10 Best Survival Watches (Review) In 2021

Most times, when you’re out hiking and exploring remote environments, the last thing on your mind would be technological gadgets. You may want to travel light, and probably just have a durable travel camera and GPS to keep you on track. Watches like the G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400 tick all the boxes when it comes to durability, versatility, robust build, and fantastic battery life. It rocks a sturdy stainless-steel build, and a multi-colored face that displays the time and also serves as an altimeter, barometer, thermometer, and more. It’s everything you want in a survival watch, first off, it’s solar-powered, so there’s no way this it’s powering down on your watch, plus, it’s shock resistant. As the name implies, this watch was made to take 100 falls and still come out working, it’s built for rigorous and grueling situations. There’s no doubt that the G-Shock watches have become the standard when it comes to extremely sturdy timepieces that are resistant to impact, so users who are looking for the real deal should try this.

If you’re one for simplicity and prefer a watch that has a more minimal design, then the Timex Men’s Expedition Scout 40 Watch was made for you. It features a quality green nylon strap that sturdily fits round wrists with up to 8-inches circumference. The edges of the nylon strap are reinforced to ensure optimal durability, and they are quite comfortable on the hands as well. Whether you’re hiking, camping, surfing, or the likes, the nylon-make ensures the wrists stay free from sweat, plus, the sturdy yet soft material is reinforced with double-layered fabric to ensure nothing gets through its thick skin. This watch also comes in more than 15 colours, so you have a wide range to choose from, however, what’s more common is the black dial, the sturdy face that features full Arabic numerals and a date window at 3′ o’clock. So, what makes this field watch so invincible? The credit goes to the mineral glass crystal and the 40-millimeter grey brass case which protects it from cracking under pressure and makes it one of the most classic and casual timepieces for outdoor expeditions.

With the Timex Unisex Expedition Classic Watch, there’s no limit to how far you can go; the adventure-friendly features make it a top choice for users who are looking for something classy, simple, and reliable. It features a 100-hour chronograph, which means it can time you for more than three days non-stop, helping you push the limits, and achieve set goals. Also, there are lap and split times for those times you need to stop the clock.  The face is fully digital and displays the time in a 24-hour countdown system; it equally displays the day and the month so you can keep track of more than time on those week or month-long expenditures. There are also frequent alarms that keep you alert and ready for the day; three daily, weekday and weekend alarms with a five minute back up snoozer that operates in two time zones. If you want to rise early before the sun or reach the peak of the mountains before dawn, this digital and impact-resistant chronograph watch definitely has your back.

One of Casio’s outstanding timepieces has to be the Casio Men’s G Shock Quartz Watch, the design is bold, the body is rugged, and the features promote extreme versatility. This watch comes with world time settings and 31 time zones pre-stored, so there are over 40 cities you can go to without having to adjust the time or day. It also comes with a super illuminator that’s lit up by LED light, so after the sun goes down, you have a nice glow to guide your path. This feature allows you to see the screen long after the sun has set, especially if you depend on it for navigation. Three different displays show the time and the date, with the navigation displays at the top left corner, it’s a face you’ll want to look at if you’ll be needing all the information you can get on your expedition. However, the highlights of this attractive and incredibly robust Casio watch are its resistance to mechanical shock and vibration, it could fall hard, but the gravitational shock system ensures it gets back up looking dusty but not bruised. It’s that sturdy watch you want to take along on those adventurous trips, it’s a comfortable, stylish, and incredibly durable tactical watch.

Athletes buy sports watches that can survive the rigorous playing field the game guarantees, and explorer watches are made with optimal endurance and durability in mind. So why can’t one watch be both? The PALADA Men’s Digital Sports Watch fits into this category, featuring a fashionable sporty look with some features of a military-designed watch. On the dial, you’ll find an easy to read navigation system just at the rims, and on the face, there’s a 12/24-hour timer you can alternate between, with the date right below it. The numbers are large enough to be seen without straining the eyes, plus, the screen lights up in the dark, ensuring you can still see the face even after the lights go out. Simply press the ‘light’ button and watch the screen light up, presenting the full face clearly, with the time, date, and navigations in clear view. It’s a multi-functional and versatile sports watch, use it to train for competitions, take it climbing, hiking, running fishing, and more, this 50m water-resistant watch can take it. With the dial window made of acrylic mirror, it’s compressive, immune to abrasion, and enjoyable clear, while the straps are made from a durable rubber band that clings snugly to the wrists.

Casio watches have stood out over the years for being rugged, surprisingly sturdy, and are the go-to watches when hitting the great outdoors. For the Casio Men’s Pathfinder Triple Sensor Sport Watch, there’s no compromising on those set-out goals. It has a more classic design to it; a black solar-powered sports watch with the standard digital compass, barometer, thermometer and altimeter, and a backlight that still bring it to life after the sunsets. The watch is also programmed to adjust to 31 different time zones which is equivalent to 48 cities, there’s the city code display feature as well, which ensures you have all the information you need on demand. Every element is well-labeled, so there’s no confusion when quickly checking the time, date, or bearings. All this action happens behind the closed doors of a 51-mm stainless steel case with a mineral dial window, well-reinforced to guarantee durability. Then there’s the convenient yet genius battery system; the tough solar which charges whenever it’s exposed to light, there’s also the battery indicator on the dial which shows the battery level in its high, medium and low levels.

Established about 50 years ago, the Amitron brand started to make watches that were affordable, highly durable, and still fashionable, it was a breath of fresh air for watch lovers. What people were wired to expect prior to this were expensive chronograph or sport watches, that probably might not suit their style or ambitions. Well, five decades later, the Amitron brand still comes up with a watch like Armitron Sport Men’s 40/8284 Digital Chronograph which is durable, affordable, stylish and versatile; everything the brand stands for and more. It features a 53.5-millimetre case with an acrylic dial window, and a clear digital face lies behind that thick and durable screen. There’s a quartz movement as well as a digital display with a 12/24- hour display format. Since it’s a chronograph watch, about four different displays are showing the usual AM/PM time, seconds, and more, and on the edge of the face, there’s an alarm start/stop button, reset mode, and EL light button for those adventures after dawn. For more quality products like this one, check out our reviews of the best military watches on the market.

The Luminox Limited Edition Bear Grylls Wrist Watch isn’t your everyday fashion watch, the design pushes the bars of versatility and makes it an outstanding survival watch. By merely looking at it, the watch unmistakably mirrors the complex and limit-less life of the outdoor explorer. First, the navigation system is extremely advanced, ensuring it adapts to the most remote and extreme landscapes available. It could be a camping trip in a cabin on the outskirts, or those hiking expenditures far in the hilly plains, this Luminox watch is designed to help you survive the most deserted and remote regions without losing your way. It features a CARBONOX bezel case with uni-directional rotations, and a stainless-steel case back with reinforced screw ins. The face is protected with a crystal glass material which is a sapphire anti-reflective coating, so the sun doesn’t cause any glare in the day time. The rubber straps complete the ensemble, making this watch a stylish, extremely versatile and robust, impact-resistant watch.

The best survival watches aren’t always bold, big, and overly complicated, and the MJSCPHBJK Men’s Digital Sports Watch proves that. It has a simple black PU band that’s soft on the hands and durable, then there’s the stainless-steel back case that ensures optimal durability. The unique yet straightforward military black dial can do what most survival watches can, which includes displaying the time in hours and minutes, the day and the week, the minutes just below the time and an alarms signal at the side. On the edges of the watch are four sturdy shock-resistant buttons that set the chronograph start and stop time, a reset button, the mode button, and an EL light button. This digital watch has multi-functional shock-resistant and water-resistant functions that make it suitable for almost any terrain, there’s also a night light that can be activated when walking or running in the dark and an auto date system that adjusts when the times changes or when you travel to a country with a different time zone. Our buying guide on top G-shock watches features some more amazing products like this, so make sure to check them out.

The Men’s Military Dual-Display Sports Watch is unarguably one of the best survival watches out there. It features a sizeable sporty dial with two displays and multiple functions that put the outdoor enthusiast ahead in daily activities. Explorers, military personnel, trainers, hikers and the likes who want a watch that will push the limits with them will probably love this one. It’s built with 304 stainless steel bottom and a durable ABS case, the stainless-steel build enhances the water resistance features and ensures those sprinkles or accidental spills won’t affect the longevity of this watch. Back to the dual design displays; there’s the standard 12-hour display with only 12, three, six, and 9 highlighted, and a smaller display at the bottom that shows the military time. At the side are Japanese inspired button cells that improve long-term adjustability, help trainees, sportspeople and other outdoor enthusiasts manage their time well. With a juicy 12-month warranty, this brand guarantees ultimate durability, shock-resistance, and versatility when setting the pace and of course, telling time.  It is definitely one of the best watches you can buy for under 1000$.