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Apple Watch app must haves

Exhumis

Exhumis

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2019
Messages
3,952
Location
Northern Virginia
Well I fought it long and hard but finally capitulated and got an Apple Watch since T Mobile had a stupid good deal and everyone in the fam got one.
So what are your must haves for apps? I’m Apple Watch ignorant. Any good hunting apps work with Apple Watch? Fitness apps? Weather trackers?
 
My wife has one ,she loves it . I have the Garmin instinct still getting use to it, like it so far . Go to the Apple apps ,tons of downloads for your watch .
 
Hunting…not any that I know of other than Compass, and astronomy (moonrise and set) and world clock (sunrise and sunset). I also created an automated shortcut on my phone that sends a notification at start and end of shooting light each day using the iPhone shortcuts app. AllTrails can be nice if doing a hike with the fam or something.
I live on the coast so Tides and tide alert are handy.
you can also create Focus modes on your phone that affect your watch to set it where when you enter certain areas or manually turn it onit limits who’s notifications come through and if the watch lights up when you raise your arm and even what screen your watch shows (I think). These watch screens with the “complications” are where I find the most use. Put wind speed/direction, compass, temp/weather, sunrise/sunset all on one screen for hunting usage.
 
Focus is a nice feature. I have a hunting focus so only critical notifications come through.
Windy has a nice Apple Watch feature
I also use a face that shows the arc of the sun with sunrise and sunset times.

Non hunting related I enjoy using the activity app to track my exercise and motivate myself to close circles.
 
I dont understand how folks can wear a watch. Nevermind that all that stuff is already on my phone and it has a WAY bigger screen that I can mostly read without glasses. I actually am going the opposite direction of a watch and considering a tablet or ipad that can ride in the water bladder pouch in my pack.
 
BTaylor said:
I dont understand how folks can wear a watch. Nevermind that all that stuff is already on my phone and it has a WAY bigger screen that I can mostly read without glasses.
Click to expand...

the benefit for me is to see the notification at a glance without having to always pull my phone out of my pocket. I was not a watch person before, but I will keep wearing one now because it has definitely made things easier for me.
 
BTaylor said:
I dont understand how folks can wear a watch. Nevermind that all that stuff is already on my phone and it has a WAY bigger screen that I can mostly read without glasses. I actually am going the opposite direction of a watch and considering a tablet or ipad that can ride in the water bladder pouch in my pack.
Click to expand...
I never wanted one because I get pissed every time I'm talking with someone who has one, they get a notification, and have to check it in the middle of our conversation. I want to break it for them lol. However, when they came out with the recent ones, which included fall detection and crash detection, it seemed worth it to me for that added safety alone. Plus, I was looking for some motivation to get back in the gym and it has definitely helped with that. I like having the sunrise/sunset time available at a glance and the compass is handy. Agreed with one of the other posters that windy is nice on the watch. I did think it would be more helpful while hunting than it is. For instance, I thought while on stand that I could quickly check the watch for a notification instead of getting my phone out. Not the case during late season as your watch is buried under your layers. Early season that'll be different.
 
GreginPA said:
the benefit for me is to see the notification at a glance without having to always pull my phone out of my pocket. I was not a watch person before, but I will keep wearing one now because it has definitely made things easier for me.
Click to expand...
My mind and my body are still 29, my eyes are coming up on 55 at a high rate of speed. ;)
 
hokiehunter373 said:
I never wanted one because I get pissed every time I'm talking with someone who has one, they get a notification, and have to check it in the middle of our conversation. I want to break it for them lol. However, when they came out with the recent ones, which included fall detection and crash detection, it seemed worth it to me for that added safety alone. Plus, I was looking for some motivation to get back in the gym and it has definitely helped with that. I like having the sunrise/sunset time available at a glance and the compass is handy. Agreed with one of the other posters that windy is nice on the watch. I did think it would be more helpful while hunting than it is. For instance, I thought while on stand that I could quickly check the watch for a notification instead of getting my phone out. Not the case during late season as your watch is buried under your layers. Early season that'll be different.
Click to expand...
Boss, if you cant tell you fell or crashed, I am not sure that watch is gonna help that much. :p
 
I was always on the watch is a dumb idea, but then I got my wife a garmin one for working out. Now I have one. I like it for tracking exercise/activity, checking notifications quickly, navigating to my stand in the dark (one spot doesn't really have any landmarks the last half mile, so it's easier/quicker to use gps), and I just always leave my phone on silent now. It's also nice I can go for a run and not have to carry my phone, but I can still track pace and play music.

I agree that people looking down at their watch while they are talking to you is annoying and I really try to never do it.

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk
 
I made a "hunting" face for mine that shows current temp, high and low for the day, compass, sunrise/sunset, and windspeed/direction for the next 5 hours.
I resisted for the longest time, but got a good deal on a used one for Father's day a year ago. My wife liked the fall detection feature since I hunt out of a tree 99% of the time. (and I don't always utilize all the safety precautions...)
Now, I use it every day to track workouts/activity. It's also handy to preview any notifications from my phone. I'd be interested an any other good hunting apps that any of y'all have found useful.
Also, I agree 1000% that I hate it when someone stops our FACE-TO-FACE conversation to look at their watch (or their phone).
 
I have a Garmin Instinct 2, not an Apple so some things may not work for the Apple.

It takes a lot less movement to see a watch than a phone. When I'm hunting and it buzzes a quick glance instead of a lot
of movement lets me know if i need to address it.

During deer season I set it buzz 10 minutes before sunset as a reminder that its go time.

During duck season I set it buzz 30 min before sunrise to let me know when its go time.

I get paid for 4 hours of "wellness" each week. I track it on my watch. I'm competitive so this works out well as I constantly try to do better than before.

I get more and better sleep
now that I track it actively.

I charge my phone once a month. Should have bought the solar version. I can go that long because I downloaded a simple watch face.

The simple watch face I downloaded has large enough numbers that my 58 year old eyes can see the time fine.

Thats about it.
 
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