Woodsmen and Mountaineers - what is your watch of choice?

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Curious what watches ya’ll are using for your activities out in nature. Disclaimer, recognizing this is a Rolex forum, I realize this is all complete excess and that a G shock does perfectly well.

For me, it somewhat depends on the activity - mostly day hikes of varying degrees of difficulty but some 1-2 night overnights, as well as mountain sports like snowboarding, running, intermixed with some boating and camping. I do not care to time or track my running/sport performance, and most of the time I do not want to be connected to my email/messages while out exploring so I’m not super keen on smart watches like Apple, but I’ll admit the new Apple Ultra has me interested with the titanium construction and GPS. Plus of course the integration with iPhone for photos might be useful. Garmin Fenix and Tactix also seem like cool options for GPS and having some info on altitude and barometric pressure. The emergency SOS messaging also seems like a nice feature. Just seems like useful tech to have, while also not necessarily needing to link it to your phone.

Typically I just wear my DJ - figure it’s quite robust. As much as I think my Speedmaster 321 would be completely fine, I tend not to wear it in the wilderness due to the low production and servicing difficulty (needs to go to Switzerland).

A few cool watches I think would be great: Panerai carbotech models, Omega ultra deep titanium, Rolex OP - I like the explorer 2 as well, and of course the typical sub/sub-date.

Any Garmin wearers here? Really curious about the Fenix and Tactix. Or if there are any new Apple Ultra owners, what do you think so far?

[binArt]

I wear my 16600 for all outdoor activities that are more than a few hundred feet from my gas grill. It's a proper tool watch and built for whatever comes your way. I have some gadgets that notify authorities if I plan to be out of touch, but my watch is always the Sea Dweller.

[330ci]

Today I wore a mechanical watch, but most days I go for my Garmin Fenix 5 + sapphire. Being able to record cycling data was my initial reason I bought it. having heartrate and other stats definitely is nice to be able to track while working on fitness. To me, the utility value of the Garmin outweighed the pleasure of having a piece of wearable artwork. So I have become a bit of an advocate. It is extremely bulky and not always the most comfy when tracking sleeping data. But the finishing has been extremely durable and it seems like every time I play with it I find new features. The Garmin Connect app makes it really worthwhile, and I just bought a garmin 530+ cycling computer to further integrate all my stats

[kieselguhr]

Whichever watch is on rotation that week.

[joeychitwood]

I have a collection of G-Shock watches I wear when cutting trees down, burning brush or exploring the woods. They are indestructible.

[Atone]

G shock

[TheVTCGuy]

I don’t know if this qualifies me as a mountain man but when doing my hikes in the mountains I wear a Garmin Epix; perfect for my needs.

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Originally Posted by binArt

I wear my 16600

Solid choice, can’t go wrong here.

Originally Posted by 330ci

Garmin Fenix 5 + sapphire.

Nice, how do you find integration on your phone? Is this with an iPhone?

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

Whichever watch is on rotation that week.

Currently this is basically how I do it as well, I’m usually wearing my DJ.

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

I have a collection of G-Shock watches

Originally Posted by Atone

G shock

Can’t go wrong with these.

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Garmin Epix

This has the amoled screen right? Do you know how it compares feature-wise with the Tactix and Fenix? So many models lol.

[mmutte]

I have a Garmin fenix 6 pro. Love it.
Works great out at my property
I also use it when biking, hiking etc.
highly recommend it.
Battery life is great and integration w iPhone works well.
Only complaint (and a very very mild one) is the inability to reply to a text on the fenix.

[AF_Rob]

Casio Pathfinder. I like the “not smartwatch” functionality of it.


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[Blansky]

Being a mountainman and part time lumberjack these are what I use.

[Mifune]

G Shock

[brandrea]

I’m with you and my 321 would be just about the last watch I’d wear (even though back in the day it handled the EVA).

I have a Seiko SKX, that I wear for just about everything you describe

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Originally Posted by brandrea

I’m with you and my 321 would be just about the last watch I’d wear (even though back in the day it handled the EVA).

I have a Seiko SKX, that I wear for just about everything you describe

Haha yes it’s the burden we carry. I want so badly to use it as a tool watch, and logically I know it’ll handle it fine, but practically I don’t want the headache if something were to happen. I still use it swimming, gentle outdoor stuff - but occasions where I could smack my wrist on something generally not.

[logo]

So I was reading more about the Apple Ultra. I think they key thing here is actually not in the watch at all, it’s in the iPhone 14 pro, namely satellite emergency SOS. As long as you have an iPhone 14 pro, you will get satellite message capability across North America starting in November. To me, this is the biggest safety feature of all, and your phone will still have GPS capability. This satellite messaging via iPhone exists regardless of Apple Watch 8 vs ultra, so with the ultra you basically get the better battery (still not great), better screen, bigger size, better case and perhaps a more functional instrument cluster.

Turns out what I actually need is a new iPhone lol.

[Chewbacca]

Is this our first ‘Is it safe to wear your Rolex in a forest’ thread?

Because if it is, I just want to say wear your DayDate like a hero and be a legend.

[binArt]

Originally Posted by logo

So I was reading more about the Apple Ultra. I think they key thing here is actually not in the watch at all, it’s in the iPhone 14 pro, namely satellite emergency SOS. As long as you have an iPhone 14 pro, you will get satellite message capability across North America starting in November. To me, this is the biggest safety feature of all, and your phone will still have GPS capability. This satellite messaging via iPhone exists regardless of Apple Watch 8 vs ultra, so with the ultra you basically get the better battery (still not great), better screen, bigger size, better case and perhaps a more functional instrument cluster.

Turns out what I actually need is a new iPhone lol.

A PLB would be cheaper. I use an ACR ResQLink View, about $390 on Amazon. A PLB cuts out the middle man and gets the rescuers involved immediately.

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Originally Posted by Chewbacca

Is this our first ‘Is it safe to wear your Rolex in a forest’ thread?

Because if it is, I just want to say wear your DayDate like a hero and be a legend.

Haha not so much the watch I’m worried about. If I get lost, the watch will be probably be fine - but I may not!

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by logo

Haha not so much the watch I’m worried about. If I get lost, the watch will be probably be fine - but I may not!

If you’re gonna be a bear, be a Rolex grizzly !! Direction means nothing!!!! Make your path!!!!!

[AzHadEnuf]

I do carry a Garmin for navigation and satellite comm but i always like having a mechanical watch on me.