This week’s episode was recorded shortly after Jason arrived in Bonaire for a couple of weeks featuring all the island has to offer – including amazing diving, warm sunshine, and cold beer. Given that the new Apple Watch Ultra is one of the watches that Jason is dive-testing while in Bonaire, we figured it would be a good time to resurface a show format we haven’t used in a long time – “On Paper/On Wrist”.
Another entertaining episode. Thanks for your early thoughts on the new Apple watch, Jason.
I use my Garmin Vivoactive 3 in the same was as you do: for specific occasions and purposes.
With regard to watches and TSA screening, I usually take my watch off and empty my pockets into a zippered pocket on whatever backpack I'm using as carry-on. It's easier to keep an eye on a backpack than it is on a watch, keys, phone, wallet, etc. floating around in a random plastic bin.
Great episode, listning to it at the Paris Airport from my trip to Bonaire.
VIP Diving is great! The guy with the AP was my Padi AOW instructer!
Enjoy the rest of your time there.
Oh, and there is a brewery on the Island. I believe its cald La Cantina, but they have (a lot) of import biers (saison Dupont!) and brew in Holland if a recall correctly.
After selling my previous Fenix 5s a while ago having scratched the glass (it took a hell of a beating and came away with a small scratch) I replaced it with an SRP777 as my work watch (working on the UK rail network) The turtle has subsequently stopped working twice (whilst spiking ground for a new fence) so think I found the 4r36s limits!
After listening to this episode I found a barely worn 5s on market place a mile away from my house and it now sits on my wrist ready for chainsaw and shovel work. Like reconnecting with an old friend.
Great episode. I’ve had several Garmins as well as the Apple Watch and certainly for me the Garmin works much better for my needs. Currently using the fenix 6s.
James commented in this episode about not taking his watch off at airport security. I generally bring 3 or 4 watches when I travel, one being my garmin and I always have taken what I’m wearing off at security. I usually bring more modern watches with anti magnetic movements when I fly as well. The watch I have on wrist I put in a little travel pouch as I go through security and place it with my belt and other items in the tray.
This is probably the first show where I’ve skipped a section--the Apple Watch. Just not into it, I don’t need another device that needs charging or to get me hooked into my phone. One of the plus’ of having a wristwatch is that I can look at the time without wasting time.
I liked the part when James said about the apple watch “that would have blown my mind when I was 12”. When James was 12ish, I went to a lecture by Steve Jobs when he talked about the iphone and watch. This was ~17 years before it was released (Jobs was not working for Apple at the time, and according to his biography he had just recently started sketching out his thoughts on that type of device).
And yes, it blew my mind. More specifically, I thought Jobs was a bit crazy. Everything of note in those days was on large mainframes, PC’s were for word processing, and the idea of a “dick tracy” type of device in your pocket (or wrist) seemed like something that would remain Sci-Fi. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. My, how times change.
Some shameless self-promotion: the newest episode of the gravel bike racing documentary series I’m making just dropped -- https://youtu.be/p5cx2MDWCAM.
I know cycling isn’t the “driving, diving, and most certainly watches” of TGN, but I think a few of us are avid cyclists to some degree or another. While a lot of this series has been very inside-baseball on bikes and US bike racing, this episode was a little more special, following Unbound Gravel champion Sofia Gomez Villafane take on LeadBoat: racing both Leadville (100 mile MTB race) and SBT (140 mile gravel race) back-to-back at elevation in Colorado. Sofia is on the eve of representing Argentina at the first UCI Gravel World Championships tomorrow.
Would mean the world if y’all would add this to your weekend watchlists. Thanks!
I am sorry to say that underwater GPS is going to be a while away. If naval submarines still do not have the technology (they have GPS but the have to surface or go to periscope depth), then it is going to be a while to fit it in a wrist watch.
Hey guys loving the chat this week. Definitely has me looking at the ultra on my nightstand and wanting to plan a trip to use it.
Jason- hearing you talk about the keeper on the ocean strap, it’s not actually meant to hook into the both the strap and the tail. When I was setting mine up at the Apple Store the person read off their setup guide that it is made to be able to be put wherever you wanted, but for structural purposes it’s supposed to lock back into itself and the tail be slipped under it.
Keep up the great work, can’t wait to hear part 2 when oceanic+ is available!
I was listening to the last 1/2 in the car and one of you mentioned the Tango bag. I am thinking about one and was curious how you liked it? I have the papa wallet and assume the bag would be just as great.
On tech pouches, Tumi makes a very nice roll up case with several storage options and a hook closure. It’s totally unique and serves me very well. Rubberized orange fabric is a plus. https://www.tumi.com/p/mobile-organizer-0142628D553/
Definitely with Jason on the Apple Watch. It’s a really interesting tool, but without better battery life, I’ll stick to Garmin (I was gifted a MARQ Athlete) and my mechanical watches. I may give the Ultra a try just being an Apple alum; I’ve tried a few of the Apple Watches over the years and have been impressed with them, but not enough to wear them in any way consistently.
I do update my mom’s Apple Watch as often as I can, though, as well as making sure it’s a cellular model. The fall detection and being able to call emergency services are absolutely features I love for her as she nears her 70th birthday.
For my backcountry stuff, I’ve taken to just wearing a titanium watch on a nato/rubber strap and just using Gaia GPS (with downloaded maps and routes). The ability with the yearly subscription to have forest fire data, 72-hour NOAA precipitation estimates, and satellite image overlays, as well as typical topo maps has made it indispensable as a tool for me more than any wearable can match up to. (I’m also always going to have my phone for the camera, so might as well use it to the fullest.)
Great episode and good to hear the first thoughts on using the ⌚️Ultra.
I've done some hikes and dives on the Descent G1 Solar (I came over from the Instinct 1 non-solar) and for me its pretty much the perfect Pacific Northwest adventure life tool, when double wristed with a favorite watch. @Jason- the Solar part, you are right isn't anything like Eco-drive. From my usage in the PNW its like a trickle charge in my experience with it. I get maybe a couple of percent recharge in direct sunlight for each hourI do find it helpful on long hikes as, in my mind, it is getting 'topping off' in sun. If Garmin, or anyone, does figure out underwater navigation or tracking along with Eco-drive like solar charging, that would be the adventure device that would dominate the market. Cheers guys 🤙🏼
Another great show. And, an amazing bit of studio work on James’ part because the interaction between nearly 30 degrees of latitude was seamless!
Apple has always targeted a large audience and Garmin a much smaller audience. They are definitely two very different pieces of kit for two very different target populations. Not better or worse, just different.
As to the Apple sales pitch, it is probably no less absurd than many other tool watch company presentations. They appeal to the Walter Mitty in all of us.
James, I checked out Alpaka and their stuff is cool. However, according to their own website, their entire assembly facility is in SW China (Sichuan to be precise). I understand how hard it is to break free from the PRC supply chain, but when it comes to packs and other kit, I have to draw the line somewhere. I will be giving Alpaka a pass unless they start to move their production outside the PRC.
Thanks again for an hour of living vicariously through your adventures!
The thing I find the most compelling about the Apple Watch as a tool is that it's modular in nature, due to the app store ecosystem. So something it cant do today it could do next month, like the Oceanic app, for instance. I have apps for sailing and motorbiking that track speed in knots and lean angle, respectively. Do I really need that? Probably not but it's pretty fun sometimes for a data nerd!
Another entertaining episode. Thanks for your early thoughts on the new Apple watch, Jason.
I use my Garmin Vivoactive 3 in the same was as you do: for specific occasions and purposes.
With regard to watches and TSA screening, I usually take my watch off and empty my pockets into a zippered pocket on whatever backpack I'm using as carry-on. It's easier to keep an eye on a backpack than it is on a watch, keys, phone, wallet, etc. floating around in a random plastic bin.
Great episode, listning to it at the Paris Airport from my trip to Bonaire.
VIP Diving is great! The guy with the AP was my Padi AOW instructer!
Enjoy the rest of your time there.
Oh, and there is a brewery on the Island. I believe its cald La Cantina, but they have (a lot) of import biers (saison Dupont!) and brew in Holland if a recall correctly.
ALPAKA has been IG stalking me as well. You’re review put me over. Damn it !
Well this episode cost me £120!
After selling my previous Fenix 5s a while ago having scratched the glass (it took a hell of a beating and came away with a small scratch) I replaced it with an SRP777 as my work watch (working on the UK rail network) The turtle has subsequently stopped working twice (whilst spiking ground for a new fence) so think I found the 4r36s limits!
After listening to this episode I found a barely worn 5s on market place a mile away from my house and it now sits on my wrist ready for chainsaw and shovel work. Like reconnecting with an old friend.
Cheers guys, a pleasure as always
Great episode. I’ve had several Garmins as well as the Apple Watch and certainly for me the Garmin works much better for my needs. Currently using the fenix 6s.
James commented in this episode about not taking his watch off at airport security. I generally bring 3 or 4 watches when I travel, one being my garmin and I always have taken what I’m wearing off at security. I usually bring more modern watches with anti magnetic movements when I fly as well. The watch I have on wrist I put in a little travel pouch as I go through security and place it with my belt and other items in the tray.
Im curious what others do?
This is probably the first show where I’ve skipped a section--the Apple Watch. Just not into it, I don’t need another device that needs charging or to get me hooked into my phone. One of the plus’ of having a wristwatch is that I can look at the time without wasting time.
I liked the part when James said about the apple watch “that would have blown my mind when I was 12”. When James was 12ish, I went to a lecture by Steve Jobs when he talked about the iphone and watch. This was ~17 years before it was released (Jobs was not working for Apple at the time, and according to his biography he had just recently started sketching out his thoughts on that type of device).
And yes, it blew my mind. More specifically, I thought Jobs was a bit crazy. Everything of note in those days was on large mainframes, PC’s were for word processing, and the idea of a “dick tracy” type of device in your pocket (or wrist) seemed like something that would remain Sci-Fi. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. My, how times change.
Some shameless self-promotion: the newest episode of the gravel bike racing documentary series I’m making just dropped -- https://youtu.be/p5cx2MDWCAM.
I know cycling isn’t the “driving, diving, and most certainly watches” of TGN, but I think a few of us are avid cyclists to some degree or another. While a lot of this series has been very inside-baseball on bikes and US bike racing, this episode was a little more special, following Unbound Gravel champion Sofia Gomez Villafane take on LeadBoat: racing both Leadville (100 mile MTB race) and SBT (140 mile gravel race) back-to-back at elevation in Colorado. Sofia is on the eve of representing Argentina at the first UCI Gravel World Championships tomorrow.
Would mean the world if y’all would add this to your weekend watchlists. Thanks!
I am sorry to say that underwater GPS is going to be a while away. If naval submarines still do not have the technology (they have GPS but the have to surface or go to periscope depth), then it is going to be a while to fit it in a wrist watch.
We can still dream.
Hey guys loving the chat this week. Definitely has me looking at the ultra on my nightstand and wanting to plan a trip to use it.
Jason- hearing you talk about the keeper on the ocean strap, it’s not actually meant to hook into the both the strap and the tail. When I was setting mine up at the Apple Store the person read off their setup guide that it is made to be able to be put wherever you wanted, but for structural purposes it’s supposed to lock back into itself and the tail be slipped under it.
Keep up the great work, can’t wait to hear part 2 when oceanic+ is available!
I was listening to the last 1/2 in the car and one of you mentioned the Tango bag. I am thinking about one and was curious how you liked it? I have the papa wallet and assume the bag would be just as great.
On tech pouches, Tumi makes a very nice roll up case with several storage options and a hook closure. It’s totally unique and serves me very well. Rubberized orange fabric is a plus. https://www.tumi.com/p/mobile-organizer-0142628D553/
Definitely with Jason on the Apple Watch. It’s a really interesting tool, but without better battery life, I’ll stick to Garmin (I was gifted a MARQ Athlete) and my mechanical watches. I may give the Ultra a try just being an Apple alum; I’ve tried a few of the Apple Watches over the years and have been impressed with them, but not enough to wear them in any way consistently.
I do update my mom’s Apple Watch as often as I can, though, as well as making sure it’s a cellular model. The fall detection and being able to call emergency services are absolutely features I love for her as she nears her 70th birthday.
For my backcountry stuff, I’ve taken to just wearing a titanium watch on a nato/rubber strap and just using Gaia GPS (with downloaded maps and routes). The ability with the yearly subscription to have forest fire data, 72-hour NOAA precipitation estimates, and satellite image overlays, as well as typical topo maps has made it indispensable as a tool for me more than any wearable can match up to. (I’m also always going to have my phone for the camera, so might as well use it to the fullest.)
Great episode and good to hear the first thoughts on using the ⌚️Ultra.
I've done some hikes and dives on the Descent G1 Solar (I came over from the Instinct 1 non-solar) and for me its pretty much the perfect Pacific Northwest adventure life tool, when double wristed with a favorite watch. @Jason- the Solar part, you are right isn't anything like Eco-drive. From my usage in the PNW its like a trickle charge in my experience with it. I get maybe a couple of percent recharge in direct sunlight for each hourI do find it helpful on long hikes as, in my mind, it is getting 'topping off' in sun. If Garmin, or anyone, does figure out underwater navigation or tracking along with Eco-drive like solar charging, that would be the adventure device that would dominate the market. Cheers guys 🤙🏼
Gents,
Another great show. And, an amazing bit of studio work on James’ part because the interaction between nearly 30 degrees of latitude was seamless!
Apple has always targeted a large audience and Garmin a much smaller audience. They are definitely two very different pieces of kit for two very different target populations. Not better or worse, just different.
As to the Apple sales pitch, it is probably no less absurd than many other tool watch company presentations. They appeal to the Walter Mitty in all of us.
James, I checked out Alpaka and their stuff is cool. However, according to their own website, their entire assembly facility is in SW China (Sichuan to be precise). I understand how hard it is to break free from the PRC supply chain, but when it comes to packs and other kit, I have to draw the line somewhere. I will be giving Alpaka a pass unless they start to move their production outside the PRC.
Thanks again for an hour of living vicariously through your adventures!
The thing I find the most compelling about the Apple Watch as a tool is that it's modular in nature, due to the app store ecosystem. So something it cant do today it could do next month, like the Oceanic app, for instance. I have apps for sailing and motorbiking that track speed in knots and lean angle, respectively. Do I really need that? Probably not but it's pretty fun sometimes for a data nerd!