Alpina AlpinerX
Take A Hike Day: A Trek With The Alpina AlpinerX
Why the AlpinerX makes an excellent traveling companion for your next outdoor adventure.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
The Badlands, The Great Smokey Mountains, Yosemite, Yellowstone — these natural monuments are emblematic of the landscapes that shaped the American psyche. They are outdoor temples that hold some of the most important treasures in the United States. As Teddy Roosevelt once said of the Grand Canyon, “leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it.”
And every year millions of people travel to these historic places from all over the world to commune with nature, which is why we are happy to hear that Alpina has entered into a three-year partnership with the National Park Foundation (NPF) to support America’s national wonders.
A WALK IN THE PARK
The love of outdoor adventure is one that Alpina shares with the NPF. The core of the brand’s philosophy is inspired by a watchmaking union known as the “Alpinists.” For over 135 years, the brand has been producing timepieces designed to function in difficult natural environments (as well as challenging urban scenarios).
Of course, you can always drive through a giant tree in Sequoia, but the Alpina recognizes those adventurers who want to hike, climb, and paddle across this great land. And in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Trails and National Wild & Scenic Rivers systems, a portion of Alpina's sales will support NPF’s efforts to protect and enhance America’s ecosystems.
RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH
It must be noted that this is the Swiss manufacture’s first brand partnership in the U.S., yet it makes perfect sense given that country’s love of skiing, mountain climbing and all things outdoorsy.
“Partnering with the National Park Foundation is a natural fit for Alpina given its history in adventure and the brand’s revolution of the modern sports watch,” said Lindsay Mellor, U.S. Marketing Director of Alpina. “Through our partnership with the National Park Foundation, we hope to engage with those who have a shared passion for adventure and the outdoors and encourage them to explore all three areas of air, land, and sea.”
The goal is to encourage people to get outside, explore the parks, rivers and trails, and ultimately to inspire the next generation of “Alpinists” and national park enthusiasts.
NATURAL INGREDIENTS
Currently, Alpina does not have a special watch to commemorate this partnership (though one is planned for 2020). But there are plenty of timepieces in the brand’s collections that would make an excellent traveling companion for your next adventure.
We’re recommending the rugged AlpinerX reference AL-283LNO5NAQ6L. Introduced this year, this horological smartwatch honors the history of the parks with the most futuristic technology, including an activity tracker, heart rate monitor (over a BLE connection), sleep monitoring, a worldtimer, smart alarms, call and message notification, UV indicator, compass, altitude and temperature display, time recording (stopwatch, timer, workouts), and a barometer. Basically, you’ll be able to time, track, and monitor anything the environment can throw at you.
The AlpinerX itself is extremely durable. With its 45mm navy blue fiberglass and stainless steel case, this is a timepiece that is built to last like the ancient cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. It also comes with a 360° bi-directional turning compass bezel and a convex, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and, if you’re not exploring the desert, it’s water-resistant to 10 ATM/100m/330ft.
It’s also a natural beauty, with a matte finished, navy blue dial with silver indexes with applied white lume and an easy-to-read digital screen. The hands feature a white luminous treatment, and our favorite configuration comes with a cool tan leather strap. All of this action is available for $995.
(Photography by Liam O'Donnell)
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