Which Watch

Historically, I haven’t been a watch-wearing guy. ⌚️

After a good friend bought me a nice dive watch, I started wearing that on the water.

As I came to find, many dive watches can be quite susceptible to rust…

All of this to say:
What recommendations do y’all have for a good, robust “on-the-water” watch?

Really not looking for anything fancy here, but I’m open to all suggestions.

I’m a gshock guy.  This one tells the tide but I rarely reference it.  It’s kinda fun though and it’s solar charged and atomic I believe.

Garmin Instinct.

I wear an early generation.  The new ones are sick.

I love my watch and wear it most of the time. Here’s why.  It’s rust free:).  Very robust.  It tracks my heart rate (fun). And it track GPS.  This is cool jogging etc. but it’s really cool when I occasionally hire a fishing guide. It tracks where they take me!  I can see the map on my smartphone

When this fails, I’ll buy another one ASAP.

G-Shock earned my admiration many years ago when I loved watches and a young tech geek.  Certainly if I had kept it, it would probably still work to this day!  I have an awesome Casio Pathfinder watch that also has the same features + an altimeter and I believe still works if I pulled it out and put it in the sunlight I'll know 

However I've been doing research on smart watches and smart glasses today and I'd have to say that these are a dang good option and so cheap with tons of useful features, that maybe you should check out a waterproof smart watch like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Smartwatch-Fitness-Pedometer-Waterproof-Activity/dp/B0DGFW8T6X/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2HQ9FUZ9HTJF9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MXZC7EeHV1Q4TG0G_dSfjVjFkJ--rxoANQoCSBRCC8HprwTtXdvlWJdjq06cHzuol3u__a6j6LY4jffdQLa2H9xc6MkKzk-WQkSh9OFAC1tncIiiVRPqq-cTDbeb4_toniTpRdrw7rqxM9moDeJbZ46f_sBWI5LAMz5-wavv_IPrZ49bFCrZmlyIuz9PcL4Shen_tIaru-Qmu6yd6cIjudRtJSGG_sE4pFZFDEumyGw.tKDWnO8_z-WArhC-zU4HQAmTPTgqpZQEdoO_gvU7fXI&dib_tag=se&keywords=android%2Bwatch&qid=1736799817&refinements=p_72%3A1248879011%2Cp_n_feature_twenty-four_browse-bin%3A11636676011&rnid=11636674011&sprefix=android%2Bwatch%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-4&th=1

100% agree, The Casio's are relatively cheap and can take a ton of abuse. I always mounted one on the crossbar pad on my dirtbike. They never failed me through all the crashes, water, mud, blood and beer.

Can't go wrong with a G-Shock, definitely a legend among tough and quality watches.  I have another suggestion, as an alternative.

My wife got me one of these for X-mas about 10 years ago:
https://www.bertucciwatches.com/Bertucci/A2TOC.html

Titanium case, nato strap, and offset crown makes for a very comfy and very durable watch.  40 mm case and low overall stack means it is never really in my way too, which is nice.  Super lightweight too, and the strap is machine washable.  I don't really wear it everyday, but it has seen a fair amount of saltwater; no issues at all.

I've purchased this a couple times

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E4DYEK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cheap and 200m waterproof rating

Can't go wrong with a G-Shock, definitely a legend among tough and quality watches.  I have another suggestion, as an alternative.

My wife got me one of these for X-mas about 10 years ago:
https://www.bertucciwatches.com/Bertucci/A2TOC.html

Titanium case, nato strap, and offset crown makes for a very comfy and very durable watch.  40 mm case and low overall stack means it is never really in my way too, which is nice.  Super lightweight too, and the strap is machine washable.  I don't really wear it everyday, but it has seen a fair amount of saltwater; no issues at all.

After looking pretty hard at what was available in the Field watch world, I too went with a Bertucci. I went total bling though, getting a model with the tritium dial. I couldn’t be happier. Only seen salt for a few days in Thailand, but Titanium and stainless held up just fine.

Super big plus to me: no more watchstrap pins!!

Rinse in warm water after each saltwater trip.

I also wear a Garmin. Not cheap but pretty fun. Records gps, HR, etc. sometimes, a conversation starter too 

Can't go wrong with a G-Shock, definitely a legend among tough and quality watches.  I have another suggestion, as an alternative.

My wife got me one of these for X-mas about 10 years ago:
https://www.bertucciwatches.com/Bertucci/A2TOC.html

Titanium case, nato strap, and offset crown makes for a very comfy and very durable watch.  40 mm case and low overall stack means it is never really in my way too, which is nice.  Super lightweight too, and the strap is machine washable.  I don't really wear it everyday, but it has seen a fair amount of saltwater; no issues at all.

After looking pretty hard at what was available in the Field watch world, I too went with a Bertucci. I went total bling though, getting a model with the tritium dial. I couldn’t be happier. Only seen salt for a few days in Thailand, but Titanium and stainless held up just fine.

Super big plus to me: no more watchstrap pins!!

Nice! I love mine - it is an awesome watch for sure. I had never heard of this brand until my wife gifted me one, but I am confident she got me the right watch!

And yes, no more finicky strap pins to break is awesome!

Man!  I had a pathfinder that lasted decades.  I restored a car, hunted, fished, gardened, etc and that watch took all of it.  What finally killed it was the lack of wristband parts. 

If I’m reading it right some of the Garmin watches work with Garmin fishfinders and trolling motors. Probably overkill for a kayak but sort of neat. 

I have a Garmin that I got for a Christmas present but I haven’t worn it yet because it’s way too nice 

Rolex Submariner! 

If I’m reading it right some of the Garmin watches work with Garmin fishfinders and trolling motors. Probably overkill for a kayak but sort of neat. 

I didn't know the watch can talk to the fish finder.... I could see that being useful. Haptic feedback when I get to a certain waypoint would be pretty cool - focus on fishing instead of staring at the sonar/chart.