Skip to content
Watches & Tech · Vantage Instruments

Pathfinder X1 GPS Watch

£44911 min read

Multi-band GPS, an 11-day battery in low-power mode, and a screen you can actually read in direct alpine sun.

Best For

Multi-day navigation off the grid

The Verdict

The X1 doesn't try to be a smartwatch first — it's a navigation tool that happens to tell the time well too. Route tracking held accurate through tree cover and canyon terrain where cheaper units drifted.

Strengths

  • Multi-band GPS stayed accurate in canyon and tree cover
  • Battery genuinely lasts 11 days in expedition mode
  • Sunlight-readable display, no backlight needed midday

Weaknesses

  • App ecosystem is thinner than the big-name competitors
  • Bulky on smaller wrists