Recommendation of a Garmin watch for hiking.

[kristensconnelly]

I bought the vivoactive for hiking and the steps to load trail maps are bonkers. Which watch is easiest for this?

[REI-JohnJ]

@kristensconnelly Thanks for reaching out!

We're sorry the Vivoactive isn't meeting your needs. It sounds like you're looking for a GPS watch that you can upload a route to. Do you want to upload a route/trail or a topo map of an area (perhaps both)? Are there any other features you would like the watch to have? Are you also carrying a smart phone with you on your hikes?

Here are a few options to consider:

• Garmin Fenix 6 Multisport GPS watch. While spendy, the Fenix line supports Garmin IQ app capability, which allows you to use an app on your watch to upload GPX files to.
• Suunto 5 GPS Watch. Connects to your Android or iPhone device and is compatible with apps like Strava, or Suunto Movescount.
• Garmin Forerunner 645 Music GPS Watch. Also uses the Garmin Connect IQ app store like the Fenix, which has GPX file capability.

It looks like your Vivosmart also has Garmin Connect IQ, was that the route you were taking to get a map on your watch?

Hopefully this helps, thanks!