Timex Expedition Field Post Solar Review - John's Watch Box #4

Hey, readers! Today's post is the first watch review I've done in a few years. Crazy, right? Well, as it turns out, I like this watch so much that I want to write about it. Behold, the Timex Expedition Field Post Solar:

The first time I got this watch was actually a few years ago. I bought it off Amazon and found that my unit had a couple of unfortunate defects: One of the lume pips on the chapter ring was very noticeably misaligned to the point of being annoying. Worse was the fact that it didn't keep time correctly. I was seriously disappointed and returned it for a full refund.

Jump forward to a couple of weeks ago, and I decided to give this model a second chance. Thing is, I really love the design of this watch. I knew I wanted to give it another try.

Thankfully, this unit arrived with zero issues. And it's sure a looker.

Impressions & Thoughts

Let's start with the exterior of the watch. A piece of sapphire glass covers the striking blue dial. Even at more extreme angles, it remains legible. Around the crystal is a blasted matte stainless steel frame. It feels durable and is nicely finished. The screw-down (Expedition-branded) crown is guarded by flanks on either side. Said crown paired with the screw-on case back allow for a very respectable 100 meters of water resistance. So, you won't have to worry about it getting wet.

Between the 20mm lugs is a Ecco-branded leather strap. It feels nice, not too plasticky, and looks good. The signed Timex buckle is a nice touch.

Inside the durable frame sits the face of the watch. The chapter ring is seated above the main dial, giving the watch a nice sense of depth to it. Around it sits twelve triangular lume pips and minute markers between them.

The hour numbers (and their 24-hour equivalents) sit between the hands and the raised chapter ring. They're nice and easy to read. The hands have an attractive syringe shape and lume applied. The second hand is tastefully done, too, although it lacks lume. Regardless, the luminescent parts of the watch are quite bright and effective.

Aside from the "Timex" and "solar powered" text, the main part of the dial has one other notable attribute: It is actually slightly translucent. In the right lighting, you can see through it. This reveals the solar technology beneath it.

The 41mm case size fits my wrist, but only barely. Those with smaller wrists may not be able to pull this watch off. It's a bit large. Depending on who you are, this could be a pro or a con.

Criticisms

This watch has a few issues that I want to address before I wrap up the post. 

I’d prefer if the main part of the dial was a plain, matte blue and not slightly translucent. It somehow makes the watch fell less refined, although this is not a major concern for me. It's still very nice looking.

My biggest complaint is the noticeable recoil on the seconds hand sometimes. It doesn't impact functionality, but it does remind you that the (unspecified) solar movement inside is nothing to write home about.

Lastly, I do wish the watch was thinner. It's not egregious, but the thickness is a bit surprising for a quartz watch.

Should You Buy It?

This watch typically retails for a little under $200. For that price, this Timex is pretty good! While you can find higher-specced and more affordable field watches for less on sites like AliExpress, I think that this watch offers enough to be worth it. Timex isn't without its flaws, but it is an established brand.

I like that it's solar powered, too. When fully charged, it'll supposedly be able to run for four months without sunlight. I know that many watch fans prefer a mechanical movement, but I like that I can set the watch down for a few days without it stopping. Timex has several other options in their Expedition lineup, so if you want a mechanical movement, I'd recommend looking into those.

With all of that in mind, I personally find this watch to be quite attractive, durable, and functional. It's easy to read and has that classic field watch look to it.

If you're on the market for a Hamilton Khaki lookalike and don't want to break the bank, I can certainly recommend this watch. Just make sure it arrives without any defects! Assuming it doesn't, I suspect you'll really enjoy it.

Thanks for reading!

Here's the full specs list from Timex's website.

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