Tested: The Best Tactical Watches Built To Take A Beating (2024)

Preparation and punctuality are pivotal in executing any mission successfully. Whether you’re in the military, an outdoorsman, or a weekend pioneer who believes in precision, a quality timepiece is an essential piece of gear. When you need more than a standard timekeeper for your activities, turning to military and tactical watches is the right plan of attack.

Timing is everything when you’re set on victory, whether you’re carrying out a well-oiled stratagem or conquering a hike in the great outdoors. Unlike in decades past, the U.S. Military no longer issues standard-issue watches to its personnel — leaving you with an enormous number of available choices to choose from. This is why we’ve taken the time to do extensive research and compose a list of the best military and tactical watches on the market. On top of diving into our picks for the best tactical timepieces that money can currently buy, we’ll also be exploring what factors to consider when purchasing a tactical watch.

Selection & Testing

Between models that have been engineered from the ground up as tactical watches and other timepieces that just happen to be highly conducive to tactical use, there’s an enormous number of available tac-watches currently on the market. When we first set out to uncover the latest and greatest this segment has to offer, we started our search first generating a list of criteria that we would use to judge each watch. This included factors such as case construction, case design, secondary elements such as crowns and bezels, band and strap, and durability and resistances. What’s more, we also opted to feature a wide array of different tactical watch types, from quartz-powered models to automatic references to hybrid timepieces to modern tactical smartwatches.Additionally, rather than limiting our picks to just tactical military watches, we instead opted to highlight a selection of undeniably tactical timepieces that also lend themselves to everyday wear.

Leaning on this aforementioned criteria to guide our search, we then proceeded to get our hands on each and every watch on our shortlist. This allowed us to inspect each watch, examining areas that can’t be gleaned through reading spec sheets or product descriptions, such as each watch’s build quality, fit and finish, visibility, and overall comfort. In order to get a better sense of how these timepieces perform in more tactical applications and settings, we went and hit our local indoor firing range before next visiting our local climbing gym — with every tactical watch on our shortlist in tow. This ultimately allowed us to get a more comprehensive understanding of how each watch actually felt and performed when on-wrist while shooting, climbing, or repelling.

On top of being scrutinized individually, each tactical watch from our shortlist was also compared and contrasted side-by-side — giving us a more objective baseline for measurement. Looking to our notes and intel gathered during our hands-on testing process, we then used this intel to narrow our original shortlist down to a final hard-cut of what our testing and research revealed to be the very best tactical and military watches that money can currently buy.

SUUNTO Core Alpha Stealth

Best Affordable Pick: Crafted in Finland, the SUUNTO Core Alpha Stealth is our pick for the best affordable tactical-specific outdoor watch, as the thing boasts a 49.5mm composite case, a rotating aluminum bezel, and a matrix display with night vision goggle-friendly red backlighting. Sold with a Berry amendment-compliant textile strap, the watch also features a storm alarm, 30 meters of water resistance, sunrise and sunset times, access to weather information, and an onboard temperature sensor, altimeter, barometer, and compass. Tipping the scales at just 2.36 oz, the Core Alpha Stealth watch also measures just 15.1mm thick, allowing it to be worn inside the wrist while remaining super low-profile.

Admittedly doesn’t offer any unique or revolutionary features or capabilities, it does everything that a quality tac-watch should, and does so at a pretty unbeatable price considering all that you get for a little over $200. It’s incredibly rugged yet lightweight, it’s armed with a suite of onboard sensors and weather functions, and is built and tested to MIL-STD-810 standards. I also thoroughly appreciate the simple and intuitive five-button interface this tactical watch uses, as it makes navigating its features and modes an absolute breeze. Sure, it may lack some of the more advanced features and high-end constructions found on its costlier counterparts, though dollar-for-dollar, I’d argue the SUUNTO Core Alpha Stealth is almost certainly one of, if not the single best affordable tactical timepieces currently on the market.

Case Size: 49.5mm
Case Material: Composite
Movement: Smartwatch
Water Resistance: 30m
Lume: Red Backlighting

Seiko Prospex “Arnie” SNJ025

Best Solar-Powered Pick: A modern, highly authentic, and now solar-powered interpretation of the Japanese brand’s original hybrid dive watch from 1982, the Seiko Prospex “Arnie” SNJ025 is an iconic timepiece that was famously worn on screen by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987’s Predator. Water-resistant down to 200 meters and compliant with ISO standards for scuba diving, the Arnie Prospex watch is constructed around a matte black 47.8mm tuna-style case with a uni-directional-rotating bezel and a hybrid digital analog dial. Powered by a Caliber H851 solar quartz movement, the watch also packs a power reserve display function, LumiBrite hands and markers, screw-down crown, pushers, a local time indication mode, and a whopping six months of battery life when fully charged.

As a contemporary remake of one of the most iconic movie watches in modern history, there’s honestly a ton to love about the Seiko Prospex “Arnie.” Its design is tough but handsome, its LumiBrite lume glows a super bright green, its square-shaped fixed ring adds a dash of tactical character, and its case design does a phenomenal job shielding its rotating bezel. With that said, aside from its connection to one of my all-time favorite flicks, the part of this watch that I appreciate most is its hybrid digital, analog display — and more specifically how the crown allows the time to be adjusted on its digital display, and then once set, the analog hands automatically sync up and move into the correct positions to match the digital readout’s time.

Check out our in-depth Seiko Prospex “Arnie” SNJ025 review here.

Case Size: 47.8mm
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Solar Quartz
Water Resistance: 200m
Lume: LumiBrite

Luminox Navy SEAL Dive Watch 3502.L

Best Tactical Dive Watch: In 1993 when the U.S. Navy SEALs needed a new standard-issue watch, the elite fighting force turned to Luminox, tasking the brand with developing a tactical watch to meet the needs of the SEALs — an effort that ultimately gave way to the Luminox Navy SEAL Dive Watch 3502.L. Lightweight yet incredibly durable, the watch heavily utilizes a proprietary carbon fiber compound, with the material used to craft its 45mm case, rotating bezel, and bracelet. Powered by a quartz movement, this Swiss-made dive watch also features a tempered scratch-resistant mineral crystal, a date window at 3 o’clock, 200 meters of water resistance, Luminox’s own proprietary self-powered illumination, and a stainless steel case back.

A monumental aspect of what makes this tactical timepiece so special is the immense level of thought that went into the watch’s creation as a whole. From its ultra-rugged case to its matching CARBONOX bracelet to its wildly impressive 25-year lume, every element has been thoroughly and painstakingly calculated and considered — a fact that frankly isn’t surprising considering it was engineered from the ground up for what’s unequivocally one of the world’s most elite fighting forces. So, while it’s admittedly a bit over-engineered — and overkill — for day-to-day use, it’s tactical style, immensely durable nature, and direct connection to the SEALs collectively make the Luminox Navy SEAL Dive Watch 3502.L one of our all-time favorite tactical watches.

MWC P656 2023 Model Titanium Tactical Series

Best Titanium Pick: A brilliant example of a watch engineered from the ground up solely for tactical applications, the MWC P656 2023 Model Titanium Tactical Series Watch is constructed around a 42mm case that’s made from titanium case and boasts a rotating titanium bezel and a minimalistic dial equipped with Swiss Tritium inlays at the hour markers and the minute and hour hands. Water resistant down to 300 meters and capable of accurately operating at altitudes of up to 40,000’ without the need for any compensatory pressurization, this watch also features a high-precision Ronda calibre 715Li quartz movement powered by a battery that ten-years of life.

At approximately $400 all told, the MWC P656 2023 Model Titanium Tactical Series Watch isn’t exactly cheap, though it does nonetheless offer pretty stellar bang for your buck when you factor in everything you get, from its titanium case construction to its tritium illumination to its tolerances and water resistance to its rotating click bezel. Additionally, despite being a ridiculously tough watch, the P656 2023 MTTS is incredibly lightweight, tipping the scales at just 2.2oz with its nylon strap — a figure that makes it noticeably lighter than the already-svelte 38mm titanium field watch that I personally wear several times a week. As much as I love this watch, it does have one major Achilles heel, and that’s its rotating titanium bezel, which has an alarming amount of play in its rotation. Having said that, we’re unsure if this is a common issue for this watch across the board, or if our particular unit just happened to suffer from poor quality control. Disappointing bezel aside, this tactical timepiece’s myriad of strengths no doubt outweigh its few downsides — and by a significant margin, too.

Case Size: 42mm
Case Material: Titanium
Movement: Quartz
Water Resistance: 300m
Lume: Tritium

Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon

Best Carbon Fiber Pick: Paired with a survival-style Paracord strap, the Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon is a simple yet dependable tactical watch that features a 43mm case that’s crafted from the same ultra-rugged and incredibly lightweight forged carbon fiber composite that’s used to aid space shuttles in their reentry to Earth’s atmosphere by fortifying the ship from extremely high temperatures. Offered in a trio of different color options, the I.N.O.X. Carbon also sports a highly-accurate quartz movement, a date window, Super-LumiNova lume, and a unique hexagonal case design. On top of being heavily-resistant to drops, scrapes, and bumpers, the watch is also water resistant to down to 200 meters.

What stands out most to me about the Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon — and what’s ultimately earned it a spot on this list — is the fact that it does several things better than just about any other tactical watch on the market, at least at this price point. Not only is its forged carbon composite case ridiculously lightweight, but it’s also tremendously hardwearing — plus can even be further fortified using the rubber bumper-guard case protector that the watch ships with (along with an additional rubber strap and a Pelican-style crushproof hard case). Its dial is simple, yet highly legible in almost any lighting condition, and the watch’s braided paracord strap is rugged while still being comfortable — plus it no doubt adds a bit of extra tactical flair. Last but certainly not least, this Swiss-made timepiece also boasts a level of craftsmanship and build quality that’s very seldom seen on purpose-built tactical watches.

Case Size: 43mm
Case Material: Forged Carbon Composite
Movement: Quartz
Water Resistance: 200m
Lume: Super-LumiNova

G-SHOCK MUDMASTER GWG2000-1A3

Best Ultra-Tough Pick: Designed for use in some of the world’s most hostile and unforgiving environments, the G-SHOCK MUDMASTER GWG2000-1A3 is an ultra-tough tactical outdoor watch that’s loaded with genuinely useful features and functionality. This solar-powered watch is constructed around G-SHOCK’s wildly rugged Carbon Core Guard structure which has been bestowed with a forged carbon bezel, stainless steel pipes, silicone buffers, mud-resistant buttons, and a resin band. Also equipped a digital compass, an altimeter, a barometer, and a thermometer, this G-SHOCK watch reference also boasts multi-band 6 atomic timekeeping, a stopwatch, countdown timer and super illuminator double led lights. Water-resistant to 200m, this MUDMASTER model is also ultra-low temperature-resistant and is capable of operating in conditions as low as 14°F (or -10°C).

What sets the G-SHOCK MUDMASTER GWG2000-1A3 apart from other overbuilt tactical watches on the market isn’t so much a single area or feature, and is more what the MUDMASTER model offers as a whole. It’s absolutely brimming with genuinely useful onboard sensors, it’s easy to read upon just a quick glance, and it features one of the most rugged and robust designs and constructions we’ve ever had the privilege of testing. From extreme temperatures to heavy impacts, this thing really can handle just about anything you can throw at it — and then some. In fact, having this watch on my wrist for a few days served as the perfect reminder as to why G-SHOCK watches are almost certainly the most popular timepieces used by both law enforcement officers and active military personnel.

Case Size: 61.2mm
Case Material: Resin & Stainless Steel
Movement: Solar Quartz
Water Resistance: 200m
Lume: LED Backlighting

MTM STATUS Tactical Smartwatch

Best Tactical Smartwatch: Offered with a wide variety of different case color, dial color, and band, strap, and bracelet options, the MTM STATUS Tactical Smartwatch is a high-end, tactical-specific smartwatch that’s just as conducive to use on the battlefield as it is for day-to-day city life. Equipped with a locking screw-down crown and a fixed bezel, the watch’s 45mm case is crafted from solid titanium. Backed by a three-year warranty, this high-tech tactical watch is kept ticking via an MTM Proprietary system paired with a Swiss analog movement. This hybrid digital-analog watch also features pre-set timezones with over 60 included cities, the ability to program up to 5 alarms, 100 meters of water resistance, an onboard 410-mAh Lithium battery affords around 25 hours of use on a single charge, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and the ability to pair of the dedicated MTM Connect smartphone app.

All in all, the MTM STATUS does a terrific job cramming a host of modern smartwatch features — such as its Google Maps-based City Navigation Tool — into a tactical battle-ready timepiece that’s ultimately able to deliver what I’d consider to be the best of both worlds. What’s more, as a sucker for Pelican cases, I also really appreciate the fact that the MTM STATUS ships inside of a crushproof hard storage case. And, while I personally found the STATUS’s app and smartphone connectivity to be seamless on my iPhone, other HIC staff members that use Android devices were decidedly less impressed with the app and smartphone connectivity, as the Android version appears to still have a few kinks that need ironing out. I also found the watch’s battery life to be slightly below the 25-hour lifespan advertised by MTM, but not by too much.

Case Size: 45mm
Case Material: Titanium
Movement: Smartwatch
Water Resistance: 100m
Lume: EL Backlighting

Garmin Tactix 7 Pro AMOLED Edition

Best Overall Tactical Watch: Built to MIL-STD-810 standards, the Garmin Tactix 7 Pro AMOLED Edition is essentially a state-of-the-art tactical smartwatch that also boasts just about every modern health and fitness tracking function under the sun. Constructed around a 51mm fiber-reinforced polymer case with a titanium bezel and case-back, the Tactix 7 Pro AMOLED Edition comes loaded with a 1.4” adaptive color AMOLED display, plus boasts a multi-GNSS satellite unit, 100 meters of water resistance, a built-in multi-LED flashlight, a pulse OX sensor, a battery offering up to 37 days of life, and a handful of additional tactical-specific features such as a kill switch, a stealth mode, night vision compatibility, a jump master mode, dual-position formatting, and projected waypoints. With 32gb of internal storage, this smartwatch can track years worth of activity logging.

Whether you’re on the battlefield, hitting trails in the backcountry, commuting to work, or swimming laps at your local pool, Garmin’s Tactix 7 Pro AMOLED Edition has the software and capabilities to lend itself to an unparalleled range of uses. This not only gives this tactical smartwatch an enormous amount of functionality, but it also affords it with more versatility than just about any other tactical watch I’ve ever used or tested. The only real downside I uncovered while testing this watch is the fact that its oversized 51mm case does make it standout more than a regular watch. With that said, this is a smartwatch that you purchase for its wealth of functionality — and not for its ability to blend into its environment or pair well with your outfit. Even after spending almost two weeks with the thing on my wrist, I only began to scratch the surface in terms of testing every available feature and function that the Tactix 7 Pro AMOLED Edition has to offer.

Case Size: 51mm
Case Material: Fiber-Reinforced Polymer & Titanium
Movement: Smartwatch
Water Resistance: 100m
Lume: N/A

Panerai Submersible Forze Speciali

Best Luxury Pick: A special edition version of one of the most iconic luxury watches of all time, the Panerai Submersible Forze Speciali honors Italy’s Special Forces with a unique black and blue color scheme contrasted via seafoam green accents. Equipped with its signature protected crown design, this Panerai reference boasts a 47mm titanium case with a DLC-coating that features 300 meters of water resistance and houses a 328-component Panerai P.9100/R Calibre automatic movement with 37-jewels, an Incabloc anti-shock device, a Glucydur balance wheel, and a three-day power reserve. The case also comes outfitted with a titanium rotating bezel with a ceramic inlay and a DLC-coated titanium case-back. The face of the watch also sports a pair of sub-dials, circular hour markets, and a generous amount of Super-LumiNova lume.

From a purely utilitarian standpoint, the Panerai Submersible Forze Speciali may seem a bit of an odd choice for inclusion on a list of the best tactical watches, though the reality is that it very much stands as the most high-end timepieces on the market that still boast the durability and performance needed to fall under the umbrella of being a tactical watch. With an MSRP exceeding that of a new Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, the Submersible Forze Speciali is an incredibly exorbitant watch — though as a limited edition version of one of the all-time most iconic watches, its value will likely only appreciate over time. And, as one would expect from a mid-five-figure watch, the fit and finish on this reference is nothing short of world class, with every minute detail and surface having been painstakingly poured over and scrutinized down to the most minute detail.

Case Size: 47mm
Case Material: Titanium
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 300m
Lume: Super-LumiNova

What Exactly Is A Tactical Watch?

Simply meaning relating to combat tactics or strategic use on the battlefield, the word “tactical” gets thrown around a lot these days, however, there are certain segments where the descriptor is genuinely applicable such as the tactical watch — or “tac watch” —space. As the monicker suggests, tactical timepieces are engineered specifically for use in combat. Consequently, these watches are incredibly rugged, with case constructions and bracelets that have been designed to stand up to the extreme rigors and abuse experienced on the battlefield. On top of being largely impervious to shocks and vibrations, tac watches almost always also feature fairly robust water resistance ratings. Like other styles of military watches such as pilots watches or field watches, tactical timepieces also tend to sport fairly minimalistic dial layouts that make them super easy to read upon just a quick glance. These dials almost always come fortified beneath super hardwearing crystals or lenses, too.

Another element that makes a watch tactical is the features that it possesses, as a great many of today’s latest and greatest tac watches come loaded with all manner of combat and tactical-specific amenities and capabilities. This includes everything from the ability to be synchronized with other watches to blackout modes and kill-switches to night vision compatibility. There are also a handful of smart tactical watches that boast cutting-edge tactical features such as onboard GPS and mapping, jump master modes, stealth modes, built-in flashlights, and even applied ballistics software that lets the wearer calculate long-range shooting solutions on the fly.

The Most Important Features To Look For When Buying A Tactical Watch

Because of their unique use, tactical watches tend to feature a host of fairly unique traits which in turns makes for a fairly unique shopping experience. Below, we’ve broken down the eight most crucial characteristics and components to take into account when shopping around for a military or tactical wristwatch.

Durability: As instruments that are engineered to be used in combat and other extremely unforgiving conditions, tactical watches need to possess immense strength. As a result, you’ll want to examine a tac watch’s case material, lens or crystal type, the construction of the band or bracelet, and even the materials used to craft smaller elements like the watch’s crown, case-back, or bezel.

Water-Resistance: While this area is technically a subcategory of durability, we feel it’s worth devoting its own section to. Though they aren’t made specifically for use in aquatic settings like dive watches are, tactical timepieces still need to possess ample waterproofing. As such, it’s important to look into a given watch’s water resistance rating, as well as if it has other elements that are conducive to use below the waves —such as a screw-down caseback or a screw-down crown (versus a push-pull item).

Accuracy: When the success of a mission — and at times, the lives of those on it — is dependent on being perfectly timed, coordinated, and executed, precise timekeeping instruments are imperative. This area will ultimately come down to the type of movement used in a watch — such as a mechanical, automatic, or quartz movement.

Readability: Another crucial area to consider when buying a tactical watch is the visibility of the dial. Due to the environments and types of missions and applications in which tactical watches are typically used, having the ability to easily read a watch’s dial with just a quick glance is absolutely essential. While one might assume that visibility and readability primarily boil down to the size of the watch, the reality is that these areas are more owed to the simplicity of a dial — not being cluttered with text, sundials, and other markings — and bold, easily-legible numerals and markers in a color that hugely contrasts the dial.

Illumination: Another crucial component to a quality tactical watch is the presence of decent lume. This is typically achieved through the use of luminous paint (like Super-Luminova), but can also be done via the implementation of micro gas tubes or even embedded tritium.

Bracelet or Band: While obviously not as important as the case, the type of band or bracelet that a watch comes paired with is nonetheless of importance — even more so when dealing with tactical timepieces. Though some tactical watches see their cases mated to metal bracelets, the majority of these items ship with rugged rubber or textile bands.

GPS Functionality: Watches with GPS technology can be literal life savers. Whether you’re sailing the ocean, embarking on an expedition in the wild, or going on a rescue mission, knowing your location can be quintessential to one’s success. While GPS functionality is almost exclusively found on smartwatches, these capabilities can still be surprisingly robust, with some models offering access to GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellites — all of which come backed by dual-format coordinates. These watches also tend to feature route tracking and location sharing.

Tactical-Specific Elements: As tactical watches have grown more advance and specialized, we’ve seen these timepieces bestowed with a growing number of features designed specifically for use in combat and other tactical scenarios. This can include everything from onboard GPS and mapping to dedicated jump master modes to night mission-ready stealth modes to built-in LED flashlights. What’s more, there are even some tac watches that boast applied ballistics software which enables the user to calculate long-range shooting solutions while in the field.

Other Supplementary Features: Above and beyond basic timekeeping duties, plenty of tactical watches also come loaded with supplementary features or abilities such as a stopwatch or date window. Some of the more high-end and/or technologically advanced tactical timepieces on the market also feature amenities such as health and fitness tracking, access to live weather reports, connectivity to smartphone apps, tide tracking, and onboard compass, barometer, and altimeter sensors.

Why Are Tactical Watches Often Worn On The Inside The Wrist?

If you spend enough time looking at tac watches, you’ll no doubt quickly notice that many operators opt to wear these tactical timepieces with the case on the inside of their wrist. Wearing a watch upside-down is done for a myriad of specific reasons. First and foremost, it helps to keep the watch better protected compare to being worn on the outside of the wrist, plus it allows the wearer to easily glance at the dial or face while holding or operating a weapon. Additionally, wearing a tactical watch on the inside of the wrist also helps to keep it better hidden, mitigating the likelihood that enemy personnel may spot the watch’s lume or dial reflection from afar.

Tactical Watches In The Modern World