GPS Watch for Paddle Boarding
There are a number of GPS watches on the market but which is the best GPS watch for SUP?
A GPS watch provides you with important data that allows you to monitor your fitness and activities.
It can also help to keep you safe by tracking your co-ordinates, providing weather predictions and getting you back to where you started if you get lost!
I bought my first GPS watch around 10 years ago…a Garmin Forerunner. It was definitely built to last as still works now!
However, the world of multi-sport watches has progressed a lot since then and GPS watches now offer a tonne of amazing new features.
What features does a SUP GPS watch need?
Waterproof
Some watches that claim to be waterproof or water-resistant just aren’t built to withstand water sports.
If your going to be using your GPS watch for paddle boarding, kayaking or other water sports then it needs to be properly water proof as it needs to handle more than a little rain!
GPS
Locates your device using satellites and tells you where you are and how far you’ve travelled.
Stroke Count
Counts the number of strokes you’ve done.
Stroke Rate
The number of strokes you make per minute.
Distance per stroke
You can see the distance per stroke along side your other metrics by adding a Vaaka Paddle Cadence Sensor and downloading the Vaaka Distance Per Stroke app.
Heart Rate
Monitor your fitness with a heart rate monitor. Either built into your watch or worn around your chest.
Compass
Tells you the direction you’re headed.
Barometer
Used to predict weather changes…handy when your out on the water.
Phone notifications
Although your unable to respond to notifications this is a handy feature for paddlers. It will let you know if someone is trying to get hold of you while your mobile is stowed away safely in your dry bag.
Widgets
Many GPS watches allow you to add widgets or apps. There are lots of useful widgets for paddle boarders, including, tide info, weather and compass.
GPS Watches For SUP Quick Comparison Chart
Click on the links for full reviews and prices. Links from this post mat be affiliate.
| Garmin Instinct | Garmin Fenix 3  |
Garmin Fenix 5 | Garmin Vivoactive 3 | ||
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$$$ | $$$$ | $$$$$ | $$ | $ |
|
SUP Option |
Yes as standard | Yes as standard | Yes as standard | Yes as standard | No (select cardio) |
|
Display resolution WxH |
218 x 218 pixels | 218 x 218 pixels | 240 x 240 pixels | 240 x 240 pixels | 72 x 144 pixels |
| Display type | Monochrome Sunlight-visible, Transflective, Memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Transflective, Colour, Display | Sunlight-visible, Transflective Memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Sunlight-visible, Transflective, Memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Transflective, memory in pixel |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 52g | 82g | 85g | 43g | 31g |
| Battery | Rechargeable lithium-ion | Rechargeable lithium-ion | Rechargeable lithium-ion | 2 x CR1632 batteries | 2 x CR1632 batteries |
| Battery life | 2 weeks in watch mode.
16 hours in GPS. 40 hours in UltraTrac™ |
2 weeks in watch mode.
20 hrs in GPS mode. 50 hours in UltraTrac™ |
2 weeks in watch mode.
24 hrs GPS mode. 60 hours UltraTrac™ |
8 days in watch mode.
13 hours GPS mode. |
7days in watch mode.
8 hours GPS mode. |
| Built-in memory | 16 MB | 32 MB available 23 MB |
64 MB available 54 MB |
Needs syncing after 14 days of activity. | |
| Connect IQ™ (downloadable watch faces, data fields, widgets and apps) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Built-in heart rate | Yes | Optional | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smart notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wellness Monitoring (e.g. stress, sleep) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connect IQ (downloadable watch faces, data fields, widgets and apps) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Garmin Pay | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Gyroscope | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| GLONASS (salatellites orbit at 21150 km) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Galileo (Europe’s satellite support) | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Barometric altimeter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Gyroscope | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Thermometer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| GPS (salatellites orbit at 19130 km) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Save Waypoints | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Water Rating | 10 ATM | 10 ATM | 10 ATM | 10 ATM | 5ATM |
| QuickFit™ Interchangeable Bands | Yes 22mm | Yes 22mm included | Yes 26mm | Yes | No |
| Verticle speed (handy if you like climbing mountains) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Text response/reject phone call with text (Android only) | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| VIRB® Camera Remote | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Find My Phone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Find My Watch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gym Profiles | Strength, Cardio and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing and Yoga | Indoor Rowing | Indoor Rowing, Strength Training and Cardio Training | Strength Training, Cardio Training, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing and Yoga | Strength Training, Cardio Training |
| Cardio Workouts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Strength Workouts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| GPS speed and distance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Downloadable training plans | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Strava features (Beacon, live segments) | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Training Status (lets you see if you’re training effectively by tracking your training history and fitness level trend) | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Outdoor Recreation Profiles | Hiking, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Tactical | Hiking, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Jumpmaster, Tactical | Hiking, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Jumpmaster, Tactical | Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing | |
| Back to Start | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Distance to Destination | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Breadcrumb Trail in Real-time | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Storm Alert | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Dual Grid Coordinates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Available Swim Profile | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Swimming/Running | Pool Swimming | Pool Swimming |
The Best GPS Watch for SUP
This best GPS watch for paddle boarding list is based on our opinions, research and experiences. We’ve tried to be as accurate as possible with data but if there’s anything specific that you want to know it’s worth checking on the manufactures website.
So, let’s take a look…
The Best GPS Watch for SUP (if you’re a serious athlete)
Garmin Fenix 5
It’s incredible that something with as many features as the Garmin Genix 5 can fit neatly on a wrist!
What we love about this watch…
Monitoring Performance
Where the Fenix 5 differs from the others on our list is its ability to deliver advanced performance metrics. This is probably more advanced than most average paddlers will need but it’s great for people who want to keep a close eye on their training.
It uses Training Load and Training Status data to let you know if you’re pushing yourself too hard or not enough!
It has loads of cool features.
If tracking progress and recording your routes wasn’t enough then this GPS watch can also find a lost phone (handy if you loose yours as often I loose mine!), control your music via Bluetooth and monitor your sleep.
The Garmin Fenix 5 watch dial can be customised by adding additional information so you can view stats easily.
Users can choose to add information such as battery charge level, phone notifications, distance travelled and more.
This watch also allows the user to personalise a shortcut menu which you can access by pressing a single button. It means that you can start a timer, save your position, control your garmin action camera etc really easily!
It has loads of sports options.
This watch can automatically detect some activities like swimming, cycling and running. It also has loads of other activities that are preloaded for you to select from. It includes paddle boarding, open water swimming and golf!
It’s well made.
Garmin have been making these for years…they know what they’re doing!
You can choose the tougher Sapphire screen if you prefer or if you’re not too worried about the odd scratch you could save money and go for the normal glass option.
It can control your camera too!
Amazingly, the Fenix 5 can connect to Garmin’s VIRB action camera meaning that you can control it from your watch!
Customisable Widgets
From the time screen you can scroll between your widgets. There are several included as standard but it’s easy to choose more online at the Connect IQ Store.
Widgets that are useful for paddle boarding include ABC (combines altimeter, barometer and compass information), weather, VIRB (controls Garmin Action Camera).
Battery Life
The battery on the Fenix 5 lasts 2 weeks in watch mode or 24 hours with GPS on constantly.
The Garmin Fenix 5 Models
There are three different Fenix 5 watches: 5, 5S and 5X.
Put simply the 5X is the chunkiest and most expensive model. It includes additional mapping features and a tougher sapphire face as standard (this is an optional extra on the 5 and 5S).
It may be worth upgrading to the Fenix 5X model if you’ll be using your watch for hiking or trail running as well SUP.
The Garmin 5 and 5S are essentially the same watch but the 5S is smaller and therefore more suitable for smaller wrists.
If the Garmin Fenix 5 is too pricey or has too many features you don’t need then take a look at…the Vivoactive 3, Fenix 3 and the recently released Garmin Instinct below.
The Best GPS Watch for SUP…(if you’re not a serious athlete)
Choose between these two:
Garmin Vivoactive 3
What we love about this watch…
Great value
This watch is basically a cheaper Garmin Fenix 5 with many of the same features. It doesn’t have some of the more advanced features that serious athletes or data junkies might like but it is still an excellent piece of kit.
It looks good.
The stainless still edge around the screen looks amazing and it doesn’t have the visible screws of the Fenix models. You can also switch the straps if you want a different look.
It’s easy to use.
You control the watch by using the single button and the touchscreen.
Aside from the controls the Vivoactive 3 is pretty much the same as the Fenix 5 (which also has an additional 64MB of memory and a gyroscope for increased GPS accuracy.)
The Vivoactive 3 is another of Garmin’s GPS watches that lists SUP as an option out of the box.
Battery Life
The battery fairs pretty well on the Vivoactive 3. Around a week in watch mode or 8 hours with GPS on constantly.
Other great options…
Garmin Fenix 3 HR
What we love about this watch…
Battery Life
The Garmin Fenix 3 has the best battery life in watch mode of all the watches on our list. It boasts an awesome 3 months in watch mode and 16 hours using GPS. You can also switch this to UltraTrac which records GPS every minute and stretches the battery life to 50 hours.
Save Waypoints
The Garmin Fenix 3 allows you to set routes and waypoints at home aswell as save them on route. This is great of you want to paddle to a particular spot or navigate back somewhere later. It’s also handy if you enjoy off-road running or biking.
Price
Since the release of the Fenix 5 the price of the Fenix 3 has dropped (incase you’re wondering, there was no Fenix 4!) Now you can grab a bargain multi sport watch that has some awesome features.
Garmin Instinct
What we love about this watch…
Great features at a great price.
The Instinct is kind of a mix of both the Vivoactive 3 and Fenix watches. It has almost all of the sensors that the Fenix 5 has at a much lower price.
It doesn’t have Connect IQ which may be seen an issue for some users. Connect IQ allows users to customise watch faces and download new applications and extensions.
Lightweight
If you’re looking for a lighter alternative to the Fenix watches then the Instinct should suit you well.
It’s smaller and lighter than the Fenix 5
Ultratrack
This watch has UltraTrack which will gives you up to 40 hours of GPS-battery life.
It’s tough!
The Garmin Instinct is a strong and durable. It’s well suited to outdoor sports like cimbing, canyoning), mountain biking, trekking, sea swimming and paddle boarding.
Garmin Vivosport HR
What we love about this watch…
It’s Affordable
This is a great watch to buy if you’re on a tight budget. It includes loads of good features and has a pretty good battery life.
Good Looks
Let’s face it, GPS watches are usually pretty big and you either love or hate wearing a massive watch on your wrist.
The Vivoactive HR is slim and looks more like a Fitbit.
It’s easy to use.
This clever little watch will start monitoring your activity if it senses exercise for more than 10 minutes.
Limitations
It’s not possible to add any sensors to this watch so adding a chest strap to monitor heart rate more accurately isn’t an option.
Conclusion
If you’re a serious athlete looking to monitor your daily activities and fitness levels then the Garmin Fenix 5 may suit you well.
If you’re still pretty serious but don’t need such advanced features then check out the Garmin Instinct, Vivoactive 3 or Garmin Fenix 3.
If you’re on a budget but still want to track your routes and activities then the Vivosport HR should be a good option.
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We hope you’ve found our guide to the best GPS watch for SUP helpful.
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Great post.
Thanks