Apple Watch Series 3 analysis with watchOS 5 tested in Hiking

One of the differentiating features of the Apple Watch Series 3 is that it incorporates barometer. This allows you to measure height variations at any time, whether we are recording an outdoor workout or for the rest of the day. This variable is especially interesting for certain sports, such as hiking.

In July I had the opportunity to return to the Aragonese Pyrenees and took the opportunity to check how this wearable behaves among the mountains. To do this, I used the beta versions of iOS 12 and watchOS 5 in force at the time. The next version of watchOS that will arrive in mid-September incorporates two new activities in the Training app: yoga and hiking.

The Apple Watch Series 3 put to the test on the mountain

During that weekend we planned to tour the Ibón de Estanés from the French side of the Pyrenees. Unfortunately, the weather did not accompany and we decided to return to Spain to try our luck in Astún. The weather was no better but at least it didn’t rain, so we started the route to the Climbing Ibón at the north corner of the station.

Before I started the ascent, I turned on the Hiking activity on my Apple Watch to start monitoring. When you launch an activity for the first time, chances are you’ll have to scroll a lot until you find it, as was my case. Afterwards, you’ll find it faster because it stays in the top positions.

As in any activity, the watch begins to record our heart rate using the sensor that throws a green light against our wrist. In the activity app, the first records will appear, which in the case of hiking are the time, calories, beats per minute, distance traveled and altitude gained.

-The Apple Watch melts into your wrist and doesn’t claim our attention at all, allowing us to enjoy the tour-

The latter parameter is unique to the Series 3 due to the barometric sensor that we mentioned at the beginning. On our one-way route we detected a slope of 416 meters, very in line with the 430 meters indicated by the route (108 meters of elevation on the way). It was at this time that I wondered how the calculation of the unevenness was done, whether it also took into account the decreases or what the net was. This point should be an explanation in the activity app to clarify it to the user.

During the tour you can forget about the Apple Watch completely. He will collect the data silently, except to warn you when you’re miles away. The value provided by the Apple Watch Series 3 on the mountain comes at the end of the activity.

Data, data, data

Reaching the top (or the end of the journey in our case) has double reward. On the one hand, enjoy a landscape that begins to clear with fog and shows us the beauty of this corner of the Aragonese Pyrenees. And on the other hand, to be able to consult all the data collected by our watch.

watchOS 5 incorporates a function that detects the start and end of our workouts. Right now, I’m not 100% sure if Hiking incorporates this functionality, although I would say yes. Walking, running and cycling do have it so there should be no reason that it is activated does not count on it.

In any case, as soon as we stop recording the activity we can see all the variables posted. In the activity app on iPhone we’ll see what activities we’ve done that day, with a wealth of surprising information:

• Active and total calories.
• Distance traveled.
• Average heart rate as well as a detailed graph.
• Unevenness (again, how is it calculated?).
• Partials of each kilometer.

These last two variables are quite interesting. The slope is the first of them, as it is an exclusive to this model of Apple Watch. I do do miss some more visual of what the distribution of the unevenness is like along the distance. A kind of graph like heart rate, in green for example.

-At the end of the tour, we can consult on the iPhone a very complete and rich amount of data and information-

As for the partials, they attract attention because they show the speed at which we are walking. It shows which kilometers are toughest during the tour.

Finally, hidden among these variables, we have the route done deployed on a map. You can also see the intensity of your exercise in a color code: green, yellow and red. This feature can only be registered if we carry the iPhone or we have an Apple Watch model with built-in GPS.

Apple Watch Series 3 (hereinafter): The watch for hiking enthusiasts

From a hiking standpoint, the Apple Watch Series 3 is the right watch for a hiking fan. If you don’t have a smartwatch, you’re an iPhone user and you’d like to start monitoring your physical activity, the ability to record the unevenness is a big draw. In addition to being able to leave the iPhone at home and save the route using its GPS.

-Athletes plus *hardcore* will opt for other brands, but the Apple Watch Series 3 is perfect for hiking enthusiasts-

If you’re serious about hiking, you may prefer other options from brands specializing in sports of this type. Triathletes, for example, will look at models from Garmin, Tom Tom or Polar. But the integration of the Apple Watch into the day-to-day life of an amateur to this sport makes it more than enough.

This month you will land the version of watchOS 5 that allows you to record hiking more accurately. In addition, Apple is expected to release a new generation of the watch in a few days (in fact, the appearance of the Series 4 was leaked on Thursday), so if you don’t need it right now, you’d want to wait. Whether it’s the new model or a Series 3 price drop.