New Arrival: Nixon Genie

Another watch, another gimmick. This one has you ask a question, which the watch allegedly answers. I haven't used this, because that's stupid. Anyway, I like the look of the watch, but the band feels a bit slim. The watch in general, like a few of my Nixon watches, could be bigger. I like the font which kind of has the numbers stacked on top of each other. The dial turns to switch modes, which is a bit awkward. It could use some silver instead of the white button on the left and to hold the band in place. Overall, a 7.5 out of 10.

New Arrival: Quiksilver Deep X

Got this one after a bit of negotiation. This is listed at about $200, and I've seen it on eBay not sell for about that. I got it for a little over $50. Let's start with the bad: this has a crazy watch band. One end of the strap slips into the back of the watch face and has a very awkward release and catch mechanism. A few times I felt stuck in the watch as I had a hard time getting it off. This watch's selling points are fancy dive/tide features that I'll never use. But I like my other Quiksilver watches, so I gave this a try. Not thrilled with it overall, but it's pretty cool looking and I like lots of silver on the face. Overall, a 7.5 out of 10.

New Arrival: Freestyle Response

I got this for a song on eBay as no one else seemed interested. I think $35. This is a better watch than I thought it would be. The shape and styling aren't fascinating, but it has some heft about it, and I again like the fonts. The silver makes the watch nice. Everything works well, smoothly. The touch screen part of it again is a bit gimmicky, but it works okay. You touch the one button to activate the touchscreen so it doesn't get hit accidentally. Overall, a 8 out of 10.

New Arrival:Freestyle Workout

Just got this newish arrival on eBay for $20 including shipping. I wasn't sure about how much I would like this one after seeing photos online, and I'm generally not super impressed. It feels a bit flimsy, especially the band. I like the staggered design through the wavy pattern, but wish that they would have incorprated some metal instead of the gray. The start button on the bottom isn't especially helpful. I'll hold on to this for now, but not sure how much wrist time it will get. A 6.5 out of 10. Freestyle Workout below:

New Arrival: Freestyle Tangent

I got this one for a steal, $20 with free shipping on eBay buy it now. I would have preferred the silver face with black numbers, but this one was what came up, so I jumped on it. This is a pretty good watch, although it could have been better. The numbers were a little hard to read on my run, with not a great contrast with the black and the numbers. The numbers are a bit narrow, but I love the font, especially the number 4. The band is a bit too narrow, with the contrasting half smooth, half textured. And I was surprised there was nothing to keep the band in place aside from the keeper (like a knob and hole system that's increasing common), and it did come undone a few times during my run. But I love the size (especially the thickness of the watch itself) and the shape of this watch. Overall, a 8 out of 10. Freestyle Tangent:

New Arrival: Adrenaline watch

I got this watch for $20 at Sports Authority with a gift card. This is apparently made by Freestyle, although I have no idea what the model name or number is. On the back are the identifying information: AD50693-A126-11 109. Not sure what that means. Anyway, this is a nice, big watch, with a great asymetrical design. The band is wide and has the cool split in half design of texture and smooth. The buttons are large and it works well with the stopwatch. The silver is great with the black. I don't like the red accents, but not the end of the world. A nice, solid watch, especially for $20. A 8.5 out of 10. I can't find any info about it on the internet. Adrenaline watch below:

New Arrival: Adidas Tokyo Watch

Again, I have kept my eye on this watch for a while. Finally got it for $30 on eBay.I've never seen it in person and was a bit disappointed upon its arrival. The band is flimsy, and the face a bit too small. The numbers are a little hard to read, especially with the stopwatch function while running in bright daylight. Overall, a mediocre watch that I wouldn't be surprise to sell back on eBay again for a couple bucks. A 6 out of 10. Adidas Tokyo watch below:

New Arrival: Freestyle Killer Shark

Got this old school watch a bit ago on eBay for $30. I have been watching this one for a while, and could consistently get it for $40, but finally found it for a bit of a discount. This one has the matte finish. I have seen it in the glossy, and didn't have a particular preference. I have also seen this with the wave business on it, but don't really need that and it's quite a bit more expensive. This watch harkens back to my first Freestyle watch when I was a middle schooler and had this one, but smaller and with flourescent yellow. That one was pretty bad, but this one is nice. Big and substantial. The info is basic, but easy to read and use. The band works well. Well proportioned. A 8 out of 10. Freestyle Killer Shark below:

New Arrival: Nike Oregon WA0037 Frankenwatch

Sorry for being MIA for a while. I haven't bought many watches recently and started doing an exercise video instead of running, so haven't been using my watches as much. Moving on.
I'm not sure what this watch is called, and I bought this with a canvas strap that I had replaced through the Nike watch repair folks.
This is a big watch, nice and thick. I think the watch is a little too short vertically. The band almost overpowers the face. But I like the design and the familiar Nike timing choices and layout. The band comes with the buckle kind, not a peg and hole system, the latter which I prefer. I've enjoyed this watch and give it a 8 out of 10.
Nike Oregon below:

New Arrival: Freestyle Tide 4.0

Another eBay watch without much interest. Good news for me. I like this watch. Not the perfect color combo, with a little too much lime green. Not sure how they came up with that color. The face of this watch is a little wider than taller and the proportion seems a little off, maybe because I'm used to square and round ones. But this has a good, large stance, and a band with a good rubbery grip. The tide stuff I won't use, but otherwise is easy to use. Overall, a good watch, a 8 out of 10.
Freestyle Tide 4.0 below:

New Arrival: Nike Zero Drift ACG WA0007

Not sure what this one is called, obviously. I have seen this a fair amount on eBay, and usually not much interest. Same with this auction. This is a so-so watch. A little too small, not quite enough design interest, a little bit soft. It has compass nonsense that I'll never use. It's a little dinged up, which doesn't bother me that much. Too much gray on the band. I have a suspicion I'll end up selling this one again on eBay. But for now, I'll put it in the rotation. A 6 out of 10.
Nike ACG below:

New Arrival: Nike Mettle Anvil Super

Sorry it's been a while. I haven't stopped buying watches. In fact, I checked eBay for 2011 purchases and I think it was about 30 watches. Ouch. I have sold a bunch, so maybe it's not that bad. But pretty bad. But on to the news....
I got this Nike watch on eBay for $115. It's more than I wanted to spend. These watches have been coming onto eBay on a regular basis from a foreign website, but I got this from a US seller, slightly used. No big deal; I don't mind a used watch, or without books/boxes/manuals/etc. if it will save me a few bucks. I was worried this would be a slim watch, but it's not. It's nice and sizeable, and similar to many of the other Nike watches in this style. The rounded part at the top and bottom have been a little scuffed, as they stick out and pick up shocks. It's a little too much black for my taste as I like a bit more silver. But I like the sides and the silver there. The black rubber is nice and supple. The mechanism has the same layout as others, which I like. This is a very nice watch, a 9 out of 10.
Nike Mettle Anvil Silver below:

New Arrival: Vestal Brig

Got this one with only 3 bidders on eBay. Is it a slow time on eBay? I can't figure out eBay. The Timex WS4 that I'm eyeing to replace my all black one has been going for way too much. Maybe I should sell the one I don't like now and buy the replacement later. Anyway, I digress. I got this one for a bit more than I wanted to spend, $73, but it's worth it. Again, a hair too small of a watch, but a nice one. I thought the all black would be too much, but it works. The other version has some white in it that lightens it up, but I'm generally not a fan of white on my watches. This has a bit too complicated tide system, which again I will never use, and which shrinks the time and date readout. It also has a weird "train" thing instead of a regular stopwatch, which says, "suffer" and "recover" at intervals, and beeps. I just want to know how long it takes me to do my laps around the reservoir. But the numbers look good and the watch feels good, including some weird bumps on the inside of the band. A 8.5 out of 10.
Vestal Brig below:

New Arrival: Puma Escalate

Got this one new on eBay without many competitors. I was afraid this watch would be too small, and it is by a hair. I was also afraid of the Puma jinx, where I have bought a couple Puma watches and not liked them and resold them.
But I like this watch more than I thought I would, especially after wearing and working out with it for a day. The design is cool, and especially nice with the silver to offest the black. The dark numbers are a bit hard to read, and I don't like the double clasp system. But the styling makes up for it. A good but not great watch. A 8 out of 10.
Puma Escalate below:

New Arrival: Puma Stream

I got this watch without much competition on eBay. I'll chalk this one up to not enough homework. First, the watch is all black, and I forgot that it comes in one with a silver face, which I would like much better, and may try to get if I see one on eBay. Second, this watch has a leather band, which I generally oppose. I could have found out about this bit of info if I had actually done some reading on this watch. Third, this is an awkward watch when it sits on my wrist, and a bit hard to read. I don't think it will get much wrist time. Another in a pretty long line of weird Puma watches in my possession that I may eventually sell. A 6.5 out of 10.
Puma Stream watch below:

New Arrival: Nixon Outsider Tide

I got this one a while ago used on eBay without a band clasp, so after some half-hearted searches for a replacement (I went to one watch repair place nearby and they couldn't help), I sent it back to Nixon for repair. They didn't charge me, which was nice.
In any event, this is another nice, big round-faced watch. Again with the nonsense tide stuff that I'll never use, and which makes it more complicated to set. Once I finally had it ready to go, I must admit I was a little disappointed. I should like this watch more than I do. It's quite big, and the number font is nice. The silver is well done on the face. The strap is hefty. But for some reason, the watch doesn't win me over on an aesthetic level. Maybe it's just a bit too plain. I'll give it a 7 out of 10 for trying though.
Nixon Outsider Tide below:

New Arrival: Origo Tide Sail Race Watch

I got this for a bit more than I wanted on eBay, for $55. The Origos can be a little unstylish, but this one's got some good looks. I like the matte and glossy silver on the face. I like the squared body with the round face. The band is thick and has a good slick line with holes in it. The font is similar to other Origo watches, which is a weakness of this watch. And I don't need all the fishing nonsense. Overall, a good, smart watch. By far my favorite Origo watch, and nice and big. A 8 out of 10.
Origo Tide Sail Race Watch below:

New Arrival: Columbia Meridian

Got this as the sole bidder on eBay. $35 plus $5 shipping. This is a nice, big watch, with nice design. It's ripped off the Nike Torque band with the three hole look, but okay. The font is nice, and I think it does something with a compass, which I'll never use in a million years. Stopwatch works fine. This one is a definite upgrade over my earlier Columbia watch, the somewhat girly Tailwhip.
I give this one a 8 out of 10.
Columbia Meridian watch below:

New Arrival: O.M.D. 3 Touch Digital

Got this one on eBay after some negotiation with a buy it now person for $69. A bit steep. But this is a great watch. Some watches are round, some are square; this one has both of those things. A very big watch. It has the buckle style band that you squeeze your hand through, not the kind that you put the peg through and then use a keeper. It is a good, stylish band though. I like it more than the others like that I have (now four).
This is a touchscreen watch, the first one I have owned, although I have seen several others with this operation. It makes it a little awkward, as you have to push and hold a spot on the screen to activate the touch sensors. The thing is very awkward to program. Getting the time and date set was a chore. And during my run, the seonds and 1/100ths of seconds are large, with a smaller minutes readout below, the opposite of where you would think they would be.
All in all, a great, nice, big, stylish watch. A 9 out of 10.
O.M.D. 3 Touch Digital below:

New Arrival: Nixon Connect

Got this one used on eBay. I've been on a Nixon run lately. This watch is a bit too small for me, but I like it. It's more than a little like the Freestyle Funbox, especially the side profile. The band is not the regular kind, but a clasp system that you have to slide over your hand. It's a bit awkward and it doesn't fit into my collection by spooning all the watches. The negative face (white number on black face) made it hard to read while running, especially with the small seconds on the top. But the design is great, and the case sturdy. It's an older Nixon and the word Nixon is in lower case cursive, so it doesn't look like "NOXIN" upside down, a problem with more recent Nixon watches. This is a pretty good watch, an 8 overall out of 10.
Nixon Connect below: