The Best Digital Tool Watches of 2025: Our Top Picks for Travellers
Digital watches are some of the most useful tools for travellers.
Not only do they offer better legibility, especially at night, they are more often than not packed with many more useful features when compared to traditional analog pieces.
Since they have no moving parts, they also tend to be much more rugged and durable.
With that said, it can also be more difficult to sort through the various models and functionalities. That’s why we’ve created this list of 5 amazing digital and smart watches, where we’ll break down the specs, pros and cons and features of each to help you narrow down your list and choose the best one for your own globe-trotting adventure.
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G-Shock Mudman GW-9500
Size and weight: 56.7 × 52.7 × 14.8 mm ∙ 81 g
Case materials: Bio-resin case and stainless steel case back
Crystal: Mineral glass
Movement: Quartz
Features: Altimeter, barometer, compass, thermometer, 200 meter water resistance, atomic time, solar-powered battery, backlight, alarm, stopwatch, timer
Rugged, feature-packed and super wearable, the Mudman GW-9500 is close to being everything we’ve ever wanted from a G-Shock.
This model is equipped with the same sensors as the more-than-twice as expensive Mudmaster GWG-2000 and GWG-B1000, and a better, larger display than the similarly priced but older Rangeman GW-900, making the Mudman, in our opinion, the best mid-range G-Shock currently available. It also has accurate radio-controlled time-keeping, and solar charging for essentially unlimited battery life.
In addition to accurate radio-controlled time-keeping and solar charging for essentially unlimited battery life, the Mudman has an altimeter, barometer and a compass to help you navigate your way on the trail. The compass now also works in tandem with the new large dual LCD display for maximum clarity and legibility.
The new display is one of the features we enjoyed the most about this watch, since Casio’s digital displays usually tend to be kind of small and difficult to read at a glance, which is also the reason why we’ve almost always gone for analogs. We also loved how, mainly due to the thinner bezel, this is a much more wearable model compared to basically every other G-Shocks in the same category.
True to the brand, the Mudman is extremely durable, and features a level of mud and dirt resistance that was previously only seen in the Mudmaster series. Of course, with heavy use you can expect the bio-resin case to scratch a little over time, and the same goes for the display, since this model uses mineral glass instead of sapphire. Still, you can expect the Mudman to make it through basically any type of environment, no matter how extreme.
If you’re in the market for a new G-Shock and want something more wearable that also won’t break the bank, then we strongly recommend taking a look at this incredibly rugged watch.
Suunto Core
Size and weight: 45 x 45 x 14.5 mm ∙ 64 g
Case materials: Composite plastic case and aluminium bezel
Crystal: Mineral glass
Movement: Quartz
Features: Barometer, altimeter, compass, thermometer, storm alert, alarm, stopwatch, timer, 50 meter water resistance
This watch has a simple, yet rugged and no nonsense design, and is loaded with useful feature to assist you during your outdoor excursion.
The Suunto Core is equipped with an altimeter, a compass and a barometer to provide you with essential data in the wild, and with an integrated storm alert that will warn you if there is a sudden drop in air pressure that could indicate a bad turn in the weather. We’ve also noticed that the Core’s sensor readings tend to be much more accurate than basically any other ABC watch we’ve tested, with the exception of smartwatches.
When it comes to its construction, the Suunto Core is extremely durable. This is a watch that’s made to be thrown around and used in the field, not to look pretty. In that regard, expect it to accumulate a decent amount of scratches on both the composite plastic body and the mineral glass crystal, and for it to keep on ticking as nothing happened. It’s also waterproof enough for swimming, although not enough for scuba diving.
Out of all the non-smartwatches we’ve reviewed, the Suunto Core has by far the worst battery life. On average you should be able to get it to last for about a year, that is if you’re not constantly using the sensors. The good thing is that it’s also extremely easy to switch batteries yourself, and you don’t even need any special tools; you simply need to twist the back off using a coin, pop the CR2032 battery out and insert a new one.
The Suunto Core is one of the most iconic tool watches ever made, and one of our favourites to carry out in the field, so much that we wrote an in-depth review for it. If you haven’t tried it out yet, we really recommend checking it out!
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar
© Outdoor Gear Lab
Size and weight: 47 x 47 x 14.5 mm ∙ 73 g
Case materials: Fiber-reinforced polymer with titanium rear cover and titanium bezel
Crystal: Sapphire glass
Movement: Quartz
Features: Smartwatch features that include notifications and mobile payments, heart-rate monitor, barometer, altimeter, thermometer, compass, GPS, maps and full navigation features, weather forecast, solar charging, extensive training and health features, bluetooth connectivity, timer, alarms, calendar, stopwatch, built-in flashlight, 100 meter water resistance
Whether you’re looking for the ultimate feature-packed smartwatch, a tool to help you find your way around during your adventures or a way to keep track of your workouts while travelling, the Fenix 7 Pro is close to unrivalled.
Loaded with fitness and health features, this watch literally acts as a virtual coach to make sure you are always on top of your training regimen. It also features tracking for the vast majority of sports, such as running, cycling and both pool and open water swimming.
The Fenix 7 Pro is also loaded with features designed to assist you when traversing the outdoors, or when exploring new urban environments. GPS navigation and detailed maps can be used to set waypoints, route planning and even find your way back to your starting point if you get lost.
What’s more, since the maps work via GPS, they can be used even when the watch is not paired to your phone. For the most intensive treks, you can use the built-in altimeter to accurately gage your altitude, while the barometer can warn you of incoming bad weather. And for those long-distance hikes, you can count on Fenix 7 Pro to last a maximum of 22 days in smartwatch mode with solar charging, or a whopping maximum of 173 days in battery saving mode.
To make sure it keeps up with you through any type of intensive training and environment, the Fenix 7 Pro is built like a tank. It features a shock-proof polymer case and a durable titanium bezel, while the MIP screen is protected by sapphire glass. When it comes to water resistance, however, this watch is rated to 100 meters and can’t be used for diving.
While the sheer number of features might be a much for some users, there is no denying that the Fenix 7 Pro is among the best in its category.
If you’re familiar with Garmin’s lineup, you might be wandering why we’re recommending an older model rather than the Fenix 8, their most recent flagship smartwatch. The reason is that we believe that while the Fenix 8 offers some minor improvements, the Fenix 7 Pro still offers the best bang for your buck.
Let’s take a quick look at the main differences between the two models:
The Fenix 8 features a new menu layout, as well as a new design for the maps. It also has slightly better solar charging, and is diving certified. There is an option available with a brighter and more detailed AMOLED screen, but that’s at the cost of solar charging. Finally, it has a built-in microphone and speaker.
These are all useful improvements, but they come at a cost of $300 more than the Fenix 7 Pro.
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
© Garmin
Size and weight: 45 x 45 x 14,9 mm ∙ 53 g
Case materials: Fiber-reinforced polymer with fiber-reinforced polymer / aluminium bezel
Crystal: Power glass
Movement: Quartz
Features: Smartwatch features that include notifications and mobile payments heart-rate monitor, barometer, altimeter, thermometer, compass, GPS, weather forecast, solar charging, extensive training and health features, bluetooth connectivity, timer, alarms, calendar, stopwatch, built-in flashlight, 100 meter water resistance
Ever looked at your G-Shock and wished it was a smartwatch? Enter, the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar.
This military-inspired smartwatch is designed for outdoor activities, and is one of the brand’s most durable and rugged offers. Not only, the Instinct Solar series is the only one capable of running entirely on solar power without needing to be recharged, albeit within certain conditions such as sunlight intensity, exposure and frequency of use.
Along with the usual smartwatch functionalities, such as mobile payments, phone notifications and music control, the Instinct 3 features an array of training and health functions to help you get the best out of your workouts. As we mentioned before, however, where the Instinct 3 Solar really shines is in its exceptional battery life. It can run for up to 40 days on a single charge, or indefinitely if exposed to medium-strong sunlight for about 3 hours a day.
The price of such a long battery life is a more basic monochrome MIP screen, which all things considered is still a marked improvement over the Instinct 2’s poorly legible display. The Instinct 3 is also now available with an AMOLED display that offers better colours, detail and legibility, but lacks the solar charging and the extended battery life, which is reduced to 18 days (which is still extremely respectable).
The Instinct 3 also improves on its predecessor by now including multi-band GPS and Garmin’s SATIQ, which markedly improves the reliability of its GPS tracking and fixes an issue that we saw a little too often with the Instinct 2. While we really hoped Garmin would push through, this iteration unfortunately still lacks maps and instead only offers basic route-following, as well as a track-back mode that lets you retrace your steps if you get lost.
In terms of durability, the Instinct 3 is amazing. The rubberised polymer case is now reinforced with an orange steel bezel that surrounds the scratch-proof display. The new bezel doesn’t seem to be everyone’s cup of tea, but we absolutely love the way it looks.
Overall, the Instinct 3 is as rugged and durable as ever, and makes for an absolutely fantastic travel watch.
G-Shock GWM5610-1 “Square”
Size and weight: 46.7 × 43.2 × 12.7mm ∙ 52g
Case materials: Resin
Crystal: Mineral glass
Movement: Quartz
Features: 200 meter water resistance, atomic time, solar-powered battery, backlight, alarm, stopwatch, timer
Who ever said that G-Shocks are only overbuilt military-style watches?
The GWM5610-1, known commonly as “the square”, packs the brand’s classic ruggedness into a slim and compact model with a retro-inspired design that is incredibly low-key and easy to wear.
Despite being so small and light, the square has more features than watches that cost three times as much. In addition to a timer, stopwatch and alarms functions it’s also solar powered, meaning it won’t need any regular battery replacements, and the addition of radio-controlled time-keeping means it will self-adjust the time to be always as accurate as possible.
The GWM5610-1’s digital display is small but surprisingly readable, even at night and in low-light conditions thanks to an effective backlight. The glass protecting it is mineral, meaning it might scratch a little over time, and the same goes for the resin case. But after all, despite the minimalist design, this is still a G-Shock, and G-Shocks without scratches simply don’t hit the same way!
The G-Shock GWM5610-1 is absolutely one of the best travel watches you can buy right now and, if it’s your first, a great introduction to the G-Shock brand. We love the retro look, and how slim, wearable and minimalist it is.
The addition of solar charging and atomic time in a watch in this price range is also amazing, and something we wished Casio would include in more low to mid-range models.
And there you go!
These are 5 fantastic digital tool watches that we love to bring with us on our travels.
While we generally prefer the old-school charm of an analog watch, the practicality of a digital watch really is undeniable!
What about you, where do you stand on the analog vs-digital debate?
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