This is our official list of the best survival watches on the market today. Scroll further down for full details on each product.
5 Highest Reviewed Watches for Survival Scenarios
Braving the rugged wilderness is a thrill a hardcore outdoors man can’t ignore–but that doesn’t mean you should brave it alone. If there’s one piece of tech gear a survivalist can’t do without, it’s the best survival watch money can buy. Of course style and comfort matter, but when faced with mother nature’s indifference you’re also going to need a piece of gear that is resilient, weatherproof, and just a rough as the terrain you’re up against.
Reliable GPS navigation capabilities in a watch are of paramount importance when blazing new trails in uncharted territory. If you plan on making a solo excursion through dense forest or barren desert, be sure to strap a trustworthy guide on your wrist; your survival may depend on it. The outdoor market is so flooded with gear it nearly requires a GPS to navigate all the choices; don’t put your life in the hands of a product without due diligence.
Searching for the best survival watch can be an arduous task if you’re going in blind, so the journey before the journey begins here. Check out this list of the top survival watches guaranteed to help you find the best survival watch and thrive in any terrain.
1.) Survival Waterproof Paracord Watch by Southern Retail
Finally, a survivalist watch that can survive under water! This watch has it all, and then some. Fire starter flint and jute tinder paracord bracelet mean you’re going into the wild wearing a portable bonfire on your wrist.
According to the Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations, jute is a rough, natural fiber similar to hemp; biodegradable and highly flammable. In a desperate survival situation, catch your next meal by unraveling the paracord bracelet and using it as a fishing line. You can then spark your flint and set the jute tinder bracelet ablaze to cook your catch. This watch is ultra-handy, no pun intended.
PROS
- Waterproof
- Jute tinder paracord bracelet and fishing line
- Survivalist essentials
- Aesthetically toned down for everyday wear
CONS
- On the more expensive side
2.) 227 – Tactical Survival Paracord Watch
Loaded up with all the survivalist essentials (paracord wristband, fire starter flint that doubles as a knife, and compass) the arms on the face of this watch glow in the dark for easy viewing at night or under the dense forest canopy.
This big and beefy watch can take a beating out there in the unforgiving wilderness. This one is just about as rugged as they come.
PROS
- Glow in the dark watch arms
- Survivalist essentials
- Stopwatch and Calendar functions
CONS
- On the more expensive side
3.) Thermometer Paracord Survival Watch
This watch has all the features of the egymcom 7 in 1 (including the whistle and fire-starter flint) comes with a paracord bracelet that unravels into a 3-meter ultra-strong rope that can be used to tie down camping equipment and in other emergency situations, and is equipped with a thermometer to boot.
Stylistically, this time piece is less sleek and more military. Water-resistant technology renders this watch slightly more durable than the previous. If you plan on trudging through the mud out there in the wild, this is the one for you.
PROS
- Water-resistant
- Multifunctional
- Durable
- Affordable
CONS
- Bulky and not very well suited for casual wear
4.) Egymcom 7 in 1 Outdoor Watch
A braided paracord bracelet gives this watch a distinct, rock climbing appeal, but aesthetics are just the beginning with this mountaineer’s toolbox; all the basics are here. A compass on the face and wristband latch make viewing navigational assistance easy, whether you’re on the hiking trail or positioned on the face of a sheer rock face.
The wristband latch comes with a built-in scraper that can be used as knife; after you’ve scraped some kindling off a nice dry piece of wood, a fire-starter flint in the wristband latch helps light up your dinner prep when you’re out in the middle of nowhere. In an emergency situation, the paracord wrist bracelet can be disassembled for a multi-use rope that can support up to 300 pounds. Oh yeah, and it also tells time.
PROS
- Multi-functional
- Unique Design
- Non-abrasive wristband
CONS
- Non-waterproof
5.) Casio Men’s PAG240T-7CR
A titanium wristband and stainless steel case make this tank of a watch ready for any terrain. Rugged durability is just the beginning with the Casio Men’s PAG240T-7CR.
This watch is solar powered, fully digital with multiple compass features and is water resistant up to 330 ft. While perhaps not as versatile as some of the other best survival watches, the features it comes with certainly render it among the most durable. Don’t brave the unknown with out it!
PROS
- Ultra-durable
- Solar powered
- Water resistant up to 330 ft
- Aesthetically pleasing design
CONS
- Not extremely versatile
How a Survival Watch Can Help You
For some outdoors-men, depending on an innocuous accessory like a watch to save one’s life may seem far-fetched, but when you’re stranded in the wilderness with nothing but the clothes on your back, everything counts. If you’re simply not convinced, scope out this short list that illustrates just some of the ways a survival watch can save your skin from the reputable educational website “How Stuff Works”:
Build a Shelter:
A paracord bracelet can be extremely useful in a survival situation for building a shelter. Unravel the ultra-strong paracord and use it to bind scavenged natural materials such as wood and lush tree branches together to create a makeshift shelter that just might save your life for one more night.
Trap Food
Tie one end of the paracord bracelet to a tree branch and make a noose on the other end with enough slack so that the noose will tighten to trap small game. Obviously this trick requires some technical expertise–be sure to do your research before heading out into the unknown.
Find Your Way Out
No piece of gear is more essential when you’re lost in the woods than a reliable compass. Prepared with basic geographical knowledge and a good compass strapped to your wrist, a survival watch with a compass just make get you home alive to tell the tale.