Don’t just tell time

What is an EDC without a watch? Some of you might use a watch to figure out when the next Naked and Afraid episode is, or to coordinate a meetup time. Above all, a watch is a great asset to have in the wild; being able to read time is just one of the advantages.  With these other uses, you can use your watch to its full potential. Now you’re wondering what else you can use a watch for other than keeping track of time. More than you think, actually.

Remember everything you do with a watch will depend on the watch itself. Some of you might have the super tactical secret squirrel watch with all types of doohickeys and lasers, and some will have this awesome yet simple Alpha Outpost watch.

In this article, I am going to cover a few uses for a watch. However, before I start, there are a few things to consider when doing this. For example, is the watch just completely smashed to shit? Is it a digital or analog watch? Does it have a strap made out of leather or tough nylon? Some uses might work for you and some may not, but it doesn’t mean your watch sucks.

Magnifying glass:
Think back to when you were a kid, eating popsicles on a hot summer day while playing with your friends and exploring the wonders of your backyard.  Now you see some ants surround your Popsicle puddle which melted off your sticky hands. The kid inside of you gets curious and wants to see what the power of the sun can do when assisted by your dad’s magnifying glass. The same concept applies here. If your watch is completely dead and you're stuck in a survival situation, you might as well make use of it. Pop open the crystal and get to burning. This only works if the crystal is convex...the rounder the better.

Compass:
We know you just received a compass, but we also know that shit happens. If you forget it, lose it, or break it, it's all good, just use your watch. If you find yourself lost in the woods (pun intended) just use an Analog watch.

Again this method ONLY works with analog watches. Just like the one you received in this Alpha Outpost Chronos box.

Steps
1. Hold the watch flat.
2. Point the little hand (hour hand) towards the sun.
3. Cut the angle (find the middle) between the hand and also the 12 mark.

The imaginary line in between is south! Now that you have south, just turn around and that’s North.
Note: This just gives you a general direction and may not be accurate.

Signal Mirror:
Most watches have a stainless steel back plate. The Alpha Outpost Chronos definitely does. With a little bit of good old elbow grease, you can polish that thing right up. It won’t be like a mirror, but it will reflect light.

Conclusion:
So there you have it, some nifty ways to use your watch other than just tell time. I hope you learned some new uses for your watch in this article.