6 Best Military Smart Watches in 2023: Buying Guide

Introduction: What Is the Best Military Smart Watch?

Timing is crucial, whether in a combat zone or extreme outdoor sports. Unlike military watches, ordinary ones aren’t fit for people who face harsh conditions like our Air Force pilots around the world.

The best military smart watches can assist in either situation because it displays the time and comes with important instruments like a GPS, compass, altimeter, and built-in barometer to help the owner better understand their immediate circumstances.

Watches constructed with tactical military standards will continue functioning even when exposed to severe environments.

Such as those found in the deep sea, high mountains, and even active combat zones make them suitable for the busy lifestyles of soldiers and explorers.

However, finding an excellent watch is more complex than it may sound. Therefore, this article gives you 6 of the smart watches to help you accomplish all your goals and become a better strategist.

Our Top Picks For Best Military Grade Smartwatches 2023:

Best Tactical Smartwatch For Long Tracks: Garmin Tactix Delta

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Specifications and Features

• Price: $ 899.99

• 1.4 inches screen display

• with Bluetooth

• GPS technology

• 21 days battery life

The Garmin Tactix Delta is the first top-tier watch, one of the finest men’s military timepieces ever created. This tough watch is for the adventurous, with military-grade resilience and tactical-specific functions.

It has a 1.4-inch face, so no trouble seeing it in bright sun or total darkness. This watch is also compatible with night vision goggles meant for operation in dark and low light conditions.

Adding TOPO maps to these smartwatches increases the security and enjoyment of outdoor pursuits like climbing, backpacking, shooting, etc. Additionally, you can retrace steps from your starting point thanks to the routable nature of these maps.

It also works with satellite activity tracking systems such as GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. An additional perk of the Garmin Tactix Delta that we found helpful during travels was the ability to use its GPS to monitor our regular physical activities like jogging, riding, and swimming.

Additionally, it’s a 10ATM watch, so you can wear it while diving, sailing, or doing other water-related activities. However, it only suits extreme sports like scuba diving or swimming. 

It is an authentic military grade smartwatch because it has Jumpmaster mode, waypoint projection, and dual-position GPS layout, among other essential tactical features.

This smartwatch monitors your vitals in addition to giving you a military edge. This Garmin watch includes an in-built heart rate monitor that continuously monitors your heart rate and provides precise statistics on your cardiovascular health.

While looking for a military smartwatch, it is also essential to take note of its battery life. So that you don’t have to stop amid a vital task because your watch died. Thanks to its long-lasting battery, this watch can keep time for 21 days.

More importantly, putting it into power-saving mode will raise the limit to 120 days. This smartwatch can go for over 2 weeks between charges with typical use. You can always purchase the solar-powered variant if you need more battery life than this watch.

Pros:

• Topographic coloured images 

• Good with night goggles

• 100 meters water resistance

• Fitness monitoring ability

• Several tactical features

Cons:

• No touchscreen display

• Expensive

Best smartwatch For Health Enthusiasts: Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Tactical Watch

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Specifications and Features

• Price: $ 249.99

• Unisex

• Compatible with Smartphone

• Power Manager

• Stealth Mode

• GPS

• Sleep Monitor

• Heart Rate Monitor

• Stress Tracking

• ABC Sensors

• Notifications, Calendaring

• Accelerometer

• Body Temperature Monitor

• Compass

• Calorie Tracker

• Distance Tracker

• Pedometer

• Night Vision Compatibility

• Solar Charging

You’ve come to the correct spot if you want to buy a reliable military standard tracker that can monitor your health and the activities you engage in outside. That’s why Garmin watches made the Garmin Instinct Solar, a product aimed at the adventurer crowd who also cares about their health.

The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Tactical, like the other military-grade smartwatch on this list, includes heart rate sensors to keep tabs on your cardiovascular fitness. In addition, a pulse oximeter feature allows you to assess your blood oxygen saturation.

You can use it to monitor your health and everyday exercise routines like jogging, swimming, and weightlifting.

In terms of operational capabilities, it boasts the same foundational tools as the Garmin Tactix Delta, which we covered at length previously in this piece. There is a Jumpmaster option, a waypoint projection, and a dual-position GPS format.

The Tactix Delta has more functionality than this Garmin Instinct Solar smartwatch does. It lacks TOPO charts and has a monochrome face, while the Tactix Delta’s screen display is full color. However, considering how much cheaper this watch is compared to the Garmin Tactix Delta, there’s little room for complaint.

This military smartwatch is solar power generated. As a result, just going outside into the sun will automatically recharge it.

Instinct Solar Rifle is highly resilient and can withstand harsh environments. The smartwatch can withstand depths of up to 100 meters of water, making it suitable for use in the pool.

The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Tactical is an excellent alternative to the more expensive Garmin Tactix Delta if you are on a tight budget. Compared to Tactix Delta, Garmin Instinct Solar price drops nearly half while maintaining roughly identical functionality.

 

Pros

• Budget-Friendly Tactical Watch

• Military-grade durability

• Solar rechargeable battery

• with depth meter ( 100 m)

• Capable of Monitoring Health Stats

Cons

• No TOPO maps

• Non-color display

Best Military Smartwatches for Diving: CASIO G-Shock MUDMASTER

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Specifications and Features

• Price: $674.74

• Oversized Winding Crown

• Automatic Movement

• 200-meter water resistance

• Rugged design

Casio G-Shock Mudmaster is an excellent choice for any Naval SEALs, law enforcement officers, or other professions requiring much hard labor.

This watch isn’t as flashy as your typical smartwatch, but it does have all the essential practical functions you’ll need to survive in the field.

While we wish it had a built-in GPS like the Garmin Tactix Delta, the Altimeter, Barometer, compass and silicone strap made it a great outdoor good fit.

The feature that truly sets this watch apart and makes it so impressive as a military watch is its Atomic Timekeeping same as Casio Rangeman. Thanks to this function, this watch eliminates the need to enter the time and date physically.

The watch gets updates or synchronizes itself to the most accurate time via wireless transmissions at regular periods. Military personnel often wear atomic timepieces like the G-Shock Mudmaster because every second matters in the field.

The smartwatch’s capacity for solar charging meant that you never had to think about its battery life, even when using it extensively for activity monitoring in bright sunlight.

Additionally, this watch can be used day or night. Thanks to two tiny Lights hidden inside the watch face, you can read the time in low-light situations. The watch hands and numerals are also luminous, making it easily read even in poor light and in the dark.

Its resilience and tactical features make it an excellent choice for military use. You get the same reliable quality that has made G-Shock timepieces so popular. You can use it daily in the harshest circumstances, lasting for years.

 

Pros:

• Luminated display

• Precision atomic clocks

• Very long-lasting

• Comfortable

• Elegant design

Cons:

• No GPS

• Expensive

Best Tactical Watch for Workouts: Suunto 9 Baro

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Specifications and Features:

• Price: $358.91

• Touchscreen

• MultiSport GPS

• 120 Hour battery life

The Suunto 9 Baro is another good tactical smartwatch suitable for military use. It includes a barometer, as its name suggests. Additionally, it has a compass and barometer built in. The sum of these features makes it an excellent smartwatch for use in the field during combat operations.

The Suunto 9 Baro is compatible with various global satellite tracking devices. It’s safe to say that you won’t be wandering for long.

The sturdiness and durability of this watch are also strong suits. This timepiece is so tough that it is military specifications tested. A scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
screen shields this smartwatch’s improved display to prevent damage from drops and scratches.

Unlike other watches on this list, this one helped us keep tabs on more than just my physical activity and diet. Many favorite sports are among the more than 80 + accessible sports modes. This smartwatch allowed many to keep detailed records of their exercise sessions.

This smartwatch’s exclusive interactive feature is what sold many users. Thus, besides the controls, We could tap the device to make selections. Not many military watches feature a touch screen, making navigating the interface a breeze.

The fact that this military-grade watch only has a 14-day battery life and is not solar power generated is disappointing. Its battery life could be better than the other smartwatches here.

Ultimately, it’s a great practical watch with great features that won’t break the bank. Therefore, this is the perfect watch for you if you are looking for a multifunctional timepiece without costing a fortune.

 

Pros:

• 100-meter waterproof touchscreen

• ABC sensors

• Multiple-satellite tracking

• Monitors your health and fitness

Cons:

• Suunto mobile app complication

• No solar charging

Best Tactical And Budget-Friendly Watch: Suunto Core

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Specifications and Features:

• Price: $ 155.70

• Unisex

• With Compass, Storm Alarm, Altimeter, Barometer

• 30-meter water resistance

The Suunto Core is the best choice if your budget is minimal and you want to purchase a cheap, durable combat military smartwatch for use in the woods and desert.

It is a low-cost smartwatch with all the great tactical watch features and military-grade durability that will aid you in escaping sticky circumstances.

Despite lacking a GPS, it still comes with a built-in altimeter, barometer, and compass, all essential for military operations like automatic shot detection. Additionally, it has a dawn and sundown alert to help you stay awake throughout the day.

Suunto Core can also detect a decrease in air pressure and warn you about the changing weather and impending cyclone to keep you secure when travelling far from home.

You won’t have a problem or worry wearing the watch in the ocean because it is 100 meters waterproof. However, you shouldn’t engage in risky aquatic tactical activities with it; otherwise, it can function reasonably well.

Its general construction appears solid so that this watch will function correctly.

One man reportedly used it for more than 6 years, according to a comment on Amazon. Consequently, this watch is a clear victor in terms of longevity.

Ultimately, if you don’t want to spend a lot on a watch, Suunto Core is the finest military watch under $200 that you can purchase for practical reasons.

Pros:

• Affordable military watch

• Good Build

• 100-meter water resistance

• with Storm Alarm/Weather shift warning

• Sunrise and sunset alert

Cons:

• No GPS

• No TOPO Maps

Best Watches For Adventure and Sports Enthusiasts: Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar

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Specifications and Features:

• Price: $ 1019.99

• Touchscreen

• Bluetooth

• TopoActive Maps

• 11-day battery life

Last but not least, we have the Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar.

However, this time it’s a multisport watch that is not only for exercise but also for practical purposes. It has routable, full-colour TOPO maps like those found on the Garmin Tactix Delta, allowing you to quickly find your way back to where you started.

It has more sophisticated tracking instruments than GPS, such as Galileo and GLONASS, allowing it to monitor even the most challenging environments. Furthermore, it features a three-axis compass to keep track of your exact location while hiking.

The watch’s gyroscope complements the compass by providing additional information about the user’s current location for more accurate direction and distance estimates. These functions make this tactical watch an excellent military wearable that can aid you in escaping any predicament.

The multisport function of this device allows you to prepare for various activities, such as jogging, riding, hiking and swimming. This military smartwatch, like many others, is water resistant to a depth of 10 meters (30 feet). This tactical watch is excellent for shallow water sports like diving.

More so, it is a photovoltaic power-integrated military smartwatch. It means you can restate your concerns about its energy life.

Solar charging extends the life of the Fenix 7X Sapphire’s battery by 37 days. The power conservation mode activated can extend its useful life span to 90 days. As a result, it has one of the most extended-lasting batteries of any smartwatch on the market.

This watch features a heart rate tracker that lets you track your heart rate and keep tabs on your cardiovascular fitness and wellness.

As a finishing touch, a glass lens sits atop a steel case, making this tactical watch incredibly durable. Together, these specs give this military smartwatch a solid, unyielding structure.

Pros:

• Colourful Topographical Maps

• Prepare you for a variety of sports.

• Includes a pulse rate sensor

• Effective navigational depth sensor

• Built to last

Cons:

• For bigger wrist size

• A few reviewers have said that it is too dim.

What Features To Look For When Buying Military Smart Watches?

Great Durability

Even after repeated drops, it is impossible to harm a military-grade wristwatch’s interior components.

Metals and alloys construct the exterior covering, making the structure solid. Additionally, it needs to be watertight and withstand higher water pressure than a regular watch. Regular smartwatches need this function to compete with the finest military watches.

Design

Military devices are built to withstand the most extreme conditions. Made to fit in with any setting subtly, they are incredibly stealthy. Green and arid camouflage patterns are these designs’ most widely used hues. The metal housings and reinforced components give the best military timepieces a heftier feel than civilian wearables.

Military Features

The finest military watches have instruments for things other than just vital signs. Based on your needs, the smartwatch may include additional depth sensors and GPS (making it the finest GPS military watch). A GPS system is an invaluable tool when one has trouble pinpointing one’s precise area and current location.

Battery Life

Extended battery life allows you to go weeks without needing to plug in your device, which is invaluable when exploring unknown regions. The batteries in today’s military smartwatches are more powerful in performance and may even run with sunlight.

That’s why they can keep going for a long without needing a recharge or power battery. They can keep feeding off their energy—a must-have function for civilian smartwatches to compete with the finest military smartwatches.

Portable network access

In ultra-low-power Bluetooth or wi-fi, wireless connectivity is a feature found in the highest tier of military-grade watches. These timepieces can connect to your computer or smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing you to simultaneously take advantage of their advanced features. These applications commonly help you monitor your exercise progress or fitness tracking.

We advise you to consider your intended use case before entering wireless communication.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in them. It might be worthwhile if you’re a runner or traveller who regularly tracks your progress on your phone. It’s convenient to have your audio play across all your gadgets, and some military watches can even download maps and provide turn-by-turn directions.

Functionality like this is for wealthy users who can splurge on extras. You won’t suffer terribly in the woods even if you don’t have one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

FAQ#1: Which brand of watch do army personnel use?

Army personnel mainly use Casio G- Shock because of their rugged design, toughness and useful combat functions.

FAQ#2: What about the Apple Watch? Are they a smart buy for the military?

The Apple Watch is a fantastic smartwatch for outdoor activities in most respects, but it will not survive for military use due to its lack of durability and sophisticated combat capabilities.

FAQ#3: What Are the Best Military Watches for rough conditions?

Based on our testing, we recommend the G-Shock Mudmaster as the most reliable military watch.

FAQ#4: Soldiers often wear their military watches upside down, but why?

Soldiers typically wear their timepieces upside down to check the time and other info while still carrying a pistol or firearm.

FAQ#5: Will a smartwatch be allowed for soldiers?

Soldiers are permitted to wear a smartwatch, and many wear fitness monitors, but they are limited to one smartwatch per hand.

Conclusion: What are the best military smartwatches?

That wraps up our top picks for best tactical watches.

Describing a military-grade watch is a difficult task, like pinpointing a rapid vehicle’s exact characteristics. It’s all related to what you already have and can do, so budget carefully and only purchase what you require.

G-Shock watches are the most rugged tactical kinds built to withstand the rigors of military service. You can even choose between durable smartwatches from Garmin watches and Suunto, which provide excellent tracking features. Finally, some mechanical watches feature altimeters and barometers and can fix the time independently.