Not every surfer wears a watch, but there are good reasons why some surfers do wear watches both in and out of the water. If you are the kind of person who loves knowing what the time is, then you will find a range of options in this article. We have dived deep into watch technology, including options for every budget and use case.
In particular, we’ve explored watches designed for surfers — especially those that have specific features or functionality that extend beyond 24 hours into tides and even wave tracking.
What are the reasons to wear a surf watch?
Surfers wear watches because they:
- Have a schedule that requires vigilance. They need to be at work or home on time.
- They feel comfort knowing what time of day it is.
- They measure their surfing performance and want to know how long they’ve been out in the water.
- They like smart technology that enables them to gain greater insight into the world around them.
Without further ado, let’s dive in to the world of timepiece tech for surfers.
The best watches for adult surfers
Casio GBX-100NS-1
The Casio GBX-100NS watch is the perfect companion for surfers, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts. With its rugged design and G-SHOCK water-resistant casing, it can withstand the rigors of any adventure. The watch also features a tide graph to help you plan your next session to perfection. Additionally, it has a stopwatch function that allows you to time your surf, run, and other activities with accuracy. Whether you’re an avid surfer or just looking for a reliable timepiece, the Casio GBX-100NS is a solid option.
Features
Case / bezel material: Resin / Stainless steel
Watch Band: Resin
Construction: Shock resistant
Tide graph: tide level for specific date and time
Special Feature: Countdown timer, Sunrise, sunset time display, Moon data (moon age of the specific date, moon phase)
Sensor feature details:
- Life log data
- Moon data. Moon data (moon age of the specific date, moon phase)
- Tide graph
- Sunrise/sunset display. Sunrise, sunset time display Sunrise time and sunset time for specific date, daylight pointers.
- Stopwatch
- Timer
- Alarm/hourly time signal
Water resistant depth: 200 Meters
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Watch is the perfect surf watch for any outdoor enthusiast. This watch actually features an advanced solar charging system that helps you stay powered up while the sun is shining (not a problem for surf enthusiasts).
It also has a built-in altimeter, barometer, and compass to help you navigate the world around you. With its rugged design and waterproof construction, this watch can handle whatever Mother Nature throws at it. Plus, it comes with a variety of features such as activity tracking, heart rate monitoring, and more to help you stay on top of your performance while enjoying the outdoors.
This is the ultimate piece of gear for the surfing explorer who values biofeedback as well as being off-grid without access to a power socket.
Features
Case / bezel material: Fibre-reinforced polymer
Watch Band: Silicone
Construction: Thermal and shock resistant
Special Feature:
- Heart rate monitor
- Solar Charging
- Garmin Pay
- Compass
- Alarms
- Several activity profiles
- Pedometer and calories burned
- Barometer
- Altimeter
- Sunrise/Sunset information
- Tides
- Countdown timer
- Breadcrumb navigation
- Course creation and upload options
Water resistant depth: 100 Meters
Rip Curl Search GPS 2
The Rip Curl Search GPS 2 is a famous product that generates pretty amazing surf session charts, showing waves-ridden and offering easy sharing features so you can humble brag on Facebook or Instagram.
Designed to help surfers track their performance in the water and gain insights into their progress, it features a built-in GPS, real-time wave tracking, and a range of performance metrics. With a simple design, this watch is all about functionality. No bells and whistles — focus on your wave riding and the watch will synch with your phone and deliver advanced insights into your performance.
Whether you’re a professional surfer or just someone who loves riding waves, this watch will help you get more out of your time in the ocean.
Features
Case / bezel material: Plastic
Watch Band: Rubber
Special Feature:
- Real-time surf conditions – Swell Height & Direction, Wind Speed & Direction
- GPS Surf and Activity Tracking
- One-Touch Auto-Set (Indoor Compatible)
- Day, Date, Calendar, Alarm, Stopwatch, Moon Phase, Sunrise/Set Times, Stopwatch, Countdown Timer, Backlight
- Permanent Pairing, Bluetooth Compatible
- Rechargeable Battery
Water resistant depth: 100 Meters
Nixon Heat
The Nixon Heat watch is an ideal timepiece for surfers looking for a watch that is both stylish and functional. The watch is designed with a durable and water-resistant stainless steel case that can withstand the demands of extreme water sports, including surfing.
The Heat watch features a digital display that shows the current time, tide information, and a countdown timer, making it easy for surfers to plan their sessions and time their runs. The watch also comes equipped with a heat timer, which can be used to track the duration of a surf heat or session.
With its reliable and accurate performance, the Nixon Heat watch is a great choice for surfers who demand the best from their gear. Its sleek and stylish design makes it a versatile accessory that can be worn both in and out of the water, and its advanced features ensure that it is an indispensable tool for any serious surfer.
Features
Design: Engineered for a minimal profile with maximum performance, the Heat’s custom LCD module and timer options give athletes heavy functionality in a featherweight design.
Case: Stainless Steel
Watch Band: Rubber
Special Feature: The “Final Countdown” timer has a 60 second “SEND” notification to push you through the finish line.
Water resistant depth: 100 Meters
Read Review:
Apple Watch Series 8
The Apple Watch Series 8 is the latest addition to Apple’s lineup of wearable devices. While not specifically designed for surfers, they do feature surfers in the Apple ads.
This is a powerful and stylish watch that has been designed to be used in all kinds of activities, from tracking your fitness goals to staying connected with family and friends.
With its new surf watch feature, you can access the ocean’s waves directly from the wrist or use an app like Dawn Patrol to leverage the GPS functionality and produce maps of your surfing session. This watch is perfect for any active lifestyle and its features make it one of the best smartwatches on the market today. If you want to measure heart rate and other biometrics — and you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem — you really can’t go wrong with an Apple watch. Of course, you’ll need to charge it up more regularly than the Garmin, Rip Curl or Nixon.
Features
Case material: Aluminium case made from 100 per cent recycled aerospace-grade alloy
Watch Band: The Sport Band is made from a durable yet surprisingly soft high-performance fluoroelastomer, with an innovative pin-and-tuck closure
Construction: Crack-Resistant
Special Feature:
- GPS Surf and Activity Tracking
- Crash Detection
- Temperature sensor
- Heart rate monitor
- Blood oxygen measurement
- Sleep Tracking
Water resistant depth: 50 Meters
Weret C-BLK
The Weret C-BLK watch is a premium timepiece designed specifically for surfers who want both style and functionality. With its high-quality materials, advanced features, and stylish design, the Weret C-BLK watch is a top-of-the-line accessory that is perfect for serious surfers who want to take their skills to the next level.
The watch integrates with Magic Seaweed to provide surf and weather information via the traditional analogue display. If you’re after a classic watch with modern connectivity – and that is specifically designed for surfers – then the Weret Surf Watch might be for you.
Features
Case material: The case is made with 316L low-carbon surgical grade steel with excellent corrosion resistance to sea-water
Watch Band: Silicone
Construction: Anti-Scratch
Special Feature:
- GPS Surf and Activity Tracking
- Weather forecasts powered by magicseaweed
- Wind speed/wind direction, swell height/swell direction
- Heart rate monitor
- Water and air-temperatures
- Barometer
Water resistant depth: 100 Meters
Read Review:
Rip Curl Rifles Tide
With 500 pre-programmed tide locations in graph or detailed display, the Rifles men’s tide watch is the perfect combination of function and value. With a range of features designed to help you stay ahead of the tide, this watch is ideal for surfers and beachgoers alike.
The Rip Curl Rifles Tide watch offers accurate tide information, as well as a variety of other useful functions such as alarms and timers. It also has a sleek design that makes it look great on your wrist. This is a minimalist option that won’t let you down.
Features
Case / bezel material: Plastic
Watch Band: Rubber
Special Feature:
- Versatile Tide Display: Switch Between Graph View and Detailed View
- Pre-Programmed Tide Function (500): Electronically Stored Tide Charts For 500 Preset Locations Worldwide
- Alarm
- Stopwatch
- Countdown timer
- Dual Time
- Light
Water resistant depth: 100 Meters
Nixon Base Tide Pro
The Nixon Base Tide Pro watch is a top-of-the-line watch designed specifically for surfers. It comes equipped with a range of features, including a durable and waterproof design, with a case that is water-resistant up to 100 meters.
The digital display shows the current time, tide information, and sunrise and sunset times, making it easy for surfers to plan their sessions. The watch also comes with a customizable countdown timer and stopwatch, which can be used to time sessions and track progress. With its rugged design, the Nixon Base Tide Pro watch is a must-have accessory for serious surfers looking to stay tuned to tides and daylight hours.
Features
Design: Clear, informative, and comfortable
Case: Fiber-reinforced polycarbonate
Watch Band: Silicone
Special Feature:
- Pre-programmed tide information for 550 global beaches
- Sunrise / sunset data
- Future and past tide
- Dual Time
- 3 types of alarms
- Countdown timer
- Wave counter
- Chronograph
- EL backlight
Water resistant depth: 100 Meters
The best surf watch for kids
Rip Curl Brasher Watch
Rip Curl’s Brasher youth-sized watch is the watch for crazy little groms who want a surf brand on their wrist. This downsized surf-inspired sports watch features an analogue display, is super easy to read, and is the perfect size for a smaller wrist.
Waterproof tested up to 100 meters (330 feet), the Brasher Youth Watch is backed with a limited five-year worldwide warranty.
Features
Watch Type: Analogue
Tide Watch: Non-Tide Watch
Case: Stainless Steel
Watch Band: Rubber
Dial: Sunray dial
Water resistant depth: 100 Meters
