The 5 Best Survival Watches For Off-Grid Adventure | Buying Guide

Need a durable timepiece for an outdoor vacation you’re planning? Your ideal accessory might be a survival watch. These watches are specifically made to survive challenging circumstances, such as adverse weather, water, and impact.

There is no reason not to employ contemporary technology, even though a daring adventurer can navigate using a regular analogue watch. In reality, some watches are more fully outfitted and may be regarded as survival watches.

In this blog, we’ll analyze in better detail the 5 best survival watches that can help you on the off-grid adventure.

What are Survival Watches?

A tough wristwatch created for use in harsh environments and survival situations is known as a survival watch. These watches not only have a tonne of protection against knocks, shocks, scratches, severe temperatures, and the environment, but they also frequently have extra features geared towards survival.
The majority of survival watches include long-lasting batteries (or power reserves), and some are even solar-powered and hardly ever require charging because they are made expressly for sustained off-grid use.

Top 5 Survival Watches to Buy in 2023

Below are some of the 5 best survival watches you can add to your adventure watch collection in 2023.

1. TIMEX EXPEDITION NORTH TIDE-TEMP-COMPASS WATCH

This watch made by Timex is specifically created for exploration in coastal and marine environments, which is a renowned outdoor classic timepiece with a contemporary twist. The watch includes an adjustable decline angle, an analogue compass, and integrated digital air and water temperature thermometers in addition to 100 metres of water resistance and a tide monitor system.

Furthermore, a 43mm gunmetal 316L stainless steel body with a polished and bead-blasted style contains the quartz mechanism that keeps this Timex watch working. The case also features an INDIGLO backlighting, a date window at 6 o’clock, and a green dial with a fourth ticking hand.

Specs

• Case Size: 43mm
• Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
• The movement used: Quartz
• Water Resistance: 100m

2. GARMIN INSTINCT CROSSOVER SOLAR

The Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar combines the best features of digital and analogue watches, with a luminous analogue handset positioned above a strong digital display. It is essentially an improved version of the brand’s highly capable Instinct 2 with an extra hand-set.

The Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar is built on a 45mm fibre-reinforced polymer case and features a double fibre-reinforced polymer and steel bezel. It is highly feature-rich, offering smartphone connectivity, Garmin’s Revodrive technology, a tough Power Glass lens, and more.

The main feature which dominates this watch from all of the other watches is the onboard solar charging that allows for long-lasting battery performance. The watch also has an incident detection function that may automatically send out emergency notifications with real-time location information to pre-programmed contacts.

Specs

• Case Size: 45mm
• Case Material: Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
• Movement: Smartwatch
• Water Resistance: 100m

3. SUUNTO CORE ALL BLACK

The Suunto Core All Black is an extremely tough, minimalist adventure device that weighs just 23.26 oz and is packed with advantages and benefits that are typically found in much more expensive items.

In this sturdy watch, you will get an altimeter, barometer, navigation system, and temperature sensor that are all located on board as well as a storm alarm, sunrise and sunset timers, a snorkelling depth metre, electro-luminescent led lighting, weather features, and a user-replaceable battery with a battery capacity of up to a year.

The Core All Black is made of a 49.1mm carbon case that is water-resistant to 30 metres, along with an aluminium bezel, an elastic band, and a mineral crystal glass lens.

Specs

• Case Size: 49.1mm
• Case Material: Composite
• Movement: Smartwatch
• Water Resistance: 30m

4. G-SHOCK MUDMASTER SERIES GGB100-1A3

An incredibly well-liked outdoor and survival watch, the G-SHOCK Mudmaster Series GGB100-1A3 initially appeared on the market in 2019. The watch has a polymer strap and is waterproof to 200 metres. It also has 5 everyday alarms, double LED backlighting, a global time function with 38 time zones, a barometer, an onboard altitude difference graph, a thermometer, a three-axis-regulated step counter, and more.

In this eye-catching watch, you will find a shock and mud-resistant 51.3mm carbon fibre reinforced polymer case with a single layer carbon and resin bezel, 200 metres of water resistance, two years of use from a single CR2025 battery, a dirt and dust filter, patterned metal push-buttons, and a metal case back inspired by off-road jerry cans.

Specs

• Case Size: 51.3mm
• Case Material: Carbon-Reinforced Resin
• Movement: Quartz
• Water Resistance: 200m

5. LUMINOX BEAR GRYLLS SURVIVAL OUTDOOR EXPLORER WATCH

A Bear Grylls x Luminox watch earning a spot on our list won’t likely come as a surprise since the Bear Grylls brand is associated with wilderness survival and off-grid exploring. The ultra-rugged Luminox Bear Grylls Survival Outdoor Explorer timepiece is crafted in Switzerland and was designed from the ground up exclusively for survival purposes.

The watch has a protected, double safety gasket, a screw-down crown, and a screw-in 316L stainless steel case-back, all of which contribute to its 200 metres of water resistance. It is built around an extraordinarily strong yet lightweight 45mm CARBONOX casing. The watch has a Swiss quartz movement and is equipped with an analogue compass. It also comes with a tough rubbery 24mm strap.

Specs

• Case Size: 45mm
• Case Material: CARBONOX
• Movement: Quartz
• Water Resistance: 200m