Posted on November 27, 2017
Watch for hunting and outdoor activities
With the advent of modern gadgets, smartphones, tablets, the popularity of wrist watches has dropped significantly. However, there remain areas where they remain the only optimal option for time control. These include fishing and hunting, for which the convenience and speed of time control is important.
It would seem, why buy a special watch for hunting? After all, there is, for example, a phone that shows time. But the meaning of hunting wrist watches is that they are able not only to show the current time, but also combine several sensors and instruments necessary in hunting conditions. Compact and light, they are conveniently attached to the wrist and communicate the data of a compass, barometer or thermometer – it all depends on the particular model. Hunters’ watches are a specialized tool for harsh and sometimes dangerous leisure. And to determine the choice, pay attention to the recommendations below.
Required characteristics
The choice takes extreme conditions into account. The watch can be exposed to moisture, mechanical shock. Also important is the indicator of comfort and the availability of additional functions. But reliability and accuracy remain the defining criteria.
At first glance, classical mechanical models are optimal, but they lose by the electronic in the number of additional options. To ensure better functionality, the watch should have the following properties:
- impact strength;
- quartz movement;
- waterproof housing with the ability to dive to a depth of at least 2 m;
- screen illumination using LED system;
- resistance to glass damage, scratches;
- the ability to quickly replace the power source;
- the convenience of activating various modes.
Wrist watch for hunting and fishing should have water resistance and shockproof. In the wild, these qualities are especially important for the watch movement. If the watch has a mechanical drive, then water resistance at them significantly decreases with time. This is because the mechanical winding screw with constant rotation loses its tightness and as a result, moisture can get through it inside the watch.
Contact with water occurs constantly: from the protruding perspiration on the arm to the rain during the pursuit of prey. To ensure that the gadget does not fail, look at the watch that can withstand water pressure of at least 10ATM. Smaller parameters will suffice unless on washing hands, but the protection of 200 meters (20ATM) and more will allow you to even dive with scuba. Thus, you can safely move in any conditions, without worrying that the clock will fail.
On the hunt for watches, a quality anti-shock system is extremely important. If the clock mechanism is excessively susceptible to shock and severe mechanical stress, it will lead to a rapid clock outage. When buying watches, pay attention not only to shockproof characteristics, but also to the stability of the dial glass to strong mechanical action.
Equally important is the degree of comfort, so special attention should be given to the strap. Sometimes it is required to quickly remove the watch, which is problematic with a classic clasp. Instead of the strap it is recommended to buy bracelets, in the design of which there is no clasp. Removal is by mechanically increasing the diameter of the bracelet. It is important that in a normal state it snug against the wrist.
Additional characteristics
During hunting or fishing it is required to know not only time, but also other important data. These include the current phase of the moon according to the calendar, the indication of the date, year and month. In some cases, a countdown timer with a shutdown notification function is useful.
For professional hunters and fishermen, the following options are important:
- compass;
- button lock function to prevent accidental pressing;
- presence of illumination;
- presence of an alarm clock and a stopwatch;
- control the transition to a different time zone or summer / winter time;
- barometer and thermometer;
- altimeter.
If you choose a watch for hunting or hiking, then the presence of a built-in compass will be very handy. Adventures will be safer if you always know where you are. Usually, an electronic compass is used, oriented to the magnetic pole of the Earth. To match the cards, you can enter the value of the declination magnetic angle in the settings. The more advanced the technique, the better. The most accurate information and even the ability to record a track is given by a clock with a GPS receiver.
All functions of the watch should work properly and be distinguishable in any conditions and at any time of the day. Luminous in the dark arrows or general illumination of the dial will prove its worth in a difficult time, when it will be vital. But do not forget to turn off the auto-backlight – in ambush it does not need anything.
The barometer is useful because it can analyze past and current weather changes and even tell the future. And, since animals also react to such changes, one can partly foresee their behavior. With a thermometer the situation is more complicated, since its readings in watches are accurate only when they are not on hand. But, despite this, on the hunt, sitting in an ambush, the knowledge of lowering the temperature of the environment will not be superfluous.
Some “advanced” fishing watches are equipped with a built-in echosounder. But its quality of work and the accuracy of the indications are much inferior to the standard models. Such a function will be useful only in shallow water, with minor differences in the relief of the bottom.
To select the optimal model, it is necessary to analyze the conditions of its operation. For hunting in the summer, tight fixation is important, the size of the buttons is standard. In winter, the last should be more standard, as switching modes in gloves will be difficult. In addition, the watch should be resistant to sudden temperature changes. This applies to the material of the body and the features of the mechanism.
Conclusion
In choosing the watch for use in hunting or fishing it is worth to rely on the comfort of use. Often, in an effort to improve the characteristics of their products, manufacturers do not think about how the owner himself will handle the model. For example, a wristwatch with a barometer, compass and navigation system will provide the owner with everything necessary in terms of functions, but basic convenience in some cases can be of much greater importance. Of course, this does not mean that you should initially give up additional options. But there are many options in which developers have found a balance between functionality and ergonomics.
