What wrist watch?

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
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I am looking to get a nice watch that can look decently nice around town but is functional and ready for the woods.

A compass would be nice. KISS would be great. What do you recommend?

TF
 
I have had this watch for several years and like it very much. Its a little large but other than that it works pretty good. I'm sure if you shop around you can probably get it at a better price. Includes not only a compass but also a barometer which allows you to check altitude. Oh yea, it gives the time also. :D

KR

Suunto Vector
 
I've been wearing a basic Timex 22.95 Expedition. Keeps perfect time and cheap to replace if something happens.

Timex is the Mora of watches. :D
 
seiko automatics are great for both applications, and not to expensive.
Good luck,
Jules
 
Too many horrible digital faces here! Stick to analogue:time past,time present and time future! One of those Kalashnikov watches or yes a basic Timex is rugged and nice to look at too.
 
I have a Casio G-Shock (black stainless model), its tough as anything I have ever owned. I used to think watches were a yearly thing but after having the G-Shock for about two years I am impressed!
Some stats on the watch:

  • Shockproof up to 10 G's
  • 10 year battery life
  • Accurate to within 10 seconds a month (not that it matters, it syncs up every night to the time server in Colorado.
  • Waterproof down to 650 feet
  • Solar cells on the watch face to recharge the battery
  • Automatic time update from the time server in Colorado
  • Indiglo back-lit face
  • Did I mention that I slummed around New Orleans and demoed houses, hung sheet rock, dug up nasty stuff, and helped roof a house all without the watch dying on me! ya its that tough.

Not trying to sell you on this watch but it really impressed me, and it looks OK too.

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BTW get it off of E-bay, its only about $100, everywhere else is ~150
 
The Timex Camper is, in my opinion, the best watch for the money, ever.

It is available in two colors, black (18581) or olive drab (41711).

The watch body is very thin - I hate wearing watches, but I forget that I'm wearing this watch.

The wrist band is even better. It is a thin, tight-weave nylon band. It cleans up as easily as a plastic or rubber band, but is even more comfortable than a leather band, as it does not get that tacky, sticky feel that leather bands get. I would always clean mine with hand soap and hot water. It blots dry very easily.

It is analog with glowing hands and face. It's water resistant to a certain depth (3m, perhaps).

WalMart used to carry these watches for $18, but quite carrying them in favor of more gimmicky watches:mad:. You can get them on-line for about $25 plus shipping.

Get a good watchband compass at your local outdoor store and slide it onto the buckle strap of the watch. If you slide it onto the other strap, it can slip off easily.

My brother and I worked for some time on a survey crew, and we found that the Timex camper was exceptionally comfortable and could hold up to daily abuse, sweat, and insect repellents.
 
jag-engr said:
The Timex Camper is, in my opinion, the best watch for the money, ever.

It is available in two colors, black (18581) or olive drab (41711).


WalMart used to carry these watches for $18, but quite carrying them in favor of more gimmicky watches:mad:. You can get them on-line for about $25 plus shipping.
Click to expand...

This used to be the watch I wore as well, very thin and tough. The thing I didn't like about it is the face would get scratched up really bad if you weren't careful (and I'm not) and it is water resistant, not water proof. I killed more of the poor little Timex's than I care to remember with a careless dunk in the pool or and unscheduled dip in a river or canal.
But in its defence, if you don't abuse it or dunk it in water it will last a long time! When I get a new watch I put my old one on the dresser with my new one and every morning compare the times, the Timex will last upwards of 4 years on the battery provided. And I loved the band, only that it tended to absorb anything that got on in (including liquids that stink like fish slime).

also if you want to get them at about $20 almost every Army surplus store I have ever been in has them.
 
I've been wearing a casio "wademan" g-shock for a while. It's a very cool watch, which unfortunately isn't available here in the USA so I imported from Australia... 200M water resistant, thermometer (celsius :( ) and compass, as well as the usual watch stuff.
 
One of the Casiio Pathfinder series. Compass, thermometer, barometer, altimeter, altitude alerts and charting. Stopwatch, countdown timer, world time, solar powered, waterproof. Pretty much all the bells and whistles. The only drawback is that they are HUGE!
 
I wore a G-shock for 8 years, and now I've had a Suunto Advisor for 5. I like the compass feature, but I use the barometer and altimeter more.
 
I use a Seiko Atlas automatic. Has a (passable or laughable ;) ) compass dial that is not really neeed to tell diretion with the sun, but is there. Looks nice, runs well. Bought this after using a Seiko diver auto for 3 years, and just wanted something different.
 
This is a plug for getting a watch with an altimeter. Many of the altimeter watches not only give the altitude but allow you to track total altitude gain and loss. Since I hike for exercise this is a particularly nice feature.

If you are trying to find where you are (lost, perhaps) knowing the altitude can be valuable, especially if you have a topo map or know what you are shooting for. This can be especially useful in fog or dark.

Sometimes it's just fun to know I gained 3,000' elevation or made it to 12,000' elevation, etc.

They also have barometers which can give you a heads up on what weather to expect.

Keep in mind that you have to have benchmarks to set them to and that if barometric pressures change after they are set it will throw off the readings.

I currently use a Suunto Altimax. If you are interested check out the Highgear line. They appear to be good and are priced better than the Suuntos. They are often on sale much less than list.
 
jackknife said:
I've been wearing a basic Timex 22.95 Expedition. Keeps perfect time and cheap to replace if something happens.

Timex is the Mora of watches. :D
Click to expand...

Yup. I wore out my second battery on one. I haven't replaced it again as I managed to lose one of the screws on the back, thus affecting the 50 meters water resistance. Oddly enough, the face, band, and whole watch still looks great. I've worn out bands and uglied up my share of Swiss Army and other watches that cost double or more of the little Timex. This one has the Indiglo feature which has been quite useful to me. I may have to see if I can remember to drop by a jewelers or contact Timex to see if I can get another screw, then put in a new battery without losing any screws this time.

One feature of an analog watch I've not seen mentioned here is the use of one as a field expedient compass. The rotating dial on the Expedition works with just that trick. Naturally, you have to practice, or at least recite it enough to remember it when you need it. I haven't been so I manage to forget the trick often enough. Then again, I'm not trekking the brush anymore so it's a skill I've let slip.

I know, I know, the new Kewl digitals have electronic compasses built in along with the other gadgets. However, as mentioned, they get to be a little bulky. I don't have the eyes anymore to view a bunch of little screens within screens, or tiny displays. I've come to really appreciate a nice, clean, analog face for many reasons. As also mentioned by a few, the Timex Expedition is a slim, comfortable, and I think, nice looking watch that is quite comfortable to wear.

Speaking of tiny displays, I just noticed the small digital area on mine in the 5 to 7 o'clock position is still working fine. Only the hands and the Indiglo aren't. I'm getting the feeling that part of my watch has succumbed to water slipping in through the back as a result of one of the screws missing. Hey, given the price, I think I'll pick up another one. I haven't been wearing a watch for sometime, but have been using my cell phone when I needed to check time. Or at work, I usually check the display on one of the monitors as that keeps log and blotter entries synchronized.

There we go, Jackknife. Showing our simple ways again. :thumbup: :D

I do have to admit though, the altimeter thingy does appeal to me. Heheh.
 
Seiko Kinetic with brushed stainless and tough scratch resistant face works very well. No batteries needed here ever,that's environmental too! Downside is that it is heavier than other types-a bit-but very comfortable to wear.Been very pleased with this as a work&dress watch, can't understand why kinetic isn't more popular?
 
I have a Traser H3 with the stainless casing, and I swapped the nylon band for a nice black leather band. I've really enjoyed wearing this watch.

A question: On the box of this watch there is a military specification number. Is this watch actually part of the issued kit to soldiers or officers?
 
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