Best Altimeter Watches for Men in 2022

Everything answered, right on down to altitude sickness, how these things work, and every little feature and purchase point we took into consideration when compiling this list. We’re big on watches here (just look at the dozens of watch guides we have), but when you put the spotlight on a serious function like the altimeter, things get a bit more in-depth.

Things to Consider when Purchasing an Altimeter Watch

Weight - It’s a watch; weight may not seem like a serious component in the purchasing process, but it matters far more than you think. You’re already wearing a bulky backpack, heavy gear, and putting strain on your body. Some altimeter watches can weigh multiple pounds, and that’s not going to help you out on the trail. Keep in mind, with all those features, altimeter watches are going to weigh more than your standard posh wristwatch.

Design - Function is great, but here at Gear Hungry, we’re all about function meeting flair. Nobody wants to buy an ugly watch, especially if you’re wearing it on the way to the site. You stop for coffee, and you want the cute barista’s number. The last thing you want is a bulky, dorky watch when you hand her back her phone after putting your number in, and losing confidence from an ugly watch.

Display - Some displays are just built to be better, while others fall flat. If your altimeter watch is doing its job, that’s great, but it’s not that helpful if you can’t see it clearly. The  display is important, and should be taken into consideration in accordance with your eyesight.

Dimensions - Most GPS/altimeter watch combinations have a lot going on, and as such, they’re heavy and a bit bulky. One of the reasons we picked Suunto to be our top pick is because they managed to get it down to a 5x4x4 and 4.60oz size, which is rather nice. Just be certain that, depending on weather conditions and attire, that your watch isn’t going to interfere with insulation.

Power supply - Rechargeable, or disposable batteries? The supply is just as important as the longevity. Depending on the battery supply, you’ll run into additional costs, or difficulties finding the proper batteries. Pay close attention to this aspect.

Battery life - Altimeter watches aren’t just going to run off of quartz and call it a day. They’re little pieces of wrist-bound tech that require a steady power supply. We recommend checking out our portable solar charger guide to bring one along, or our portable power bank guide and charge your watch when not in use. If you’re going out on a three-day hike, most watches batteries won’t last that long.

GPS - Most of the additional functions that we’re going to get into in just a moment are dependent upon the prerequisite of having a GPS. For the most part, a GPS is a GPS; there are few differences between different types that should affect your purchase.

Altimeter accuracy - Altimeters are not 100% perfect pieces of equipment. Really, there’s no such thing. Their accuracy is usually determined by the manufacturer, sometimes referred to as the per-minute marking. If your altimeter was just consistently working in the background, you’d drain your battery reserve in eight hours, and the watch would be useless to you. They usually ping once every five to fifteen seconds, updating as you go.

Altimeter Watch FAQ

Q: What is an altimeter watch?

A: Altimeter watches are the hardcore hiker’s essential item. We all look at our phones for the time nowadays, but these watches come with a different purpose. Understanding your altitude, along with other aspects of your hike or journey, are vital to your physical wellbeing. An altimeter watch measures air pressure, altitude, can provide GPS navigations paths back to camp, and a slew of other features that we’ll cover in this guide, including the importance behind their primary function.

Q: What additional features do altimeter watches come with?

A: While you’re not going to encounter each of these in every watch, brands don’t simply put an altimeter and digital gauge on a wristband and call it a day. They have to be more valuable to you than the last guy, and so, these are common additional features you’re likely to see on altimeter watches.

Route nav - Trying to get back to camp, but don’t know the way? Route navigation either comes with predisposed pathways for common hiking destinations in the United States and other countries (depending on the manufacturer and maps they use), or allows you to carve your own so you can figure out how to get back.

Pace and distance display - Your speed, your distance from the camp (which can be useful if you’re hiking a new trail), and in some cases, calories burned, can all let you know what rest your body is going to need, and help you safely shatter previous records.

Heart rate monitor - Some watches, like our #1 pick, only have this feature activate if you’re underwater (weird, right?), but understanding your heart rate out on the trail is important. As stubborn humans, we often ignore signals from the body telling us to slow down. Bravado doesn’t “win” a hike; it just puts your health at-risk.

Smartphone app - This nice little feature allows you to track your movements and motion, and in some cases, calorie burning. These apps all different, so we can’t really break down what each will hold, but they’re usually fitness-focused, and also allow you to sync to your watch to display incoming calls and push notifications.

Compass - The quintessential item for any hiker. If you remember them teaching you how to use one in the scouts, you’ll greatly appreciate this additional feature. Should unexpected interruptions occur, or your battery reserve runs dry, we do recommend you having a separate analog compass at your disposal.

Q: What does an altimeter calculate?

A: An altimeter and its neighboring components measure barometric pressure, and send it through electronic signals to display your altitude. Air pressure and oxygen thinning occur with higher elevations, which has adverse effects on the body, especially if you just immerse yourself without ever having experienced a higher altitude environment.

Q: What are the altitude levels?

A: Depending on where you are, you fall into different altitude/air density categories, which bring different physical experiences. They are, as follows:

• High Altitude: Between 5,000 and 11,500 feet above sea level
• Very High Altitude: Between 11,500 feet and 18,000 feet above sea level
• Extreme Altitude: Anything over 18,000 feet above sea level

Q: Why is it so Important and beneficial to know your altitude?

A: Depending on where you’re going, and how fast you’re going to get there, your altitude is extremely important. The human body is able to adapt to almost any climate and condition, within reason. Higher altitude living is common, especially in certain areas of New Hampshire, Maine, and Colorado. Scientific studies occur all the time regarding higher altitudes correlated to better health conditions, primarily improved cardiovascular function.

“Whoa, Gear Hungry, I just wanted to know why it matters.” Don’t worry; we’re getting there. Just because higher altitudes can make for improved health conditions, doesn’t mean you can just take an elevator up to the summit and start living better. Those who live at higher altitudes have either done so for a long time, or were born into it. Oxygen is always the same, no matter where you are in the atmosphere (crazy, right?) but the air molecules differ. Even if there’s a good oxygen supply, those molecules are dispersed more evenly throughout the air, and less dense in each breath. So why do you need to know your altitude? Hypoxia.

Hypoxia, or altitude sickness, slows down your cells, and turns them against your. Your body begins to repel nutrients, and stop properly disposing of waste. Your altitude is pretty important, especially if you start encountering the symptoms. Apart from that, it also aids in GPS navigation, and understanding your timing. Higher altitude from your original camp starting point comes with added risks and time, and you don’t want to be stumbling around at night in the dark.

Q: How does an altimeter work?

A: Your altimeter isn’t a singular all-powerful component. It’s actually more of an interpretation diode that relies completely on another aspect of your watch: the pressure sensor. They’re yin and yang; a pressure sensor with no altimeter is going to be useless, since you can’t read it with the naked eye, and vice versa.

A pressure sensor uses an A/D converter after registering the pressure, and communicates that through a digital signal that’s then displayed on your altimeter watch screen. It can’t properly identify pressure in a pressurized case, otherwise there would be false readings. That’s going to bring us into our next topic: water resistance versus waterproofing.

Q: Are altimeter watches water resistant or waterproof?

A: Due to the mechanics that go into a true blue altimeter watch, they’re not going to be truly waterproof. The difference is, you should be able to submerge a waterproof watch without negatively impacting the performance or function of the watch. Water resistant means you’ll be okay in light rain, or if a splash from a nearby river or waterfall coats your watch. Submersion is another story entirely, and very few brands ever try to make a true altimeter watch that’s completely waterproof.

Q: How do I calibrate an altimeter watch?

A: Most altimeter watches have two different ways to calibrate. Each brand is going to be different, and include that information in the booklet that comes with the watch, but to expedite the process, let’s dig a little deeper than that. If your watch is true altimeter watch, you’ll be able to go into the menu settings and locate the specific sensor for the altimeter. You may have to scroll through the settings a bit, but it will be there.

You can either set it to calibrate on your current elevation, so long as it’s within the parameters of the watch’s capabilities, or you can use a more automated feature. This may take a few extra seconds, but if your watch also has a GPS sensor, you’ll be able to use that to figure out your current altitude.