Timex Weekender vs Casio F-91W
Two of the cheapest good watches ever made, and they are not for the same person.
These are the two watches most often recommended when someone says they want something cheap and good, and both deserve it — the Weekender and the F-91W have each been in production for decades with almost no changes, which is the strongest signal a product can send.
They are, though, answers to different questions. One is an analog field watch you can restyle for a few dollars; the other is a featherweight digital that people forget they are wearing. Which one is the better gift depends almost entirely on one thing about the recipient.
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Quick picks
The whole list at a glance. Tap any row to jump to the full write-up further down the page, or go straight to the listing.
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timex Weekender 38mmAnalog, 38mm, strap changes in seconds for pocket moneyUnder $50 | A first watch someone wears as an accessory | |
| 2 |  Casio F-91WAlmost weightless; years of battery; nearly indestructibleUnder $25 | Someone who says they hate wearing watches |
We have not handled these products. Nobody here has worn, tested or owned them, and we will not pretend otherwise. What we do is check that each pick is still sold, still holds up and still makes sense as a gift at this budget. How we choose.
The two watches, side by side
Timex Weekender 38mm
Timex
A simple field-style watch on a slip-through fabric strap, with Timex's Indiglo backlight that lights the whole dial.
The Weekender is the better gift if the watch is meant to be part of how the recipient looks. It is a proper 38mm analog field watch, which fits nearly every adult wrist, and the slip-through strap comes off in about five seconds — so one watch becomes a dozen looks for the price of a few coffees. Indiglo lights the entire dial, which is better than any cheap digital backlight. It ticks audibly in a quiet room and the fabric strap is never formal, which are the honest limits.
What is good
- The strap pulls off in seconds, so one watch becomes several looks for pocket money
- A 38mm case is the safest size guess when you do not know the wrist
- Indiglo makes it readable in the dark, which sounds trivial until you use it
What to know
- The quartz movement ticks audibly in a quiet room
- A fabric strap is comfortable but never formal
Casio F-91W
Casio
The thin resin digital watch Casio has sold, essentially unchanged, since 1989. Time, date, alarm, stopwatch, backlight.
The F-91W wins on the one thing nothing else does: weight. It is so light that people who insist watches bother them forget it is on, which makes it the best possible first watch for a reluctant wearer or a young child. The battery lasts years, the alarm and stopwatch work, and it survives almost anything. It also costs so little that it is the cheapest way to find out whether someone is a watch person at all. The strap looks exactly as cheap as it is, and it is splash-resistant only.
What is good
- Weighs so little that people who say they hate watches forget it is on
- Battery life is measured in years, not months
- Genuinely hard to damage, which makes it a safe gift for anyone rough on things
What to know
- The resin strap looks exactly as inexpensive as it is
- Splash-resistant only, so it is not a swimming watch
Side by side
| Timex Weekender | Casio F-91W | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | Analog hands | Digital |
| Case size | 38mm — fits nearly anyone | Small rectangle, fits any wrist |
| Weight | Light | Almost nothing |
| Backlight | Indiglo — lights the whole dial | Small side light, dim |
| Strap | Slip-through fabric, swaps in seconds | Resin, fixed |
| Water resistance | Splashes and rain | Splashes and rain |
| Battery life | A few years | Years, often many |
| Extras | None — it tells the time | Alarm, stopwatch, date |
| Budget tier | Under $50 | Under $25 |
The one question that decides it
Is the watch meant to be seen, or meant to be useful? If the recipient will treat it as part of an outfit — something they choose in the morning — the Weekender wins, because it is an analog watch with a restylable strap and it looks intentional. If the watch is a tool they want to stop noticing, the F-91W wins on comfort and features by a distance.
A second, smaller question: do they read analog dials comfortably? Plenty of people who grew up checking a phone find an analog dial very slightly effortful, and will glance at a digital display more often. If that is true of the recipient, the F-91W is the watch they will actually use.
Where both fall short
Neither is a swimming watch. Both are rated for splashes and rain, which means hand-washing is fine and a shower is pushing it. If the recipient will not remember to take a watch off, neither of these is the right gift — spend a little more on a Casio Duro with 200 meters of water resistance and the problem disappears.
Neither is formal either. The Weekender on fabric is casual by design, and the F-91W is a resin digital watch. For anything that needs to sit under a suit cuff, look at a dress watch instead.
Making either one a better gift
With the Weekender, buy a second strap. It is the entire appeal of the watch and it turns one box into two — a nylon strap in an unexpected color costs very little and demonstrates that you understood what you were buying. Check the lug width first; the standard Weekender takes a common size that is easy to shop for.
With the F-91W, the move is to pair it with something else, because on its own it is a very small gift. It works well as the second item alongside a bigger one, as a gym-bag spare, or as a genuinely well-chosen stocking filler. Nobody should receive only an F-91W for a significant occasion.
The verdict
As a gift, the Timex Weekender. It is a more substantial object, it fits nearly everyone, the strap system makes it forgiving if you misread their taste, and it reads as a considered present rather than an afterthought. For a first watch, it is the one we recommend most often anywhere on this site.
The Casio F-91W wins in two specific cases: a recipient who genuinely dislikes the feel of a watch, and a young child. In both it is unbeatable, and in both the Weekender would probably end up unworn. Neither watch has been tested by us — this comparison is drawn from published specifications and what buyers consistently report.
Questions buyers ask
Which is better for a first watch?
The Weekender, for most people. It is a proper analog watch, it fits nearly every wrist at 38mm, and the strap changes cheaply if you misjudged their taste. The F-91W is better only for someone who dislikes the sensation of wearing a watch.
Can you swim with either?
No. Both are rated for splashes and rain only. If the recipient will not remember to take a watch off, buy something rated to 100 or 200 meters instead — a Casio Duro solves it for very little more.
Is the F-91W really that comfortable?
It is the lightest watch most people will ever wear, and that is genuinely its main appeal. It is the reason it works for people who say watches bother them, and for children who would notice anything heavier.
Is the Weekender's ticking noticeable?
In a quiet room, yes — it is an inexpensive quartz movement and the tick is audible. Most people stop noticing within a week, but it is worth knowing for someone sensitive to small noises at night.
Should I buy a second strap with the Weekender?
Yes. It is the cheapest way to double the gift and the strap system is the watch's whole point. Check the lug width in the specifications so the strap you buy actually fits.
Read next
- Best watches for beginners
Both watches in the context of every first-watch option.
- Timex Weekender review
The winner here, on its own.
- Best watches under $100
Where both sit, with the alternatives.
- Best watch straps under $50
The half of a Weekender gift most people forget.
- Best watches for kids and teens
Where the F-91W is genuinely the right answer.