10 Best Watches For The Army That Will Last A Lifetime
(This page features affiliate links, for more information on them click here.)
Sometimes you just need a watch that will last indefinitely. One that can take a beating and keep on telling time accurately. Perhaps you serve in the armed forces, or have a passion for extreme sports?
Either way, I have handpicked the most durable military watches for the army, that will just keep ticking, without letting you down.
Each of these watches in this selection contains:
A quartz movement – Quartz is the most reliable, accurate movement type and is the least susceptible to dirt and impacts; due to having fewer moving parts.
Ideally with shock resistance – To prevent heaving impact damage.
An easy-to-read dial/display
A rugged, durable strap – One that won’t break down with heavy usage or strain
Casio GWM5610
This tank of a watch is an entry-level G-Shock, offering massive performance for less than £100. This is essentially an upgraded version of the hugely popular DW-5600 model that has been a staple of the Casio G-Shock line for over 30 years. One of those upgrades is the addition of a solar panel, allowing the battery to be recharged using sunlight. This is a particularly useful feature that can substantially extend the battery life of your watch and reduce the need for battery changes.
The Multi Band 6 feature also ensures this watch is exceedingly accurate, clocking in at ±0 seconds per month. Essentially, it keeps perfect time when used properly.
In addition to its solid construction, the above features put it head and shoulders above similarly priced G-Shock models, making it our choice for the best military watch for the army. This model comes in a variety of colourways, including a nice blackout version. These near-indestructible G-Shock watches feature protective internal cushioning and a hollow case structure, meaning they are bigger than your average watch; this GWM5610 included.
Timex TW4B02500 Grid Shock
This rectangular watch from trusted US brand Timex is a great option for those looking for a highly functional and durable army watch. Its standout feature is the giant LCD display, which makes it by far the easiest to read out of any of the options on this list; possibly the clearest I’ve seen on a digital watch to date. You can also make this display highly visible at night-time by utilising the famous Indiglo night-light, which is exclusive to Timex watches. A push of the crown gives arguably the best low-light performance available.
This watch features a plethora of different alarms and timers, to customise to your requirements. This even features a vibrating alarm option, should you need a reminder whilst in a loud environment.
It is to be noted that this is a very large watch, with a 50mm diameter, so it may not be for everyone. The water resistance is relatively good at 100m, though isn’t quite as high as others on the list. However, it’s still a great option if you’re after enhanced legibility.
Casio Master G-Shock Master Of G Rangeman GPRB1000-1
The king of military watches. The ‘Master Of G’ Rangeman has the perfect name summarising its purpose and place. This absolute monster is rammed to the brim with exciting features and useful tools that will help you out in almost any situation.
Notable inclusions are GPS, a compass, thermometer, wireless and solar charging, depth sensor, dust resistance, dirt resistance, low-temperature resistance, shock resistance, Bluetooth and 200m of water resistance. In reference to the latter point, as with the previous G-Shock, you can easily swim or free dive waiting
That is an almighty set of specifications that command the higher price point. If I was lost in the middle of a jungle, I would 100% want one of these on my wrist.
Casio F-91W
On the other end of the spectrum, you have the F-91W. This is one of the lowest cost watches around and is renowned for being surprisingly durable, despite the low-price tag. My father has owned one of these for over 20 years and it is still perfectly functional.
The F-91W does not boast the range of features associated with other watches on this list; though still has a stopwatch and alarm function. Nevertheless, its diminutive size and surprising durability have gained legendary status in the cheap watch space.
Due to the lower build quality, this piece is prone to scratching easily; though does hold up well to impacts. It also has an inconsistent reputation when it comes to water resistance. Some reporting incredible performance, while others have been underwhelmed.
However, if you have a really tight budget, this watch is probably your best option. I’ve owned one for over two years and it always sees wrist time for manual work. This serves well as a cheap army watch and is in heavy usage around the world. Aside from the regular black version, you can get a variety of colours nowadays, which may fit your uniform better.
Timex Expedition Camper T425719J
For a more traditional field watch, I’d recommend looking at the Timex Expedition Camper. Unlike some of the other options I’ve listed, I’d say this is quite stylish and definitely wearable as a day-to-day watch; alongside its rugged purpose.
This watch is constructed of basic materials, but has been adapted from the virtually indestructible infantry watches from the 1960’s. The acrylic case is designed to take a bashing, along with a reasonable 50m of water resistance.
This model retains the Indiglo functionality from other Timex models and contains an in-house Timex quartz movement. While these movements last a very long time, they are notoriously loud, so if that factor concerns you; another option may be of preference.
At just 39mm in diameter, this is a good choice for smaller wrists too; where other rugged options may look oversized. Nevertheless, if you’re willing to splash out £10 more, I’d consider looking at the Lorus RXD425L8 that also features in this article; as it provides better specifications.
Luminox Navy Seal Series
Swiss brand Luminox specialise in analogue military watches, providing wristwear for the US Air Force, US Coast Guard and many special forces worldwide. As such, they are highly trusted in the army space and demand a place in our list.
Personally, I think the Navy Seal range offers the best bang for buck in the Luminox lineup. As with all luminox watches, these are Swiss made and are reportedly in use by many Navy Seals, due to their high performance.
Interestingly, unlike many other shock resistant cases; Luminox decided to construct these cases of ultra-light carbon, making them very lightweight and comfortable compared to other similarly styled watches for the army.
With most of the G-Shock watches being digital, this is a good alternative if you prefer an analogue display instead.
Garmin Instinct Rugged GPS
Garmin may not be the first brand you think of when it comes to wristwatches. Nevertheless, they have created some GPS-equipped, futuristic-looking wristwatches that make for unexpectedly good army watches.
Thanks to their experience with satellite navigation systems, these are known to be some of the most accurate GPS watches available and are reasonably priced to boot; keeping you covered in the most rural environments.
The Insinct Rugged model is a good choice for a military watch as it even has additional built-in tactical features, including ‘stealth mode’ which can instantly disable all wireless communication when enabled, along with ‘jumpmaster’, which aids skydiving activities; providing detailed information on speed and altitude, among other advanced functions.
This piece even pairs with your mobile phone, allowing for convenient activity monitoring. So, we think it’s the optimal choice if you’re after a watch that you can use to track fitness during recreation time, alongside more practical applications.
Lorus RXD425L8 Field Watch
Arguably the best cheap field watch out there, the Lorus RXD425L8 may be small in stature, but is strong in specifications. Along with Pulsar, the Lorus brand is a subsidiary of Seiko
For less than £50, this boasts a titanium case and 100m of water resistance, alongside mineral crystal over the dial. The titanium construction is particularly surprising, considering the low retail price, and makes this a really lightweight and comfortable watch. This material is stronger than steel and is also corrosion-resistant; making it arguably the best choice for an army watch like this.
The default canvas strap provided with this piece even has a reinforced section around the holes, to prevent excessive wear. At 35mm, it’s also great for small to average wrists; unlike many of the larger watches on this list.
This watch has exemplary reviews across the board and is very easy for me to recommend. I recently picked one of these up and have not been disappointed. If you opt for this one, be careful to avoid the similarly styled ‘RXF41AX7’; which has a case constructed of resin. I think the RXD425L8 is a much better deal for a fraction more money.
Casio W-800H
Akin to a mini G-Shock, the Casio W-800H-1AVES provides similar performance in a much smaller package and at a lower price point. This is a great alternative for those looking for a watch that can take impacts, without dominating your wrist in quite the same manner. It is still a chunky watch, but is more wearable than other giant G-Shock models.
This piece is currently less than £20 on Amazon UK, but doesn’t disappoint, with a whopping 10-year battery life and 100m of water resistance. The only downside is that the acrylic glass, as used in the F91W, is prone to scratching easily; although can withstand impacts.
This watch features several basic features includes a stopwatch and alarm, along with a strong backlight for low-light usage. The W800 certainly isn’t a looker, but does offer pure performance. Its resin case will provide some shock protection, though isn’t going to be as hardy as the G-Shock systems.
Nixon Regulus
Developed in collaboration with US Special Operations forces, the Nixon Regulus is an unexpectedly good army watch from the US-based fashion brand.
This one features a stainless-steel case with some built in shock resistance, in form of a poron foam lining. Its special features include dual chronograph timers, three alarms, adjustable brightness settings and much more.
Contrary to some Amazon listings, according to the Nixon official site, this watch actually has 100m of water resistance; much better than the 50m listed in some places online. A useful feature is that the polycarbonate pushers can be used whilst submerged, something other watches struggle to accomplish without compromising the water resistance.
The backlit LCD display is inverse, with white numbers against a black background. I’m assuming this is to increase visibility, though I can’t say it makes a huge difference, outside of looking cool. It comes fitted by default with a silicone strap, which I always think is a good choice for army watches as it is flexible and comfortable, no matter the temperature.