Affordable Pilot Watches: Marathon Navigator Steel vs. Plastic

[@rcheru]

high accuracy quartz is criminally underappreciated, honestly.

[@bestboy897]

impeccable writing on this one

[@achuck4321]

The universe is crazy. I was just on Marathon’s website looking at these yesterday. You’re on point with your viewership needs.

[@YoureTerrific]

I'm *watching* you.

[@roelfo]

@@YoureTerrificbecause he's terrific, right? ... Right?!

[@shawnholloway2410]

10 seconds per year. That makes this worth considering. Great review!

[@Dialandhands]

Also, they just came out with the automatic version of this watch for still under $1000 which is so nice to have the options.

[@Amplitudeproblem]

OMG just had a MIL-PRF-46374G flashback to first grade!

[@YoureTerrific]

What a country

[@IansModRite]

ETA Precidrive Quartz is no joke accuracy and longevity wise. In 2021, I bought a used Certina DS2 Precidrive Chronograph. I still have it, its still on the same battery and it’s only lost about 15 seconds since then

[@timetowatch_francois]

I absolutely love Marathon (it’s a Canadian-based company … I may be biased) I acquired two (GSAR White Dials) and gifted one to my then 14 year old son … and it’s built tough enough to endure a teen! Thanks for sharing this Navigator version.

[@JohnnyMullinsathome]

Got my Marathon USAF about 3 weeks ago. Had to wait a while to get it as I had ordered it when they were on sale for $400. Love the watch, ridiculously accurate and robust! Great video!

[@joewhite6875]

I always look forward to a new vid from you!

[@glowworker]

This watch beat my expectations so handily I’m giving it the “Most Satisfied Watch Purchase” ever award! Considering I got it on the rubber strap with no date, a funky Air Force symbol is at the top, it glows all the time, it has not deviated more than a 1sec in two months, and I paid 1\2 price during a recent sale explains my complete joy with the Marathon SSNAV! ❤️

[@bbatsov]

1/2 price? I haven't seen them do sales more than 20% off (at least on their own website).

[@leoayon1]

It was 40% discount, I also got mine with the same config , AF logo , no date and 3 piece high quality rubber band This is my second marathon ( the other is the all metal MSAR great great piece too ) and after unboxing couple weeks ago immediately became my favorite GADA toy , insanely accurate!! Congrats 🍾!

[@glowworker]

@@bbatsovthey are having 40% sale right now!

[@sonisan2682]

Did you purchase the USAF edition?

[@mgb1971]

Nice review. I've always had a Marathon on my short list, but your review moved it to the top. Just ordered a no date from Watchmann.

[@robcameron9351]

I love Marathon. Happy to see them getting more attention.

[@ronnienes]

I love that they give 15 mins of hash marks so I could still time my 3 minutes of coffee steeping using the 24 hour bezel

[@eggsII]

Two things: 1) that burning feeling definitely requires a doctor visit and 2) Faulty spring bars are usually a problem for older gentlemen…

[@Corkboard753]

Just picked up the steel date version used for $415. Love it. Have been crushing on this for the last year and am incredibly happy with the decision to purchase. Size is spot on and the bezel is easy to use, snappy, and very satisfying. After setting the time it is pretty nice to know that I won't have to reset the time for a very, very, very, long time. The standard nylon strap also feels good. Sits so thin for a single passthrough strap.

[@TarekMidani]

I've been looking at one of these to do an oil filling mod. Forgot about it. Thanks now i have to consider emptying my bank account again 😂

[@greggusan]

That "joke" at the end almost stopped me from giving this a thumbs up. Almost.

[@j.j.h.atemycereal]

Some watches are sharp. Some are cool. Some are bad ass. This is all 3. Great video, thanks!

[@imperialwatchco.1353]

So good Evan! Your videos always bring a smile! Would love to hear your thoughts on one of our watches some day! One of our new Oceanguard models in particular seems tailor made to your color pallet! Hope all is well on your end!

[@imperialwatchco.1353]

@@IDKline hi there! Would love to! If you happen to find an email please do let us know! 👍🏻

[@DutchWatchChannel]

Enjoyed the review Evan, as always it gave me a laugh. Love the brand Marathon and the tooltastic design of this model. Great movement and details like the tritium tubes and the little radiation symbol really makes this watch awesome 😎

[@bluesdog645]

I also have the one made from a substance that’s hard but softer and lighter than metal - whatever you call it. I think it’s an older version from yours because the crown is black and the lugs aren’t fixed. But I still love it anyway. I’m wearing it on a road trip tomorrow. Gonna show it off to my good friend, who’s a retired army veteran and who doesn’t give a hoot about watches. He’ll probably shrug his shoulders and mumble something about me having a problem and I’ll smile.

[@stephenboykin4958]

Great review. I just cut off my fixed spring bars on my plastic navigator. Super easy and rad.

[@UGA.D]

Picked up the AF model. Really like it. Great video!

[@meijiturtle3814]

Over the years( too many!)I have developed a simplistic philosophy regarding watches i.e. they shoud be able to tell the time accurately and at a quick glance; similarly the date. Marathon achieves this as well as incorporating unique good looks, sturdiness and a practical level of water resistance. Marathon combines all these virtues in an understated design of simple elegance.

[@jlzab6914]

Je suis d'accord, la date est trop souvent oubliée sur les montres actuellement

[@jamespool1335]

Great review! Really liking this watch - super tempted

[@TheWatchOut]

I don't care about this watch. Infact I don't care about Marathon watches, but I'm here just for the commentary. Class as always 👏🏼

[@DBR6464]

I owned the plastic version for a few months. Very cool watch but I had QC issues with the bezel. After couple of months of wait and a lot of back and forth, I was able to return it and get by money back. So if you purchase one, check the bezel to make sure it works properly.

[@patrickmccarthy4089]

Another informative and entertaining vid! Own both the Marathon composite Navigator and Arctic 41mm GSAR. Love both. Considering the SS Nav so your comparison helps. Always fun, PMc

[@kimirish81]

Great review. Love your channel. Keep it up.

[@anothersiguy]

Marathon watches are some of the few watches where I think you could actually conceivably use the term “tool watch” with a straight face.

[@BillyC1975]

I'm not sure how I feel about the asymmetry of the case. Definitely unusual. I'm not sure of any other watch that comes to mind that has a similar case like this one.

[@WaterJake]

The Benrus Type 1. I think they are the ones who came up with it, but I'm not sure.

[@BillyC1975]

@WaterJake Interesting. Overall, I do like the look of this Marathon.

[@GilbertRose-u1u]

I bought the Arctic Dialed model nearly a month ago and put a Montreux strap on it, and Just love this thing! My Rolex, Sinn, and Grand Seiko are very jelous!

[@terrorrbabbletwo]

Always wanted one until I saw the price… They had a flash sale for a few days on the steel Air Force model and I picked up the no date version for $340! For that price it was an absolute steal. Since I’m in the Air Force and live in San Antonio, it only made sense to own one. Only thing that sucks about these are the straps. Get it on the rubber if you can or just use your own nato straps.

[@LanceB-w6x]

Great video! I have these two watches as well. And, just like yours, the plastic one ‘looks’ bigger (to me) than the SS one. Am I the only one?

[@MJ-we5if]

What is the hot opinion of folding the excess strap through the first keeper then over like in the video vs folding the strap over itself back through the keeper?

[@TheAmazza2]

Hah?

[@richardhall8191]

The watch is great, but just as you've identified: folding the watch strap OVER that first keeper is a real flaw. Over time the nylon takes on the shape of the fold, but it's not perfect. I don't know why they didn't make it like all other NATO straps and just have it go under the first keeper. An observant comment on your part, well done spotting this.

[@sanghyuppark]

I bought the steel version and am satisfied. I think it's worth paying double.

[@JohnSmith-jj2yd]

Marathon should licence that quote from you as their marketing slogan: "The watch that caused the fall of the Soviet Union...probably"

[@kevinkohler2750]

It looks like the seconds hand never really lines up with the marks on the dial. Is that just camera angle?

[@michaelfierman3256]

I'm glad I stayed for the portmanteau!

[@LRSTGS]

You can buy a Grand Seiko SBGS001-8 which has a quartz movement accurate to 10 seconds a year for about £500 (whatever that is in USD). It'll have sapphire too. It uses the father of the 9f movement.

[@ronnienes]

I enjoyed this video a lot but since the Farer Worldtimer video came out and I couldn’t understand how the complications work I like it even more. A good simple steel watch with only one way to track time. My speed. Edit: this isn’t a dig at you or the video it’s just an observation about my own cognitive shallow end. Edit 2: 1 way to track time and 1 way to track another time zone. Proves my point though.

[@threethrushes]

Wearing my GSAR Arctic - perfect night watch/sport watch.

[@SeniorChaChaCha]

Whenever I see that asymmetrical case, I think of Quagmire.

[@susanparry3020]

What about the brilliant BATTERY PORT! Good review. TP Sydney Australia.

[@globalhaddadholdings9540]

Is it worth upgrading to the automatic movement? Would it be more gooder?

[@YoureTerrific]

Unknown amounts of gooderness.

[@isrstrategies]

The benrus without a date is 1500 I got it on the Father’s Day sale and an additional 10% off of military discount and I don’t pay sales tax so that’s equivalent to almost 30% off and they gave me some free stuff but I got a lot of marathon watches.

[@SamP.H-t1r]

The tissot seastar quartz has the same movement.

[@YoureTerrific]

Awesome info

[@exphelps]

well done, sir

[@ajcallaway123]

When you said you were wrong, for a moment I thought that you had a 6 14/15th inch wrist, not 7. Phew it wasn't that!

[@stevenfriebe]

"Post hoc ergo propter hoc" is my favorite West Wing shibboleth...apart from "Shibboleth"...

[@stevenfriebe]

Oh, and the plane landing/take off hand gesture.

[@YoureTerrific]

Shibboleth indeed

[@michaeldunford5213]

Hold up babe, new Youreterrific vid dropped

[@YoureTerrific]

[Said into the mirror]

[@clintonshiells3095]

Nice watch. The HAQ movement is very interesting, which raises the question, is it thermo-compensated?

[@mgb1971]

Yes. It is.

[@GilbertRose-u1u]

Yes it is!

[@underachievingwatchcollect1878]

Steel being gooder 👍!

[@AliasHSW]

Shoulda bought the plastic one back when it was “cheap” … $125

[@salty5402]

Welp, sort of sold me in this watch.

[@ronnienes]

He has a tendency to do that. I’ve fallen victim twice so far. This could be a third.

[@YoureTerrific]

Oh no, I've become that most vile thing of all: an influencer.

[@salty5402]

@@YoureTerrific Well I am not interested because you like it, I mean who are you (/snark), I am interested because you reviewed a compelling watch. So, I would say you can sleep soundly tonight

[@thedarknightmedic6187]

It looks good for a chAir Force watch. A TSAR is more my speed.

[@SinnMaster]

What a country!!

[@RinMagoo22]

Feisty with the jokes today!

[@potgieterares]

The asymmetry is too much for me

[@amg231]

I’m here for the jokes

[@aidarhanabdibay730]

CWC G10

[@ditmerk]

Uhh..

[@chilledwalrus]

The seconds hand is not aligned. Same with my GSAR. Marathon quality control is NOT great. I have more examples…

[@brucesuitt993]

That’s really not uncommon for quartz watches. My Tag Heuer Solargraph doesn’t line up either and it’s 3 times the price.

[@bestboy897]

this might be the only good thing to come as a consequence of the american military.

[@WilliamWallace1]

wOOt

[@Sojourner88]

Woo hoo! First commment!

[@ethanfailes7908]

1st

[@mea7356]

Why don’t you talk about yourself more often 😂

[@maejorgiessinger]

In Toronto canada I buy a super super clone I bring it to a rolex expert he say it was real rolex . Unbelievable. Your super clone look just like mine. You a expert but a regular person like me will never know. Imagine on NKUWAN

[@watching_nyc]

Cool music choice. Of course the review was terrific too.