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Auto & Outdoor

The TrekMaster GPS Watch: Gets Lost More Often Than You Do

This outdoor GPS watch promised military-grade navigation. It once told me a lake was a parking lot and directed me into a swamp it identified as a "scenic shortcut."

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Marcus RiveraJan 22, 202519,800 reads
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📢 Satire Notice: This article is satirical commentary for entertainment purposes. Product descriptions are dramatized for comedic effect. Always do your own research before making purchasing decisions.
The TrekMaster GPS Watch: Gets Lost More Often Than You Do

The TrekMaster X9 Pro is an outdoor GPS watch that retails for $399 and promises "military-grade navigation accuracy." Having used it on five hikes, I can confidently say the only military this watch is grade for is one that has already surrendered.

On my first outing, a simple 4-mile loop trail in a well-mapped state park, the TrekMaster informed me I had walked 11.3 miles, gained 4,000 feet of elevation (the trail is flat), and was currently located in a different state. It also helpfully suggested I was "approaching my destination" while I was standing in a creek.

The Navigation

The turn-by-turn navigation feature is where the TrekMaster truly shines — if by "shines" you mean "actively tries to get you killed." During a trail run, it directed me to turn left at a point where turning left would have sent me off a cliff. The screen cheerfully displayed "shortcut detected!" above a 200-foot drop. I declined the shortcut.

“On my first outing, a simple 4-mile loop trail in a well-mapped state park, the TrekMaster informed me I had walked 11”

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The watch loses GPS signal with alarming regularity. Under tree cover: gone. Near a building: gone. On a cloudy day: believe it or not, also gone. The only place it maintains a consistent signal is indoors, where you presumably do not need GPS navigation to find your refrigerator.

The Heart Rate Monitor

The built-in heart rate monitor told me my resting heart rate was 180 BPM while I was sitting on the couch eating chips. It then told me it was 45 BPM while I was sprinting uphill. According to this watch, I am simultaneously dying and an elite athlete.

The Verdict

The TrekMaster X9 Pro is a $399 device that is outperformed by a free compass app on your phone. If you want to get lost in the wilderness, you do not need a $399 watch — just walk in any direction without a plan. The result is the same, but cheaper.

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Editor Picks

What to Buy Instead

Tried-and-tested alternatives that actually deliver on their promises. We may earn a small commission on purchases.

Garmin Instinct 2
Pick #1$299

Garmin Instinct 2

Actually knows where you are. Has not tried to walk anyone off a cliff yet.

$299Shop Now
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Pick #2$799

Apple Watch Ultra 2

GPS that works under trees, near buildings, and on cloudy days. Groundbreaking.

$799Shop Now
SUUNTO Core
Pick #3$199

SUUNTO Core

Altimeter, barometer, compass. No AI. No shortcuts detected. Just reliable navigation.

$199Shop Now
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