Hikers and outdoorsmen are exposed to some harsh conditions including but not limited to extreme temperatures, submersion in water, and impact damage.
The problem with watches is that they’re often very expensive and you don’t always know what you’re getting until you’ve got it. With that in mind, let’s go over some criteria.
What do you Need in a Military/Tactical Watch?
- Durability. They must be able to take a beating and survive unharmed, or relatively unharmed.
- Discretion. The watch can’t stand out too much; if you’re in the military then you may find yourself in rough/dangerous situations and a watch that stands out too much could get you into trouble.
- Security. Your watch needs to fit securely on your wrist; you don’t want to lose it.
- Water resistance. Obviously, if you’re working in or around water, then having a watch that can function in water is important.
- Accuracy. If you’re on a tight schedule or you need to be exactly on the mark, then high accuracy is a must.
- Readability and Luminescence. You need to be able to read the time easily in both daylight and darkness.
Now that we know what to look for, let’s look at 33 of the best military watches that you can buy.
Quick disclosure: If you visit a link in this article and then you buy something, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read my full disclosure here.
1. Luminox 3051 EVO Navy SEAL Watch
The Luminox 3051 Navy SEAL watch has a quartz movement and a unidirectional bezel. The polyurethane strap is soft and comfortable, and the buckle closure keeps it in place.
It’s water resistant to 660ft. and is suitable for most surface water sports (swimming, snorkeling, etc.) but it’s not good for scuba diving.
The tritium in this watch glows brighter than most other watches and is great for low-light situations.
With that said, the band is prone to breaking and the tritium will fade. If you’d like to get one of these for yourself, you can get one here.
2. Hamilton Khaki Field Watch
The Hamilton Khaki Field watch was advertised in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and uses a durable scratch resistant 42mm case.
It fits well, is water resistant up to 100m, and can take a beating; it costs a pretty penny, but it’s worth the money.
You can get one here.
3. Marathon Tsar Diver
The Marathon Tsar is a commonly recommended watch when it comes to military watches.
This one is made in Switzerland and built to government specifications and used by military personnel.
It’s made for search and rescue missions at sea and as such is water resistant to 1000ft (300m).
There are tritium gas tubes that glow in the dark and the quartz movement allows for a high level of accuracy and there’s an indicator that will tell you when the battery is about to die.
This dive watch is very expensive but you can get one here if you want one for yourself.
4. Timex Expedition Field Chronograph
The Expedition line is a popular line for Timex and the Field Chronograph is one of the more popular watches.
A sturdily built watch with a genuine leather strap makes it a comfortable piece to wear. The Timex Expedition Field Chronograph is water resistant to 330ft.
If you’d like to pick one up for yourself, you can get it here.
5. Casio G-Shock GA100-1A1
You can’t talk about military watches without bringing up the Casio G-Shock series; especially when talking about budget-friendly watches – which is why they’re so popular.
Stylish and functional the GA100-1A1 is water resistant to 200m (660ft) and has a range of functions including both an analog and digital watch face with a backlight.
Other than that, you’ve got all the usual bells and whistles that come with a G-Shock: stopwatch, alarms, and, of course, a tough design that you can beat the heck out of.
All that said, this one can be a bit harder to read and the backlight doesn’t light up the digital portion of the watch. It’s not a serious problem – unless, of course, you don’t know how to read an analog watch.
If this sounds like the watch for you, it can be purchased here.
6. Casio G-Shock GD100-1BCR
The GD100-1BCR is cool and functional – like the other members of the G-Shock family. You have access to five different alarms and two formats (12 and 24 hours respectively).
Shock resistant and water resistant up to 200m. The backlight is nice and bright making reading the time in the dark a breeze.
It’s also nice and durable so you can beat it up without much trouble – except maybe to your conscience – and it’s quite easy to work with; especially if you’ve owned other G-Shocks.
Grab this one here.
7. Casio G-Shock 6900 Military
The 6900 is water resistant up to 200m and has a backlight that you can use to check the time in the dark.
You can use either a 12- or 24-hour time format and the quartz movement keeps time with an accuracy of rough fifteen seconds. There are multiple alarms that you can use.
Get yours here.
8. Timex Expedition Scout
The Scout is one of the most popular members of the Timex Expedition family. There are so many variations of this one that you can pick and choose which one you want.
It’s a simple design and probably not what you think of when you think of military watches but it’s a cool piece.
It’s water resistant up to 50 meters and the 20 mm strap can be adjusted for a wrist of up to 8 inches.
Pick one up for yourself by clicking here.
9. SUUNTO Core
A watch with an altimeter, barometer, and compass. Yes, really. The barometer and storm alarm alerts you about changes in weather conditions.
The watch is built for the outdoors and records each session that you do. As far as cool factor goes, you can’t get much cooler.
You can get this one here.
10. Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver
The Eco-Drive is a popular watch from Citizen and the Promaster series of dive watches is a popular one.
The eco-drive technology is powered by light, which means you never need a battery. The polyurethane strap is comfortable to wear, and the stainless-steel case is sturdily built.
There are a variety of styles so you can pick your poison; you can get one here.
11. Victorinox Swiss Army Original Swiss Quartz Watch
The company known for the Swiss Army Knife has also earned a few entries on the list but let’s start with this one. The Original has a 40mm case with a mineral dial and 12/24-hour timekeeping.
The band is woven nylon, and the buckle allows for a secure, comfortable fit. It’s water resistant up to 100m.
There are three colorways: tan around a brown dial, black around a dial, and green around a green dial.
The design is very simple but it’s an affordable, and stylish option.
You can get this one here.
12. Timex Weekender Chronograph
The Timex Weekender Chronograph is another popular option from Timex. It tells time to within 1/20th of a second.
The 20mm strap is adjustable to an 8-inch wrist and the Indiglo light-up dial means you can look at your watch in the dark and still tell the time! As far as water resistance goes, the Weekender is water resistant up to 100ft.
Don’t believe me? See for yourself here.
13. VOSTOK Komandirskie K65
Made in Russia, the Vostok Komandirskie K65 series watches have automatic, self-winding movements and feature a stainless-steel case and nylon strap. The 24-hour dial is a beautiful matte black, and the watch is water resistant to 660ft.
Do you want one of these? You can get it here.
14. Citizen Eco-Drive Garrison
The Garrison has a simple, clean look to it and you still get the Citizen quality. The nylon strap is super comfortable and the large numerals on the dial make telling the time easy.
Of course, the eco-drive technology means you don’t have to worry about a battery as its powered by light.
You can get one of these for yourself, here.
15. Casio G-Shock Mudman G9300
The Mudman G9300 comes with a compass and is shock resistant. You also get the usual bells and whistles that come with Casio’s G-Shock series. The light is bright, the strap is comfortable, and you won’t regret a purchase.
You can get it here.
16. Casio G-Shock GW2310 Atomic Solar
The Atomic Solar is a solar-powered entry to the G-Shock family. A backlight to help read the time in the dark.
Countdown timer, stopwatch, 4 daily alarms, and compatible with 41 time zones. Like other entries in the G-Shock line, the Atomic Solar is shock-resistant and water-resistant to 660ft.
You can get one of these here.
Quick note: the image lists the watch as the ‘tough solar’.
17. Casio G-Shock GW6900-1 Tough Solar
Another solar-powered G-Shock with all the bells and whistles of its relatives. LED backlight, two-time formats, sturdy stainless-steel case, and a comfortable rubber strap. If you’d like to get one of these for yourself, you can get one here.
18. Seiko 5
The Seiko 5 is an analog piece with two faces – the usual 1 – 12 on the inside and then the 5-minute intervals on the outside.
It’s water resistant up to 99ft and is available in green, black, blue, and beige. It’s a great piece and I highly recommend picking one up for yourself.
19. Timex Expedition Acadia
The Expedition Acadia has an Indiglo watch dial to allow wearers to tell the time in the dark. It has a sturdy resin case and an adjustable nylon strap and is water resistant to 165ft.
The Acadia is a comfortable piece to wear, and if you’d like one for yourself, you can get one here.
20. Citizen Eco-Drive Avion
The Avion has the usual features of a Citizen eco-drive. There’s no need to worry about a battery dying.
The stainless-steel case is sturdily built, and the leather strap is both elegant and comfortable. Highly accurate and water resistant to 333ft, you can’t go wrong with this stylish piece.
You can get one for yourself here.
21. Citizen Eco-Drive Skyhawk
This entry in the Citizen Eco-Drive family is a two-tone watch of black and silver and is a beautiful piece.
The stainless-steel case is sturdily built, and the polyurethane strap makes it comfortable to wear. It’s a stylish piece that you’ll enjoy wearing.
You can get one here.
22. Victorinox Swiss Army Classic Officer’s Chronograph
This is a simple design and the term ‘classic’ certainly applies. Sturdily constructed of stainless steel, the classic officer’s chronograph is a beautiful piece.
It’s comfortable to wear and it’s a definite conversation starter. If you’d like to get one of these for yourself, you can get it here.
23. Victorinox Swiss Army Fieldforce Chronograph
Another entry from Victorinox, the Fieldforce Chronograph is highly accurate and sturdily built.
It’s a beautiful piece that’s fitted with a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective sapphire crystal and is water resistant to 100 meters. The polyurethane strap makes it comfortable to wear.
You can get one here.
24. Bertucci A-2S Field Watch
The A-2S Field Watch from Bertucci is popular for a reason. It looks great, the minimalist design makes it a cool-looking military-style watch without the crazy shapes and extra dials that can make reading the time a bit tricky.
It’s durable and comfortable with a scratch-resistant watch crystal meaning that your watch face will almost always be scratch free.
If this sounds like the watch for you, you can get it here.
25. Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Pro Diver
In addition to a unidirectional rotating bezel, the I.N.O.X. Pro Diver uses military (24-hour) time and comes with a removable magnifying glass, scratch-resistant and anti-reflective surface.
It’s also just a cool piece and this would be a real conversation starter at parties. Its strap is expandable, and the watch is water resistant up to 200m.
If you’d like one for yourself, you can get one here.
26. Victorinox Swiss Army Maverick
This one is gorgeous! The Maverick is an analog quartz watch with a unidirectional rotating bezel in a stainless-steel case.
It’s got three coats of anti-reflective sapphire crystal on the face, an end-of-life indicator, and a screw-in case.
You can get a maverick for yourself here.
27. Fossil Men’s Forrester
The Forrester by Fossil has a sturdily built steel case and a beautiful leather strap. This is a stylish, comfortable watch to wear. The Forrester is highly accurate and is water resistant to 50 meters.
If you’d like one for yourself, you can get one here.
28. Fossil Men’s Garrett
Water resistant to 100 meters, the Garrett is a stylish piece at a reasonable price. The sturdy construction comes with a sundial and an interchangeable 20-millimeter stainless-steel bracelet – you can get a leather strap as well if you prefer.
You can get this one here.
29. Wenger Sea Force
Wenger is another company that is well-known for Swiss Army Knives, they’re also known for quality watches.
The Sea Force is a quartz watch with a sapphire-coated mineral crystal and a rotating bezel. Sturdily built and water resistant to 660ft, the Wenger Sea Force is a cool piece that you’ll love to wear.
You can get this piece here.
30. Wenger Attitude
The Attitude has a few variations available on Amazon in both leather and steel. A Swiss quartz watch with a sapphire-coated mineral crystal and a rotating bezel. This piece is sturdy and comfortable to wear and is water resistant to 330ft.
You can get one here.
31. Wenger Roadster
The Roadster, like the Attitude, has a few variations on Amazon. Sturdy stainless-steel construction, water resistant to 330ft., and a sapphire-coated mineral crystal makes this a cool, comfortable piece to wear.
You can get one here if you like.
32. Marathon Jumbo Diver
The Jumbo Diver has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and a quartz movement allows for high accuracy.
This is a very big watch, and the sturdy construction gives wearers a long-lasting watch that’s easy to read.
It is a pricey watch, so that’s something to keep in mind but if you’d like to get one for yourself, you can get it here.
33. Wenger Swiss Army Terragraph
The Swiss Army Terragraph is a piece from Wenger with a stainless-steel case and water resistant to 100 meters.
The 12-hour chronograph is easy to read, and the leather strap is both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to wear. You can get this one here.
In Closing: The Best of the Best
These are just a handful of some of the best military watches on the market; there are many, many more from which to choose.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and found it enjoyable – maybe your watch collection just grew a little bit. As always, I’d like to say thank you for reading and I’ll see you for the next one!
In addition to being a huge knife-nut, and good at shooting a bow, Greg has been farming ever since he was a little kid. He’s also a camping and hiking enthusiast.