What's your favorite wrist watch for backcountry hunting? I'm wanting to get one, but not sure of what features are useful or just gimmicks. I know that I at least want a wake up alarm.

I wear a Casio. Stopwatch, sunrise/sunset times, and moon phase are all kind of cool.

One with the least amount of buttons to accidentally push. I had one of them fancy Casio's, but learned to pack the directions in my daypack so I could undo whatever went wrong........

I finally gave up and went back to a plain-jane watch.


Casey

I haven't wore a watch since I got my first iPhone. Still have one of those big ole Luminox Navy Seal watches around here somewhere.
Haven't seen it in several years.

I wear a Casio Protrek. I looked long and hard for a good backcountry watch. It fits the bill.
I actually used the compass on it more that my GPS while mountain goat hunting on Kodiak this Fall. The fog was pea soup, but the watch brought me back to camp every time.

The night light is very usable. I hit the button every few seconds to see where I need to go. I use it nightly to get to the bathroom or to get up without waking the wife.

*SOLAR POWERED* SCREW BATTERIES!

Suunto.





Travis

Cheap compact Timex.

+1

I have used both a Casio Mudman (solar, atomic) and a Suunto Core. I prefer the Suunto.

Casio "G" shock in digital format, with dual alarms and a few other minor features, but mainly for the toughness and tolerance for abuse.

Suunto Core, all black.

Sold the few "all-black" watches I owned. My 52 y/o eyes thanked me.

Considered Suunto Core, ....but I swim....a lot.
The "leaking" threads are legion...

I don't want a watch to worry about with service, repair etc...

Google is your friend.

broomd, you are correct, the all black are harder to read. You would think, after all of these years, Suunto would remedy that.

Toughest maintenance free would be G-Shock Atomic Solar. I've had one for years that has outlived several more expensive prettier watches.

Timex Rail Road

Flip phone = instant watch. One less thing to lose or break.

Cheap Timex. Any feature outside of a clock, alarm, and stopwatch is a gimmic.

Some. Personally, I find the barometer and altimeter to be very useful and not a gimmick and much more useful than any alarm or certainly any stopwatch. They tend to put contour lines into great perspective.

+1 on the altimeter and barometer. I use them a lot. I've had very good luck with Suunto. Never a leak either. Not much use while swimming but 100's of hours kayaking.

On your watch or GPS? I figure if you are packing a GPS that gives you all that, you don't really need a fancy watch. You don't really need one at all I suppose, so there goes that argument.

I don't wear a watch at all, and consider time keeping a gimmick.

Haven't been late for a meeting with an animal yet.

Would love to have one of those... Let me know if you find it and want to sell.

I wear a Casio pathfinder or a G-shock. Tough watches and not too much invested.

Hope it's a short backpacking trip.

And keep it warm.




Travis

Up to 7 days, never failed.

Is it powered by a nuclear reactor?




Travis

Cheap Timex with a day window and the push button light.

I use a flip phone around home..runs on the 1X network with Verizon..Was planning on using it as my alarm clock when elk hunting in New Mexico..I rolled out of the sack to take the mandatory piss..looked at the time and it was 2am and snowing..woke up again a little later to repeat..walked out of tent and it was daylight..what the hell..someone had texted me a picture which my 1X phone would not load in NM and ran my battery down..Pissed and pissed...lol

So to echo Travis..don't depend on a phone...

I use my phone a lot for time. If you turn it off, it makes an easy alarm clock/time piece. I was still at full bars at over a week this year.

20+ year old Timex Iron Man and is still taking a licking....

If it has a button exposed that turns on a light, it will get pressed down and run down the battery, under a cuff or if it is on your wrist at night. Cold will stop function of some digital watches IME. Can't even remember brand though I have carried Casio more than any other. Timex ripped me off many years ago and I still hold a grudge.

My son has an altimeter on his Casio that is super useful in correlation with a topo map. I.e. On a vast mountain side in fog, am I above or below the only trail? On a known sloping ridge, altimeter will show you exactly where you are on a topo map, exactly.

I carry the simplest fewest button model.

That's my everywear (pun) watch too. I also like the big easy to find light button. My previous G-Shock was didn't have the atomic or solar feature and still kept incredible time and the battery is still going after 6 yrs. The band is rotting off of it and I know if I replace the band then Murphy's law will kick in, and the battery will finally die. It was a $50 watch at most, and not worth rebuilding............especially since G-Shocks don't seal up as well after a battery replacement at the local jeweler. Hopefully my solar model postpones this problem.

Anyway, quality bang for the buck.............G-Shock.

That occurred to me when I first got my Timex Expedition, but I frequently wear it during sleep, even when not hiking, and nearly every day under a long-sleeved shirt. I can't speak for anybody else, but I've never, ever had the button pressed down by a sleeve or a pillow and seen the battery run down.

I've had it happen twice. Our luck varies

Here's mine. Going on tweleve years now. Several new batteries of coarse. Not a watch guy. I only wear it hunting. 3 alarms. The Alarm is border line not loud enough. Some very cool watch suggestions guys! Maybe its "time" to invest! I could really like temp, altimeter, compass type options.

http://www.timex.com/watches/expedition-chronoalarmtimer-t480429j

Like some others noted above, the Casio Pathfinder has been good to me. The barometer/altimeter feature has been a very useful feature over the years. It is either time to pack up camp and head down or get the wood stove going at home when the barometer tanks. Costco had them on sale years ago so the price was very reasonable. Battery replacement tips are on the web when it needed a fresh set.

After years of good service from a Casio Pathfinder with altimeter (very handy, especially before I had a GPS) and thermometer (not so handy as it only worked accurately off my wrist), I replaced it with a new atomic/ solar Pathefinder with much larger numbers. Getting old sucks. This one has a compass as well that doesn't replace a "real " compass, but is certainly handy for rough direction. I don't know if there is any real durability difference between Pathfinders and Gshocks, haven't had any complaints about the PF re durability.

The Suuntos are cool and offer easy battery changes without compromising the water resistance of the watch. They are just really large and more money than the Casio.

I don't find phones handy for checking time, especially in the field. Battery life can be an issue when used as an alarm on extended hunts. Watches still offer a lot of service in a rugged, always with you package.

busted 2 casio pathfinders and 3 seiko dive watches in the past, replaced with Luminox- now not working. Only thing that has held up to the test of time- Rolex GMT.

Victorinox Basecamp...

I still feel bad about the day I sold my Rolex Submariner, and now wear a Timex.

Suunto core here i love it

I bought one of these about 13 years ago. Paid $50ish. It finally got to the point the solar batteries would no longer hold a charge and I trashed it. Bought another just like it recently.

No batteries, it is solar powered. Never have to set the time, it gets a signal 4 times daily from the atomic clock and sets its self. In the 13 years I owned the other it was rarely off my arm. I swam, showered, and did everything else wearing it.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Casio-Men-s-Solar-Atomic-G-Shock-Watch-Black-Resin-Strap/21777182

This one

suunto vector

16 years old, over 100 jumps, 3 batteries, and 1 velcro band.

bought it, and my ruger 300 win mag when i finished RIP, both are still going