Wrist watches for caving

Paul Marvin

Paul Marvin

Member
Rob said:
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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Rob have you got very small hands or is that watch HUGE ?
 
Rob

Rob

Well-known member
Paul Marvin said:
Rob have you got very small hands or is that watch HUGE ?
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Haha, quite small hands, but it is pretty big (although it's smaller than it looks in that photo!). It took a little adjusting too, especially after a tiny Casio, but now i don't even notice it. Even in a wetsuit or oversuit.  (y)
 
H

Hunter

Member
I had Pulsar watches in the past which were worn all the time, caving, diving and work etc.
Never had one let me down, only changed them when they got so knocked about it was like a bit of scrap metal on my wrist.
I?ve had Casio?s as well but as someone said previously the plastic straps tend to fail before anything else does.
 
mrodoc

mrodoc

Well-known member
andybrooks said:
This was allegedly designed with caving in mind, although I think they need to work on the scratch-proofing:
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I inherited a Rolex Sea Dweller from my father and used it caving. It was fine but the face is scratched - shame as he had it refurbished a few years ago. It has an interesting history in that he bought it cheap off somebody in his dive club who later was charged with burglary so the provenance is in question! So I back to a 'mud resistant' G shock that is solar powered (not a lot of use if you spend too long underground of course ;)
 
paul

paul

Moderator
I've used Casio watches for decades. No idea how many over all but just the basic 50m or 100m water resistant with a backlight. Not just for caving but all the time. I find the stopwatch function useful for above ground navigation. The batteries never run out but the rubber strap breaks eventually and I just buy a new replacement watch.
 
Cantclimbtom

Cantclimbtom

Well-known member
Rob said:
...h got a Huawei Watch GT (note, not "GT2", that's a different beast). This is a "dumb" smart watch... battery lasts for 3-4 weeks with normal use... Can get new off eBay for ~?80 or second hand (but still good condition) for ?40....
Click to expand...
Nothing to do with underground stuff but that might be exactly what I need as depending on how things go, I might be after a barometric altimeter watch next summer and I don't currently own one. Will remember, thanks
 
F

FionaH

Member
Casio all the way. Bought a W-59 in 2013 and it's only really run out of juice this year. A bit scratched, yes, and the sidelight got too dim to use in any circumstance except caving by about 2018 haha, but it's still trying to this day :LOL:

I have a F91W now because I lost the other one for a while. Like Paul I find the straps go first. You can buy nylon straps on ebay and attach or you can also sometimes buy a multi-pack of replacement straps for the same price as a new watch.
 
cap n chris

cap n chris

Well-known member
Rolexes are actually very good; better to avoid scratching them by wearing gloves/wristbands over the top though, as per earlier comment above. Submariner better than Oyster perpetual datejust or Explorer.
 
W

Wardy

Active member
Unfortunately I am still not old enough or responsible enough to wear a watch.
I also thought that caving was supposed to be a great way to get away from the time pressures daily life tries to impose on us.
I like most of you have a remarkably accurate sense of thirst that helps me arrive at the right place prior to closing time. Uncanny really and has worked for over 35 years, maybe if it begins to fail that will be the signal to wear a watch.
So save the face of your rolex and dont buy the casio, blow the money on an after trip pint.
Needing a watch at work however is useful if you charge by the hour, but I wasn't aware that Badlad had become a solicitor, so does that mean his irata assessment are now based on rope manoeuvres against the clock :eek: 
 
S

Speleofish

Active member
I've also generally used Casios as they're hard to destroy. My first one survived 6 months in a tropical jungle, a 40m fall onto rocks in the Berger (which cracked its face but it still functioned) and eventually ran out of battery about a year later. I've had several since - I tried G-shocks but found them too bulky, so went back to the cheap and cheerful ones.
 
Rob

Rob

Well-known member
Another advantage i like of smart watches, and whilst not caving related exactly it is related to building and general messy jobs, is that you can check incoming messages (whatsapp, sms, calls, etc) without having to get your phone out of your pocket with your filthy hands.

I know this may seem silly, but there are some calls i really do need to take, especially work or family related, and if you are, say, halfway through clipping a messy sheep's bottom it's a faff checking your phone even when it's some random withheld number calling.
 
mak

mak

Member
I wear my Garmin fenix 3 for normal caving but have a scratch cover (transparent stick on) and keep it under gloves/neoprene I use cut off long wetsocks instead of elbow pads as they cover both elbows and forearms, it has held up well so far although I have not been digging with it.
 
Leclused

Leclused

Active member
the cheapest waterproof from decathlon. :)

https://www.decathlon.be/nl/p/horloge-stopwatch-w200-m-lopers/_/R-p-11726?mc=8332131&c=ZWART
 
blackshiver

blackshiver

Member
Timex analogue expedition or camper with a nato strap for climbing and caving for me. I usually have one for Sunday best and relegate the other to caving duties when it gets a bit scruffy. The current caving one is probably ten years old at least.
They are bombproof, can be had for a few quid. The Indiglo feature is very useful in club huts when drunk in the dark and trying to find the dorm door for more cheese / beer / The Bog.
Well recommended.
 
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