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If you haven’t done it before, cross-country skiing may look like a leisurely activity similar to a hike. Anyone who is an experienced XC skier will know that it is a tough, grinding full-body workout. Of course, you can take in some sights and enjoy yourself, but it is still a very difficult exercise when compared with other less intense sports. Even on a groomed ski trail, you will find it tough. Put simply, it’s not so easy as just gliding down a hill on a summer’s day.
Overall, a watch can be very useful for XC skiing, depending on which features it has and how much you will use it. Even if you just want something to tell the time and nothing else, there are a few rugged options you can pick from which don’t have fancy features.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are now smartwatches that have been designed to military specification. These watches are extremely tough (as you can imagine) and have a multitude of fitness functions so you can track everything you would ever want.
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Factors To Consider When Buying A Watch For XC Skiing
Temperature Resistance
Of course, if you’re outdoors in a cold environment, your watch must be able to withstand the cold. Depending on where you are in the world and what time of day it is, temperatures could be quite pleasant, or well below freezing. Therefore it’s important to get a watch that tolerates these changes in temperature. It is no use having a watch that doesn’t work very well once it gets too cold.
Thankfully, many companies are well aware of the extreme elements in which watches are put to the test. Polar & Suunto immediately come to mind as brands that were created with the arctic circle in mind. So thankfully this is not too difficult to find anymore.
Ruggedness
Cross country skiing is not the roughest sport in the world, but it is pretty tough and can be very grueling. With this in mind, obviously, you do not want a fashionable watch that cannot take the odd bump or scratch. Nobody wants a giant ugly watch on their wrist, but at the same time, cross country skiing is not a sport known for judging people for what they are wearing.
Once again, watch brands are well aware of this and have been making tougher and more resilient watches for decades.
Waterproof
This should be fairly obvious. If you get caught in a downpour, or simply drop your watch in the snow. You need it to be able to resist moisture and stop water from getting inside. In terms of fitness watches, the designers have fully understood this and it is not really too much of an issue. After all, Rolex created the first waterproof watch in 1926, so this is not a new concept or one which is particularly difficult in modern-day.
GPS
A GPS is an optional feature for a XC skiing watch. You don’t necessarily need one provided that you know your surroundings very well. As a backup safety feature though, a GPS is pretty faultless. If you are skiing across a new route or simply get lost, a GPS can be a real lifesaver. Overall, it may not be necessary for you, although it is definitely a good option to have as a fail-safe.
A/B/C
ABC (Altimeter, Barometer, Compass) features are fairly common on smartwatches and some digital watches. Whether you want or use this technology is going to be a factor of personal preference. Due to the popularity of GPS, a compass is not really necessary anymore, although with that being said, it is far more efficient for battery life if you’re willing to use one.
A barometer can also be useful if you’re covering large distances and are unsure about the weather. It can always save you from getting caught up in a storm.
Heart-Rate Monitor
If you want to track your fitness stats a HRM is a must. Many smartwatches that come with heart rate monitors also come with a variety of other fitness features. Using a HRM is mostly about data analytics once you’re finished. Whilst you’re skiing, it won’t be too useful since you already know that your heart rate will be up from exercising. However, when you’re back at home, you will be able to analyze periods of time during your session when you were using more or less energy than you thought.
Anti-Glare Dial
Many dials are now made with glass which is glare resistant to the sun. This can be very helpful if you want to glance at your watch without stopping skiing. Especially if you are wearing goggles or sunglasses, it can sometimes be difficult to see what time it is whilst moving. Anti-glare technology removes this minor inconvenience and makes sure you do not have to come to a standstill.
Battery Life
This should go without saying. Although XC skiing is not an activity you will do for 10 hours per day. You don’t want your watch battery running out on you. Therefore we have only included reliable smartwatches and brands which are well known for not letting you down.
The Best Watches For Cross-Country Skiing
Luminox Sea Turtle
The brand which prides itself on making watches for Navy Seal standards has a watch that is suitable for XC skiing. Despite being called the “sea turtle”, this model only has 100 meters water resistance so is not too useful underwater at great depths. Of course, if you’re skiing, this won’t be an issue as hopefully, you will never be underwater at all.
Overall, the watch is extremely lightweight and rugged. It is best suited for a person who wants an analog non-digital watch that is easy and simple to use. It is extremely lightweight as well as being tough enough to survive the winter elements.
Suunto Traverse Alpha
If there was a smart watch specifically designed for XC skiing, the Suunto Traverse Alpha would be pretty much what you are looking for. All of the buttons and bezel have been textured so that they are resistant to any scuffs or scratches that nature throws at them.
The Finnish brand is known for its rugged outdoor watches and this is no exception. The GPS is very solid and the watch can survive 10 hours whilst in this mode (and up to 14 days when not). If you are training shooting alongside cross-country skiing. The traverse also tracks the location from where each shot was taken.
Casio G-Shock
Casio G-Shock watches are simply the toughest watches around. No matter what you throw at a G-shock, it will not break. G-Shock watches are not as complicated or sophisticated as smartwatches, but they are the most damage-resistant watches money can buy. There are a variety of colors and styles available, but in general, they are all just extremely well built and designed to manage being dropped or crushed.
This will not offer you all of the modern conveniences such as heart rate monitoring or GPS location finding, but you can guarantee it will never let you down and is relatively inexpensive compared to all other ski watches.
Polar Grit X
Polar are a brand that was made with the Arctic circle in mind. The Polar Grit X is the latest development that has been built to the specifications of the US military. There is nothing normal about this smartwatch, it was built for extreme temperatures and is absolutely fine in humid and wet environments.
Not only this, but it uses technology to its advantage as well. The watch will alert you whenever you need to drink or eat if it knows you’re running low on nutrients. Of course, it also has a GPS tracker, HRM and a 2-day weather forecast, meaning that you will never have to worry about being caught up in a storm. As it’s a newer smartwatch, the battery life is far superior to older models and lasts for many days.
Casio Pathfinder
Not quite a smartwatch, the Casio pathfinder is still very clever. It was made for the outdoors and is equipped with various features to assist you. A classic ABC watch, if you wanted an altimeter, barometer, and compass at a low price, this is pretty good value when compared with smartwatches. It’s a lot tougher than most other brands, although doesn’t offer “smart” features.
The main positive of the pathfinder is that it is from the tough solar range. This means that it is both durable and does not require a battery. Since the pathfinder is charged by light sources, you will not have to worry about it running out during skiing. Even if you are on a dark trail, it will use its reserves which last for weeks without needing any light.
Timex Ironman
If you want a sensible and solid watch that will fit a larger wrist, you can’t go wrong with the Timex Ironman. Proof of this is Jocko Willink who swears by his Ironman, wearing it every day. This watch was made to be a tough and budget rival to the Casio G-Shock.
It has a variety of useful functions such as alarms and world times. Of course, like all digital watches, it does not offer the same quality instruments such as HRM, GPS, or weather tracking, as it is just a simple, inexpensive and non-fancy watch. One great feature about the ironman is the 100-hour chronograph timer. This means that you will be able to time your skiing ventures no matter how long they are.
Garmin Instinct
Garmin are a brand well known for outdoor fitness watches. The instinct is a fairly durable watch that could easily be used for cross-country skiing, as well as any other activities. Available in over 15 different colors, you can find a watch that is suitable for your everyday life as well as skiing.
Compared with other smartwatches, the GPS on the Garmin Instinct is quite a lot better since it integrates with a compass as well as 2 satellites. This provides coverage in even the most remote areas that you would usually struggle in. The instinct also has various other fitness tracking apps as you would expect such as bloody oxygen monitoring and a heart rate monitor.
