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Simple, cheap watch/clock with alarm?
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Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › Simple, cheap watch/clock with alarm?
- This topic has 15 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 9 months ago by Ken Thompson.
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Jun 20, 2017 at 9:08 am #3474204
I’d like to start carrying a small, light, simple timekeeping device with an alarm. (No, I don’t take my phone in the backcountry, and my GPS doesn’t have sound.) I don’t need any other features, and I don’t think I need to spend fifty bucks on this; I just want something better than the absolute cheapest piece of dollar-store junk that’s going to fail after a month. I’d like setting the alarm to be fairly user-friendly. I won’t be wearing it on my wrist, but can always take the straps off a wristwatch.
Anyone have a nice basic watch or travel alarm to recommend?
Thanks!
Jun 20, 2017 at 9:58 am #3474218I like these, Rebecca:
It weighs 36 grams, and it measures 2.5″ x 1.5″ x .5″.
Jun 20, 2017 at 10:07 am #3474220I am sure there are tons of these out there, but this is my go to for alarm, light, cheap, somewhat waterproof. $14. Casio Men’s F108WH Illuminator Collection Black Resin Strap Digital Watch. Easily take the strap off.
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0053HBJBE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Jun 20, 2017 at 11:58 am #3474256Another vote for Casio. I like the 100 M waterproof ones.
Jun 20, 2017 at 12:09 pm #3474260I think Arthur’s Casio ticks your boxes nicely. If you want a step up, I would recommend this Timex:
Whether, Timex is better than Casio is probably a point of contention. I think they are a bit higher quality and a bit easier to use. The one really nice thing I like about that watch for backpacking is the indiglo. It is very easy to read in the middle of the night.
Jun 21, 2017 at 8:41 am #3474400I am interested in the answer as well.
Considering this is a lightweight backpacking forum, having a weight would be helpful. Timex is listed as 2.4 oz (68 g). Casio Illuminator only gives shipping weight of 3.2 oz (91 grams). I assume actual watch as worn would be lighter.
I had a little trouble with the Casio PQ10-1R mentioned in the first post but pasting the link into Microsoft Edge worked.
Comparing the three choices, the Timex gets my vote since it is weight that can be worn rather than carried, it is more stylish than the Casio and seems to weigh about the same.
Jun 21, 2017 at 9:05 am #3474402The Casio is 32 grams with the wrist band. Educated guess is that the band is about half that. Style is not important to me, I never look good on the trail. For that matter, I don’t look good off the trail either.
Jun 21, 2017 at 10:01 am #3474411Look for women’s versions of each of those watches. Same functions in a smaller, lighter package. I wear mid-sized women’s watches because I have narrow wrists. And because of the weight.
If you use a pillow, consider glueing / taping on a small (2″ x 2″) mesh pocket to keep the watch (perhaps with band removed) near your head at night.
I keep it on my wrist during the day and use it track my progress, determine north, check my pulse rate, etc.
Jun 21, 2017 at 11:31 am #3474442I also use a variant of what Arthur pointed to, for several years now, got it new for under $10. Very light, tells the time, durable, waterproof for swimming, 10-year battery and dirt cheap so if I bang it up I don’t care. The face can get scratched pretty easily while backpacking but so what. Mine also has an alarm but I don’t use it because I can’t hear high frequencies at all out of one ear and not well out of the other so it won’t wake me up, but if you can hear a high-pitched beep it will do the job.
Jun 21, 2017 at 1:43 pm #3474483These are cute and requires no battery….it’s a wind up!
Timex Mini Wind Up Travel Alarm Clock
EDIT to say links to ebay are not accepted by BPL, nor can I upload a photo from my desktop.
Go to ebay and search for Timex Mini Wind Up Travel Alarm Clock
This is the message when I try to include a link to ebay
Sorry, you have been blocked
You are unable to access backpackinglight comJun 21, 2017 at 7:30 pm #3474596Ok, I’m back. here’s a photo of the clock on ebay:
Jun 22, 2017 at 5:27 pm #3474831I use the classic F-91W. It’s slim and weighs only 20g, can be purchased for about $10, looks good, and it’s virtually indestructible. There’s also the W-59-1V which is very similar but rated to a higher degree of water resistance, though I’ve worn my F-91W while swimming and in the shower for years without any trouble.
Jun 25, 2017 at 11:01 pm #3475424Thanks, all! That’s a nice bunch of options.
Question about the Casio wristwatches–if I carry it in a pocket or bag instead of on my wrist (wearing stuff on by wrist has always bugged me), are the buttons protruding from the sides going to get bumped all the time and mess up my time and alarm settings?
I’m thinking the Casios win on size and weight, but the travel alarms win on simplicity of use, and possibly more alarm volume.
The wind-up one is nifty, and I like the idea of not having to worry about batteries, but if it needs to be wound daily, I just know I’d forget at the worst possible time.
David, my “pillow” is usually my down jacket, so pockets are already available–good idea to stash the alarm there.
Jun 26, 2017 at 5:05 am #3475436Mine is the W-201 model, and the buttons are more recessed than in some of the photos shown/referenced above. To adjust the settings you have to first hold the “adjust” button for a couple of seconds, otherwise the settings are locked, so with buttons like this I don’t think you’ll have issues.
Jun 29, 2017 at 8:40 am #3476215Gosh, that looks perfect on all counts. Thanks!
Jun 29, 2017 at 9:14 am #3476224I sleep right through a Casio alarm. Usually drowning it out snoring I suppose. I would keep it out, near your head.
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