New watch +altimeter +heart rate monitor -GPS ???

• Apr 22, 2018

• #1

davinski

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Jan 30, 2011

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357

Location

Western Colorado

So my altimeter watch bit the dust after 4 years and many miles. On new ones, I see lots of gee whiz options that usually include GPS. I'd really like to get one with a heart rate monitor but not a battery-sucking GPS. Anyone know if such a unicorn exists? Thanks.

 

• Apr 22, 2018

• #2

D

dhoshour

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Mar 24, 2018

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North Carolina

In what price range? Also, what else do you want it to do - barometer, downloaded maps, GPS, storm alert, elevation, elevation profiles, topo contours, compass, sunrise/sunset times, motion counting... Most of the better watches have several features with the Fenix 5X maybe the king of the hill, but at $650. https://www.switchbacktravel.com/best-altimeter-abc-watches

 

Last edited: Apr 22, 2018

• Apr 22, 2018

• #3

T

TheSurveyor

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Aug 20, 2016

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231

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@ 7500' Colorado

I've recently picked up a Suunto. Battery life ain't bad if you turn down the GPS. And you don't have to use GPS you can just roll the HR monitor. Or neither and just do step count if you really want to conserve energy.

 

• Apr 22, 2018

• #4

grizzly_

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Feb 18, 2013

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Dcrainmaker has the best watch reviews, imo.

FWIW, I love my Fenix 5x.

 

• Apr 22, 2018

• #5

wa_archer

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Jan 30, 2013

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E. WA

I would go Suunto or Polar. POlar was originally HR monitor watch. I would have to look but would think you could get one of there's with what your looking for. Like TheSurveyor said you can turn the GPS function off on the watches so its not even searching. All of the watches in this category that I have used or researched have this function enabling you to turn off HR, GPS, and to create a screen display that has exactly what you want on it. Once you narrow it down i would check out DCRainmaker reviews to see if he has one up on the specific watches you are looking at.

 

• Apr 25, 2018

• #6

davinski

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Jan 30, 2011

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Western Colorado

Thanks, all, I really appreciate the input. I guess I'm so beat down by all the various electronics that don't really have "off" settings for apps, or even the whole device, I never really considered just switching the GPS bit off. Never claimed to be the sharpest spoon in the drawer. Will check these out!
Dave

 

• Apr 25, 2018

• #7

Speeddmn

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Aug 1, 2013

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576

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Helena, MT/ Opheim, MT

I have the Fenix 5x and love it. I've used the map part just a tiny bit to play with it but overall I love it. I cant wait to use it as designed this year. It will not replace my actual gps unit but as a backup and point tot he trail head use it'll be great.

 

• Apr 25, 2018

• #8

jzeck2

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Dec 31, 2013

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193

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South Dakota

Really like my Casio Pathfinder, has altimeter, and compass, not gps no heart rate monitor. The compass is much better in my opinion than the watches that cost several times more. Have my phone and gps for gps and always figured if my heart stopped my troubles would be over and wouldn't need to know much else.

 

• Apr 26, 2018

• #9

N

NCSU_Lewis

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Jul 31, 2016

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Raleigh, NC

I have a Garmin Fenix 3, non-HR and with the GPS off, it'll go a week without a charge. Andrew Skurka has really insightful reviews on GPS watches for trekking and ultra running, and he swears by a Suunto. With all though, the optical wrist HR isn't super accurate, but will give you a ballpark. I use a chest strap with mine when I run and its comfortable, but wouldn't want to wear it for extended time.

https://andrewskurka.com/tag/suunto-ambit/ Here is Skurka's blog archive on Suunto.