One of the most appealing traits of a person or traveler is punctuality. A nice travel watch not only makes it easier for us to tell the time but also enhances our sense of style. The most recent watches allow you to do a lot more than just tell the time, including navigating, monitoring your heartbeat and blood pressure, counting your steps, and even making phone calls. These watches are perfect for travelers who don’t want to carry around their smartphone all the time.
While travel watches include numerous practical functions that are tailored specifically for travel, for some people a smartwatch may be a better choice. The same trip features as travel watches are often available on smartwatches. However, these clocks also come with extra features like activity tracking and even smartphone connectivity. The ideal solution for you will depend on your travel requirements and preferences when deciding between a smartwatch and a travel watch. Before deciding to purchase, consider the following aspects if you’re a backpacker looking for the ideal watch for your trip:
1. Convenience
Convenience is the primary consideration when choosing a travel watch and the starting point for all other considerations. Your life must be made easier by the watch you wear. And right away, we notice that subjectivity has entered. In general, your watch should improve your trip experience. Or, to put it another way, you shouldn’t be preoccupied with checking your watch while driving. For the majority of us mere mortals, anything delicate—whether priceless vintage or extraordinarily complex—should probably remain in the safe.
2. Comfort
There is a fair case to be made for comfort, but convenience is the main factor in a decent travel watch. Because of this, little flaws like a clasp’s pointy edge or a crown’s tendency to scrape into your wrist at an awkward angle become more noticeable when you wear a watch for an extended amount of time. These particulars are crucial when driving. Additionally, wrist balance is important.
3. Reliability
The fictitious instance of the spring bar popping brings to light reliability, another crucial aspect of a travel watch. You must consider both the interior and outside of your watch in order to truly deconstruct it. Make sure the mechanism is something that will function. You don’t want to depend on that vintage chronograph when you’re late for the train because it hasn’t received maintenance in a while and is full of “quirks.” Instead, choose a strategy that has never failed you.
4. Material
When it comes to watches, there are many different materials to choose from, making this one of the most important considerations. Stainless steel is used in watches that are extremely robust, but base metal is sometimes used in timepieces that are less expensive. Invest in a G-shock or military-style watch that has premium silicon straps and is water-resistant/water-proof if you want to flaunt a sporty look. Silicon is durable enough to endure damage, making it a great material choice for urban hiking.
5. Movement
To put it another way, a watch runs on movement. Since clockmakers realized in the nineteenth century that a vibrating piece of quartz can maintain time correctly, many high-end timepieces today employ a quartz movement. The quartz wristwatch movement first appeared in the 1970s and has since become a common option.
Both mechanical and automatic watch mechanisms are possible. The automatic movement winds itself using the action of the hands, although both of these movements employ a coiled spring and other gears to maintain precise time. Before choosing a watch, you should consider the benefits and drawbacks of each movement.
6. Brand
Having a specific watch brand name may be important to some people. Watches have always been considered luxury items. Even if you aren’t a great watch enthusiast, you likely already understand the importance some of the top brand names hold.
If you are prepared to spend a significant sum of money on a watch, you might want to think about how essential a certain brand name is to you before making your purchase. If it is, browse around to make sure you get exactly what you want. You’ll be spending a lot of money on this purchase, so you want to be sure it’s ideal and will bring you lasting happiness.
7. Size of the Band
We have varied band widths, just like different apparel sizes (watch straps). If you have a large wrist, you should definitely seek for a band that is between 22mm and 24mm in diameter. The best bandwidth would be between 15mm and 20mm for backpackers with smaller wrists.
8. Features and Specifications
Simple analog timepieces may only display the time or they may additionally include a chronograph and a time/date feature. However, travelers should purchase a watch with smart functions like GPS, several time zones, a barometer, etc. Wireless networking (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth), email and call checking, caller ID, and task lists are some other handy functions. Such capabilities are featured in the majority of the most recent smartwatches and are highly recommended for travelers.
- Barometer: The barometer feature on your hiking watch measures atmospheric pressure and charts its evolution over time. The barometer uses this variation over time to forecast the impending weather conditions as indicated by variations in air pressure. A rise in air pressure indicates that the weather is getting better, and a fall in atmospheric pressure indicates that worse than ideal hiking conditions are on the horizon. Many of the hiking smartwatches will sound an alarm to let you know when a storm is approaching and will give you time to put on your rain gear or find shelter.
- Compass: We consider any watch lacking this feature to be unsuitable for hiking. Your primary navigational tool should be a compass, which will also display your current bearing (which way you are facing) and the four cardinal directions (North, South, East, and West. By detecting the magnetic field of the earth, a compass can precisely identify which way is north. Although a compass on your watch might be helpful for determining overall direction, we would recommend against using it in place of your traditional compass for two reasons. With a handheld compass, sighting and triangulation with a map will become more simpler, and more critically, technology can malfunction.
- GPS: GPS functionality is a characteristic of more sophisticated hiking watches. As was already said, GPS watches employ circling satellites to determine your exact location on the planet. You may quickly retrieve your current coordinates, speed, distance traveled, ascent/descent, and position in relation to numerous GPS map landmarks using this data. The ability of GPS watches to import your chosen route and show you where you are in relation to your destination is probably their most valuable feature. Additionally, you may download all of this GPS data once you are safely at home to virtually relive your journey.
- Solar Functions: It’s a pleasure to use and precise to a dime, which is exactly what you need from a watch when you’re hiking. The watch can run for up to 54 days between charges thanks to its solar charging capabilities, which should be plenty to let you to complete even the longest thru-hike with just one recharge at the halfway mark.
- Waterproof: Numerous travel watches have waterproofing characteristics that enable damage-free wearing of them in damp or rainy environments. Some travel watch manufacturers provide models that are intended exclusively for use when swimming or scuba diving. Make sure to pick a model that is explicitly marketed as being waterproof if you want a travel watch that can be worn while participating in water activities.
9. Design
Of course, choosing a watch’s design is important. You just need to decide what style of look you want because watches are available in any shape, size, and color imaginable. Do you want glamorous or elegant, striking or sleek?
You should make sure that the watch you purchase will go well with your regular attire. Buying a watch that makes more of a statement can work for you if your wardrobe is full of daring accessories and brightly colored clothing with bold designs. However, if your fashion sense is a little more understated, you should choose a watch that will be understated and sophisticated.
10. Price
Travel watches can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars and several thousand dollars. The materials used, the inclusion of features suited to travel, and the brand name are all variables that may affect the price of travel watches. It’s vital to keep your budget in mind when looking for travel watches and how much you’re willing to spend overall.
Conclusion
By taking into account the features and capabilities provided by various travel watches, you may transform your journey into a travel watch adventure. There is likely to be a travel clock that perfectly suits your demands, whether you’re searching for one that can be worn while swimming or diving or just one that can show numerous time zones at once.
