Hello,

I'm from Chicago. Looking for an EDC watch. I know any watch will do. But after reading these forums, I have a different view on the purpose of a watch. So in an urban environment, what kind of watch would be prefered?

What type do you carry and why?

i wear a simple digital casio watch. It has proven to be very reliable and does everything i want it to do.

I prefer a diver's watch myself. A Divex for work, and a Posideon Sub-Deep elsewhere. They both have a small compass attached to the wrist band. I prefer diver's watches because they are tough, accurate, reliable and have an easy read analoge face.

It's the Casio G-Shock for me. Relatively inexpensive and they come in various configurations. You can add a compass on the watch band and some have thermometer's on them. I am on my second G-Shock, the first one didn't wear out, but they came out with the push button back light and I had to move up. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I prefer the older Casio G-Shock. As long as you don't use the light, the battery lasts a very long time, so I don't use the light. The G-Shock is plenty rugged, waterproof to reasonable depths and cheap.

Timex expedition with light, stopwatch, timer, alarm and compass. There are enough features to keep me amused, it's relatively inexpensive ($30-$40) and so unassuming that it's an unlikely target for a thief.

I wear a Marathon SAR most of the time; it's the issue watch for Canadian Forces, NASA, and IDF divers. It's sort of like a Rolex Submariner in the same way that a HUMMVEE is like a Range Rover: http://www.broadarrow.net/SAR.htm

It keeps fantastic time (well within COSC standards), and is big, ugly, has great night lume and is much more indestructible than I am. You can get models with quartz and/or tritium gas-tube illumination now. I love mine with a depraved unholy passion.

For playing outside I have a Casio PRG-70: solar powered, a slew of timekeeping functions, EL backlighting, plus compass, altimeter, barometer and thermometer (which is sort of useless unless you take the watch off and let it cool to ambient temperature: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1850813491/103-6629599-0467859?v=glance&n=3367581

Yeah the PRG-70 is a total turd, but I like it <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> , go figure. It keeps time well enough and stays charged. I EDC it. I would not like to have to use the compass to navigate. It is probably a little dangerous, I have seen it off by as much as 90 degrees.

Marc

My EDC watch until recently has been a Seiko Divers Automatic for the same reasons as you Leigh. I am Really tough on my watches and I have been unable to distroy the watch in 10 years. I have just blown the stainless bracelet to peices and am retiring the watch to my BOB. I plan on getting a Zulu band for it.

My new watch is a Marathon Gsar (the tritium version) Automatic dive watch. You just can't beat it for quality, but you have to like rugged watches.

I know these are a little more expensive than some, but I don't like looking for a new watch every 6-12 months and I am hooked on automatic winding watches. You have the reliability of the mechanical movement and it winds itself as you wear it. I keep away from electronic watches as I have had too many just quit on me.

Interesting. I've never really needed the compass, but the altimeter does work reasonably well; took it skydiving last summer, and it tracked the plane's altimeter to within fifteen meters or so, and was only off by five meters on landing. Which is close enough for my needs <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

Every time I think of the GSAR I have to remind myself that skipping a month's mortgage payments just to buy another version of a watch that I already have makes no sense whatsoever <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

SER 0017 from the March 2004 production run.

I also like the Timex Expedition. I have had mine six years, still on original battery, but had to replace the band last month. I use the alarm when traveling instead of the clocks in hotels or the front desk (who seem to be asleep when they are to be waking you up). They are waterproof, good for swimming or canoeing. The timer helps on weekends when making waffles for the kids. The chrono helps timing scouts when they are performing the running test for Tenderfoot. The indiglo works for those impatient checks 20 minutes into the movie, waiting on the ads to end. Everything you need, and nothing you don't. The perfect watch for under $50.

I currently EDC this.



# INDIGLO? night-light
# Accurate electronic compass
# Declination adjustment scale
# Stainless steel case
# 3 year battery life**
# Water-resistant 100m

But lately I have been drooling over this little number and I think it may soon replace my Expedition. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />



Style and technology in perfect harmony

The ultimate option for the outdoor enthusiast who needs a stylish watch to wear in and out of the office.

Suunto X-Lander is an accurate altimeter, a complete barometer, a precise electronic compass and a multi-functional sports watch in a one elegant package.

In spite of the abundance of features, it is extremely user-friendly and has easy-to-use logic, a large display with big numerals and an electro-luminescent backlight for dimly lit conditions.

Suunto X-Lander combines exclusive looks with the rock solid construction. The non-allergenic aluminum casing, carbon fiber back and the durable mineral crystal glass combined with the water resistant fabrik strap make Suunto X-Lander ideal for those who want their watch to tell more than the time.

# Altimeter: Altitude, vertical speed, altitude alarm, logbook, altitude difference, automatic 24h altitude memory, logbook capacity 8kB, recording intervals 20s, 1min, 10min and 60min, with respective times 10h, 12h, 7 days and 10 days
# Barometer: Sea level pressure, absolute pressure, pressure difference, pressure trend indicator, 4-day barometric memory, temperature
# Compass: Cardinal bearing, North-South arrow, bearing tracking, declination setting
# Chronograph: Stopwatch, countdown timer, calendar, three daily alarms
# Material: Aluminium casing and a water resistant fabric band


# Water resistant to 30 m (100 ft) NEW! Suunto X-Lander black. Available in Fall 2005.

by far the best edc watch I ever owned was a casio that doubled as a scientific calculator. It cost about $30 at the time, and I haven't found one to replace what I had back in the late 80s but ruined with a lawn mower one day. Now I just pack a $15 casio with a standard calc function. Not as useful, but I added a $6 compass to the band that has come in handy on a regular basis. I've managed to keep the current watch on my wrist for 7 years now, and have only replaced the battery once about 2 years ago.

Duratec Titanium and bright all night long, ecodrive with 6 months power reserve, second time zone hand included :
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:sFL8BZ1Gv8QJ:www.watcharama.com/ct075.htm+air+diver,eco+drive,+200m+&hl=en&gl=hk&ct=clnk&cd=2

I have the Suunto X-Lander watch. It is very light and the leather band does not make my wrist sweat like a plastic band. The altimeter is very accurate and the Barometer forcaster has been reliable. The only problem with the watch is that TSA makes me x-ray the watch because is sets off the metal detectors (big cell battery).

You should look on ebay for the watch. Most people buy them and never wear them.