The term EDC Watch immediately conjures images of a robust yet subtle timepiece—a watch picked up in the morning without much care for what might happen throughout the day. Then, to finish the day, you place it next to your bedside table alongside your wallet, personal carry, and perhaps a knife or a multi-tool. It’s that everyday essential that you know will survive anything you throw at it, and come home ready for the next mundane or adventurous day. Some call it a watch, others perhaps a piece of jewelry, but I call it a companion.
An affordable EDC watch needs to have a few key attributes. Without a question, it has to be versatile. Whether you’re taking it into the office with a suit, or the garage to work on your car – it’s got to fit in. For a watch to be worn every single day, it’s got to have some sort of scratch-resistance feature – that’s the second attribute. And last but not least? The bracelet has got to be quality.
The Traska Commuter in 38mm is one of the best affordable EDC watches on the market. And it’s not difficult to see why.
Traska: A Staple Amongst Microbrands
Traska was founded by Jon Mack in 2018 due to a personal incident that saw his vintage Bulova ruined on a beach vacation. Since then, Traska’s goal has been to create affordable, modern watches that can stand up to any adventure – very EDC of them. I’ve got to say, that Jon and his team over at Traska have done an exceptional job sticking to their original aspirations. You see microbrands pivot away from their founding principals once the success and profits come flowing in, but not Traska.
The one thing nobody can take away from Traska is how they continuously evolve their core lineup of watches. Take the Traska Commuter, for instance, which started in 2019 not all that impressive. But in 2025? Arguably the best affordable EDC watch at around the $600 price point.
Traska Commuter Dimensions
Case size: 38mm
Lug to lug: 46mm
Thickness: 8.75mm (10.5mm including box domed crystal)
Lug width: 20mm
Case: Polished with some brushed
Dial: Carbon Black
Crystal: Box Domed Sapphire Crystal (AR Coated)
Movement: Miyota 9039
Water Resistant: 10 ATM / 100m
Strap: Oyster-Style Bracelet (tapers from 20mm to 16mm)
An EDC Watch Needs a Tough Case
If a watch is your everyday carry, you won’t want it scratched up after a few months. Traska’s proprietary case hardening treatment makes the Commuter 6 times more scratch-resistant than your regular wristwatches. A typical 316L steel case sits roughly 200HV on the Vickers hardness scale. All Traska watches are rated 1200HV. Trust me, I’ve had more than a few Traska’s, and they look brand new years later.
Maybe it’s because of the case hardening treatment, but the case is largely high-polished. The commuter can come across as “shiny”, but the overall case design is understated enough to balance it out. That being said, the bezel and lugs are brushed, or else it would be a little too “bling”.
It’s no secret that Traska has gone with the Oyster case inspiration from Rolex. But if I’m being honest? The 38mm case on the commuter feels a little more stretched out, or rather, flattened out compared to the traditional Oyster case. After all, this 38mm was a special edition release, so I understand if the proportions are slightly off. But, that’s just me, I know plenty who love the 38mm case.
Timeless Everyday Dial
It’s almost mandatory for an EDC watch to have a boring dial. Perhaps boring is the wrong word, but it’s not entirely false to say all black dial metal bracelet watches look the same. All you have to do is ask my partner – she’ll tell ya. The dial on the Commuter is by no means exciting, but it is timeless. You can’t go wrong with a carbon black dial, with applied rectangular indices. Though just saying that out loud makes it sound like any other watch.
But seriously, you’re buying the Commuter for its mundaneness. After all, it’s literally called the Commuter – who enjoys their daily commute? Better off with a wrist companion than without, am I right? And that’s exactly what the dial on this watch is all about. It’s a daily companion that can never be too much and go out of style.
It’s not all praises, the Commuter needs a date. And no I don’t mean a partner, I mean what kind of EDC watch doesn’t at least have a date window? I will admit, the no-date symmetry is very nice, but this is an everyday carry. It’s not entirely a deal breaker, but if I were to have one watch only, it wouldn’t be one without a date.
Traska’s Bracelet
You’ve heard me rave about Monta’s bracelet, and you’re definitely tired of me talking about the Bader bracelet. Now I’ll be honest, Traska isn’t quite there. Actually, it’s not even that close, not yet anyway. For a $650 timepiece, the bracelet on the Commuter isn’t bad at all. In fact, it’s one of the better microbrand bracelets out there. It’s certainly miles better than what Seiko can deliver even at double this price point.
The first thing you’ll notice about the bracelet is the weight. It’s solid, but not hefty. It’s got a good balance between built quality and comfort. The oyster-style links articulate very nicely, and each link is well-machined. Guess what? The bracelet comes with its own on-the-fly adjustment clasp with more than a few length settings – a great feature for the price. However, you should note that this is the generic on-the-fly adjustment that most microbrands come equipped with nowadays. Hopefully, you realize they all mostly come from the same factory.
That being said, the Commuter’s bracelet is one you don’t have to worry about. It’s got a solid built quality, fit and finish is right up there, and simply no real complaints from me. Some watches with sub-par bracelets will inevitably tempt you to buy aftermarket straps, but not the Traska Commuter.
Comfort & Wearability
If only the Seiko SARB033 could wear this comfortably on my wrists, it would’ve been my one watch only. Arguably the best feature of the Traska Commuter is its thinness. With a case height of 8.75mm and the relatively short 46mm lug-to-lug, the Commuter wears like a charm on my skinny 6-inch wrists. It is a little “beefy”, but not in an uncomfortable or hefty way. It has a level of wrist presence that watches of this size and thinness lack, and that’s a good thing.
As an EDC watch, this is as versatile as any timepiece would ever get. It takes inspiration from the Oyster Perpetual’s of Rolex – obviously. And that might or might not be your cup of tea. But, there is no denying that the Traska Commuter has what it takes to be your everyday carry. It’s rugged enough to take to a hike or the beach, but also smart enough to wear with a suit. After all, it’s a GADA (Go Anywhere Do Anything).
EDC Watch: The Perfect Choice?
If you’re not too fussed about brand heritage, or the fact that the Commuter is realistically an homage to the Rolex OP? Then it’s no doubt a fantastic choice for an EDC watch. It’s perfect for those who aren’t exactly watch nerds but are still looking for an honest brand producing spectacular value-for-money watches. The Commuter is also a really good choice for those looking to purchase their first serious watch.
The Commuter is almost too perfect for those looking for quality on a budget. I’m referring to high school/college students, or even those who are looking to spend their first full-time paycheck on a sweet wrist reward. If this was a decade ago, and I only had a few hundred dollars to spend? I’d be all over this Traska in a heartbeat.
Traska Commuter: Closing Thoughts
Aesthetics: It looks like the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, what more can you say?
Comfort: Extremely comfortable 38mm case with the perfect 8.75mm thinness, no complaints in terms of comfort. Easily wearable and for long periods on my 6-inch wrists.
Price: At around the $600 – $700 price point, the competition is always super steep. And I’m not going to say the Traska Commuter is the king of this category, because it simply isn’t – I don’t think there is one. But, that being said, it’s hard to go wrong with the Commuter.
