TRASER P68 Pathfinder Solar

The sun as an inexhaustible source of energy - no wonder it was worshipped as a god by older civilizations, and as the most ecologically safe energy solution for our current civilization. But we're not quite there yet with regards to harnessing its power for general widespread electricity supply. However, with the P68 Pathfinder Solar from TRASER, you can already harness that energy on your wrist. With a built-in compass, it will also help you navigate your way through life - well, at least as far as hiking paths or off-grid exploration are concerned. Today, we will also tell you what else the watch can do.

It is delivered in a high-quality black box with neon green lettering. This color makes sense, which you will understand later.

Inside, the P68 Pathfinder Solar presents itself very elegantly. What strikes you immediately is that this watch is BIG. 

The case diameter is 46mm (1.8 inches), and it weighs a total of 113g (3.98 ounces), so it's not lightweight but also not excessively heavy. The dial is also clear and easy to read. In the center of the dial, you will see the round solar cell that harnesses the power for the watch.

According to the manufacturer, "2 minutes of sun provides 24 hours of adventure" - more on that later. The watch itself has a smooth exterior, and a scratch-proof sapphire crystal covers the entire top surface.

One of the the truly special things about TRASER watches is their use of trigalight technology. In short, with the power of the atom, your dial is illuminated. TRASER is known for producing small glass capillaries that glow with tritium, hence the neon green lettering on the box. The glow of the dial is not too bright, but also not too dark. A truly pleasant glow that always works.

The housing is a good 13 mm thick and made of PVD-coated stainless steel. The finish is also matte, which we appreciate.

You strap the P68 Pathfinder Solar to your wrist with a typical NATO-standard strap. The watch we got came with a tan/beige color strap, but you can easily swap this for a color of your own preference.

The strap itself is solidly made and serves its purpose. We found no negative points during our wear test. 

The screw-on back of the case is waterproof up to 10 ATM, which is 100m (328 feet) diving depth. We didn't test our's to that depth - just normal swimming and showering - so no surprise that it was just fine. Just check to ensure that the back is screwed on tight before you enter the water.

The crown for setting the time and date also worked flawlessly and actually made the task of setting the time a pleasure. It was also only necessary once, as the P68 Pathfinder Solar kept the set time down to the second.

Power Supply

As mentioned, the P68 Pathfinder Solar is essentially a quartz watch with a built-in battery and a solar cell to charge the battery. It is not an automatic watch. A full charge in direct sunlight takes about 7 hours if the battery is completely empty. But as soon as the P68 Pathfinder Solar receives its first rays of sunlight, the hands already begin to move reliably.

In fact, after just two minutes of sun, there is already enough power for 24 hours and once the P68 Pathfinder Solar is fully charged, the battery should last for eight months. In normal use, the battery should receive enough top-up charging to keep going indefinitely.

Navigation

As the name suggests, you can also navigate with the P68 Pathfinder Solar. A detailed compass rose is integrated as the crown, enabling it to be used for land navigation once it is properly set. The diagram below shows how to determine direction with the P68 Pathfinder Solar. Those familiar with navigation will notice that this can be done with any hand watch. And it is meant more for a rough determination of south. The compass rose on the P68 Pathfinder Solar is somewhat of an overkill.

It was always a true pleasure to adjust the crown, because you can feel the precision with which the entire watch is made. No creaking or jolting of the gears inside, everything runs very smoothly.

Conclusion

The P68 Pathfinder Solar is a very durable, robust watch of the highest craftsmanship. Thanks to the built-in solar cell, you never have to change the battery, just occasionally take it out in the sun. With the tritium, it also glows in the dark and is always easy to read.

The P68 Pathfinder Solar is available directly from TRASER starting at $910 USD.