Suunto Vertical 2 Leads Field in Outdoor Smartwatch Test, Garmin Fenix 8 Pro Excels in Safety

For outdoor enthusiasts, a smartwatch has evolved from a convenience to a potentially life-saving tool, offering features like GPS navigation and emergency messaging. A recent comparative test evaluated three top-tier smartwatches: the Suunto Vertical 2, the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, and the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro, to determine their suitability for summer adventures.

Suunto Vertical 2: The Daily Driver for Adventures

The Suunto Vertical 2 emerged as the preferred choice for daily use and shorter excursions. Priced at £529, it offers a performance level often associated with more premium devices. The watch features a comfortable silicone strap and a bright 1.5-inch AMOLED screen with 2,000 nits of brightness, making it easily readable in various conditions, including direct sunlight.

Navigation through menus is intuitive, even with gloves on, and the accompanying Suunto app simplifies access to health and training data. Battery life is a significant strength, lasting several weeks on a single charge even with daily training and GPS use. Suunto claims 65 hours of battery life in training mode, and the test found it comfortably handled a week of hiking and climbing with substantial charge remaining. While its GPS accuracy is reliable for most hiking needs, the maps are not pre-loaded and require downloading ahead of time, and the navigation display is less detailed than Garmin's.

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro: The Premium Choice for Serious Exploration

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro represents a high-end offering with a substantial price tag of £1,029.99. Its robust titanium bezel and 1.4-inch AMOLED display are striking, and its construction is designed to withstand rough treatment. The watch comes with pre-loaded TopoActive offline maps, which are detailed and easy to interpret, making it ideal for multi-day trips where a phone might be impractical.

Its standout feature is the optional inReach service, which enables two-way messaging, location sharing, and an SOS function via LTE or satellite, even without cellular signal. This safety feature alone can justify the high cost for those venturing into remote areas. However, the watch's complexity and the battery drain from high-accuracy navigation were noted as drawbacks for casual users. While Garmin states 8-15 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, extensive feature use, particularly navigation, significantly reduces this.

Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro: The Budget-Friendly Performer

At £249.99, the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro offers significant value. Despite its lower price point, it impressed during testing. It features a bright HD screen, a slim design, and a good range of health and fitness tracking capabilities. While it lacks the advanced navigation and satellite communication of the other two, it does support offline map downloads via the Petal Maps app and offers basic GPS, altimeter, and compass functions suitable for following established trails.

The watch includes specific climbing features like an altitude adaptation mode. Its main weakness is the less intuitive Huawei Health App. For individuals new to hiking or seeking a capable sports watch at a more accessible price, the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro presents a compelling option.

Testing Methodology

The evaluation involved several weeks of personal use for each watch, followed by a week of intensive hiking and climbing in adverse weather conditions. The watches were subjected to physical stress, and also lent to other outdoor enthusiasts to gather diverse feedback on fit and usability. Factors such as ease of use, comfort, performance, and value for money were assessed.