Hi
Does anyone recommend a good hard wearing watch for walking
I've been looking at casio g shock but there's so many different types
Any help appreciated
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 I've used G Shock's for years and found them to be pretty indestructible. If all you want is a watch then I'd say theyre as good as any. But..when I'm walking I use a Casio e-trex. Lots of people on here have other favourite 'tecchy' type watches though - Suunto etc. Probably depends how deep your pockets are to a large degree.
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 Do you just want a tough watch or features like compass etc?
I just got a Suunto Core. Looked at the Casio Pro-trek range. You get more features for your money but to me they look grim and overcomplicated. The Suunto gets great reviews, supposedly lasts for years and seems a solid well made watch. Not sure the ABC features will be of any use. The previous model, the Suunto Vector is cheaper and does basically the same.
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 Hard wearing watch? What are you doing?
Any waterproof(ish) watch will do.
Traser h3 or nite watches you'll be able to see easily in the dark. But then i can see my gps or phone easily in the dark.
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I have a "Casio Men's Sea-Pathfinder Digital LCD Watch" like this for £20. It's a water-proof digital watch, but what makes a good walking and general outdoors it has a very recessed glass (very hard to bash + starch) and buttons that don't snag on or shred your cuffs. It's small, 100 m water proof, 10 year battery, tide/moon cycle, stop-watch, count-down-timer and dual time-zone. Mine also gains about 12 seconds a month  . Oh, and its not gonna win any beauty prizes.
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Seiko skx007, its a design classic, lasts forever, never needds batteries and has a propper beatin clockwork heart. Lovely.
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Just get a Casio F-91W, costs about £8, pretty reliable and if you break it, just get a new one!
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or if you want a G-shock but without the shock price these look pretty good and from one of the best shops on the net.
http://www.heinnie.com/AQ-S800W-1B2VEF/p--7597/
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 Luminox
Overpriced, but you get a waterproof watch with hands that will glow in the dark. They have vials of radioactive gas on the hands so you can tell what time it is in the middle of the night.
Ones with glass crystals and metal bezels will weather longer.
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 Just get a Casio F-91W, costs about £8, pretty reliable and if you break it, just get a new one! Yes, great little watch. Waterproof, small so it doesn't catch on clothing and equipment, lasts for years. The strap normally breaks before the battery packs up and then you just get another one as it's cheaper than a replacement strap.
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| Edited: 11/02/12 06:02 |
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 I third the Casio F-91W. Very reliable. If you want one with a good backlight then there's this model, pretty much the same, just better light: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2533609/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CJewellery+and+watches%7C14416987/c_2/2%7C14416987%7CMen%27s+watches%7C14417316.htm
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fourth on the wee casio. As said above - the strap breaks before the battery (takes about 3 years) . I have a Suunto as well, it sits in its box and every year or so I get the battery changed on a buy-it-once we change it forever deal. I also had a Casio G all singing and dancing thingy once upon a time. A watch is a watch, a compass is a compass. The only time I can see a "mountain watch" being really useful is when you need an altimeter and how often do we need an altimeter in the UK? A GPS may hae taken that issue away anyway
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 Any watch will do as long as it tells the time reasonably well and has a face you find easy to read. Bonus points for some degree of water resistance (I prefer "proof" as I use mine paddling) and a light. A stopwatch or second hand may be useful for fine navigation. In other words, most watches will do all you need, and there's little reason for a specific roughty-toughtie one. If you get stuff like compasses and altimeters the price goes up a lot, so does the size and with teh size going up copmfort and basic practicality actually go down. Pete.
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any watch will do unless you want an altitude feature or a compass feature. I use a breitling colt ocean automatic, that is waterproof to 500m.... not that I even plan to go down that far, but I wear that watch for everything, hardly ever take it off my wrist, the missus bought it for me as a divers watch but it goes everywhere with me and the only marks on it are some scratches on the bracelet from when I was in a tight spot while caving in Belize - so any waterproof watch really.
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 Look for a scratch resistant crystal 'glass' if you intend to wear it scrambling or climbing. Tags are nice.
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 Worth bearing in mind when buying a watch is if your intending to wear it to work or not. Wearing a nice suit and say a G-shock type watch isn't a good look. then again for fairness and balance wearing a Patek on a weekends wind camp would be equally stupid.
I don't have a walking specific watch (whatever that is) but currently use a Suunto Observer which seems to fill most of my outdoor needs.
BTW scratch resistant glass is relative.... most of the ways your likely to scratch a watch in the outdoors is pretty much going to scratch it i.e. a rock scape.
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| Edited: 11/02/12 15:01 |
Lol. I think suunto's should only be worn where no one else can see it. But then i'm happy in a tilley hat for whatever destination.
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 I use a £20 Timex Expedition watch. It is analogue, has a velcro strap (no buckle) and does a great job. I've had Suuntos, Casios and a Garmin. I didn't get on with any of them. Too bulky under layers and gloves, not accurate across their range of features and too much faff. I prefer, now, things to be separate i.e. GPS handheld, barometer separate etc. etc. My Timex is great, tells me the time, waterproof and reliable. I've tried the 'gadget' route; it's not for me in a watch.
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Good quality crystal won't get scratched. Unless you climb in a diamond field.
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