If you're looking for a tough GPS watch for tracking your whereabouts in the back country, you might be interested to learn that an Amazfit T-Rex 2 watch has survived a trip to space and landed safely back on Earth.
Zepp, Amazfit's parent company, put the new watch to the test by attaching the outside of a 'lightweight spacecraft' (a specialized helium balloon), which lifted it to 113,000 feet. The watch, which was turned on throughout the experiment, was exposed to a near vacuum, and temperatures as low as -64°C.
The team were able to track the watch's location during the trip and after its landing using its on-board GPS. You can see the experiment in the video below.
If you're looking for a tough watch that'll handle its share of knocks and drops on the trail and the crag, there are plenty of options to consider. The T-Rex 2 is one of the most affordable options, and during our tests we were particularly impressed by its bright OLED display, on-wrist navigation, and excellent battery life.
The Garmin Instinct 2 is another good option or rough and tumble outdoors, with a fiber-reinforced resin case and ridiculous battery life, particularly if you pick up one of the solar models with a battery that's kept topped up with a regular dose of sunlight.
If you're into climbing, the Coros Vertix 2 is another one to investigate. It's built like a tank, with a large, bright display that's ideal for maps and navigation, and in our tests proved particularly accurate when it came to tracking both location and heart rate. The main downside is that it's simply huge, and may be too large for some wrists.
Check out out guide to the best GPS watches for more suggestions to suit your budget, favorite sports, and (naturally) altitude.
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