An important thing to note here is that digital compasses are usually more reliable and precise, and easier to read, so they’re more convenient to use. Also, digital compass watches usually come with more functions as opposed to an analog compass watch, but we’ll talk about them below. Often, that means your compass will use the same way to indicate direction, with the analog type having an extra hand that stretches on both sides of the center to show the north-south direction. The altimeter feature utilises a pressure sensor to make accurate readings of your current elevation level. For instance, if you are climbing a hill and notice that the watch indicates you are at an altitude of 200 metres above sea level, you can set the altimeter simply by pushing the right button. From there, the altimeter sensor will do all the work for you, refreshing the new recorded altitude level every 2 minutes. Before buying the first compass watch that looks good enough, it would be a good idea to know what to look for in a compass watch, as not all of them are similar. Analog vs. Digital

But as we mentioned, the design is much more down to Earth, and despite the large case, it’s not bulky. Sure, the dial is crowded still, but it’s also full of features, so no complaints here. Especially elegant watches are attractively highlighted by a leather strap. Some Casio watches stand out with leather or textile straps, which are not only durable, but also add a special stylish touch to the watch. It does not posses Multi-Band 6. 100 meters water resistant, 31 time zones of 48 cities and the city codes. The full battery charge can last for about 6 months without exposure to any ray of light. This is probably one of the most important aspect, and it’s why you won’t want to use the compass app on your smartphone. Having a battery that can last throughout your entire outdoor adventure at least is important, which is why you should be careful in selecting the type of compass watch to get. One of the most essential features that any sports or outdoor watch should possess is the triple-sensor function. This refers to the altimeter, barometer, and compass features, commonly known as the ABC features, which are extremely useful for explorers and adventurers. As the ultimate outdoor watch, the Casio Pathfinder is also equipped with this triple-sensor function.Sure, it doesn’t have barometer-altimeter, and temperature sensors, but if you only need a compass, it’s the best option out there.

A compass watch fulfills both the role of a watch and that of a compass. As you’ll see, most compass watches are actually multi-tool watches, often coming with sensors for temperature and pressure, so they’ll give you both the barometric pressure and the altitude, plus the usual functions such as alarms, calendars, or even heart rate monitoring.

A direct competitor of the Garmin Instinct Tactical is the Suunto Core Outdoor Sports Watch, which is the watch of choice for many military men. And if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for the outdoor enthusiast of any kind. It’s solar powered, it comes with a high precision digital compass, plus the temperature and pressure sensors to give you altitude and pressure readings, and a decent 100 meter depth rating. Right off the bat, the Casio Pathfinder PAG240-1 is a top-notch timepiece that is designed for individuals who lead an active lifestyle. The design of this watch may look pretty complex at first, especially with all of its buttons, but it is actually very easy to use, even for first-timers. This is because the functions on the Casio Pathfinder are all carefully labelled, so you will not get confused while navigating this multifunctional watch.

The coolest thing about the Pathfinder is that it's solar powered. It has a thin strip of solar cells that circle around the outside of the screen that keep it powered indefinitely. Comparatively, the Vector gets about 18 months of power and the Core only about 12 months of running time. We never had a problem with the Pathfinder not absorbing enough light, both in the field and in day-to-day use. Casio claims that the Pathfinder could go six months without seeing light, pretty nice if you are someone who doesn't use their watch that much — stores it in the closet and breaks it out only now and again. Thermometer But for the money, you’ll get an excellent build quality, high-end features, and a solar powered movement, so you won’t have to worry about battery life, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. The Timex Intelligent Quartz Compass is the most classic looking compass watch you could find in the affordable category. It does come with a compass, but it’s the analog version, the one that uses hands for everything instead of digital screens.

Despite its small size, the new sensors in this model offer greater energy efficiency and better precision. The model measures height in increments of 1 meter (previously 5 meters) and displays compass readings for 60 seconds (previously 20 seconds). Besides the digital compass and the altimeter, the barometer of the watch contains a unique atmospheric pressure alarm which warns the wearer of sudden changes in air pressure readings.