Wrist watches for caving

Badlad

Administrator
Staff member
I've usually chosen a budget Casio watch for caving.  Both work and caving end up getting the thing scratched so never thought it worth spending much money on.  Been having a bit of trouble finding the right kind of watch on the internet.  Recently bought what was described as a retro casio for about ?20.  When it turned up it looked really tiny on my wrist, much smaller than the casio's of old.  Perhaps it was more kids or ladies size.  Wondered what other cavers use

Anyone got any advice on simple, waterproof watches suitable for caving and building type work?
 

andrewmcleod

Well-known member
I have a pink Baby G (the 'girls' one) after I flattened the battery on one of the classic Casio's (I think a button probably got stuck). I use the last-but-one hole in the watch strap though, so not one for larger wrists! (unsurprisingly)

Something like this:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5432525
but I got it second-hand on eBay.

It's not as low-profile as some, but it is pretty bomb-proof. Plus it's pink :)
 

royfellows

Well-known member
Casio yes, G-Shock best.

Hving said this I left a ?25 Sekonda in a garment pocket that went through the washing machine, no issues.
 

Paul Marvin

Member
There is a clock on my camera which I have with us most of the time . The watch that is Sue  ( my wife ) proof hasn't been invented yet . :(
 

mch

Member
Like others, I use a Casio. Never had any trouble with them. Currently using a Casio W-212H, cost around ?20 from local watch repair shop about 3 years ago, currently ?26 on Amazon. I wear it all the time whether caving, gardening, DIY, etc.
 

sinker

New member
royfellows said:
Casio yes, G-Shock best.

Something we agree on Roy  :)



Yes agree, I wouldn't be without mine.
20bar water resistant, dust resistant, minimum 5 year battery life although the last one lasted nearly 8 years. Replacement straps are cheap and the only thing that ever fails every few years.


There is a massive range:

Something around the ?100 mark is best:

https://g-shock.co.uk/gd-350-1ber

or this:

https://g-shock.co.uk/mrg-b2000bs-3adr



 

Paul Marvin

Member
sinker said:
royfellows said:
Casio yes, G-Shock best.

Something we agree on Roy  :)



Yes agree, I wouldn't be without mine.
20bar water resistant, dust resistant, minimum 5 year battery life although the last one lasted nearly 8 years. Replacement straps are cheap and the only thing that ever fails every few years.


There is a massive range:

Something around the ?100 mark is best:

https://g-shock.co.uk/gd-350-1ber

or this:

https://g-shock.co.uk/mrg-b2000bs-3adr


:clap: :clap: :LOL: :LOL:




 

royfellows

Well-known member
The worst watch I have ever had was a Seiko was daft as it sounds. Cost well over ?100, the face scratched easily and it packed up in 2 years. Thought it was the battery so got it changed, (needed a special tool), another ?10 down the loo.

My old G -Shock I have had for many years. Battery went on that, it was an ordinary key fob battery I changed myself in 5 minutes with a fine screwdriver.
Really gave me things to think about.
 

PeteHall

Moderator
amw said:
F-91W cave the best, forget the rest.

Exactly the one I use, same colour as well so it's easy to spot.  (y)

I do find that a wrist watch digs into the back of my hand when crawling though, so I usually wear it on the strap of my elbow pad instead.
 
This was allegedly designed with caving in mind, although I think they need to work on the scratch-proofing:
 

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Cantclimbtom

Well-known member
I don't normally wear a watch so I bought a casio, 10 year battery, supposedly 100m waterproof based on G-Shock but not branded as such (which makes it way cheaper) https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000VE5XL6/ and I have found it to be impossible to lose or break both underground or above ground in any conditions.

Not that I get out that much...  but EVERY SINGLE BLOOMING TIME -  I have forgotten it and left it at home and realised while I was driving somewhere. I have yet to actually wear it on any outings, which comes back to my claim that I find it impossible to lose or break!
 

Badlad

Administrator
Staff member
Many thanks for all the responses.  Lots to think about.  See you soon Mark  (y)
 

Rob

Well-known member
I used to use a Casio, been through about 2-3 in my first 16 years caving. Great for telling the time and lasting.  (y)

Then a couple years ago got lured to the dark side of smart watches and after quite a bit of research got a Huawei Watch GT (note, not "GT2", that's a different beast). This is a "dumb" smart watch, so it doesn't do music, calls, emails, etc like most smart watches do nowadays. However what it does which i like for caving is it tracks GPS and altitude (using barometric pressure), so on expeditions it's actually quite handy. Dropping +500m deep caves in Albania it was pretty good against our disto survey! Below is a photo of a typical day (climb mountain, abseil down inside, climb back out, walk back down mountain).

The battery lasts for 3-4 weeks with normal use, which is fine for me. Plus the build quality seems excellent; it's surprisingly lasted +2 hard years of Derbyshire digging with no obvious fault other than an acceptably scratched screen. Can get new off eBay for ~?80 or second hand (but still good condition) for ?40.
 

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