Forget about watches that are easy to let go of: get the kind that you can never get rid of.
Military watches are tenacious and strong, built to last for extended lengths of time, and intricately, manufactured to endure the harshest of conditions. When you need something that’s extra strong, made to follow you everywhere you go, and withstand everything that you put it through, it is important to know what you’re looking for.
Buyer’s Guide Overview
- G-Shock GA-100 Military Series Watch
- Timex Men’s Expedition Gallatin Watch
- Casio Men’s SGW300HB-3AVCF Multi-Function Sport Watch
- Timex Expedition Shock Digital Compass Watch
- G-Shock GD-120 Military Black Sports Stylish Watch
There are several different kinds of military watches, so you want to have a good idea of what you’re looking for, before making a purchase. Getting caught up in the details, while browsing, can be a bit overwhelming, so it’s good to do your research beforehand.
Often the most durable types of watches will be labelled “military” style, while some just replicate the features of those used in combat. Either way, this style is made to last, tough and strong, built of high quality components that won’t break or wear down, under high stress conditions and/or pressure. Also, the watches should not be restricted by military code (example).
Comparison Table
IMAGE | MODEL | FEATURES | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
G-Shock GA-100 Military Series Watch |
| View Product | ||
Timex Men’s Expedition Gallatin Watch |
| View Product | ||
Casio Men’s SGW300HB-3AVCF Multi-Function Sport Watch |
| View Product | ||
Timex Expedition Shock Digital Compass Watch |
| View Product | ||
G-Shock GD-120 Military Black Sports Stylish Watch |
| View Product |
When looking for a watch that lasts, a good time frame for use is around ten years, and it needs to be able to endure more abuse than a regular watch can (e.g. high movement, such as being dropped or withstanding impact). A good military watch should be reliable, and have a reputation for precision, keeping accurate time, a necessity for anyone adhering to a strict schedule.
When choosing a style from the wide variety of selections that you will have, you should make sure to look for a neutral tone, that will blend in with your surroundings (think: the hues of fatigues, made to camouflage in any environment).
Remember, that this is a watch made for outdoor use and wear, and it can also double as a sports watch, for those of you who are looking for a good watch for recreational use. These are great options, for athletes, gym teachers or personal trainers. Make sure you choose an all-weather style, that can withstand the elements, as well as maintain the right amount of visibility in various lighting conditions.
You want the watch to be readable to yourself, but not overly conspicuous to others; A military watch is more functional than fashionable. To date, there is no professionally labelled “military watch” that has met specific standards and criteria to be deemed the perfect choice, so you will need to pay attention to the features that are required to suit your everyday life.
Take your time, and look for the one that has most of the features that you require. You might have to weigh some things out, in order to determine which of your requirements take the highest priority, in case you don’t find everything you want, all in one watch.
What to Look For in Your Military Watch
- Low light when showing the time
- Rotating bezel to mark or time events
- Elapsed time feature to show hours and minutes passed
- Plain, simple look to avoid standing out
- Clear, easily readable face in neutral tones
The 5 Best Military Watch You Can Buy Under $100
1. G-Shock GA-100 Military Series Watch
The Military Series GA-100 is one of the most popular choices in the G-Shock, Military Series line. The colors in this line are exactly what you are looking for, and are designed, specifically, for neutrality and camouflage.
The matte finish won’t reflect light in the sun, and the colors are appealing enough to still give the watch a nice look, without being overly flashy. The time is displayed in both analog and digital format, and the backlight color is low, for just the right amount of visibility.
Highlights of this watch include
- Shock and Magnetic Resistant
- Auto LED Light with Afterglow
- World Time in 29 times zones and 48 cities
- Water resistant for up to 200 meters below sea level
2. Timex Men’s Expedition Gallatin Watch
This watch is a highly durable style, that is built sturdy and strong, reliable to endure a lot of pressure and distress. Part of the Timex Expedition Gallatin collection, it is a sports style watch that is designed for those with active lifestyles. You can wear this one in a variety of settings, and use it during a number of activities.
Activities are made easy with the Gallatin watch because it includes a date window, with time shown in both 12 hour and 24 hour format, and the watch is water resistant for up to 50 Meters, below Sea Level.
The band is built to keep the watch held firmly in place, made from Nylon and a secure, buckle clasp. It also has a large, wide face, for added visibility, and easy viewing. This is a battery powered watch, featuring, precise, quartz movement.
Highlights of this watch include
- Indiglo backlight
- Luminous hands
- Arabic numerals
- Face cover
- Black case, for storage
- 44-mm diameter
- backed by a 1-year limited warranty
3. Casio Men’s SGW300HB-3AVCF Multi-Function Sport Watch
The Casio Multi-Function Sport Watch stays put, with buckle style closure, that won’t slide around, during high intensity activities. Featuring digital time display, and made from exceptionally light-weight material, this is a great, low lustre, polished finish watch.
Water resistant in up to 100 Meters, below Sea Level, this is a practical style, battery operated watch, with precise, quartz movement. We especially like that it’s easy to clean, and brushes up after a hard day’s work, with the use of only a damp cloth.
Special Features
- Barometer and thermometer for monitoring weather conditions
- Includes 1 Year limited warranty
4. Timex Expedition Shock Digital Compass Watch
Designed to brave the elements, this outdoor, digital watch is built in modest style, and designed to last through rough and tough activities. The back light on the display features a low-light style, and the matte black, resin material construction, makes this a great, shock resistant watch for high levels of activity.
The watch is water resistant for up to 200 Meters, below Sea Level, and features precise, quartz movement. Timex Expedition is built especially for those with busy lifestyles, for use in sports, fitness and outdoor adventures. The wide band and buckle closure, make this a very sturdy, shock resistant, water proof watch, that is great for outdoor enthusiasts.
Special Features
- Made in the Philippines
- 1-year limited warranty
5. G-Shock GD-120 Military Black Sports Stylish Watch
This one has a whole list of features that you don’t want to miss! Where should we start? Like most Military watches, it’s shock resistant and water resistant. The watch is designed to sensitively protect against vibration, in addition to bumps, bangs and falls. Its water proof design is built for diving, in up to 200 Meters, below Sea Level, and it is also resistant to pressure.
The watch is styled with a large face, even though it’s very light weight. Made from mineral glass, it is also resistant to scratching, while the resin wrist strap, holds the watch in place and allows for some flexibility with movement.
One of the drawbacks, in terms of its use as a military style watch, is the Super-Auto-LED light, which is quite bright, and not the best if blending in is a priority. There is also a flash with every alarm, time kept, or on the hour, so this can affect visibility, in times when camouflage is a priority.
On the upside, however, there are a variety of functions built in to the watch for displaying time. There are four time zone displays, as well as stop watch, timer and daily alarm functions, all rolled into one! Stop watch functions include elapsed, split and final time, and the watch model is known for its precision.
The timer is associated with a tone signal, which can be a pro or a con, depending on the location and requirements for use. Daily alarms are great for those adhering to strict schedules, and allow for flexibility, with up to five, different reminder settings.
Good News: The watch function sounds can be turned off.
Bad News: Alarms still have sound.
A great feature with of the GD-120 Sports watch is flexibility with time. There is an automatic calendar, to keep you up-to-date, and both 12 hour and 24 hour displays to choose from.
Special feature
- one battery for this watch provides power and energy that lasts for seven years.
The final note is this: The G-Shock GD-120 Military Sports watch is a very good sport watch that is both durable and flexible. However, due to sounds and light, this may not be the best of military watches, and we recommend it, rather, for use indoors or off duty.
Check The PriceTiming Features on G-Shock Watches
How to Set up the Countdown Timer On Your Watch
- Use the C button to Set the timer
- Hold the A button for three seconds
- The timer should be flashing
- Use the B & D buttons to set the time; the C button goes from minutes to seconds
- Set the time for the desired length of time
- Press the A button to set the time
- Hold the D button to start the timer
- The time should start counting down by seconds
- End: The watch will beep for 10 seconds, when the time is up
- Holding the A & B buttons, together, will turn off the alarm sound
How to Set the Date and Time on Your Watch
- Adjust Button – Changes City Code: Hold this button until the bottom, right display starts blinking
- Forward Button – Press this button until you find your City Location
- Mode Button – Use this to scroll through your options
- Toggle through the buttons and repeat the process for month, day and year
- Forward Button – Scrolls up
- Reverse Button – Scrolls down
- Adjust Button – Sets the time
Why the G-Shock Series Reigns Supreme
This style of watch is created by a European manufacturer, and we recommended taking a closer look at the G-Shock Series, by CASIO. The shock-resistant “G-SHOCK” line represents watches that are synonymous with toughness, a great edge for those looking for Military Style watches.
Born from the developer Mr. Ibe, the watches reflect the designer’s dream of “creating a watch that never breaks.” The G-Shock line was expanded in the Spring of 2016, and now the watches are featured on the Casio website, with this appropriate heading: “G-Shock, Absolute Toughness.”
This line is a really great product line, with hundreds of watches to choose from. There is something in this line for everyone, for athletes, the outdoor enthusiast, hikers and camping adventurers to those mentioned in the title of our article, military men and women.
These rugged, highly durable, tough and strong styles are made for all terrain activities, from water, to rough land conditions and they are also built to last through the most strenuous, physical pursuits.