Smart watch for hunting

amicus · September 19, 2019, 12:03:12 PM

Hope asking this question is appropriate here.

I like wearing watch when hunting but now with all the smart watches that are available I'm wondering if any body has any experience/ recommendations. I like the idea of having a gps option like the the Garmin fenix or the Garmin instinct. I also like an altimeter and barometric reading. Heart rate monitor, temperature etc,etc. Right now I'm interested in the Garmin instinct and have in my cart but just thought I would ask here for any advise or reccomdations. Typing on my phone is difficult for me so please forgive any typos.

maxpetros · September 19, 2019, 12:08:38 PM

I've had a garmin instinct since march of this year and absolutely love mine. I got it primarily to track runs and workouts but its proved equally as valuable in the field. The gps feature is very accurate and it's nice to be able to punch in coordinates, track back to a starting point, or sight to a distant location and itll project a route. It also has a weather feature and sunrise and sunset times, moon phases as well as the standard altimeter, barometer, and compass. I wanted a fenix but it was a little out of my price range but I'm honestly very pleased with my instinct and would buy it again. Oh and the battery life is excellent.

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amicus · September 19, 2019, 02:23:39 PM

That's exactly the info I was looking for. Really appreciate it. I also been looking at the fenix but just a little to pricey for me.

Do I need to down load maps to use the gps feature opt Maori waypoints?

Terry Green · October 01, 2019, 10:28:55 AM

amicus · October 01, 2019, 03:25:28 PM

Thanks Terry

maxpetros · October 01, 2019, 04:07:24 PM

Quote from: amicus on September 19, 2019, 02:23:39 PM
That's exactly the info I was looking for. Really appreciate it. I also been looking at the fenix but just a little to pricey for me.

Do I need to down load maps to use the gps feature opt Maori waypoints?

No need to download maps for anything

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bigbadjon · October 01, 2019, 04:26:14 PM

What do you do if you lose a phone signal?

Roy from Pa · October 01, 2019, 04:30:55 PM

It's got a gps unit inside, works off satellites, not cell towers.

maxpetros · October 01, 2019, 04:33:49 PM

Yep just like a regular garmin gps

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blacktailbob · October 01, 2019, 06:10:33 PM

Do they work in a thick forest with heavy overhead cover?

maxpetros · October 01, 2019, 06:15:21 PM

Quote from: blacktailbob on October 01, 2019, 06:10:33 PM
Do they work in a thick forest with heavy overhead cover?

Yeah I've been in a huge variety of terrain with mine and not once lost connection

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Charlie Lamb · October 01, 2019, 08:08:29 PM

Does it tell time?

STICKBENDER98 · October 01, 2019, 08:15:55 PM

I bet when you can see it's daytime, and when you can't see it it's night time.

Jason

Terry Green · October 01, 2019, 08:30:36 PM

I never got into gps units.....but I do know that Joe Coots lost signal in Cohutta once while he was with me.

That was 15 years ago and they may have added satellites since then.

I was just always worried I would erode my wits n skills and internal compass.

Terry Green · October 01, 2019, 08:47:49 PM

Charlie.....I don't even wear a watch ....

bigbadjon · October 02, 2019, 09:38:54 AM

If you get one with GPS and GLONASS you hardly ever lose the signal. If some of the watches have that feature it would be a deciding feature for me.

danshao · October 02, 2019, 11:17:42 AM

I have the suunto but don't use it much or for hunting at all. Acquiring the satellite is slow and the pois don't sync with my inreach or Gaia so I ended up having 3 separate collections of waypoints etc. also my wrist doesn't agree with most of the big faced watches comfort wise and there's also the reflection of sunlight that I worry about.

If you already use a garmin inreach you're better off with a fenix for the whole system, if you really want to run a gps watch.

amicus · October 02, 2019, 11:58:05 AM

I like wearing a watch when I hunt. Especially when I'm up high. I like knowing the altitude and and the amount of calories I'm burning. I still would carry a hand held gps but would be nice to have a second gps to compare. The Garmin instinct seems to be the perfect one for me. Have looked into the sunnto brand but they don't have gps abilities.

maxpetros · October 02, 2019, 12:47:20 PM

Quote from: amicus on October 02, 2019, 11:58:05 AM
I like wearing a watch when I hunt. Especially when I'm up high. I like knowing the altitude and and the amount of calories I'm burning. I still would carry a hand held gps but would be nice to have a second gps to compare. The Garmin instinct seems to be the perfect one for me. Have looked into the sunnto brand but they don't have gps abilities.

For what it's worth, I replaced my suunto core with the garmin and the suunto doesn't even begin to touch the garmin. Very spotty and had a ton of issues, particularly with the altimeter and compass, not such with the garmin

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