First-hand recommendations for a budget wristwatch with vibration alarm?
November 1, 2019 8:58 PM Subscribe
Interested in getting a watch with a vibration alarm, for when I can't use my phone alarm, or when I want to have a backup in addition to my phone alarm. I don't expect it to wake me from a deep sleep, but I'm hoping it'll be noticeable enough if I'm taking a catnap, or working in the yard or on something temporarily where it'd be inconvenient to use my phone. I know Casio and Timex make relevant watches - suggestions for specific models under or around $50? Any others to be aware of?
This would be for those special circumstances at home, so I'm not too concerned about how it looks, just more that it's easy to use. I already have and love a few analog wristwatches for keeping general track of time. The last time I used a digital watch was a Casio about 30 years ago, and I remember being frustrated by the tiny buttons when setting the alarm.
Ideally:
- I can choose to allow vibration alarm OR beeping alarm
- can choose to allow beeping AND vibration alarm
- can keep snoozing indefinitely until I choose to stop the alarm
- can turn on backlight without having to look at/read something on the watch first
- can set more than one alarm (at least two would be good), and it's easy to edit and set the alarms!
- can make the alarm recurring
Nice but not as important:
- choose to mute general beeps, like if pushing menu buttons etc.
- band width that is pretty standard to replace - it seems all watches in this category have resin bands, which I find uncomfortable, so I may switch out the resin band with a NATO strap.
- I'd prefer something that's around 45mm or under for lug-to-lug height, but based on cursory research most watches will exceed that, with case diameters of around 43mm and up. I'm okay with that since I'm only planning to wear this at home.
Budget: under $50 (US). If you tell me that there's a perfect watch that does everything I want, I may consider going above budget.
I also welcome any suggestions of where to buy your favorite leather or canvas watch straps and bands.
I'm in the US and would like to buy from somewhere that is not Amazon or Walmart if possible.
(Already know and have looked in watchuseek forums and now want to ask MeFites for your opinions)
Thanks!
This would be for those special circumstances at home, so I'm not too concerned about how it looks, just more that it's easy to use. I already have and love a few analog wristwatches for keeping general track of time. The last time I used a digital watch was a Casio about 30 years ago, and I remember being frustrated by the tiny buttons when setting the alarm.
Ideally:
- I can choose to allow vibration alarm OR beeping alarm
- can choose to allow beeping AND vibration alarm
- can keep snoozing indefinitely until I choose to stop the alarm
- can turn on backlight without having to look at/read something on the watch first
- can set more than one alarm (at least two would be good), and it's easy to edit and set the alarms!
- can make the alarm recurring
Nice but not as important:
- choose to mute general beeps, like if pushing menu buttons etc.
- band width that is pretty standard to replace - it seems all watches in this category have resin bands, which I find uncomfortable, so I may switch out the resin band with a NATO strap.
- I'd prefer something that's around 45mm or under for lug-to-lug height, but based on cursory research most watches will exceed that, with case diameters of around 43mm and up. I'm okay with that since I'm only planning to wear this at home.
Budget: under $50 (US). If you tell me that there's a perfect watch that does everything I want, I may consider going above budget.
I also welcome any suggestions of where to buy your favorite leather or canvas watch straps and bands.
I'm in the US and would like to buy from somewhere that is not Amazon or Walmart if possible.
(Already know and have looked in watchuseek forums and now want to ask MeFites for your opinions)
Thanks!
(Sorry, just noticed the request to avoid Amazon. Hopefully the page gives you enough info that you can find the same watch elsewhere if it meets enough of your criteria.)
posted by eirias at 4:42 AM on November 2, 2019
posted by eirias at 4:42 AM on November 2, 2019
Feel free to discount this because it really sounds like you're specifically looking for a watch, but I recently got a Xiaomii Mi Band 3 Fitness Tracker specifically because I wanted something to use as a silent vibration alarm, to sleep more easily while wearing earplugs and get woken up without bothering my wife.
It's very flexible, but requires pairing with a device to really get anything set up. And while it can tell time, it's not a watch in the sense I think you want. I just thought it was worth mentioning in case this was good enough for you, and it's even under $30.
posted by cardioid at 9:23 AM on November 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
It's very flexible, but requires pairing with a device to really get anything set up. And while it can tell time, it's not a watch in the sense I think you want. I just thought it was worth mentioning in case this was good enough for you, and it's even under $30.
posted by cardioid at 9:23 AM on November 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I appreciate your responses, eirias and cardioid!
Couldn't find the Vibralite watch to try, and yeah I preferred getting something simpler that didn't require dependence on another device to set up.
I ended up getting the Timex Expedition Vibration Alarm watch, model T49851 for under $40. It has a case diameter of 43mm. I plan to swap out the band (22mm) if I can (aside from being resin, it is a little difficult to latch for me). I picked this up instead of a Casio because based on what I read, the Timex could have more alarms, and the vibration was more noticeable.
For anyone who finds this thread and is interested... going down the rest of the list I'd put together:
- I can choose to allow vibration alarm OR beeping alarm
- can choose to allow beeping AND vibration alarm
Yes, can set to Vibe, Tone, or Combo.
- can keep snoozing indefinitely until I choose to stop the alarm
Unfortunately this seems to be a no, unless I'm missing a setting. I wish the alarm would be more persistent, but it's better than what I had before (nothing). When choosing vibration alarm without beeping, the alarm buzzes seven times in a row (with clock flashing), and then stops for (I think) six minutes -- without me pressing snooze -- then buzzes another seven times (again clock flashing), and then it automatically ends. No more alarm again until the next day or whenever the next scheduled alarm is.
- can turn on backlight without having to look at/read something on the watch first
Yes, after learning that the backlight button is the middle button on the right.
- can set more than one alarm (at least two would be good), and it's easy to edit and set the alarms!
- can make the alarm recurring
Yes, can save multiple alarms, including Daily, Weekdays, Weekends, Occasions, Hydration. The Occasions alarm is pretty neat: I can set an alarm for a certain day on the calendar and categorize it as one of various types, such as Appointment, Doctor, Trip, Birthday, Bill, Holiday, etc. The Hydration alarm can be set to 59 min, 59 sec or under. There's also a chronometer and a timer. I have recurring alarms set up for Weekdays and Weekends. I did not have to read the manual to figure it out, so I'd say it's pretty simple to set the alarms, as long as I'm able to read the tiny text on the watch.
- choose to mute general beeps, like if pushing menu buttons etc.
Yes, can toggle on/off for Beep (menu buttons) and Chime (hourly).
For the price it's pretty good - my only wish is that the buzzing would last until I snoozed it.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 10:00 PM on January 27, 2020
Couldn't find the Vibralite watch to try, and yeah I preferred getting something simpler that didn't require dependence on another device to set up.
I ended up getting the Timex Expedition Vibration Alarm watch, model T49851 for under $40. It has a case diameter of 43mm. I plan to swap out the band (22mm) if I can (aside from being resin, it is a little difficult to latch for me). I picked this up instead of a Casio because based on what I read, the Timex could have more alarms, and the vibration was more noticeable.
For anyone who finds this thread and is interested... going down the rest of the list I'd put together:
- I can choose to allow vibration alarm OR beeping alarm
- can choose to allow beeping AND vibration alarm
Yes, can set to Vibe, Tone, or Combo.
- can keep snoozing indefinitely until I choose to stop the alarm
Unfortunately this seems to be a no, unless I'm missing a setting. I wish the alarm would be more persistent, but it's better than what I had before (nothing). When choosing vibration alarm without beeping, the alarm buzzes seven times in a row (with clock flashing), and then stops for (I think) six minutes -- without me pressing snooze -- then buzzes another seven times (again clock flashing), and then it automatically ends. No more alarm again until the next day or whenever the next scheduled alarm is.
- can turn on backlight without having to look at/read something on the watch first
Yes, after learning that the backlight button is the middle button on the right.
- can set more than one alarm (at least two would be good), and it's easy to edit and set the alarms!
- can make the alarm recurring
Yes, can save multiple alarms, including Daily, Weekdays, Weekends, Occasions, Hydration. The Occasions alarm is pretty neat: I can set an alarm for a certain day on the calendar and categorize it as one of various types, such as Appointment, Doctor, Trip, Birthday, Bill, Holiday, etc. The Hydration alarm can be set to 59 min, 59 sec or under. There's also a chronometer and a timer. I have recurring alarms set up for Weekdays and Weekends. I did not have to read the manual to figure it out, so I'd say it's pretty simple to set the alarms, as long as I'm able to read the tiny text on the watch.
- choose to mute general beeps, like if pushing menu buttons etc.
Yes, can toggle on/off for Beep (menu buttons) and Chime (hourly).
For the price it's pretty good - my only wish is that the buzzing would last until I snoozed it.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 10:00 PM on January 27, 2020
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posted by eirias at 4:41 AM on November 2, 2019 [1 favorite]