Wristwatch buying guide
The wristwatch was invented in the 1600âs 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.
âIf weâre doing a trekking section and weâre falling asleep on our feet, weâll stop and sleep for half an hour,â says Macy, a former Cub Scout. “And then the whole race is hanging on my watch to wake us up!â
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
âBefore you go to buy a watch, think about the features youâre looking for,â Macy says.
If hiking and camping is your thing, consider a watch with a compass and perhaps an altimeter and barometer. If youâre into jogging, find a heart-rate-monitor watch. Remember: Just because a watch is packed with features and functions doesnât mean itâll be easy to use. Try it before you buy to make sure itâs 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. âMake sure itâs rugged,â Macy says. âIf it has a compass swivel on top, try turning that to see if that feels like itâll hold up. Play with the buttons. Are they easy to push? Take a look at the band and the buckle to make sure theyâre flexible and will hold up to the elements.â
SIZE
You want the face of the watch and the numbers to be big enough so you can see them while youâre riding a bike or running. But in general, the bigger the watch the heavier and bulkier it will be. Try to find a size thatâs comfortable.
âIf youâll have only one watch, think about whether youâll want to wear a big watch to school,â he says. âI wear the same big watch for everything, but Iâve gotten used to it. Some guys will feel more comfortable with something smaller.â
THE WATCHBAND
The way your watch is strapped to your wrist is important. If youâre outdoors a lot, choose a polyurethane band. These bands are waterproof, wonât 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.
âVelcro bands keep your watch snug against your wrist and you can wash it when itâs dirty,â Macy says.
Leather bands donât 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
Thereâs nothing more helpful than going to a store and trying a watch on to see how it feels on your wrist. Of course, youâll probably pay more at a store versus buying it on the Internet.
âTake a look online and see if you can find a better price,â Macy says. âThere 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 whatâs a good price.â
If you buy online, make sure the store is reputable and beware of counterfeit or fake watches.
COLEMAN DIGITAL ALL THE WAY!!!
lot of great watches at sports authority
Timex expeditions are great watches because they are durable and most are water proof to 100 meters
agreed and it matches my class a for scouts, i keep it set on Camp Rainey Mountain time ( boy scout camp in clayton, ga)
I agree haha but i lost mine…. đ and, when i went to the dunes for camping i got a bunch of sand stuck in the button for the light… so that didnt work any more… but those watches are deffinately waterproof.
true
Japanese made watches are usually always the best made watches!
MJ is wrong,japanese watches are some of the worst. They’re good if you want a watch that will fall apart the fastest but if you want a good watch buy american
Where can you find American made watches?
If you want a great watch and make a lot of money you could buy a swiss made watch! to bad thats not me.
Be careful with your watches around water. I lost one watch completely to that, another from battery discharge, and my most recent one, I left a drop of water on the MODE button too long and it stopped working. I think I might have more luck with analog.
field rangers are good $10 at academy
Buy the Timex Ironman Triathlon
I have used Timex Ironmans’ for my past 3 watches and they are by far the best ones I have ever used.
i have that too
nope casio G-shock is unarguably the best watch ever
Invicta watches are the best. They make the most durable Diver’s watches.
Andy, I have a $40 dollar expedition that is waterproof to 150+ feet
and what do u want that for? unless you scubadive…
Its just for sounding impressive. XD
mine i got 4 like $10
walmart works wonders
I do not even have a watch!!! I want one so bad.
neither do I. I had one but it sank to the bottom of a lake.