Apple Watch Ultra: Good For Hiking? (6mo Review)

I've been hiking with the Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin Epix (Gen 2) side by side for months now, and I know how it stacks up as a hiking smartwatch. But does the Apple Watch Ultra live up the hype in the Apple marketing videos? Not quite, but there's things you can do to make it better.

✅ Bucket List Hikes You Should Try:

#hiking #hike #hikingvlog #hikinggear #hikingtrails #hikingandcamping #hikingandcampingforbeginners #hikingandcampingvlog #hikingandbackpacking #52HikeChallenge #backpacking #healthyliving #trails #outdoors #nature

#AppleWatchUltra
#SmartWatch
#WearableTech
#FitnessTracker
#HealthyLiving
#Productivity
#GadgetLover
#Techie
#Innovation
#LuxuryTech

[NegyedMisi]

The problem with the low battery time is not really the 10-15 hour hike time but you can easily start a long hike with the Garmin at 30% and still get like 10-15 hours. So you don't have to worry with 50% battery where as the AWU had to be fully charged most of the time.

[Sozialkompetenz]

I bought the AWU2 in Jan 2024 went on a hike and lost my track, the workout was interrupted twice and the battery was at a mesly 13% when I returned. 2 Weeks ago I got my hand on a Garmin Tactix Delta from a Jeweller at a steep discount. Went on another hike last week with this watch with technology from 2019 inside, still brandnew watch. The hike went great, I could pause the activity and have lunch, switch between map and regular watch face, made it to my destination and got back home to find that I had battery left for 19 days with constant GPS, Heart-Beat and connected to my iPhone. The AWU2 I passed on to my wife, she was very excited. I'm excited with the freedom of having to charge the watch every other week and for it being reliable when I need it. Just my experience and I was very surprised of the outcome, because as a MacBook Air aficionado and iPhone addict since 2015 I thought this would never happen to me, but it did. There's even newer Garmin watches with real flashlights, I have my 2019 watch and am totally happy with it.

[EZLogikal]

It's amazing how different the sponsored vs unsponsored reviews are. Thank you for your honesty, it's greatly appreciated.

[RicoSalinger]

I have both. I use my Ultra for the smartphone usage, and my Garmin for outdoorsy stuff.

[Calidastas]

I dropped Ultra for Epix. Epix is great out of box and Ultra is a platform for getting you to pay subscriptions to tons of 3rd party app makers to get the same functionality.

[Cortezuma]

I’ve had the Garmin Fenix and the Apple Watch for years. The Garmin quickly turns into something you only put on when you go out for activities, which is such a small percentage of the time we spend. The majority of the time, it’s a crappy smart watch. I’ll take the Apple Watch Ultra, which is useful 100% of the time and doesn’t particularly hinder you outdoors. If I was super super serious about extreme outdoors stuff, I’d probably re-invest in the Garmin devices. Being more casual about it, the Apple Watch Ultra is more than what I even need and actually functions phenomenally as a smart watch. It’s definitely not perfect, but my Fenix is in a bag somewhere in my basement at this point… so…. My Ultra lives on my wrist, even during sleep, and I charge it for a few minutes when I’m at my desk or during my commute to and from work. I love the Garmin ecosystem but the Ultra is the best thing to happen to the main stream consumer market for smart watches in a very long time.

[AHungryHunky]

I think the AWU will never truly be the best option until they make it totally operational via buttons alone. Anyone who spends enough time outside knows that touch screens are the least optimal controls and nothing you want to rely on entirely. A light drizzle and suddenly opperating your device becomes a challange in itself.

[Gooeybrowniebaby]

I really like my Apple Ultra but I do agree with all your points. Really appreciate this review, coming from the real ‘ultra’ user, meaning you’re actually the kind of people on their promo video. I’m not an adventurer or an extreme sport person at all, just do casual hikes from time to time. At the end of the day, I think the Ultra is like fancy sports cars. Not really meant for the racetracks, just for show. If i were a serious hiker, an Everest climber or a serious driver, I wouldn’t depend on my Ultra alone.

[fredericoamigo]

Good review. I also have the sleeve-problem.

I got around it by activating the screen-lock for swimming.

[TheMetaSD]

Just so you know, this is the video which ultimately pushed me to buy an AWU instead of a Garmin. As primarily a day hiker in Southern California, you convinced me that the Apple Watch Ultra is more than good enough for my hiking needs (footpath is awesome). Yeah, its definetely not the best outdoor watch (That Epix DOES look nice), and if I were to ever start getting into longer multiday hikes in the backcountry I would probably look into getting a Garmin, but until then the AWU it is. Excellent video.

[johalun]

Hands down the best review I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing your experience with the ultra! Love all the technical details.

[sioch.]

Regarding the Alpine Loop, I actually swap the sides over so that the hook is facing upwards and it becomes much easier to get a secure hook

[ADPeguero]

I have to feel comfortable and look good wearing a watch. Unfortunately, to me at least, the Apple Watch Ultra is too thick and looks too big for my 5'4" body. I bought the Ultra when it came out and in the end, I just couldn't see anything that it really improved over my Series 7 Titanium and as I said before, it looked far too big on my wrist so I returned it. I'm happy with my Series 7 for now.

[JessieGau]

I’ve watched a lot of reviews of Ultra and I have a ultra as well.
And I really like yours. Your aspect is very practical and I am so related.
Thanks for spending time making this reviews. 👍👍👍

[ervalkat]

I enjoyed your review and definitely agree that Garmin makes the better hiking watches. However, as a smaller person, I really dislike the giant round Garmins. Plus, the Epix is ahem, a $900 purchase. Then, recently they came out with a 265S and I jumped on that. Now, it's true that the 265 does not have maps (just a track, breadcrumb line), but when hiking, I use my phone with Gaia for maps anyway (along with a battery backup). In any case, I love the Garmin 265S for its form factor, amoled screen, and especially for its superior exercise features. Garmin actually gives you feedback on your training and body battery, etc., unlike Apple who just throws data at you (alphabetically, lol) and you gotta figure it out. However, I love Apple for the smart watch features. So, yes, I'm one of those troubled souls who wears both, at the same time, on different wrists. I'm used to this now, and I don't care what anyone thinks. When backpacking, only the Garmin and the phone are coming along though. (oh, and I did not splurge on the Apple Ultra; I have the lowly SE 2022, which is still great).

[magsrejman]

Totally spot on! I love Apple but god! Its a real pain to use Ultra on long hikes with no reception😫 Made that mistake today, its back to Garmin for the remaining days of hiking home

[vannsmall]

For the Alpine Loop band. In your video looks like the band is in backwards. The hook should be looping from the top of the watch not bottom, much easier to fasten. I did the same thing when I first got mine.

[tonymidmore]

About accidental button pushes and such, I have that when wearing gloves, with the standard Apple watch. I'd find that it had changed to Theater Mode or other such things. The "solution" is simply to put it in Water or Swim mode. From the main screen, swipe up to the control panel and find the water drop icon. Once I'm done or need to do something on the watch, I hold the crown in for a few seconds and it clears water and removes that Swim mode.

[elevatelife-nk]

This was the BEST review between Apple vs Garmin for hikers- FINALLY!!! Thank you!

[ianboyd]

I own both of these watches as well and agree 100% with your assessment. I’ll add three important points:
1) As Apple Watches go, the Ultra is the best deal going for the added features you get standard (sapphire, titanium case, cellular, larger screen, 3-day battery, dive watch, 100m Wp, extra buttons and capabilities)
2) the Apple Watch Ultra is useless for all snowsports or anything where you don’t want to wear it against your skin. You don’t have enough control through a jacket, the screen is finicky when wet, and if not next to your wrist you either have to enter your passcode every time you raise it or disable security and in doing wipe all the other cool features like Apple Pay.
3) Garmin has FAR better fitness metrics. It also records sleep automatically and far more accurately (the Ultra places to much faith in your programmed ‘sleep schedule’ to determine when you go to sleep and almost alway misses)

The Ultra has other limitations around which apps you can use simultaneously, and the best app there is, WorkOutDoors, has some annoying quirks like the inability to record laps.

I wear my Ultra almost always, for it’s smartphone functionality and seamless integration with my iphone. I use it for walks and light workouts, but for any serious hikes (over an hour), camping, biking, snowsports, etc, I turn to the Garmin Epix

A final caution on the AWU. The screen and case are bomber, but it’s achilles heel is the HRM crystal. If you drop it on that it WILL break, and costs $450 to repair if you don’t have AppleCare.