Tough, cheap, compass watches - talk to me!

[AcidReflux]

I need a watch for mountainbiking. My daily automatic (Hamilton Khaki) is probably too fragile for rough and tumble so I guess I ought to find something disposable and tough. My minimum requirements are:

- waterproof enough for rain and submersion in streams/puddles
- easily-readable display
- buttons suitable for gloved fingers
- cheap! £35-£40 would be ideal.

As well as this, a compass would be handy. Not fussed about thermometer or barometer.

I love the Suunto Core All Black but they're too expensive.

Here are three I've found on eBay:
Timex Expedition
Casio Twin Sensor
La Crosse XG-55

I think I prefer the looks of the Timex but the strap is leather.
The Casio looks cheap and a bit fussy to me.
Never heard of La Crosse, and I can't find it for sale in the UK. Also not very waterproof.

Are there any I've missed? Anybody got any thoughts about the three above?

[sneijder]

This is Pistonheads, blow your budget !

http://www.worldwatchreview.com/2009/04/29/timex-e...



100-150 quid IIRC, they are huge though.

[hilly10]

Whats wrong with a G Shock

[ShadownINja]

hilly10 said:

Whats wrong with a G Shock

I was going to recommend a G but none have a compass function. I'd love to see a G with a compass and barometer.

[Fittster]

I've got s Casio Sea-pathfinder, thermometer,barometer and compass. I wouldn't trust the compass to get me from one side of the room to the other.

[deano12345]

ShadownINja said:

hilly10 said:

Whats wrong with a G Shock

I was going to recommend a G but none have a compass function. I'd love to see a G with a compass and barometer.

get a protrek, they have compass, barometer, altimeter etc etc

[ShadownINja]

deano12345 said:

ShadownINja said:

hilly10 said:

Whats wrong with a G Shock

I was going to recommend a G but none have a compass function. I'd love to see a G with a compass and barometer.

get a protrek, they have compass, barometer, altimeter etc etc

More costly and not as tough, though.

[hilly10]

I would buy the G-shock allways get a compass even the iphone as one

[Silver993tt]

deano12345 said:

ShadownINja said:

hilly10 said:

Whats wrong with a G Shock

I was going to recommend a G but none have a compass function. I'd love to see a G with a compass and barometer.

get a protrek, they have compass, barometer, altimeter etc etc

mines been snowboarding, hiking & diving - they're very tough.

[AcidReflux]

Thanks for the replies.
I guess for a watch like this looks aren't too important so maybe the Casio is going to be the best choice.
Or maybe I should buy the Suunto and keep quiet about the price.

Fittster said:

I've got s Casio Sea-pathfinder, thermometer,barometer and compass. I wouldn't trust the compass to get me from one side of the room to the other.

[Odie]

Get a G shock and fit one of these to the strap.

http://www.clasohlson.co.uk/Product/Product.aspx?i...

Job done


ETA - Infact im going to do just that, dig out my old G-shock add a nato strap to it and add a compass.

Edited by Odie on Monday 9th August 10:26

[B16JUS]

would a suunto all black have all those features ?

[AcidReflux]

B16JUS said:

would a suunto all black have all those features ?

Yes. And it looks lovely. But it's £200.

[ShadownINja]

Just remember, the Suunto and Protrek are good watches but they are not in the same league for toughness. I bloody love this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSaciL-tNg8

In a game of watch conkers, I would bring a G-shock. I guess it is cheating... a bit like putting a Rolex in the oven to harden it.

Edited by ShadownINja on Monday 9th August 10:35

[AcidReflux]

I take your point, ShadowNinja. The Suunto's probably too vulnerable. But (without wishing to offend anybody) I haven't yet seen a G-Shock that I'd be prepared to wear in public and their toughness might be overkill for mountainbiking.

The Casio I linked above is still pretty bloody ugly but at least it's cheap and functional. I'm going to try and find one in the flesh.

[ShadownINja]

AcidReflux said:

I take your point, ShadowNinja. The Suunto's probably too vulnerable. But (without wishing to offend anybody) I haven't yet seen a G-Shock that I'd be prepared to wear in public and their toughness might be overkill for mountainbiking.

Well, they're certainly not pretty but I love the fact that despite there being various issued military watches, many resort to a G-shock. Given the crap my G's taken, I only trust that watch to stay alive. A friend's son did ask why my watch "looked like that"... I replied, "So I can do this...", took it off and whacked the table with it.

As for mountain biking, assuming you mean proper stuff, not cycling on cycle paths at the side of roads, then the vibration you can get off-road would be fine with a G.

[AcidReflux]

ShadownINja said:

A friend's son did ask why my watch "looked like that"... I replied, "So I can do this...", took it off and whacked the table with it.

I can imagine the boy's face.

ShadownINja said:

As for mountain biking, assuming you mean proper stuff, not cycling on cycle paths at the side of roads, then the vibration you can get off-road would be fine with a G.

It's true I'm not as gnarly as I was 20 years ago but I don't want to have to worry about the watch in the rain, snow or mud and I don't want to break it on a tree or rock if my SPDs won't release
I think it's the shaking & vibration that would kill a mechanical watch. Plus I don't want to scratch my Hamilton.

You're making me wonder now though, ShadownINja. I've just been browsing the G-Shock website and I quite like the idea of a solar-powered, radio-controlled watch for mountainbiking. A couple of the G-Shocks on there even look OK.

[ShadownINja]

Many recommend the Mudman. I think it's sealed all round to prevent mud ingress but I'm not sure how this differs to plain old water proofness that the other Gs enjoy.

I understand that Gs in general were designed with workmen in mind rather than extreme sports types. I recall watching an interview with the guy who headed up the original design and he didn't talk so much about gnarly boarders catching major air as he did pneumatic drill workers wanting to catch the eyes of passing ladies with their arsecracks on show while shouting, "Alwight, luv?".

Edited by ShadownINja on Monday 9th August 18:06

[Civpilot]

Another vote for a G (surprise) and if your using it in muddy conditions then the Mudman is the one (and the they make a solar/radio control version). The Mudman has a case design where the buttons are actually underneath the rubber of the bezel so you can use all the functions without fear of dirt of dust ingress.

How tough are they?

For a laugh I once decided to put the temperature claims to the test. Take one Mudman, add 1 small tub of water, place in bottom of Freezer...

... then wonder where your watch is 3 days later and remember it's in the freezer in a bowl of water. oops.

Took out the solid block of ice containing the watch and defrosted it with boiling water as quickly as possible. Only change to the watch? It was cleaner
There are videos online of even more extreme treatments including one being driven over (twice) by a land rover.

It will be fine for mountain biking

[AcidReflux]

I'm just not digging the looks of any of the Mudman watches. The numerals in the display remind me too much of the watch I had when I was ten. Sorry.

However I've found this G-Shock, the GW-2000-1AER, for sale for less than £100:



I'm quite liking that. More than I'd budgeted but tougher than the Casio I originally found and - apart from the compass - has plenty of features. The solar power appeals particularly.

ETA: TikTox are selling it for £80! No stock at the moment though.

Edited by AcidReflux on Tuesday 10th August 13:59