Wristwatches are an important piece of our daily lives. And when you are an outdoor person, you'd want a reliable wristwatch that can cope with your active lifestyle. Watches have come a long way than just being a mere timekeeper. Nowadays watches are fitted with a multitude of functions for a variety of tasks.

When it comes to choosing a watch, your options range from the simple, precise models that just tell the time to complex mini-computers. Here's how to sort through the wide selection to find the best style for you.

Some of the popular type of watches:

• Casual watches are designed for everyday wear and look less technical than other sports watches.
• Specialized watches include altimeters (best for skiers and climbers) and heart rate monitors (best for fitness enthusiasts).
• Multifunction watches are the best choice for people who are game for a variety of activities.

Casual watches
These watches are designed to look nice enough for everyday wear. Less technical-looking than multifunction watches, many come with stainless-steel or leather wrist bands. However, these watches are still rugged enough to handle some abuse. Additional features include day/date, illumination, alarms, analog/digital options and water-resistance. Some even have pre-programmed tidal information.
Best for: those wanting a rugged watch for everyday wear.

Altimeters
Watches equipped with altimeter functions can deliver measurements as accurate as full-size altimeters. Digital altimeters (like the kind found on watches) are highly sensitive, even more so than stand-alone analog altimeters. Their sensitivity can provide more accurate readings, but those readings can fluctuate more when conditions change. Altimeters are influenced by barometric pressure, so if you are sitting in a room and someone opens the door, the reading on a digital altimeter may change. In mountaineering, where altimeters are constantly recalibrated at known elevations, these fluctuations (typically of 4 to 5 percent) are usually of little consequence.
Best for: skiers and climbers.

Heart Rate Monitors
Most heart rate monitors can also be used as regular watches. As you go up in price, you'll find an increasing range of features, including day/date, illumination, alarms, stopwatch functions, calorie counters and automatic intensity guidelines. Most are water-resistant.
Best for: fitness enthusiasts and those training for athletic events.

Multifunction watches
These durable watches are great for an active lifestyle. They're usually water-resistant, scratch-resistant and have durable Velcro®/nylon or polyurethane bands. They also have a seemingly vast array of functions.
Best for: those who participate in a range of activities.

Features of Multifunction Watches

Typical Features	Day/date, alarm, illumination, countdown timer, lap memory and chronograph.
Wrist Bands	Some watches (such as a few Nike models) have integral bands so you don't have to worry about breaking or loosing watch pins, or are ergonomically contoured to avoid rubbing on your wrist. Others, such as some Timex models, have a Velcro® strap for a more precise fit.
For Outdoor Enthusiasts	Look for models with extra features such as a built-in compass.
For Runners and Triathletes	Look for a large display and easy-to-push buttons.
For Divers and Mariners	Look for a watch with pre-programmed tidal information.