The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

8 best men's digital watches

After a hard-wearing timepiece? IndyBest finds wrist-wear for the anti-analog camp. 

Alex Griffin
Monday 17 June 2019 21:55 BST

Super-techy smartwatches might be getting all the attention at the moment, but there’s still a place for digital watches. With far greater battery life, more resilient bodies and some smart features, here’s our pick of the best on the market.

Essentially the classier version of the F-91W, this packs in all of the same (very few) features but with a steel body. It’s still firmly in the digital watch camp — but without the plastic looks and feel.

Buy now

This is the classic Casio, and really the classic digital watch. It’s as simple as you can get: it has three buttons, an easy-to-read face and a back light. It’s cheap, robust, and straightforward.

Buy now

Lots of watches claim to be futuristic – but this really does look like the kind of watch that an advanced alien race would wear. It shows the time in a stunning way that makes the face look like a piece of art, even if it’s not so readable.

Buy now

This is on its way to being smart – it has Bluetooth and GPS, and can use those to give you information like the weather with a companion app – but it’s also fairly straightforward. So if you want to give smartwatches a try but don’t want anything too complicated, this could do the job.

Buy now

Swatch’s digital Touch watches are undeniably distinctive. Using a big LCD screen and no push buttons, they look futuristic but in a slightly retro way. They are rugged and have the normal functions, and come in a huge range of different colors and designs.

Buy now

This is explicitly designed for runners, without packing in all of the often expensive technology that comes with such timepieces. It has all the necessary features to time your work out and the build to withstand exercise, but fits it all into a decently-priced package.

Buy now

This a serious walkers’ watch and can track where you’ve been as well as how far you’ve walked. It does all that while retaining a classic design and robust build and offers a simple way of telling the time.

Buy now

This has a slightly old school look; more noughties than nineties, it is sportier-looking than the Casios on the list. It packs in all the expected features, like a timer and an alarm, around the brand’s distinctive logo and stripes.

Buy now

Verdict:

The Casio F-91W is a classic, and for good reason — it’s cheap and straightforward, doing everything it needs to and nothing it doesn’t. If its retro look is a little much, then you can get the one with the stainless steel strap, for a little more classiness.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in