If you ever find yourself in a bad situation, you'll really wish you had the best survival watch on you. A watch is more than just something to tell the time with.
Here' the deal:
You might of asked what is considered a survival watch anyways? Questions like is it expensive and worth the money, do I really need one, and how can it help come to mind.
As it turns out...
Having a watch that you wear often and one that has certain features is very important. In fact, your watch could become one of your last life lines that you have available to you if you happen to lose your other gear.
Remember that a watch can be extremely useful, not just for telling time.
In this article, I am going to show you what your best options are out there. We are going to look at the specific features you need that will serve you well in survival situations.
Survival is a serious topic. Every once in a great while something happens, and we are left either being prepared or not.
The consequences for not being prepared can sometimes end disastrously.
That is why a good watch is one of the most critical pieces of gear for survival.
Let's first go through the criteria for choosing the right watch for survival situations.
And that's not all...
Then, we will reveal the best options out there, why they are so great, and why you need one.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, where I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Comparison Table
Image | Model | Solar | Compass | Price | Rating |
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| Yes | Yes | $$$ | 
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| Yes | Yes | $$$ |
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| Yes | Yes | $$$ | 
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| Yes | Yes | $$$$ |
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| No | Yes | $$$ | 
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Best Survival Watches Criteria
What makes a watch one of the best? There are several factors that are critical.
Compass
It is smart to get a backup compass built into the watch in case we somehow get separated from our primary compass or it gets damaged.
Durability
The first factor is we want a watch that is durable. It needs to be able to take a beating and still last a long time. Nothing is worse than tripping and using your arm to break your fall, only to discover that you broke your watch.
Water Resistance
Another critical factor is water resistance. We should be able to drag the watch through the mud, jump into a lake, or swim a river without any problems. Those situations can and do happen in a survival scenerio.
Battery
The next factor to consider is battery life. Our watch should work for a long time, and if we do end up in survival mode, chances are we won't have access to a new battery.
Some watches have a solar powered battery setup. This means that while the watch is exposed to light, it is recharging the battery.
Advanced Features
Another option is more advanced features. We can also get things like a barometer for measuring pressure, altimeter for measuring altitude, and even a thermometer for the temperature.
Now let's look at the overall winners that meet all of our criteria.
1. GW-9400-3CR
The Casio GW-9400-3CR, part of the G-shock product line, is a top notch watch that is perfect for survival. It is the crowned winner based on quality, capability, and price.
It is one of the most rugged and durable watches out there. It even claims to be able to survive a 10 meter free fall drop.
It has a water resistance down to 200 meters, so we don't have to worry about getting it wet or even being submerged in water.
The GW-9400-3CR is solar powered, which means that the battery will recharge any time it is exposed to indoor or outdoor light, and should last up to 10 years.
It has a built in digital compass that we can fall back on as a secondary option if things go badly.
Other advanced features include a thermometer, altimeter, and barometer to help keep us informed about the conditions of our environment.
The LCD is stealth inverted, which means that the dark background and white symbols on the display help keep us hidden from others at a distance.
The watch has a drab green color scheme that looks and feels tough. As one reviewer put it, it is like having a tank on your arm. It's mean, lean, and green loaded with life saving features.
Check out the video review below.
Pros
The GW-9400-3CR sets itself apart from the competition because of its awesome design and rugged durability. This watch is made to take a beating and keep on ticking.
The solar power capability is a huge discriminator in survival. How would you like to have another watch without solar, and that one time you really need it for your very survival, the battery decides to die?
The built in compass is a huge plus. For those situations where you had to drop your gear or lost part of it, you will always have the ability to find your way by using what is strapped on your arm. This is the best compass watch on the market.
The watch looks amazing too. No doubt you will be the talk of the room when others spot this piece of gear on you. Many reviewers can confirm this fact.
Cons
The only downside of the GW-9400-3CR is that for some of us, it could be pricey. However, it is priced extremely well for the collection of capabilities and the quality that it provides.
2. Casio PAG240-1CR
The Casio PAG240-1CR is our second place winner for its awesome mix of features.
It is a solar powered watch that will give you a long battery life. Its water resistance goes down to 100 meters.
The on board digital compass is there for you when you need it.
The watch also has advanced features including a temperature sensor, barometer, and altimeter which gives you an excellent array of capabilities.
For the cost and features, this is the best hiking watch that you can get. As you can see in the following video, it also looks amazing which makes it a great every day watch.
3. Casio GW-9400-1CR
If green is not your color, our number 1 winner has a cool looking cousin.
The GW-9400-1CR is identical to the GW-9400-3CR, except that its got a black and red theme instead of green.
The watch has a fantastic set of qualities including a solar powered battery and a built in digital compass.
The triple sensor ability includes a thermometer, altimeter, and barometer.
If you are looking for a nice watch out on the climb, then this is one of the best altimeter watches out there.
Check out the video review to see it in action.
4. Casio PRW-2500T-7CR
If your budget will allow for it, the PRW-2500T-7CR has the complete set of amazing features in a watch.
It sports a solar powered battery system to give you a long battery life.
There is a built in digital compass. The advanced features not only include a temperature sensor, altimeter, and barometer, but it also has tidal information on board.
This watch is simply amazing and isn't too much more expensive than the others in its performance grade.
Check out the amazing capabilities in the video below.
5. Suunto Core All Black
If you are not a Casio fan, then there are of course other watch brands out there.
However, it seems that right now Casio is one of the only companies that knows how to produce a high durability watch made for the wilderness.
The Suunto Core All Black is a great alternative option.
Although it does not have a solar powered battery, the digital compass is really nice. It also has the more advanced temperature sensor, barometer, and altimeter.
Again, this is a great watch, but it doesn't quite stack up as high as the Casio options mentioned earlier.
See how slick this watch looks in the following video.
Conclusion
In summary, we covered what it takes to pick a good watch when it comes to survival. We looked at the criteria and decided what is important for our situation.
Next, we took a look at the number one winner out there on the market. The GW-9400-3CR is an amazing watch with amazing features.
It is durable, water resistant, solar powered, and has many advanced functions. The screen is stealth worthy with its black background and white symbols.
The built in compass, thermometer, altimeter, and barometer will help us get a handle on what is happening around us.
Now that we know what the best watches are, it's time to make a decision and get one today. Treat yourself. It very well could help you out in a difficult survival situation in the future.
If a military watch is more your thing, then there are a few other great tactical watches out there.
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