15 Best Hiking Watches Under 100 Bucks 2023

People tend to assume watches for serious outdoor activities must be expensive. Not really. 

Last time, we found 17+3 proper, functioning dive watches under $100. This time, we will be looking for the 15 best hiking watches under 100 bucks in this article. 

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What Are The Best Hiking Watch Features?

Since we are talking about hiking watches, it needs to first be able to perform the tasks hikers need it to. 

Aside from that, we also decided that the watch needs to have features to withstand rough usage and exposure to the elements – dirt, water, for example. 

It also needs to have some sort of lighting function to make reading the watch easier in the dark or shady spots.

We decided to settle with these criteria list instead:

• 39mm diameter minimum
• At least 50M(165ft) water resistance
• Shock resistance 
• Water-repelling straps – rubber or nylon
• Quartz battery movement
• Illumination

Limitations For Hiking Watch Under 100 Bucks

At first, we wanted to include additional features that will make a hiking watch stand out, such as an altimeter, barometer, and a compass. 

But upon scouting around, these features are primarily available for watches at a higher price range. So we have to reluctantly remove that away. 

We also thought long and hard about the power source. 

Great outdoor watches should best be solar-powered to avoid issues such as watches running out of battery power from happening. 

We decided to go away with automatic watches, as they have more mechanical parts. This might not sound too reliable for a hiking watch compared to a more straightforward quartz movement.

We again scouted around and found that solar-powered watches tend to be above $100. 

We have to again remove solar power from our criteria list. 

Another thing is that by keeping the budget below $100, we could not include many popular hiking watchmakers into the list – Suunto and Garmin, for example. 

What Are Best Hiking Watches Under 100 Bucks?

The watches we share here will be a great companion as you hike and enjoy the great outdoors our mother earth offers. 

We also consider that not all want to wear massive, bulky timepieces with digital displays. So we try to include rugged field watches with analog displays and more refined aesthetics. 

Let’s check out the lis. Out best 15 hiking watches under 100!

Timex Expedition Scout 40

We listed this watch as it fits the criteria. The watch is 40mm with mineral glass crystal – meaning it should fit many male wrists well, even skinner ones. 

The mineral glass crystal is a great choice, as they are more shatterproof than sapphire crystal, and they’re cheaper to replace if you break it. 

The nylon strap should be water repellent enough, with the watch dial coming with Timex’s in-house Indiglo illumination. This should help you read the time better when light is at a premium. 

Water resistance of 50M (165ft) for water splashes and fun and casual times underwater. Battery quartz-powered for easy maintenance. 

Priced at not even over $50, this is an excellent watch for hiking or as a beater.

 

Sunroad Outdoor Sports Watch

If you are looking for a watch that is jam-packed with features and does not mind about the brand, this is something you can seriously look at. 

The watch has a clean look, which makes it different from many watches here sport’s rugged, rough look. It runs on a quartz movement with a fully digital display. The nylon strap should provide good water repellency and comfort. 

The feature in this watch is pretty much what you will get from more premium watches from, say, Suunto or Garmin:

• Pedometer
• Altimeter
• Barometer
• Compass
• Sunrise and sunset times
• Thermometer 
• Stopwatch
• World time
• Calendar

This is probably one of the best hiking watches under 100 bucks.

Timex Expedition T45181

If you think the Timex Expedition Scout is too nice to be worn outdoors, then suppose this model will look more rugged and tough. 

The case is resin instead of steel for improved shock protection with acrylic crystal. The watch is powered by a quartz movement. 

The dial is in tan color, with a digital display at 6 o’clock. The display can show or set functions such as 24-hour chronograph, 24-hour countdown timer, daily alarm, three time zones, and calendar.

The watch comes with a nylon strap, known for excellent water repellency. It is also water-resistant up to 100M (330ft).

Avtrek Apache TG2106

Up and coming brands are also often specced up to the hilt to compensate for lack of recognition. This watch certainly does that. If you are willing to experiment with less-known brands, this watch might work for you. 

The watch has a massive 50MM diameter, with a huge digital dial for easy reading. The watch also comes with a nylon strap for excellent water repellency, with 50M (165ft) water-resistance. 

The features are where this watch shines. The functions include:

• Pedometer (calculates your steps)
• Calories
• Countdown timer
• Metronome (gives a steady rhythm)
• Altimeter
• Barometer
• Compass
• Dual Time
• 2 sets of alarm
• 12/24H Format
• Date/Week 
• Hourly Chime

To top this off, it also has a nice and strong green backlight to help with reading when lights are low. 

At under $100, this watch is undoubtedly value for money. 

G-Shock GBD800UC-8

How can we have a tough and rugged watch conversation without involving G-Shocks? 

We chose this G-Shock to start as it looks more suitable for a hiker from the outside, with brown instead of the dull black color. 

The brown color extends from the 49mm case to the strap, with resin construction for better shock protection. The resin strap ensures perfect waterproofing. The dial is digital, with reverse backlighting, meaning the digits are being lighted instead of the background. 

The watch is part of G-Shock’s Power Trainer sports lineup – the watch can connect to your phone app to perform additional functions and help with your workouts. Use this to record data about your hikes. 

The watch also comes with a pedometer, multi-timers with memory for 200 lap records.

Timex Expedition Shock XL 

If you are looking for a digital hiking watch from a more established brand and want to keep the budget under $100, this is probably the watch for you. 

The watch is 50mm, with a resin case and strap, for maximum waterproof effect. It is 200M (660ft) water-resistant, meaning you can also take it diving. The shock-resistant feature on this watch is compliant with ISO1413.

The watch comes with the following features:

• 24-hour time
• 3 time zones
• Occasion reminders
• Hydration timer
• Month, day, and date calendar

The watch is also equipped with Timex’s Indiglo light-up technology, with a negative digital display. 

Timex Expedition Gallatin Solar TW4B145009J

One of the few solar hiking watches under 100 bucks that we could find. The watch is also built for the outdoors and satisfies our criteria above. Hence we included it in this list. 

The watch has a 45mm resin case for better shock protection, with a 22mm nylon double strap that secures the watch to your wrist nicely and provides water repellency. The crown is protected with extensions on the case.

The watch dial is black, with a date window at 3 o’clock. However, the watch does not come with Indiglo and only has luminous hands. The watch is water-resistant to 50M (165ft).  

The watch is powered by a solar quartz movement, with a power reserve of up to 2 months. This

Casio AQ160W-1BV “Ana-Digi”

This Casio analog-digital watch is stylish, rugged, and screams ‘take me outdoors.’ 

The round stainless steel case features a black bezel with analog hour markers and hands. The dial sports a digital display with two timezone displays. 

Other functions include:

• 1/100-second stopwatch with a 60-hour capacity
• Countdown timer with a 60-minute range
• Auto Calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2039)
• 12/24 hour formats
• 4 Daily Alarms 
• 1 snooze alarm

The watch comes with a resin strap for excellent water repellency, auto backlight features, and 100M (330ft) water resistance. 

Casio Solar AQS810W-3AVCF

Suppose you like the combination of analog-digital display on your watches yet want solar quartz movement simultaneously. In that case, this will be the watch for you. 

The watch has a large 47mm diameter, with a resin case and strap for excellent shock protection. It also features a solar quartz movement with a battery indicator and power-saving function, with up to 23 months of power reserve. 

Additional functions include:

• World Time, with 31 Time Zones / 48 Cities with coordinated Universal Time.
• Daylight savings calculator
• 1/100 Second Stopwatch up to 60 hours. 
• 2 Countdown timers.
• 5 Daily Alarms with Hourly Time Signal
• Auto-calendar until 2099.

The watch is protected with a mineral crystal and is 100M (330ft) water-resistant.

Armitron Sport 40/8291BLK 

We included this watch as it is also passable for other use such as the gym or as a beater when getting down and dirty in a garage. 

The 42mm diameter watch case is round, gray, and made of resin for shock protection. The bezel is black, with silver screws and white printing. The digital dial displays time, week, date, and seconds. 

The watch is powered by quartz for ease of maintenance. Other functions include:

• Stopwatch
• Alarm
• Lap timer
• Dual time
• Military time

The nylon strap with this watch is water repellent and has a rubber Armitron graphic. It is water-resistant to 100M (330ft).

If all you care is price, then this is probably one of the best hiking watches under 100 bucks for you.

Timex Expedition T49612

We included this watch as it is well built for hiking use. The 48mm case is made with resin for excellent shock protection, and the resin strap also provides full waterproofing. The watch’s shock resistance also fulfills ISO standards. 

The watch is protected by an acrylic crystal and comes with Timex’s Indiglo light-up watch dial for a perfect view when light is scarce. It also features a digital compass to assist you in telling directions. 

The watch is also water-resistant up to 200M (660ft), so it would pass for some serious water activity.

Amysports Outdoor Watch

This watch from Amyspots could be seen within a similar range at the Avtrek Apache – Unknown brands trying to win customers by jamming functions into their watches and selling them at an affordable price. 

The watch has a resin case with a polyurethane strap for better comfort than a resin strap. The watch runs a quartz movement with a green backlight available at a press of a button. 

It’s smooth surface also avoids it catching things, which also makes it good to be worn in places such as kitchen.

The features include:

• Altimeter
• Barometer
• Thermometer
• Weather Forecast
• Alarm
• Timer
• Stopwatch

The only downside of this watch is it does not have a compass. However, it is 50M (165ft) water-resistant. 

G-Shock DW5600

The one watch that can handle it all – the OG of G-Shock watches. We have featured this watch for the best dive watches under $100, and we can’t help but feature it here too, since it can also handle hiking duties.

The DW5600 carries a rectangular dial with a digital display. The resin case provides excellent shock resistance, and the black resin strap is waterproof. The watch is 200M(660ft) water-resistant. 

The backlight can be triggered by simply pressing the button at the 2 o’clock position. The watch also comes with an alarm, 1/100-second stopwatch, countdown timer, calendar, and 12/24 hour formats. 

Casio Twin Sensor SGW100B-3V

This watch packs a punch. It is 47mm in diameter, with a resin case for shock protection and nylon straps for water repellency. The watch dial is protected by a mineral crystal and is 200M (660ft) water-resistant.

The features for this watch include:

• Thermometer
• Digital compass
• World timer (29 time zones or 48 cities)
• Magnetic declination correction
• 1/100 stopwatch
• 4 alarms and a snooze alarm
• Auto calendar up to 2099

These functions are presented in a digital display, with a green backlight available with a single press of a button. 

Casio SGW600H

This Casio is pretty similar to the SGW100B, with Casio designating this particular model as more ‘casual’ than the SGW100B. 

It is 47mm in diameter, with a resin case for shock protection. The watch dial is protected by a mineral crystal and is 200M (660ft) water-resistant. The nylon straps are comfortable and provide good water repellency. 

The features for this watch include:

• Thermometer
• Digital compass
• World timer (29 time zones or 48 cities)
• Magnetic declination correction
• 1/100 stopwatch
• 4 alarms and a snooze alarm
• Auto calendar up to 2099

These special functions are shown through the digital display at the center of the watch and green backlight for illumination.

BONUS: MDC Infantry Military Watch

This watch is recommended for those who want a hiking watch without oversized dials and bulky resin cases. 

We decided to include this as a bonus as it might not have the shock resistance needed to enter the list. 

But, if you like the simplicity of a military watch for hiking yet do not want to be seen wearing the Seiko 5 SNK809 like everybody else, consider this model from MDC. 

The watch is 40mm in diameter, with stainless steel case construction. It comes with a mineral crystal and a nylon strap for better comfort and water repellency. 

The watch runs Japanese quartz for ease of maintenance and has a black dial with luminated hands. A day and date window is placed at the 3 o’clock position. 50M (165ft) water resistance for those fun and occasional encounters with water.

The low price also makes this watch one of the best hiking watches under 100 bucks.

Purchasing Guide: How To Buy A Hiking Watch

When purchasing a hiking watch or outdoor watch for yourself, there are many factors for you to consider. 

We will try to list them down here and help you make decisions along the way. Hopefully, you will be able to arrive at a comfortable decision on which watch you want to pick.

How Hardcore Of A Hiker Are You?

This is probably the first question you need to ask yourself. Suppose you are a hardcore hiker that goes up to the snowy mountains and the deepest of jungles. 

In that case, you will need hiking watches with better functionalities and better protection. 

You might need to check if the watch offers things such as a barometer to measure changes in air pressure and weather. 

The altimeter can also be a good tool for telling your elevation. As you hike higher and higher, oxygen thins out, making it harder to breathe. With an altimeter, you can prepare for that. 

If your watch has a compass, you can at least use it to help tell directions, and if you carry a compass for your trip, you can at least have a spare one strapped to your wrist at all times. 

How Much Budget Do You Have?

When buying something, budget is always a point to think of. The same goes for a hiking watch. 

There are great hiking and outdoor hiking watches under 100 bucks, as you can see from the list above. These watches are sturdy, rugged, come with many functions, and should handle everything you can throw at them. 

If you are not looking for watches with specific features for hiking (e.g., compass, barometer, etc.), you will do just fine with a G-Shock. The prices for great G-Shocks are also affordable, with many under $100.

However, beyond $100, you may start to see better watches from better makers such as Suunto, Garmin, or Polar watches. They offer similar, if not more, features that are more customized for hikers. 

Their brands also give out a certain sense of reliability and trustworthiness. 

Do You Care About Looks?

This might sound really out, but there are hikers, outdoorsy people who care about style and fashion. They do not want to be seen wearing outdoor equipment that, to them, is ugly.

Some people want an outdoor hiking watch but do not like these watches’ large and chunky look. 

The rough and rugged look is also not for everybody, especially those that love field watches from pre-digital days. 

Those watches might not be packed with features, but they are sturdy and can handle things thrown in their way during hikes.

If you prefer slim, analog military/dress watches to go for hikes, feel free to check out the MDC Infantry Military watch. It might just suit your taste.

Do You Care About Comfort?

Some hikers love to ’embrace the suck.’ They’ll go into the mud, the rain and see the general physical discomfort during a hike as something to seek and enjoy. 

These guys usually don’t care if their watch discomforts them. 

However, if you are, do know that your watch straps will significantly influence your comfort level during hiking. 

This is because you tend to be sweating, and you will likely be in a humid environment. Plus, your watch might be exposed to dirt and mud. 

Some will prefer the waterproof features in resin straps found in most G-Shocks. The straps are also very easy to clean. 

The downside of resin straps is that they can be a little uncomfortable – it is harder on the skin. It doesn’t allow air through them, leaving your skin unable to breathe. 

Some prefer nylon straps instead since it is more breathable, and since it’s a cloth, they adjust to your skin better. The downside of a nylon strap is that it is not waterproof, only repellent. 

That means your strap will get wet from your sweat and exposure to water, which might discomfort some people. 

How Hard Will You Abuse Your Watch?

Hiking is a very general term. You could be hiking on a well-laid-out trail, walking on pebble roads with trees on the left and right. 

Hiking could also mean walking straight into jungles, holding a machete as you cut your way through, and opening up a pathway. You might also have to wade through some deep water along the process. 

The latter scenario would be much tougher on your watch than the earlier one. In fact, you can put on a nice Apple watch and go on a hike of that nature. 

Depending on the level of abuse you expect to place on your watch, you will need to decide on what level of protection you will need for it. 

Look for watches with resin cases for the best protection, as they absorb impacts better than typical stainless steel cases. Some watches also have shock absorbers built around the movement to better protect it.

For perfect peace of mind, try to look for watches that pass ISO1413 – a standard to measure a watch’s shock resistance rate. 

Stronger water resistance will also help, so you do not have to worry too much about losing your watch to water damage. 

Do You Want The Extras?

Some people focus on the experience when hiking. To them, a watch is just an accessory to help them tell time. 

Their watch just needs to be sturdy and able to handle the environment. 

For some, they depend on their watches to help them hike. They need the GPS positioning function to identify a specific spot on their travels. Maybe they need a barometer to forecast possible weather changes.

Some just like to own an outdoor watch with all the specs they can get. 

You also need to decide if you just need a watch to help you tell time, or you want all the other extra features in your watch. 

Wrapping Up: 15 Best Hiking Watches Under 100 Bucks

Here you go, our take the best hiking watches under 100 bucks that you can get for yourself.

What do you think? Is there a particular model that we have missed out on? Do let us know so we can check it out as well. 

If you are currently searching for a hiking watch, feel free to bookmark the page for your reference in the future!