Watches and Christmas Money

[Spiffy]

Since I got a good load of money from different Santa's this year I was thinking about getting a little upgrade from my G Shock. I have been looking at the Sunnto Core All Black

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51uqcESNo%2BL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

I think it would speak to the geek in me and be "tactical" as well as not looking out of place.

Anyone have any opinions on them or other nice watches in the $300 range?

[TACC]

Never seen them before, but it looks nice

[MatthewMT]

I have the casio pathfinder triple sensor, Alti,Baro and Comp. Its been awesome its an older one at this point but is very rugged! It has a lot of cool features also, one can tilt his wrist at a 45degree angle and it will illuminate for a few seconds so that feature is hands free.

Very impressed to say the least, casio has always been really rugged IMO from watches to phones.

I looked recently at some of the newer ones and they can be had at under 300$

Hope that helps,

[Pokeguyjai]

I have had the Suunto Core and it is not a good watch to wear for business. It looks cool on paper but not so much in a business suit. Casio Pathfinder is not a bad option and I would prefer that over the Suunto, I liked mine a lot. All were very durable, I bang my watches around a lot...

Keep in mind that the compass/alti/baro will not be very accurate. I got mine thinking that they were but have been let down by the compass/alti on many occasions.

I'm currently wearing a Luminox which is great for business but I am not a big fan of the leather staps.

[SPQR476]

I've worn a vector for the past 10 years. My first vector even survived my ejection, although I've retired it since. It is ungainly for business, so I need a classier timepiece, as well.

The compass, however is accurate, IF you keep it calibrated. I've run AC-130 fire missions off my vector.

The newer casios all have atomic time, which I refuse to use...I like my watches to be able to take a hack.

[Wilburt]

I had a Core for a while. My complaints are that if you use the compass frequently, say for a couple days of Land Nav, the battery dies quick. I was in WLC when it only lasted about 2 weeks. Also, the altimeter works well, if on foot. It does not stay calibrated for vehicular use. I tested the depth meter while shallow scuba diving and it was on the money.

I have also broke two of them. On the first watch, after about a year, the battery only lasted 3 or so months. Even without heavy compass and extra features. I call suunto, and sent it in. They sent me a brand new watch completely free of charge. On the second one, one of the buttons quit working in about a year. Again, they sent me a brand new watch completely free of charge. Their warranty is second to none.

However, I decided to cut my losses, as I didn't really use most of the features, they were just cool to have. I sold the second new one they sent me and replaced it with a Luminox Black Ops 8400 series. It's plane jane and just works well.

I think I just was super unlucky with a few lemons. Some of my friends had Vectors and 1 had a Core. They never had any issues.

[MatthewMT]

I have had the Suunto Core and it is not a good watch to wear for business. It looks cool on paper but not so much in a business suit. Casio Pathfinder is not a bad option and I would prefer that over the Suunto, I liked mine a lot. All were very durable, I bang my watches around a lot...

Keep in mind that the compass/alti/baro will not be very accurate. I got mine thinking that they were but have been let down by the compass/alti on many occasions.

I'm currently wearing a Luminox which is great for business but I am not a big fan of the leather staps.

Poke, I had to download the manual for the pathfinder it stated you must remove the watch and let sit to get the most accurate readings for temp, baro, alti and comp. with that being said and living in a valley surrounded by mountains and landmarks makes it easy to confirm the comp readings which have been on for me consistently.

Same battery since I've had it over a year, despite doing concrete and wearing it everyday it has been awesome.

anyway just my .02

[Mike Heckathorn]

Poke, I had to download the manual for the pathfinder it stated you must remove the watch and let sit to get the most accurate readings for temp, baro, alti and comp. with that being said and living in a valley surrounded by mountains and landmarks makes it easy to confirm the comp readings which have been on for me consistently.

Same battery since I've had it over a year, despite doing concrete and wearing it everyday it has been awesome.

anyway just my .02

I like my pathfinder. And if you keep an eye out, you can get a good deal on one ($100-$150 is not unheard of). Worth every penny of $300 though.

[MatthewMT]

I did some work for a guy last winter that did business for casio, he spotted it and started telling me how great they were. I gotta say after reaching inside forms/walls to tie rebar its got a few scratches but is still very clear, I probably shouldn't be working in it the way I do but its one of those things were you feel naked with out.

Finding one for 1-150 would be a steal!

Out hunting a few years back I took a rest on an out cropping on my way down the hill, Got up made my way down the shale a couple hundred yards once back in the easy hiking I realized I left my phone up there. I was so over it and left. it was a casio construction/mil spec phone. I had been tracking with gps and knew I could find that spot again pretty easy. I didn't make it back until a week and a half later! spotted the out cropping and made the climb, there it was picked it up and was still on! lol So excited I found it I hollered at a friend only to drop it about 15'. all said and done I used that thing for a bottle opener on a daily basis!
Me and a co worker were building a dock on a lake here he managed to drop his casio phone off he dock into about 5' of water which took a few minutes to retrieve, I thought for sure his cell was toast! It was fine right away retrieving calls and making them too.

Sorry for straying from OP, just my testament to how well they've held up!

[oef24]

I wear a Suunto Core almost daily. The battery usually lasts 10 months for me. It is great that you can change the battery yourself and they are available anywhere. There is no need to send it out or take it to someone to change out a battery.
I bought mine online for $250. Different color bands are also available online. JMHO.

O

[Spiffy]

C I'd love to have an Omega. When I hit the lottery I'm getting me 2 lol. I hate to say I saw the Core on the Travis Haley video...... does that make me a fan boy?... and I thought it was the all black G Shock. I have a cheap fossil that looks expensive if I need a show watch for a suit and I spent most of my time in casual to gun range casual dress if I'm not working on a house.

Thanks for the input all I will be probably hit up somewhere that stocks them to see how they feel on my arm.

[EDELWEISS]

Check out Marathon. I not sure if they are under $300; but they are well worth the price if you dont want anything besides a date and a diving bezel. I have enough trouble with my "smarter than me" phone, I dont need a watch laughing at me toooooo.

Ive used both a Rolex GMT Master and a Omega SpeedMaster; both were great (and expensive) watches; but my Marathon was significantly cheaper and keeps better time (quartz vs automatic and manual).

[Spiffy]

Spiffy, you win the lottery........... you'd better buy us both 2 omegas!! ( or i am sending in the boys!) ;-)

LOL You got it Bro!

[BillyOblivion]

C I'd love to have an Omega. When I hit the lottery I'm getting me 2 lol.

When I hit the lottery I'm going to smash all my watches with a damn sledge hammer and never wear one again. What's the point in being rich if you're still a slave to the clock.