Help me choose a watch!

S

sketchbag

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I havent worn or given much thought to watches for years (damn cell phones!) anyway, I need one know and dont know where to begin. I'm not picky, digital or analog makes no difference to me, and I'll probably be buying it off ebay unless you know of a place with better deals.

It's gotta be water and impact resistant and suitable for vigorous out door activity.

Are there any particular features I should look out for? Any specific models you'd recommend? Things to avoid?

I'm so far out of the loop with watches its not even funny.
 
for digital check out the Suunto vector, if by vigorous activity is skiing, climbing or running it has an altimeter, stopwatch, alarms and such. I have had mine for about 7 years, and I love it still. easily replaceable batteries.

for analog I have a Swiss army diving watch which is great and a citizen pro-master, both feature mineral face, very resistent but not impervious to scratches, and rotating bezels (great for timing.) the down side is it costs a bit more to change batteries every 4ish years.
 
I've settled on two, and switch between them all the time. G-Shock Mudman, and Nike Oregon. G-Shocks in general are the best bang for the buck in a tough watch. This was around $60.

Nike Oregon series military with altimeter, barometer, thermometer and compass. I always have this one when backpacking. It's more money, but has more features.

I've always wanted a Suunto Vector as well. I have heard nothing but good things on them.
 
I wear a G-Shock for outside stuff. This is the second one it's 3-4 years old. I've worn it surffishing & trout fishing it gets drowned by waves and dunked in the water when grabbing bass, blues and false albacore. Just give it a quick rinse in warm water along with my fishing tackle. The watches have never failed. The first still works it just got funked out from sweat, lotion, bug spray, sun and salt. The one I have now readjusts the time every day via radio from somewhere in Colorado, I think. It doesn't need a battery it's Solar powered and has never run down. Make sure it's waterproof down to 200m.
Reasonably priced.
 
Marathon. Its one of the very few things that I feel is actually worth the price. It will be the toughest watch you will ever own.
 
Check out the Luminox Series. They are awesome watches if you don't mind paying the price. G-shocks are good as well.
 
I love my G-Shock, great watches. The reason I took this pic was because I told someone that It took me around an hour to reach a certain view point and I had just guessed but I took this when I reached the top the other week and you can just make out 59 mins 44 seconds....not a shabby guess eh !!!!
SaanichInlet003.jpg
 
I have a Suunto Observer LTt and love it. Pretty pricey though. It has the same features as the Vector, but is smaller, lighter, and has a hardened glass crystal instead of the plastic one on a Vector. I was kind of wary about the leather band at first, but I have worn it every day for about 1.5 years now and it is still in good shape. Plus, it feels so much better than the elastomer bands and doesn't seem to accumulate skin gunk like the elastomers do.
 
I have a Casio Triple Sensor that I carry (I find watches uncomfortable to wear) when I'm in the mountains. It's waterproof to 200 meters, shock resistant, and it has a an altimeter/barometer (with graph for the last 24 hours), compass, and thermometer, as well as alarms stopwatch modes, and all that stuff.

I think a solar powered version is available, now.
 
scarysharp said:
analog??? Why? G-Shock all the way. Precise time Alll the time
I have the Wave-Ceptor GW700-A
Click to expand...

Why not. While the digital vs analog thing is probably purely a personal preference, I have no doubt that a marathon will be just as if not more accurate than any Gshock. I also have no doubt that it will be much more durable which seems to fit the criteria that the OP was asking for. Namely that it be either digital or analog and suitable for outdoor activity and impact and water resistant. As far as I know, G shocks are only good for 200m. The marathon is rated for 300m.
 
Thanks for all the input guys.

I rather like the swiss army style watches, I'm leaning towards analog because they look nicer imo and might pass as a 'dress watch' too. Apparently quartz analog watches only loose 1/10 of a second per day, so being off 3 seconds after a month is no big deal to me.

Ive been thinking about the Victorinox dive master, but I'd probably prefer a leather band, and I'm not too sure of the fit for the metal link straps, I dont have very beefy wrists.
 
I like analogs myself because they can be used with the position of the sun as a compass in a pinch.

M.H. Bertucci have pretty decent shock resistant watches and they also have some combos. I personally have a analog Timex Ironman that is SR and WR to 200 m that is 10 years old that I CANNOT get to die. Has been to hell and back and just won't give up the ghost.

Personally, I don't think anyone would need a watch that is water resistant past 200 m unless you plan on diving with it..
 
I have a swiss army maverick, and I love it. Very nice watch, and durable too. Ive had it a year and the crystal has no scratches on it.
 
Are there a lot of counterfeit watches of this style? What I mean is, do you have to be super careful and discriminating when buying a swiss ARMY watch as you would if you were buying a rolex?
 
EDC the Luninox military analog. Swiss movement, water resistant, and this watch TRULY glows in the dark. Not just some radium glow when you shine the light but luminescent gas tube that glow bright for ten years guaranteed. Dont know how this could be called the "seal watch" it is way to bright for night ops.
 
Waterproof, shock resistant? I'm just an old Codger and not much of a gearhead, but I am a contractor and wear my watch 24/7/365 in temperatures from 17 to 117 degrees. I dive with a double-lung compressor for hours on end in pools doing leak detection and repair (max 12' depth), I run jackammers and sledge hammers breaking concrete. And my watch has never failed. It is an analog Timex Expedition with Indiglo night light, Nylon web band, velcro closure. Batteries last several years for me. Wal-Mart $40 -$45.00.

Codger
 
Here's my swiss army:

http://www.swissarmy.com/Timepieces/Pages/Product.aspx?category=divemaster500m&product=241041&

I work in very, very harsh conditions much of the time, and I am very, very tough on watches. I have not noticed any time loss, I think that new watch movements are pretty good. Additionally it's good to 500 meters. I haven't had to change a battery yet, but I assume that it will have to shipped somewhere and cost $100 or so.

the Promaster, swiss army and Suunto have held up well in all conditions.

good luck.
 
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