A good survival watch should be at the top of your list of must-haves if you are an outdoors person. When you’re out in the open, you never know what will happen. Imagine you’re on a trekking or hunting adventure. You lose track of your direction because you are too focused on the trail or your destination. The air becomes colder as the sun sets and more dangerous. You want to put your life in the hands of dependable survival watches in such a crisis.
The best survival watch will provide navigation and weather indications such as barometer, altitude, and thermometer so that you can avoid dangerous situations. To resist extreme conditions, they must also be waterproof, durable, and shockproof. Other features that will help your expedition run smoothly and successfully include a long-lasting battery, precise timekeeping, and lightness. There are a lot of survival watches on the market, but the ones we’ve listed here are the best in terms of performance, durability, features, and price.
Top 7 Best Survival Watches
1. G-Shock Rangeman
Casio’s robust G-Shock line of timepieces is the most acceptable option for individuals who loves to engage in challenging activities regardless of the harsh conditions. For some reason, this super watch is the crowd’s favorite. It has an excellent stylish package, and the design immediately draws your attention.
The stainless steel watch appears large, robust, and menacing, giving it a masculine appearance. The large buttons look good and help a lot when using the device.
This G-Shock W9400 is water and shock-resistant to 600 meters, so you can be assured that it will operate when you need it most.
Furthermore, it has a mud-resistant shell and sealed buttons to prevent dirt, mud, and dust from entering the watch. It has a wide range of features. You get the standard digital watch features like a stopwatch, timer, and alarms, but this watch goes above and beyond.
This G-Shock Rangeman’s timekeeping is atomic, so it’s always right on time. Casio has also included solar in this watch, so you won’t have to worry about running out of battery life when you least expect it.
2. Garmin Tactix Bravo
This watch is made to withstand the demands of a rigorous adventure. The watch face changes from an analog clock to a personal GPS device with TracBack technology for making your way back to your starting place. The buttons are PVD-coated stainless steel and are knurled for a better grip. You have the option of viewing your precise coordinates or switching to map view to track your progress point to point.
ABC sensors are installed, allowing them to offer valuable and real-time data. The barometer can accurately predict weather changes by exhibiting short-term patterns in air pressure, while the built-in altimeter provides altitude data to measure ascent and descent correctly. Whether you’re moving or not, the 3-axis electronic compass keeps track of your position. Tactix Bravo uses its GPS receiver to auto-calibrate its ABC sensors and set the time based on location. You may track how your body handles physical exercise using the heart rate metrics, including a performance condition, stress score, and lactate threshold readout. It keeps track of your overall health.
3. Timex T49612 Expedition Shock
The 49612 Expedition Shock is an excellent Timex survival watch. It is ideal for anyone who wants a decent survival watch but has a small budget. You’ll be surprised by the helpful features it has that can be used for hunting, showering, swimming, sleeping, and other daily activities.
Its dial allows you to quickly read the day, date, and time. This watch comes with several functions to help you enjoy your outdoor activities. It contains a digital compass, three-time zones, a clock, and a daily alarm.
It was surprising to learn that this watch has more functions than some of the Timex Expedition series watches while still being reasonably priced. The comprehensive digital display on the circular dial makes it easy to read the time, day, and date with just a glance.
When trekking or spelunking, the digital compass contains bearings based on 16 cardinal points to keep you on track. It also sports a 100-hour chronograph, 200-meter (660-foot) water resistance, and an Indiglo nightlight that lights the watch dial. Some customers complain about the watch’s stiff band, but that’s to be expected given that it’s designed for outdoor use.
4. Suunto Core Sports Watch
Suunto has a long history in the watchmaking business, producing high-quality, valuable watches. Their Suunto Core Sports Watch is the most remarkable military survival watch by generating precise timekeeping and excellent tactical capabilities.
Even when the sky looks clear, it may sense an upcoming storm. Over three hours, a rapid drop in air pressure activates this intelligent Storm Alarm, which is part of the numerous smart features designed to keep you safe and secure. The Storm Alarm sounds and flashes when the Core detects a change, alerting you that something terrible is approaching.
Another helpful feature is the sunrise and sunset hours, which can help you plan your outings and return to your campsite on time.
The Suunto Core all-black military men’s outdoor sports watch will undoubtedly surprise you with its lightweight and compact style. A large round face and a glamorous black coating will instantly draw your attention. Unlike other military time watches, Suunto has a lightweight rubber band that hugs your wrist nicely.
Additionally, the altimeter’s built-in display shows your current elevation, how much you’ve climbed or descended and saves your whole session for subsequent analysis. The altimeter is a helpful instrument for trekking, backcountry skiing, and wilderness travel because it is precise to 30,000 feet.
5. Garmin Fenix 6S Pro Solar
Garmin Fenix 6S Pro and Sapphire is a multisport GPS watch. Despite its size, it comes with valuable features, and the amount and range of functions it offers may surprise you.
It contains maps, audio, workout, and pace monitoring capabilities. The best part about this is that you can adjust and modify the life of your battery by changing a few settings or turning off some sensors. The Garmin Fenix 6S has multiple profiles for workout and pace monitoring activities.
Since it’s also a GPS watch, the Fenix 6S comes with topographical maps to help you navigate your activities. It includes a hydration tracker, sleep monitor, surf-ready capabilities, a heart rate counter, and much more as a smartwatch. The expedition mode, navigation system, and safety features of the Garmin Fenix 6s Pro make it an excellent survival watch. Finally, its battery life ranges from six to 34 days, and it is water-resistant to a depth of 100 meters.
6. Casio ProTrek Pathfinder
The Casio Pathfinder is a Triple Sensor and solar-powered watch based on its excellent design and functionality. It can instantly be the favorite among those who love a good adventure, and Casio makes no compromises in its arsenal of functions.
The triple sensor with barometer, altimeter, and a thermometer is the first thing that comes to mind. Still, there’s also a world time date for 48 cities, 100 meters of water resistance, a full auto EL backlight, and a digital compass.
At first glance, you can see that it only has a basic appearance with nothing particularly extravagant or unique. It is actually done on purpose to look more manly since most explorers care about the features more than its looks.
This watch has an LCD that primarily displays numerous functions at once.
As expected, the watch’s shell is robust, but it doesn’t add a lot of pressure to the device.
This watch is suitable for those adventure lovers, and you won’t find a better one at this price. Its solar battery is a crucial aspect, as it only requires you to be outside in the sun to keep it charged.
7. Casio G-9300-1 G-Shock Mudman
The G-Shock Mudman is named for its resistance to mud and dirt, and it includes internal gaskets meant to withstand dirty work. The G-Shock Mudman is made of rigid materials that endure shock and damage. It accurately measures the surrounding temperature and exact timekeeping functions such as stopwatch, countdown, and hourly signal.
The digital display, which includes the date, 12 or 24 hours, pressure, temperature, and navigational readouts, is protected by a sapphire crystal. It also uses a visual display to track the phases of the moon.
The compass technology is essential because it can be readily calibrated northerly and bidirectionally. This survival watch displays the actual North with a valid graphic direction pointer. You can freely explore nature with this survival watch on your wrist, as it will lead your travels. The Mudman is shockproof and waterproof to a depth of 200 meters, making it an excellent diving companion. For land navigation, utilize a digital compass with a full 0-359 degree range that has been adjusted for magnetic declination.
What is the best survival watch on the market?
For years, the Casio G-Shock has been a popular watch among extreme athletes, military members, and outdoor lovers.
Instead of concentrating on a single aspect of performance, Casio built the G-Shock to be rock-solid across the board, making it a flexible all-rounder that’s easy to fall in love with.
Heavy-duty housing and durable mineral glass protect it from scratches and bumps. To a depth of 200 meters, the housing is water-resistant. When you combine all of these features with two-year battery life, it’ll be challenging to find something about this watch that you don’t love. This one features analog hands and two digital screens to show the date, time, compass heading, temperature, and up to five daily alarms. After dark, an illuminated display makes all of this information accessible.
The Casio G-Shock Rangeman GW 9400 takes things to a whole new level.
Although it is not that affordable, it is jam-packed with valuable features that we believe are well worth the money.
– We like that it has an altimeter, compass, and barometer, which might all be quite helpful in a survival situation.
– Solar-powered is the primary feature that sealed it for us as the most outstanding survival watch.
With these features, you can be assured that no matter where you are, you’ll always have access to all of the watch’s excellent functions.
What makes a good survival watch?
It’s not difficult to find a watch designed for survivalists, and however, not every watch is designed to withstand actual survival scenarios. Here are some features to check while looking for the best survival watch.
Power Source
The best power source is determined by how long you need it to last away from a power source. Many automatic watches are now fueled by the movement made while worn, but this reserve quickly depletes when removed. Only a few versions contain a complication that displays the remaining power. In most cases, this isn’t a big concern, but it does mean that if you remove the watch for more than a day or two, you’ll need to use external timekeeping equipment to precisely set the time.
Size and Weight
Most survival wristwatches are more prominent than ordinary timepieces, which is an issue. The watch must be comfortable to wear on your wrist. At the same time, it should be a good fit for your lifestyle and hobbies. So, before you buy a survival watch, be sure to look at the weight and dimensions. You must try it on to see if it is comfortable. Don’t compromise on critical functionality by opting for a clean, low-profile design.
Water Resistance
Anything can happen in an emergency. You can find yourself in the middle of a severe downpour or a wet environment, or you may have to jump into a body of water! Water-resistant is required because you will need your survival watch to accompany you on your journey without risking damage. A survival watch should withstand a minimum of 50-100 meters of water. This allows you to swim, shower, participate in water sports, and stand outside in the rain without having to fret about damaging your watch.
ABC Technology
The letters ABC stand for Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass. Having all three functions in your survival watch would give you an edge in a survival crisis. If you get lost while trekking, an altimeter will display you your present altitude from sea level as well as elevation fluctuations. When the atmospheric pressure lowers rapidly, a barometer can provide you with proper atmospheric pressure readings that can help you predict rain. Finally, a compass is an essential feature of a survival watch since it allows you to navigate your way around the wilderness. In a survival crisis, knowing the exact path to your safe house is crucial, and it’s even more critical when you have limited food supplies and being lost in the woods would severely diminish your chances of survival.
Shock Resistance and Durability
No matter how many bumps or falls they undergo, survival watches must remain functional. Keep an eye out for shock-resistant timepieces. In most cases, these timepieces are protected by a shell. Keep an eye out for general durability. Light drops or dings should not be a problem for survival watches giving you the reliability so you can relax, knowing that you’ll always have the information you need.
Run Time
The battery life of your watch is also important to consider, as you may not have immediate access to charging stations or extra batteries in a survival environment. It’s worth mentioning that features frequently come at the cost of performance. In general, the more functions a watch has, the more power it needs to function correctly. The more electricity it consumes, the shorter its runtime. Choose a more simple survival watch with a longer runtime if efficiency is more important to you than an extensive range of features.
Case Material
A few microbrands have created timepieces with meteorite dials, demonstrating that modern watches can be made out of nearly anything. The case material durability is more significant than how well it can withstand particular conditions. Rubber, steel, resin, and plastic are all robust, long-lasting materials that you can find in most prepper-friendly timepieces. Titanium is a lightweight yet solid material commonly used in field and military watches.
Function and Feature
It could appear that the more features a watch has, the better. However, it would help to strike a balance between functionality and cost. It’s not a good idea to buy one with features you’ll never use. A barometer, compass, altimeter, and temperature sensor are essential features for a survival watch. The compass is undoubtedly a must-have component among these. In rugged terrain, choosing the wrong direction will drastically lower your chances of survival. A GPS-enabled watch is also a good option.
Time Accuracy
Believe it or not, not every watch on the market can tell the exact time. Several components of full-featured watches are frequently coupled to a single power source. As a result, there may be some fluctuations. It may not seem like a huge issue to lose a second here and there. A 99.9% accurate watch is off by around 1 minute and 27 seconds per day. Every second matters in a survival emergency! In the form of percentages, many watch companies provide time-accuracy predictions. Although this isn’t always the case, it’s always a good idea to double-check. Choose the greatest possible accuracy rating.
Strap material
Straps can be made from different materials, but you should always prioritize their function. A worn leather strap may look beautiful on your watch, but it’s not the best choice for a watch that will spend a lot of time in the water. Once you have the correct tools and a little practice, the process only takes a few minutes, but you never know when those few minutes will come in handy.
Warranty
Investing in a watch from a reliable brand that comes with a manufacturer’s guarantee could pay off in the long run. Responsible watchmakers will be upfront about the expense of replacing a component in your timepiece and may even offer to replace specific elements of the watch for free. The straps are a popular replacement item for your survival watch. Straps are made of various materials, including leather, rubber, silicone, and nylon. Some manufacturers supply it for free, ensuring a good and hassle-free purchase experience, while others demand a fee. You could also create a watch strap out of paracord, frequently seen in survival kits.
What is the best tactical watch?
For explorers and adventurers, a tactical watch is just as important as a first aid kit, penknife, or any other survival equipment. Wearing a tactical watch, such as the Suunto, can help ensure the success of your quest, whether it’s trekking remote mountain paths or cross-country skiing.
It has an altimeter so you can keep track of your progress on mountain climbs and descents. The barometer detects variations in air pressure, while the storm alarm alerts you to any abrupt drops in force or the impending arrival of adverse weather. It is one of the most incredible tactical timepieces available. Finally, you can pre-plan your adventures and make the most of the sunset and sunrise hours for over 400 different locations.
Do you need a survival watch?
One reason to wear a survival watch is that some survival situations necessitate constant attention to time, and a wristwatch may be required to time a process that requires precision. In some survival scenarios, the most minor expected survival gear is the ones you’ll need the most.
A good survival watch can have a compass, an altimeter, a barometer, a GPS, a thermometer, and other features. It’s an excellent addition to your survival kit. The most important advantages of these watches are their usefulness and functionality, as you can wear them anywhere, and no other survival gear is capable of doing so.
