Timex Expedition Digital Compass - A Sturdy Outdoor Enthusiast Watch
Written: Mar 12 '04 (Updated Apr 14 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Digital Compass is cool, useful options, sturdy, accurate
Cons: will likely go through several bands
The Bottom Line: It really can take a beating and keep on ticking
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| jps246's Full Review: Timex Digital Compass Watch |
Like most other Timex watches, the Expedition with digital compass is a watch that can survive a lot of punishment while still providing excellent time keeping.
Slightly larger than a basic digital watch, the major feature of this model is the fact that it includes a digital compass that can be set with the declination of your location. The compass is fairly accurate and provides heading and bearing information. I’ve matched it up against a standard compass and in general, within a degree or two, the watch and the compass are in agreement. It’s not designed to navigate through trackless wilderness, but the digital compass does give enough information to make educated assumptions about direction.
In addition to the digital compass feature, the Time Expedition includes a 100-hour chronograph with both a lap and split function, a lap counter, alarms that can be set to chime hourly and a single daily alarm, a countdown timer, and the option to show time in either 12-hour or 24-hour formats. If you need to check the time in the dark, the watch has an indiglo night-light that can either be turned on when needed, or set such that it will stay on for several seconds when the proper button is pushed.
There are for buttons to navigate through the functions of the watch. They are labeled and the use of the features (chronograph, lap counter, alarm, timer, etc…) are easy to find and easy to use. There is a fifth, larger button in the center of the watch that turns on the indiglo nightlight (making it very easy to find in the dark).
The watch comes with a polyurethane strap that will stand up fairly well (a year or so worth of constant use) with normal usage but that will with heavy use, break quickly. The strap, when it does break is easy enough to replace with any of the Timex Expedition bands that are available where watches are sold.
Not designed for diving, the watch is water resistant and can survive down to 100 meters (300 feet). I’ve never tried it that deep, but I have swum with it and occasionally had it on when in the shower and I’ve never had a problem with it leaking.
Experiences
I’ve had my Timex Expedition with Digital Compass for over a year now and I’ve always been someone who is hard on watches. From the outdoor activities I do, to the fact that I always seem to manage to smash my watches into walls and other things – my watches tend to age quickly and die. I think that a year is usually the average length of time that a basic digital watch lasts for me.
So the Timex Expedition has already beaten the odds there. I did break the polyurethane strap fairly quickly and replaced it with the velcro Expedition band that is available. This is a big step up in comfort and I’ve found lasts significantly longer than the typical polyurethane, leather or fabric bands that are available.
I don’t use the digital compass feature often, but I have set it to the correct declination (the instruction manual provides declinations for all parts of the US) and at times I’ve been like hey “we’re going 10 degrees north!” I tend to get blank stares or people rolling their eyes going “gadgets.”
The only two features I use with regularity are the alarm function and the indiglo function. The alarm is easy to set and is loud enough to wake me out of a sleep (though I sleep fairly softly). I use it in hotels and when camping to make sure I’m getting up at the right time. The indiglo function I use whenever it’s dark and it makes it very easy to see the time without being so bright as to be obnoxious in a dark theater or somewhere similar.
Final Thoughts
The Timex Expedition with Digital Compass is a sturdy watch that can stand up to some pretty heavy abuse without much more than a scratch or two. I’m sure that the band will break before the watch, so be prepared to invest in some new watchbands overtime, but otherwise, the Expedition should be a watch that serves anyone, especially outdoor sports enthusiasts well.
It really can take a beating and keep on ticking.
(I just had to say that – sorry for being so cliché)
Outdoor Magazines and Books
Backpacker Magazine / Outside Magazine / National Geographic Adventure / Hiker's Guide to the Mountains of Vermont / Hiking Guide to Mount Washington and Presidential Range / GPS Made Easy / AMC White Mountain Guide / Wilderness First Aid / Rescue from the Backcountry / Maine Mountain Guide / Day Hikes in Yosemite NP / Southern NH Trail Guide
Outdoor Retailers and Products
REI.com - Outdoor Gear / Dermatone Lip Pomade / Carmex Lip Balm / Magellan GPS 315 / MSR WhisperLite Backpacking Stove / CamelBak StoAway Hydration Bladder / Petzl Tikka Headlamp / Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight Tent / EMS Waterslide Daypack / Garmin Personal Navigator GPS 12 / Sherpa Atmosphere Data Center / EMS 2800 Daypack / REI Undergrad Daypack / EMS Crash Pad / MSR Superfly Stove / MSR IsoPro Blended Fuel / MSR 11-Ounce Fuel Bottle / GPS Carrying Case / Kestrel Wind Meter
Recommended:
Yes
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