The best tactical and military watches were designed to
withstand the extreme conditions that many soldiers face in their day-to-day
lives. Additionally, they can also be life-saving tools that provide troops
with essential information about where they’re going, weather conditions,
moon/tide charts, and more!
While tactical watches were originally intended to be
used by military personnel, their superior durability, intuitive features, and
futuristic appearance have led to them becoming one of the most popular watch
styles on the market.
Whether you’re a paratrooper jumping out of a plane or
you just want a durable watch for your next fishing or hiking expedition, a
military watch will perform well in any environment-
no matter how harsh.
Table of Contents
Key Features of Military & Tactical Watches
The Great War was actually responsible for changing the design of watches forever. Until then, watches were only available in the traditional stopwatch form and kept in the pocket with a long chain. To cater to the demand for a more efficient watch, watchmakers installed a wrist band so that soldiers could keep track of time in the midst of battle.
Today’s military and tactical watches have come a long way from when they were first issued to soldiers in World War I. The original “trench watches” were simple, minimalistic, and above all-durable. If you prefer the minimalist design without all of the extra bells and whistles, they are still available on the market. Today, however, they are referred to as “field watches.”
The main difference between today’s tactical watches and the field watches of the past is that the modern military watches are a lot bulkier, designed to withstand almost anything, and often feature extra gauges and meters that soldiers might need.
- Rugged Durability – You could take many of today’s top tactical watches, run them over with a car, throw them in a dryer, and they would still work! The soldier on deployment usually doesn’t have the luxury of walking into a watch store or ordering a new watch online, especially if they’re overseas. This means that their watches need to be able to stand up to the heat of battle while its wearer crawls through the trenches.
- Waterproofing – America’s military is famous for its capabilities in the water. Navy SEALs, Marines, and other special forces branches are often required to complete missions underwater, in the rain, or while trudging through mud. As you can imagine, this calls for some heavy-duty waterproofing. The watch needs to work just as well underwater as it does on dry land.
- Sweat-Proof Design – Soldiers exercise and sweat as much (if not more) than professional athletes. They’re required to complete a lot of their training and missions fully-clothed in heavy gear and uniforms while dripping in sweat. This means that cloth and/or leather wrist bands aren’t going to cut it. For this reason, most tactical watches are made using plastic, rubber polymer, or metal. These materials won’t absorb sweat/bacteria or cause topical skin irritation.
- Gauges and Meters – When soldiers are operating in foreign lands where the territory and weather conditions are unknown, it often helps to have some extra information. Many military watches feature extra gauges that are designed to measure water depth/pressure, moon cycles, air pressure, temperature, and more.
- Backlit or Glow-In-The-Dark – Special forces soldiers and Navy SEALs often carry out missions in complete silence while diving underwater or moving in the dark. Therefore, a tactical watch needs to either be glow-in-the-dark or backlit so that its wearer can tell time, no matter how dark it is.
Best Military & Tactical Watches | Our Top Picks
Now that you know a little bit more about what sets military watches apart from other watch types let’s take a look at the best tactical and military watches on the market! Whether you’re performing covert missions or you just want the ultimate watch, any one of these will make an excellent addition to your collection.
1. Garmin Instinct Solar Tactical Smartwatch
This watch is made for special forces troops and extreme adventurers alike. It’s a digital watch that displays time, monitors your vitals, has a built-in compass, GPS-tracker, altimeter, and barometer.
The coolest feature of this watch is that it charges with sunlight. This extends the battery life and ensures that you’ll never be left hanging with a dead battery. It’s also waterproof up to 100-meters-deep and passes U.S. Military 810 standards for shock durability, weatherproofing, and water-resistance.
- Water Resistance : 100m
- Movement : Quartz
- Case Diameter : 45 mm
- Case Thickness : 15.3 mm
- Case Material : Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
- Dial Window : Power Glass
- Band Material : Silicone
- Band Width : 22 mm
- Satellite Systems : GPS, GLONASS and Galileo
2. Casio Men’s PRO TREK (PRW-3510Y-8CR)
The Casio PRO TREK shares many of the same features included in the Garmin Instinct above. It’s solar-charged, features a digital compass, altimeter/barometer, a world-clock, and a built-in calendar.
The main difference between the two is that the PRO TREK is water-resistant up to 200-meters-deep (twice as much as the Garmin Instinct) and is able to withstand extreme cold, up to -10 degrees Celsius. It also features a more analog design and appearance, which may appeal to those who prefer a low-key design.
- Water Resistance : 200m
- Movement : Quartz
- Case Diameter : 7 mm
- Case Thickness : 13.2 mm
- Case Material : Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Mineral Glass
- Band Material : Silicon
- Band Width : 20.2 mm
- Satellite Systems : No
3. Marathon Military Watch (WW194004)
Although Marathon’s Military watch is technically a field watch, it’s designed in compliance with all modern military quality standards. This watch is about as low-profile as it gets. It’s only meant to tell time and doesn’t come with all of the extra features typical of most tactical watches.
It’s engineered with a high-impact-rated fiber-shell casing and features a water/sweat-resistant nylon band that can be easily switched out with a new should the need arise. Simplicity at its finest.
- Water Resistance : 30m
- Movement : ETA F06 (3 Jewels) Quartz
- Case Diameter : 34 mm
- Case Thickness : 12 mm
- Case Material : Composite Fibershell
- Dial Window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Nylon
- Band Width : 16 mm
- Satellite Systems : No
4. Nixon Regulus
If you’re looking for a digital tactical watch that’s simple and comfortable, then the Nixon Regulus is an excellent choice. It features two chronographs so you can always tell what time it is back home, three separate programmable alarms, a calendar, and a timer function so you can keep track second-by-second.
When a mission calls for stealth, you can dim the LED backlight and switch the watch to “silent mode” with the press of a button. All parts are 100% shock and water-resistant down to 100-meters. The strap also happens to be incredibly comfortable.
- Water Resistance : 100m
- Movement : Quartz
- Case Diameter : 37 mm
- Case Thickness : 14 mm
- Case Material : Custom Injection Molded TR90 Case
- Dial Window : Hardened Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Custom Injection Molded Free-Swing TPU80
- Band Width : 24 mm – 29 mm
- Satellite Systems : No
5. G-Shock Rangeman (GW-9400)
You can never go wrong with a Casio G-Shock. People have tried and failed to destroy these incredibly durable watches time and time again. The Rangeman is a stylish yet versatile chronograph that comes with a built-in compass, barometer, altimeter, calendar, a stop-watch feature, 5 programmable alarms, and a thermometer. It will also tell you the sunrise and sunset time!
- Water Resistance : 200m
- Movement : Quartz
- Case Diameter : 53 mm
- Case Thickness : 17 mm
- Case Material : Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Plastic
- Band Width : 22 mm
- Satellite Systems : No
6. Garmin Fenix 6X Sapphire GPS Watch
Whether you’re a Marine Recon scout or an avid outdoor hiker, Garmin’s Fenix smartwatch will give you the ultimate tactical advantage. In addition to basic time-telling, stopwatch, alarm, and calendar features, it comes preloaded with topographical maps of global mountain ranges and even ski resorts! The Fenix will also track your vitals throughout the day so you can learn more about your activity levels.
- Water Resistance : 100m
- Movement : Quartz
- Case Diameter : 51 mm
- Case Thickness : 9 mm
- Case Material : Fiber-Reinforced Polymer With Metal Rear Cover
- Dial Window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Silicone
- Band Width : 26 mm
- Satellite Systems : GPS, GLONASS and Galileo
7. Luminox Navy SEAL Watch
For two decades, Luminox watches have remained the top-choice for Navy SEAL operatives. This is mainly due to the fact that they’re over 100-times more luminous than other luminous watches. The enhanced luminosity is vital for seals who spend a lot of time in the water. While it’s not rated for deep-diving, it will certainly stand up to a day in the water. It features analog time-telling and a shock-resistant casing.
- Water Resistance : 200m
- Movement : Swiss Quartz
- Case Diameter : 44 mm
- Case Thickness : 13 mm
- Case Material : Polyurethane
- Dial Window : Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Polyurethane
- Band Width : 23 mm
- Satellite Systems : No
8. Casio Men’s ‘PRO TREK’ (PRG-650Y-1CR)
This Casio PRO TREK model is essentially just an analog version of the PRO TREK we reviewed above. It’s solar-powered and even includes the same triple-meter (compass bearing, altitude/air pressure, and environmental temperature). It’s naturally luminous and features a small digital display that shows the day and date.
- Water Resistance : 100m
- Movement : Quartz
- Case Diameter : 45 mm
- Case Thickness : 13 mm
- Case Material : Resin
- Dial Window : Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Silicone
- Band Width : 23 mm
- Satellite Systems : No
9. Casio Mudmaster Watch (GGB100-1A3)
If you’re the type of person who spends a lot of time crawling through muck and mud (or you just have a dirty job), then the Mudmaster is the perfect companion. It’s technically a G-Shock, so it’s built to withstand high-impact.
What makes the Mudmaster special is that it’s mud-resistant, featuring extra-large buttons that are tightly sealed to prevent any damage to the internal sensors. It also comes with a quad-sensor that not only tracks altitude, air pressure, and temperature but also tracks your acceleration as well. Lastly, the Mudmaster has a built-in step counter which can be synced via Bluetooth with the G-Shock app on your phone.
- Water Resistance : 200m
- Movement : Quartz
- Case Diameter : 55 mm
- Case Thickness : 19.3 mm
- Case Material : Carbon / Resin
- Dial Window : Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Plastic
- Band Width : 22 mm
- Satellite Systems : No
10. Garmin Tactix Delta GPS Smartwatch
Garmin’s Tactix is a full-blown tactical smartwatch capable of tracking every activity and syncing with your smartphone. It’s built to military standards and can withstand minor water exposure and moderate impacts. As a smartwatch, you can also use it to make smart payments and more.
The Tactix is loaded with intuitive apps designed to help you find your waypoints, track your rate of falling while parachuting, plot your GPS path, and more! One of the coolest features is that it features a built-in “killswitch” that automatically deletes all device data should you ever fall into enemy hands.
The feature that sets this military watch apart from other smartwatches is the fact that it can last up to 21 days on a single charge! Most smartwatches will only last a few days at most, meaning that they’re not exactly designed for use in the field.
- Water Resistance : 100m
- Movement : Quartz
- Case Diameter : 51 mm
- Case Thickness : 19 mm
- Case Material : Fiber-Reinforced Polymer With Metal Rear Cover
- Dial Window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Silicone
- Band Width : 26 mm
- Satellite Systems : GPS, GLONASS and Galileo
11. Marathon Tsar Military Watch (WW194007)
The Marathon Tsar was designed for ocean search and rescue as well as tactical field applications. It features scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire for the faceplate, is shock-resistant per NATO standards, and is water-resistant up to 300-meters deep.
It’s a standard Swiss-made chronograph and doesn’t include any digital displays. However, like the Luminox we looked at above, it does have tritium gas-filled hands that shine extra-bright, even in the darkest environment.
- Water Resistance : 300m
- Movement : Swiss Made ETA F06 (3 Jewels) High-Torque Quartz
- Case Diameter : 41 mm
- Case Thickness : 14 mm
- Case Material : 316L Surgical Grade Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Rubber / Stainless Steel
- Band Width : 20 mm
- Satellite Systems : No
