Walking Equipment and Accessories

Elliot Brown Canford Mountain Rescue Edition Watch | Review

The Elliot Brown Canford Mountain Rescue Edition Watch is rugged enough for life in the mountains, but smartens up for everyday life in the office

Finding the right outdoor watch is a careful balance between aesthetics and functionality. You want to make sure that your watch has all the technical features you need, plus it needs to look good on your wrist.

Introducing Elliot Brown, the award-winning British watch brand made for the adventurer who splits his time between the great outdoors and the office. Founders Ian Elliot and Alex Brown started their careers working for action sports brand Animal. Elliot co-founded Animal back in 1988 and Brown turned down a job at Cartier to establish Animal’s watch department. Together they have over 20 years experience in the action sports industry.

They set up Elliot Brown after wanting an outdoor watch that was both durable and good-looking. The kind of watch that could withstand ocean crossings and mountain expeditions, yet still look smart enough for a Monday morning office meeting.

“Elliot Brown was set up to make outdoor watches that are both durable and good-looking.”

The Canford 202-012 Mountain Rescue Edition watch is a classic example. We like it so much this is the second time we’ve featured it in the Outdoor 100 – we also picked it out as one of our favourite winter products. As you’ve probably guessed from the name, this watch is designed for outdoor adventures in the mountains. It was made in collaboration with Mountain Rescue England and Wales.

Mountain Rescue are a hardy group of volunteers who are on call 24 hours per day, 365 days a year who rescue climbers, hikers and other folk lost in the mountains of Wales and England – and return them safe to their families. Flip the Canford watch over and you will see the Mountain Rescue logo engraved on the back.

Inspired by military watch design, the Canford Mountain Rescue has a marine-grade stainless steel case with a domed crystal face. It is shock-resistant and water-resistant to 20 ATM. Each Elliot Brown watch has to pass through a rigorous stress test, including being immersed 200m underwater.

The watch comes with two straps – a smart black leather one for the working week and a brushed nylon strap for outdoor adventures. Inside the watch case you’ll find two tiny screwdrivers for changing the strap over whenever you please.

The watch comes with a black leather strap for the working week and a brushed nylon strap for outdoor adventures. Photo: Chris Johnson.

As you’ve probably guessed from the name, this watch is designed for outdoor adventures in the mountains. Photo: Chris Johnson.

For every one of these watches bought, Mountain Rescue receive £36. Photo: Chris Johnson.

For every one of these watches bought, Mountain Rescue receive £36 to help them buy vital equipment to save lives in our mountainous regions.

So if you want a tough watch that will withstand hiking up Tryfan in winter, but also look sleek enough for that important business meeting, try the Canford Mountain Rescue Edition watch. You will get the best of both worlds in one timepiece.