Outdoor adventure lovers need several articles of gear and accessories to make their trip comfortable. A survival watch is one such survival tool that all outdoor enthusiasts must have because it can be quite helpful during a difficult situation.
These watches have several impressive features which improve your adventurous experiences. In addition, you do not have to be a tech geek to understand the features of the survival watch, as they are straightforward.
In this article, we will share some of the best survival watches available on the market.
8 Best Survival Watches
If you are on a hunt to find the best survival watch for your next outdoor adventure but need help choosing one survival watch. Then, we created a list of the eight best survival watches. And you can select any of our recommended watches that match your expectations and needs.
So, without further delay, let’s begin:
1. Casio Men’s G-Steel by G-Shock
Casio is one of the oldest watch companies that needs no introduction. They are famous for making high-quality and decently designed watches for customers. Their watches are usually priced within affordable ranges, which is one of the main reasons for Casio’s popularity. Fortunately, the company evolves with technology and introduces new styles and features.
The Casio G-shock range is an excellent addition to the survival watches world by the company. G-steel is a sleek-looking watch that looks incredibly stylish on the wrist. It connects to your smartphone and automatically adjusts the time four times a day. So, if you are traveling, you can set the timing of your watch according to the changing time zones.
It has impressive battery timing, so you do not have to worry about charging while enjoying your camping trip. There are indicators for the battery that show the remaining time.
It has a stainless steel dial with excellent holding power in response to extreme wear and tear. Additionally, the dial is scratch and water-resistant with a sleek metallic finish. And there is also a double-layered guard structure of stainless steel and resin, which gives a stylish look. Hence, it is a durable watch.
The solar battery is another excellent feature of the Casio survival watch, which converts even weak fluorescent light into electric power. An LED light is installed in the watch to make the display visible.
As the name suggests, Casio G-shock is a shock-resistant watch not affected by outside events and vibrations. Overall, it is a reliable survival watch for an adventure lover on the road frequently.
- Easy connection to the smartphone
- Shock-resistant
- Solar battery panel
- High-quality stainless steel
- The resin wristband is annoying sometimes
- The App tends to malfunction
2. Yihou Men’s Outdoor Sports Watch
Yihou has been in the watch-making business for more than five years and clearly understands the buying habits and needs of the people. They create strong and sturdy watches to cater to outdoor and adventure lovers.
The military outdoor watch by Yihou has a massive dial with a military design. It has both displays, i.e., analog and digital. You can even set dual time zones and also use the stopwatch feature.
It has a strong build, a comfortable and durable band, scratch-resistant glass, and long battery life. The best thing about the Yihou sports watch is that it is incredibly affordable and still made of high-quality material.
Considering the watch’s price, it is an excellent fit for someone with budget issues. It has all the necessary features that a good survival watch should have.
- Budget survival watch
- Dual time zones
- Long battery life
- Durable survival watch
- The strap pulls apart after a few months
- It is not water resistant
3. SUUNTO Ambit3 Peak Outdoor Watch
Since 1936, Suunto has been creating unique products for outdoor and sports activities, including watches, computers, and other sports equipment. Their watches are your perfect companion for exploring new and adventurous territories.
The Suunto Ambit 3 connects to your smartphone smoothly and becomes your smartphone. You will get all the notifications, like messages, calls, etc., on the watch. The watch’s settings are customizable, and you can easily change them on the go.
One of the best features of the Suunto Ambit 3 is its GPS, which guides you throughout the trip. The GPS feature will be a lifesaver if you get lost during an excursion.
It provides water resistance with a built-in altimeter, barometer, and compass. The battery life is 200 hours which is quite generous.
All-in-all it is the ultimate survival watch for your adventures with impeccable features. Additionally, it is one of the best GPS watches on the market.
- GPS enabled
- Water-resistant
- 200 hours of battery life
- Smoothly connects to your smartphone
- Comparatively short battery life
- Extra features use too much battery
- The temperature readings are usually inaccurate
4. Casio Protrek Tough-Solar
Even though Casio is an old brand of watches, it has always been up-to-date with new technologies. Casio mainly focuses on producing solar-powered batteries for the watch to eliminate the hassle of changing batteries.
Thus, the Protrek Tough-Solar works on that exact mechanism. It is a water-resistant watch, so you do not have to worry about wearing it in the rain. The watch is also low-temperature resistant.
There is a built-in digital compass that gives accurate directions. Additionally, there is an Altimeter and Barometer as well. The material used in making the watch is extremely high-quality and durable.
Overall, it is a good choice for people who want the perfect survival watch at a mid-range price.
- It contains a compass, altimeter, and barometer
- Solar-powered battery
- Water and low-temperature resistant
- The barometer does not work well
- It is difficult to adjust the settings
5. AVTREK Men’s Outdoor Sport Digital Watch
Another reputable brand that makes good quality watches is AVTREK. Their digital watches are famous for the variety of features that they offer. We picked AVTREK’s tactical survival watch for our list of the best survival watches.
The digital watch is quite appealing and provides enough information, like hours, minutes, dates, and weeks. It also allows for dual-time display, allowing you to simultaneously set two different time zones.
There is a pre-calibrated compass on the watch that you can use to find the path. You also get a barometer in the watch, which provides timely alerts to save you from extra problems on an outdoor adventure. There is a storm alarm to help you take timely action.
Another fantastic feature of the watch is the step tracker. So, you can track all your movement to see how many calories you’ve burned. You can also check the seven days step record. It is an excellent feature for fitness freaks.
You can check a complete sizing guide before placing the order. Since the watch has so many beneficial features, it is a must-have for both adventure and fitness lovers.
- Dual time zones
- Step tracker
- Barometer and altimeter
- Pre-calibrated compass
- The band feels low-quality
- The watch is heavy
6. PALADA Men’s Digital Sports Watch
Next up, we have PALADA’s digital watch. It is a decent sport watch with adequate features to help you with camping or outdoor trips. The dial is made of stainless steel with an acrylic mirror, and the band is made of rubber.
It possesses 12 and 24 hours times; you can adjust according to your preference. There is an alarm clock, automatic calendar, and stopwatch. The watch is easy to use and customizable, which makes it a favorite among users.
The water-resistance qualities of the watch are top-notch. It is entirely waterproof, so you can easily swim, take a bath, walk in the rain, etc. However, you must wipe off the water from the watch after swimming or bathing.
There is also a LED backlight, which is essential for seeing the time at night. The watch is also shock-resistant, a beneficial feature for adventurous outdoor life.
Overall, the digital watch is super affordable and serves its purpose well. It has high-quality materials and technology. You should try it out because we believe it is worth trying.
- Automatic calendar
- Shock-resistant
- Waterproof
- Budget-friendly
- The backlight gets dim after a few months
- It is not very durable
7. Timex Men’s Expedition Digital Shock
Timex is one of the oldest watch brands that creates watches of exceptional quality for their customers. It is a reliable and trustworthy brand, and you should always expect the best from it. We have picked their Expedition digital watch for our list.
It has a digital display with a backlight to see the time in dark areas during camping. The watch is water-resistant and shock-resistant, which is excellent for outdoor adventures.
The black resin strap is adjustable and fits almost all sizes. There is a 24-hour timer, alarm, and calendar in the watch. It has a strong build, which makes it suitable for harsh outdoor conditions.
The watch has up to 10 years of battery life, so you will not have to change your batteries often. The overall durability of the watch is also excellent and up to the standards of Timex.
It is a reputable brand, so you should get the Timex Expedition digital watch.
- Adjustable strap
- Up to 10-year battery life
- Water-resistant and shock resistant
- Backlight for night vision
- The backlight is dim, so hard to read
- The wristband strap digs into the skin
8. Garmin Instinct 2 Outdoor Watch
Garmin’s Instinct outdoor watch is another reliable watch you can trust and buy. It has several tactical features, such as jumpmaster activities, dual-position GPS format, waypoint projection, etc. Such features are beneficial for those who like to camp and partake in outdoor life, which is why this watch is perfect for outdoor experiences.
There are a built-in barometer, altimeter, 3-axis compasses, and multiple navigation systems, including GPS, Galileo, etc. In addition to all these features, the Garmin instinct 2 solar also measures your heart rate, respiration, pulse, and sleep cycle. This way, your health is also well-maintained.
You can connect the watch to a smartphone through Bluetooth connectivity and receive notifications on the watch. It is helpful because you do not have to check your phone for every message or call.
There are several built-in sports apps in the watch that you can use to track your activity time if you are a fitness freak. It already has enough battery life, but if you want to enhance it further, you can turn on the power manager mode.
All-in-all it is one of the best options in survival watches with top features. You will be delighted to use these features on your next camping trip or adventure.
- Multiple navigation systems
- Built-in sports applications
- Health and activity tracker
- Long battery life
- Easy connectivity to smartphone
- The band can be too tight if you have thick wrists
- Fewer customization options for connectivity to iOS
Buying Guide
We enlisted our favorite survival watches for your convenience, so you can simply buy your preferred survival watch. However, if you still want to explore the market and find the best survival watch, you should be mindful of a few factors. The watch that you purchase must have some core watch features.
Before purchasing an excellent survival watch for outdoor adventures, you should consider these factors:
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Battery Life
The battery life of a survival watch is a significant factor to consider, as it plays a crucial role in making your outdoor adventure comfortable. If your survival watch has a poor battery life, it will be difficult to charge it in your remote camping areas. It will increase your problems instead of solving them.
On the other hand, if your watch has a solar-powered battery that lasts more than 30 hours, it will be a lifesaver. And you will not have to keep finding plugs to charge it. It will charge itself whenever you are under the sun.
So, before purchasing a survival watch, you must read reviews online or consult the brand and ask about its battery life. Buy a watch with maximum battery life.
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Durability
Survival watches go through extreme weather and adventure conditions, which is why they need to be strong enough to go through them. So, while purchasing survival watches, you must ensure that the material used in the watch is durable and long-lasting.
The best material for a watch is stainless steel, which is resistant to rust. You can wear your watch on hot summer days because your sweat will not ruinith. A durable watch will be your companion for a long time.
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Features
A survival watch should have as many features as possible to improve your camping or outdoor experience. Every element that plays a role in helping you must be a part of a good survival watch.
Features like a barometer, altimeter, GPS, compass, step tracker, and much more are essential for a survival watch as they are helpful in remote outdoor life. Some watches also help track your health, like heart rate, pulse, respiration, etc. Such features are extremely helpful for both outdoor adventure lovers and fitness freaks.
Hence, a survival watch should contain at least some of these features, if not all.
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Navigation System
Many survival watches have built-in GPS and other navigation systems that help you find a way when you get stuck on an adventurous trip. It is essential for hiking, camping, and several other hiking trips. A navigation system is crucial to survival watches because it can help you when your phone dies during an excursion.
The navigation systems often need to be fixed after a few months; hence, you should ensure that your chosen watch has a top-notch and latest navigation system. For extra safety, you should test the navigation system of your desired watch to be sure that it works perfectly.
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Budget
Another vital factor to consider while buying a survival watch is its price. Before you start exploring the market, you should set a budget in your mind and stick to it strictly.
A wide array of watches are available, with a varying price range. You can find a good survival watch within your budget with a little extra effort. So, do not worry if your budget is limited; there will be plenty of options if you try to find them.
However, if you settle on an expensive watch, ensure it is worth the price before buying it. Do not spend your money blindly, be mindful and spend wisely.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do all survival watches have good resistance to water?
Most brands put this in their product specifications, as it is a topmost prerequisite for a survival watch. However, sometimes this claim can be untrue, so check the reviews on the watch before purchasing. A non-resistant watch can never withstand harsh conditions. Water-resistant ratings of watches differ, so you must check the water resistance level per your requirement. Many brands offer waterproof watches, which are the best for wet and humid conditions.
2. Are survival watches shock-resistant?
Every survival watch is shock resistant; it can bear a fall, impact, bump, oscillation or press up to a certain level. They are not shockproof; an impact above their shock resistance level can destroy them. The resistance level measures how well it can absorb an impact.
A strong blow or impact can destroy every rugged and durable watch. The resistance level differs from model to model. So, you must go through the specifications in detail before finalizing your purchase.
3. Which strap for a survival watch is better, the paracord or the breakaway watch band?
Both strap bands have different pros and cons. Ideally, a paracord strap band is the best for outdoor activities as it gives a ten-foot paracord that can help you tie a broken thing, pitch a tent, and do many other tasks. At the same time, a breakaway watch band is a good choice for adventures where your watch can get stuck with any bush, rock or tree, etc. Its strap will immediately break or separate, preventing a severe injury.
4. Is it necessary to invest in a survival watch?
It depends on your preferences and the type of outdoor adventures you want to go on. Investing in a good survival watch might be a good decision if you are going to be in challenging conditions while camping in a remote area. However, getting an expensive survival watch might be a bad idea if you seldom go for outdoor activities.
You can get an affordable tactical watch for your ease once in a while camping trip.
Conclusion
Buying a useful and good-quality survival watch is a tiring task that demands effort and time. You need to know about survival watches to buy the best one. If you cannot decide on one watch, consider buying one of our recommended survival watches.
All of the watches mentioned above are incredibly high-quality and durable. They have exceptional features which will help you improve your outdoor experience. Your time camping will be better when you have a survival watch to help you keep track of location, weather, and much more.
We hope you found our review helpful. You can get any of our recommended watches, and we assure you will be satisfied. Happy shopping!
