Traska Summiteer 36 Watch Review: The Almost Perfect Rolex Explorer Alternative

www.traskawatch.com/products/...
Thanks for watching! Timestamps are below to help orient you through the video. Below is also a link to my Instagram in case any of you like to see watch pictures here and there.
0:00-0:19 Intro
0:20-1:14 Dimensions & Specifications
1:14-4:01 The Dial
4:01-4:50 Natural Light
4:50-7:48 Macro Dial
7:48-12:27 The Case
12:27-14:12 How It Wears
14:12-16:58 Other Straps
16:58-18:07 Lume
18:07-20:27 Pros
20:27-22:48 Cons
22:48-24:48 Final Thoughts
I'm on Instagram as the.knights.watch.The.first most showing pieces I own but also pieces I have to review!
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[@ThePwig]

I have the Venturer and it's the only watch I ever wear now. A traveller GMT, 28,800bph, and so very thin! The anti-scratch coating is so good that it looks exactly the way it did when I bought it six months ago. And I work construction outside every day.

[@theknightswatch]

That’s an awesome testament to the coating. Always nice when you can wear a nice watch and not have to worry about it getting beat up

[@lovinglife419]

I have one and I love it. As a woman, it's such a blast. Goes with everything, I don't have to babysit it, and the price point is just lovely! I took it to my jeweler, a master watchmaker, to remove a link; and he remarked that he had a decent weight and nice design. Edit: I will add, the lume is pretty good also.

[@cjdeas1528]

What a thoughtful review. You've got a real eye for detail and you articulate your thoughts very well. Thanks!

[@theknightswatch]

Haha glad you think so. I record these without a script so sometimes I hope I’m making sense to more than just me

[@bobmcmahon9528]

Nice review. I purchased this watch and am very happy with it. No QC issues and very comfortable. The box-style sapphire crystal on top of that charcoal dial is so cool, IMO. The miyota movement is accurate and sweeps smoothly at 28800 bph. This watch needs to be seen and worn to be appreciated. Regarding the lume, mine lasts all night. While not as strong as my Citizen diver, it is legible for several hours. Bracelet is very well executed and this watch has so many strap options (as you've shown) to dress it up or down. Cheers!

[@theknightswatch]

Glad you’re enjoying it. It’s a fantastic piece and defiantly punches above its weight.

[@favoritethings3065]

Excellent review!….very comprehensive….thanks. I think the Lorier Falcon is a very close competitor.

[@scottparis6355]

I have a Traska Commuter, which is quite similar. I think the smaller size is perfect; easy to read but stays out of the way. QC on mine is excellent. It's become my every day watch, displacing sure much more expensive watches.

[@miguelmal]

Really good review, thank you!

[@Bhethar]

Thank you so much for the review! I have the original summiteer and I am curious of the new version !

[@theknightswatch]

Of course! Definitely some upgrades from the original. Biggest immediate difference will be I think just the much lighter appearance of the metal.

[@ilbuonmarco9830]

In love with the Yellow dial... With a Black Leather strap can be even very elegant to me :)

[@hootonhoot]

Great in depth analysis! I have a Venturer, and versions 3,4,and 5 Freedivers - all fantastic wearable, original pieces 👌

[@theknightswatch]

Hard to not like the free diver too. That mint color way grabs me so much. I owned one before and may again in the future

[@hootonhoot]

@@theknightswatch Definitely have that mint modern day classic!

[@danspanos]

The QC on this watch is shocking for the prices they are charging! It's a good thing I saw this video before I made the leap. I think I'll be looking elsewhere now. Thanks for this vid!

[@theknightswatch]

I probably just unfortunately got a bad batch but it happens! Not all watches are perfect and I’ve looked at watches 10s of thousands of dollars with multiple issues. Not something you can really escape in watches

[@jjjjjj-ds7eq]

Traska has superb - probably best in the industry - customer service and they resolved my QC issues no questions asked, by simply sending me a new one with prepaid shipping included to send my original one back. No time spent without my new watch, and no additional cost to me

[@ScottNotAvailable]

Make no mistake - this is a Chinese watch. QC is not the issue, it's the manufacturing itself. I don't understand why people don't want to call it out. There are at least 5 alternatives that are better.

[@theknightswatch]

@@ScottNotAvailable please name the 5 because nothing comes to mind for me. I’m curious

[@theknightswatch]

@@jjjjjj-ds7eq happy to hear that. That’s what you’d want from backend support

[@Psysso]

No idea why so many haters , this has been easily my best purchase of the year. Got the yellow 38 variant. Its great.

[@theknightswatch]

Completely agree. Didn’t figure it be so controversial 😂

[@turnbasedtoddy7664]

Where did you get that single pass rubber nato? That looked amazing

[@degenerateWA]

this looks like a rock solid watch. The finishing makes it seem perfect as a daily beater. Think I gotta get this one. Thanks for the video and also damn you for it lol.

[@theknightswatch]

Haha I sincerely apologize but I’m sure you’ll be happy so maybe you’re welcome too 😂

[@willjr2520]

I had QC issues with the freediver V5. The first one had a crooked dial so I asked for an exchanged, then the second had a difficult screw down crown. It would not seal properly. That was my first time ordering and now my last due to the false claim that Jon personally overlooks each and every watch before shipping.

[@mtmatt6111]

Thank you for the in-depth review. I'm strongly considering this as an everyday driver but also thinking about paying up (but still under $1k) for the Hamilton Murph (38mm) or the new Tissot 1938 COSC. The Hamilton and Tissot also look like great values for the money.

[@theknightswatch]

All great choices. I would say this is the most versatile of those options for sure but the tissot 1938 caught my eye too!

[@mtmatt6111]

@@theknightswatch - thank you for your response!

[@dannyg6592]

Super review, as always! I like Traska, and considered this watch, but got a Smiths Everest instead. The triangle at 12 and the 3-6-9 are all too small on the Traska and not in proportion to the very long hour markers., resulting in an unbalanced dial. The lack of QC on your example is disappointing. The Everest is hard to purchase, but it is a perfect 1016 homage, with a lovely dial, case and bracelet, excellent QC, the same movement and it is almost $200 less than the Traska.

[@theknightswatch]

The difficulty to purchase has always put me off smiths. I’d love to review one but don’t want to break my back to do it. Lorier falcon might be a nice compromise between traska and smiths

[@dannyg6592]

I bought 3 Smiths in a 3 month period last year and I had no problem with the purchases, got them all on my first attempt. But you have to be very fast on the keyboard :) I'd love to see you review a Lorier Falcon@@theknightswatch

[@Newsthink]

Thanks for your review! What’s the accuracy of your watch? Is it better than the advertised -10/+20?

[@theknightswatch]

@@Newsthink honestly I don’t remember, I’ve since sold it. I wanna say it was within around +10s day.

[@jwags24]

The bracelet taper is the only thing missing from the Smiths Everest that would make it my favorite explorer homage. This is nice, I like the brighter steel color. I found their older models to be a little too dark.

[@theknightswatch]

Ya the tone of the metal is much better here. I haven’t held a smiths in person so I wouldn’t be sure but when you size down to this 36 37 range a taper is a must. Just balances more

[@jayeyesacks1604]

Very thorough critique as always--the macro is unforgiving here. A recommendation for review--the Relio Solstice. Definitely some Monta Noble/Aqua Terra vibes, but a great piece at sub $400 USD.

[@theknightswatch]

Relio is a cool one I remember seeing them a while ago, great value for what you’re getting it seems but I almost passionately hate sunburst dials 😂 I know I’d end up being annoyed with it more likely than not. Every once and a while there’s a sunburst done well but who knows. Maybe I’ll get one and find out sometime 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@jayeyesacks1604]

@@theknightswatch I'm very mixed about sunburst dials--it always seems like they're trying to hard to be noticed. The red and teal dial variants of the Solstice compensate by having a more fume effect, with the sunburst being modulated by this in the dial's center, and therefore not so showy or overt.

[@ajmarion]

These watches are really cool, and I’ll probably get a Traska at some point. It always bothers me when the sides of the hands are visibly rough. Even my BB58 hands are pretty rough on the sides in certain lighting!

[@theknightswatch]

Happens to a lot of brands I feel like. Some do it well some don’t. Can’t win on all fronts!

[@AX7razor]

Never been a huge fan of Traska. Something about their designs just don’t click with me. After seeing your video and some comments concerning the QC issues, I don’t think I’ll ever get it😂 I considered the Venture model for the true GMT movement but I chose a Lorier instead. Good video 🎉

[@theknightswatch]

Lorier is a great piece! Gotta wait for the right one but enjoyed the Neptune when I had it

[@jroark101]

Do you think this or a Lorier Falcon 3 is a better overall alternative to a Rolex explorer?

[@jeffreygoss8109]

I prefer the Lorier.

[@TheWatchFrame]

Great review. As an owner of three generations of the Summiteer I pushed for the 36mm version back in the day, so far as to having bought one of the early 25 black 36mm iterations a year ago. So I own or have owned five Summiteers, two 38mm and three 36mm, the limited version and two of the new version like the one you are reviewing, in black and in sandstone. I have quite some experience with this watch and have to say that I agree with most of what you say, specially the triangle and kind of wish the number were a bit larger, like the ones of the limited version, but I don't agree with the lume. I can attest it lasts all night with enough readability until early in the morning. It doesn't last with the same intensity of the 36mm 2021 Explorer but does a decent job. Curiously the lume is a bit less bright than the 36mm limited version that has, as you suggested, painted numerals, but it is more uniform and consistent. It is true that the hour hand of my sandstone one is bit brighter suggesting a not even application of the lume, but for any other need, it will last all night as needed so I not only have no complains there, it is actually the watch I use most during the night to read what time it is when I wake up.

[@theknightswatch]

Nice to see this watch struck such a. Chord with you , it is a great design. I agree the numerals could be a bit bigger too. Nice to hear on the lume. It felt to me very faint and at least not as strong as some others but if it’s functional for you that’s awesome. I Honestly have never put lime to use and never kept a watch that had good lume outside the Tudor pelagos and that one I saw it lumed maybe once 😂

[@TheWatchFrame]

@@theknightswatch yes, the lume of the Traska is not diver's lime indeed, but I feel is good enough to last all through the night until early morning. It will not be strong until late in the morning though. I have not verymuch brighter examples now, maybe the SKX and the CW Trident. The Explorer lasts more time with more consistency but that again, is 12 times the price. The one that was the brightest was a diver too, the SBDC053.

[@gbsprasanna]

Great review @ The Knight's Watch! I have to credit Mario for my Summiteer purchase! You are guilty of putting a dent in my wallet sir.

[@gregnatividad8345]

I love the design and proportions of this watch. Just a bummer that the lume is still a problem. Thought they’d fix that by now.

[@theknightswatch]

True. Lume seems a hard thing to do 😂

[@larrydalton2205]

​@theknightswatch I bought the 38.5 blue version 4 of this watch a month ago and the lume is absolutely fine. I can easily read my watch at night after 6 to 7 hours although I keep a UV light by my need to give any watch a quick charge. Reads about a well as most divers.The current version also has tool-less adjust clasp for another improvement.

[@curtism5333]

Wow! Fantastic review. Detailed and nuanced. Practical considerations all covered. I have the Seafarer and do enjoy the watch especially the bracelet. I gave Traska feedback on the lugs with my feeling the lugs are too flat being identical to yours.

[@laurentgagne892]

i think its the best simple tool watch out there

[@guillermoblanco7368]

How much does it weigh? Thank you for such a great review!

[@theknightswatch]

Unfortunately no idea. It may be listed on the website

[@consumidorbrasileiro222]

the white strap looks good on every watch, that's why

[@theknightswatch]

It’s just magic😂

[@sabeaniebaby]

This may be an unfair question, but how do you feel this watch compares to the Lorier Falcon?

[@theknightswatch]

At least aesthetically(I’ve only seen the falcon in person and tried it on briefly, never owned it) the falcon is more a vintage watch trying to be modern and the traska a modern watch trying to be vintage. Build feels better and wears better on the traska.

[@sabeaniebaby]

@@theknightswatch Thank you.

[@mybrainlikesthings]

At 8:00. Between this Traska Summiteer and last year's Tudor Ranger, I do wish that Rolex would do something to modernize the Explorer, because I think it's looking old and outdated compared to these newer pieces. For example, the squat arabic numerals (of the Explorer) look like they're from five decades ago. As another example, the Explorer has crowded its dial with oversized indices and too much blah-blah-blah printing. In contrast, the Summiteer and the Range look comfortable, airy, and way more confident in their stance. They use the dial space more proportionately.

[@theknightswatch]

Ya completely agree. But it’s the move to make Rolex more luxurious looking 🤷🏻‍♂️ it would be nice if they kept the explorer as the more simple bare bones guy and even kept it at an ever more entry level price than the op for example. Maybe don’t use their white gold indices 🤷🏻‍♂️ but alas they make what they want 😂

[@nicholaschavez6245]

I think the macros on watches in this price point are kind of unfair. Are we expecting VC finishing? I don’t think we should be expecting perfection given you can’t get some if these features on Rolexes that cost 10x.

[@theknightswatch]

It’s a fair point. I feel the macros are usually to show that finishing at most levels(if done well) are pretty similar. I’ve had timex watches that look better than mosers under the loupe. More I think just shows the qc standard of the brand

[@patrickhartmann1540]

If you love a well finished and thin explorer style watch, this is excellent for $600. However that scratch on the seconds hand demands a return/exchange. Still, I’d consider this watch. Maybe after I’m done with my San Martin SN0021-G-B1.

[@theknightswatch]

No arguments here and I’m pretty sure if I brought it up to traska they would return or Exchange it no problem.

[@anthonyjack1859]

I brought this issue up to traska. The watch is getting sent in for service/repair/hand swap

[@AndrewIsbell]

I'd prefer a SARB

[@theknightswatch]

Having owned a sarb I would take this everyday of the week but not everyone has the same taste!

[@b.vonschnauser207]

@@theknightswatch I agree. I've owned both. The Traska bracelet is superior to the SARB.

[@MarcelitoRecords]

Lovely... I wish they had EU dealers

[@jaysterling26]

Imagine - getting an example like thus & wanting / needing to return it ( postage down to buyer?)?

[@MarcelitoRecords]

@@jaysterling26 yeah I already lost some money with Lorier and Nodus 😂 US got the very best microbrands

[@jroobz]

Thats too spenny vs competitor clones

[@theknightswatch]

Unless you are just buying a super clone Rolex then I think this is giving a much better package than things just rebranded with stolen Rolex design everything

[@powerchuffer]

I had a Commuter and the dial finishing was a disgrace, like the one you're showing here. By far the worst I've ever seen, even a 50$ AliExpress watch has much better finished hands.

[@douglassourbeer5636]

hey cheat, get paid for these reviews, yes

[@triniboy05]

Lol sure seems that way.

[@theknightswatch]

Would make it a lot easier if I was 😂

[@triniboy05]

$600 for a copy is egregious in my opinion. Plenty of nice watches with their own design language and originality.

[@theknightswatch]

Hot take 😂 to each their own but I think it’s a great value piece and had enough originality to make sense

[@marc-albertjaquat6364]

a copy??? you must be the first to say that. Different hands, bezel, bracelet, endlinks, case curvature, crystal shape, clasp, 3d indexes, drilled lugs. Oh yes, they have 3-6-9... please explain why you think this one is a copy?

[@triniboy05]

@@marc-albertjaquat6364the things you mentioned are just lesser quality because it’s a cheaper proposition. They even copied the lume triangle at the top. It’s fine if folks want it, enjoy the hobby how you like, but call a spade a spade. It’s not an “homage”, it’s a copy and a money grab. A different (worse) set of hands, and bracelet doesn’t change the fact.

[@triniboy05]

@@theknightswatchyou’re right, definitely to each their own. I’d rather just not wear something that looks like something else. For $600 I’d sooner grab an offering from Seiko. Most microbrands are just copying other iconic designs.

[@triniboy05]

@@jwags24 look at a photo of a Rolex Explorer, your eyes should do all the explaining needed 😂 it’s cool if you like it, still a copy lol