The 13 Best Tactical Watches You Can Buy

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. However, when it comes to tactical timepieces, you can get lost easily in the wave of choices available. 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 tac 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. 

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, night vision compatibility modes, and onboard compass, barometer, and altimeter sensors. 

The Best Tactical Watches

G-SHOCK DW9052-1V

Part of the Casio-made 9052 Series, the G-SHOCK DW9052-1V is a rugged and trusty digital timepiece that contains a calendar, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, and an alarm. Weighing in at just a hair over 2oz, the watch is pieced together around a 48.5mm resin case that features a matte finish, a matching resin band, and a mineral glass lens. Highly resistant to bumps and shocks, the DW9052-1V also runs off of a widely-available CR2016 battery that affords a two-year charge. Accurate to within +/- 15 seconds a month, the watch also boasts blue-green electro-luminescent backlighting and a generous 200 meters of water resistance.

SUUNTO Core Alpha Stealth

Made in Finland and tested to MIL-STD-810 standards, the SUUNTO Core Alpha Stealth is a tactical-specific outdoor watch with a 49.5mm composite case, an 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.  

Casio Pro Trek PRW-3500T-7

When precision timekeeping is of the upmost importance, it never hurts to go with a watch that possesses atomic time tracking such as the proven Casio PRO TREK PRW-3500T-7. Part of Casio’s Multifield Line, this solar-powered watch boasts a 56.9mm resin case that’s been paired with a stainless steel bezel and a full titanium construction bracelet. Brimming with features and functionality, this PRO TREK model also comes loaded with a battery level indicator, world time-keeping abilities, 200 meters of water resistant, Super Illuminator white LED backlighting, a countdown timer, the ability to set up to five alarms, sunrise and sunset times, a power-saving mode, and an onboard thermometer, an altimeter, a barometer, and a digital compass with bearing memory. 

MWC P656 2023 Model Titanium Tactical Series

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 sound a 42mm titanium case that 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 that affords a removable ten-year battery.

Marathon Black Plot’s Navigator 

Pieced together around a high-impact composite fiber shell, the Marathon Black Plot’s Navigator is a standard issue pilot’s watch with a blacked-out color scheme. Keeping the tac watch ticking is a three-jewel ETA High-Torque FØ6 movement with an end-of-life indicator that notifies its wearer when it’s time to change the watch’s battery. Boasting a 20mm lug width, a 13mm thickness, and a width of 41mm, the case has also been bestowed with a sapphire crystal, a pressure crown, a unidirectional-rotating 12-hour bezel, and a spartan military-style dial with both tritium gas tubes and MaraGlo illumination.

Seiko Prospex “Arnie” SNJ025

A modern, highly authentic, and now solar-powered ointepratation of the Japanese brand’s original hybrid dive watch from 1982, the Seiko Prospex “Arnie” SNJ025 is an iconic timepiece that was famously worn 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, screwdown crown, pushers, a local time indication mode, and a whopping six months of battery life when fully charged. 

Luminox 45mm Navy SEAL Dive Watch 3502.L

In 1993 when the U.S. Navy SEALs needed a new standard-issue watch, the elite fighting force turned to Luminox, tasking the American watch 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 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.

Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar Tactical Edition

Heavily resistant to shocks, waterproof to 10 ATM, and built to MIL-STD-810 standards, the Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar Tactical Edition is a tactical-specific hybrid analog smartwatch that comes loaded with a Super-LumiNova-coated analog handset positioned over a digital memory-in-pixel smartwatch display. Crafted around a 45mm fiber-reinforced polymer case, this watch also features 24/7 health and sleep monitoring, around-the-clock activity tracking, GPS functionality/tracking, multi-GNSS support, back-tracking routing, an altimeter, a barometer, a compass, and a solar-powered system that affords up to 110 hours of life in GPS mode and an incredible 70 days of battery life even while operating in smartwatch mode. This smartwatch also boasts a myriad of additional tactical-specific features such as a kill switch mode, a jump-master mode, dual-format GPS, a stealth mode, and compatibility with night vision goggles.

MTM STATUS 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. The 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.

G-SHOCK GWG2000-1A3 Mudmaster

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 watch 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).

Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon

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. Water resistant to 200 meters, the Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon is also sold in a custom Pelican-style crushproof case that houses the watch, along with an extra strap and a removable protective bumper cover.

Lum-Tec Combat B52 Auto

Made by a micro brand that boasts what’s arguably the greatest American manufacturing claim of any domestic company currently in operation, the Lum-Tec Combat B52 Auto features a 43mm 316L stainless steel case that’s equipped with a threaded solid 316L stainless steel case-back, a threaded crown with double Viton seals, and high-tech Viton gaskets — the latter of which afford the field watch 200 meters of water resistance. Paired with a nylon military-style strap with matched gunmetal PVD hardware, the 316L case has been further fortified via a military-grade titanium carbide gunmetal PVD hard coating. Designed, assembled by hand, and fully tested in Ohio, the Combat B52 Auto, the watch sports a matte black dial with X1 grade Super-Luminova lume, MDV luminous technology, and diamond-cut hands — all under a curved sapphire with a military-grade inner AR coating. At the heart of the watch is a Swiss-made Ronda R150 automatic movement that’s set on an anti-shock movement mounting system.

Panerai Submersible Forze Speciali

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 model boasts a 47mm titanium case with a DLC-coating that features 300 meters of water resistance and 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. This face of the watch sports a pair of sub-dials, circular hour markets, and a generous amount of Super-LumiNova lume.

The Best Field Watches To Buy

With minimalistic, easy-to-read dials, rugged constructions, and overall spartan designs, military-inspired field watches can also make for great tactical timepiece picks. So, if you didn’t find what you were looking for on this list, we recommend heading over to our guide to the best field watches for a hand-selected list of battle-tested timepieces.