I like a good watch when I am tripping. Absolutely need something that is reliable and also gives day and date. Digging around and came across the G Shock which is used by police and military. I suspect this watch is huge considering all the functions. Cant help but wonder if it will get hung up in straps of a pack. Probably likely, its what busted my other atomic watch from Piragis.

A bit more dough than I would like to spend but that has never stopped me in the past. Anybody own one? Comments?

G Shock

Review (first watch)

MasterT,
I bought one of the first low priced Casio G-Shock watches (less than $50) and wore it about 20 years. Rugged, dependable, great night functions. They were very popular in the Army. I ruined a couple of similar watches before the G Shock came out. I wore it 24/7/365 for several years (except for private time with the wife). Wore it with ruck sacks, radio packs, banging inside armored vehicles, Korea, Desert Storm, etc. I highly recommend but think this model is overkill and maybe too large of a profile.
Eventually the wrist band broke and I kept replacing it with used bands from cheaper watchs and I lost it.

That is a very nice watch. I was just thinking about these this week. I saw an add online and they looked just what I need. They make so many models it hard to choose.

Sometimes I run into other nurses who rock G Shocks, they're okay. I think their huge stocky watchers that are a little overkill. I usually bring whatever watch i grab (i wear citizens), to the bw and leave it my personal dry bag. I find that i only check the time once/ twice a day. If you just want something to confirm the time a few times a day, get something cheap.

I bought a $14 Timex/Coleman (the electronic face looks much like the g shock). Has alarm, date, day, time and also the temperature of my wrist (usually a steady 75 on fall trips). I fasten it to the base of the sliding seat during the day, in my pocket in camp (unless I want the actual temperature in which case it must hang from my dry line). I've had it for about five years.
This is the current model.

Quite the savings.....

quote DownStrm: "MasterT,
I bought one of the first low priced Casio G-Shock watches (less than $50) and wore it about 20 years. Rugged, dependable, great night functions. They were very popular in the Army. I ruined a couple of similar watches before the G Shock came out. I wore it 24/7/365 for several years (except for private time with the wife). Wore it with ruck sacks, radio packs, banging inside armored vehicles, Korea, Desert Storm, etc. I highly recommend but think this model is overkill and maybe too large of a profile.
Eventually the wrist band broke and I kept replacing it with used bands from cheaper watchs and I lost it.


"

Well since I pulled the trigger after posting this thread I like this response best ;-)

Gee whiz, 24/7/365 military use except for quality time? Thats saying something.

Big profile but it doesn't weigh a lot. I sort of like the compass and barometer concept. I just have to use it. Hopefully it doesn't take a PHD to learn how to use it. I much prefer wearing a time piece when fishing or tripping. I usually push the limits when it comes to daylight and look at the time fairly often during the day. Might be sort of cool to understand the correlation in real time (no pun intended) concerning barometric pressure and the weather. Might also be nifty to apply the same principle to the fish bite.

Hopefully it won't become a "hassle" and constantly get hung up in my pack strap and thus violate the "No Hassles" MT tripping creed. But as is in keeping with human nature I might have to "rationalize" and make an exception since I spent $$.

Yeah a G shock like that is massive. I hate oversized watches.
The standard G-shocks are more true to original size and would serve your needs. Look at the
Casio G-Shock DW5600MS-1

Or come to the dark side of automatic watches! Tudor Ranger lives for adventure and goes with me on every one.

After reading a bit, i like the idea of having a barometer "on hand".
would be good to correlate with fish bite or keep tabs on quick changes in local weather right where you're standing.

+1 on having a barometer function. I bought a Suunto Vector years ago and I like that it records the barometric pressure over time so you can see if the barometric pressure is rising or falling. I can look at my watch and see the barometric trend line right on the face of the watch and predict if it is going to rain.

I have my best fishing up north when there is a “steady” barometer over the week I am fishing. An up and down barometric pressure usually means tougher fishing.

A steady barometer with a New or Full Moon ... more often than not means “fantastic” fishing.

I’ve had two g shocks that I made smaller by removing the outer rubber case. I just had to remove a few small screws. Watches still did great for many years.

I have now been made aware of additional functions. It has a laser (complete with authentic laser sound) which will make for an effective bear defense. It is also an MP3 player. ;-)

It is a strange new world though is it not? I mean just think back..........Not so very long ago I had my first cell phone. It was literally the size of a brick and I carried it and the humongous charger in a brief case. And the "internet"? Whats that? What does that have to do with me? And now we have both in the palm of our hand. Weird.

This watch some 40 years ago would of been considered science fiction. Funny, I wasn't really looking for a watch and then a pop up ad came on line and it was like "Oh yea, I might like a new tripping watch".........and then 10 minutes later I was out a considerable chunk of change. But I usually know what I want, just ask my wife (I was hinting at marriage within a month of meeting her ;-)

For many years I've worn Casio plastic-cased watches that can self-correct using the atomic clock radio signal, but I ran across a series of situations where my watch battery died just after or just before leaving for a long trip. So frustrating to lose the function or panic to get the battery replaced.

The last time my battery died pre-trip I stumbled upon an analog/digital Casio Solar watch, which uses a solar panel on the face of the watch to keep it charged. It didn't have the atomic clock radio feature, but I decided to take a chance in order to avoid the dead battery panic. I haven't looked recently, maybe they have a model with both now?

I've had the watch for maybe 2 years, and really like it. It even has the capability of displaying its charge status, which so far has always been at 'high', and I don't do anything special to maintain it. I tend to be hard on the crystal lenses, but it is tough - no scratches to date, which is kind of amazing.

Mt,let us know if barometer trends correlate with good fishing. I just got a suunto. I will let everyone know if it works! Marc

quote Laketrout58: "Mt,let us know if barometer trends correlate with good fishing. I just got a suunto. I will let everyone know if it works! Marc"

Suunto? Whats that?

I think the G-Shock will be sort of fun to wear actually. I will probably wear it quite a bit before fishing and tripping with it just to become aware of how to use it. I know I won't take the time while I am out there to learn it. Good if these sorts of devices become second nature.

I have always heard of the relationship between barometric pressure and fishing success but never applied the principle figuring that I am going regardless and am of the mind that I can get them to bite in spite of the weather (Good luck with that ;-)

The compass function might also be nifty but will be redundant since I have a compass already mounted on my thwart for fast and easy viewing.

Suunto.........just ask the all knowing Google. Nice looking stuff, I like it. Christmas present to self!?............ But does it have a laser? While you are still breaking out your saw to clear branches from a fallen tree across the trail I have already sliced through, plus no more lifts over beaver dams.

interested in what your experience is with the barometer function. while off the topic of "Watch", you've got me looking at this thing

The Garmin Fenix (i have the 3 HR, I think it is up to the 5 now) watch is everything you could ever want in a watch for canoeing. It will even keep your stroke count for you. Granted it is VERY pricey comparatively because it does so much more than just tell time.

Suunto is a brand of watch from sweden I think. It does stuff including going to the bathroom for me. I'm getting to that age you see! Actually, I wanted it for compass and barometer and altimeter. I hope it can tell time too! I will show it to you in clewiston fl. We live in sebring fl in the winter. I will let you know if good fishing correlates to rise or fall in barometer. Marc

quote Laketrout58: "Suunto is a brand of watch from sweden I think. It does stuff including going to the bathroom for me. I'm getting to that age you see! Actually, I wanted it for compass and barometer and altimeter. I hope it can tell time too! I will show it to you in clewiston fl. We live in sebring fl in the winter. I will let you know if good fishing correlates to rise or fall in barometer. Marc"

Oh for crying out loud Marc, your only an hour away! You simply must come for dinner one evening. Are you and the Missus fond of Salmon?

MT, we love salmon! We plan on arriving in Sebring on jan. 8th. Do you live in Clewiston? Marc

I have a 7 year old Casio Mudman Watch. It's a beast. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. You'll like your Casio G-Shock.

quote Laketrout58: "MT, we love salmon! We plan on arriving in Sebring on jan. 8th. Do you live in Clewiston? Marc"

Indeed........Its the land of sugar cane and rednecks (I fit in a little better than I care to admit ;-) Headquarters of National Sugar Corporation its claim to fame is "Americas Sweetest Town". For that reason the little town has a bit of money in it with the executives living here. Many fine homes are located here which is not the norm for a small agriculturally based town in south central Florida.

I, however, live on the opposite side of the tracks from the big fine homes and inhabit industrial property. Yes my home is actually a converted office building and being zoned industrial is located in the poorer economic area of town. When you feel like you might want to lock your doors your almost to my place LOL. Fortunately any significant crime is largely absent and other than a weed whipper and blower being swiped when I left my shed unlocked (they braved a 6ft barbed wire fence and a bad dog) we have never had much in the way of problems here.

Sure come on down, its an easy enough drive. Give me a weeks notice. Starting in January my shop will be full blast and it gets a bit intense but I would like very much to make your acquaintance and I do like to cook.

quote mc2mens: "I have a 7 year old Casio Mudman Watch. It's a beast. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. You'll like your Casio G-Shock."

You know a commercial has done its job when your still using the phrase 20 years later. But wasn't it a Timex that "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking"?

Thats not the only thing which "Takes a licking and keeps on Ticking"

I like your choice mc2mens.......looks good.

I would give you plenty of notice,MT. Maybe in February. My wife and I noticed the sugar cane trucks and giant factory south of town spewing steam! Have a good night. Marc

quote mastertangler: "

quote mc2mens: "I have a 7 year old Casio Mudman Watch. It's a beast. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. You'll like your Casio G-Shock."

You know a commercial has done its job when your still using the phrase 20 years later. But wasn't it a Timex that "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking"?


Thats not the only thing which "Takes a licking and keeps on Ticking"

I like your choice mc2mens.......looks good. "

Damn! That whitetail's got some cat in it!

The watch is not as big as I expected.

The only caveat is I will probably have to break out my readers to do anything other than read the time, day and date. Good looking piece of equipment and I will probably end up wearing it for more than tripping and fishing.

Now to wade through the manual, Ugh!

mastertangler: "The watch is not as big as I expected. The only caveat is I will probably have to break out my readers to do anything other than read the time, day and date. Good looking piece of equipment and I will probably end up wearing it for more than tripping and fishing. Now to wade through the manual, Ugh! "

I bought a G-Shock watch just prior to a Woodland-Caribou Provincial Park trip about 3 1/2 years ago. I liked the watch so much that I have worn it everyday since then! It's a handsome and tough watch. As you mentioned mastertangler, I generally need squint a bit or pull out the readers to view everything properly.

It has in fact taken a beating and has maintained accurate time without fault. Probably the only notable negative with the watch is adjusting the settings; which is a pain in the neck.

Hans Solo