Best ABC Altimeter Watches in the UK | 2022 Beneficial Buyer’s Guide
All experienced backpackers know the importance of keeping their items compact. Whether its clothes, sleeping bags, or tent poles, many high-quality outdoor items are designed to be multi-purpose. That's where the ABC Altimeter watch comes in.
Referred to by the acronym "ABC", these products provide an altimeter, barometer, and compass all in one handy device. Trekking through the backcountry? A trusty ABC watch could help keep you both informed and safe during the journey.
The Main Features of ABC Altimeter Watches
For those who don't know, an altimeter determines the altitude gained during a journey while a barometer measures changes in atmospheric pressure. As you can likely guess, both measures are incredibly important for backpackers who want to both note their current progress and steer clear of bad weather.
Of course, these are just the starter features of the most basic ABC watch available. Many ABC watches come with a wide list of capabilities too numerous to name. Nowadays, it's common for these products to be replete with temperature sensors, lap timers, automatic time zone change, backlights, and advanced altitude visualization maps.
Potential buyers should know that it's difficult to find a fully functional ABC watch that isn't on the bulkier side. Many of the more functional units weigh six ounces or more, which can feel appreciably more heavy on the wearer's wrist.
Trusted Brands of ABC Altimeter Watches: How they differ
Currently, Suunto and Casio ABC watches dominate the market since these brands offer a wide range of additional features. That said, the Garmin brand has recently made a big push into the high-end market by offering solar-powered ABC watches with enhanced GPS capabilities.
The Suunto was founded in 1936 by Finnish engineer and adventurer Tuomas Vohlonen, who invented the liquid suspension compass with a more stable and precise needle. Today, Suunto is still based in Finland, where most of the products are designed and manufactured in its factory in Helsinki.
Suunto Core is a fully functional ABC watch with tons of extra features packed into the small watch face: weather tracking, temperature readings, sunrise times, elevation, and even storm alerts.
Check out the Garmin ABC Watches, which are considered one of the best multi-sport altimeters watches in the industry. With full ABC capability, the Fenix 5X connects with GPS and GLONASS satellite for the most accurate location tracking.
Moreover, this little device features sophisticated topographical mapping for hiking, mountaineering, and use in the great outdoors. Though if you're just looking for basic ABC functionality, the 5X might be too bulky and feature-heavy for the average buyer.
TOP Best Altimeter Watches Compared
1. Garmin Instinct Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS
Offered in shades ranging from Graphite to Flame Red, the Garmin Instinct is built to withstand tough environments. This US Military standard, thermal, and shock-resistant watch is built-in with a barometric altimeter, GPS, and smart compass.
Aside from basic functionalities, the Garmin Instinct comes with an activity, stress, heart rate, and training tracker. You can even stay connected to smart device notifications with automatic data uploads.
With up to fourteen days of battery life, this Garmin is a fantastic companion to have when trekking through the backcountry. The patented TracBack feature allows you to easily navigate back to your starting point with the paired Explore app lets you plan trips in advance.
You're unlikely to find an ABC watch developed from a more customer-loved, trusted, and continued high-quality manufacturer than Garmin.
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Garmin Instinct: Check the current price
2. Casio Men's Pathfinder Triple Sensor Sport Watch
The Casio Pathfinder is so jam-packed with features that you'll probably only discover some utility months after purchase.
The black, completely solar-powered watch is built with the standard compass, altimeter, and barometer, yet also boasts a thermometer, LED backlight, automatic time zone adjustment, city code display, five programmable alarms, timers, power-saving functions, and much more.
With a reinforced resin band and buckle, you'd be hard-pressed to get even a scratch on this watch. Meant for those that need all the protection good tech can afford them in the wilderness, the Casio is built to withstand rugged conditions.
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Casio: Check the current price
3. SUUNTO Core ABC Watch
With its surprisingly sleek design, many are surprised when they realize the Suunto Core is a fully functional ABC watch. More than that, this product boasts tons of extra features packed into the diminutively small watch face: weather tracking, temperature readings, sunrise times, elevation, and even storm alerts.
This all-black watch is slim enough to function as both a professional and outdoors watch. Designed to be your companion wherever you go, the Suunto is constructed from lightweight yet tough composite materials to be as unobtrusive as possible.
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Suunto: Check the current price
4. Garmin Fenix 5X Plus Watch
Though its high price tag may initially throw you off, there's no getting better in multi-sport, ABC, and smartwatch functionality than the Garmin Fenix 5X. This ultimate, high functionality watch packs the best of activity tracking, GPS, topographical measuring, and smart device utility into one product.
Aside from tracking nearly every important dimension of health (pulse, oxygen saturation, and sleep), the Garmin Fenix is fit for any adventure due to its rugged and scratch-resistant design. Constructed with diamond-like carbon that is 30 percent stronger than steel, this Garmin is waterproof and corrosion-free.
Now, it's possible to easily store and play up to five hundred songs on your watch. Connect with Bluetooth headphones for phone-free listening or even make convenient payments with your watch through the Garmin Pay contactless solution.
With up to twenty days of battery life in smartwatch mode, the Garmin Fenix is both extremely functional and convenient. Ultimately, this watch is meant for those that treat going outdoors as a fundamental aspect of their lifestyle.
There's just no beating the advanced activity metrics, multi-network navigation system, live tracking, and topographical measuring of the Garmin Fenix.
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Garmin Fenix 5X: Check the current price
Best-Selling ABC Altimeter Watches in the UK | Comparative Table
Most Popular
Casio Men's Pro Trek PRG-270-1 Tough Solar Triple by Amazon US
- Tough Solar Power,100M Water Resistant,Low Temperature Resistant (-10 C / 14 F),Module 3415,Approx. Battery Life: 9 months on full charge (without further exposure to light)
- Accuracy: +/- 15 seconds per month, Full Auto Calendar (Pre-programmed until the year 2099),5 Daily Alarms (4 one-time and 1 snooze alarm), World Time 31 time zones (48 cities + UTC), city name display, daylight saving on/off
- Full Auto LED (Super Illuminator) Backlight with Afterglow, Countdown Timer Measuring unit: 1-second Countdown range: 24 hours Countdown start time setting range: 1 minute to 24 hours (1-minute increments and 1-hour increments)
Suunto Unisex's Core Outdoor Watch, All Black, One Size
- The Suunto Core integrates the most important outdoor features in a sturdy construction with a comfortable elastomer strap
- The combination of altimeter, barometer, and compass with weather information is the essential tool for your adventures
- Dual display of time, date, daily alarm, and sunrise and sunset times
- Matrix display with electroluminescent backlighting, User-replaceable battery, 12 months autonomy in time mode, Multilingual menu available in English, French, German and Spanish, Operating temperature from -20° C to + 60° C
- Content: 1x Suunto Core Outdoor Sports Watch, Material: Elastomer (strap), Mineral glass, Colour: All Black, SS014279010
Garmin Instinct Rugged GPS Watch - Graphite
- For your urban lifestyle: This watch is to match your style. It comes in many trendy colors and fits any look. Whether on the beach, biking with friends or at a barbecue party. The instinct always fits your watch, your lifestyle
- Always up to date: Now you won't miss any news, emails, or calls. The Instinct informs you with Smart Notifications about everything that happens on your smartphone. Enjoy your after work with colleagues and without looking on the phone
- Sporty on the go: snowboarding, stand-up paddling, climbing, yoga, or strength training in the gym, from now on, you can experience all this with your instinct. Thanks to GPS, GLON, and Galileo, you always know where you are on the go
- Stay fit: This is easy with a step counter, pulse measurement on the wrist, and calorie consumption measurement. When it gets stressful, you can keep a cool head thanks to stress level measurement. The sleep is shows you how restful your sleep was
- Garmin Connect App: This powerful app for Android/iOS provides you with individual information about your activity. Compare yourself with friends. yse and celebrate your achievements. An app clear, personal, motivating
Casio Men's Pro Trek PRW-3500T-7CR Tough Solar by Amazon US
- Solar-powered sport watch with a stainless steel rotating bezel featuring digital dial with day/date display and backlight, Thermometer Display range - -10 to 60 C, Display unit - 0.1 C
- Features triple sensor, atomic timekeeping, low-temperature resistance, digital compass with bearing memory, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, sunrise and sunset data, world time, four daily alarms with snooze, 1/10-second stopwatch, countdown timer, 12/24-hour formats, and power-saving function and 56 mm resin case with mineral dial window
- Titanium band with fold-over-push-button-clasp-with-safety closure
Other Popular
Casio Men's SGW-1000-1ACR Triple Sensor Digital Display Quartz Black Watch
- 100M Water Resistant, Altimeter, Barometer, Digital Compass, Thermometer, Low-Temperature Resistant (-10C/14F), LED Backlight (Super Illuminator) with Afterglow, World Time 31 time zones (48 cities + coordinated universal time), daylight saving on/off
- 5 Daily Alarms and 1 Snooze Alarm, Countdown Timer, 1/10 second stopwatch, Auto Calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2099), 12/24 Hour Format, Button operation tone on/off, Storage Battery CR2025, Approx. battery life: 3 years
- Quartz Movement
- Case Diameter: 54.7mm
- Water Resistant To 330 Feet
Casio Men's PRG-300CM-4CR Pro Trek Triple Sensor Tough Solar Digital Display Quartz Orange Watch
- Solar-powered watch with digital display featuring four daily alarms, barometer, and digital compass
- 42 mm stainless steel case with mineral dial window
- Quartz movement with digital display
- Polyurethane band with buckle closure
- Water-resistant to 100 m (330 ft): In general, suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not scuba diving