

If you don’t need many special features, consider an analog model like a field watch that will work for diving, hunting, and even casual wear. With a focus on data, sports watches usually have digital displays, some with touchscreens, and feature silicone or resin straps. They typically offer greater water-resistance than analog watches, and smarter models track a smattering of activities, your heart rate, and more. Think about how you plan to use your new watch, and that should help you navigate the options to the model that will serve you best.Ī sports watch, and possibly something more specialized such as a smart watch or altimeter watch, is the way to go if you plan to work up a sweat. You can choose specific functions, various strap and case materials, and in the case of analog, how your watch actually ticks. The world of watches is a vast one, and differences go far beyond analog and digital. We’ve tested many watches, sussing out the strengths and flaws of each to recommend the best. The price of some smart watches has come down considerably without sacrificing much functionality, and there are plenty of lower-tech options that look great and track time, if that’s all you want and need.

“Now the technology has come to a point where there’s a lot of good inexpensive watches out there,” says Michael Scriniere, a Pennsylvania-based watchmaker certified through the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute.

You don’t have to drop hundreds of dollars to get a reliable, feature-packed watch to wear around town, track your workout, or take into the field.
