Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra hiking review, GPS accuracy, offline maps, battery life, and how it stacks up to Garmin & Apple.
*Lowest Prices I Found:*
amzn.to/4orTiST
*Gear I'm Using Now:*
* inReach: hkgy.co/inreach
* Hiking App: hkgy.co/app
* Watch: hkgy.co/watch
* Shoes: hkgy.co/shoes
* Pack: hkgy.co/backpack
* Rescue Insurance: hkgy.co/insurance
*Full Hiking Gear List (What I Use Now - Tested & Not Sponsored):*
hikingguy.com/gear
*More Hiking Content*
* Website: hikingguy.com
* Patreon: patreon.com/c/hikingguy
* Monthly Hiking News (free): patreon.com/c/hikingguy
* Subscribe: youtube.com/c/Hikingguy
After months of trail use, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra holds its own in open terrain but struggles in tight canyons and dense switchbacks where Garmin and Apple watches stay locked. Multi-GNSS and multi-band help in clear skies, but signal drops in slot canyons like Annie's Canyon until you're back in the open. Altitude tracking is inconsistent, sometimes nailing elevation within 10 feet, other times drifting hundreds of feet off. Battery life with always-on display and GPS tracking gets you through a long day hike but won't last multi-day trips without a recharge. Navigation works through Samsung's interface but lacks the polish of Garmin's routing or Apple's trail integration. If you're Android-committed and want a hiking-capable smartwatch, it's your best option. If accuracy and reliability matter more than OS loyalty, Garmin still leads.
00:00 GPS Performance
02:40 Navigation
06:57 Battery Life
07:44 Hardware
09:13 Recommendations
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*Disclaimer:*
Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use and trust.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra hiking review, GPS accuracy, offline maps, battery life, and how it stacks up to Garmin & Apple.
*Lowest Prices I Found:*
amzn.to/4orTiST
*Gear I'm Using Now:*
* inReach: hkgy.co/inreach
* Hiking App: hkgy.co/app
* Watch: hkgy.co/watch
* Shoes: hkgy.co/shoes
* Pack: hkgy.co/backpack
* Rescue Insurance: hkgy.co/insurance
*Full Hiking Gear List (What I Use Now - Tested & Not Sponsored):*
hikingguy.com/gear
*More Hiking Content*
* Website: hikingguy.com
* Patreon: patreon.com/c/hikingguy
* Monthly Hiking News (free): patreon.com/c/hikingguy
* Subscribe: youtube.com/c/Hikingguy
After months of trail use, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra holds its own in open terrain but struggles in tight canyons and dense switchbacks where Garmin and Apple watches stay locked. Multi-GNSS and multi-band help in clear skies, but signal drops in slot canyons like Annie's Canyon until you're back in the open. Altitude tracking is inconsistent, sometimes nailing elevation within 10 feet, other times drifting hundreds of feet off. Battery life with always-on display and GPS tracking gets you through a long day hike but won't last multi-day trips without a recharge. Navigation works through Samsung's interface but lacks the polish of Garmin's routing or Apple's trail integration. If you're Android-committed and want a hiking-capable smartwatch, it's your best option. If accuracy and reliability matter more than OS loyalty, Garmin still leads.
00:00 GPS Performance
02:40 Navigation
06:57 Battery Life
07:44 Hardware
09:13 Recommendations
---
*Disclaimer:*
Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use and trust.
