Sport Archives - Watch Ideas

January 24, 2023January 26, 2023

Alpina Watch Review

Alpina has been making watches for over a hundred years. With great style along with quality products, they have a lot going for them. If you are looking for a great luxury sports watch, there’s a good chance you’ll find something you like with Alpina.

Their watches—though not greatly ranged in style design—are sleek, durable, and can double as sports and dress watch. One such watch is Alpiner 4, a sports watch that can blend in with a lot of different settings—making it a favorite of ours. Read more about that watch and a few others to gain a better understanding of Alpina through this Alpina Watch Review.

Alpina Watch Review

Alpina is undoubtedly known best for its sports watches. Beginning all the way back in 1938, Alpina started producing its “4” sports watches collection. With leading technology for its time, they’ve only improved, continually bringing sports to the forefront of their luxury watch brand. Their wristwatches have given wearers quality and durable products—not only for men but also for women. For land, air, or water, Alpina has shown itself to be versatile and never straying from its classic, sporty roots. The Alpina Alpiner 4 is a perfect example and should be included in any Alpina Watch review.

Alpina Alpiner 4

An Alpina sports watch, like the Alpiner 4, proves itself by having the “4” sports properties incorporated into it. It must be 1. Antimagnetic, 2. Antishock, 3. Water-resistant, and 4. Stainless. Additionally, a great quality that Alpina sports watches have is that they are beautiful to look at and many of them can just about pass for a dress watch, like this Alpiner 4.

The blue dial is an attention-getter and is the most eye-catching part of the watch. The markers and hands are all large and easy to read against the blue. The case is 44-mm in diameter and is stainless steel, the dial window material Is anti-reflective sapphire and the brown band is made of genuine leather. A barely noticeably date window sits by the 3 o’clock marker.

This watch is antimagnetic, antishock, water-resistant (up to 330-feet) and it’s stainless—a perfect example of a sports watch. This piece is also extremely attractive, showing how adaptable Alpina’s watches can be. If someone were wanting something showing its sturdiness sporty qualities, there are great options for those styles as which is well.

A good example would be the Alpina Seastrong Diver watch, which shares a lot of features with the Alpiner 4 but is less flashy. It’s darker with a black rubber band and a stainless-steel case that provides a bit of color with its sharp red. The water resistance is much deeper at 984-feet. Overall, Alpina has a lot of great sports watch options that suit many styles.

Smart ‘n stylish

The Alpina brand—known for sports and quality—also provide style and technology. With modern technology improving greatly, it’s not usually desirable to purchase anything expensive that isn’t also innovative. The same goes for watches. Why spend considerable money and not get anything newfangled? That’s the feeling many people have who lean towards the smartwatch options. While some love the classic analog timepieces that provide old fashioned style only, smartwatches are growing in popularity. Alpina has certainly joined the smartwatch party and one such piece is the Alpina Men’s Horological Smartwatch.

Seastrong Horological Smartwatch

The Seastrong Horological Smartwatch looks like the ultimate sports watch but there’s a lot more to it than just being a detailed and accurate timepiece.

The two main colors: orange and black, blend well—looking stylish and vibrant. Additionally, there are slight white and silver accents, making the markers and hands easier to see and read. It is a larger watch with a stainless-steel case that has a diameter of 45mm. It is important to be aware of the size and how it will feel on your wrist before purchasing, to make sure it’ll be comfortable. The watch has quartz movement with a synthetic sapphire dial window to protect it. The black band is made of rubber and has a buckle for a clasp.

While the vibrant colors of the watch are a great draw, the true heart of this watch is the smart technology. This watch can be a great companion to your everyday life. It can keep you up to date with what is happening in the world around you as well as internally with your health. If you download its app—available for Android and iOS, it’ll sync and provide fun functions that include activity and sleep tracking. It also provides notifications for when you receive a text or call. The battery is supposed to last for about four years as well.

Apple and many other smartwatches may have a more “smartphone-like” screen. The horological smartwatches use a secondary dial rather than a screen, to maintain the classic look. That could be less appealing to those wanting a miniature smartphone on their wrist. However, the Seastrong Smartwatch is also a stellar and high-class sports watch—providing an aesthetic and quality an Apple smartwatch simply wouldn’t be able to provide.

Not just an ornament

Since wristwatches grew in popularity through the early 20^th century, they’ve been seen on the wrists of women more and more. However, watches are still not as marketed to women as they are to men. Additionally, it is difficult to find high-quality wristwatches that are durable and sporty and…for women. Usually, women’s timepieces are focused on being a prime accessory, to compliment an outfit, or to even blend in as jewelry. But women need high-quality watches to take on adventures just the same as any man.

Alpina watches usually look ready for anything. If you are wanting a luxury watch that doesn’t quite show it’s durability as visibly as Alpina Watches do, you may want to look elsewhere for your new timepiece. Rado could be a better fit. Alpina Watches are incredible and strong and they show it, especially through their women’s watches. An Alpina Watch review must include Alpina’s women’s watches because they ready for adventure—just like the Alpina Women’s Extreme Diver.

Women’s Extreme Diver

Alpina Women’s Extreme Diver watch is a prime example of a sporty watch for women. Known for their sports watches, no Alpina watch review would be complete without referencing how the brand extends its trademark to both men and women. And it extends it well. This watch is strong, durable, and perfect for the land and sea. The stainless-steel case is brushed and polished. The movement is Swiss quartz and the black dial is protected by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The hands and the hour markers are of a luminescent silver-tone. There is also a date window at the 3 o’clock marker. With a sturdy black rubber strap, this watch looks and feels ready for anything thrown at it.

As promised by the title, this watch is made for diving. It is water-resistant up to 984-feet.

This is the watch to beat if you are looking for a beautiful women’s watch that has the quality and the ability to handle the water.

History of Alpina

Alpina has a long and rich history as a producer of quality watches. Alpina began with Gottlieb Hauser of Switzerland, who wanted to make the perfect watches to aid “sportsmen, engineers, technicians, and adventurers.” He began to make his dream work with the concept of the “Alpina 4,” developed in 1938.

A true sports watch must be 1. Antimagnetic, 2. Antishock, 3. Water-resistant, and 4. Stainless steel. With that standard in place, the Alpina sports watches became the brand to beat. Those working on land, at sea, and in the air began choosing Alpina as a result. The company saw success until the Quartz Crisis when quartz became massively popular and Alpina would not stop focusing on its mechanical watches. Alpina suffered greatly during this time.

In 2002, Alpina made its comeback and began to grow. In 2014, Alpina produced the “4” in the Alpiner collection in reference to the four sports properties. They also invented the Horological Smartwatch in 2015. Alpiner seems to continually keep its head above water with new pieces and even inventions focused on its goal of quality sports watches. We’ll see if they continue to grow in the future but as of now, they seem to be producing great things.

Conclusion – Alpina Watch Review

Alpina watches are relevant because of their focus on sports. It’s encouraging to see them maintaining standards they’d set for themselves almost a century ago. After reviewing these Alpina watches, it appears they are of a good, luxurious quality that will serve the most active wearer. Additionally, some of the watches are adaptable so that they can be worn on adventures or in the office. Alpina is keeping up technologically while staying true to its aesthetic. Their women’s watches are also perfect for any great adventure, as they should be. Stylistically, these watches may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But, for someone searching for a quality sports watch, Alpina is the place to look.

January 20, 2023January 21, 2023

Tissot Watches Review

Popularity spanning well over a century and a half, Tissot watches have adorned the wrists of royalty, actors, and sports stars. With a rich history and quality watches, Tissot continues to dominate its industry. We’re going to look at the Tissot Watches review and its greatest qualities through a few of their watches. That way, you can decide if a Tissot watch should find its home on your wrist.

Tissot’s Tech

Tissot has been at the forefront of many great watch revolutions throughout its history. Among the first to follow the path of smartwatches, in 1999 Tissot released its first T-Touch watch. It had a touch screen and a combination of an analog and digital face. Tissot has continued to advance its technology, producing more T-Touches, like this T-Touch Expert Solar—a beautiful example of Tissot’s touch technology.

T-Touch Expert Solar

This Tissot Men’s T-Touch Expert Solar watch has a lot of features in a compact but beautiful package. The case is 45mm in diameter and made with black titanium. The strap is black rubber and the movement is Swiss-Quartz. The greatest features, however, revolve around the pioneering aspects of Tissot’s technology.

This watch is not only touch-screen but is also powered through solar energy. The watch has many functions as a chronograph, which include a timer, compass, alarms, and more. It also has a calendar with day, date, and month information. The hands and markers are luminescent for easy visibility even in the dark.

Additionally, the watch is durable and will allow the wearer to enjoy it in many conditions. The sapphire crystal window is scratch-resistant and the watch itself is water-resistant up to 330-feet, meaning it can be worn while swimming, snorkeling and showering but not while diving.

Users love the durability of this watch, along with the visibility of the dial’s information. One customer also loves that while it may look large, the watch is light and comfortable to wear so that one barely realizes it’s on. Overall, for anyone who likes to have a high-tech watch that will accompany them in many settings, Tissot is a great go-to. Its technology and quality allow for flexibility and reliability. The T-Touch Expert Solar encompasses Tissot’s footprint in watch technology.

Pure Elegance

Along with great technology and quality, Tissot also produces elegant pieces. For both men and women, Tissot’s watch designs can be perfect for everyday tasks, work, and as a luxurious accessory for an elegant night out.

Tissot’s watches allow for luxury in a neat, delicate, and stylish way without being overwhelming. One of the best samples of these watches is the Tissot Femini-T Mother of Pearl Dial ladies Cream Leather Watch—a slender, beautiful piece.

Femini-T Mother of Pearl

The Femini-T Mother of Pearl watch is a great example of a dress watch that is adaptable but has many striking features. The dial is a mother of pearl and the 22.58mm case is made of PVD stainless steel with a rose gold color. The hands are also of a rose gold-tone. The band is made of white leather. The analog display has quartz movement and the watch is resistant to water up to 30 meters. The watch is protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal window.

The real attraction to this watch is in the priceless detail, which includes diamond hour markers at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions. The rose gold tones, mother of pearl dial and the diamond markers all come together in a watch that, from afar seems simple, but up close is pure elegance.

Classic Tissot Watch

Not everyone wants a watch that overwhelms them with a myriad of information on a small dial. Nor do they always want a watch with glints of diamonds. Sometimes, they want a traditional wristwatch with a style that compliments their own, which they can wear through any major events in their lives—be they promotions at work, a party with friends, their wedding, or a fun hike. A traditional wristwatch is a classic addition to many a wardrobe and Tissot has plenty of great options, including the aptly named:Tissot Men’s Tradition.

Tissot Men’s Tradition

The Men’s Tradition watch has a clean and adaptable style. With a large dial that makes it easy to read the stylish face, this watch wants to make its wearer’s life as easy as possible with its simple style.

The stainless-steel case is large with a diameter of 42mm. The band is of leather calfskin. The display is analog with Swiss quartz movement. The dial itself is a beautiful black guilloché and is protected by a scratch-resistant anti-reflective sapphire crystal window.

The open and simple dial is the best part of the watch with its chic Roman numeral and stick indexes. There is also a barely-there date display window. Users love the easy-to-read and classic style. Overall, this is a great example of Tissot’s more flexible traditional watch options.

Creating unique watches for over a century

Tissot created many watches that were unique in appearance and also very unique in the ways they were made. Tissot created a RockWatch made of granite in the eighties and it was followed by the Pearl Watch and the Wood Watch. Tissot’s creativity wasn’t limited to the second half of the 20^th century, though. Contrary to what many would expect a quality watch of the early 1900s to look like, Tissot produced a funky rectangular watch—later called “banana” because of its long design in 1916.

The watch features warped-looking numbers. The watch was very popular in Russia during the pre-revolution time. This popular watch is mimicked in the Heritage Banana Centenary, a reminder of Tissot’s creativity and continued popularity through the decades.

Tissot Heritage Banana Centenary

This Heritage Banana Centenary, a fun homage to a Tissot classic, is great for anyone who wants a watch that draws attention. The rectangular gold-tone stainless steel case is 49mm in diameter. The dial is analog with easy-to-see hands. The strap is brown leather with gold-tone touches that match the case and bezel.

The clear stars of the show are the numbers on the champagne-colored dial. The numbers are of all different sizes but are still clear and easy to read. Fashion doesn’t come in the way of this watch’s purpose. There are also minute markers around the inner ring of the dial. They are small and elegant within the shadow of the bigger-than-life hour markers.

This watch is not for the faint of heart. It draws in the eye and provides a fun way to tell time along with paying respects to Tissot’s continual watch creativity and great overall history.

Tissot History

Tissot was founded in Switzerland by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Émile Tissot in 1853. When the younger Tissot went to Russia, he introduced the brand to the entire empire. Tissot even delivered a watch to the last Czar of Russia, Nicholas II in 1904.

Tissot grew in popularity in the world of sports timekeeping for skiing during the mid-20^th century. Its presence in the sports world only grew. Throughout its history, up to modern times, Tissot has been prevalent in the world of sports, timing many world championships like those in cycling and ice hockey.

In 1930, Tissot merged with the company Omega in order to form SSIH, which later merged with ASUAG, evolving into the Swatch Group. Post—World War II, Tissot continued to grow and evolve.

Tissot has had many great landmarks throughout its history. A few of the more notable landmarks include releasing the first pocket watch that had two time zones, the first anti-magnetic watch, and Tissot’s first T-Touch watch, which really put Tissot on the map in modern times. Tissot has also been worn by many celebrities and can be seen in major movies in the last few years

Tissot began small, like many great watch companies. But it continued to grow throughout the years, making its mark in modern society, major sports, movies, and even in royal Russian history.

Final Thought

Tissot is a quality brand that has only continued to prove itself through the years. With its adaptable style, almost anyone can find a Tissot watch that will work for them. Throughout its history, Tissot has reliably produced elegant watches for men and women. Additionally, most Tissot watches are reasonably priced. With Tissot, you can find a quality, a great history, and a good price. What’s not to like?

January 20, 2023January 21, 2023

Best Garmin Watch for Hiking [Quick Buyer’s Guide]

When it comes to fitness watches, there’s no denying that Garmin is one of the top players in the industry. As a world-leading GPS manufacturer, Garmin has made some of the best GPS watches available. Therefore, many outdoor enthusiasts and hikers consider Garmin as one of their top options.

If you are considering a Garmin watch for hiking, I say that it’s a step in the right direction. However, there are loads of options to choose from. Garmin has some of the widest portfolios of watches so it can be a little overwhelming. If you are looking for the best Garmin watch for hiking, you’ve come to the right place.

Today, we handpicked some of the best Garmin watches that you can use for hiking and other outdoor pursuits. Let’s get to it.

Best Garmin Watch for Hiking	Key Features	Our Rating
Garmin Fenix 5X	Full color TOPO U.S. mapping, Silicone band, Built in navigation sensors include GPS and GLONASS, Preloaded run profiles, 3 axis compass, gyroscope and barometric altimeter	5/5
Garmin Tactix Charlie	1.2” high-resolution, sunlight-readable display, TOPO mapping plus routable map navigation, Rugged design, Tactical-specific features, Built-in navigation sensors include GPS and GLONASS	4.5/5
Garmin Instinct	Constructed to U. S. Military standard, Built in 3 axis compass and barometric altimeter, Smart notifications, TrackBack feature	4.5/5
Garmin Fenix 3 HR	Precision satellite navigation, Activity and sleep tracking, Heart rate monitoring, 1.2 inch Chroma colour display, LED backlight	4.5/5
Garmin Fenix 6S Pro	1.2” sunlight-readable display, Enhanced estimated wrist heart rate, Advanced training features include PacePro, Preloaded TOPO maps, Support for Garmin Pay	4/5
Garmin Epix	1.4 inch high resolution, sunlight visible color Chroma touchscreen display, 8GB internal memory, Customizable, Multi activity tracking	3.5/5

Best Garmin Watch for Hiking

1. Garmin Fenix 5X

The ever-reliable Garmin Fenix 5X is our top pick for the Garmin watch for hiking. There’s already a newer version with the Garmin Fenix 5X Plus but I will still recommend the Fenix 5X over the 5X Plus.

Loaded With Great Hiking Features

The Garmin Fenix 5X is loaded with great hiking features such as altimeter, barometer, and compass (ABC sensors). It’s also a watch that comes pre-loaded with real topo maps.

The topo maps are very useful for hiking since they display your exact location while hiking. You can also load the routes into the watch before you set out. While you’re out hiking, you can simply follow the route in real-time. It’s a real godsend particularly for tough hiking spots.

Like many GPS hiking watches, you can add waypoints using the Fenix 5X. Waypoints are basically points of interests such as trails, landmarks, camping spots, or your parking area. Once you have set a waypoint, the watch tells your exact location in relation to your set waypoint and estimated time to get there. The ABC sensors are working great and the watch even comes with storm alerts and barometric trends.

The Fenix 5X offers an impressive battery life and can last up to 24 hours in GPS mode. There’s also a feature called UltraTrac mode that extends the battery life even more.

The Fenix 5X is a powerful GPS that’s suitable for everyday wear, hiking, and other activities.

2. Garmin Tactix Charlie

The Garmin Tactix Charlie GPS watch is a successful follow-up to the popular Tactix Bravo. The Tactix Charlie is a rugged tactical watch that makes it an ideal tool for hikers.

Great Tactical Watch for Outdoor Adventurers

For starters, the Tactix Charlie is one tough GPS tool with its black DLC coated titanium bezel, black titanium rear cover, and stainless steel buttons. It’s suitably rugged and I can’t see things letting you down even under the toughest outdoor conditions.

For hiking purposes, the Tactix Charlie comes preloaded with topo and routable map navigation. With the Garmin Basecamp app, you can create waypoints on the device and later explore it to the Tactix. You can name the waypoint and even assign an icon for easy identification. The Basecamp app is the main software solution for route and waypoint planning – it’s highly recommended.

Of course, the watch also comes with other sweet hiking features such as GPS and GLONASS plus a three-axis compass, barometer, altimeter and gyroscope. The built-in altimeter is quite impressive and does a great job of monitoring ascent and descent while hiking.

As for the battery life, you got 12 days in smartwatch mode, 20 hours in GPS mode, and up to 35 hours in UltraTrac battery saver mode.

With loads of hiking-related features and excellent battery life, the Garmin Tactix Charlie is an easy recommendation for outdoor junkies.

3. Garmin Instinct

The Garmin Fenix series is the Ferrari of outdoor and sports watches but not everyone can blow $600 on a smartwatch. The Garmin Instinct is an affordable outdoor-focused timepiece for the budget-conscious hikers.

Affordable Heavy-Duty Outdoor Watch

While the Garmin Instinct offers a wide variety of activity tracking features, it excels at navigation. With that said, the Instinct supports GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. Based on our tests, the Instinct connects to these satellite systems fairly quick.

Unlike the previous watches, the Instinct doesn’t come with built-in topo maps which is a bit of a downer. This is because the Instinct has a low-resolution, non-color display, and isn’t compatible with top maps. However, you do get other navigation features. You can upload the routes to your watch or go back to basics by using the Instinct’s compass.

Another good feature that’s worth the mention is the Backtracking feature. If you have decided to turn around on a hike, the backtracking feature allows you to navigate back to your starting point. Garmin’s navigation features are rather basic but they will save you in a pinch while you’re out in the wild.

Overall, the Garmin Instinct is less of a smartwatch but it’s a very reliable GPS watch. At this price point, it’s a great buy for any hiker.

4. Garmin Fenix 3 HR

The Garmin Fenix 3 HR might be an earlier version from the Fenix series but it has enough bells and whistles for an amazing hiking watch.

Spot-On GPS Functions

If you’re going to get the Fenix HR 3, get it for the highly-accurate GPS. The watch comes with an omnidirectional stainless steel EXO antenna that easily connects to GPS and GLONASS satellites. You get accurate and reliable tracking whenever you’re outdoors.

Like all of the watches in this list, the Fenix HR 3 features a rugged design that will serve you well in the wild. The watch also features a crisp 1.2 inch Chroma display that offers excellent visibility in daylight and dim environments. When things get darker outside, you can use the LED backlight for reading the watch.

For navigation, you can simply download the route or track into the watch, and then use it to get on course. Following the track through your watch is about as easy as it gets since the screen shows your position relative to the track.

In terms of battery performance, the Fenix HR can work up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, 16 hours in GPS mode, and 40 hours in UltraTrac mode. It’s a heavy-duty hiking watch with excellent GPS features and battery life.

5. Garmin Fenix 6S Pro

For my premium pick, the Garmin Fenix 6S Pro is an excellent multi-sport watch that offers many features for adventure junkies.

Premium Navigation on Your Wrist

As you can see, we have another entry from Garmin’s Fenix series which is not a surprise since it’s some of the best multi-sport watches out there. The Garmin Fenix 6S Pro is no different.

For hikers, the main draw here is the preloaded topo maps. There are over 2,000 topo maps here which include trails and even skip maps. The Fenix 6S Pro also supports GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite systems and based on my tests, the GPS performance is on-point. As expected, the watch also comes with built-in sensors for 3-axis compass, gyroscope and barometric altimeter.

Aside from navigation features, this watch offers a wide range of activity tracking options. Plus, it also has an HR monitor and the Pulse Ox feature to monitor your sleep and altitude acclimation at high elevations.

For the battery life, the Garmin Fenix 6S Pro offers up to 9 days in smartwatch mode, 6 hours in GPS and music mode, up to 20 days expedition GPS activity mode, and 34 days in battery saver watch mode. Pretty impressive.

6. Garmin Epix

The Garmin Epix is not the most fashionable watch (it’s not that bad, though) on this list but nevertheless, it’s a reliable GPS watch for hikers and campers.

Oldie But a Goodie

The Garmin Epix is not the latest and greatest GPS watch from Garmin but even today, it still holds up.

For navigation, the Epix offers colored maps which is a nice touch. These maps are mostly accurate but there were some issues when you’re hiking in locations with poor connection. The GPS function shows the exact location of your destination, how far you’ve hiked, and how many steps you’ve taken so far. Of course, it has a compass as well for basic navigation.

In terms of connectivity, the Epix is a bit outdated. You can connect your watch to a computer via USB cord but you need to make a Garmin Connect account first. Bluetooth is also another way to download information to your watch.

For battery life, it can go up to 50 hours which is not much when compared to similar GPS watches. You can find many watches that are more advanced than the Epix but it can hold on its own.

Found the Best Garmin Watch for Hiking Yet?

That wraps up our buyer’s guide of the best Garmin watch for hiking. When it comes to GPS and navigation features, it’s hard to go wrong with Garmin. We hope that this guide has helped you choose the right unit for your hiking needs.