Recommend a watch

[Lowdown3]

My bday is coming up in a little while and my wife says I'm hard to buy for.

Last time I went camping I realized I don't have a good outdoor watch. Got out of the habit of wearing a watch but always seek one when it's time to go to the field or go camping.

Criteria-

* Sub $200. if possible.
* Hands, not digital
* Ideally be able to be read in the dark.
* Some sort of alarm feature might be nice, maybe a vibrate instead of a audible? Is that even possible?
* Rugged enough for outdoor use, subdued color.

Any ideas?

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

I have owned a Casio G-Shock Atomic Solar powered watch (Riseman) for 8 years IIRC. No problems what-so-ever. The Riseman is digital only though. There are other Casio's that are analog and digital though. I would recommend the solar, and G-Shock versions. I have not been disappointed with my purchase. IIRC, the Riseman was just under $200 back when I purchased it.

[jimmycthemd]

I have owned a Casio G-Shock Atomic Solar powered watch (Riseman) for 8 years IIRC. No problems what-so-ever. The Riseman is digital only though. There are other Casio's that are analog and digital though. I would recommend the solar, and G-Shock versions. I have not been disappointed with my purchase. IIRC, the Riseman was just under $200 back when I purchased it.

Here's the G-Shock solar with hands (and some digital displays) for about $102 at wally world...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Casio-G-S...-1ACR/36468729

[Lowdown3]

Went with a black colored solar one with luminous hands and a calendar.

[protus]

Wife got me a tan one in 15' it's held up good so far.
Took me a bit to get used to it. I wanted a basic Seiko/citizen with NATO strap set up since I wanted hands as well.
Don't care for the illumination feature on this watch. It is a basic amber led ..hard to see the digital screen imho.
But so far i5s held up.

[flatlander]

Last trip to Iraq I took my Tag even though it failed 2 years earlier on my last trip. Had taken it to a jeweler and had it cleaned, pressure tested etc. 2 weeks into the adventure it stopped working. Went to the PX and bought a basic GI Timex. Still on original battery 6 years later.
Tried a Gshock but was too bulky for me.

Bob

[RobertJ]

https://www.amazon.com/Casio-GA100SD-8A-G-Shock-Military-Watch/dp/B00CTNY0FM/ref=s9u_cartx_gw_i6?_encoding=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=B00CTNY0FM&pd_rd_r=YBK8K624D795D943DP30&pd_rd_w=0amGZ&pd_rd_wg=jQXLO&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=XA33NNHWFYQXF782VYSN&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2a4fafb6-9fdc-425a-aee8-c82daa7b18ed&pf_rd_i=desktop

This is my current Cassio. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also love my automatic Seiko 5 though the band is a bit skinnier then I prefer... wore mine for over 5 years with no problems. You will need an automatic watch winder to put it on if you take off for over 48 hours.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00791R1A0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Oh and asking which watch is like asking which weapon platform or ford vs Chevy. I own over 10 watches but wear only 2 regularly and forget fit bit or i-watch if you work in heavy industry, they just cant take hard hits or abuse at all. scratch quite easily as well. not water proof etc.

[Tackleberry]

I wore an Orient kinetic watch for the last 4 years. Good watch. Kept good time. However, it has a metal band and was a pain to wear while elk hunting for a week last December in weather that was in the teens. The watch kept great time on the hunt but it doesn't have an alarm.

My iPhone 6 was actually worthless in the cold weather. I relied on it as my alarm clock but the cold weather shut it down. I am hoping the Casio G-Shock my wife got me for Christmas will do the trick. I have been very pleased with its performance so far but only time will tell.

[Bill Foster]

Over the years, I have worn nothing but cheap watches as the type of work I did was not healthy for them. Of course, you get what you pay for, but usually, the outside died before the inside. Last Christmas, the family decided that I needed a Fitbit...a subtle hint to my overall health I suppose. A few weekends ago, I found a good purpose for it. We were out hiking on a poorly marked trail when I thought that we may have missed a turn or have gotten off the trail. As the watch counts steps and estimates mileage from that, I could tell that according to the map, we should be close to a fork in the trail and sure enough, it was correct. I have never been good at estimating distance in the mountains so it actually came in handy. At night, it would give you away, as it lights up any time you turn your wrist, but in the day, it works pretty cool.

[Templar]

+1 on the FITBIT, plus it gives feedback on lots of parameters.

[protus]

Side note. Anyone with a Samsung phone get the S-health app.
It tracks everything.
Mph,pace,elevation,etc etc etc. Maps out your routes like a GPS
Can do BPM and O2 sat. You can even buy external meters (bp, glucose etc) that connect to your phone.
I use it when I jog and hike.

[reysob]

I have a solar powered Citizen eco drive watch, and I love it.