s overall durability. Watches that withstand water exposure are typically constructed with more robust materials and features. This durability helps them withstand potential impacts or drops while traveling, making them more reliable and long-lasting.

Altimeter or Barometer

If you’re an adventure seeker who loves exploring the great outdoors, having an altimeter or barometer on your wrist can be incredibly useful. Not only will it help you navigate through different terrains, but it will also provide you with critical weather information.

When searching for the best travel watch, consider these options:

  • Altimeter: This feature measures your altitude, which is crucial when hiking or climbing mountains.
  • Barometer: A barometer tracks changes in atmospheric pressure and can predict weather patterns.
  • Fitness wristband watch: A fitness wristband watch with altimeter/ and barometer capabilities is an excellent choice for those who prioritize fitness tracking alongside outdoor adventures. Consider the high-quality offerings from Garmin or Fitbit.

Overall, having an altimeter or barometer on your favorite travel watch ensures you stay prepared and informed during your explorations.

Matt Francis
Matt Francis

Hi, I'm Matt Francis. A digital nomad, blogger, web developer and all-around good egg! I am the brains (and brawn) behind Everyday Ape. My website features a wide range of topics, with a focus on travelling and working online.