Wrist watch for outdoor use..?

Joe Fowler

Joe Fowler

Joined
May 14, 2008
Messages
1,118
I don't wear watches. Frankly, I've never liked having anything on my wrist. But I'm getting annoyed using my cell as a clock when I hike.

I don't need anything fancy, just something reliable, durable and affordable (let's start around $60 + or -).

Mostly, I think a good watch could be a useful piece of kit outdoors.

Any suggestions?
 
Casio G-shock. Hands down. Get a gulf-man or a mud-man.

Solar powered, self adjusting (receives time by radio), water resistant ( I actually dove in in gulfman - holds pressure pretty solid), tough as it gets.
 
Joe Fowler said:
The G-Shocks I've seen a pretty pricey. Are the two you suggested reasonable?
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I got mine in Costco for about $100 Canadian but they are all gone now - exceptional deal.

In the world of wrist watches anything cheaper then $200 (and you can defenitely find one within that price) is considered almost free :). Knife hobby comparing to watch collection is an affordable sport for cheap chaps like myself.. :)

try searching on watchuseek.com (is it ok to have a direct link?) for private sales. Read up - there is a dedicated thread about g-shock there as far as I remember.

I am sure you can find a good deal before Christmas. :)
 
G-shock has some great options around 50-60 bucks with lights, alarms, timers, and basic stuff. I bought a tide watch since I am always near the ocean -cost about 80..

They are all tough as nails. Watch a G-shock destruction test on youtube. Even basic models can take a serious beating.

The regular models are cheaper than solar models and the battery lasts 7 years:eek:. The ones that have cell phone style time keeping are a total scam -digital watches only vary about 1 minute over an entire year:cool:.
 
Joe Fowler said:
Thanks brother, appreciate it.
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Do not mention it Joe, hope you find what you are looking for .

The Government said:
The ones that have cell phone style time keeping are a total scam -digital watches only vary about 1 minute over an entire year:cool:.
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It is not really a "cell phone style" - it synchronizes ones a day (if it can find a signal), otherwise it is your regular watch. There is one station in North America which covers the continent - somewhere in Colorado if I am not mistaken...

The price for the Gulfman as I understand comes from the titanium case (back is for sure is titanium) so it will not rust in a sea water.

There is nothing wrong with "classical" g-shock, either way it is a very tough and reliable watch.
 
That was all I knew to compare it to. Still though, it is hard to justify paying extra for a model with that feature if it is only going to save you one minute per year. That function takes a lot of battery power too especially if you are far from a station.

Having a simple 7 year battery and digital time keeping is hard to beet. It is like 1095 versus M2 -you pay a large price only to get away from something that worked already.

To each his own though. I can understand how the functions are cool.:)
 
If I'm ever lost in the woods for longer than seven years I'll probably stop caring about silly things like "time" and "day of the week" and "stopping to relieve myself." ;)
 
I'm a watch freak and give another vote for the G-Shock Mudman. Just cant beat them for the price to toughness ratio. I think they look great too.

www.Jomashop.com (based in NYC) is where I have purchased quite a few - awesome prices and you dont have to worry about getting one of the fake chinese rip-offs.

This is my current favorite I own - love the neg display.

photo.jpg



.
 
The Government said:
Having a simple 7 year battery and digital time keeping is hard to beet. It is like 1095 versus M2 -you pay a large price only to get away from something that worked already.

To each his own though. I can understand how the functions are cool.:)
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You are absolutely right. It works. My problem with a battery however that you are loosing your water resistance when you replace it. My watches last more then 7 years. :)
 
stokka said:
You are absolutely right. It works. My problem with a battery however that you are loosing your water resistance when you replace it. My watches last more then 7 years. :)
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Really:confused: You absolutely loose it? How?

I have heard bad things about the batteries on the solar models -have you had a good experience so far?
 
The Government said:
Really:confused: You absolutely loose it? How?

I have heard bad things about the batteries on the solar models -have you had a good experience so far?
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Well, you have to open the case and put it back together. Unless you go to a dealer and he knows what he is doing and replaces the gasket in the process (and how many people do that?) - water-resistance is gone right there. I mean - it will take a rain or probably a shower, however anything more serious might be to much. You get 1 ATM of pressure increase with every 10 meters of depth.

Earlier models had issues with re-charging, I have heard that too. However they say that capacitor (that is what they use, not a battery)in newer solar power watches will last for 40 years.
 
your right. This guy looks like he is taking apart a nuclear warhead:p : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogCz2vjUKVg

It looks doable, but very intricate. And we will not know for sure if he cheesed it or not.

The main reasons I never bought a solar version a while back is because of all the roomers about the "capacitor" dying. As long as they got it straightened out it sounds like a contendah!!!

Well this sucks. I cant hype my cheap G-shock up any more until I have to change the battery:(. I will let you know in 5 years:D.
 
The Government said:
Well this sucks. I cant hype my cheap G-shock up any more until I have to change the battery:(. I will let you know in 5 years:D.
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Please do not take me wrong - as I said, "classic" G-shock is an excellent watch. Solar is just better for me personally.

BTW, sorry for bringing the bad news, man, but after you replace your battery, you will have to do it way more often then every 7 years. Those replacements are not as durable and will last a year, maybe two. :p (Honestly - I am not working for Casio or associated with watch industry in any way :) ).
 
No worries. To each his own. That solar function is sounding WAY cooler now. 40 years is impressive.

Mine is always going in and out of the ocean. I have bought 100 dollar models from other brands that were marketed as ocean watches and most of them got swamped after only a few sessions in the water. This was my first G-shock so I went with a cheaper model first (thinking it too would get swamped). It has held up great so far under long exposures in turbulent water conditions.

I am a big fan of G-shock now.
 
I actually prefer a Victorinox watch, but my Timex Expedition was a third the price and I can actually read the face at night.Just another choice, but I much prefer the style over the G-Shock models, mostly because I don't like anything on my wrist all that much either. Also have an Expedition pocket watch that works great, but doesn't have the Indglo feature, so it useless after dark.
 
Does the glass on the g-shock get scrached at all?


I have had an iron man I got at walmart and it's all scrached up but it works great and is tough . I have taken it down to about 60' a few time but that's not really any big test.
 
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