Can anyone recommend a good waterproof men's watch suitable for kiteboarding? And does anyone have any thoughts on garmin watches? Thanks.
What exactly makes a watch " suitable for kitesurfing " ? If you want one for racing it needs a countdown timer.
Depends on your budget. I'm sure a rolex would be wonderful to kite with, but you may get your arm chopped off on your next african holiday. I find the majority of digital watches difficult to read in bright sunlight, and the watch faces scratch quickly. They do have the advantage of being lightweight. Try the one on your after in the sun. Size and bezel/face colour are important for clarity. I prefer analogue. Years ago I was looked after with nixon watches. All still going. Times have changed for them since Billabong took them over, and sold them. Having said that, I have a casio that I wore to school and would still go; if I replaced the batteries.
Rip curl now make the best of the surf brands. They have their own factory. (battery replacement requires watch to be sent back to rip curl and you get a 1 yr warranty) A lot of other companies simply contract watches to be made with their logo on. So from model to model their will be different quality issues. I would just buy a cheap no name instead. Airsail's link above looks good value.
I use this one, it has a lot of useful functions I have forgot how to use!http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mens-Rip-Curl-Shipstern-Tidemaster-2-Tide-Watch-A1029-SIL-/140920763843?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item20cf8835c3
Ripcurl watches are the greatest! Look good, waterproof can wear them all the time
I've had Rip Curl watches for years. They also come with a tide indicator. When the band on an old one of mine broke they sold me a new watch for the price of a band since they no longer had replacement bands for old model. Good customer service.
I had a casio digital watch that I put a velcro surf band on. I got it in 1988 and lost it in the surf about 3 years back. Needless to say I was gutted.
Anyway I paid $15 for a water resistant velcro strapped watch from kmart and 3 seasons later its still going strong.
Any dive watch is good for kitesurfing - but a webbing band with double security attachment is a good idea in case you pop one of the pins - you don't lose the watch.
Many Garmin wrist devices are NOT completely waterproof so check carefully before you buy. I have a Forerunner 310XT that is completely waterproof and it works well. The 910 is an upgraded model this also completely waterproof but its more expensive.
I have had a black G-Shock with a rubber strap for the last 6 years. I bought it when I started kitesurfing so I wouldn't be late to things due to losing track of time out on the water.
It is solar charged, so there is no need to change the battery (which screws the waterproofness). Unlike other watches I have owned in the past the strap has not cracked at all.
It's easy to read the time and if the sun is from the wrong angle the light button is easy to hit and the whole screen is backlit. When I was living in the UK the watch used to automatically sync with a signal so I never needed to adjust the time. I'm sure you can get a local version that uses a local time signal.
I recently went scuba diving down to 15 metres with it with no problems.
I've just inspected the watch strap pins and one is looking a bit out of shape so it's probably time to go and get new pins for it!
A tip I heard was don't hot shower with your watch on. The heat can expand the casing and cause water damage (hence why they call it water resistant to 100m not waterproof).
I got the cheapest 100m water resistant watch I could find and so far its lasted 3 years no probs.
Want a watch that can take some abuse and is proper waterproof? How about what the Navy SEALS and some other water-deployed SF fellas use?
Traser.
They are the shazzizle.
bought seven in bali for f**k all, waterproof no, keep good time no, perfect excuse to show the missus why your 4 hrs late you get what you pay for, f*****g great value if you ask me
I got a Nixon watch, it looks cool and is water resistant.. chicks dig em too..
I flash it on those close to shore transition tricks all the chicks love to watch
I had a Nixon a few years back and it was a really nice watch but when the battery was flat the jewellers told me it was a real non standard thing and it was hard to find, had to order one O/seas or something
Same thing with something else, maybe the seal...?
anyone else had that drama? I always wondered if the shop was full of it/just could not be bothered
ive gone through a lot a watches, and the ripcurl oceansearch titanium's doing the job at present
serviced in ripcurl victoria. I purchased it overseas, had a warranty issue when it was new and they fixed it no worries.
^ yeah dunno Mark.. I've changed my Nixon battery once at a key cutter booth, no problems. Didnt have any pressure tests done either. Everything fine afterwards
Over the years changing water resist watch batteries at jewellers, watch shops etc they have always said you must have a pressure test done to ensure watch is water tight or something along those lines. Costs like an extra $50 or something.. Ive never had it done and havent had any dramas with the watches later.. I dont scuba dive however.
Is this test thing legit or just another money making venture?
Hi Perl, no don't have one but supposed to lazy 15 hrs on GPS mode before recharge.I'm looking at getting one in the future.
Thanks for the tip Pearl, I may get it done cos I like the watch.
Default I am with you on pressure tests, never had it done but I tell them it does go swimming so they make sure the seal is right and it gets a swab of rubbergrease anyway I think. Not that I dive but now and then it does to 5m, and it gets dunked 30x a session windsurfing. No dramas with the last 3 or so watches.
Lorus brand metal band from Prouds for around $120 or Pulsar at Angus and Coote usually $240 reduced to $120 metal band.Look great and are great for in the ocean,never get a pressure test...to expensive relative to watch price and not really needed...easy money for jeweller.
--- The list goes on and the price has decreased with each loss..
