VAER x Topo Designs x Worn & Wound Solar Hiker: Built for Adventure

If you’re like me, you love a watch that doesn’t just look good on your wrist but actually does something. The Solar Hiker is exactly that—an outdoors-ready, solar-powered watch born from a triple collaboration between VAER, Topo Designs, and Worn & Wound.

Order Yours -  Solar Hiker

VAER has been making solid, minimalist watches in Southern California since 2015. They’re all about dependable, American-made quality and real-world durability. Topo Designs, out of Colorado, brings a classic outdoor gear vibe with a focus on color, utility, and wearability. And Worn & Wound? They’re the storytellers of watch culture, chronicling everything from microbrands to the most practical field watches.

The Solar Hiker is small but mighty: a 38mm field-watch-inspired design housed in a 200m-rated dive case, powered entirely by the sun with the Epson VS22 solar movement. It’s got all the hallmarks of a proper tool watch, but it’s compact, durable, and easy to wear.

What really sets this watch apart is the dial. VAER layered 15 coats of C3 lume onto the numerals and markers, which means you can tell time easily whether you’re on a sunrise hike or a late-night campsite watch. The dual-index ceramic and steel bezel is versatile, letting you track a second time zone, elapsed minutes, or even align it with solar positions like sunrise, sunset, or solar noon.

For straps, Topo Designs contributed two colorful hook-and-loop nylon options, while VAER included a black silicone strap. Each strap is rugged but comfortable, and they all fit easily into the custom Topo Designs EDC case. This case isn’t just packaging; it doubles as a small carry case for your essentials when you’re out exploring.

Specs-wise, the watch is 38mm in diameter, 45mm lug-to-lug, and 11.35mm thick, making it wearable for most wrists without feeling bulky. The crown is locking and screw-down, ensuring water resistance up to 200m, and the sapphire crystal keeps the face scratch-free.

Limited to 500 units per color and estimated to start shipping the week of 11/17, this watch is available directly from VAER, Topo Designs, and Windup Watch Shop. Colors include Green & Steel or All Black.

10 Questions About the Solar Hiker

1. What makes the Solar Hiker different from other field watches? It’s solar-powered, rugged, and includes multiple strap options and a custom EDC case, designed for outdoor versatility.
2. How water-resistant is it? The watch is rated to 200m (20ATM), thanks to a screw-down locking crown.
3. What movement does it use? The Epson VS22 solar movement, which keeps time using solar energy.
4. What are the strap options? Two nylon Topo Designs straps and one black silicone VAER strap are included.
5. What materials are used in the case? Brushed and polished steel with an optional DLC coating and a ceramic-and-steel bezel.
6. How luminous is the watch face? It uses 15 layers of C3 lume for excellent readability day and night.
7. Where is the watch made? The watch face is from Japan; straps and case are assembled in Vietnam and China.
8. Is it a limited edition? Yes, limited to 500 units per color.
9. Can the bezel track solar positions? Yes, quarter-hour markers on the dual-index bezel can be aligned with sunrise, sunset, or solar noon.
10. Where can I buy it? Available from VAER, Topo Designs, and Windup Watch Shop.