Finding the best survival watch is quite difficult nowadays….because there are so many options available in the market and it seems confusing.
So, In this post I’ll review the best Survival Watch of 2021 and I’ll cover all the good and bad aspects in detail so that you can finally decide on which one to buy.
Best Survival Watch
In this article...
1. G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400
The G-shock rangeman GW-9400 is one of the iconic digital survival watches. It is a feature pack watch that is just the right watch that you need to survive in the wild. This watch has a solid construction that is tough and can survive in any harsh condition.
The buttons on the watch are made up of stainless steel and have a silver finish with textures. Both the case and buttons are sealed properly to prevent water, mud, dirt, and dust from getting inside the watch. Moreover it is also shock-resistant to survive most freefalls or mishaps in times of need.
The wristband of the watch is made up of durable rubber material. It is tough, similar to the rest of the watch and won’t disappoint you in terms of durability. The design of the band is also very nice. It features a dual-hole design with stainless steel clasps and pins for a more secure fit. In contrast to its huge size, the watch is lightweight and feels very comfortable to wear.
Furthermore, it is a highly accurate watch with a six-band atomic clock signal radio receiver. Hmmm that sounds too technical. So What does it actually means?. It means that it will auto-calibrate itself according to the atomic clock which is the most accurate clock in the world. And even with no signal calibration, it has an accuracy of +/-15 seconds per month.
As far as the battery is concerned. It uses a solar-power rechargeable battery with a battery indicator. This means that you don’t have to change the battery to continue using the watch. And if at all you find yourself stranded away from any source of light.
It can provide you with a total of 7 months of battery life before you will run out of juice. Talking about the main features of the watch. It comes with a full set of ABC triple sensors with graphs. Here stands for altimeter, barometer, and compass. Apart from this, there is also a thermometer, sunset/sunrise indicator, stopwatch present in the watch.
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2. G-Shock Mudman with Compass G9300
G-shock mudman G9300 is a tough and mud resistant survival watch. It is made tougher compared to other G-shocks. The watch is made up of high-quality resin and a mineral display. The resin extends over the edges of the case back providing protection against mud as well as water.
The bottoms are big with textures which makes it easy to operate even with gloves. However with all the protection the bottoms are sometimes hard to press. Moreover, the watch is also shock-resistant to survive accidents similar to other G-shocks.
The wristband of the watch is made of rugged and durable rubber material which is very comfortable to wear. The watch is neither too light nor too heavy for day to day use. People with big as well as small wrists mostly find it extremely comfortable to wear. Because of the way the strap is designed. Furthermore, the watch has a high accuracy of +/- 15 seconds per month.
Along with this, it has 31 time zones including UTC for accurate area-specific time calibration. The watch also features a moon phase tracker to keep track of moon cycles during your time in the wild. Talking about the battery, it runs on a rechargeable solar battery and also has a battery indicator.
This means that you’ll never have to worry about the battery running out juice. And if you find yourself in total darkness, it will work for 9 full months on a full charge. Moreover, the watch features two main sensors. These include a digital compass and a thermometer.
Both the sensors appear together on the display when you press the button on the right side. The sensors are highly accurate as long as you keep the watch off your wrist for about 10 to 15 mins while taking the reading. Apart from this, it also has the alarm and stopwatch functionality.
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3. Garmin Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch
Garmin instinct is an adventure-oriented and rugged survival watch that has a ton of features.It is constructed to adhere to US military standards making it thermal, shock and water-resistant up to 100m. The watch also features a scratch-resistant display making it suitable for all kinds of outdoor activities. The wristband of the watch is made up of silicone material that is very soft to wear.
It also includes two removable keeper loops that provide a secure fit. Despite its robust and somewhat crude look, it is very comfortable to wear. The soft silicone band does not bother your wrist. And its lightweight nature makes you forget you’re wearing it.
Furthermore the watch is powered by a lithium-ion battery that is rechargeable via a USB cable. The battery life of the Garmin instinct can last up to 14 days to 16 hours according to the mode you are using. These modes provide flexibility as well as functionality to the watch that we really like.
Apart from this, it consists of a ton of features and sensors for fitness as well as survival activities. Among the basic features it also offers step and calories counter, weather and temperature. And automatic daylight saving functionality.
The more advanced features consist of altimeter, barometric, compass, GPS, and heart rate monitor. And the best part is that all this can be accessed by the Garmin Connect Mobile app which is very easy to use.
Find out more about survival watches by clicking here
4. Suunto Traverse Alpha
Suunto alpha is a sports/survival watch that comes enabled with GPS functionality. The watch is housed in a composite case that is very durable and tough. The housing consists of a steel bezel. And sapphire crystal lens that provide protection from scratches and impacts.
The watch is designed to handle underwater depths up to 100 meters and an altitude of 10,000 meters. Making it suitable for some of the most extreme and harsh environments. The wristband of the watch is made up of either silicone or nylon material according to model. Both the materials are of high quality and provide a comfortable fit.
However, the silicone band is more comfortable when compared to the nylon band. Moreover the watch is neither too heavy nor too lightweight for everyday use. It falls within the average weight of men’s watches which won’t burden your arm.
Furthermore the watch is powered by a single lithium-ion battery that can be recharged via USB. The battery can deliver up to 14 days to 8 hours according to the GPS usage. The battery performance is quite average which limits the overall usability of the watch. But you have the option to reduce brightness and disable some advanced features to prolong battery life.
Apart from this, the watch offers a ton of other features along with GPS. The basic features include a stopwatch, sunrise and sunset data. And different time format for basic day to day usage. The more advanced features consist of altimeter, barometer, compass and Bluetooth connectivity.
All these features are very useful when you are out in the wild. There is also an app which you can use to access all the features of the watch.
Find out more about this tactical survival watch by clicking here
5. Garmin Fenix 6S Sapphire
Garmin Fenix 6s is a compact feature-rich survival watch that is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. It is certainly the best Fenix watch that is suitable for women and men with a smaller wrist. The watch is housed in a durable casing that can withstand rough usage.
The casing of the watch is much small than its predecessor. The wristband of the watch is made up of soft silicone that has a sticky feel to it. The watch is much lighter and compact as compared to its previous generation. This makes it very comfortable to wear for long hours.
It also includes two removable keeper loops that provide a secure fit. Moreover, the watch uses a lithium-ion battery that is rechargeable through USB cable. The battery provides a battery life of 9 days to 50 hours according to the usage. This is much lower than its predecessor which is very disappointing for us.
Talking about the features the watch is full sets of fitness trackers that track all of your fitness activities. The more advanced features consist of altimeter, barometric, compass, GPS, and heart rate monitor. And the best part is that all this can be accessed by the Garmin Connect Mobile app which is very easy to use.
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6. Timex Men’s Expedition Gallatin Watch
Timex expedition Gallatin is a tough and highly durable analog survival watch. It is perfect for people who prefer something simpler but don’t want to compromise on quality. The watch has a rugged construction and a durable wear that can withstand everyday rough usage with ease.
The main unit of the watch is tightly sealed inside the casing providing protection against water up to 50 meters. This means that it can easily survive any harsh weather or even complete submersion underwater. However it is not shock resistant which makes it vulnerable to sudden heavy impacts.
The wristband of the watch is made from a heavy-duty and double-layered nylon that is very comfortable. The band features a slip-on construction and buckle that provides a secure attachment and efficient adjustment. The watch is also lightweight and never feels burdening your wrist with its weight.
Talking about the accuracy, as it is an analog watch it is not as precise as a digital watch. That means it is less accurate compared to a digital watch. But, in general, it is a fairly accurate watch when it comes to the date and time. It also features a quick date feature that provides updates to the next date as soon as it arrives.
Apart from this, the dial has a very clean look that provides a clear view of date and time even in low light condition. As far as battery is concerned, the watch consists of a lithium-ion battery that is powered by solar energy.
This means that you do not have to worry about the battery running out of juice. The battery is also claimed to last up to ten years providing a solid overall value. Moreover, the watch does have backlight capability and the feature is called Indiglo night-light. It is able to illuminate the numbers and dials for better visibility in low-light environments.
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7. Casio Pro Trek Touchscreen Outdoor Smart Watch Resin Strap
Casio pro trek is the smart series of survival watches. The watch consists of snapdragon 2100 with a full-functional os making it very powerful for everyday use. The watch is made up of high-quality resin housing with a stainless steel bottom.
The housing has a bulky look and the whole unit is built in such a way to handle any physical abuse. It is also water-resistant so that you can take it for a swim, paddle, or even shallow dives. However, the buttons are made of plastic that is a bit disappointing.
The wrist straps of the watch are made of a mixture of soft rubber and hard plastic. This makes the strap comfortable as well as durable for long use. The strap is highly adjustable to fit almost all wrist sizes. Despite having a big bulky look the watch is very lightweight making it very comfortable for day to day use.
Talking about the battery, it runs on a lithium-ion that can be charged via a proprietary charger. However, the battery has a very short battery life. At maximum, it will last you for about three days on a charge in extend mode. This means that you have to charge it quite often compared to other smartwatches in our list.
Coming to the features, the watch has fully functional touch screen dual-display. This allows you to experience full color during app use and monochrome when using it simply as a watch. Apart from this, it also consists of an altimeter, barometer, compass. And activity tracker which are very useful during an outdoor trip.
In the connectivity side the watch features Bluetooth 4.1, wifi and GPS functionality. All features are very easy to use and are pretty very accurate most of the time.
Click here to find out more information on the Casio survival watch
8. Men’s Pathfinder Triple Sensor Multi-Function Sport Watch
The Men’s Pathfinder is a feature pack watch that is just the right watch that you need to survive in the wild. The watch has a solid stainless construction that is tough. And can survive in any harsh condition. The buttons are fairly low profile and are sometimes difficult to press despite having some textures.
Both the case and buttons are sealed properly to prevent water, mud, dirt, and dust from getting inside the watch. Moreover, it is also shock-resistant to survive most freefalls or mishaps in times of need. The wristband of the watch is made up of durable resin material.
It is tough and durable similar to the rest of the watch. The design of the band is also very nice. It features stainless steel clasps and pins for a more secure fit. In contrast to its huge size, the watch is lightweight and feels very comfortable to wear.
Furthermore, it is a highly accurate watch with all the reading of its sensor. It is perfect for non- professional use. As far as the battery is concerned, it uses a solar-power rechargeable battery with a battery indicator. This means that you don’t have to change the battery to continue using the watch.
And if at all you find yourself stranded away from any source of light. It can provide you with a total of 7 months of battery life before you will run out of juice. Talking about the main features of the watch. It comes with a full set of ABC triple sensors with graphs. Here stands for altimeter, barometer, and compass. Apart from this, there is also a thermometer, sunset/sunrise indicator, stopwatch present in the watch.
Find out more information on this men’s survival watch by clicking here
Things to consider before buying a survival watch
Solid shock resistance construction
When you are stranded in the wild everything that you carry should be tough and durable including your watch. You can never predict any mishaps, so you need a watch that can withstand rough use in the wild. It also should be shock resistance to survive any accidents that can happen throughout the time.
Comfortable wrist band
The wristband of the watch should be comfortable to wear and does not bother your arm. You will find a variety of materials for wrist bands but you should prefer rubber material. It is both comfortable to wear and durable to withstand rough situations.
Accuracy
When you are lost in the wildness your every action plays a very important role in your survival. Therefore buy a watch that is highly accurate. And provides you with information closest to the correct value. This will ensure that you will make the correct decision and find yourself a way out.
Battery duration
Without any doubt battery life is the most important thing for a battery-powered device. You buy a watch that has an impressive battery duration so that your watch does not die in the wilderness. Most suitable battery type for a survival watch is solar power batteries. As long as you have sun or any other light source these will never run out of juice.
Waterproofing
Waterproofing is very important in not only survival watches but in normal watches as well. A good watch with proper waterproofing can withstand thunderstorms or fall into a water body. There are two types of survival watch one with waterproofing and other with water-resistant. While waterproof watches can survive underwater. Water-resistant ones will only resist in situations where there is humidity but not in excess.
Sensors
A good survival watch should have at least of these sensors.
- Compass – A compass is an essential survival tool to find direction. A watch should consist of a high-quality compass for better speed and accuracy.
- Thermometer – A thermometer is very useful to measure the temperature of your environment. Get a survival watch that has a high-quality thermometer. If you are going to places that have extreme temperatures.
- Barometer – A barometer is very useful to measure the atmospheric pressure of your environment. A good quality barometer will alert you of potential bad weather so that you can protect yourself well before it arrives.
- Altimeter – A altimeter is very useful to measure the altitude of your environment. A good quality altimeter will narrow down your location when you check your topographical map. Making it easy to find way back to camp or civilization.
