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Noticed that the REI Winter Sale has a number of Casio Pathfinder watches on sale. After having my cheap-o watch seize up at deer camp this year (when the tent got a little chilly one night), I'd like a high-quality digital watch. But, these Casio's--which frankly have bells & whistles that are duplicated by my GPS--only have temperature ratings down to 14 Farenheit. Not low enough.
Where do I find a nice cold-weather watch? I'd put up with the altimeter, thermometer, etc....because it would eliminate some of the things I regularly grab my GPS unit for.
Murphy was a grunt.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Good question and I'm gonna see if anybody knows of a good cold weather watch. My experience with three different digital watches is that in moderate cold, say 25 to 20 degrees F, they quit working. The best one (Casio) would make it closer to zero F. All of them revived fine when warmed slightly.
I don't like to wear watch at night because so many of them have some kind of button to depress that turns on a light and if I lie on the button it runs the batteries down. Yet it quits working if left out in the cold, so I have tried various ways to keep it in my sleeping bag but not on my wrist.
Besides keeping track of how long till dark, etc, I use a stop watch a LOT when hunting, especially because I call nearly everything I hunt. I like to keep track of length of stand, time the length of sounds and silence, how long since I heard an approaching animal, etc.
A real outdoor watch should be good to -20 or lower.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Suuntos are good to minus 5. I think its more of a battery limitation then the watch though.
"It's my main love for all things Ackley. Plus the dude was cool before cool was cool."
SH08
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Joined: Jun 2007
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I've used my Timex Ironman watch on many hunts in the single digits to zero.
Where do you keep your watch? I wear mine sleeping so it's tucked in the sleeping bag. While hunting, it will have a few layers over it. I've never had a watch stop because it's cold.
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Joined: Nov 2006
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I've had my Suunto down to around zero degrees fahrenheit. Mine usually ends up strapped to my pack shoulder strap or tent pole so I can get an accurate temperature measurement.
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Campfire Outfitter
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I wonder if a mechanical watch, perhaps an automatic would be any more reliable in very cold weather? or what about the Citizen Eco drives, which I believe are solar powered??
Last edited by Pete E; 11/26/10.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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I checked out Suunto today. Nice stuff. Good down to -5. Only one problem: You have to be a bank robber to afford one.
Murphy was a grunt.
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You can snag the original models on ebay for cheap.
I have been rocking my vector for more than 10 years now. Its still going strong. Looks a little ragged but just keeps going.
"It's my main love for all things Ackley. Plus the dude was cool before cool was cool."
SH08
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Might look at the G-Shocks. I've had my G-Shock 5600E out in zero degree weather, exposed outside my coat. It's got a nice Old School Digital look to it, and isn't as bulky as some of the latest models. Here's one passing a freezing test. G-Shock
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
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Joined: Jul 2007
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I've got a Pathfinder. It recharges itself with a solar cell so it is not a battery hog. It doesn't stop working at 14 deg F, that's just the limit of the built in thermometer. As it gets colder, the thermometer is less accurate anyway as your body temperature affects it more. Your better off pinning one of the small thermometers to the outside of your jacket to get a temp reading. Mine is fairly slim and the altimeter/baro works well. So does the compass which was a surprise. It's very easy to use.
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Mr. Pete E, Our old Rolex (purchased over 30yrs ago) is an automatic and has proven to be reliable at -72 degrees below 0 (F). Of course, it was not removed from my wrist during such cold temperatures. Best Wishes
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