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Choosing a Sub $100 Hiking Watch Just Got Easier With Our In-Depth Guide

Written by John Wren|

A rugged digital hiking watch on a daypack strap at a forest trailhead
A rugged digital hiking watch on a daypack strap at a forest trailhead

In the following article we will present you our options for the best hiking watch under $100. Being out in the wilderness is one of the most rewarding experiences life has to offer. Hiking and Backpacking have seen a such in popularity in recent years, thanks to people cutting b

Key takeaways

  • Durability: A good hiking watch should be tough and rugged to withstand the rigors of outdoor use.
  • Battery life: A long battery life is important for extended hikes.
  • Navigation: A watch with GPS and compass capabilities can help you navigate and keep track of your location.
  • Water resistance: If you’re going to be hiking in or near water, a water-resistant watch is a must.

A hiking watch under $100 you will still wear is a brick that tells time after a dunk, buttons you can hit in gloves, and a battery you will not charge on a ridge — not a catalog GPS computer you mailed because a listing said trail. The short answer: buy a Casio G-Shock GD-100-class or a Timex Expedition Grid Shock, set the time at the table, and leave a Forerunner-class GPS for a budget that is already not this page.

Short version. Ski watches is the GPS-or-brick fork. Hike kit if the other Saturday is already a pack. Pair with tape. Check live prices.

This page is time and abuse under a hundred. A Fenix you will not learn in the lot is a different Saturday. This is the GD-100, the Timex, a Daylite, a Tikka, a pouch.

A G-Shock on a pack strap at a trailhead. Time you can still read. No cable.
A G-Shock on a pack strap at a trailhead. Time you can still read. No cable.

Time, a light, a dunk. A track is a different budget.

Do: a watch you can still read in shade. Don’t: a touchscreen you will not feel in rain. A dive watch if the other hour is already a depth rating. Ski watches if you already want GPS vert. Under $100 here is still a brick.

The Casio G-Shock GD-100 is the live brick we named: time, a light, abuse, a battery that is still years. Confirm the current GD-class SKU. Check live prices.

Casio G-Shock GD-100

Casio G-Shock GD-100

Check price on Amazon

The Timex Expedition Grid Shock is the live under-$100 Expedition we named: indiglo, a shock case, a strap you can still size. Confirm the listing is the Grid Shock, not a fashion chrono. Check live prices.

Timex Expedition Grid Shock Watch

Timex Expedition Grid Shock Watch

Check price on Amazon

Do: set day and date at the table. Don’t: a smartwatch that dies at mile six. A tactical smartwatch is a different battery story. This page is still a cell you will not charge on a ridge.

A pack and a lamp so the watch is not the whole kit

The Osprey Daylite is the live pack we named for water, a dry shirt, and the snack you will actually eat. Check live prices.

Osprey Daylite Daypack

Osprey Daylite Daypack

Check price on Amazon

The Petzl Tikka is the live lamp we named. Same pocket. A watch light is not a trail lamp. Check live prices.

Petzl Tikka Headlamp

Petzl Tikka Headlamp

Check price on Amazon

A 150-piece mini kit covers a blister and a bleed. Open it at the table. Check live prices.

150-Piece Mini First Aid KitM0-Piece Mini First Aid Kit

Check price on Amazon

Do: the same pack every Saturday. Don’t: a fashion tote. Hike gear. All-day shoes if the first walk is already pavement.

WantHonest tool
A cheaper shock caseTimex Expedition Grid Shock
A track and vertThe ski-watch page, not this budget
The rest of the walkDaylite, Tikka, 150-piece mini kit

Set it at the table. Check live prices.

Water resistance is a splash, not a dive computer

Do: a rinse after salt. Don’t: a 100-meter hope on a listing you did not read. Dive watches if the other Saturday is already a depth. This page is a creek crossing and rain. Hiking and health if the hour is already the medicine.

A brick, a time you set, a lamp in the pack

That is a hiking watch under $100. Check live prices. Come home with the same time you left with, not a dead GPS you feared.

Guests will try to mail a GPS they will not charge

Say the rule at the house: a brick, a time you set, a lamp in the pack. If the answer is a Fenix and a laugh, sit. A hiking watch. Ski watches.

The G-Shock GD-100 we named still wants abuse and years of battery. Check live prices. Hike kit.

The Timex Grid Shock we named still wants indiglo you set at the table. Check live prices. Hike gear.

A smartwatch that dies at mile six is a different page. A hiking watch.

A splash is not a dive computer

Do: a rinse after salt. Don’t: a 100-meter hope you did not read. A dive watch. A hiking watch.

The Daylite we named still wants water and a snack. Check live prices. Hike kit. A canteen.

The Tikka we named still wants the trail. A watch light is not a lamp. Check live prices. A tactical headlamp.

The 150-piece mini kit we named still wants an open. Check live prices. First aid. Tape heat.

A brick does not replace a last you walked

All-day shoes. Tape heat. Tape heat before the first long walk.

Hiking and health if the hour is already the medicine. This page is still time you can read.

UV still applies. A brim you already own. Leave some gas.

Pavement is allowed. That is a successful Saturday. A mood hour.

Rinse the strap. Set the date. Mice eat webbing.

Last line: a brick, a time you set, a lamp. A hiking watch. Hike gear. Check live prices.

Storage thinking scales to a watch cup. Hike kit.

Ski watches if the other Saturday is already vert. This budget is still a brick.

The dead GPS can wait. This year’s walk cannot. Check live prices. Leave some gas.

Thursday is the same brick if you already trust it

Do: the same card. Don’t: a new computer every Thursday. A hiking watch. Hike kit.

The GD-100 we named. The Timex we named. Check live prices. A tactical headlamp. First aid.

All-day shoes. Tape heat. The last is still the Saturday.

Come home with the same time. A mood hour. Leave some gas. That is a hiking watch.

A brick that still tells time after a dunk

Do: GD-100-class abuse. Don’t: a touchscreen on a ridge. A hiking watch. Ski watches.

The G-Shock we named still wants years of battery. Check live prices. Hike kit.

The Timex Grid Shock we named still wants indiglo you set. Check live prices. Hike gear.

A Fenix you will not learn in the lot is a different budget. Ski watches.

A watch light is not a trail lamp

The Tikka we named still wants the same pocket. Check live prices. A tactical headlamp. A hiking watch.

The Daylite we named still wants water and a snack. Check live prices. Hike kit. A canteen.

The 150-piece mini kit we named still wants an open. Check live prices. First aid.

Tape heat. Tape heat. All-day shoes.

Rinse after salt. A 100-meter hope is a different page

A dive watch. This page is a creek and rain. A hiking watch.

Hiking and health if the hour is already the medicine. Hike gear.

UV. A brim you already own. Leave some gas.

Pavement is allowed. A mood hour.

Set day and date at the table. A ridge is not a classroom

A hiking watch. Hike kit. Check live prices on the GD-100 we named.

A smartwatch that dies at mile six is a different page. A hiking watch.

Hike gear. Tape heat. The last is still the Saturday.

Leave some gas. A short loop still counts.

Rinse the strap. Set the date.

Last line: a brick, a time you set, a lamp. A hiking watch. Check live prices.

Hike kit. Hike gear. Ski watches.

The dead GPS can wait. This year’s walk cannot. Leave some gas.

Come home with the same time. A hiking watch. That is enough.

Shade and rain. A time you can still read

Do: a brick. Don’t: a touchscreen. A hiking watch. Hike kit.

The GD-100 we named still wants abuse. Check live prices. Hike gear.

The Timex we named still wants indiglo. Check live prices. Hiking and health.

Ski watches is GPS vert. This budget is still a brick.

The watch is not the kit

The Daylite we named still wants water. Check live prices. Hike kit. A canteen.

The Tikka we named still wants the trail. Check live prices. A tactical headlamp. A hiking watch.

The 150-piece mini kit we named still wants an open. Check live prices. First aid.

Tape heat. All-day shoes. Tape heat.

A creek is a splash. A dive computer is a different page

A dive watch. A hiking watch. Rinse after salt.

UV. A brim you already own. Hiking and health.

Leave some gas. A short loop still counts. A mood hour.

Pavement is allowed. Hike gear.

Set it at the table. A ridge is not a classroom

A hiking watch. Day and date. Check live prices on the GD-100 we named.

A smartwatch that dies at mile six is a different page. A hiking watch.

Hike kit. Hike gear. Tape heat.

Leave some gas. Come in when you said.

A brick, a time you set, a lamp in the pack

Last line. A hiking watch. Check live prices.

Hike kit. Hike gear. Ski watches.

The dead GPS can wait. Leave some gas. A mood hour.

Come home with the same time. A hiking watch. That is enough.

Years of battery. A cable on a ridge is a different watch

A hiking watch. Hike kit. The GD-100 we named still wants abuse. Check live prices.

The Timex Grid Shock we named still wants indiglo you set. Check live prices. Hike gear.

Ski watches if you already want GPS vert and you will charge it. This page is still a brick.

A dive watch. A splash is not a depth rating. A hiking watch.

Pack, lamp, pouch. The watch is time

The Daylite we named still wants water. Check live prices. Hike kit. A canteen.

The Tikka we named still wants the trail. Check live prices. A tactical headlamp. A hiking watch.

The 150-piece mini kit we named still wants an open. Check live prices. First aid. Tape heat.

All-day shoes. Hiking and health. A brick does not replace a last. Leave some gas.

A brick, a time you set, a lamp

Last line. A hiking watch. Check live prices.

Hike kit. Hike gear. Tape heat.

The dead GPS can wait. Leave some gas. A mood hour.

Come home with the same time. A hiking watch. That is enough.

Also in the magazine

Keep going with ski watches, hike kit, hike gear, and tape. Check live prices.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best hiking watch under $100?

Casio G-Shock GD-100-class for abuse. Timex Expedition Grid Shock if you want a cheaper shock case. Set it at the table.

Do I get GPS under $100?

Not a honest trail computer. See ski watches if you already want a track and you will charge it.

G-Shock or Timex?

GD-100 if you want a brick. Grid Shock if you want indiglo and a lighter strap. Both beat a dead smartwatch.

Is a smartwatch a hiking watch?

Not on this budget. Cold and a long day kill the cell. A brick still tells time.

Is it a dive watch?

No. A splash and a creek. See the dive-watch page for a depth rating.

What else belongs on the walk?

Osprey Daylite, Petzl Tikka, 150-piece mini kit we named. A watch light is not a trail lamp.