How to choose the best climbing watch
Even though mountain climbing is a pleasant experience while enjoying nature, it contains certain risks like injury or getting lost.
To reduce these risks, the selection of proper equipment is essential. One key tool for mountaineering is for example a climbing watch. While certain smartphone apps can be useful, mountaineering watches are a step ahead in their functionality and durability.
With a wide variety of models and functions, choosing which watch is best for you can be a challenge. This article explains how to find the perfect mountaineering watch for you and introduces the best CASIO watches for climbing and hiking.
Do I need a mountaineering watch?
A mountaineering watch is a multifunctional wristwatch with functions useful for climbing and any outdoor activities.
If you already had thoughts like "My phone is good enough" "I have an altimeter and other tools" and "I thought you didn't need a watch to climb a mountain", you are not alone. Here we give you some of the advantages and tell you why a mountaineering watch will make your climbing experience safer and more comfortable.
Time management
Time management is very important in mountaineering. You need to keep track of the current time, your walking pace and distance. It is important to know the sunset time and plan for rest and arrival times, especially on long mountaineering trips. If you continue climbing without keeping track of the time, you risk getting lost. When wearing a watch, you can easily check the time and fitness data without having to take out your smartphone.
Safety and comfort
Mountaineering watches are equipped with functions that provide you with information on current altitude, air pressure, direction and location (GPS function).
Especially in hilly areas, weather conditions can change rapidly. A barometer can detect the signs of such changes, so you can adapt accordingly. In addition, altimeter and direction meter allow you to keep track of your climbing pace and route. With a mountaineering watch you can enjoy mountain climbing more easily, safely and comfortably without having to check multiple tools separately.
Stylish in the mountains
In the last few years, mountaineering wear became fashionable. With many colours and variety, mountaineering fashion is only one of the pleasures of mountaineering. Many mountaineering watches are designed to highlight coordinates, making them ideal for those who want to look stylish in the mountains. By aligning color and design of your climbing watch to your outfit, you will have a more enjoyable time hiking in the mountains. And depending on the colours you choose, you will also be more visible to others - safe in style.
Depending on how serious you consider mountainering as your hobby, you might be fine without a climbing watch. But if you like to hike and climb in remote parts, a mountaineering watch becomes an essential gadget with more than a GPS tracker.
How to choose a mountaineering watch
When choosing a climbing watch, several important features are necessary. The three major functions essential for mountaineering watches, altimeter, barometer, and direction indicator, are introduced here. We will also highlight water resistance and durability. These features are important to keep you safe on the mountain and provide a comfortable climbing experience.
- Altimeter: The altimeter measures the altitude of the current location based on atmospheric pressure. It helps to keep track of your progress and assists you to manage your pace to achieve your finish line.
- Barometer: Barometric pressure can also be measured through changes in the atmospheric pressure. A sudden drop in air pressure, for example, is often a sign of severe weather. This information is important for you in order to take appropriate countermeasures. This predictability of weather conditions can be used to help determine when it is safe to continue or to set an alternative route.
- Compass: The compass function allows you to determine the direction you are facing. Because a compass allows you to check your current location and direction to your destination, the azimuth indicator helps you to proceed with confidence even in uncertain terrain or in conditions of poor visibility.
These three functions for mountaineering watches are essential features to keep you safe and up to date during a hike or climb. If you choose your mountaineering watch, make sure that these features are given for a standard experience.
In the next paragraph we will highlight more essential features, which you can look for when choosing a mountaineering watch. If you are interested in a standard climbing experience or if you are looking for a climbing watch with all the gadgets - we will explain all features to help you find a mountaineering watch that suits your needs best.
Essential features of a climbing watch
Here we will highlight water resistance and durability as important aspects to consider when buying a climbing watch. You will also find a list of additional features, such as heart rate monitor, GPS and solar energy.
While some of these features are essential to keep you safe on the mountain, others provide a more comfortable climbing experience for you.
Which features are more essential to you?
- Water resistance: Mountain weather can change rapidly. Rain, thunder, snow, fog and heavy winds are always possible. A climbing watch with a waterproof function that does not cause problems in unstable weather is therefore essential.
- Shock resistance: During a hike, you can always end up at a steep mountain trail with gravel. Therefore, your mountaineering gear, e.g. your climbing watch needs to be durable enough to withstand falls and contact with rock surfaces. A watch with a shock-resistant construction will maintain its functionality and can be worn for a long period of time, even in the harshest mountaineering conditions.
- Backlight / Autolight: The backlight function illuminates the dial, so you can read the display watch easily, even at night or in dark environments. If the watch has an auto-light function, it automatically detects the brightness level just by tilting the arm. This allows you to check the time in bad weather or when both hands are occupied.
- Temperature measurement: With a temperature measurement function, your watch displays the temperature at your current location. With this information, the temperature at the destination can be predicted. Especially when climbing snowy mountains or when there is a difference in elevation, it is important to take accurate temperature readings beforehand.
- GPS: The GPS function does not only receive GPS radio waves which automatically correct the time but it also acquires essential navigational information of your current location. With a map on your climbing watch display, the risk of getting lost will be minimized.
- Smartphone link and apps: If a smartphone connection is available, an app can record route logs from a pre-defined starting point to a destination. You can record the memories of your climb, analyze the route and enjoy the experience with all your fitness data.
- Sunrise / Sunset times: Want to know when the sun rises and when it sets? Some climbing watches have the information of sunrise and sunset integrated in their display. If you know the time of the sunset, you can use it as a reference for when to descend the mountain or start the way back.
- Stopwatch: Do you want to know how fast you are? The stopwatch function can for example measure the time required for a specific section, which is useful for pace management and time allocation.
- Alarm: Want to set a reminder when it is time to start heading back? The alarm function can help you to define a specific distance that you want to achieve in a certain time frame.
- Solar engery: Don´t want to worry about an empty battery? Watches with solar charger can be recharged during the day using sun- and daylight. So they can be used for extended periods of climbing or in environments without a power source.
- Heart rate: The option to measure your heart rate helps to monitor your fitness and to maintain a reasonable pace.
- Map: Some high-performance mountaineering watches show a map on the display. This map allows you to visually grasp your current position and the route to your destination.
Our watch recommendations
Among our CASIO brands, PROTREK is especially recommended for mountaineering enthusiasts and climbing professionals. PROTREK is known for their highly functional and durable mountaineering watches. They offer reliable performance in harsh natural environments with many handy functions.
Here, we will introduce some of our recommended models for mountaineering. We will show you different climbing watches and point our their funtions and features interesting for hiking in the mountains.
1) Affordable and authentic: The PRG-340-1
The solar-powered PRG-340 is made of biomass plastic, an eco-friendly material. This model has all the features necessary for mountaineering, but at a reasonable price. It features a direct button to measure azimuth, barometric pressure, temperature and altitude. Its buttons are non-slip so they can be used comfortably while you are wearing gloves.
(2) Everything for full-scale mountain climbing: The PRT-B50-1
This PROTREK model has improved usability in outdoor activities by connecting with our dedicated "CASIO WATCHES" app. The app records calories consumed and aquires altitude and route with your smartphone's GPS. Simplified settings enable automatic time correction around the world. It is also able to automatically correct the altimeter and calculate sunrise and sunset times.
(3) Lightweight, compact, and comfortable to wear: The PRW-35Y-1B
The PRO TREK Climber line of authentic outdoor gear for nature lovers. This model is a digital watch made of environmentally friendly biomass plastic material and can be operated intuitively.
With its small case, this watch is easily wearable for women and people with smaller wrists.
In addition to the triple sensor and various measurement functions, the watch is equipped with basic functions such as Tough Solar, radio wave reception function and 10 bar water resistance. The use of resin for the back cover also reduces weight.
(4) With a big display: The PRW-6611Y-1
The PRW-6611Y-1 uses resin, a more eco-friendly material.
It features a big display that is easy to read even during outdoor activities. In addition, the stainless steel bezel turns this watch into an accessory for daily use.
(5) Made from biomass plastic: The PRW-61Y-3
The "Climberline" PRW-61 is an environmentally friendly biomass plastic material deployed on the exterior.
The case and caseback are made of castor oil, while the band is made of biomass plastic from corn. The soft urethane band has a target guide, which enhances the legibility of the direction indicated by the second hand, and is expressed in a functional and beautiful design that makes the azimuth easier to understand. The dial also features easy-to-read white bar indexes with thickened hands for enhanced legibility. In terms of functionality, the watch also comes equipped with practical, reliable features such as the Tough Solar charging system and Multiband 6 that receives radio waves from six stations around the world to automatically correct the time. This model is packed with high functionality and practicality in just the right size for a variety of situations.
6) Combining beauty and functionality: The PRW-6900YL-5
The design theme is based on the rugged outdoor style, with a sharply shaped metal bezel with its sides cut away to resemble a martial wood-chopping axe. The hands on the in-dial also have a sharp-edged design shape reminiscent of a knife used as an outdoor tool. The second hand is colored in an orange gradation that evokes a flickering flame. The dial has an uneven design reminiscent of the surface of a Dutch oven-like casting.
The leather band is made of a flame-retardant material that is resistant to holes even when exposed to sparks from cooking or campfires. The brown color that harmonizes with the black IP metal exterior creates a classic outdoor style.
All of these models are equipped with the typical PROTREK features. We summarized the most important functions of your next PROTREK climbing watch again here:
- Triple sensor: One of the most important features of the PROTREK series is the "triple sensor" that can measure azimuth, barometric pressure/altitude and temperature. With this, your PROTREK updates you on the three major functions of a mountaineering watch.
- Direct measurement button: This button allows the user to quickly check information without removing gloves.
- Big display: PROTREK's display is designed for quick checks while climbing. Highly visible and easy to read in the dark, the display supports fast decision-making while climbing with important data being grasped at a glance.
Summary
A mountaineering watch is one of the indispensable tools that add to the excitement and fun of hiking and climbing. It also keeps you safe and provides all essential informaton, such as altitude and direction, comfortably.
A wristwatch with all the functions necessary for safe mountaineering will support you on your way to the summit. Challenge yourself to real mountain climbing with our PROTREK watches.