The best smartwatch for horseback riders
For every naysayer who says, “Horseback riding isn’t a sport; all you do is sit there,” there is an equestrian who knows better. Managing a 1,500-pound animal is a vigorous, athletic workout.
But what is the best way to monitor the exercise that you’re getting and stay in touch with others while you ride? Just as a smartwatch can track a workout at the gym, a smartwatch is the best way to track your horseback rides.
Before purchasing a smartwatch for horseback riding, consider the features you’ll use most. The best models don’t sacrifice style or durability for function and long battery life.
Are smartwatches a good investment?
Smartwatch brands
When you think of a smartwatch, you might think of an Apple smartwatch first. But the Apple Watch was not the first piece of wearable technology. In 1998, Seiko’s Ruputer was one of the first personal computers that could fit on your wrist, and Samsung’s SPH-WP10 followed in 1998 with its first watch phone. Since then, phones have continued to evolve with more stylish design; discreet, compact styling; and powerful computing tools.
Despite its competitors, Apple is one of the most popular smartwatch brands on the market. Its sleek smartwatch design and seamless integration with other Apple products makes their Apple Watch a popular (if sometimes pricey) choice.
Many other tech brands like Samsung and Fossil have increasingly powerful and versatile smartwatches to market, at a range of price points and with a variety of features, such as GPS tracking, Bluetooth connectivity and a variety of health monitoring tools.
Are smartwatches a good investment?
Purchasing a smartwatch for horseback riding can be a big decision. With prices that range from $150 to $700+, it’s worth taking the time to identify the features you can’t live without.
Smartwatch features
When choosing a smartwatch for horseback riding, look for the features you need to stay connected while you ride. Some useful features include battery life, health and workout tracking, connectivity and extra features that add value to your ride.
Battery life
How much battery you need depends on your activities. If you plan to ride for days at a time away from an outlet, look for long battery life or solar-powered charging.
Health and workout tracking
Smartwatches monitor things like heart rate, oxygen level and activity for the day. Some smartwatches offer monitoring just for specific workouts, while others track your entire day of health and wellness routines. When choosing the best smartwatch for horseback riding, it’s important to consider how much detail you want in your tracking.
Connectivity
Smartwatches enable you to make phone calls, send texts and check email – all from your watch. Connect to WiFi for apps, including payment options, and leave your phone at home.
Extra features
Many smartwatches are waterproof. They may also provide GPS location tracking and offer mood and sleep tracking.
Best smartwatches for equestrians
Best overall performance
Apple Watch Series 6: available at Amazon
Our take: The Apple Watch 6 is Apple's most comprehensive entry into wearable technology.
What we like: Track things like heart rate and oxygen level with a display that's always on and 2.5 times brighter in the sunlight. For horseback riding over rough terrain, the Apple Watch Series 6 offers one additional, crucial feature: it can detect when you've fallen hard and call emergency services for you.
What we dislike: The Series 6 does not offer specific equestrian workout tracking, and it is one of the priciest smartwatches out there.
Best performance on a budget
Apple Watch (SE): available at Amazon
Our take: For those looking to save some money and still take advantage of Apple's seamless integration with iPhone, the SE series is a great place to start.
What we like: The SE has many of the same great features as the Apple Watch Series 6 – we also like its stylish design and fast performance. Battery life averages around 18 hours.
What we dislike: There is no always-on display.
Most stylish smartwatch
Samsung Galaxy Watch3: available at Samsung
Our take: The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 smartwatch combines stylish good looks with high functionality, all on Wear OS, the operating system Google designed specifically for smartwatches.
What we like: Featuring battery life of 45-plus hours and durable, waterproof, military-grade design, this watch has standard features, such as heart rate monitoring and Bluetooth connectivity. The Dutch calf leather band dresses it up.
What we dislike: The screen on this smartwatch is smaller than its competitors.
Best smartwatch for fast charging
Fossil Gen 5: available at Kohl's
Our take: The Fossil Gen 5 also uses Wear OS to power its sleek, feature-packed smartwatch.
What we like: This watch features 24-plus hours of battery life, depending on which features you use, and charges up to 80 percent in under an hour. The touchscreen and always-on display supports hundreds of apps, from payments to music and more. With a GPS distance tracker, you can keep track of your mileage in the saddle – a plus for training.
What we dislike: This watch is not waterproof, and the battery drains faster the more features you use.
Best “lite” smartwatch
Fossil Gen 5E: available at Amazon
Our take: The Fossil Gen 5E is the smaller, more affordable version of the Fossil Gen 5.
What we like: We love the touchscreen and the availability of Google Pay, and it has the same standard heart rate tracking and connection to fitness apps, but at a lower price point.
What we dislike: There's no onboard GPS.
Best smartwatch for rough riding
Garmin Instinct Solar Heart Rate Monitor: available at Backcountry
Our take: If you are a backcountry rider or like to take your horse on extended trips, the Garmin Instinct Solar is the smartwatch for you.
What we like: With up to 54 days of solar-charged battery life and a rugged, go-anywhere design, this watch tracks heart rate, oxygen levels and stress levels for days on end. It also features a built-in compass, barometer and altimeter to help track changing conditions.
What we dislike: The battery requires a lot of sunlight to charge.
Best smartwatch dedicated to overall health monitoring
Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch: available at Amazon
Our take: Fitbit continues to offer a well-rounded lineup of smartwatches that are perfect for horseback riding.
What we like: The Fitbit Sense provides an ongoing stress management score, measuring heart rate, skin temperature and oxygen levels as you ride. You can also track your mood before, during and after your workout – a big bonus for equestrians with horses who are challenging or rides that are more mentally taxing.
What we dislike: The touchscreen is not very responsive, and the band easily unlatches.
Best workout-focused smartwatch
Fitbit Versa 3: available at Kohl's
Our take: The Fitbit Versa 3 is a more workout-focused smartwatch for your horseback rides.
What we like: The Versa 3 has all the same features as the Sense, with the exception of skin temperature and ECG sensor.
What we dislike: A monthly premium membership is required to access more in-depth features.
Suzannah Kolbeck is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
May 27, 2021 at 07:24PM
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What’s the best smartwatch for horseback riding? - Chicago Tribune
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