Us Military Watch - This particular model is one of the cheapest models you’ll find that is worth owning as a military watch. All G-Shocks, so long as they aren’t knockoffs (very common, beware) are incredibly tough and have a very fair warranty.
It wouldn’t be a military watches page without some serious tacticool talk! For those few of you reading this that are true tactical operators, it may come as a surprise that there are watches with NV compatibility modes. This means the display has a lighting setting that shows up on your NV but does not illuminate the area around it, thus not giving away your position in the dead of night.
Us Military Watch
Not all watches are created equal and it should be no surprise that not all bands are created equal either. With most reputable watch companies, the band should have about the same standard of quality as the watch itself, but if you’re shopping in the cheapo territory, beware of garbage watch bands that come with your new timepiece.
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They set out to make a purpose-built tactical watch and I think they’ve done just that. These watches are meant to be marketed towards military personnel and I’d say that including a heavy-duty extra-thick mineral glass face protected by a 44mm stainless steel case is probably the way to go. Yeah, it’s a little thick and a little bulky, but man do these things feel solid and durable and ready to roll into action right along with you.
However basic or technologically advanced the compass may be, it all comes down to simply having one that is reliable and having the knowledge to use it properly. Make sure you test your watch compass before taking it out in the field as some of them can be a little tricky and misleading if not used properly. Some may also require calibration or even firmware downloads to work properly!
Answering these questions are important and will ideally point you in the right direction. Failing to plan will likely end with you doing one of two horrible things. Either A, you’ll waste money buying a watch that implements tools you won’t ever use or B you’ll find yourself wishing you had spent more money due to your watch lacking functionality.
For starters, watch faces and their cases vary in size. Watches exceeding 45mm are generally considered to be “oversized” and watches smaller than 38mm are considered “refined” or “slim”. Medium classes of watch face cases reside in the 38mm – 42mm range and it’s inside of this range that most “military-grade” watches will be.
The Watches
Above all, I expect a watch that is marketed as “military-grade” to be exceptionally durable. Again, this is a bit subjective and it goes without saying that the more you spend, the better durability will likely be.
Produced by Elgin, Waltham and Bulova, this 30-32mm watch was made in several different iterations to a standard called for by the U.S. military (though versions were also issued to other Allied forces under the “6B” designation). A simple, time-only watch with a black dial (though rarer white versions exist), white Arabic numerals and hands and 60-minute graduations, so many A-11s were produced that the watch is sometimes referred to as “the watch that won the War.” Mk II offers a modern, updated version called the Cruxible for $649.
As a last sizing matter, the band’s size should be carefully considered. If you think your wrist is among the average person’s size, you probably won’t have cause for concern, however, if you need to shop in the big and tall section or you can still fit into a children’s T-shirt, you may want to double check that the band you’ll receive can fit snuggly and comfortably. The sizing chart linked above also includes methods to measure your wrist and I highly suggest you do so before pulling the trigger!
Perhaps the most iconic of all pilot’s watch designs, the Beobachtungs-Uhren (“observation watch”) was developed in the late 1930s as an instrument for German bomber crews, who were then preparing for war. A specification was put forth by the Luftfahrtministerium (air ministry) and answered by five companies (IWC, A. Lange & Söhne, Wempe, Lacher & Company/Durowe (Laco), and Walter Storz (Stowa), which produced the watches under identical specifications. Two types were specified, the A and B, which had slightly different dial layouts, but each featured a hand-winding movement in an oversized 55mm case that was meant to fit over a flight jacket (or, supposedly, to be strapped to the pilot’s or navigator’s leg for hands-free use).
My Review: When I want something extremely well-built, simple, and utilitarian, I always check what the Germans have concocted. I was not disappointed in my search for a German military watch and it didn’t take long for me to come across the GPW Infantry lineup of field watches.
The most interesting part of this watch is the fact that it’s a one-button design making for a very simple and durable design. The fewer buttons, the fewer things to go wrong! I won’t go too in depth in terms of its diving features but overall, it’s a fantastic entry to intermediate dive watch that includes every feature for diving you can possibly think of.
Cool and handy if you actually have a use for it but if you don’t even own NV, you most certainly shouldn’t base your decision to buy a watch on if it has NV compatibility or not!
As an additional tidbit of information regarding waterproofing, remember that when you change the battery you have a high chance of altering the waterproofing of the watch. Ensure that you consult with the guide or a professional so that your watch continues to uphold its manufactured tolerance of H2O. Major damage to the crystal of your watch such as scratches and chips can significantly impact the durability of your watch underwater and reduce its ability to resist abnormal atmospheric pressure.
My Review: 5.11 Tactical makes some seriously awesome tactical gear and you’ll see us raving about their products all the time across many different categories. They didn’t start off making watches but it comes as no surprise they’ve gone out and given it a shot. I was skeptical at first as I’m a long Victorinox and Timex fan, but just like they do with their other products, they’ve impressed me once again.
But wait, there’s more! The Tactic Bravo (and Charlie reviewed above) is made for the most elite of operators and includes the Garmin Jumpmaster interface, projected way-points, dual-format GPS coordinate data tracking and a beautiful Sapphire Chroma display that is readable in the brightest of direct sunlight contact.
Creating a comprehensive list of military watches is no easy task mostly in part due to the wide selection of tactical watch configurations that may fit the criteria of a military watch. I’ve tried to list watches that I think stand alone in their category and outperform their direct competitors.
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This watch is fantastic for those of you who can’t fathom the idea of spending over a hundred bucks on a G-Shock. It’s fairly bare-bones but it is incredibly durable and will sustain abuse from most average outdoor activities with ease.
These watches are extremely simple for the class and ruggedness they exude. 5.11 Tactical designed these watches to be easy to work on and change the batteries yourself and I really appreciate the attention to detail you find in its minimalist but rugged design.
Complete with solar charging, it’ll last several weeks with no light sources. The watch is triple reinforced to resist impact and abuse and simply put, it’s expensive because it’s nearly unkillable. If you’re someone who prides themselves on utter destruction and pushing products to their limits, this may be a fun one to give a go at. This is a watch that should outlive most buyers.
This is one of the lowest cost Eco-Drive watches you’ll find that I would consider a “military watch”. It’s incredible the value and durability you get here at this price point and if you’re looking for something analog that is tried and true from one of the top watchmaking brands, this is the watch I would recommend. We will review more expensive Eco-Drive watches and of course, they are each different with their own characteristics but the Military Eco-Drive is one of the best values out of the Eco-Drives we will list here.
The Japanese movement used in this watch is long known to be rugged and durable and with a water resistance rating of 330’, you are sure to run this watch through its paces and still tell the time when the dust settles!
My Review: The Timex Expedition has been around for quite some time now and it’s certainly well-known as a budget classic in the military watches category. At under fifty bucks, this watch packs a whole lot of value that you just don’t typically expect like a premium 20mm real leather strap, water-resistance all the way down to 330’, and a rather beautiful but rugged-looking 43mm brass casing that encompasses an Indiglo watch dial.
My Review: Seiko does an excellent job on these rough and tough but classic diver-watch inspired timepieces and the Prospex is a whole new level of excellence. No, these aren’t padded in OD green or sit stealthily on your wrist in flat black but they do encompass a lot of the rugged and durable attributes we look for when choosing a timekeeper that we know will be face adversity.
With a 37mm stainless steel design and a Hardlex mineral dial window, the 21 jewel automatic movement display is well protected and looks gorgeous. At $85, this is one of the clearest displays in this price range.
This watch is sold at a lot of military exchanges and was the first watch I bought when I joined the Marines. It served me well and was around for many of my best and also most difficult memories! I put this watch through hell and even today it still operates like new.
I don’t think I’ve come across a Victorinox watch yet that isn’t readable in complete darkness and here again, I am not disappointed. The hands are illuminated and there are markers near every hour indicator that allows for excellent visibility in low-light situations.
In the durability department, at the bare minimum, I’d expect a watch to survive a fall twice the height of where my arms hand to. That’s not a professional durability test, however, if a watch fails this test, I personally don’t believe it deserves to be named a military grade timepiece!
The Timex Ironman has been long known as a budget-friendly option for marathoners, a handy tool to have while training, and just an all-around solid watch that can take a beating without beating your bank account. It’s got all your essentials including countdown timer, alarms, 30 lap memory, and a 100m water resistance rating.
Like many of the Eco-Drives you may have come across before, these utilize solar power and can operate for a very long time after the sun goes down due to their industry-leading rechargeable cell system. These, in theory, should run forever with periodic exposure to light!
With this said, the term “military-grade” does vary and is hard to define with exact precision in the market of timepieces. There are many different watches that could be considered military-grade, thus creating a lot of confusion, especially if you’ve never really owned watches before.
Over the past four years, I’ve only replaced the battery once so it’s pretty safe to say that the battery life is fantastic. The watch comes equipped as a standard ABC watch with sunrise and sunset calculations, which if you skipped the guide, means it has an altimeter, barometer, and compass. I’ve used all three countless times and I find that the Suunto Core is one of the most user-friendly ABC watches I’ve ever tested. Of course, it also comes with your basic tools such as date, calendar, alarms, stopwatch, etc.
Your speedometer just went out and since you’re a law-abiding citizen who would never want to break the speed limit, you can figure out how fast you’re moving and adjust accordingly! Set your cruise control on and turn on your stopwatch. Observe your odometer. Convert the time to hours (Ex. 5 minutes = 0.83 hours). Now divide your distance number by the time you’ve used to observe the change in distance and there you have it, your speed (in MPH)!
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