Best Tactical Watches For The Most Unforgiving Terrain

With so many watch choices and features available, finding the perfect tactical watch is an epic challenge.

So to help you narrow your search down, here are a few of the best tactical watches you can find on the market today:

↓ The BEST SURVIVAL Watch: Garmin Tactical Instinct ↓

In the wide world of everything watches, it’s easy to get confused about what is and what’s not a “tactical watch.”

For example, here’s a random list of typical watch categories:

Tactical watches come in various shapes, sizes, weights, price ranges, and colors. But, as with any piece of gear, there are a few features that all the best tactical watches have.

A tactical watch does not need all these features to be useful. But ideally, it should have as many of them as possible.

Scratch Resistance

The crystal or plastic that makes up the face of a watch must be resistant to scratches and scrapes.

Otherwise, it may become difficult (if not impossible) to see through it over time.

And if you get to the point where you can’t see the hands on your watch or the numbers – you might as well disassemble it for parts.

Water Resistance

This is a non-negotiable quality of a tactical watch. If water ruins it, it was never meant for survival purposes in the first place.

You need to check and see how deep your watch is rated to withstand water. The deeper it can go without succumbing to water pressure damage, the better off you will be.

Diving watches are particularly useful because they are designed to handle depths of hundreds and thousands of meters.

But a great diving watch will be insanely expensive.

And a quality tactical watch will be able to survive hundreds of meters anyway, which is more than enough for the average survivor outdoorsman.

Backed By A Strong Warranty

Of course, you never want to break your tactical watch or have to send it back for repairs (or replacement). But stuff happens.

After all, these watches are designed to take a whipping, deal with stress and shock, and keep on ticking. Sometimes, they are exposed to more than they can handle and break.

Which is a major bummer when you’re investing in something that’s supposed to last for years.

That is why it is always good to check and see if the manufacturer of a tactical watch offers a damage warranty.

It will offer you some peace of mind as a form of watch insurance.

Warranties are one of those things that you don’t need until you really need them.

Reliability

Some survival tools do not have to run like clockwork, but a tactical watch does. If your watch is not reliable, you should get rid of it.

• You should stop wearing a watch that measures some days less accurately than others.
• If the internal compass never points north – take it off.
• Your watch is unreliable if the altimeter says you’re below where you actually are.

The bottom line is that if you CAN’T trust your watch, it’s time to find a new one.

A tactical watch worth wearing needs to be extremely accurate and reliable.

That’s why people like to buy their watches from brands they trust.

Some tactical watch manufacturers have been in the industry for over a century. Their brand names are synonymous with quality.

This is where it helps to spend the extra few dollars for the brand name. They have proven their value time and time again.

It Looks Amazing

OK, let’s be real for a second: watches are an accessory, no matter how you slice them. And many of them look fantastic, on top of being extremely useful.

I said it before and will say it again – vanity should never be a driving force in a tactical watch investment.

Just because something looks slick, badass, and incredible does not mean it’s any good.

Simply put, the practicality of these things goes far beyond their ability to tell time.

So let’s cover those abilities now.

Navigation

If you wear a tactical watch, it will likely have a digital compass built-in.

With a compass, you’ll never be completely lost.

Sure, you might be somewhere you’ve never been, but you’ll know in which direction you’re heading. This is critical for survival situations and any outdoor adventure, for that matter.

Don’t underestimate the power of the compass and having one strapped to your wrist at all times.

Accurate Countdowns

Accurate countdown timers are essential tools when you need to count down things. There is an unlimited number of countdown tasks.

For example, countdown timers come in handy when :

• Backyard Grilling
• Lighting Bomb Fuses
• Coordinating Ambushes
• Scheduling A Watch Guard

Sometimes an accurate countdown timer is a “nice to have” feature (like grilling), but sometimes it’s a life or death one (like lighting a fuse). But most countdown tasks fall somewhere in the middle.

And with an accurate timer on your wrist, you’ll be ready no matter the circumstances.

 Signaling In Distress

Many watch faces are made of crystal or another highly reflective material.

So if you’re ever lost and forgot to pack a signaling mirror, you can use your tactical watch instead. Angle the sun into it and flash at rescuers to alert them of your distress and location.

If the back of your watch is reflective enough, you can polish it up and use it as a reflector distress signal.

Team Synchrony

Chronological synchronicity is necessary if you plan a raid or escape with others.

You can sync up your times and operate simultaneously if you both have tactical watches.

Which makes the meeting at a specific time and location much more accurate.

Starting a Fire

I recommend this only if you are in serious trouble and your watch is broken or out of battery. (Namely, because it requires disassembling your timepiece, which will almost certainly ruin it).

But, if you take the crystal face out of the watch, it can be used to concentrate sunlight and start a fire.