Expert purchasing guide
Tight budget (200-400 €)
Coros Pace 3 (€ 249): Precise GPS, 38 hours autonomy, simple interface. Perfect beginner trail.
Trail/road versatility (400-700 €)
Forerunner 965 : Premium screen, mapping, advanced metrics. Sweet Spot 2025.
Ultra-endurance (€ 700-1000)
Enduro 3 Or SUUNTO Vertical Solar : Record autonomy, military construction.
Premium without compromise (+€ 1000)
Fenix 8 Amoled : absolute reference, all integrated trail functions.
Market analysis 2025
Current revolution : Garmin loses his quasi-monopoly position. Coros earns 15% market share (source Runner’s World Analytics 2024). Suunto comes up hard with aggressive prices.
Confirmed trends:
- Generalized amoled : -20% autonomy but transformed user experience
- GPS Double-Frequency democratized: precision +60% difficult land
- Offline cartography Standard: No more expensive errors
- Rapid recharge : 80% 45min battery (vs 2 hours earlier)
Downward price : Fenix 7 pro (-200 €), Epix Gen 2 (-150 €) FINIX SUITE FENIX 8.
Terrain verdict
Occasional trail → Coros Pace 3 (unbeatable value for money)
Regular traileur → Forerunner 965 (optimal versatility)
Ultra-drillier → Enduro 3 (Record autonomy)
Perfectionist → Fenix 8 (absolute excellence)
Mastered budget → SUUNTO RACE S (credible alternative)
The perfect choice does not exist. Prioritize according to use: autonomy for ultra, precision for competition, robustness for mountaineering.
Classic error : overestimating your needs. A PACE 3 is largely enough for 80% of trailers.
Essential store test : The feeling wrist takes precedence over technical specifications. 4 hours of effort reveal hidden defects.
The Trail-Tech revolution is just beginning. The 2025 watches transform the mountain experience … provided you choose the right one.
FAQ Watches Trail 2025
What minimum autonomy for an ultra-trail?
Count 1.5x your estimated time. UTMB (46h) = Watch 70h+ recommended. Enduro 3 (320h) or Vertical Solar (140h) are the references.
GPS double-frequency, really useful?
Crucial in the mountains. +60% precision under forest cover according to our tests. All our recommendations integrate him.
Garmin vs coros vs suunto: Who wins?
Garmin: full ecosystem. Coros: Autonomy/Price. Suunto: Robustness. No absolute “best”, but specializations.
AMOLED or transflective screen for trail?
AMOLED: Perfect legibility, -20% autonomy. Transflective: maximum autonomy, correct readability. Depends on your priorities.
Solar recharge, gadget or revolution?
Revolution for ultra-discontance. +50% autonomy real conditions. Gadget for short outings. Enduro 3 and Vertical Solar master the concept.
