{"id":583762,"date":"2026-08-05T08:26:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T08:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/583762\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T08:26:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T08:26:30","slug":"i-trekked-the-cascade-mountains-with-the-apple-watch-ultra-3-vs-garmin-instinct-3-vs-samsung-galaxy-watch-ultra-2-this-is-the-one-id-take-on-my-next-hike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/583762\/","title":{"rendered":"I trekked the Cascade Mountains with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Garmin Instinct 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 \u2014 this is the one I’d take on my next hike"},"content":{"rendered":"

I just got back from a trip to North Cascade National Park where I experienced the grandeur of jagged mountain peaks, dynamic waterfalls, cerulean rivers, and breathtaking glaciers. Of course, I logged each day of my adventure using a menagerie of the best smartwatches<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To kick things off, my partner and I hiked to Blue Lake, a seriously stunning alpine lake accessible via a well-maintained out-and-back trail. I\u2019m in the process of reviewing the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2,<\/a> so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to test it against its direct competitor, the Apple Watch Ultra 3<\/a>, and my current go-to smartwatch for adventure tracking, the Garmin Instinct 3<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

With just two wrists of my own, I asked my partner to rock the Apple Watch Ultra 3 (worn on her left wrist), while I wore the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 on my left wrist and the Garmin Instinct 3 on my right wrist before embarking on our Cascadian trek. I also ran Strava from my iPhone 16 Plus.<\/p>\n

Apple Watch vs Galaxy Watch vs Garmin: hike data compared<\/p>\n

\n

\"Scenic\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia)<\/p>\n

Three hours, five miles, roughly a thousand feet of climb, and one very chilly swim later, we returned to the car, where I carefully logged the results from each device. The outcome of the comparison was crystal clear; one wearable proved more capable and up to the task than the others. Read on to find out which.<\/p>\n

Swipe to scroll horizontally<\/p>\n

Header Cell – Column 0 <\/p>\n

Apple Watch Ultra 3<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2<\/p>\n

Garmin Instinct 3<\/p>\n

Strava <\/p>\n

Distance<\/p>\n

5.02 miles<\/p>\n

4.97 miles<\/p>\n

5.17 miles<\/p>\n

5.26 miles<\/p>\n

Workout time<\/p>\n

3 hours 6 mins <\/p>\n

3 hours 8 mins<\/p>\n

3 hours 8 mins<\/p>\n

3 hours 6 mins<\/p>\n

Elevation gain<\/p>\n

1,169 feet<\/p>\n

1,700 feet<\/p>\n

1,050 feet<\/p>\n

878 feet<\/p>\n

Average pace <\/p>\n

37 mins 04 secs per mile<\/p>\n

37 mins 43 secs per mile<\/p>\n

36 mins 27 secs per mile<\/p>\n

35 mins 21 secs per mile<\/p>\n

Battery drain<\/p>\n

18%<\/p>\n

18%<\/p>\n

6%<\/p>\n

n\/a<\/p>\n

Here are three reasons why I\u2019d choose the Garmin Instinct 3 over the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 for my next hike.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

1. Garmin’s elevation data is the most accurate<\/p>\n

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 was notably and concerningly waaaaay off, calculating almost double the elevation of Strava and AllTrails. <\/p>\n

According to the Washington Trail Association<\/a>, Blue Lake Trail involves an estimated 1,050 feet of elevation gain, which is coincidentally the same exact amount of climb logged by the Garmin Instinct 3.<\/p>\n

AllTrails<\/a> lists the climb at a more modest 920 feet. Either way, Garmin was the closest of the bunch at accurately logging my uphill efforts for this hike. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 turned in a slightly elevated (some pun intended) metric, which is pretty much par for the course for even the best Apple Watches<\/a> in 2026 from my experience.<\/p>\n

Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 was notably and concerningly waaaaay off, calculating almost double the elevation of Strava and AllTrails.<\/p>\n

2. The Instinct 3 used way less battery<\/p>\n

\n

\"Close-up\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia\/Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

With a lengthy pause taken at the top of Blue Lake Trail for a swim and snack, our total trek time took just over three hours. In that period, both the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 burned through 18% of battery, suggesting that around 15 hours of continuous trekking is likely the limit for both when it comes to GPS power consumption.<\/p>\n

The Garmin Instinct 3, meanwhile, used only 6% of battery tracking my three-ish-hour trek, making it the obvious choice of the bunch for multi-day outdoor adventurers where access to a charger isn’t guaranteed.<\/p>\n

What to read next<\/p>\n

3. The Garmin is lighter and comfier<\/p>\n

\n

\"Close-up\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia\/Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

Finally, on my 6.5-inch wrist, the Garmin Instinct 3 in 45mm feels way comfier than the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. This is because it’s both smaller and lighter. Including the straps used for the hike, the Instinct 3 weighs 53.5 g, compared to 95.4 g for th the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and 85.8 g for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2<\/p>\n

The Instinct 3’s rounded case also wears more comfortably than the rectangular case design of the Apple Watch and Samsung. Moreover, the Instinct 3 isn’t nearly as tall as either of its rivals, and is noticeably narrower than the Samsung, with a similar width to the Apple Watch.<\/p>\n

Which of these three smartwatches would you pick to log an epic outdoor mountain adventure? Let me know in the poll below.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Google\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News<\/a> and add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. <\/p>\n

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