It’s true, I am a watch fanatic. But what makes me even more excited is finding the perfect timepiece for any situation. Whether you’re an avid outdoorsman or a weekend warrior, having the right survival watch can make all the difference in adventures.
That’s why I decided to put together this comprehensive guide to help you find out which survival watches are best suited for different types of activities and environments.
From military-grade tactical watches to luxury dive watches, there are plenty of great options available on the market today.
In this article, we will be analyzing six of my favorite survival watches from some of the top brands around: Casio G-Shock Rangeman; Suunto Core; Garmin Fenix Solar; Citizen Promaster Diver; Timex Expedition and Luminox Atacama Field Day Date 1827 Series.
We’ll discuss their features, pros and cons as well as who they’re best suited for so that you can choose the one that’s most suitable for your needs!
How To Choose The Best Survival Watch:
What do I look for in a survival watch?
I consider the best watches for survival based on durability, battery life, and functionality. Choosing the best survival watch can be a daunting task, especially with so many options available on the market.
This article will review six of the top survival watches from leading brands. We will analyze their features, advantages, and disadvantages, and recommend which type of user they are best suited for, so you can make the best selection for your requirements.
What Are The Best Survival Watches
Here are the best survival watches, let’s dive in!
1- Casio Pro Trek PRW-6611Y-1CR Tough Solar
Best Overall Survival Watch
The Casio Pro Trek solar watch is my personal favorite survival watch around today. Why? It blends affordability, durability, and practically all the features you need in an outdoor watch.
It has a digital display (with hands for a makeshift compass), reliable solar power, and water resistance of up to 100 meters. Its Tough Solar technology allows the watch to run for months on end (without further exposure) without having to be recharged or replaced.
The stainless steel case makes it tough enough to survive any environment or terrain and it looks damn good at the same time!
Top Features
- Solar Powered Battery
- Water Resistant To 100 meters
- Has An Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and Thermometer Function
My Take
Overall, I recommend this watch to the majority of people who are looking for a reliable, rugged watch that can handle the toughest of conditions. It’s more affordable than others and is packed with features that make it perfect for outdoor adventures or everyday use.
Plus, its solar-powered battery means you won’t have to worry about replacing it anytime soon. And, I am a firm believer in having a watch with clock hands as these can function as a makeshift compass.
In this case, this watch already has a compass feature but it is a backup of a backup!
2- Casio G-Shock Atomic SolarMB-6 AWGM100-1A
Most Durable Survival Watch
Casio G Shock watches are the kings of durability, and there is no other watch that I can give that title to. The tough shock-resistant case ensures that this watch can take everything you throw at it and keep ticking!
This watch is also powered by Tough Solar which means it can run for months on end without needing to be recharged or replaced.
It also has an atomic timekeeping feature that gives you pinpoint accuracy – which is just another reason this brand is used by many military personnel.
Top Features
- Solar-Powered Survival Watch
- Has Analog Watch Hands
- Bombproof Design
My Take
For those who need something extra durable and don’t want to worry about running out of power, the G-Shock Atomic Solar Analog design is the ideal choice.
It has all the features you would expect from a survival watch, plus it can withstand more punishment than any other watch out there.
3- Citizen Promaster Dive Eco-Drive Watch
Most Luxurious Survival Watch
If you want a great survival watch that looks good without too many of bells and whistles, this Citizen Promaster watch is it. Why? start, the stainless steel case and the band are solid and look great on any wrist.
It also has a Citizens “Eco-Drive” solar-powered battery that can last months without further exposure to sunlight – perfect for anyone who plans on being off the grid for long periods of time.
This watch is water-resistant at depths up to 200 meters, making it the perfect companion for outdoor activities or even deep sea dives.
Realistically, a watch should do two things.. tell time and have hands to be able to calculate direction. This can do just that. Sure, you miss out on some of the other features, but not everyone wants them anyways.
Top Features
- Simple And Luxurious Design
- Solar Powered Battery
- Water Resistant 200 Meters
Water Resistant 200 Meters
My Take
The Citizen Promaster Dive Eco-Drive watch is a perfect choice if you want a luxury survival watch that can handle anything. It has all the (simple) features you need, nothing more.
Plus, its stainless steel case and band give this watch a nice touch of luxury that will surely turn heads wherever you go. If you want to look great while being prepared for any situation, then this is the watch for you!
4- Timex Expedition Gallatin Solar Watch
Most Affordable Survival Watch
For under $100, you can get one of the most tried and tested watches that Timex makes. Although it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of some of the other watches on the list, it is still a good survival watch.
What do you sacrifice? Well, for starters this is only rated to 50 meters, which isn’t super impressive. But maybe your bugout location is in the desert?
Overall, the solar feature and affordability still make this a culprit for the list, and it is a really quality watch.
Top Features
- Solar Charging Battery
- Very Affordable
- 50 Meters Water Resistant
My Take
Personally, I am a huge fan of this survival watch because it has all of the basic features that you want, yet you can get it on your wrist without selling a house.
Bottom line if you are looking for a budget survival watch, this is it.
5- Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar – Tactical Edition
Best Survival Smart Watch
I’m a HUGE fan of Garmin watches, and they have more functions and use than ANY other watch on this list. What is the catch? Well, none of them are fully solar-powered.
What do I mean by this?
This digital watch (and any Garmin watches) has solar charging features, but it is meant to purely extend the battery life versus charging it fully. It is a bummer, but you still have to rely on some sort of power source.
Survivalists still wear the watch though, as it has features like a digital compass, GPS functions, and many other useful modes.
Top Features
- Solar Extended Battery Power
- Has A GPS Mode
- Made To Military Standards
My Take
If you are looking for a smartwatch that is best suited for outdoor survival, this is my favorite option. It has all the features you could ask for, and it lasts for up to a year on a single charge in certain power modes.
So it’s still pretty dang useful, and it’s certainly going to give you more features than most survival watches combined.
6- Luminox Bear Grylls Survival XB.3741
Most Tactical Survival Watch
This isn’t the ultimate survival watch for one reason, and one reason only. It is a Quartz movement versus a renewable source. A quartz movement is extremely reliable but connects you to the grid.
Bear Grylls has become one of the most well-known survivalists in recent years, and his line of watches reflects that. The Luminox Bear Grylls Survival XB.3741 is a ruggedly designed watch that was built to stand up to any potential disaster.
It features sapphire crystal glass and a rubber band. It has many tactical-looking features as well as a removable compass.
Top Features
- Sapphire Crystal Glass
- 300 Meter Water Resistance
- Tactical Design
My Take
For everyday use, this survival wristwatch is the perfect companion. However, for the price of this watch ($$$), I would rather go with something that has a renewable battery source.
What Are The Best Survival Watch Features?
For true long-term SHTF use, there are some features that you want in a watch. Let’s go over them.
Long Battery Life Or Solar Powered
Solar power is always going to be the general preference because of its longevity. Obviously, in a true emergency situation, we likely won’t be able to find batteries, so solar capabilities thrive.
We would be damn screwed without the sun, so as long as we have that for a solar watch, then we are fine.
Case Material
Most of the watches on this list will have a stainless steel case material which is practically indestructible.
Customer Sentiment
There are so many watch brands out there, far more than you and I realize. Instead of trusting a random brand for your emergency survival situation, I think it’s better to rep a tried and true watch.
Water Resistance
It might not be essential, but the best survival watches will have more water resistance because this usually means that they’re built to be durable.
Bottom Line: Find Your Perfect Survival Watch
In order to survive in a true emergency, it’s important to equip ourselves with the best gear possible, and a survival watch can prove to be a crucial component of our kit.
With its multitude of features that range from GPS tracking to weather updates and compass direction, this (survival) type of watch can truly be a lifesaver in dire situations.
After spending many hours searching for the best survival watch out there, I came up with this list that has the best watches depending on what feature you might be searching for.
Whether you are looking for an SHTF watch or a tactical watch for everyday wear, there should be something for you.
Thanks a lot for reading, it means the world to me!
Survival Resources
Suggested Reading:
Bush Craft: Outdoor Skills And Wilderness Survival by Mors Kochanski
Mors Kochanski’s Bushcraft book is an all-inclusive guide to the art of living in the wild. In this comprehensive guide, readers can learn the basics of bushcraft such as campfire building, water filtration, and shelter construction – as well as advanced skills like plant identification, foraging & trapping, and even edible plant preparation. It also covers various topics such as honing essential wilderness skills like tracking, woodlore, navigation, and primitive tools.
Other Resources:
SEEK: Seek is my favorite app that works without service to identify plants from around the world. I personally use this app all the time and enjoy its accuracy of it. Plus, as I said, it works without any cell service which is huge.
Thanks for checking out my guide on the best survival watches!
Here are a few more related articles:
- What is Bushcraft? An Introduction To The Art Of Wilderness Survival
- The Best Bushcraft Books: Learn The Skills Of Our Ancestors
- What Is The Best Bushcraft Knife Of 2023?
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. If you have any questions about the companies or my status as an affiliate, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me.
Hey there! My name is Tanner and I specialize in outdoor survival, bushcraft, expeditions and adventure travel.
