I’m not here to promote a particular watch, but rather help you choose the best military watch that is right for you. Everyone’s needs are different, and the best watch for one person may not suit the needs of another person. Another scenario is a watch having more features than a person might ever use, which can be a waste of money.
Oftentimes these are the “flashy” features, that make for good conversation pieces or just good old showin’ off, yet have a practical use for the everyday outdoors man or scout soldier.
In typical fashion, if we want something tough, we want something the military uses, whether it be Humvees, backpacks, ammo storage, etc. Many actually do have a use for military grade watches, while others enjoy the tactical style. Whichever person you are, there is a military tactical watch out there for you.
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See the list of Top 10 Military Watches for more!
Choose the best Military Tactical Watch for you.
What defines a watch to be military tactical? Some only desire a watch to look “cool”, and will consider this tactical, while others prefer to their tactical watch to be practical. Real Military Watches will vary based on the specific branch of the military in question. Infantry, Airborne, Pilots, and Amphibious units will all have different requirements for their watch. Often these watches must be simple, and do their job very well, while being rugged and dependable in the field. Under high stress environments, all of the extra accessories may become a distraction. However, the every day user is not likely to get involved in a heated firefight, thus these added accessories are readily accessible by the calmed eye. Perhaps you do plan to take a watch to a battle and desire simplicity in you watch, we will review those too! I can also guarantee that I will not discuss, show, or in any other way, mention any cheap/flashy gimmicky watch, as that would not be in the interest of anyone seeking a high quality watch.
Military Watches – Past and Present
All watches, not just military watches, are rooted in the depths of battle. With the advent of clocks, it then became possible to formulate plans revolving around time. Before wristwatches, there were pocket watches. The first actual wrist watches were soldiers who would tie a pocket watch to their wrist.
Its debatable as to which military first used wristwatches. There are stories of the German navy was using them in the 1880’s, while other stories credit them to the British during the Boer war against the Dutch settlers in 1899. Another theory is that the first use of wristwatches in the military is credited to the Japanese during the first Sino-Japanese war, against the Qing Dynasty of China. Watches of this period were crude, and not the most consistent, however, the ability to have any sense of time on the battlefield provided a major strategic advantage.
Opposite from lame and gimmicky, the latest generation of military watches are simply returning so its roots. Military grade watches have not only been upgraded for features, but durability as well.
What You Should Know About Buying a Military Watch
Making sure you get all that you need in a military watch, its important to be aware of all of the features available. Luckily, there are a myriad of military watches available to choose from, allowing you to find the perfect match for you.
Compass
Military watches are built tough for the hardest of times. If you ever end up in a life or death survival scenario, your first goal should be to reach civilization. With some basic navigational skills, a map, and a compass, you will be able to find your way back. In the watch world, there are two types of compasses, one that uses magnetic north as a guide, and the other which uses GPS to discern your whereabouts and heading. The difference is that magnetic compasses are susceptible to magnetic interference, but on the other hand, continue to function even when the battery is dead. GPS compasses have the advantage of always giving a precise heading, and also often include the option of tracking your location, so you can simply retrace your trail. A good example of a GPS watch would be the Suunto Ambit2.
Temperature
Simple enough, be aware of if you have any purpose for a thermometer.
Barometer
A barometer is used to measure atmospheric pressure (aka barometric pressure). It is basically a measure of the weight of the air above you. There is a correlation between air pressure and ongoing short-term weather changes.
A sudden change towards low pressure – means that there is a sort of “Vacuum” which will work to suck storm clouds, rain, and general rough weather your way. Watch out!
A sudden change towards high pressure – means that any clouds or active weather system will be pushed away, clearing the skies, good for you!
Why would you want a barometer on your watch? Be warned of a sudden drop in air pressure due to an oncoming storm and don’t be caught un-shelterd! Some watches show pressure readings while others will provide an alarm given a certain change in pressure. Higher end watches allow you to program when the alarm sounds.
Altimeter
Track your altitude with an altimeter. Useful in conjunction with topographical maps for your wilderness trekking. If you’re an outdoor adventurist, an altimeter is a very useful tool to have in your arsenal. Though these are not anything new (like barometers), fitting these within wrist watches is a relatively new advancement. You’ll need to check out watches around the 200$ range to begin seeing Altimeters. Even watches on the low range manage to be quite accurate, with an estimated error of +/- 20 feet. Before when we would navigate in the x-y plane, now we can use topographical maps to find out way in the z direction!