LF: Good, yet Affordable Digital Watches

[InsiderGamer]

My ol' Timex watch that I've had with me for goodness knows how long has recently died on me and I'm looking for a long term replacement (I usually don't replace watches unless I absolutely have to).

My previous watch was a Timex Ironman, I absolutely loved its overall design when I first bought it, though now I merely look at it as "functional" from a design/aesthetic standpoint. Features I just gotta have in a watch:

- Indiglo (glow in the dark)
- Digital (obviously; I suck at using analogue, despite how absolutely pathetic that sounds)
- Easy to access date (ie. along with the time on the front display)
- Timer

Those features are basically endemic to a digital watch anyways, but I'm just looking for opinions on a decent and affordable solution to a digital watch as of recent. I actually stopped by the mall earlier, and the best model I found....was the very same one I had, so I'm basically asking for what's "hip and cool" these days.

All my thanks guys.

[Oni-kun]

Not sure about hip and cool, also don't know what your price range is but http://www.gshock.com/ watches made by Casio NEVER break. You can run it over with a truck and it'll keep going.

[Desolatax]

You cannot go wrong with the G-Shock line. I have had one for ~5 years, ITS STILL ON THE ORIGINAL BATTERY! I purchased it at Costco for $50, best watch purchase ever. It's still around here, the paint has worn off, but I upgraded with a Citizen Titanium Diver watch, a very nice, sleak, durable watch. Unfortunately, I have about 3 scratches on it (climbing through some lava tubes at Mt. Saint Helens, very cool) As far as I know, Titanium is alot [H]arder than rock.... according to Moh's hardness scale.
If you ever want a more luxurious watch, pick up a Citizen Titanium Diver watch, good to 200FT and is very light.
If you don't have the cash, try to get a G-Shock, as durable as a Thinkpad :D

[Daijoubu]

A Timex? I had an old one back from secondary, sure I had to change the battery twice and the band once (plastic band) but it's still working after 10 years, I gave it to my little brother :D

[Monsieurmaggot]

I have a Casio Pro-Trek PRS-201 (manufacturer code 2531) that I picked up at Wal-Mart for $29.97 Canadian.

It has five timers, high/low tide, compass, auto "indiglo" (tilt it and it lights up or push the button) and other stuff. The crystal is glass not plastic like other brands. It's waterproof to 100m. The best part: IT'S SOLAR POWERED!

The new Pro-Trek line has tons of other models with altitude, barometer and temperature (for the serious outdoorsy type). They all are SOLAR powered.

Word of caution: The prices vary considerably from dealer to dealer. These watches have been out since last year. They come in various colours and assorted bands.

Since it's solar powered, it has enough intelligence to go into sleep mode if the room gets too dark or if it's hidden by a shirt sleeve. Under normal room light it runs indefinitely, it takes five minutes in direct sunlight to charge it completely and will run 18 days in complete darkness.

http://www.watchzworld.com/casio_sea_pathfinder_prs201_1v.html
http://www.watchwholesalers.com/depot.asp?sku=cas-prs2011v

[Daijoubu]

Solar powered is pretty useless on a watch, a $1 lithium battery last 3-5 years if you're not using the alarm daily + backlight

[Monsieurmaggot]

Aside from the glowing features, watches as a whole don't use much energy whatsoever.

The solar option is all that is required to run indefinitely. I'd also like to know where you can get a lithium battery for $1 that lasts 3-5 years. I buy them regularly at the dollar store and get about 8-10 months out of them on my daughter's Times watch.

There is a capacitor inside the unit that hold the charge when in complete darkness.

For $30 bucks you can't go wrong....