Smartwatches can be a traveler’s best friend. Monitoring their sleep, managing their stress, delivering messages and calls right to their wrist. There isn’t much to not love. And with Apple halting online sales of their Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra Series 2 today, it’s time to put a spotlight on some of the other great smartwatches on the market.
Garmin Venu 3
Why? The built in microphone for easy calling and jet lag advisor for travelers crossing time zones.
The Venu 3 is one of the best all around smartwatches on the market, especially for the fitness and travel obsessed. Boasting a 14-day battery life, built in microphone capable of taking calls right from your wrist, and personalized sleep coach functionality, this watch keeps you going, no matter where you are. Receive a daily morning report with an overview of your sleep and heart rate variability (HRV), track your blood oxygen saturation, track your stress and respiration, and take advantage of the Jet Lag Adviser while on the road. There are even special analytics for wheelchair users that includes daily push tracking and more.
$449.99; Garmin.com
Suunto x Mammut Vertical Titanium Solar
Why? When two powerhouses like Suunto and Mammut team up, you know the result is going to be at the top of its class.
This collaboration is perfect for anyone as obsessed with the outdoors as they are with traveling. The Vertical Titanium Solar allows for solar charging on the go, is loaded with offline and free-to-access outdoor maps, it has more than 95 sport modes, and has a battery life that can go for up to 60 days. Plus, using the altimeter, barometer, compass, and storm alarm will help you adventure to the max, so you can hit the ground running in any destination. Not to mention, this watch is made with 100% renewable energy at the Suunto HQ and factory in Finland.
$839; Suunto.com
Google Pixel Watch 2
Why? Four words: Real time location sharing.
There are many things to love about the Google Pixel Watch 2. But what should be getting the attention of travelers is the safety functionalities. With the ability to share your location in real time from your wrist, a safety check that will share your location if you don’t “check in” with your watch by a certain time, having your medical information readily available, and the ability to connect your watch directly to 4G LTE without needing it connected to a phone, the Google Pixel Watch will help make you feel at ease if you’re often traveling alone.
$349.99; Store.Google.com
Fitbit Sense 2
Why? Affordable, sensible, and reliable has always been Fitbit’s strength.
A well-rounded watch that has just the right amount of functionality, the Sense 2 is a great smartwatch for anyone who is
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Our slow travel series explores how you can take more mindful journeys by train, boat, bus, or bike – with tips on how to reach your destination without flying, and what to see and do along the way. Here, Daniel James Clarke explains how he traveled from Lapland to the Lofoten Islands, crossing the Arctic Circle aboard two of Scandinavia’s most scenic train journeys.
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Now that the northern hemisphere is firmly in the cooler months of the year—and it’s only getting colder—it’s time to talk fleece. For bitter winter chills, fleece is hard to beat because the fabric is made to be both lightweight and incredibly insulating. And in recent years, fleece technology has improved so much that the variety on offer is now immense both in quality, style, and price. If you thought that Colorado bros have the market cornered with their Patagonia zip-ups, it’s time to reconsider the category altogether.I was previously super hesitant about fleece because, for most of my life, I assumed its pieces all looked the same. But while shopping in Manchester last year, I came upon a button-up fleece chore jacket with a rounded collar from UK-based Universal Works that changed my mind about what fleece could look like. But in speaking with Universal Works design director and co-founder David Keyte about the material, I learned that the name is actually a catchall that could mean different things depending on where you are. “There really are so many different fleeces,” Keyte says. “It’s an amazing technical invention that replaced knitted wools and cottons to become a flexible layer of clothing that moves with the body and is warm. Fleece became the modern version of those traditional fabrics, but it’s made of synthetic fibers that hold warmth and are lightweight.”My jacket is a wool-blend fleece (that almost looks like boiled wool), which Keyte says is great for heat regulation. I use it from fall on; either on its own or layered underneath a heavier coat when it gets bitingly cold out. But regardless of which brand or style you go for, that’s kind of the benefit of fleece when it comes to outerwear or as a shirt or sweater: They offer enough warmth when worn on their own, but most are light enough to be another protective layer to partner with heavier items for harsher winter days. Here, you'll find our picks for 28 fleece items that will serve you well from now through spring.