Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Away for one month. With or without Apple Watch?

Take With or Leave Home?

  • Total voters
    46
cubedude

cubedude

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 8, 2013
27
3
NYC
Opinions most welcome on whether I should keep my Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Sport at home while holidaying in the Mediterranean over the next month. I know, I know ... a first world problem. :rolleyes: ;)

Since I'll be exposed to salt water and sunscreen daily, while I will miss my notifications and health metrics, is there any reason to take the watch along, especially given travel's added risk of damage and theft?

Were I to leave the watch at home, are there any suggestions what to do with it? Charge, or let discharge?
 
My advice would be to keep it home, unless for some reason you think you'd NEED it on this trip. Or unless you don't mind the risks.

I decided to bring my Watch on vacation, because I headed to Disney World and wanted to get all those steps counted toward my move goals :p In your case though, if you're doing more relaxing than walking around, I don't think you'll need the health-tracking, personally.

I would put it away at home, and shut it off (not on the charger as an extra precaution).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Laurence Eckert and The Doctor11
I personally would bring it. Plan on bringing it to all my vacations this year. It is my watch after all.
 
If you plan to spend most of your vacation on the beach, leave it. Otherwise, take it.

(if you leave it home, I would just turn it off)
 
Place it on a nice soft pillow in your bed at home while you're away.

apple-watch-on-pillow.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Laurence Eckert, PrincessKick, Lennyvalentin and 2 others
cubedude said:
Opinions most welcome on whether I should keep my Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Sport at home while holidaying in the Mediterranean over the next month. I know, I know ... a first world problem. :rolleyes: ;)

Since I'll be exposed to salt water and sunscreen daily, while I will miss my notifications and health metrics, is there any reason to take the watch along, especially given travel's added risk of damage and theft?

Were I to leave the watch at home, are there any suggestions what to do with it? Charge, or let discharge?
Click to expand...
I'm also going on vacation (in a couple hours actually;)) and will be facing the same problems as you, salt water and sunscreen daily as well as pretty much all day. 42mm space grey sport for the two week trip. I can still enjoy it in the hotel room at night or something, maybe take a jog in the morning before I need sun screen.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Laurence Eckert and dilap
I went Barbados last year for 2 weeks and I had the Moto 360 at the time (sold it ages ago), I left it at home because of sweat/sun screen/sand/salt water.
 
I went to Egypt on vacation last month and I took mine with me. I actually had internet where I was so it remained connected, however I initially took it for activity tracking and time keeping. I have apple care plus and an additional insurance policy that covers me for loss or theft so I wasn't overly concerned about it getting damaged or stolen/lost. I used it on the beach, in the sea and by the pool but didn't allow it to get wet. I was wearing sunscreen all the time and it didn't seem to mind that. I also took it in the desert where it was very windy and sandy and it was just fine. I'd say I spent half of my time by the beach/pool and the other half on trips and excursions.

I would take it. If you think your environment might be unsuitable for it you can always leave it in the safe in your hotel room :)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Laurence Eckert, Night Spring, dilap and 1 other person
I was just in Hawaii for 2 weeks about a week ago. I brought my apple watch with me and it did perfectly fine. I would just leave it in your room while your at the beach and after you shower and get clean and possibly get ready for dinner or whatever then wear your watch out. After all if you have apple care I would take it and not worry at all as its easily replaceable.
 
Meltdownblitz said:
I was just in Hawaii for 2 weeks about a week ago. I brought my apple watch with me and it did perfectly fine. I would just leave it in your room while your at the beach and after you shower and get clean and possibly get ready for dinner or whatever then wear your watch out. After all if you have apple care I would take it and not worry at all as its easily replaceable.
Click to expand...
I would never leave anything i value in a hotel room except if there is a safe in the room.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Laurence Eckert and Mr.C
nebo1ss said:
I would never leave anything i value in a hotel room except if there is a safe in the room.
Click to expand...

Most decent hotels have in room safes these days and in fact most are big enough to accommodate the average sized laptop as well. I think as long as you keep valuables in the safe when not in use it's fine to take them with you.
 
cubedude said:
Opinions most welcome on whether I should keep my Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Sport at home while holidaying in the Mediterranean over the next month.
Click to expand...
If you plan on spending a lot of time on beaches or in the ocean, leave the watch at home. The mediterranean gets very hot during july/august, your watch won't like the temps even if you don't get sand or salt water in it. Even leaving it in your room could expose it to fairly high temps, as not all hotels might be A/C:d. Greek hotels commonly were not up until the early 90s at least, I'm not sure how it is these days, sadly it's been a long time since I was there last. :(

If you leave it at home, I'd suggest running the battery down to like, 60% or so and then turning it off completely while you're away. Don't put it on the charger. I believe this is what is recommended for lithium batteries in storage, but if you're only gone for a week or two I doubt whatever you do really matters all that much. :p
 
There is really no good reason not to take the watch with you.

I am just back from a month in Canada and took the Watch with me. It is just unclear to me why some people think we cannot enjoy technology on holiday.

I am buying a local sim on the first day so I stay connected and always there is this conversation with people who don't understand "Because you are on Holliday".

I like it at home so I like it on Holliday, period:D
 
  • Like
Reactions: dontworry and melman101
Lennyvalentin said:
If you plan on spending a lot of time on beaches or in the ocean, leave the watch at home. The mediterranean gets very hot during july/august, your watch won't like the temps even if you don't get sand or salt water in it.
Click to expand...

I live in Europe and it was way over 30 degrees the last weeks. Watch did it just fine, it's certified till 55 degrees or so, no need to leave it at home for that reason.

Well did i do a band swap. Swapped my Leather classic buckle for the Black sport band (I got a SS) because of possible sweet on my wrists.
 
  • Like
Reactions: melman101
Donstil-nl said:
... it's certified till 55 degrees or so ...
Click to expand...

Not according to the User Guide:

"Apple Watch is designed to work best in ambient temperatures between 32° and 95° F (0° and 35° C) and be stored in temperatures between -4° and 113° F (-20° and 45° C).

Apple Watch can be damaged and battery life shortened if stored or operated outside of these temperature ranges. Avoid exposing Apple Watch to dramatic changes in temperature or humidity."
 
Donstil-nl said:
Watch did it just fine, it's certified till 55 degrees or so, no need to leave it at home for that reason.
Click to expand...
Even if it could stand up to those temps, if it's exposed to direct sunlight it can (and very likely will) exceed 55C by quite a bit. The OLED screen is black, so it will soak up the rays and deposit straight into the battery which sits right underneath. :p You've walked across a mediterranean sandy beach with bare feet, haven't you? Well, same thing here really, heh...
 
I stand corrected. I must have the conversation totally wrong :)

Nothing to less I still advice to take it with you. You can always wear it in the morning and afternoon/evening.
 
I just returned from a beach vacation, and I took mine. However, it was kind of a waste of effort. I would not take it anywhere near the beach, so I only wore it in the mornings for my runs and then in the evenings for dinner. It was fun to have along, but it stayed in the room most of the time.

Even if you were away from the beach, I would not wear the watch while out in the sun. Wearing a watch in the sun gives you a really stupid looking tan.
 
exxxviii said:
I just returned from a beach vacation, and I took mine. However, it was kind of a waste of effort. I would not take it anywhere near the beach, so I only wore it in the mornings for my runs and then in the evenings for dinner. It was fun to have along, but it stayed in the room most of the time.

Even if you were away from the beach, I would not wear the watch while out in the sun. Wearing a watch in the sun gives you a really stupid looking tan.
Click to expand...


I traveled to the Caribbean last year and used my iPhone continuously for video recording beach experiences.

It seems to me that where the iPhone travels then the AW could go also. Within reason and precaution.

The added convenience that the AW brings in route back and forth may be enough to bring it.

➰
 
  • Like
Reactions: Night Spring
Mr.C said:
Most decent hotels have in room safes these days and in fact most are big enough to accommodate the average sized laptop as well. I think as long as you keep valuables in the safe when not in use it's fine to take them with you.
Click to expand...
Yeah the safe I had in my hotel room in Egypt was big enough for my iPad Air 2 and iPad mini. My MacBook Air would have fitted in there too if I'd have brought it with me.
 
Donstil-nl said:
I live in Europe and it was way over 30 degrees the last weeks. Watch did it just fine, it's certified till 55 degrees or so, no need to leave it at home for that reason.

Well did i do a band swap. Swapped my Leather classic buckle for the Black sport band (I got a SS) because of possible sweet on my wrists.
Click to expand...
Yea it was about 40 degrees in Egypt and my watch was perfectly fine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back