Are you planning on buying a new tide watch? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re a surfer, sailor, or just someone who likes to prepare for all types of weather conditions, a GPS tide watch can help.
Here is your comprehensive guide to buying the perfect tide watch.
Table of Contents
Buying Advice For Tide Watches
Water Resistance
A water-resistant surf watch with a rating of 100 m will be your best bet for surfing. 50 m should suffice if the case offers good protection, while 200 m depth ratings indicate compatibility with freediving and scuba diving activities.
On the other hand, 30 m would only work fine for simple splashes; make sure to peruse all manufacturer’s specifications before buying!
Shape
1- SLIMMER DESIGNS:
Sleek and stylish watch designs are popular and cheap, but they aren’t always as durable as their more expensive counterparts.
Still, these watches are easy to wear under the sleeve of a wetsuit for more comfort.
2- BULKIER DESIGNS:
Most of the time, heavier watches have more features and are made of better materials. But if you’re in a colder place, you might need to wear them over a wetsuit.
A bulky GPS watch
Durability
As you increase in price, the materials used to make a watch become increasingly reliable. Don’t be fooled by lower-priced solutions; they can still deliver high quality and endurance. If your goal is to find an enduring surf watch, invest in one with shockproof glass and reinforced cases for maximum resilience.
Tides Information
1- TIDE LOCATIONS:
Get the most out of your tide watch by selecting a pre-programmed model with tidal information. With more locations to choose from, you’ll have greater access to accurate viewing data than ever!
2- LOCATION CUSTOMIZATION:
Watches may add or adjust tidal data for a new area. Then watches can create forecasts based on that information.
3- WEATHER DATA:
Expensive surf watches provide applications that account for lunar movements and track other environmental factors. And this includes weather and tides to deliver the most accurate swell predictions.
Extra Features
1- GPS:
GPS watches can store your favorite surfing spots and record and monitor speed and activity levels during each surf session.
2- BLUETOOTH/WIFI:
Surf watches with Bluetooth and WiFi technology create seamless connections to other devices. Doing so will allow you to track your performance while providing up-to-date tide forecasts in real-time.
3- WAVE COUNTING:
If you want to measure your progress without breaking the bank, look for a surf watch with wave-counting features and GPS technology. It automatically tracks your wave count and lets you manually track your success.
The Top 8 Tide Watches
1- Garmin Instinct Solar
Garmin Instinct Solar is the premier tracking watch, engineered with powerful features and rugged durability.
- With its Surf Edition capabilities, you can record stunning surf videos straight from your wrist – no waterproof housing or bulky camera necessary.
- Plus, it has a 3-satellite navigation system for precise location accuracy even in tough conditions.
- It uses solar energy to provide an impressive 30-hour battery life, a benchmark of reliability among GPS watches.
2- Nixon Base Tide Pro
The Nixon Base Tidal Pro is a must-have for any surfer looking for an affordable yet feature-rich watch!
- Have faith in the wave counter, tide statistics, and water-repellent capabilities. All of this makes this timepiece perfect to wear on all your aquatic adventures.
- With its sleek design and long battery life, you can rely on it anywhere.
- Tide predictions are available at 550 sites with a silicone strap featuring two loops and buckle closure. A reliable choice of practicality and style when it comes to hitting those waves.
3- Rip Curl Rifles Tide Watch
The Rip Curl Rifles Tide Watch is ideal for surfers. It offers essential features like tide information, a water resistance rating of 100m, and an affordable price.
- Its small design ensures easy portability, while the long battery life allows you to use it all day without needing a replacement.
- Best of all, its simple interface eliminates any need for GPS or fitness capabilities. It is perfect for simply telling the time and catching the best waves!
4- Casio G-Shock Frogman
Are you an avid fan of water sports? Then the Casio G-Shock Frogman watch could be your perfect companion! This reliable, shockproof, and 200m waterproof timepiece is packed with features like
- A 10-month-long battery life – something that other surf watches can’t even compete against.
- Plus, it offers useful tide data and info for scuba diving and freediving.
The only downside? It’s not a budget-friendly option.
5- RIP CURL SEARCH GPS SERIES 2
For the ultimate surf adventure, turn to the Rip Curl Search GPS Series 2 watch!
- Its advanced technology allows you to map motions and exchange session data through an app.
- It forecasts tides for 1400 areas and displays live conditions too!
- Plus, it has a powerful battery life of 7 hours with GPS activated or up to 3 months without GPS.
- And best of all, its 100m water-resistant body will keep tracking paddling distance as you ride those waves. It even makes planning and tracking sessions easier than ever before!
6- APPLE WATCH SERIES 6
Apple Watch Series 6 is the perfect watch for tech-savvy surfers who want a slim, comfortable design with all of the latest features.
- Its heart rate monitor and emergency call feature are just two examples of its impressive array of everyday functions.
- Although it’s only water resistant to 50 m by itself, you can enhance this with an additional case if needed.
- This stunning device makes it easy to keep up-to-date on your surfing goals while still looking stylish!
7- Coros Vertix
The Coros Vertix is a marvel of endurance and strength, boasting an impressive 60 hours with GPS on or up to 6 weeks without.
- It’s also waterproof for depths up to 150 meters, offers a night mode feature, and various settings for activities like running and biking.
- Unfortunately, it does not provide surf-specific capabilities.
- However, you can benefit from monitoring your blood oxygen levels and creating customized routines tailored to your needs.
- It may be pricey, but if sports appeal to you, this watch is worth every penny.
8- CASIO F91W-1
The Casio F91W-1 is the ideal watch for people looking for a simple and surprisingly durable timepiece.
- Its slim design makes it perfect to wear underneath wetsuits, and its 7-year battery life is unbeatable!
- This watch has water resistance capability that can withstand submersion and includes an alarm timer so you won’t miss a beat on the go.
- It provides excellent value at affordable prices.
Summary
Tide watches are great tools for anyone who loves spending time in the water.
They can help you keep track of the tides, so you know when it’s the best time to go surfing or swimming.
They also have extra features like GPS and wave counting that can improve your experience.
The top 8 tide watches we’ve listed offer something for everyone, so you’re sure to find one that meets your needs.
