Apple Watch 3, 4, and 5 Hiking & Backpacking Review

[@HankLeukart]

Also check out my second Apple Watch video, which reviews the Series 6 and more apps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJu9mmWca8h8rKc

[@KathyT69]

Exactly the type of review I needed to see

[@HankLeukart]

glad you liked it!

[@cocochanel9291]

Same. Great review !

[@The_Drifter_13]

Totally agree! This was very helpful.

[@geekusa16]

Really helpful review. Would love to see how AllTrails on the Apple Watch stands up to these you tested out.

[@HankLeukart]

I've been planning to an update to this view next time I go on a backpacking trip, so I'll add it to the review and update the video overall.

[@cliffspicer6555]

I have the series 5 watch and while you need the Gaia app on the watch to transfer the route you created to your watch, you do not need the phone with you on your hike. The map and information download and the series 5 has the built in GPS . The issue I have is when hiking in the winter time with gloves on, there is no haptic feedback on your wrist and since you can’t see the watch you have to be pulling your gloves off to see what’s going on. Thanks for the great video

[@cliffspicer6555]

@@HankLeukart yes. It is a brand new version and the maps carry over on the watch now and as long as you have the watch that has the GPS (v5?) and you have done a manual sync between the phone and the watch you do not need the phone on the trail

[@HankLeukart]

Ah, I see that Gaia released a new version of their Watch app on Dec 28, 10 days after I released this video. The version I tested 10 days before was still the old version. I made sure I tested all of the newest versions of the apps as of Dec 18, but they didn't contact me to let me know that a new version was just days away. I can't wait to try it! I'll have to update the video at some point.

[@garethliamroberts]

I use Caltopo to create my route, import it to Avenza on my phone. I can set markers to alert if I’m nearing a trail junction. I Use the workout app on my watch to track distance / HR. Any options out there to synch the phone alert to my watch. I’d like to not lose the watch workout.

[@burstfireno1617]

The Garmin tactix delta has 2 weeks batterylife 😮

[@HankLeukart]

wow, if that really works, that sounds so cool. killer that it can charge itself from sunlight, though I suspect that requiring 50,000 lux means it won't charge on cloudy days. too bad i can't afford it -- i'd love to try it!

[@katehillier1027]

Does it count hills in floors climbed every ten feet? Thanks

[@BacAsable]

Nowdays on Workoutdoors you can use the thuderforest maps to see the elevation’s lines ;-)

[@HankLeukart]

i gotta update this video

[@larrydickerson1906]

Great review can the work outdoors app create waypoints within the app independent of the phone? An example for this need would be creating a waypoint so you can navigate back to your car after a hike.

[@HankLeukart]

yes, you can set waypoints in Workoutdoors with only the watch!

[@volodymyrkulyk]

How did you managed to keep battery up for 2 days of hiking? My Apple Watch 5 stayed alive only about 8h last time. Maybe you can share some tips?

[@HankLeukart]

I've used the Series 4 a lot more since I made this video, and it looks like when I use Workoutdoors App, I get about 6-7 hours of hiking IF the watch is using its own GPS receiver. If the watch is paired with my phone and my phone is turned on, the watch uses the phone's GPS receiver instead, which appears to increase battery life by almost 50% (9-10.5 hours or so). But, of course, then your phone battery is being used faster. But, the phone has a much bigger battery, so it seems worth it. So, every night, I charge the Apple Watch from a USB battery bank and charge the iPhone every 2-3 days from the same battery. Hope that helps.

[@ambuloergosum8148]

Just wanted to say a big Thank You for this video, which introduced me to WorkOutDoors app. I installed the app back in early Feb and did quite a lot of testing and (re)configuration of settings and screens. Recently I have completed a two week through hike and used the app both to navigate the trail (following a route I had loaded) as well as record every day. Both worked really well. During testing I experienced several unexpected and unexplained reboots of the app resulting in the data recorded so far that day being lost. This didn’t really affect navigation as such, but it would be a pain for those wishing to accurately accumulate statistics for training or documentary purposes. My tip for dealing with this (if you have this problem) is to LOCK the screen (4 taps) at the start and unlock it at the end of the day. You still get alerts but will be limited to the one screen and zoom level. This may not suit everyone but for long duration hiking (and I’d guess cycle touring) this is fine. I did not have this reboot problem once in 15 days of hiking. It would still be nice if it was fixed but the cause may be complex. One minor point was that the summary statistics at the end do not show cumulative ascent and descent which would have been nice, though the data is there if you care to add it all up yourself. Overall I rate this app very highly and will be sending feedback to the developer with some insights gained along the way. Stay safe and keep healthy. [Apple Watch Series 5 - WatchOS 6.2 now, 6.1 then]

[@HankLeukart]

glad the video was helpful! yeah, the dev is updating the app all the time so he may have fixed bugs you experienced before your trip. i didn't have any problems with it during the hike shown in the video. i also used it on the john muir trail without problems (aside from battery life).

[@ambuloergosum8148]

Regarding battery usage: Since hiking with my Watch I have definitely noticed that I use more power each day running both a Watch and my iPhone. To reduce power consumption I normally hike with the iPhone in Flight Mode, but I leave Bluetooth on allowing it to connect to the Watch. In this case I understand that the GPS being used is the one in the iPhone. I have not yet tried disconnecting the Watch from the iPhone while hiking. In this case one would expect to use more power in the Watch, which would be using its own GPS. However perhaps this would be outweighed by the power saving in the iPhone. Have you tried this and if so what was the result? Have you noticed any difference in either the accuracy or speed of acquisition when using the Watch GPS compared to the iPhone GPS?

[@ambuloergosum8148]

The most recent version 4.1 came out 5 months ago, and long before I first starting using the app so unfortunately there is no chance of a bug fix having happened in the interim. When I’m just doing dayhikes I just live with the occasional crashes but on the through hike I was keen to get a full track recorded. So I lived with the relatively minor disadvantages of locking the screen each morning. I personally don’t care so much about the loss of stats, but fully recognise that for some people running/walking/cycling on a familiar route it may be the stats that are mission critical for their training program and the track recording of no importance at all. I am slowly writing a note to the developer who has been responsive in the past. So I hope at least a couple of my concerns get onto his radar.

[@cyangspark]

first of all, great video and beautiful trip. I use Gaia GPS on the phone for hiking but also have found the watch app pretty bad. I have a Series 1 so I thought it was slow because of that, but I guess it's slow on a series 4 as well. I will try the workoutdoors app and see how I like it. I'm surprised you get 2 days of watch life. When I just use apple's workouts app (hiking workout), I tend to be able to only get about 4-5 hours of hiking in before need to charge the watch. Is the series 4 battery life that much better than the series 1? I was in Yosemite and did two medium hikes in a day (1hr and 3 hr) and finished my hike at about 7% battery life.

[@HankLeukart]

Hi! I'm glad you liked the video. Yeah, Workoutdoors App is really good, and I suggest trying it to see if it improves your backcountry experience. I've used the Series 4 a lot more since I made this video, and it looks like when I use Workoutdoors App, I get about 6-7 hours of hiking IF the watch its using its own GPS receiver. If the watch is paired with my phone and my phone is turned on, the watch uses the phone's GPS receiver instead, which appears to increase battery life by almost 50% (9-10.5 hours or so). But, of course, then your phone battery is being used faster. But, the phone has a much bigger battery, so it seems worth it. Hope that helps.

[@cyangspark]

@@HankLeukart Thanks, I will try it out on my next hike.

[@hardenpt2522]

Nice review man, Im going to get one today. Have there been any improvements since your review. I want the biggest latest and greatest.

[@HankLeukart]

yeah, i'm working on a new video for AW6. but the main points remain: WorkOutdoors is by FAR the best hiking/exercise/maps app for the Watch. the AW6 always-on altimeter and display, and the compass (introduced in AW5) are nice adds. battery life is also best in AW6 (11 with no GPS, 7 hrs with GPS according to Apple)

[@NickCurrieadventure]

Thanks- great review. Did the same route in 2018 some fantastic trails.

[@HankLeukart]

thank you! glad you liked it. yeah, it's a beautiful area.

[@Garren.B]

Great video, thank you. Is it time for another review? Wonder what improvements have been made.

[@HankLeukart]

haha, good timing! there's a new version of this review available now, which covers Apple Watch 6 and new apps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJu9mmWca8h8rKc

[@Garren.B]

@@HankLeukart thank you!

[@cikgujoezt4241]

hi nice tips..i have some questions, when i start from the point A to point B in the jungle, how to track back the route to get back to point A? which app can do ? tq sir

[@HankLeukart]

WorkOutDoors can definitely do this, watch-only, totally offline (it doesn't need the iPhone). It can track your GPS track, and then you'll see the track on the map on your watch, and you can just follow it back to the beginning. Hope that helps! -Hank

[@vanderslagmulders]

Very cool video, and I greatly appreciate the effort that you took to comprehensibly explain the available options with Iphone+watch and their ups and downsides. You're addressing exactly the questions that I have. But I was a little confused, at 09:12 about WorkOutdoors, you say that you can transfer parts of the map to the watch in advance to your trip, so I understood that that's offline use of that segment of the map. But then at 11:43 u wish that it would be possible to have offline maps functionality with workoutdoors, suggesting that there is no offline functionality at the moment. Or did you just mean there that it is not possible to load the entire map onto the watch? I'm mainly interested because I like hiking, although it is never in any remote areas or extreme circumstances. So at the moment I am looking at Garmin watches but they are kindof huge, expensive and specialised, and at the same time I also need a new phone. So considering my less extreme circumstances it seems that an iphone together with an apple watch would be a viable option that is also useful for daily use.

[@HankLeukart]

Very good question - sorry I wasn’t more clear. WorkOutDoors DOES allow you to transfer high quality vector maps (data from OpenStreetMap) to your Apple Watch, which lets you navigate on the map, offline, using only your watch, without an iPhone. BUT, the WorkOutDoors maps do NOT have topographical lines on them - which is an essential part of backcountry hiking maps, so you can determine where mountains and valleys are, etc. So, if you’re walking around a neighborhood in a city or on a well-defined hiking trail in a park, the maps work fine. I even found that the maps show many natural features like lakes, forests, etc. But, if you’re in true backcountry and hiking off trail, which requires a topographical map, WorkOutDoors does not provide maps like that (yet). Gaia GPS does provide topographical maps - but they don’t sync to the watch (they can only be downloaded offline on the phone).

[@gchance]

I love it, thank you! This is exactly what I've been looking for, my Garmin GPS is pretty long in the tooth now (it happens way too fast), and people seem to like using their phone & watch. I never used my phone for hiking because once you put it into airplane mode everything would just cease to work. I'm glad the technology has caught up, looks like WorkOutDoors is the one! Now for this heat to die down a bit...

[@HankLeukart]

Hi, Greg! Glad you liked it. Yeah, I used a Garmin Oregon for many, many years, until last year when I accidentally dropped it into the ocean while kayaking (whoops!). But even before that, I had already begun favoring my iPhone with Gaia GPS (with downloaded, offline topo maps) after new iPhones became waterproof. It's nice to only have to carry one device -- the phone -- which you end up bringing on the hike anyway for music/photos/etc. But then I got the Apple Watch and like that it doesn't require me to take my phone out of my pocket just to see how far I've gone, etc. Yeah, WorkOutDoors is what I would use to use your Watch as a navigation and stats tracking device, but I'd also put Gaia GPS with offline topo maps on your phone as a backup, since WorkOutDoors maps don't include topo lines. Hope that helps!

[@gchance]

It does, thanks. I’m used to not using topos on a device for navigation anyway because the Oregon had such a small screen anyway, so I don’t know what I’m missing. ;) I’m also glad to be rid of the Oregon’s touchscreen, which becomes completely useless once your hands get dirty & sweaty, nevermind visibility issues. I always thought the eTrex joystick was the way to go.

[@conanroxorz6737]

I agree, the video had exactly the kind of information i was looking for. Apple watch seems to be a much better choice for general use than a garmin watch with maps(while being cheaper as well), it’s just that i don’t want to have a watch for urban use and another one for sports/adventure, it just needs the software to mature and workoutdoors seems to be very close to what i’m looking for. Thanks for taking the time to make this video, very helpful.

[@sfrenchy5943]

What do you guys think ? Garmin tactix delta solar or Apple Watch for navigation with pre planned routes

[@jeffstiles2296]

Hey Hank. Thanks for the great review and information. How's the best way to optimize my battery time on the watch? I had a first gen Apple Watch and used it with MapMyHike just to get some rudimentary data and it depleted the battery within several hours. Any suggestions, or is the 5 just that much more advanced? Thanks again!

[@HankLeukart]

I've used the Series 4 a lot more since I made this video, and it looks like when I use Workoutdoors App, I get about 6-7 hours of hiking IF the watch is using its own GPS receiver. If the watch is paired with my phone and my phone is turned on, the watch uses the _phone's_ GPS receiver instead, which appears to increase battery life by almost 50% (9-10.5 hours or so). But, of course, then your phone battery is being used faster. But, the phone has a much bigger battery, so it seems worth it. Hope that helps.

[@jeffstiles2296]

@@HankLeukart It does. Thank you!

[@sunnyj209]

Thank you so much. I needed this review.

[@HankLeukart]

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks for a great review! I'm a long-term Garmin user (currently using Fenix 5X plus) but also an Apple sheep. I gave my wife an AppleWatch as a Christmas gift and since that, I'm thinking to do a switch from Garmin. I'm really surprised by your battery life comparison. With my wife, we're going this year to Himalaya again so the AW battery life is a big concern and question mark to me.

[@HankLeukart]

Hey, Petr! Glad you liked it! I haven't tried the Garmin Fenix watch, so I can't compare. If you use Workoutdoors, you'll like the Apple Watch experience, but you'll be disappointed with the battery life, I think. If you make sure the watch is always paired with the iPhone (so it uses the iPhone GPS), it will last a lot longer, but even then, battery life leaves something to be desired for very long thru-hiking backpacking days. For medium day hikes, it's great. Let me know if you have any other questions. I hope that at some point I can make an updated video comparing the Watch to products like the Fenix. But since the Fenix 6 is in the $800 range, it costs significantly more than the Apple Watch, so I can't afford it. -Hank

[@daliborcoufal7971]

Hey man, i think you’re gorgeous!! As a gift for Christmas i got a new SE model. Cause i really adore running but the geography is not a friend of mine, i was looking for offline watch Maps. Bless you man and thanx a lot! WOD is the bullseye!!🥳

[@HankLeukart]

Glad you liked the video! There's a newer version that covers the SE and Series 6 if you want to check it out. WorkOutDoors is still your answer though. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJu9mmWca8h8rKc

[@TheHitteam]

I have both Apple Watch 4 and Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, I tried both options. TBH for long backpacking hike, I always prefer the Garmin Fenix 6, which last me about 3 days with 8-10 hours hike a day (I used the topo maps came with the Watch), and use my iPhone as a backup, Apple Watch battery life is very limited but more sustainable for a short quick day hike, and I really hope Apple will make some better improvement on the battery life for the coming S6👍

[@HankLeukart]

wow, that is great that the fenix lasts 3 days. yeah, it's by far the biggest problem with using the apple watch for a thruhike.

[@Sarastro18]

What a review! I love it!

[@HankLeukart]

Thanks so much!

[@jcwhoffman1]

Have you had any luck with a solar battery on long backpacking trips? Or have you just went with traditional batteries to charge your devices?

[@HankLeukart]

I have used a small solar panel on some long trips as a backup to charge a large USB battery pack. The problem is that there's generally a complicated calculation centered around reliability, weight, and power needs. Since I do a lot of filming on trips, my power needs can be high, and taking big solar panels is almost never worth the weight-- as compared to just bringing already-charged lithium battery packs. Because, remember, you generally need to have a big battery to collect the solar charge ANYWAY, so unless you're on a MANY-week trip with no access to outlets, it's often not worth the extra weight. If you're only charging a cell phone on your trip, and you expect there to be sunny weather most days (which is NOT always clear), a small solar panel only plugged directly into your phone may be worth it, especially if having your phone charged is not mission-critical.

[@jcwhoffman1]

Hank Leukart I have a lithium battery to charge my Apple Watch & IPhone and it will last 3 full charges but just wanted to see if there was a feasible product out there. Thanks for the quick reply.

[@MiguelRamirez-qk3tc]

What are your initial thoughts of the Suunto 7? I feel like it solves all these issues and debating getting it. Does not require a phone to use offline map features and listen to music.

[@HankLeukart]

Good question, but I've never used any GPS watch except for the Apple Watch. Before the Apple Watch and iPhone, I always used a Garmin handheld GPS unit. But, if you get the Suunto or get a chance to try it out, let me know. I'd love to hear what it's like. Their advertising says it will last 12 hours with GPS tracking turned on -- which, if true, kicks Apple Watch's butt in battery life.

[@evanbUnderscore88]

Does anyone know if the AllTrails app will display the map offline (and whether that needs pairing with the phone)?

[@jalencoats2930]

It has to be paired and in reach of the iPhone to work. I’m not a big fan of the AllTrails maps

[@DylanHaskin]

Thanks man that was super helpful!

[@HankLeukart]

glad you liked it! there's an updated version for apple watch 6 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJu9mmWca8h8rKc

[@jerinjames3001]

if not for the apple watch, what would be next favourite one?

[@HankLeukart]

i haven't backpacked with any other tech than the apple watch and gamin handheld gps devices (i can't afford to buy them all and compare), so i can't really weigh in

[@devvrider]

I just got the AW5, I hope ViewRanger would include the compass function in the mini map. Thanks for the review !

[@HankLeukart]

Agreed -- I'm going to update this review sometime in the near future for the AW5, and I'm hoping that new versions of the apps will support the new AW compass (and improve in general). We'll see!

[@rogersanchez4102]

Great review. Do you have a video for Apple 6?

[@HankLeukart]

i'm going to make one when the Series 6 I ordered arrives!

[@wheatthinbecker]

Do you need to buy both the iPhone app and the Apple Watch app for WorkOutDoors? Or is there a way of getting one because you have the other? Not really in the mood to pay $12 for this but I will if I have to because of how good the navigation and customization is.

[@HankLeukart]

When I made this video, if you bought the Watch app, you also get the iPhone app.

[@petethompson1282]

I have android - how do we do this on android??

[@sharedknowledge6640]

Nice real world review. It’s nice that, unlike most KZbinrs, you don’t seem to be pushing the latest free product some company sent you.

[@HankLeukart]

Glad you liked the video! Haha, no companies send me free products, so that's an easy trap for me to avoid. But yeah, as a rule, I'm more interested in getting out and going hiking and trying out ways to make that more fun and rewarding. I do plan to update this video sometime when the companies update their apps and include the Watch Series 5. It's exciting how much better these solutions for hiking get every few months. -Hank

[@aerialvantagepoint7021]

Great video! I already had Gaia and Viewranger and am adding WorkOutDoors based on your video. I love hiking when I travel for work but never stray from the well established trails, so I think WorkOutDoors will be well worth the investment and capable of everything I need.

[@HankLeukart]

Hi, and thanks! Yeah, if you don't care much about detailed topo maps, then WorkOutDoors is by far the best Apple Watch app for hiking, because it's built as a watch-first app from the ground up. And the maps it uses are good and have LOTS of trails on them (just no topo detail), so I think you'll be happy with it. You can always fall back on Gaia on your phone if you need more detailed topo. I think Gaia should buy Workoutdoors (or hire the engineer) to replace their watch app. That would be a killer setup.

[@bonaventura24]

Great video! I am considering buying an Apple Watch Series 3 for everyday fitness tracking as well as for longer hiking. Our hikes take about 7-8 hours. Do you think an Apple Watch Series 3 can last that long (GPS ON, connection to my iPhone OFF)?

[@HankLeukart]

I doubt it. The Series 3 lasts only 4-5 hours with the watch GPS is on. It will last longer if you connect it to your phone via Bluetooth and turn your iPhone GPS on, because then the watch won't use its own GPS.

[@frankgarcia8901]

Can you use this app to off trials like for hunting?

[@HankLeukart]

yes, WorkOutDoors can be used anywhere, but the maps don't include topo lines (though they do include features like lakes and forest) so you'd almost certainly want to supplement it with Gaia GPS on your phone. if you need topo maps for backcountry use on the watch itself the only option i'm aware of right now is Viewranger.

[@eqlzr2]

I just heard Apple is coming out with a device that interfaces with the Apple Watch that interfaces with an iPhone. Of course, you need some apps to make it work, but the more electronics the better, right? Personally, I just use GaiaGPS on my iPhone and download any maps I need before losing cell access. Boring, I know. And my heart and metabolism stopped years ago, but my friends say I just haven't owned up to it yet. Many thx.

[@HankLeukart]

Yeah, GaiaGPS works super well, so I totally understand. Trying to use the watch with it (or the watch only) is more of a fun experiment because it IS nice to not always have to pull our your phone -- but the watch battery life leaves a lot to be desired for people doing 12 hour hiking days.

[@philging]

Good information - thanks - I love the Sierras.

[@HankLeukart]

Glad it was helpful!

[@LEGADO-INMATERIAL]

Hola... what you prefer, Fenix 5X or Apple Watch for trekking long?

[@HankLeukart]

i haven't tried the Fenix but I do know that it's supposed to last 24 hours in GPS mode, whereas the Apple Watch Series 6 only lasts about 7 hrs in GPS mode, which is its major flaw

[@X_explorer]

Very good movie!

[@HankLeukart]

thanks, glad you liked it!

[@mattiasmyrman]

Great review, thanks!

[@HankLeukart]

Thanks, Mattias! Glad you found it helpful.

[@mattiasmyrman]

@@HankLeukart Hi, a follow-up question here. i installed Vaia GPS as I expect to have cellular signal where I go biking. But is there a way to keep displaying the map? My watch is turning back to showing the actual watch rather than the map after a short while...

[@FredPrana]

Do you know if Gaia has fixed the watch app?

[@HankLeukart]

I tried it last weekend and it seemed the same as described in the video.

[@FreeRangeCaspian]

So helpful. Thanks so much

[@HankLeukart]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ysgurjar]

Fantastic review!

[@HankLeukart]

Glad you liked it!

[@jeffrobins7494]

I have Applewatch 4 and battery life with GPS is only about 5-6 hours tops. How are you getting a day to 2 days with out charging it?

[@HankLeukart]

I've used the Series 4 a lot more since I made this video, and it looks like when I use Workoutdoors App, I get about 6-7 hours of hiking IF the watch its using its own GPS receiver. If the watch is paired with my phone and my phone is turned on, the watch uses the phone's GPS receiver instead, which appears to increase battery life by almost 50% (9-10.5 hours or so). But, of course, then your phone battery is being used faster. But, the phone has a much bigger battery, so it seems worth it.

[@ishteaksvmsung8078]

Maybe up to do some tracking or subtract my elevation walk little faster genomind work where run for 10 second did stuff wherever and go walk without help if under on KZbin you know that

[@Ovauz]

Vídeo muito bom! Obrigado pelas informações! Poderia por gentileza me dizer o nome das músicas utilizadas no vídeo? Obrigado! 🇧🇷

[@NegyedMisi]

Nice video Hank. How much does the battery last if you use the iWatch alone with it's GPS? This is estimated to around 6-8 hours on an iWatch 4. (I know it is more battery when used with the phone's GPS) For this single reason (if that is 6 hours only) I would not replace any fitness watch for an iWatch. Especially not for hiking. I am an Android guy myself, I use a Polar Vantage M for tracking and a phone (and a battery pack) for everything else running LocusMap. It's a pity that is not available for iOS. Nothing beats LocusMap. (however this WorkOutDoor app seems to rock)

[@HankLeukart]

I've used the Series 4 a lot more since I made this video, and it looks like when I use Workoutdoors App, I get about 6-7 hours of hiking IF the watch its using its own GPS receiver. If the watch is paired with my phone and my phone is turned on, the watch uses the phone's GPS receiver instead, which appears to increase battery life by almost 50% (9-10.5 hours or so). But, of course, then your phone battery is being used faster. But, the phone has a much bigger battery, so it seems worth it. Hope that helps. I readily admit that I haven't used the Polar Vantage M/LocusMap or the Garmin Fenix, etc. Most of my experience is with the Garmin Oregon which I used for about 10 years before I dropped mine in the ocean by mistake. I'd love to try and compare to all the other products, but obviously I can't afford to buy them all!

[@GregKirk-j5y]

This was super helpful, thanks!

[@HankLeukart]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mantykarhu]

Been looking for this kind of video. Great job. Subbed.

[@HankLeukart]

thanks, glad you liked it!

[@HKrastev]

Very useful and well structured video, I was just wondering what app is the best for my needs. Thank you!

[@HankLeukart]

Thanks, Hristo! Glad you liked it.

[@famillefery]

Really good and comprehensive review. Well done. Guillaume (Apple Watch 4) Switzerland

[@HankLeukart]

thanks, glad you found it useful!

[@antsy_does]

Knowing how poor the battery life of the Apple Watch Series 5 is, I prefer to use just the phone with the apps I need. I can turn the phone to airplane mode and utilize GPS with the hiking app and I'm set. For day hikes the watch is fine but for a multi-day trek with long hiking days the battery life is terrible :( I very much miss my Garmin Fenix.

[@HankLeukart]

yeah, the watch battery definitely leaves something to be desired, for sure. but i do like being able to glance at it without pulling the phone out of my pocket. i started charging it at lunch time for very long hikes but it's annoying to have to do that.

[@bimachrismanuel6636]

Is this app compatible with apple watch series 3?

[@HankLeukart]

yes, it's compatible with Series 3-6

[@MdAthick]

Thanks, brother. You saved my day.

[@HankLeukart]

No problem! If you have any other questions about using the Apple Watch with outdoors stuff, let me know.

[@MdAthick]

Thankyou for the reply. I want an offline GPS app for my Apple Watch, similar to Garmin GPS. So, which one should I use?

[@erice8502]

MdAthick I have the same question. Ever get a response?

[@HankLeukart]

@@MdAthick WorkOutDoors currently provides the best totally-offline Watch-only experience for hiking, so definitely grab that. It allows you to see offline hiking maps and offline GPS tracks that you import, but it doesn't have full topo/elevation data on the maps it imports, which is its major flaw for backcountry trips. But for on-trail hiking, it works great. For backcountry trips, I'd still use WorkOutDoors but also have Gaia GPS on your phone with the topo maps downloaded as a backup (or just a paper topo map). -Hank

[@wolfeadventures]

Great info. How long have you been able to hike at one time without the battery dying on your watch?

[@HankLeukart]

11 hours max

[@Amcacs5654]

What strap are you using?

[@HankLeukart]

It's a gray sport loop.

[@Amcacs5654]

Hank Leukart Thanks!

[@alvarogaitan2529]

nice review excelent very good

[@HankLeukart]

Thanks!

[@captainprice226]

Can u see how many calories u have burnt on the series 3?

[@HankLeukart]

yes

[@MikekiM1212]

Really disappointed in Gaia. I've been using that app for years and their lack of support for the Apple Watch has me looking elsewhere. I continue to use my Suunto Ambit for track recording and display of vitals and pre-planned routes. Maprika does a good job with Topo maps, though it's basically a digital display of a paper map. CalTopo still wins for route planning. Battery charging would be so easy if the AW met hiking needs. There are cables that have the lightening plug and AW charging base in one, and are lighter than the regular AW charger as well.

[@HankLeukart]

Gaia just released a new Watch app that's supposedly much better. You may want to check it out.

[@demons17]

I like work out doors app😀

[@HankLeukart]

yeah, it's the best i've used by far

[@LillyCocoBean]

Thanks for the very thorough review

[@HankLeukart]

glad you found it helpful!

[@Northstar_004]

use all trails instead

[@HankLeukart]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm planning on updating the video with All Trails info next time I do an update. -Hank

[@DoocesWild]

Great video. Has anything changed, as far as you know, from the time you did this to now? Getting ready to do a four-five day trip and am trying to figure out the best route to take. From the video it looks like you recommend a combo of Gaia plus Workoutdoors. Does the combination make it more battery intensive than just one single app?

[@HankLeukart]

glad you liked the video! i just went on a backpacking trip this past week and used Workoutdoors+Gaia and it worked great. you could choose to just use Workoutdoors on your watch and no other app if you want (if you preload the trail into Workoutdoors), but of course, the watch screen is small. i imagine Gaia doesn't use a lot more battery than just using the GPS on the iPhone, but probably a little. i think you'll be happy with Workoutdoors if you are going with a Watch-first approach. You'll be happy with Gaia if you're going with a phone-first approach.

[@DoocesWild]

Hank Leukart thanks for the fast reply! I think I’ll try your combo. I usually take my garmin eTrex but I’ll try something new!

[@HankLeukart]

I used to use the Garmin Oregon all the time, which is a good product. The biggest problem you'll run into with switching to iPhone/Apple Watch is that the Garmin's batteries lasts almost 3 days, whereas I have to charge my Apple Watch every night and/or my iPhone every 2-3 nights (depending on how I use it). But being able to glance at your location, the trail, and distance traveled JUST by looking at your wrist is surprisingly convenient and great, because you don't need to grab a big device with your hands, and you can even zoom/pan around the map on the watch. I don't even look at Gaia on the iPhone anymore while I'm hiking, because Workoutdoors is so good, unless i have a major navigational issue that requires me to look at topo map features. I also reference Gaia at night in the tent (or, usually, my paper backup map).

[@DoocesWild]

@@HankLeukart This is awesome, thank you! I don't mind charging my watch and phone at night in the tent, as long as both the watch and phone can last 8-12 hours of hiking every day I think I'll be just as happy with this solution.

[@stephenzorkReview]

seeing how much calories i have burn....thats good for me

[@Dan-zf2zj]

Did anyone else think his voice changed from the starting voice?! Not hating, btw this really helped.

[@EL90291]

What about leaving all your electronics off and enjoy the hike ? ...Great review and thank you for sharing. The Outdoors app look very promising and just what I was looking for, will give it a try.

[@HankLeukart]

Yeah, sometimes I get a little frustrated when I'm doing cool hiking trips yet also trying to balance using all of my electronics gear and filming videos too, so I genuinely appreciate your point. That said, if you get the Apple Watch working with the totally standalone WorkOutDoors app, it allows you to track your hike and navigate without ever taking out your phone or using a separate GPS unit, which I think ultimately is a win against electronic distractions instead of the opposite. That's one of the reason I have been trying to get the Apple Watch to be a viable solution for hiking.

[@mrbeachberg780]

Thank you for this review. Been looking for an outdoors app for the apple watch but hasn't one that I really like. WorkOutDoors looks like it could do the trick so looking forward to the next hike to try it out.

[@HankLeukart]

Yeah, I think it's the best (so far), especially if you want an app that runs exclusively on the watch and doesn't even need to be paired with the iPhone. Of course, I think the best plan of attack currently is using WorkOutDoors in tandem with Gaia GPS on your phone, because Gaia GPS provides a bunch of functionality (especially detailed topo maps) that simply isn't available on the watch in an effective way yet.

[@schang8964]

waiting for a update :)

[@HankLeukart]

Coming soon!

[@luismabetancourt]

The new version of WorkOutDoors supports the compass in the AW S5!

[@HankLeukart]

Can't wait to try it out!

[@TheAskme32]

So Garmin is the choice..

[@robinhofotos2005]

0:33 a tick...

[@abhirajpande]

You can turn on current elevation for Apple Watch. "Change your workout view" section at support.apple.com/guide/watch/adjust-your-workout-settings-apde0be691be/watchos

[@HankLeukart]

I'm not sure this existed when I originally filmed this video (?) but regardless, this is a really good tip, so thanks! Hopefully I'll get a chance to update this video with info on new versions of everything sometime soon.

[@30mattdavies]

Get a garmin :/

[@tassiavibes5719]

so basically; apple watch still sucks in 2020.

[@HankLeukart]

haha, well i'm not sure i'd go that far, WorkOutDoors is a near-ideal solution for day-hiking trips that can completely replace a Garmin handheld GPS unit -- but Apple Watch's battery life definitely leaves something to be desired. That's it's biggest issue.

[@tassiavibes5719]

@@HankLeukart really good review man ;)

[@Kakkoii_otoko]

Apple watch sucks for hiking. All around garbage. My wife has a Suunto 7 and it blows the iwatch away. I am selling my iwatch and using the money to buy a Suunto.

[@HankLeukart]

i haven't tried the suunto 7 but i'm dying to try it

[@gabyisphoto2379]

Excellent review!

[@HankLeukart]

Thanks for watching!