Planning a hunting trip? What about a fishing trip? Whatever it is, you need a watch fit for the outdoors. There are many things to consider when looking for such a timepiece. We’ve discussed everything you need to know below. So, read ahead.
Durability
One minute it’s sunny and the next you’re being hit with a storm. This is only one instance where you may damage your watch. You’re probably going to experience a number of falls. Think about if your watch can handle the beating or not. This is influenced by the type of crystal it has.
Sapphire is known to be the most durable and the more expensive watches usually have them. Krysterna is a good alternative and is seen in Stuhrling’s budget pieces.
Durability isn’t only influenced by the crystal your watch rocks. It also depends on the material of its body. The watch should be made from a material that can handle scruffs and scratches. Stainless steel fits the bill. The higher the grade, the more resistant it would be.
If you’re not a fan of carrying a chunk of metal on your wrist, nylon, silicone, and rubber work well too. They’re durable and easy to maintain.
Price
Outdoor watches are not meant to be worn all the time, so they shouldn’t be over the top. Purchasing any brand is fine as the pieces are not status symbols but gadgets that help you navigate the outdoors.
If you must go for an expensive timepiece, ensure that it covers the below features. A fancy watch on your wrist won’t help you during a hunting trip.
Easy-To-See
If its face is crowded, you could find yourself in an unfortunate situation. The features on its dial may not let you read it properly, leading you the wrong direction when using its compass. Moreover, watches that are easy to read strain your eyes less.
Comfort
Don’t get a heavy watch. You’ll likely be walking for hours on end. If your watch is too big or heavy, you’ll make the journey uncomfortable. Outdoor watches are all about ease, comfort, and functionality.
Luminosity
You might be hiking when it’s night. Different watches come with different types of luminous paint. Even the cheapest ones come with lume, so you have nothing to worry about. Seiko’s LumiBrite is known to be the best. It can last for several hours and is quite bright.
Some watches come with luminous gases instead of paints. You’ll see a few of them with tritium inside. Tritium gas leaves LumiBrite in the dust but is radioactive. It’s not strong enough to harm you, if you’re probably wondering.
Compass
Speaking of compasses, you need a watch that comes with one. Unfortunately, those that do aren’t that common. They’re usually seen in pilot watches. Only some of their compasses rotate as well. You’ll usually find fixed North, South, East and West positions on their outer rings.
If you want to go the extra mile, get a smart-watch. They come with fully functional, digital compasses. But as you can imagine, they’re expensive.
GPS
A compass along with a GPS would make your watch extremely handy. You’ll be able to navigate through the most difficult terrain. However, you’ll only find GPS systems in smartwatches. Depending on the brand you get, the extent of its maps would differ.
Different watches come with different GPS features too. Some smartwatches track your steps. This gives you a route back if you ever get lost.
Water Resistance
You’re bound to get caught to the rain. With a water-resistant watch, you have nothing to worry about.
When looking at water-resistant pieces, you’ll see that different watches can handle different depths. For hiking, hunting, and general outdoor use, getting a timepiece that can handle light swimming is fine. This is usually 100-150 feet (30-50 meters) of water resistance.
Diving
If you’re planning on going on a fishing trip, diving into the water is most likely on your agenda. To purchase a great dive watch, you need a piece that is either ISO 6425 certified or can handle 1000 feet underwater. You’ll see that even the cheaper dive watches under $200 can handle serious depths, so don’t look too far.
Moreover, most people think that watches that are water-resistant up to 300 feet (100 meters) underwater are dive-ready, which is not true.
A Glare-Free Face
Although this is not as important, getting a glare-free watch is a good move. When the sun hits the dial, its rays would bounce back to you. Straining your eyes when on a hiking trip is not ideal.
This has some very real consequences too. If you’re on a hunting trip, sunshine hitting your watch makes it a light source. This alerts prey to your location. They’d run off before you even have a chance. If you’re hunting in the night, this is especially bad. The animals’ night vision would spot the moonlight on your wrist from a mile away.
Easy to Clean
Being outside means you’re exposed to the elements. Unfortunately, you’re going to get your watch dirty. If it’s not fit for the outdoors, it may be impossible to get rid of the muck on it. If it’s made from a material like rubber, dirt would slide off with the flick of the wrist. This is true for silicone and stainless steel as well.
You may be tempted to get hold of a leather watch. This is a bad move as leather is very hard to clean once stained.
It’s more than clear that watches fit for the outdoors make trips easier. However, if you want to get the best watch, there is a range of things to consider. The most important factor is whether the piece is durable or not. After all, mother nature is very unpredictable. Depending on how much you spend, the number of features we mentioned would differ, but outdoor pieces are usually not that expensive. So keep these points in mind when you go shopping for an outdoor watch.
