Best survival watch

Are you a wilderness explorer unafraid to journey way off of the grid for days and weeks on end? Are you a member of the military, serving your country bravely for long tours in remote locales?

Are you simply an adventurer who loves the adrenaline rush of roughing it in the Great Outdoors?

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, then you probably already know the value of great survival tools. From insulated canteens to equipment to create shelter in a pinch, these tools are essential to potentially save your day or your life.

One of the most important tools in an adventurer’s arsenal, undoubtedly, is a survival watch. Also known as a Swiss Army watch or military watch, a survival watch contains tactical features in a powerful casing built to withstand shock and moisture.

You never know when you’ll be faced with a high-pressure survival scenario, so why not invest in a watch with key features like a high-quality compass, air pressure and atmospheric pressure gauge, countdown timer, and sunrise and sunset data graph.

We’ve tested dozens of survival watches for you, taking our time to put together our complete list of the 6 Best Survival Watches In 2021.

Let’s kick off the adventure with entry #6 on our countdown!

The 6 Best Survival Watches To Buy In 2021

6) Timex Men’s Expedition Gallatin Watch

A low-cost survival watch from a trusted budget watch brand, the Timex Men’s Expedition Gallatin Watch features a precise solar-powered quartz movement, an attractive watch face with luminous hands, and a deceptively tough acrylic dial window. It does not contain the smartwatch features of the Suunto Core or added survival tools of other watches on this countdown. But, it’s still a great cost-effective military watch that doubles as a quality outdoor watch for all active pursuits.

Specs

Display Window Material: Acrylic

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Buckle

Case Material: Resin

Case Diameter: 44 mm

Case Thickness: 13 mm

Strap Material: Nylon

Strap Length: Men’s Standard

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Resin

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 50 meters

Pros

• The luminescent hands are easy to see and track in low light.
• Timex has created a tactical watch and sports watch combo that’s designed for adventurers on a budget.
• The solar-powered quartz movement keeps time while being easy to charge.

Cons

• In terms of construction materials, this watch isn’t the most durable sports watch on our list.
• The stock nylon strap may be too short for some larger wrists.

5) Casio G-Shock Rangeman Solar Atomic Watch

G-Shock watches are known all over the world for their peak shock resistance and insanely tough constructions. The Casio G-Shock Rangeman Solar Atomic Watch takes this reputation and runs with it, adding a shock-resistant triple sensor that serves as an accurate altimeter/barometer/thermometer combo. It also features several gaskets that keep mud and grime out of its inner workings, and a powerful mineral dial window that can take a real beating day in and day out.

Specs

Display Window Material: Mineral

Display Type: Digital

Clasp Style: Buckle

Case Material:2 Resin

Case Diameter: 63.5 mm

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: Black

Movement: Quartz (Tough Solar)

Water Resistance: 200 meters

Pros

• This powerful solar-powered watch can catch a charge from most sources of light.
• The quartz movement puts mechanical watches and automatic movement options to shame in terms of pure accuracy.
• The digital date window is clear and easy to read.

Cons

• This survival watch is quite bulky and not exactly designed for smaller wrists.
• The lack of an analog watch face feature may be disappointing to some.

4) Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Navihawk A-T Quartz Men’s Watch

For the world travelers in the audience, the Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Navihawk A-T Quartz Men’s Watch is the perfect survival watch pick. Its radio-controlled atomic clock and world time feature allow you to view the time in 43 different world cities! It also features a rechargeable battery that picks up juice from any and all sources of natural and artificial light thanks to Citizen’s patented Eco-Drive technology. And if you have any questions or concerns, you can contact customer service at Citizen easily and efficiently!

Specs

Display Window Material: Mineral

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Fold-OverBuckle with Hidden Double Push Button

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 48 mm

Case Thickness: 13 mm

Strap Material: Polyurethane

Strap Length: 10.5 inches

Strap Width: 23 mm

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Movement: JapaneseQuartz

Water Resistance: 200 meters

Pros

• The high-quality Japanese quartz movement alone makes this one of the best survival watches we’ve profiled.
• Citizen’s Eco-Drive solar power technology is unmatched at this price point.
• 200 meters of water resistance means you can take this survival watch swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving.

Cons

• The sheer density of text on the dial may be a headache for some.
• You might need to consult the instruction manual for clarification when using some of its survival watch features.

3) Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar-Powered Watch

The first solar-powered watch to feature tactile touchscreen technology, the Tissot T-Touch Expert Watch is a survivalist’s dream! The touchscreen is protected by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal dial window that combats glare and scuffing with equal efficacy. It also includes plenty of great survival features like a storm alarm and forecasting mechanism, digital compass, altimeter, and dual time function. And to top things off, the included titanium bezel is stronger than a normal stainless steel bezel!

Specs

Display Window Material: Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog-Digital

Clasp Style: Push Button Deployment Clasp

Case Material: Titanium

Case Diameter: 45 mm

Case Thickness: 13 mm

Strap Material: Titanium

Strap Length: Men’s Standard

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Silver

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Titanium

Movement: SwissQuartz

Water Resistance: 100 meters

Pros

• The touchscreen is receptive and quite well-protected.
• The Swiss quartz movement rarely suffers from clock drift.
• The inclusion of weather forecasting functionality in this survival watch is a real plus.

Cons

• The watch dial might be a little plain for some tastes.
• While the titanium case is super sturdy, it’s pretty easy to scratch.

2) Timex T2N721 Intelligent Brown Strap Quartz Watch

A survival watch that doubles as an analog compass, the Timex T2N721 Intelligent Brown Leather Strap Quartz Watch balances usefulness and affordability. The analog display is easy to read as both a timepiece and a compass in conjunction with the stainless steel bezel. It’s water-resistant to a depth of 100 meters and includes both a tide tracker and thermometer for readings on the go. It’s also one heck of a looker with an eye-catching brown leather band and beige dial motif.

Specs

Display Window Material: Mineral

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Buckle

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 45 mm

Case Thickness: 13 mm

Strap Material: Leather

Strap Length: Men’s Standard

Strap Width: 16 mm

Strap Color: Brown

Dial Color: Beige

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 100 meters

Pros

• This is a value buy, for sure. You get a quality quartz watch and compass with added features for a great price!
• The beige dial and brown watch band complement each other nicely.
• The tide tracker and thermometer provide precise readings over and over, no matter the environment.

Cons

• The leather strap is an aesthetic highlight. Yet, it’s really stiff out of the box.
• The small print on the dial might be a tough go for those with sight problems.

1) Casio G-Shock GULFMASTER GN-1000B-1AJF Men’s Survival Watch

The Casio G-Shock GULFMASTER Men’s Survival Watch is tailored to military personnel and survivalists who spend their time in and around marine environments. With 200 meters of water resistance, a clear digital-analog display, and handy features like moon age and tide tracking, this G-Shock standout is always ready for a dip. No matter how wet things get, this watch will keep providing you with the time and data you need to stay on track and on target.

Specs

Display Window Material: Mineral Glass

Display Type: Digital-Analog

Case Material: Resin

Case Diameter: 53 mm

Case Thickness: 15.9 mm

Strap Material: Plastic

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: Blue, Black

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 200 meters

Pros

• G-Shock watches are consistently given five-star reviews by customers of a wide variety of different online marketplaces.
• The digital-analog hybrid display is clear and attractive.
• The color scheme pops.

Cons

• This watch is huge! It may be too much for those with thinner wrists.
• The plastic survival watch strap is adequate. It’s not the comfiest, though.

Frequently Asked Questions

What watches do Navy SEALs wear?

Navy SEALs usually only trust great survival watches with the best survival watch features available. According to recent polls, Casio G-Shock watches are a go-to for many Navy SEALs thanks to their top-tier shock resistance, solar-powered battery options, long-lasting battery life, and sports watch add-ons like a full auto calendar and altimeter/barometer/thermometer combination.

When forced into a survival situation, a tactical watch like the Casio G-Shock Rangeman or G-Shock GULFMASTER is great to have on your side. You can rest assured knowing that you have a great survival watch on your wrist when push inevitably comes to shove.

What is a SHTF watch?

An SHTF watch is first and foremost a survival watch. Also classified as a military watch in some circles, an SHTF watch contains the key features that military personnel need in the heat of the most stressful of situations. SHTF stands for “(when) sh*t hits the fan.” So, you can pretty much deduce that an SHTF watch is a great watch to have when your survival skills are put to the test.

SHTF watches and paracord survival watches usually include survival features such as an altimeter, barometer, and compass. When you invest in an SHTF timepiece, you know you’re getting a durable watch that’s shock-resistant, water-resistant, and long-lasting enough to put most quartz watches, automatic watch options, and mechanical watch offerings to shame.

Closing Thoughts

Survival watches aren’t just cool accessories to wear around your wrist. They’re legit survival tools! Whether you choose a GPS watch or a normal quartz watch with a built-in compass, most survival watches are built to perform when trouble is brewing and time is of the essence.

And, the six survival watches above are the very best of the best. It doesn’t matter if you prefer an analog-only survival watch or one with a digital display. There’s something for every adventurer and military member on the list above!