The Best Surf Watches for 2024
Last Updated on November 29, 2023 by Matt Hapgood
Best Overall
Apple Watch Series 9
Combine your Apple watch with the Dawn Patrol app for unrivaled metrics – track waves, calories burnt, and more!
Best Budget
Rip Curl Rifles Watch
For a great quality watch that won’t break the bank the Rip Curl Rifles Watch is the one for you.
Surfboard? Check. Leash? Check. Wax? Check. Surf watch? … Eh?
8 Minute Read
Yes, not many surfers have or think about having, a watch on their wrists when going out for a surf.
After all, if you don’t have to work, study, or meet anyone afterward, why bother to know the time? Still, the ones who do own one, usually cherish it to the point of considering it as fundamental as surf wax.
Indeed, the majority of surfers who own a surf watch have bought it to keep track of time; yet, being constantly reminded of the time isn’t the reason why many fall in love with this piece of technology. Gone are the days when watches did nothing but tell the time. Nowadays, they are more like mini-computers that can tell you both the time and the tide while giving your exact coordinates on the planet, keeping track of your calories burnt, and providing statistics for your surf session.
But with so many models, choosing the right one for your wrist can prove a befuddling task. So, in this guide to the Best Surf Watches of 2024, we have outlined the Top 5 based on functions such as water resistance, tide measurement, activity tracking, and surf session statistics.
MY TIPS ON BUYING A SURF WATCH
Unlike regular watches, surf watches benefit from having a handful of characteristics that not only make them good for surfing but can distinguish a good surf watch from a bad surf watch.
WATER RESISTANCE:
It goes without saying that water resistance is essential for every surf watch. However, there is something to be said about the ratings, as things tend to get a bit confusing here.
In a nutshell, a rating of 150 meters refers to how well that particular watch withstands pressure as the depth changes – not how deep you can submerge it. For surfing, the threshold is 100 meters of water resistance. Anything below that and you will probably need a case.
DESIGN:
The design of a surf watch can be put into two categories – slim or bulky.
The first type tends to be good for people who dislike feeling restricted or weighed down by something wrapping their wrists, and they can easily be slipped underneath your wetsuit sleeve.
The downside is that they generally come with fewer features, and might not be as durable as their counterparts.
Bulkier designs, on the other hand, are often packed with more features, generally have a more robust structure, and tend to be built with stronger materials. The major con of these chunkier designs is the very fact they can feel heavy on the wrist and a lot more difficult to get under your wetsuit.
GPS:
Some surfers may consider this function secondary, but having a watch with GPS will definitely help more than hinder.
Not only will this feature allow you to find, save, and share your location, but sometimes it also monitors things like speed, distance, and other performance information throughout the surf session.
TIDE INFORMATION:
Making sure your surf watch has a tide function is one of the best things you can do.
Anyone who has surfed for long enough to understand how tides affect the surf will know the importance of having tide information handy. To make a long story short, a watch that comes with tide charts will be able to tell you when is the best time for you to paddle out at a given surf spot – provided you know what tide works best for that spot, of course.
This, in turn, will help you avoid the disappointment of rocking up to the beach to find the tide is too high or low for the waves to roll in. One important thing to note here is that, since tides vary according to location, and since no watch can store charts for every surf spot in the world, more watches with this function come with pre-programmed information for a number of locations – which varies depending on the watch.
As such, the more locations a surf watch has tidal information for, the better. And if your budget allows, get a watch with customizable tidal data, so you can be sure you will get reliable information on what the tides are doing regardless of where you are.
WAVE COUNTING:
In essence, a wave counting feature on your watch gives you as good of an overview of your progress as a performance tracking feature. Sure, it will be less detailed – but the watch will also cost a lot less.
BLUETOOTH / WI-FI:
This feature comes in handy when transferring data between your watch and other devices, thus making it super easy to check performance statistics in apps or get real-time forecasts, for instance.
1. Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Surf
Product Description
The Garmin Instinct Solar Surf is the most versatile watch on this list – and you couldn’t expect less from this world-renowned brand. Boasting compatibility with three of the best satellite systems (GLONASS, Galileo, and GPS), this surf watch allows surfers to track their movements anywhere in the world – from the deserted beaches of Morocco to the secluded islands of Polynesia and the frigid western coast of Canada.
So if you’re the kind of surfer who likes to get off the beaten track, there is your first reason to consider this piece of gear.
Other than reliable geo navigation, the Garmin Instinct Solar Surf has a bunch of extra features such as heart rate tracking, sleep and stress monitoring, and training apps. The Surf Edition also comes with tide data, which, as any seasoned surfer would confirm, is a piece of handy information to have whether you are traveling or timing a session at your local break.
But perhaps more significantly – or at least to surfers who are into training – is that this watch records your speeds and the number of waves you caught whilst in the water.
Another neat bonus is that with this Garmin you can actually record a video of yourself surfing. How? Just make sure the spot you’re going to has a Surfline camera.
Then, all you have to do is select the options on your watch and press start at the beginning of the session. And if all these add-ons weren’t enough, the Instinct Solar Surf comes with a long-lasting, solar rechargeable battery.
This means that, on average and under normal use, you’ll get 30 hours of battery life – which can be brought up to 38 hours if the sun is shining. And if you want to save battery, switch to saver mode to use the watch for up to 56 days without charging!
Product Pros
Product Cons
GARMIN INSTINCT 2 SOLAR SURF
This is a great watch – robust, scratch-heat-and-shock-resistant, fiberglass polymer case to protect the watch itself and legit 100-meter water resistance.
Thus making the Instinct Solar Surf one of the most durable surf watches in the market.
Comes highly recommended with good features, easy to operate, combined with top class ruggedness – a great investment.
2. Rip Curl Search GPS Series 2
Product Description
Rip Curl is well-known in the world of surfing for its high-quality watches – and the Search GPS Series 2 lives up to the brand’s popularity. This model was designed specifically for surfers, so there are no redundant features and all it offers was tailored with the practice in mind.
First of all, as the name implies, Rip Curl has included a GPS function on this model. But besides guiding themselves in remote surf spots, surfers can also use the GPS data to plot their movements on a map, as well as check how many waves were caught, how fast they rode each wave, and where they paddled.
And if you want to share the location of the session with friends, it is possible to do so via the Search Series 2 app.
Product Pros
Product Cons
RIP CURL SEARCH GPS SERIES 2
This latest Rip Curl surf watch model also boasts tide charts for more than 1400 spots, thus helping you plan your paddle-outs with pin-point accuracy.
But perhaps more impressive is the Live feature, which displays swell and wind reports for the location of choice in real-time.
And when you cross-reference the weather and wave conditions with the performance statistics provided by the GPS function, it becomes much easier to understand where to go and when.
Unlike the aforementioned Garmin, even though it does provide you with info on your paddling distance, the Rip Curl Search Series 2 has no heart-rate sensor which is a shame in my book.
Also unlike the Garmin, the Rip Curl’s battery doesn’t last too long (roughly a full day with the GPS on) and can’t be solar charged – you will have to plug it in when you get home.
3. Apple Watch Series 9
Product Description
If you are a tech geek and a surfer surfer, the Apple Watch Series 9 might be the right pick.
The first thing to catch the eye, especially when compared to other watches that are more commonly associated with surfing, is the minimalistic and functional design. Of course, very Apple.
For a surfer who is not so concerned about how a watch may look on his/her wrist, this will still affect how it feels on the wrist.
A slimmer design makes the watch less of a hindrance when surfing and easily fits underneath the sleeve of wetsuits.
Product Pros
Product Cons
APPLE WATCH SERIES 9
It almost goes without saying, but one of the strong points of this Apple model is its compatibility with iPhones.
From transferring heart-rate data and session statistics to making emergency calls – all this can be configured so that your Apple Watch and your iPhone work as one.
And if you are not surfing, this model can come in handy when you want to listen to music, receive text messages, or pay on the go with Apple Pay.
Probably having had to compromise on something on this smartwatch, Apple chose the structure. Although it looks great, the Series 9 is not as rugged as most of its counterparts and has a water resistance of only 50 meters.
To remedy that, there are various cases to choose from if you want to improve its durability, but of course at a bit of additional cost.
4. Rip Curl Rifles Tide Watch
Product Description
The Rip Curl Rifles watch features a modern design that perfectly complements the adventurous lifestyle for us as surfers. The band and watch face are made with durable materials that feel comfortable on the wrist, making it suitable for prolonged wear, whether you’re hitting the beach or the town.
One of the main features of the Rifles watch is its tide-tracking feature. With the ability to store tide data for 500 locations worldwide, it’s a surfer’s dream. The watch offers both future and past tide information, which can be immensely helpful when planning a surf session. If your local spot is not included you can program it to include any spot across the globe.
The dual-time, stopwatch, countdown timer, and alarm are valuable additional features that make the watch versatile for various outdoor activities.
Built with the adventurous user in mind, the Rifles watch is designed to withstand the rigors of an active lifestyle. Its water-resistance capability means you don’t have to worry about it getting wet, whether you’re surfing or caught in the rain.
Product Pros
Product Cons
RIP CURL RIFLES TIDE WATCH
The Rip Curl Rifles Tide Watch is an excellent companion for those who love the waves or simply need a robust and functional watch.
With its modern design, comprehensive features, and reliable performance, it truly stands out as one of the top choices for beach enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers.
The only real ‘surfers’ feature is the tide function which is great if you just want a no-fuss watch made with quality components and durable materials.
That’s why I’ve picked this one as the best budget surf watch – typically available for less than $100.
5. Casio G-Shock G-Lide GBX100
Product Description
Casio has been making watches since the early 70’s so they know a thing or two about durability and functionality. The G-shock line-up has always had a rugged style, and now Casio has introduced a ‘smart’ (ish) watch aimed at surfers and ocean lovers.
The G-Lide GBX100 has over 3000 locations pre-programmed with tide data – so your local spot will almost certainly be there from the get-go. Coupled with Bluetooth functionality, you can track steps albeit without GPS, so accuracy may not be spot on.
The Casio GBX100 comes in at a great price too – typically less than $150 at most stores.
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive small affiliate compensation for some of the links in this post at no cost to you if you decide to make a purchase.
Product Pros
Product Cons
CASIO G-SHOCK G-LIDE GBX100
I like this watch, and I think it’s really good value for money with many features packed in.
The tide data is simple to use and to check with a quick glance, and the screen is great.
I guess it depends on how many features you really need – if you need step tracking and GPS then maybe spend a bit more money and go for the Apple watch, and if you are just casually interested in step tracking I think this watch is a great option.
Totally recommended if you want something that will last ages and give you easy to use tide monitoring.
The Results
It’s hard to beat the Apple Watch 9. It has so many features that work seamlessly with an iPhone.
The app that transforms this into the best surf watch is the Dawn Patrol App which is amazing – and it’s surprisingly addictive!
Track surfs, check the tides and more. My top choice!
If you want a surf watch on a budget the best pick is. the Rip Curl Rifles tide watch.
Loads of spots with tides plugged in already, well-built and super long battery life make this my second-best choice.
Great for a gift to the surfer in your life, even if that is you!
