There are timepieces made for formal events and there are those designed for casual wear.
But if you’re looking for a durable watch you can take anywhere you go, you may want to look for a timepiece made for army use.
What to Look for in a Tactical Watch
A military grade watch should be able to endure torture more than what sports watches can handle.
They must be built with durable materials and reliable components that can still function even under intense pressure.
Here are the major factors you should consider when looking for an army watch:
Durability
You’ll be bringing your watch to various locations and will be subjecting it to pressure more than an ordinary watch can withstand.
You shouldn’t have to worry about your watch breaking when you dive into the ocean or when you hit it on the ground.
Accuracy
We all know that military time needs to be exact.
A life may depend on it which is why tactical watches have to be precise.
Reading Ease
A quick look at the watch should be enough for you to discern all the information you need in a current situation.
Every moment is crucial and taking too long just to read the time isn’t going to help.
Water resistance
This is a must for an army watch because situations may arise when you need to go underwater.
A watch that can’t withstand a few meters underwater should be disregarded.
Additional features
Army watches usually have more features to offer like an altimeter, a barometer, a compass, and other functions that may help you on your mission.
Watches coated with anti-reflective are also a great plus since they prevent the enemy from pinpointing your location when light hits your watch.
There are digital, analog, and hybrid military watches available in the market.
It depends on your style preference and the added features you need in choosing which of these watch types to buy.
The Best Military Watches
We’ve come up with a list of the best tactical watches available in the market.
They’re from different brands and range from budget-friendly hundred-dollar watches to a luxury timepieces that will cost you thousands to get.
Casio G-Shock GA100-1A1
The 37mm G-Shock GA100-1A1 has an analog chronograph and a resin case and band.
It features a stopwatch, a countdown timer, a calendar display, backlight luminescence, daylight saving features, dual-time display, world time function, and quartz movement.
It runs on a CR1220 battery.
Pros:
- Shock resistant
- All-black color makes it suitable for any kind of fashion
- Can endure a 10-meter fall
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Quite difficult to read in low-light conditions
- Poor backlight brightness
- Analog hands block the view of some of the watch’s display
Timex T49612 Expedition Trail Series
The 48mm Expedition Trail is a digital watch with a resin case and band, a calendar display, an Indiglo light-up dial, a digital compass, a GPS feature, and a stop timer.
It has a look that will definitely pass off as a military grade watch.
Pros:
- Designed for rugged use
- Durable and can endure outdoor torture tests
- Shock resistant with quality passing ISO standards
- Super affordable compared to other digital watches
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Band may crack after a few months of use
- Dial window is made of acrylic
- Backlight doesn’t illuminate the watch that much
Timex T49825DH Expedition
The 45mm T49825DH Expedition has an analog display on a stainless steel case.
It features a slide rule bezel, luminescent hands, 3 chronograph subdials, a date window, an Indiglo night light, a mineral crystal, and quartz movement.
Pros:
- Good lume brightness
- Classic aviator watch design that’s built for rugged use
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Band is too light compared to the weight of the watch
- Band is not durable and may break after weeks of heavy use
- Slide rule isn’t that usable
- Heavy and bulky to wear
Seiko Men’s SNZG15
The 42mm SNZG15 has a stainless steel case, a nylon band, a Hardlex crystal, a day-date window, luminescent hands, Arabic numerals for hour indices, and an automatic self-winding movement.
It’s one of the most basic military grade watches suitable for those who are looking for an entry timepiece.
Pros:
- Very good lume brightness
- Budget friendly with good basic features
- Battery can last up to 40 hours
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Loses/gains time
- Nylon strap isn’t that comfortable to wear and isn’t durable
- No seconds hacking feature
Victorinox 249087
The 42mm 249087 features a black top ring, a black dial with 12 and 24-hour indices, a date window, a mineral crystal, a nylon band, luminescent markers and hands, and a Swiss quartz movement.
Pros:
- Accurate hand movements
- Minimalistic design makes it easy to read the time
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Lume doesn’t last long
- Waterproof but not really suitable for scuba diving
- Dial window may get foggy after submerging it in water for prolonged periods
Marathon Military Navigator
The 41mm Military Navigator is a true military grade watch since it’s built according to government specifications for timepieces designed for army personnel.
It has tritium gas tubes with a self-illuminating feature, a domed acrylic crystal, and a Swiss ETA F06 3-jewel quartz movement.
This is one of the best military watches you can find in the market.
Pros:
- It has an end-of-life indicator
- Tritium gas tubes provide good visibility even in low-light situations
- The self-illuminating feature doesn’t need to be exposed to an external light source for it to work
- Water resistant up to 60m
Cons:
- Crown protrudes a little bit too much from the case
- Black finish may start to wear off after some time
- Fogging and condensation may occur
Casio PAG240-1CR Pathfinder
The 51mm Pathfinder is a solar-powered digital watch that features a digital compass, a calendar display, an altimeter, a barometer, a thermometer, an electroluminescent backlight, a city code display, a full calendar display, a battery power indicator, a 12-24 hour function, a world clock function, a stopwatch, an alarm, and a quartz movement.
Pros:
- Has a lot of features necessary for a military-grade watch
- Sturdily built for rugged use
- Sharp display that’s easy to read
- Buttons are easy to access
- World clock feature functions well
- Battery life of up to 6 months upon full charge
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Faint alarm sounds
- Resin strap may not be comfortable to wear
- A bit heavy to wear
Casio G-Shock Rangeman
The 54mm Rangeman is a solar-powered atomic watch that’s suitable for army use because of its precise timekeeping feature.
It also has an altimeter, a barometer, a compass, a calendar display, an EL backlight, a power indicator, and a mineral window.
Its resin case and band is tough to withstand pressure and drops, making it one of the best tactical watches out there.
Pros:
- Olive green motif suits its military look
- Although it’s big, it still looks good on people with small wrists
- Sensors are easy to operate
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Hard to see the display when not under direct light
- Bulky and heavy to wear
- Temperature reading may become inaccurate
Luminox Evo Navy Seal
The 44mm Navy Seal is an analog watch that has a unidirectional rotating bezel, a mineral window, a polyurethane case, a date display, luminescent hands and markers, and a Swiss quartz movement.
It’s one of the best military watches for its toughness and functionality.
Pros:
- Contrast of black and white colors make it easy to read time
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Lume brightness is exceptional
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Date window is a bit small
- Band won’t last long
- May have some trouble maintaining accurate time
Blackhawk Advanced Field Operator
The Blackhawk Field Operator is an analog watch that has a rotating bezel, luminescent hands and markers, a date window, a stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, and a Miyota quartz movement.
Its simple design is meant for those looking for an army watch that has a no-frills look.
Pros:
- Highly-durable and resistant to corrosion
- Anti-reflective and scratch resistant dial window
- Lume shines brightly in low-light conditions
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- There are no subdials for accurate time measurement
- Date can be hard to read
- Band is a little thin for the weight of the watch
Luminox Men’s Recon Watch
The 46mm Recon is an analog watch suitable for those in the Special Forces.
It features a bezel and dial that has a walk speed scale, a date window, a 24-hour inset, a sapphire crystal, luminescent hands and markers, and a quartz movement.
It also has a compass affixed on the strap.
Pros:
- Scratch resistant and sturdy case build
- Good illumination
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Band is not durable
- GMT hand doesn’t keep time well
- Compass is almost useless
Casio Men’s Pro Trek PRW-2500T-7CR
The Pro Trek is a solar-powered watch that features a multi-band atomic timekeeping function, a duplex LCD, a stopwatch, a digital compass, an altimeter, a barometer, a thermometer, an EL backlight, an alarm, a calendar, and a power saving function.
Its wide range of functions and affordable price make it one of the best military-grade watches in our list.
Pros:
- Buttons are easily accessible
- Titanium band and stainless steel case are both durable
- Atomic synchronization makes timekeeping highly accurate
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Clear screen is easy to read
- Power reserve of up to 5 months
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- No sunrise/sunset function
- No GPS function
- Temperature measurement may become slightly inaccurate
- Bezel may get scratched easily
Garmin Tactix GPS Navigator
The 48mm Tactix features an LCD display with LED backlight for low-light illumination, an altimeter, a barometer, a 3-axis compass, a GPS receiver, a curved mineral glass, and a rechargeable lithium battery.
The metal surfaces of the watch are PVD-coated to reduce light reflection, making it a suitable tactical watch for military operations.
Pros:
- Fully charged battery can last up to 50 hours of use
- Backlight illumination is good
- Acquires GPS data quickly
- Capable of Bluetooth connectivity
Cons:
- Water resistant up to 50m only
- Functions are intensive on the battery
- It has a lot of menus which can get you confused
Hamilton Khaki Field
The 42mm Khaki Field has a sapphire crystal, a stainless steel case, a calfskin leather strap, a black dial with a GMT scale on the outer portion, a date window, luminescent hands and markers, and automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Classy look that also gives an army vibe
- Clean look makes it easy to read the time and date
- Power reserve of up to 80 hours
- Accurate timekeeping
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Steel crown is a bit big for the watch
- Impact may affect watch accuracy
- Moisture may accumulate inside the case
Suunto Core
The 49mm Suunto Core has a wide range of features which make it one of the best tactical watches available in the market.
It has a rotating bezel, a rubber band and case, an altimeter, a barometer, a compass, a sunrise/sunset function, a dual time function, a backlight option, multilingual capability, a water depth indicator, alarms, and calendar function.
Pros:
- Large font display
- Lightweight but durable
- Buttons are responsive
- Stylish design and colors
Cons:
- Band cracks after a short time
- Water resistant up to 30m only
- Functions and menus may be complicated for a beginner
Victorinox Dive Master
The 43mm Dive Master features a stainless steel case, a rubber bracelet, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a world time function, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, luminescent hands and markers, and a quartz movement.
If you’re looking for the best military watch that’s also suitable for deep diving, this is the perfect timepiece for you.
Pros:
- Accurate timekeeping
- Excellent lume brightness even underwater
- Available in different face colors
- Water resistant up to 500m
Cons:
- Date can be hard to read
- Crown is a bit flimsy
- Band may be uncomfortable to wear
Luminox Surefire
The Surefire is an analog watch equipped with a high-performance 200-lumen LED beam.
It’s run by a rechargeable li-ion battery with a USB charging port.
The watch itself features black dial and bezel with white-colored Arabic numerals, a date window, a power reserve gauge, luminescent hands and markers, and a Swiss quartz movement.
The tactical watch also has an anodized aluminum case and a nylon strap.
Pros:
- Virtually indestructible LED tool
- Highly durable anodized body
- Great handgun partner for tactical illumination
- LED brightness can be adjusted
- Durable band
Cons:
- Not water resistant
- Bulky and heavy
- Non-versatile design
- Band material may make the watch uncomfortable to wear
MTM Special Ops Silver Air Stryk
The 25mm Air Stryk is a hybrid of analog and digital watch and features a stainless steel case, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, luminous hands and markers, a day-date window, an EL backlight, a digital compass, and an MTM Swiss movement.
Pros:
- Available in a different strap and dial colors
- Clean face makes it easy to read the time
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Hard to operate, especially for those new to military watches
- Digital display is hard to see
- It’s quite heavy to wear
Breitling Super Avenger II
The 48mm Super Avenger II features a unidirectional rotating bezel, a stainless steel case, a leather strap, a sapphire crystal, 3 chronograph subdials, a date window, luminescent hands and markers, and an automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Sapphire crystal has anti-reflective properties
- Impeccable accuracy in keeping time
- Extremely durable
- Water resistant up to 1,000m
Cons:
- Date is hard to read
- Watch face seems too busy
- Expensive luxury watch you wouldn’t want to use in rough operations
Conclusion
Military grade watches should be tough, functional, and accurate.
They also need to have a high resistance to shock, water pressure, and scratches.
The best tactical watches should have these qualities at the least.
Additional features are a great plus but not really necessary.
We’ve listed the best army watches you can find in the market.
You’ll surely have a pick from the durable and good-looking tactical watches listed above.
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