Re: Watch Recommendation ??
Strickland,
Maybe you need to be more clear with what you're looking to have the watch do. There's been a few watch threads here recently suggesting everything from a Timex Ironman to Rolex. Dress, tactical, functional? Let us know.
I was in a rush earlier when I made my suggestion, so let me expand a bit. Here's what I really like about my Pathfinder PAW-1300T:
Solar powered. I hated changing batteries in my old Seiko Dive watch every 2 years, and I had it crap out on me in Afghanistan in 2001 when KAF still had craters in the runway, so getting a replacement wasn't an option and I was screwed for the next two months. Cold kills batteries, and I haven't had a non-solar powered watch since. Even my dress watch is a Citizen Eco-Drive.
Tough titanium band and mineral crystal. I beat the hell out of this watch. It hasn't left my wrist for the last two years, never popped a pin, and has a minuscule scratch in the crystal. It's not a fancy watch, but it is still attractive enough that I can wear it around town to a nice(r) restaurant without embarrassing my wife who is usually dressed a couple society notches above me.
Full featured. Multiple alarms, a chrono/timer that runs for days, dual time and easily changed time zones (even the +4.5 for Kabul), and when I'm stateside it has the atomic timekeeping. It's currently +1.5 seconds after not having been set for the last month, so it's pretty accurate too without it.
Pathfinder sensors. Barometer, altimeter, compass, and a thermometer if I take it off my wrist for a bit and let it hit the open air. You can get your density altitude very easily with it.
It isn't huge. The 1300 series is the slim model. It isn't much bigger than most dive watches, and with the titanium band it is light as hell. I hate the big watches that are always getting caught on crap.
It isn't expensive. $210 last time I checked on Amazon. Some guys need their watch to be a status symbol for them either because of their line of work or whatever. I don't give a damn about that because I work in a shithole anyhow. I just want functional, and I see a Rolex or TAG as another gun I can get.
I haven't owned a Suunto, but I do get a smile and rub a little salt in the wound every time one of my co-workers bitches that their Suunto's batteries died or the band just broke.
There's a recommendation for you. Hope it helps you in your decision. S/F.
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