AppleWatch Series 6, A Review

I’ve had a love-hate relationship with AppleWatch(es) for years dating back to their first iteration. Have owned and re-sold or gifted at least three prior ones. My chief complaint was the fact the watch was hopelessly “tethered” to the phone for almost everything. In essence, it was little more than an additional wrist-bound screen for your iPhone. However, a lot has changed in the last 3 years and my main source of frustration has been assuaged in recent versions of the watch. So, I took the opportunity Christmas was around the corner (and my wife never knows what to get me), to ask for an AppleWatch with a sporty strap (was not interested in the Sports Edition).

While I have a strong preference for purely mechanical watches, finding one that’s rugged enough to withstand the shock, motion, sweat and other common conditions fitness watches have to endure is nearly impossible. Even more difficult is to find one that meets the above criteria and is also affordable and not terrible looking. Simply put mechanical watches make very lousy fitness watches. I could have (and almost did) chosen to get a Garmin or some other fitness or running specialized, but I wanted something more general purpose.

Strap: I wanted a strap without a buckle and one that wouldn’t come off easily. The “standard” rubber strap always rubs my skin the wrong way. Way too grippy and irritating, in…