Apple Watch Ultra: First Impressions From an Everyday Carry Enthusiast!

[@aris.1550]

Great video! There are a multitude of us who are obsessed for some reason with EDC. I actually spend copious amounts of time thinking about how to streamline my EDC. From eye glasses, to keys (even the size of the keyring), to wallets, it's definitely a wonderful cult we're in! Cheers!

[@BenVallack]

Got some amazing content coming soon!

[@maxlvledc]

Holy crap...you and I obsessed over the same damn watch! 😳. I still have it.

[@BenVallack]

haha amazing!

[@maxlvledc]

@Ben Vallack mines not working though..and I killed the strap lol. The face is also scratched to kingdom come lol

[@guicane]

I’m going to start sending you invoices, bought a Tesla with your help, and now the watch ultra

[@BenVallack]

lol

[@timothymeitzler3674]

What is the name of the flashlight you were comparing the Apple Watch to? I’d love to get one. Thanks in advance

[@BenVallack]

@@timothymeitzler3674 Olight Perun Mini. Superb torch.

[@mattbarker1923]

I’m very nearly in that same camp! Thank you Ben for your VERY informative and helpful reviews. If I can offer some advice, I’d always plump for the tow hitch bike rack rather than a roof mount…. Several reasons: you can SEE the bikes in your mirrors/cameras. It’s less effort raising them ONTO the roof in the first place - less strain/contorting to get the bikes elevated. And it’s got to be less wind drag not having them on the roof. Obviously there will be some just by being somewhere, but being behind has to be more efficient than on the roof. Nothing scientific, but just some observations that I’d hope you appreciate or consider. Thanks again for your content, and keep more of these reviews coming !!!

[@susseratal]

As always, your video quality improves with every upload Ben, the cinematography and camera work in this were absolutely fantastic, and it was still just as information rich and well presented as I've come to expect from you. Definitely given me a lot to mull over as I look at what watch I'd like to get for myself in the coming years, as well as considering a more EDC philosophy. Thanks as always!

[@BenVallack]

That’s great to hear - many thanks!

[@rhythm_ux]

i'm typically a pretty analog-oriented person, but even though I'm not sold on an Apple Watch yet, I am sold to move wherever it is you are! You flexed the beauty of your home in this video. I love how you shot this from a bunch of locations. It felt like a small nod to the nature and philosophy of EDC: be ready and able at any moment. Side note: international orange has been part of my branding kit, so the orange is actually a huge reason I want to get it. A nice band, and I've got a fully branded watch with little effort haha

[@BenVallack]

Ha thats brilliant about the branding. Yeah I was particularly lucky with the low cloud/fog on that day! The morning I cleared for filming was totally foggy, but I thought I'd just try going through it and boom! Glorious sunny day and stunning background at the top of a big hill.

[@markjohnson8998]

Am addicted to this channel, just going and watching everything. Hope you continue to make vids.

[@Carlyle69]

You are exactly right about the speaker. I got the ocean band and it is uncomfortable...too tight or too loose is once again exactly right.

[@alanmunoz8961]

About to recieve my Ultra and first Apple watch and you’re my first guide. Also interested in EVs therefore I’m subscribing! Cheers!

[@maxlvledc]

Watching how intentionally you change your edc is soo cool

[@BenVallack]

Thanks! Have some more EDC vids in the pipelines - lots to talk about. So impressed by how your channel blew up by the way

[@BrunoDECOURCY]

I always run with my iPhone 13 in a little pouch with keys and Watch Ultra. I love the Ocean Band (midnight blue and yellow)

[@WolfgangsChannel]

Amazing video as usual! I really liked the segments that were filmed outside.

[@AaronFigFront]

Where in England is there? Is there a keyword I can look up for wallpaper? It is so beautiful. Subbed. Also, I upgraded to ultra as well. Was using series 4 stainless steel. At first I was a bit considered that it would look less refined, but the subtle sheen looks even better than the stainless steel chrome look. I use it with a tightly fitted braided loop, got another forest green one for this, looks so classy.

[@BenVallack]

The hillside shots were taken at the white horse hill at Westbury, Wiltshire.

[@joostwestra]

I am wondering what your view is on using the leatherman tread as watch band for a (apple) watch. Could be a nice idea for a video. They sell ready made adapter (or clone bands) that fit directly.

[@TAMusic]

Hi, have been enjoying every aspect of your channel recently! Currently have the smaller Apple Watch Series 7 but am considering upgrading to the ultra, and I’m intrigued by this idea that I won’t have to carry my phone with me everywhere. I use WhatsApp for lots of my communication, and I know there isn’t a native WhatsApp app for watchOS. Do you use WhatsApp, and if so, how have you got around this problem? I’ve seen these 3rd party WhatsApp watch apps which usually cost money/subscription, not sure if they are worth it and don’t know if they will work when the phone isn’t nearby.

[@BenVallack]

Interestingly I'm finding the whole idea of not needing the phone is more of a false promise - it's a nice idea but the reality is there are two many reasons why I still end up taking my phone!

[@TAMusic]

@@BenVallackyeah, I kind of suspected it to be that way. Do you still value the Apple Watch as a way to prevent you using your phone for everything and getting ‘sucked in’, or do you think that’s also more of a false promise?

[@johnellis4569]

Ben, or anyone else who knows/maybe there is a video on it already. What were the other things you carry in your pocket? That little tool looked super nifty

[@BenVallack]

If you go to my channel homepage you'll see a few vids I've done recently on my pocket carry. Cheers!

[@johnellis4569]

cool thank you!

[@auburnjeeper]

Can you please identify what pocket pouch that is and what multi tool is? Thanks!

[@BenVallack]

ebay.us/Nm0BZA and veroengineering.com/products/vero-fulcrum-mini cheers!

[@auburnjeeper]

@@BenVallack Thank you!!!

[@RN-jo8zt]

Can I listen music through AirPods? And the sound signature will be the same or ?

[@BenVallack]

It definitely works fine with AirPods - not 100% sure if it’s a lower bitrate than a phone or not.

[@austinsloane3353]

Very inspired by your EDC! I think that bag you use as a wallet is genius; great for organizing little odds and ends. I could never go without a flashlight though, and you can find some really great small ones nowadays. I'd recommend the Royvon A8 which is very small and lightweight and has usb-c charging. Also if you get hassled about your knife I feel that a small box cutter knife or a victorinox (I recommend the compact) gets much less disapproval. Also if you're looking for things to add to your EDC I recommend some ChapStick and a microfiber handkerchief (very useful for us glasses wearers)!

[@BenVallack]

More vids to come on my new EDC. I’m happy defending the knife for now heh. Yeah I might revisit a proper torch again. If I can find a periscope shape that is a bit thinner than the Perun Mini perhaps

[@stevenswall]

0:22 I'd also add that the design of the pockets is important, and the dearth of cell phone pocket pants is unfortunate.

[@tommacdougall]

Enjoyed your video, like your take on the Apple Watch.

[@EDLuke246]

I have a very similar selection of favourite EDC gear... Love the Perun Mini 1, love the Alpaka Zip Pouch, using an Apple Watch Ultra (and upgraded from a Series 5). My knife of choice is a Spyderco McBee - worth a look if small but practical is your thing (isn't a slipjoint though). Funnily enough, I'm not that sold on the Apple Watch Ultra.. I have the gold stainless Series 5 and it's still doing great at 91% battery health. Am definitely keeping it for smarter occasions & using it for sleep tracking. I snapped up the Ultra when it was on sale on Amazon new for just over £500. Not sure I'd keep it for the full RRP. Enjoyed the video, thanks for sharing. Have Subscribed 👍👍

[@DeeKay1911]

Amazing update for the Watch App for Tesla. Now you can set up your watch for Bluetooth key! Still needs to open the app but no need for service connection, but just open it

[@BenVallack]

Yep! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnzXZYOVms9sq8U

[@philipmcauley7269]

Great video. Have you used sleep tracking? I’m just wondering if it is too big for a comfortable sleep. Thank you

[@BenVallack]

I do wear it at night mainly for the discrete alarm. But I need to incorporate some more time off because my skin is getting a bit irritated behind the watch.

[@aw7425]

Hi, what’s the app you use for the Tesla. Thanks for another super video.

[@BenVallack]

“Watch for Tesla” - definitely a good one, I’ll do a video on it at some point.

[@aw7425]

Thank you

[@jmway5929]

@@BenVallack Please do, I appreciate your viewpoints and actually just searched yesterday to see if you had a video on the tesla apple watch app you use. You mentioned it a few times and I was wondering which one you had - hence finding this comment.

[@MrkwlCS]

Let’s see an updates edc setup. Looks a little different than the last setup.

[@BenVallack]

Next video :)

[@MrkwlCS]

@@BenVallack sweet! Looking forward to it!

[@tbip2001]

Just found your channel whilst trying to convince myself I need an Apple Watch ultra. Fantastic channel mate. I love the absolutely calm, no nonsense informative approach .

[@BenVallack]

Thanks and welcome!

[@GmailNexus]

Hey Ben, the Shot at 1:14 looks great initially, amazing landscape, but something weird is happening with the Background 😅 it's morphy, wobbly, hard to describe, it almost looks fake. Did you use a specific lense/camera? BTW Your Idea to show some top comments at the end of the Video is just brilliant 😊 Can we get a behind the Scenes one day? (Like what Gear do you use, how you set up your shots, Editing Workflow etc.)

[@BenVallack]

It’s the combination of the sensor image stabilisation and the wide angle lens. It’s a pretty odd effect for sure. Will try and hold camera steadier 😀

[@GmailNexus]

Oh, thanks 😊 I just edited my original comment 🤓

[@BenVallack]

@@GmailNexus Cheers! Yeah I was pleased with that comment idea. Will definitely be a feature moving forward. I’d love to do some more KZbin process videos - this video actually represents the results of quite a bit of learning new techniques and practicing new approaches. I’ll let it settle in a bit over the next few videos then think about some KZbin bts content. Cheers!

[@ericcissoko1280]

Great review Ben!! Thx 4 sharing

[@gearup9503]

Do you carry AirPods on you as well? Just got the Apple Watch Ultra, Planning on ditching my phone completely. But I am wondering do I need to pick up a pair of AirPods as well? Or can you do it without them? Thanks

[@BenVallack]

I actually don’t tend to carry them with me. I guess it depends how much call time you’re expecting. I try and avoid speaking on the phone so the built in speaker is enough for that use case

[@gearup9503]

@@BenVallack ok cool thanks 👍

[@TheMyocyte]

Can you please tell me the Tesla watch app and your experience with it

[@BenVallack]

“Watch for Tesla” works very well (obviously keep your card on you as backup!)

[@JK-tn2ti]

Hi, may I know what bag you’re using right at the top of your video? The small black carrying bag? Thank you.

[@BenVallack]

www.ebay.com/itm/313463630488 cheers!

[@JK-tn2ti]

@@BenVallack thank you very much

[@Marcocats]

What brand/ model pocket torch did you mention?

[@BenVallack]

Olight Perun Mini

[@olmecST]

Great, but I still need that camera.

[@BenVallack]

Yeah I’m almost thinking it would be nicer to carry something like a Fuji x100v and do the camera thing really well!

[@rbe1972]

Hi Ben which watch app do you use for your Tesla that you don’t need your phone

[@BenVallack]

“Watch for Tesla”

[@rbe1972]

Thanks

[@TheQuantumPotato]

Hey Ben, what's the brand of the little screwdriver set in your EDC? Looks handy!

[@BenVallack]

veroengineering.com/products/vero-fulcrum-mini it’s brilliant

[@TheQuantumPotato]

@@BenVallack Cool, cheers! Some nice looking knives on there too - I sense a paycheck disappearing haha

[@BenVallack]

@@TheQuantumPotato heh yeah they are pretty well regarded I think

[@TheGafferrr]

What’s the blade. Boker hennie?

[@BenVallack]

Real Steel Luna

[@TheGafferrr]

@@BenVallack do you carry a blade every day. Had any issues? (I am aware it is legal) however some people are not

[@BenVallack]

@@TheGafferrr yep every day all day. Happy to explain to anyone who freaks out heh. I whipped it out in a shop the other day to open a box for something I was collecting (after asking if so could leave the box with them) - I didn’t even think it might look inappropriate. I just followed through confidently - in fact the shop assistant (young lad) was very approving!

[@BenVallack]

@@TheGafferrr I really like how light it is and the one handed mod makes it profoundly convenient to access from being clipped to the top of my pocket.

[@TheGafferrr]

@@BenVallack this is exactly how I am I rota 3 spyderco UKPK’s daily. I use when needed similar to yourself.

[@stevenswall]

1:25 the Pebble Time Steel is rolling in its grave. Because we had a supermassive regression with smart watches, we now praise those that can last a single day, when a week was about the standard early on.

[@BenVallack]

Like with cars though battery only really needs to last long enough to align with our awake time. As long as it can charge when we sleep we can concentrate on making the devices do more exciting things with less weight.

[@stevenswall]

@@BenVallack Sleep tracking is valuable though and it would be better to sleep with the watch. Apple doesn't yet have a sleep monitor like the Nest Hub that doesn't have to be worn besides the clumsy solution of a phone on the bed. And for longer hikes like you mention, why not have something you don't have to worry about? Pack one less charger, and you could have a screen readable if you are flying into the sun with e-ink. If it truly lasts a few days though, I suppose that's fine, just seems like phones though, if they claimed last two days, they actually last me about half of a day. Since I have to charge a phone more often than I sleep, the only solution seems to be OnePlus with their actual fast charging.

[@BenVallack]

@@stevenswall agree - I use sleep tracking and the alarm both work well when you sleep with it on. Actually though the impact of wearing it like that has started making the skin under the back of the Watch a bit irritated so I’m trying to have breaks now.

[@jammies701]

I didn’t realize the battery was so much bigger. I prefer the design of the regular watch, but the battery life of the 7 is abysmal even without a data plan

[@BenVallack]

Yep that's the bottom line and the biggest part of the whole thing for me

[@pavan20100611]

Superb Informative Review :) That is all I can say. Well done :)

[@BenVallack]

Thanks so much

[@jcolterh]

He's got the Vero Synapse. This guy knows what's up. Knife game needs a little help and where's your flashlight?

[@dontaylor4464]

What country do you stay in? Beautiful 🤔💭

[@BenVallack]

England :)

[@os2171]

If you comprimise carrying your iPhone... you would be amazed with a Garmin Fenix 7x without charging it for months.

[@BenVallack]

But I’d still need to carry the phone!

[@Paragon_1111]

Get a garmin 7x or tactix

[@BenVallack]

Not even cellular are they? The Ultra lets me leave my phone at home.

[@FallNRise]

I just want a camera in it

[@jammies701]

Nice video

[@_k911]

Yup been leaving my phone in the car…

[@austinslater4773]

fantastic video! I usually wear Garmin but I love my ultra so far. The battery is plenty good enough for what I do. Subbed!

[@darkmoonwolfworldseclipse]

The battery 🔋 life is good until you make calls on it then start draining fast but other than that the battery life is good on the Ultra I hope somewhere in the future Apple make the battery life better when using it to make calls that will be cool

[@WatchDSSID]

EXCELLENT video thanks……you’ve just cost me 800 Quid!!!! :- )

[@BenVallack]

Heh sorry

[@naderkavandi]

As an "EDC enthusiast", you are missing the most important item, a self defense gun !

[@BenVallack]

Heh - yeah different world over here in the UK!

[@patrickscinteie4982]

The Apple Watch Ultra looks ridiculously big on every person I’ve seen it on. It’s almost comical.

[@BenVallack]

How about compared to that Casio in the video!

[@vincentchanbiz]

AirPods Pro 2 (6hrs life) + watch ultra = phone not needed

[@redfoxash]

Why do guys think they need to carry a knife around every day?? Honestly, unless you’re out in the woods cant see a need for a knife in your pocket to go down the road

[@BenVallack]

I use it about 4 or 5 times a day! I will be going into more detail on this kind of thing in a further video.

[@paulhax]

"Take the watch and leave the phone"!?!? Scaring Apple and Samsung What would a watch look like in 2023 look like without the phone baggage? Whoop loop with a e-ink screen?

[@Aantiartist]

Is Apple secretly behind these Ultra demos? Looks like a cheap-ass INVICTA! TOO tall!

[@antejijic8723]

So you’re 35. Ok. At what age did your hairline recede?

[@BenVallack]

37 actually - “over 20 years later”. Heh yeah hairline is a pain! I’m losing it at the crown as well so there’s no hope!!

[@Anteksanteri]

@@BenVallack If you haven't tried finasteride or whatever it's called, it apparently has like no common side effects and it's decently effective.

[@octaviograsia2831]

Just subscribed