5 Best Survival Watch for a Reliable Survivalist Buddy

Being a survivalist is about getting ready with gears to face any challenges ahead. As part of the necessary equipment, watches are a crucial tool featuring a range of complications you might need on the journey. Therefore, you need a rugged, durable, versatile, and easy-to-carry timepiece. Here is where the best survival watch comes to the rescue. Not only as a reliable tool but also as a stylish buddy to complete your gears. 

Looking for the best survival watch isn’t tough anymore as the internet would show you abundant options. Yet, finding the best-matched one is another struggle. A survival watch is also referred to as a tactical watch, meaning that choosing a tactical watch is a matter of survival. 

In brief, a survival watch is a watch for survival activities. There are certain features a watch should have to be under this category, such as durability, high shock and scratch resistance, and the ability to withstand a harsh environment. While modern timepieces or smartwatches might offer more advanced features, mechanical watches still never missed the opportunity. 

In this article, I’ve rounded some of the best tactical survival watches you can find in the market within a range of prices. Let’s explore the list and find ones that fit your taste bud. 

Citizen Promaster Altichron

My first recommendation for the best survival watch is the Promaster Altichron from Citizen. As to how many Citizen’s timepieces, the Altichron is also driven by solar energy or the Eco-Drive movement. The unique point about the watch is the combination of digital and analog look. 

To be a reliable and best survival watch, a compass and altimeter are featured in the watch. Within its quite busy dial, lays an altimeter and compass functions. As for the compass, you can use it by looking at a special red hand as the pointer and a rotating compass bezel. 

Damasko DC82 Black – Central Minutes Chrono

All-black appearance of the Damasko DC82 Black is probably the alluring point of this watch. As you go deeper, you’ll find other reasons why this is considered one of the best survival watches. Damasko set the watch with rugged construction to offer durability on every occasion. It is driven by the in-house Damasko chronograph movement C51-2, allowing for  48 hours of power reserve.

As a good recommendation for survival watches, this tough timepiece is equipped with an anti-magnetic cage resistant to up to 1,000 Gauss. Adding to that is the high-quality material for the watch case called “ice-hardened, nickel-free stainless steel”, meaning that the watch is nickel-free and has a good anti-corrosion. Basically, the watch features many elements you need for survival activities, like the scratch-resistant case, shockproof, and a rotating bezel.

Luminox Recon Nav 8831 KM

There are quite a lot of things you can use in this watch. Luminox has equipped the watch with basic survival needs in this 45mm watch case. As for its reliability, the watch is driven by a Swiss-made quartz movement that offers a 42-hour power reserve. 

As an exact title, the Luminox Recon Nav 8831 KM is a GMT watch featuring a carbon-reinforced and unidirectional ratcheting bezel, walking tachymeter, compass, and anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and high scratch-resistant. Both reliable and durable, this survival watch is also an easy-to-carry watch as it has a lightweight profile — thanks to the Carbonox material. 

Marathon Navigator

Known for its military timepieces, its watch collection is also a great choice for the best survival watches. The Marathon Navigator Watch is specifically built for the U.S. Government with excellent durability and high construction. As a rough appeal, the watch is designed from a fiber shell that would stand extreme temperature changes — thus making the watch a good option for pilots or parachutists. 

The watch is measured in 41mm for its diameter, adding a bold look along with its big bezel markers. Other extreme features for durability can also be spotted from the 6 ATM of water resistance, sapphire crystal, and high scratch-resistant.

Read also: Travel at Ease with A Multi-time Zone Watch on Your Wrist

Seiko Arnie Prospex

My last recommendation for the best survival watches falls for Seiko’s collection. The Arnie Prospex is the luxury one for survival watch in terms of its performance and durability. It’s been certified by ISO 6425 certification as a professional-grade dive watch. Despite that license, this Seiko watch is built to survive in extreme conditions.

It’s measured in a 47.5mm stainless steel case, giving a bold look along with the pushers and knobs on each side of the watch. Built for a dive watch, legibility and bezel are everything for this watch. It features a one-way rotating bezel with a screw-down and big crown for easy handling. Together with the 200m of water resistance, Seiko has applied an excellent amount of luminosity for a clear-perfect view in the dark.

As a survival watch, functionality usually comes at the foremost consideration, especially reliability and durability. Yet, you can still find a list of rugged timepieces that also offer an enchanting watch design. After all, determining your necessities is what matters to find the best survival watch. Keep in mind that a good tactical watch would be a good survival friend. 

You might also like: Top Watches for Fervent Hunters: From the Retro to the Robust One