If in the past watches were primarily used to tell time or serve as an expensive status accessory, today's digital technologies have come a long way. Modern wristwatches can not only accurately display the time or emphasize the owner's status, but they can do much more. Their multifunctional capabilities have become practically limitless.
Modern wristwatches come with a wide range of additional functions, and watches for tourism and active leisure are no exception.
Let's take a closer look at what they represent. What are they for, and what are their features and distinctions? How much do they cost?
Read all about this and much more in detail in our review. So, let's begin.
Types of Watches: Mechanical and Electronic
Wristwatches are divided into two main groups: mechanical and quartz/electronic. Let's examine them a bit more closely. How do you differentiate them?
Electronic watches have a digital display on liquid crystals. That is, they show the time on a display instead of the traditional dial. This is their main feature.
Electronic watches are a type of quartz watch as they operate on the same principle. What is the difference between them? It is in the way information is displayed. Quartz watches have a dial with hands that show the time, while electronic watches have a digital display.
Mechanical watches differ from quartz and electronic watches in that they have a completely different operating principle. In mechanical watches, the mechanism is powered by a mainspring, meaning they are wound either automatically or manually.
In electronic watches, a battery powers the quartz generator to produce specific impulses that are then displayed on the digital display or dial in the case of quartz watches.
This is the significant difference between them. As we can see, mechanical watches are true classics, while electronic mechanisms are more convenient, precise, and modern.
Here you can learn more about the fascinating history of the first wristwatches. Let's continue our review.
Main Features of Watches for Tourism and Outdoor Activities
Shock Resistance
Shock-resistant models protect the delicate watch components and dial from any negative impacts and damage. For an active lifestyle, the watch case should ideally withstand any shocks and damage. This is facilitated by its reinforced construction. Almost all quartz mechanisms are shockproof and equipped with the so-called "parachute spring".
This property is ensured by a special panel that reliably protects the dial. It is made from either organic, mineral, or sapphire glass.
Polymer in budget watches is a fairly durable material, but it is prone to scratches and glass clouding.
Mineral glass is used in most modern watches - it's much harder to damage than organic glass and is virtually unbreakable.
Sapphire glass never breaks or scratches. It's the most expensive and durable material. If your budget allows, prefer this type of coating if you want the watch to last as long as possible in hikes and travels and remain unharmed.
Useful to read: Which watch glass is better: mineral or sapphire? Expert opinions on watchmaking.
Water Resistance
Indicated in meters and bars. However, the number in meters indicates the depth at which the watch can withstand water pressure in laboratory experiments. For surfing or rafting, choose watches with WR 50 m/5 atm. Watches with water resistance from 100 m are recommended for diving and snorkeling.
Charging Methods
So, what are the charging methods for watch devices during tourism and outdoor activities:
- Portable batteries
- Solar panels
- Additional spare power elements
Battery Life with and without Charging
What is important to know about this? The more multifunctional your watch is, the less time it will work. A replaceable battery extends the usage time. Watches with solar panels, like Casio Pro Trek, are the perfect option. They can be charged for up to six months with just one day in the sun, and for daily charging, about an hour outdoors is enough.
If the watch has a rechargeable battery, its operating time is significantly reduced. One charge can last from 10 hours to 30 days, but this property depends on the specific model and cost.
Frequent use of GPS drains the battery the fastest. When going on a hiking tour in the wilderness and using GPS, be sure to bring either a solar panel or a charger. Otherwise, the watch will discharge in less than 10 hours. Do you need that?
Top 5 Brands of Wristwatches for Outdoor Activities
Now let's see which watch brands for tourism and outdoor activities are the most popular. Presenting our rating. So, the best brands for athletes and tourists.
Casio (G-shock and ProTrek)
Meet number one on our list. These famous high-tech Japanese watches were first released in 1974 under the name Casiotron with a built-in perpetual calendar. Here's what they look like now.
Mass production of this brand's mechanisms began a little later, in 1983. The model was called Casio G-Shock DW-5000C.
Currently, the watches are successfully sold worldwide, enjoying high demand due to their quality and modern design, and they are priced quite variably. Prices range from 1,000 to 170,000 rubles and above. The price is primarily influenced by the material from which they are made and, of course, the set of functions.
About 9 product lines have been created with different features and functions, each for a specific individual task, including watches for outdoor activities and tourism.
Casio series G-shock and Protrek are the most famous brands created specifically for active tourists. G-shock are rugged watches for real men leading an active lifestyle. The cheapest watches of this model range can be purchased for 5,000 rubles, and there are those that cost over 80,000.
Overall, this popular brand is characterized, by general opinion, by an aesthetic appearance, optimal value for money, a reliable sturdy case, high technological advancement, multifunctionality, a wide assortment of products, etc. All these characteristics are perfect for active athletes and tourists.
Suunto
The Finnish company Suunto has been creating watches since the mid-thirties of the last century and has since made significant strides in horological craftsmanship. This Finnish firm creates watches exclusively for active leisure and tourism, for sports like mountaineering, diving, snorkeling, snowboarding, surfing, rafting, etc. Mountaineers happily purchase these watches, being the main category of buyers.
But even in the sweetest barrel of honey, there is a spoonful of tar. The most significant downside of this brand is the high price tag. Prices start at 8,000 rubles. Watches with a barometer, altimeter, and compass cost from 23,000 rubles and above, which is quite a hit on the wallet, don't you agree? Nevertheless, travelers snap them up. Save up or pay attention to cheaper brands, such as
Highgear
This renowned American brand also specializes exclusively in sports watches for active tourists who love extreme and various extreme sports.
The watches offer a wide range of functions and, at the same time, an affordable price, starting from 12,000 rubles, which is significantly lower than their Finnish competitors. The watches boast high accuracy of barometer and altimeter readings.
An ideal option for a budget tourist, isn't it? We definitely recommend it and move on.
Origo
This British brand has a number of pleasant and interesting features. Meet the high-tech watches with an optimal balance of quality and price. The brand has developed a model range specifically for hunting and fishing enthusiasts.
The model features a lunar calendar that shows the lunar phases of the cycle, the exact time of sunset and sunrise, and other useful functions that delight hunters and fishermen.
For travelers, there is also a separate model line equipped with a compass, altimeter, and barometer. Prices for such watches range from 5,000 to 20,000 rubles. For every taste and budget. The choice is yours!
Polar
Polar heart rate monitor watches are designed for active sports training. An interesting model range is presented with its own unique features.
For example, the Polar Unite wristwatch mechanisms for fitness increase the effectiveness of workouts and help maintain a healthy lifestyle. They guarantee high accuracy of data related to active activities and sleep and rest modes. The watches are ultra-light, water-resistant, accurately calculate the pulse, and are equipped with a navigator. Cost is about 12,000 rubles, depending on the dollar exchange rate.
Polar Grit X outdoor sports watches with navigation sensor combine an aesthetic appearance, wide functionality, and Polar Flow for controlling physical exercises. They have a built-in GPS, compass, and altimeter, making them perfect for exploring various tourist routes. The cost of such watches is about 36,000 rubles, and this is perhaps their only downside.
Garmin
The well-known manufacturer of GPS receivers Garmin also produces its unique line of wristwatches equipped with GPS.
For example, take a look at these smart Garmin Fenix 5 GPS watches with extensive functional capabilities, built-in sensors such as GPS, heart rate monitor, barometer, thermometer, altimeter, activity tracker, sleep, Bluetooth, etc. They are perfect for all types of sports, including running and parachute jumps. Most models are made of high-strength sapphire glass with Sapphire.
However, they are not cheap. Around 70,000 - 80,000 rubles, which not every athlete can afford, as this is the price of a good laptop. We will discuss this model in more detail below.
Another article about watch brands can be read here: 10 most popular wristwatch firms - analysis from A to Z. Let's move on to the final point of our review.
Top 5 Models of Watches for Tourism and Outdoor Activities
Finally, let's review the ranking of the five best models of watches for tourism, sports, and outdoor activities. We saved the most pleasant for dessert for you. So, let's go. Starting with
Casio Protrek PRW-6600 YBE – 5EK
Number one. A classic sports model of quartz watches with a durable case and rich functionality for the most discerning tourists and athletes.
- The 6600YBE-5 model is equipped with a thermometer with a measurement range of -10/+60°C, an altimeter up to 10,000 meters, a barometer, and a compass, which are essential in any autonomous journey.
- The watches are powered by solar energy, just be outdoors and voila, ready.
- With them, you can easily set the time via radio signal, and they also have a winding crown that switches functions.
- The analog and digital dial is made of durable mineral glass. It displays the date, stopwatch, and alarm. LED backlighting makes the watch even more aesthetic.
- The case is made of durable plastic and steel with a textile strap. The watch is large, but at the same time, extraordinarily light and convenient. Water resistance is equal to 10 atmospheres, you can freely swim and shower.
- Smart Access system, hourly signal, button sound on/off, operation in complete darkness for up to six months in normal mode and up to 25 months in energy-saving mode;
- strap with carbon insert
- Cost from 30,000 rubles, depending on the dollar exchange rate.
Casio G-Shock GWG-1000
The GWG-1000 lineup is created for the most extreme conditions. They are used not only by hikers and athletes but also by holders of various life-threatening professions, such as firefighters.
- The watch has a highly durable unbreakable construction with a stainless steel case with plastic and rubber elements. It is reliably protected from moisture, dust, and withstands immersion to a depth of up to two hundred meters.
- The shock-resistant mechanism will be useful in any extreme conditions. The combined dial with sapphire glass is as hard and safe as possible.
- The functionality will please any tourist: altimeter, thermometer with a range of -10/+60°C, compass, and barometer.
- Time adjustment by radio signal, calendar, alarm, timer, time zone.
- Battery power from a solar panel.
- Hourly signal, energy-saving function, Flash alert, vibration protection, battery life without recharging using the energy-saving function 25 months.
- Brutal design for real men and many other tasty features.
- The cost varies from 43,000 to 66,000 rubles.
- Reviews:
Citizen Promaster BN4026-09E
Introducing to your attention analog watches in a reliable case with water resistance up to two hundred meters.
- A thin and elegant, yet durable titanium case with a rubber strap is equipped with a compass, barometer, altimeter. Carbon coating. Mineral glass.
- Backlight
- Solar-powered using a solar panel.
- Compact, durable, and aesthetic
- WR200 (submersion under water with scuba diving)
- power reserve indicator
- Cost about 90,000 rubles.
Suunto Spartan Trainer HR Steel
Perfect for sports activities. Designed considering the needs of athletes of different sports. Made from materials suitable for any challenging conditions. The watches have passed a test check by the manufacturer’s specialists and athletes. Main characteristics:
- Reinforced case, fully sealed design, steel bezel with mineral glass and bright color display, clearly visible even in sunny weather.
- GPS sensor, barometric altimeter, digital compass, and heart rate monitor, which measures heart rate at the wrist - no need to take a chest sensor with you. The watch can connect to iOS and Android smartphones via Bluetooth 2.0, exchanging information with the phone and notifying of received messages, calls, and calendar reminders.
- Lightweight and convenient, multi-sport and multifunctional smart watches with GPS navigation on preloaded routes.
- Cost from 17,000 and above.
- Reviews:
Rating:
Garmin Fenix 5
Fenix 5 - a premium line of multi-sport watches from Garmin.
The Fenix 5 watches have preloaded functions for running, cycling, swimming, skiing. They can be used apart from their main purpose as a daily activity tracker. Built-in navigation functions include a barometer and altimeter, a three-axis compass, and a gyroscope.
- Made of stainless steel with a silicone bracelet
- Electronic time display
- Water resistance allows swimming and diving without scuba
- Backlight
- GPS, GLONASS
- Includes accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, thermometer, altimeter, heart rate monitor, etc.
- Alarm, calendar, smartphone player control, anti-lost function, remote control of VIRB action cameras
Cost from 22,000 rubles and above
So, our review has come to an end. We hope our material was useful to you.
We wish you a successful choice!
By the way, you will also be interested: The all-powerful Amida Digitrend watch model returns
