Best Surf Watches in 2022: A Comprehensive Review

Most models are designed to predict a number of factors quite accurately. This includes giving information about the wave height, tides, and wind direction. As a bonus, they are waterproof, which means that there is no need to worry about the possibility of a watch getting damaged.

5 Best Surf Watches

To help you out, we have rounded the best surf watches. Take some time to check these out!

Garmin Instinct Solar Surf

Rating: 4.5/5

Technical Specs:

  • Screen Size: 1.27 inches
  • Item Weight: 1.87 ounces
  • Water Resistant Depth: 100 meters

Product Description:

  • Solar-powered Smartwatch for Surfers

This edition was designed especially for surfers, as suggested by the name – Surf Edition. It is currently acknowledged as the most highly specified Smart surf watch that is currently available.

  • Three Surfing Features

This surf watch is equipped with three surfing features – surf activity, tide data, and surfline sessions. These features are only unique to this specific edition. The surfline sessions, for example, creates a video of each wave that a rider rides in front of a camera, directly sending the image to the phone (for now, they are only available on iPhones).

  • Smartphone Functions

Aside from being a simple surfing watch, this watch also offers smartphone functionalities, allowing you to easily read text messages and receive calls, without having to bring your phone with you on the water. It also comes with a fitness tracker that can serve as both your assistant and coach during your workout activities. It helps in monitoring vital aspects of your health, including heart rate, endurance, sleep, stress level, weight, and others.

  • Water and Shock Resistance

This surf watch is really designed for a water-related activity such as surfing. It offers a water resistance depth of 100 meters and a shock-resistance rating of 810 thermal shocks (US military grade). It uses Galileo, GPS, and GLONASS navigation systems, making it effective in its tasks as a smartwatch. Despite all of these features combined, this watch remains lightweight and comfortable to use.

Pros

  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Responsive menu
  • Highly presentable screen  

Cons

  • Very pricey  

CakCity Mens Digital Sports Watch LED

Rating: 4.5/5

Technical Specs:

  • Screen Size: 47 mm
  • Item Weight: 1.6 ounces
  • Water Resistant Depth: 50 meters

Product Description:

  • Water Resistance Ratings

This watch is rated at 50 meters (164 feet) water resistance rating, making it highly suitable for everyday use, including engaging in water-related activities, such as surfing and swimming. It is also ideal when performing other activities, such as when doing things under the rain, washing hands, and bathing. The manufacturer notes, however, not to press any button underwater.

  • Extra Luminous Screen Design

One thing that many users love about this watch is that it uses high-quality EL lighting technology. All you need to do is to press the watch’s “LIGHT’ button that is located on the upper left part of the watch, and you can easily see the time in the dark clearly. Since it is also designed with a military-style sport, it comes with a fashionable dial design, with a digital and large face that is easy to read.

  • Multifunction Use

This watch is not only ideal as a surf watch but for several other purposes as well. For example, it serves as an alarm, stopwatch, and calendar. It is also designed to provide other information. It is ideal for everyday use and different kinds of sports. As a bonus, thanks to its stylish and charming look, you can easily create the ideal visual effect, allowing you to stand out right away.

Pros

  • Extra-long power
  • 40 meters water resistance rating
  • Luminous screen design

Cons

  •  Does not track the year 

New Apple Watch Series 6

Rating: 4.5/5

Technical Specs:

  • Screen Size: 44 mm
  • Item Weight: 1.08 ounces
  • Water Resistant Depth: 50 meters

Product Description:

  • Fitness Tracking

With the Apple Watch Series 6, you can now make sure that you are not only enjoying your favorite water sport but also monitor your health accordingly. This watch is equipped with features that measure the level of your blood oxygen, keeping a close eye on your heart. The fitness and health metrics are viewable on the improved Always-On Retina screen display. This will allow you to live a more active, healthier life.

  • Water Resistance

This watch is ideal for performing activities that will expose you to water. This is all thanks to its 50 meters water resistance ratings. Aside from surfing, it can also be used every day, even in activities that will let you get in contact with water. With the features that are built-in this surf watch, you can easily track your activities in the most precise way possible, even underwater.

  • Irresistible Features

What makes this watch irresistible is its huge array of other useful functions and apps. As such, getting this surfing-friendly timepiece will not limit its purpose of use, making it ideal also for other everyday activities. For instance, this watch will allow you to receive calls and reply to messages, and several others.

Pros

  • Water resistant up to 50 meters
  • Wide range of features
  • Fitness tracker

Cons

  • Quite pricey  

Nautica N83 Men’s Urban Surf Watch

Rating: 4.5/5

Technical Specs:

  • Screen Size: 44 mm
  • Item Weight: 3.2 ounces
  • Water Resistant Depth: 50 meters

Product Description:

  • Outstanding Features

This surf watch is not just designed for surfing or for engaging in water-related activities, but it is also one that can be worn for everyday use. This is all thanks to its wide range of features. For one, its adjustable blue silicone strap (22mm) can fit up to an 8-inch circumference of the wrist.

  • Attractive Design

This watch also features an attractive design. On the screen, it features a white dial, luminous hands, and the date window situated at the 3 o’clock spot. It also comes with a silver-tone 44mm brass case, along with a fixed upper black ring that introduces the Nautical style label.

  • Water Resistance

This surf watch also comes with a water resistance rating of 50 meters (165 feet). Generally, this makes it suitable for use over shorter periods of time, making it ideal for use while doing recreational swimming and surfing, but may not guarantee performance when snorkeling or diving at depths.

Pros

  • Attractive design
  • Water resistant
  • Dependable manufacturer’s reputation  

Cons

  • Quite large and heavy  

Rip Curl Men’s Rifles Digital Tide Surf

Rating: 4/5

Technical Specs:

  • Screen Size: 41mm
  • Item Weight: 4.96 ounces
  • Water Resistant Depth: 330 feet

Product Description:

  • Pre-Programmed Features

This surf watch designed for men’s use comes with pre-programmed features, including 600 tide locations in a detailed or graph display. It also provides data on high and low tides and future tides. This casual sport watch comes with a design that makes it ideal for a wide variety of outdoor activities and water-related activities alike, including surfing, swimming, skiing, and others.

  • Waterproof Tested

This surf watch is also waterproof tested with a water resistant dept rating at 330 feet. It also features durable overall quality which can help it withstand extreme weather conditions and waves. As a multi-functional watch, it is fit for both indoor and outdoor sports.

  • Lightweight

This lightweight and sleek design of a watch are convenient to use. Most users agree that they usually do not notice it on their wrists as they enjoy the waves. It is also designed as a functional digital surfing watch equipped with quartz movement, meeting all your needs and requirements for surfing. Its 41mm wrist band comes with a locking keeper, along with stainless steel buckle for the watch.

  • Other Useful Features

This watch also serves as an alarm clock, a stopwatch, and a timer. These are features that you would certainly like to see while you are out on the water, enjoying your favorite sport. The display includes the date, time, timer, and tide track.

Pros

  • Durable and waterproof
  • Lightweight and sleek design
  • Indoor and outdoor activities  

Cons

  •    Not for diving

Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Best Surf Watches

Now that you have an idea of the best surf watches that are currently available, you now have an idea of what you are getting. However, it is still important to consider some factors before actually taking your wallet out. The following are some of the most important factors that you may need to take into consideration.

Water Resistance Levels

One of the first factors that need to be considered when choosing the best surf watch is a good water-resistance level. These levels typically range from 5 to 20 ATM. Smartwatches usually have the lowest water-resistance rating.

If you opt for a traditional watch, the lowest water-resistance level is at 10 ATMs, which offers a good depth of 330 ft or 100 m. This rating is already good enough when engaging in intense water-related activities, like swimming, showering, snorkeling, at even shallow diving.

Get a surf watch with higher water pressure resistance if you are also into diving aside from surfing. Aside from that, both traditional watches and smartwatches are ideal for surfing.

Surf and Local Tide Information

Local tide information is very important when it comes to surfing. The tide usually has an impact on the quality of surf. Depending on the activity of the tide, the surf will also start to change. As such, this information is quite useful when sitting and surfing on water.

A good watch with a tide function feature will inform you of the times when the tide is either high or low, even providing other details such as swell heights and water temperature. This function usually works with different locations. All you need to do is to enter the name of the beach, and it will automatically be located using GPS.

Battery Life

Just like with phones and other devices, surfers also go crazy when their surf watches run out of juice in just a short time. Therefore, another important feature that you may want to take into consideration is battery life. This feature will provide you with the assurance that it can handle the task for a long period of time, with the number of apps and GPS tracking always active throughout the entire time.

You may want to check out those that can offer a complete day or two of extended battery life. It would be realistic, however, to know that if the GPS function is turned on all the time, along with a number of other apps, then the battery life will also be affected, reducing it to a few hours.

Beach Data

This information is often pre-loaded. The more pre-loaded beach data information is available, the better. This is because all you need to do is to click some buttons, and you will already be able to find the location of some nice surfing beaches close to you. This feature is particularly amazing for surfers who travel.

Fitness Tracker

This function can prove to be an important feature, especially for surfers who are into this sport, not just as a hobby, but also to improve their health and well-being. This feature can greatly help you with personal workout plans. For one, this can greatly help you in monitoring your heart rate level in every surf, allowing you to note a number of factors, including endurance.

Some surf watches even come with features such as Heart Rate Variability, detecting early signs of stress and fatigue. This will then help you decide whether it is good to continue, or just skip the wave next in order to prevent fatigue.

Smart Watch Features

Even though a surf watch is primarily designed to offer the needed technical support while surfing, some models also come with features that enhance a watch’s utility, especially when you are surfing. Some models incorporate smart watch features.

A surf watch with a smart watch function will provide you access to calls and messages even when your smartphone is not around. This is quite handy if you are expecting important calls while surfing. This eliminates the need to go out of the water and check your phone each time.

Other benefits that you can also expect when using a surf watch with these smart watch functions include having fitness tracking functions, as well as cross applications that you may also find helpful.

FAQs

What is a surf watch?

A surf watch is not just handy in telling the time but also measures the waves and tide. Some models also hold specific data on beach and surf locations in various places all over the world. There are some that provide information on the timing for sunset and sunrise, and more. If you consider yourself as a frequent surfer, getting a surf watch can ultimately take your surfing hobby a level up.

Is it possible to use a water-resistant watch instead of a surf watch while surfing?

Of course! A water-resistant watch can be used while surfing. A water-resistant watch is designed so that water will not go into it. Take note, however, that most water-resistant watches come with a water depth resistance. This means that there is a limit to it. For example, if your watch is labeled at 50 meters water resistance, it is not recommended to use it for diving to depths beyond this limit.

Is it possible to surf using your Apple Watch?

Yes, it is possible! In the list above, the latest Apple Watch Series 6 is included, as it boasts wonderful features that make it ideal for water-related activities including surfing. With these offers, the Apple Watch is no doubt a good partner during surfing.

Conclusion

With the list mentioned above on the best surf watches to watch out for in 2021, you are now in a better position to find and choose the right option that will fit your needs and preferences. Every surf watch is not the same because of the features that are built-in, including water resistance levels. Your budget is also something that you need to consider. Whether you are going for a more expensive model, or settle for one that is reasonably priced, the choice is up to you. One thing for sure, these surf watches will offer you performance and quality that will last for a long time.