What You Need to Know About Outdoor Watches

A great outdoor watch is an essential item for active men or women. If you’re into running, biking, hiking or skiing, it’s important to have a watch that’s durable enough to wear on a daily basis. There are plenty of features that can be added to watches to make them outdoor-ready, including waterproofing, shock proofing and more. Today’s outdoor watches are available in a wide range of styles and colours, so you can find a watch that fits your needs and still looks great.

Outdoor watches and their features.

Popular functions

When you start looking at outdoor watches, you’re going to be bombarded with information. There are dozens of functions and features that are popular in outdoor watches on the market, and for a novice buyer, it can be intimidating. Remember that the actual features will vary by model, but here is a short list of what features you can expect to come across:

• anatomic timekeeping
• auto calendar
• auto-switch backlight
• fishing/hunting times
• moon grapes
• solar/tough solar
• tide graph
• water-resistance
• shock resistance

Water Resistance

One of the most sought-after features is water resistance. This means that the watch can withstand light moisture, like what you would encounter if you got caught in the rain or splashed by a puddle. This doesn’t mean that the watch should be worn while swimming or participating in water sports. Water resistance is generally tested in measurements of atmosphere, or ATM. If the timepiece can be completely covered in water, it must state the ATM rating that it maintains.

Shock Resistance

Shock resistance is the title given to the ability to protect the inner components when involved in a particularly heavy impact. To be shock resistant, an outdoor watch must survive being dropped from a height of 3 feet onto a hard surface, such as a wooden floor.

Construction

Aside from typical features found in outdoor watches, you should also pay attention to the construction of the watch. A typical watch band might  not be enough to keep the piece in place during high-impact activities such as tennis or jogging. A regular watch band can also cause the piece to spin and chafe, which can be uncomfortable to the wearer.

So what do you want to look for? A wide, silicone band is a good place to start. A padded back to the watch is another great feature, since this is the part that will be coming in contact with your body the most often. The silicone should extend around the face of the watch to act as a sort of case and provide protection if the piece is dropped on a hard surface.

Timer Features

Outdoor watches often include a time or stopwatch feature. This feature will let you time yourself when training or keep track of how long you are taking to finish a task. This second use is more designed for athletes getting ready to go for state or national teams than for casual users.

Shape

Outdoor watches come in all shapes and sizes, but athletes should look for a design that stays close to the body and doesn’t have any jagged edges. A flattened top with a silicone covering that hides corners and prevents snags is well worth looking for.

Color

The silicone band and faceplate can come in a variety of colours. Choosing a fun colour will help you make your workouts more enjoyable, so go ahead and pick an outdoor watch that puts a smile on your face. If you prefer something a little more subtle, a simple black design is the preferred choice. If you’re a runner, consider getting a reflective design for safety.

 You can find outdoor watches at your local sporting goods store, at the Dapperfied Mancave (there’s discounts to check out there too while you’re at it) or here.