Apple Watch Ultra: Good For Hiking? (6mo Review)

Video Description

Apple Watch Ultra for hiking? Here’s my honest take after many months and miles on the trail. *Lowest Prices I Found:* https://amzn.to/40956yN *Gear I'm Using Now:* * inReach: https://hkgy.co/inreach * Hiking App: https://hkgy.co/app * Watch: https://hkgy.co/watch * Shoes: https://hkgy.co/shoes * Pack: https://hkgy.co/backpack * Rescue Insurance: https://hkgy.co/insurance *Full Hiking Gear List (What I Use Now - Tested & Not Sponsored):* https://hikingguy.com/gear After six months of hiking with the Apple Watch Ultra, I’ve gotten a solid feel for its strengths and limitations on the trail. This video is a no-fluff review based on real outdoor use—not marketing hype. I also compare it with the Garmin Epix, which I wore side-by-side for a lot of my hikes, so you’ll get a good sense of how these two popular hiking watches stack up. The Apple Watch Ultra is durable, has great screen visibility, and offers solid GPS performance. The hardware holds up well under rugged use, and the battery life is a huge improvement over regular Apple Watches—easily enough for long day hikes or even overnight trips if managed right. I go over practical tips like how to get better performance using low power mode, and share how to work around quirks like sleeve interference or the limited utility of the new action button. One of the biggest drawbacks is the lack of integrated navigation. There’s no bundled offline mapping or route guidance, which is a major miss for a device marketed to outdoor athletes. You’ll need third-party apps like WorkOutDoors or Footpath to get something close to what Garmin offers natively. I cover both of those options and talk about how to make the most of them. For Apple ecosystem users who want a solid watch that can handle serious hikes and still unlock your laptop or pay for coffee post-trail, the Ultra is worth it. But if navigation and long battery life are top priorities, especially for multi-day or off-grid trips, Garmin is still the clear winner. I break down exactly who the Apple Watch Ultra is right for—and who should look elsewhere. *Links:* * Website: https://hikingguy.com * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/hikingguy * Monthly Hiking News (free): https://www.patreon.com/c/hikingguy/ * Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Hikingguy --- *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.