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Wristwatch buying guide

wristwatch

The wristwatch was invented in the 1600’s when a French mathematician used a piece of string to tie a watch to his wrist.

Timekeeping has come a long way since then. These days, watches are like mini-computers that can forecast the weather, help you find your way in the woods or even get you to class on time.

For professional adventure racer Travis Macy, 23, his watch helps with navigation and keeps his team on track during grueling multi-day races.

“If we’re doing a trekking section and we’re falling asleep on our feet, we’ll stop and sleep for half an hour,” says Macy, a former Cub Scout. “And then the whole race is hanging on my watch to wake us up!”

Dealing with that kind of pressure and the race on the line, Macy knows watches. He can teach you a lot about how to pick the best one for your time-keeping needs.

FEATURES

“Before you go to buy a watch, think about the features you’re looking for,” Macy says.

If hiking and camping is your thing, consider a watch with a compass and perhaps an altimeter and barometer. If you’re into jogging, find a heart-rate-monitor watch. Remember: Just because a watch is packed with features and functions doesn’t mean it’ll be easy to use. Try it before you buy to make sure it’s user-friendly.

ANALOG VS. DIGITAL

Most modern watches use tiny quartz minerals to keep the time. When electrified, the quartz crystal vibrates a reliable 32,768 times per second; those vibrations are translated to seconds, minutes and hours. Analog watches have a standard clock-like face with two or three (or more) hands that point at numbers, which is more classic yet can be tougher to read than digital watches. Digitals continuously highlight the exact time in numerals. Some watches have dual faces with both analog and digital readouts.

DURABILITY

If you spend much time outdoors, durability is a key factor in a watch. “Make sure it’s rugged,” Macy says. “If it has a compass swivel on top, try turning that to see if that feels like it’ll hold up. Play with the buttons. Are they easy to push? Take a look at the band and the buckle to make sure they’re flexible and will hold up to the elements.”

SIZE

You want the face of the watch and the numbers to be big enough so you can see them while you’re riding a bike or running. But in general, the bigger the watch the heavier and bulkier it will be. Try to find a size that’s comfortable.

“If you’ll have only one watch, think about whether you’ll want to wear a big watch to school,” he says. “I wear the same big watch for everything, but I’ve gotten used to it. Some guys will feel more comfortable with something smaller.”

THE WATCHBAND

The way your watch is strapped to your wrist is important. If you’re outdoors a lot, choose a polyurethane band. These bands are waterproof, won’t hold odors and are very durable, but they can also be sticky in hot climates. Another good choice is a canvas and Velcro band, which is more breathable.

“Velcro bands keep your watch snug against your wrist and you can wash it when it’s dirty,” Macy says.

Leather bands don’t perform well in wet environments, but they look cool. Meanwhile, metal bands can sometimes pinch your skin, though they are usually super durable.

WHERE TO SHOP

There’s nothing more helpful than going to a store and trying a watch on to see how it feels on your wrist. Of course, you’ll probably pay more at a store versus buying it on the Internet.

“Take a look online and see if you can find a better price,” Macy says. “There are search engines where you can type in the product name and a whole list of prices will come up so you can find out what’s a good price.”

If you buy online, make sure the store is reputable and beware of counterfeit or fake watches.

109 Comments on Wristwatch buying guide

  1. g-shock fan // May 18, 2013 at 11:34 am // Reply

    i have the awgm100-a and dw9052 and they are great

  2. I prefer my Skyhawk ATF from Citizen. It is metal has a calendar, alarm, chronograph, timer, and can change it’s timezone. It is also waterproof

  3. i use My Timex Expedition indiglo (which is water resistant) more than my lego R2-D2 watch

  4. Ripcurl Tide watches are the best and they are waterproof

  5. had a Quintel 4 long time still works worn it everwhere xept in water

  6. What time is it? If you can answer the question your watch works fine.

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // December 15, 2012 at 11:03 pm // Reply

      ummm…no not exactly. if your watch is an hour or even five minutes off… it is technically not the real time. My point is you could answer that question and it could be totally wrong. For instance, say some one asks you “what time is it?” and you answer by saying, “oh is 5:30… in Russia” then your watch does not work properly. Just because you can answer someone who asks “what time is it?” doesn’t mean your watch is working right.

    • Uh, yes it does

  7. Young Marine // November 20, 2012 at 7:59 pm // Reply

    Have had the timex 1440 since last Christmas, so far so good.

  8. bowflex rs-i

  9. I got a new Expedition last month , man it’s cool. It has an address / phone memory in it. I had been using my dad’s older Timex the past year after wrecking mine while playing waterpolo at camp last summer. Thanks for the suggestion Sly Fox.

  10. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // October 21, 2012 at 9:47 am // Reply

    Got my new G-Shock about a month ago. So far so good.

  11. I got a new Expedition today, man it’s cool. It has a address / phone memory in it. I had been using my dad’s older Timex the past year after wrecking mine while swimming at camp last summer. Thanks for the suggestion Sly Fox.

  12. I got a timex expedition Christmas 2010 and it’s still working awesome. Everyone at school is always asking me the time and every time I look at my timex, its still working fine.

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // September 5, 2012 at 1:49 pm // Reply

      For someone who isnt hard on their watches timeX works great! I know lots of guys that have had Timexs for years and they still work great… But that because they are not hard on their equipment. G-shock is a watch built for tough people that are tough on their watches.

  13. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // August 28, 2012 at 6:46 pm // Reply

    I am the real Knife Xpert! Look at my previous comments and you will see I have always loved G-shock!

  14. I NEED G-SHOCK

  15. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // July 28, 2012 at 10:38 am // Reply

    Timex all the way … now.

  16. Y’all keep saying G-Shock, but which one? There’s like a gazillion.

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // July 2, 2012 at 10:54 am // Reply

      Either a DW9052-1V Classic G-Shock watch (only $50 on Amazon) or a GW500A-1V Solar atomic G-Shock. It is about $60 to $70 on Amazon (The regular price is $120)

  17. The timex Expedition is a great watch. I have had it for year now and it is still runing strong. I got it at target for $30. The band is geting to stink but fix that by rubin baking soda on it. It has indiglo, stopwatch, three alarms, timer, and of coarse a clock.

  18. G-Shocks are teerible go with expedition g-shocks are a scam and they rip you off

    • ARCTIC COMMANDO // June 5, 2012 at 9:56 am // Reply

      Have you even tried a G-Shock? my dad had it for 8 years while he was in the Marines and he gave it to me 5 years ago. a total of 13 years that this G-shock has been in my family. G-shock is a tough watch for tough people. Timex is good if you want an every day watch. but if you want somthing that can withstand what my dad does, G-shock is the best choice.

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // June 7, 2012 at 3:45 pm // Reply

      G-Shock did not rip me off. I was just to hard on it and I was being stupid. have you even had a G-Shock before??? I will always trust Casio

  19. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // May 16, 2012 at 3:07 pm // Reply

    My G-Shock broke today:( I hit it REALLY hard on a piece of steel and i guess I hit it in just the right place because the inside screen broke. it still works I just cant read the screen. I think the Analog watches are a little more tougher then the digital (mine was digital) But I am going to get another because it was such a nice watch and the are still SUPER tough I guess I just did to much to mine.

  20. $11 watch at wal-mart. Works Great, waterproof to 250ish feet

    • ARCTIC COMMANDO // May 1, 2012 at 5:22 pm // Reply

      Whatever dude! as soon as you pass 5 feet of water the thing is going to leak! $15 wal-mart watches are not worth it. get a watch that is going to last!

      • I’ve had it for a few years, and on every camp out, been swimming with it, this watch holds up

    • I got a $20 watch at kmart…………..3 years ago and it has lasted forever

  21. Take a peek at “Expedition” series; inexspencive, tough, water proof and has a nice band. I take mine swimming and it hasn’t failed me yet in 5 years. The alarm is a bonus too. I have the programable version that stores phone numbers in it. Great as a back up.

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // April 9, 2012 at 10:11 am // Reply

      My mom has to buy a new Expedition watch every several months because they break so much!

  22. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // April 5, 2012 at 2:01 pm // Reply

    Casio G-shock is unarguably the best watch ever.

    • Off-Trail Monkey // April 24, 2012 at 10:48 pm // Reply

      My mom has to buy a new Casio G-shock watch every several months because it breaks so much.

      • ARCTIC COMMANDO // May 1, 2012 at 5:28 pm //

        Ok please dont copy my comment and please tell the truth. if your mom really broke a G shock every month she would have to be a millionar! they cost at least $100 dollars a watch. I got mine on sale for $60. plus go to the g shock website and look at the destruction tests they do. I dont think your mom could break a g shock.

      • Delta Force // May 2, 2012 at 2:57 pm //

        (chuckling) Yeah whatever you say kid. look Ive had my G-shock for 20 years and I had it while in Iraq and Afghanistan. I doubt you mom could break a G-shock if I couldn’t.

  23. I love kj-52 songs // March 31, 2012 at 7:53 pm // Reply

    I do not like G-shock.

    • ARCTIC COMMANDO // April 5, 2012 at 1:57 pm // Reply

      Why? are they to manly for you! if you don’t like G-Shocks because of their size then get a Baby G its a smaller version of the bigger ones. And if you don’t like them for their hefty price look online at amazon or ebay. they may be expensive but its worth it, it will never break!

  24. ARCTIC COMMANDO // March 8, 2012 at 12:13 am // Reply

    Dudes… G-shock cannot be beat! have had mine for 5 years now! an that was after my dad used it for 15 years!

  25. troop 43 mazter // February 22, 2012 at 7:56 pm // Reply

    armitron is a great company to buy a high quality watch. i take mine camping and its lasted me 3 years.

  26. I think the best kind of watch is an old style, automatic Three-hand watch. I wear a Citizens Eco-drive Divers with rubberized band. I has a rotating bezel and date window. It is solar powered and waterproof to 300 meters. Good thing is that in a pinch, I can use my watch as a compasss. See your BSA Handbook for instructions on how to use a watch to determine direction. You can’t do that with a digital watch.

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // February 8, 2012 at 4:33 pm // Reply

      Sorry you just can’t beat a G-Shock! although your watch sounds like a good quality one but I would still take a Casio GW500A-1V Atomic Solar watch over this one. oh one more question is your watch shock proof?

  27. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // November 28, 2011 at 7:18 pm // Reply

    @ irock:). yes there are good inexpensive watches but they are probably not as good as a G-shock. here is a watch by Casio that is cheap but good. Casio Men’s W800H-1AV Classic Digital Sport Watch. retail is $20 but I found it on amazon.com for $15. I do not own it but I have had 2 other Casio watches and they where tough as nails! as I type this I am wearing a Casio GW500A-1V Atomic Solar watch. Hope this and my comment in the knifes section helps! Good luck watch hunting!

  28. most waches i find thatare good are a lot of $ where could i find a good wach that is cheap?

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // December 5, 2011 at 1:08 pm // Reply

      Casio Men’s W800H-1AV Classic Digital Sports Watch. $15 on Amazon.com glad to help!

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // December 10, 2011 at 2:11 pm // Reply

      There are lots of inexpensive watch options. Check out Amazon.com and search for “Casio sports watches.” I found a few that meet your needs including the Casio Men’s W800H-1AV Classic Digital Sports Watch (retail $20; casio.com). It’s water resistant to 100 meters and has a 10-year battery life

      • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // December 10, 2011 at 2:26 pm //

        I also recommended the Casio Men’s WS300-7BV Ana-Digi Illuminator Sport Watch. I had one for almost two years before I switched to a G-Shock. The band on it got ripped off while I was working. I still have it siting on my desk and it is still working after 3 or 4 years! It is $28.48 on Amazon.com. hope this helps!

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // December 14, 2011 at 7:04 pm // Reply

      Go to amazon.com and type in Casio sports watches some are for only $15

  29. TROOP.27 MEMBER // November 18, 2011 at 1:08 am // Reply

    G-shock,G-shock,G-shock…. all i gots to say buddy

  30. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // November 8, 2011 at 11:40 pm // Reply

    Casio G-shock is the best bang for your buck.

  31. The Casio MTG-900 is really heavy though.

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // November 28, 2011 at 7:26 pm // Reply

      Well if you are smaller than average size then yes it is heavy. but once you carry it on you wrist for a while you don’t even notice it. besides, its got a TON of technology packed into it! so it is going to be a little heavier than other watches!

  32. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // October 15, 2011 at 10:35 am // Reply

    CASIO G-SHOCK is the BEST!!! I have the GW500A-1V Atomic Solar watch got it for $60 at amazon.com (it is $120 any where else) best watch TIMEX,ROLEX and sooo many other watch companies cant hold a candle to this watch!

    • eagle scout 2011 // April 22, 2013 at 10:58 pm // Reply

      i would only trust my life to a timex. Besides timex created water proof and probably created shock proof, and the funny thing is the vets i know wear timexs, and there watchs time is exactly on time, so get rid of the rubber on those “watches”, and buy a timex cause only driving a truck over it could kill it.

      • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // May 24, 2013 at 3:06 pm //

        Timex did not invent either of those features. Rolex made the first waterproof watch and CASIO was the first to manufacture a Shock Resistant watch.

      • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // May 27, 2013 at 12:22 pm //

        I know for a fact that I could drive over my G-Shock with a truck and it would still work fine.

  33. I like rolex watches

  34. I perfer colman watches because i had a colman flashlight watch for 4 years and it only needed the battery changed once and it was the 2 flashlight batterys cause they went dead. But I dont have it any more because I lost it somewhere at a lake but i just got a differnt colman watch and it has prooved itself already.

  35. go timex expedition

  36. I prefer Timex watches because most of them have lights and are water proof.

  37. there all cool

  38. best watches are Casio pathfinders, and Suuntos, Timex are not very dependable.

  39. g-shocks are the best

    • are gshocks water proof?

      • qssaustin // January 2, 2012 at 10:26 pm //

        Most g shocks are waterproof up to 250 meters, which, unless you’re in a submarine, you’ll never go down that far.

    • I agree with exds Casio G-SHOCK is the best of the best! Granted it is really spendy ($120) but once you have it NO WAY is that thing going to break! And yes it is water proof (no way a $120 watch is not going to be water proof)The only way it will break is if you drop an anvil on it from 40 stories up! Best watch EVER!!!!

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // October 5, 2011 at 12:40 pm // Reply

      I want a G-SHOCK sooooo bad!! G-SHOCK ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // November 8, 2011 at 11:43 pm //

        YESSSSSSSS!!!! I got my G-Shock about a month ago and it ROCKS!! all ready I have dropped it,banged it,and soaked it and there isn’t a scratch on it!!!

  40. water resistant watches are great because you can swim with it on and not worry about it shorting out or losing track of time

  41. i bought a cheap watch at walmart and it works great

  42. Timex WS4

  43. timex are the BEST i recommend TIMEX some of the watches fog up on
    the inside of the screen though

  44. Percy Jackson // January 17, 2011 at 2:13 am // Reply

    You need to get a spynet watch! It has a camera ,a video camera,a voice recorder,a voice changer, a lie detector,games ,and it tells the time and the date!

    • montana teen // May 10, 2011 at 4:10 pm // Reply

      do you really need all those?

    • Percy that really wouldn’t be a good watch for the outdoors.

      • Totally. It’s a cool play watch but if it’s not water-proof forget it.
        Plus I also agree with Montana teen, since when will you need a lie detector when camping??? Spend the money and get a 120$ Casio G-SHOCK and that watch will last you forever! I’m not kidding! You’ll be able to hand it down to your grand kids!

      • Percy Jackson // September 22, 2011 at 1:39 am //

        Who said anything about camping? Since it can take picures and video, it’s great for museums and things like that.

      • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // September 27, 2011 at 1:19 pm //

        I said it was a cool watch. but I go into museums like once a year so it would not be a good watch me. plus I am outdoors a ton and the weather can get nasty some times so if it’s not water proof forget it. I do agree it is a very cool watch for some one who lives in the city or someone who is indoors a lot. but just not for me.

  45. timex expeditions with compasses work great and are handy

    • runnerdude11 // May 1, 2011 at 6:48 pm // Reply

      I got mine without a compass. I wanted it because it was cheap, replaceable, and light. I do cross country running, so do not need anything to weigh me down. I have had three of the same watch in three years, so it is by no means durable if you are Extremely athletic.

  46. I have a Forester analog that has a small digital part that has the date,stop watch,time,and dual time. and lights up but not the digital part and its water resistant 100m(300ft) That is All

  47. timex iron man triathlon is a awsome watch. It is water proof 100 meter and it has everything.I got it for $35.00

  48. Swiss army. Nuff said!

  49. I like the Casio G-shock watch

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