Smartwatches today are what mobile phones were in the 90’s – an item that can perceivably run your life for you. But like phones, hard working folk need a watch that can take a beating on the job site, or in the gym. Enter Aussie company Hard Hat.
These guys have developed a smartwatch that they tell us you can hit with a hammer, drown in a river; damn you could probably run over it with a car – and it’ll still work. As you might expect, we wanted to see if all the hype was true, so we’re putting one to the test.
Let’s start with what’s in the box – well, there’s a watch obviously, which you can have in a choice of two colour schemes. The face has a nice gun metal grey finish around the screen, with a black casing behind that. That’s paired with anodized black or orange surrounds.
A standard rubber strap with quick release pins is fitted. You’ll also find a charging cable with a built-in magnetic connection, a user manual and a screen protector. The first thing we did was attempt to install the latter before taking it anywhere.
It’s a little more difficult than you might expect, although that was very likely user error. As a first-time installer of a screen protector, this writer struggled to achieve a zero-air bubble fit. Our recommendation is taking it to a local phone shop to get it done.
The actual watch screen is reinforced anyway and can take quite a beating so don’t stress too hard, either way. We loved that the screen protector was included at no extra cost though as it’s a nice touch.
Once charged, you’ll need to setup the “Da Fit” app (available on Google Play and Apple Store) to pair the watch to your phone. It’s a pretty quick process, and once it’s loaded, you’ll find a simple user interface with many health features available at a glance.
The Hard Hat smartwatch has the ability to monitor blood pressure, blood oxygen, heart rate, stress, sleep, steps and calories, and for the ladies even includes a menstrual cycle monitor. You can also keep track of your body weight and BMI via manual inputs in the app.
You can also setup push notifications to the watch, change the look of the face and display, and even customise it with personal imagery. There’s also a bunch of classes and courses within the app to help you with sleep, training and unwinding a heavy stress load.
The watch itself is very easy to use, with a highly responsive touchscreen, a favourites menu, and a raft of default functions to help with daily work activities, like timers, a calculator and weather monitoring.
The activity function has an option for any kind of workout and does a good job of showing what you would prefer to see for different styles of fitness training. You can accept phone calls and talk to your phone’s voice assistant when fully connected as well.
Our test run started with a few days away camping and hiking through the Australian outback. We were pleased to see after numerous dives into some very epic waterfalls, a few hikes in the rain and a quick dip at a beach, the watch held up to all water tests.
Rated with an IP68 certification for water and dust, the Hard Hat didn’t bat a virtual eyelid while we were cleaning and maintaining our ute and roof top tent (post trip). It got plenty of knocks and bumps in the engine bay and cleaned up easily when we were done.
Returning to the work routine, the watch saw time in the office, and at the gym every afternoon. Here is probably where it got the hardest workout, doing muscle ups, handstand push-ups, and crashing into barbells and weight plates at a CrossFit gym.
It stood the durability test well, barely any worse for wear, and in much better shape than more expensive competitors worn by some of our workout buddies. Durability aside, we also wanted to put the battery through its paces to see how it stacked up.
We switched the heart rate monitor to its shortest daily setting (every five minutes), and cranked the brightness up to 11 (Spinal Tap style). The fact we got seven days out of a single charge is truly impressive.
Friends with products from the big two (Apple and Samsung), reported less battery life in similar scenarios. It’s worth noting the Hard Hat Smartwatch also comes with a 90-day money back guarantee, as well as a 6-month warranty.
It’s hard to fault, and trust us we tried. There are accessories, including multiple bands, and the price isn’t ugly either (at $299.95). The only real issue is that it has its own operating system, which means limited apps, and there’s no GPS to track runs or whatever.
If neither of those things phase you though, then it’s difficult to go past the Hard Hat Smartwatch. As an added bonus, at the time of writing, the watch was on special for $129.95. Check out their website for more information.
Pros – price; durability; simple functionality; battery life.
Cons – limited app integration; lacks GPS abilities.
Our test product was provided by Hard Hat Watches. Exhaust Notes Australia was not paid for this review.
Excellent review guys, clear, precise and succinct, none of that flowery misleading rubbish.
Thank You!
Mate there are more bad reviews than good for these hard hat watches .
Why is the company based on the Gold Coast ,but ships through a drop ship facility in Chullora , it’s owned by UCL ,which is middleman .
It states on hard hat web site it’s an Australian company , I can’t find an NBN for this company nor find it on ASIC site .
It may be an Australian company ,but it buys cheap Chinese product, Blackwell has similar watch for $70 .
If this company on Gold Coast was genuine it would show their NBN and why sell through a known scamming site in Chullora who are according to reviews very difficult to deal with .
I notice in the picture the guy lifting weights has the watch on his right, untattooed wrist, rather than his tattooed left wrist. I have an apple watch that won’t work on my tattooed left wrist. It’s annoying because I am right handed. Do you know if the Hardhat works on tattooed skin?
Happy to say Yes it does 🙂
My partner has tattooed skin and it works perfectly.
Hey mate. This company is selling the c20 and c25 smart watches as their own. Literally selling cheap watches with a huge price mark up.
Wow, they’re mighty similar. We’ll do some investigating and see what we can find out.
Can buy them for 30-40 dollars in AliExpress
It appears you can’t answer a text message you have to use your phone.
I’m having the same issue. Can do all this other crap, but can’t answer a text? That’s what I get for assuming I’d have basic functions, I guess.
You can ask it to message or reply to a message.
google ” android users ”
Siri “Apple users” to message
1)Swipe right click
2) “talk after tap”
3) ask away
Hey! How come it’s telling me to download a completely different app than what it says on your website.
Hi Amber, if you’ve purchased a watch, and the watch instructions are now for a different app to what came with it at the time of publishing, go with what Hard Hat tells you – they have most likely switched apps.
How come hard hat does not have their own app
Your watch doesnt seem to have an out sourceing watch face provider link, such as facer for different watch faces than you supply with your app.
Hi Jeff,
It’s not our watch, it’s Hard Hat’s, but that said, yes, it would seem only those in the app. I’m happy to reach out to them and see what’s coming in terms of updates and new faces etc.
Cheers,
ND
Just got the watch today. Doesn’t turn on. Been charging for near 2 hrs. Checked the website https://hardhatwatches.com.au/pages/setup-guide and does not help. Looks like I got a dud.
Contact them directly. I’m sure they’ll sort it for you.
Mate mine turns on but I can’t conect to that da fit app
I tried about 40 times no devices found
Try fitcloudpro, that’s the latest app I was told to use by hard hat
My watch isn’t in English and doesn’t show how to change it .
Hi Zach,
Contact the team at Hard Hat via their website or social media channels. We’ve found them to be very prompt in their support for customers.
Cheers,
ND
It’s not in English
It’s from China ships from China
I don’t recommend these watches. Bought it feb 2024 and today is October 2024 and it’s doesn’t turn on. Reached out to hard hat and they don’t want to replace it. Better of putting the dollars to something better.
They are dodgy as dodgy this company. Nearly 4mths to get my watch band and a series of emails and excuses. This company definitely wrote the book of excuses.
Same. Just out of warranty and it’s screen is blank. Total rip off, not fit for purpose at all. Waste of money.
Had mine a couple of days now. The positives are nice bright screen, very responsive, easy to set-up. The battery life seems good sitting on 83% after 2 days of playing and testing it. The negatives, can’t reply from watch to messages, if you install a watch face you can not delete it, but funny enough the one I installed has now disappeared. The notification option is terrible as you get the default phone and message option, but not other apps you want to choose, you only get an option that says other, which is really pointless. This is more the apps fault then the watch. I chose the Foreman model and for $180 I guess if it lasts a few years it’s OK.
Bought a hard hat watch from this company about a month ago and it has glitched out time is backward the watch looks like a old black and white tv that doesn’t work it was a totally a waste of money I’ll be trying to get my money back for sure and not interested in buying another one
The Hard hat doesn’t show email notifications and with someone that runs a business that quite import. Also the FAQ on their website don’t work when I was there today. Doesn’t matter what word is typed in.
Just buy the c20 pro from Ali express. They use the same pictures….
This money back guarantee is a joke. You have to pay postage back and then they charge a fee. You will be lucky to get back 50% of the purchase price. Do not waste your money on this SELLER very poor after sales service and not helpful at all. Australia SELLER you would expect better. Go buy Gard Pro Ultra online good to deal with. I put the Hard Hat watch in the bin as it was faulty and too expensive to send back and wait for assessment that I would expect them to find nothing wrong and charge further for their efforts.
I have just purchased the sports watch this watch, so far I like all the features, except disappointed in this day and age it does not reply to text messages and the screen is very sensitive and comes on alot when your trying to sleep and you accidently touch it.
Omg just purchased the foreman watch and now regretting it after reading all these bad reviews 😫
I’ve just purchased the same, unsure why the seller gives a link to this review with all the negative comments…I have regrets now too
Me too I just bought it now 😭
I want my money back
Me too 😱
I just found out Ali express sells cheaper, same watch but 4x the price
Me too!
For all who say you can’t reply to messages you can and here how!!
Yes! That’s right! You can ask it to message or reply as it sync’s with:
google ” android users ”
Siri “Apple users” to message
1)Swipe right click
2) “talk after tap”
3) ask away (Text Jane Doe..)
1) Swipe right on watch
2) Click “talk after tap”
3) ask away (Text Jane Doe..)
I have just ordered one, and now worry that I have wasted my money
Hi mate, they’re a decent watch for the money. Dylan still uses his every day.
Google smartwatch c20, c25 or look on amazon.
Hard hat and others are just drop shipped and charging double/tripple.
Can be bought on Amazon for $39 atm with a better/real warranty….
oh nooooooo
Does anyone know what the Bluetooth range is like? Can the watch still be connected to phone if your approximately 20 – 30 metres from phone ?
Trying to add spotify to the hard hat watch as this was the main reason I brought it so I don’t have to carry phone around while listening to tunes on walks, had anyone did this yet?
Wow! Not sure if I did the right thing, just purchased one this morning.
I have only come here because I am wanting to know if you can pay with watch? All other features seemed to be great. I really hope I am not disappointed……
Bought One, tells the time has a lot of features, is durable.
Fell of my wrist after hitting it accidentally, pins came out. Never happens with a Fitbit.
does not accurately give you, heart beat, blood pressure, calorie count, weather….NONE OF IT, AT ALL!
Is great for its price, if you work in jobs that could damage your watch and you need one that isn’t expensive.
Awesome watch, how ever I have had my watch for 5 days an the face cracked
Hi, just want to confirm Hard Hat smartwatch doesn’t work with Samsung system, is it correct? Any suggestion for working around with this issue?
We have one working on an Android device (Pixel 7 Pro), and I think our Foreman test unit is connected to an S21 Galaxy. I’ll check with the team.
Watch turned up today. Happy with how it works.
One down side that I was not happy with was the way it turned up with just a stick on the plastic
Shockproof, Dustproof, Waterproof and long battery life, pity warranty is only 6 months, for something that’s so “proof” 6 months is bugger all! Mine clapped out after 9 months, said I could have another for half price, why wouldn’t I just buy another brand with better warranty AND longevity! Yeah not again!
Dogy company- keeps changing instructions. just doing drop shipping from china with chinese made and putting a new brand on top. tommorow i am selling super hard hut brand watches for $99.
I wish I read these comments before buying one im pissed off now I will throw it in the bin
Damn. Looks like I’m another… I just bought it and wished I had read these first!!! Mine turns up in the mail in a couple of days.
This is the reply I got when I queried this with the company: Thanks for reaching out to us!
We’re a 100% Australian-owned and operated business, and our Hard Hat Watches are designed and tested right here. Regarding the ones you’ve seen online, there are a bunch of cheeky imitators out there trying to piggyback off our hard work and reputation. We cannot speak on the legitimacy of other products, which may look similar. However, as a testament to our product’s quality, we offer a 6-month manufacturer warranty on all orders.
I have had my Hard Hat watch for 2 years.
I have no complaints.. Excellent watch for the price, especially battery life
What kind of phone is your watch connected too?
Watch feels good great features but the steps vs meters walked is a long way out. Iam 194cms tall at 120kg I’ve walked 3.95 kms at 8137 steps. This can not be correct!
Been wearing the watch for four days and already used 50% of the battery. Don’t think it will last two weeks as advertised. Not happy!
Just received my hard hat foremen it was working perfectly fine last night and I pressed the power button a little too long I guess and it cut off and now it’s just vibrating and blinking green every 7 seconds will not cut back on I have emailed the company two times and still no response I’m not happy with this purchase
Message them on their Instagram or Facebook as well. We’ve got nothing to do with them, other than we reviewed two of their watches, both of which worked fine during testing.