Toughest Watches 2026 | 12 Durable Wrist Watches For Outdoor Use
If your adventures take you off grid, forget fancy smartwatches – you need a robust and reliable timepiece on your wrist. Here are the toughest quartz and mechanical outdoor watches out there
Watches have long been associated with adventure and exploration. When Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first men to summit Everest on May 29, 1953, they both had Rolexes on their wrists. When astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin went to the moon in 1969, they were both issued with Omega Speedmaster Chronographs. Of course, luxury watches aren’t really a practical proposition for most wild camping weekends or multi-day backpacking trips. But it still proves the point that a rugged and reliable watch is a useful bit of kit. Indeed, Mountain Rescue advice is that whenever you head into the hills, at least one member of the party should have a dependable watch with them.
Increasingly, many hikers, runners and cyclists have turned to GPS smartwatches to fulfil this need. Their multi-functionality is undeniably useful, whether you use one for navigation or fitness tracking, motivating you to push harder, faster and higher – from step counts to calories burned. And of course, they can keep you connected, with social media notifications, music integration and weather alerts. The problem with many models is that if you venture off-grid for long periods, you’ll probably need to top up their battery life, which means carrying extra weight in the form of a portable charger or power bank. And as anyone who has tackled a long-distance trail will know, power is always at a premium on extended trips, especially if you’re not going anywhere near a mains-powered plug socket anytime soon.
Then there’s their temperamental nature. Firstly, lithium-ion batteries don’t like the cold, which could mean your device powers down without warning, leaving you with no clue as to what time it is (and whether you’re going to reach your planned camp spot before nightfall). Secondly, all that technology inevitably makes such devices both more complicated and more delicate – typically being pretty susceptible to impact, shock and vibration. And last, there’s a lot to be said for keeping things simple. Sometimes, escaping into the hills is all about leaving modern gadgets behind, relying on your own wits, knowledge and experience – in conjunction with tried and tested equipment like a good old-fashioned map and compass, and a classic analogue watch.
Don’t get us wrong, there’s definitely a place for GPS watches in the great outdoors. That’s why we put together our round-up of Best GPS Watches. But if you want an adventure companion that keeps things simple, or which you can rely on no matter what, it’s worth considering a tough, rugged and uncomplicated outdoor watch – so that’s exactly what we went looking for. You can think of these as the Arnold Schwarzeneggers and Jean Claude Van Dammes of the watch world (with a few slightly more understated, handsome-but-tough contenders thrown in too – think Daniel Craig or Liam Neeson).
The 12 Toughest Watches For Outdoor Use
We’ve scoured the market for the most-rugged watches out there, resulting in a wide variety of models at different price points. Here are our favourites:
G-Shock Mudmaster, GWG-B1000-1AER – The toughest outdoor watch overall in our tests
Luminox Bear Grylls Survival Master Series – Our runner up
Garmin Fenix 8 Pro – Most rugged GPS watch, according to our tests
Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon
RZE Resolute Pro
Coros Apex 4
Elliot Brown Bloxworth Heritage Diver
Nixon Regulus
Polar Grit X2 Pro
Hamilton Khaki Mechanical Bronze
Nezumi Baleine Diver
TRIWA Ocean Plastic Sub
1. G-Shock Mudmaster, GWG-B1000-1AER
The toughest outdoor watch overall in our tests
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G-Shock Mudmaster, GWG-B1000-1AER
Our tester’s verdict: “If what’s important is pure performance – namely, rugged reliability in all environments, plus a fair bit of on-board tech – then there’s probably no better all-round outdoor watch out there.”
Price: £570 Weight: 106g Best for: Multi-sport use, mountain pursuits, hiking and backpacking Key attributes: Ultra rugged, solar powered, impressive features
The G-Shock Mudmaster is arguably the definition of a rugged outdoor watch. Its overbuilt design ought to outlast even the toughest smartwatch, and since it’s powered by a solar quartz movement, it’ll run for up to six months even in total darkness. And while it’s not quite as clever as a GPS-equipped smartwatch, it’s still pretty sophisticated, with a host of built-in tools such as a compass, altimeter, barometer and thermometer.
Photo: Matt Jones
The super-tough case is made from carbon fibre resin, providing impressive shock and impact resistant as well as water resistance up to 200m. It’s a big old beast, and there are few concessions to style or looks. But if what’s important is pure performance – namely, rugged reliability in all environments, plus a fair bit of on-board tech – then there’s probably no better all-round outdoor watch out there.
Carbon Core Guard case with steel crown and steel/forged carbon bezel | Stainless steel case back | Tough solar quartz movement | World time, date, alarm, stopwatch, timer, altimeter, barometer, thermometer and compass functions | 200m/20 ATM water resistance | Sapphire crystal | Resin strap.
2. Luminox Bear Grylls Survival Master Series
Our runner up
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Luminox Bear Grylls Survival Master
Our tester’s verdict: “As an all-round adventure watch, this does the job extremely well. It’s rugged, reliable and offers fantastic legibility in the dark thanks to the vivid glow of the Tritium luminescent technology.”
Price: £480 Weight: 89g Best for: Mountain pursuits, camping, hiking and backpacking Key attributes: tough, lightweight, chronograph function, super-bright Tritium lume
Bear Grylls’ survival weapon of choice, this big, bold and burly tool watch draws on Bear’s unique brand of high-octane adventure in its striking looks and rugged build. But the sleek carbon fibre case means it feels very light on your wrist, while the tri-compax chronograph adds precision timekeeping functionality too. It has an impressive water resistance rating of 300 metres, while the rotating dive bezel is marked with both elapsed minutes and compass bearings for added utility.
Photo: Luminox
However, our favourite feature is Luminox’s signature self-powered tritium tube luminescent technology, which offers fantastic visibility even in pitch black conditions. If you spend a lot of time night-hiking, caving, camping or bivvying, this is the first watch we’d grab. It makes a great all-round adventure watch. Admittedly, it is expensive, especially for a quartz watch, but it’s a unique piece, and we don’t think you’d be disappointed if you did decide to splurge.
Carbonox case and bezel with steel crown and pushers | Stainless steel case back | Swiss quartz movement | Chronograph and date functions | T25 Tritium tube luminous technology | 300m/30 ATM water resistance | Sapphire crystal | Rubber strap.
3. Garmin Fenix 8 Pro
Most rugged GPS watch, according to our tests
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Garmin Fenix 8 Pro
Our editor’s verdict: “For those who prioritise navigation, safety and reliability outdoors, the Fenix 8 Pro is a standout choice.”
Price: £1,000–£1,730 Weight: About 90g (51mm case) Best for: Long hikes, trail running, remote adventures Key attributes: Full TOPO maps, highly accurate GPS, long battery life, satellite safety features, rugged build
The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier outdoor watch designed for hikers and trail runners who regularly head into remote terrain. Yes it’s a smartwatch, so it won’t necessarily stand up to wear and tear in the same way as a traditional watch. That being said, smartwatches have come along way in the past few years, and we think the Fenix 8 Pro’s rugged build makes it well worthy of inclusive in this list.
It combines a tough, weatherproof build with a bright AMOLED screen that makes maps, routes and stats easy to read on the move, even in poor light or bad weather. Full-colour TOPO maps are built in, letting you follow trails, check elevation changes and navigate unfamiliar routes without relying on your phone.
In our tests, the GPS tracking proved highly accurate, even in forests and mountainous terrain where cheaper watches can struggle. Battery life is also proved to be a huge strong point, with enough power for multi-day hikes or ultra-distance trail runs, especially if you use battery-saving GPS modes.
The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro in use in the Lake District last year. Photo: Dave MacFarlane.
One of the biggest advantages for hikers is its built-in satellite communication. This allows you to send messages, share your location or trigger an emergency SOS if you’re out of mobile range. It does require a subscription, but it adds a reassuring safety net for solo trips or big mountain days.
“It’s an expensive watch, but for those who prioritise navigation, safety and reliability outdoors, the Fenix 8 Pro is a standout choice,” said OM editor Will who has been testing Fenix 8 Pro over the last half a year, mainly while surveying routes for a guidebook to the Welsh mountains that he’s working on. “I’d say its quality stands out over other watches – both in terms of its build and tech. I also really like the LiveTrack feature which you can use to automatically send a link to chosen contacts every time you start an activity, allowing them to follow your real time location on a map. That’s a super nice feature for a long-distance hiker and runner such as myself – both from a safety and social point of view.”
Full Specifications
1.4-inch AMOLED display / sapphire crystal lens and titanium bezel / integrated flashlight / 100m water resistance / advances LTE calling and messaging / inReach satellite capabilities / 32GB storage / battery life: up to 15 days (47mm) or up to 27 days (51mm) in smartwatch mode; 44 hours GPS mode (47mm) / sizes: 47mm x 16mm (approx. 56g-73g) and 51mm x 16.5mm (approx. 65g-90g).
4. Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon
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Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon
Our tester’s verdict: “This is a watch with seriously rugged looks and the build quality to match. It’s the sort of thing that looks and feels as though you could use it hammer in tent pegs (though we didn’t actually try that).”
Price: £760 Weight: 133g Best for: Camping, hiking and backpacking Key attributes: Robust, rugged and reliable
This tough, modern tool watch from Swiss brand Victorinox – yep, the same makers of the iconic Swiss Army Knives – was designed to survive over 130 endurance tests, including being driven over by a 64-ton tank, frozen to -57°C and heated to +71°C. It has an extra thick stainless-steel bloc case, a sapphire crystal, screw down crown, shock-resistant movement and a genuine 200m/660ft of water resistance. It also comes on a braided paracord strap, the same heavy-duty cord that is widely used by bushcrafters and campers, which can be unravelled and used for emergency gear repairs.
Photo: Matt Jones
It has rugged, no nonsense looks and a muscular appearance that prioritises function over fancy features or design flourishes. The superb build quality means it ought to last a lifetime of drops and dings; not to mention countless adventures. In short: if all you really want is a watch that tells you the time, accurately and reliably, this will do so in a wider range of temperatures and conditions than almost any other watch out there.
Brushed stainless steel case with crown guards | Fixed steel bezel with polished highlights | Flat anti-reflective sapphire crystal | Screw down steel case back | Swiss made Ronda 713 quartz movement | 200m/660ft water resistance | Signed, knurled screw-down crown | Braided paracord strap.
5. RZE Resolute Pro
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RZE Resolute Pro
Our tester’s verdict: “All in all, I’ve found this a great little tough, rugged and handsome timepiece for modern adventurers.”
Price: £660 Weight: 97g Best for: Ultralight hiking and backpacking Key attributes: Tough, lightweight, highly legible
A modern and purposeful field watch with an adventure-ready titanium case, the RZE Resolute delivers premium looks, low weight and impressive durability. This is a watch that seems well equipped for use as a daily beater, and the versatile office-to-outdoor design only adds to that. This is a real all-rounder for modern adventurers; a field watch for post-millennials.
Photo: RZE
It’s also powered by an automatic mechanical movement, so this is a watch for which the notion of going ‘off grid’ does not pose a problem. The Grade 2 titanium case has a matte blasted finish with a scratch-resistant coating, which looks great and feels impressively light on the wrist. It’s nicely designed and well-proportioned too, resulting in a great little tough, rugged and handsome timepiece.
Sandblasted Grade 2 titanium case, UltraHex 1200Hv scratch resistant coating | Screw down titanium caseback with Viton sealing gasket | Date function | Seiko SII NH35A automatic movement | 100m/10 ATM water resistance | Flat sapphire crystal with inner AR coating | Signed, knurled crown | Leather-backed canvas strap with titanium hardware | Optional extra: UltraHex titanium H-Link bracelet (+£53).
6. Coros Apex 4
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Coros Apex 4
Our editor’s verdict: “I’ve found this to be a functional, reliable watch that genuinely enhances my time outdoors without becoming a distraction or a frustration.”
Price: £429 Weight: 64g Best for: Trail running, fast hiking, climbing, skiing Key attributes: Geared specifically for mountain-based activities, reliable navigation tools, durable, free global mapping, good battery life
Another tough GPS watch for the list – here we have the Coros Apex 4, a smartwatch designed for “mountain athletes”, with tools and training functions designed to help climbers, skiers and trail runners with route planning and performance tracking. While there’s a specific option for hikers in the form of the Coros Nomad, the Apex might be more your bag if you dabble in a bit of trail running alongside your hiking. Expect navigation tools, fitness tracking, and day-to-day features, including the ability to take calls directly through the watch.
OM editor and gear tester Will Renwick has been using the Coros Apex 4 this winter. He reports, “I’ve found this to be a functional, reliable watch that genuinely enhances my time outdoors without becoming a distraction or a frustration. It’s not the most advanced outdoor watch on the market, but it’s not far off either – and it nails the fundamentals.”
OM editor Will is pictured here using the Coros Apex 4 on some runs in the Lake District. Photo: Dave MacFarlane.
“The microphone and speaker are niche touches, but they’ve been genuinely useful to me, and I think plenty of others will find smart ways to use them too. I’m curious to see who really cottons on to this feature; I can imagine it being brilliant for things like guided hikes or even city tours. Overall, it’s a watch that quietly gets on with the job, and makes your adventures that little bit easier.”
Always-on 3rd Generation Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) Touchscreen with Sapphire Glass / 42mm and 46mm available / battery life for 46mm: up to 65 hours GPS; 24 days daily use / battery life fr 42mm: up to 41 hours GPS; 15 days daily use / global landscape and topographic maps / dual-frequency GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS) sensor / built-in microphone and speaker / bluetooth for accessories/phone / wi-fi for firmware updates and map downloads / 5 ATM waterproof / grade 5 titanium alloy bezel / fibre reinforced polymer cover / 32GB storage / special features: “voice pins” to record voice notes during activities, 3D flyovers, adventure journaling.
7. Elliot Brown Bloxworth Heritage Diver
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Elliot Brown Bloxworth
Our tester’s verdict: “It’s reassuringly chunky yet very wearable, with a bit of vintage mid-century diver style and some gorgeous details that elevate this above most tool watches.”
Price: £495 Weight: 127g Best for: Watersports and daily wear Key attributes: Well-built, reliable, striking looks, great lume
A no-nonsense, no-date, three hand diver with classic style and a rugged build, Elliot Brown’s newest offering is the ideal watch for adventurers with a sense of flair. Available in a range of colours and finishes, it’s undoubtedly handsome. But it’s also supremely well built, with meticulous attention to detail. You get an all-steel case, a ceramic bezel, a sapphire crystal, screw down crown, shock-resistant movement and a genuine 200m/660ft of water resistance.
In fact, this is one of our favourite Elliot Brown watches yet, and we’ve tested a fair few over the years here at OM. It’s very wearable, with a wrist-hugging rubber tropic divers strap, which fastens with a split buckle deployant closure. The dial is vibrant yet readable, and liberally splashed with lume too. This meant when dusk fell, it was among the brightest and longest lasting of all the watches we tested. Ideal if you’re descending into murky depths – or camping in a darkened tent.
In fact, whether your adventures tend to take place inland or on the coast, the Elliot Brown Bloxworth 3HD is well worthy of a spot on your wrist. It’s reassuringly chunky yet very wearable, with a bit of vintage mid-century diver style and some gorgeous details that elevate this above most tool watches.
Brushed stainless steel case with high polished elements | 120-clock unidirectional steel timing bezel with ceramic insert | Domed ‘Box’ anti-reflective sapphire crystal | Bolt down steel case back | Swiss made Ronda 713 quartz movement | 200m/660ft water resistance | Signed, knurled crown | Double folding deployant buckle on bespoke Tropic style divers rubber strap.
8. Nixon Regulus
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Nixon Regulus
Our tester’s verdict: “Overall, we were impressed with the Regulus. Most importantly, it offers practical features that work reliably and accurately, housed in a sturdy case that can take some punishment.”
Price: £270 Weight: 85g Best for: Camping, hiking, backpacking, trail running Key attributes: Functional, good features, practical, lightweight
Packing an impressive amount of functionality into its slabby, sturdy yet sleek case, the Regulus is a modern digital watch designed for those who venture off-grid. Adventure-specific features include an altimeter, barometer, and compass, with a high-visibility MLCD display. But it also has some fancy extras including a thermometer, activity session tracking and an innovative camp mode to alert you to incoming weather events.
The thermoplastic case and steel bezel means it should reliably withstand the general scrapes and scuffs you’d subject it to while hiking, camping or trail running. It’s water resistant up to 100 metres too, so even if you take a dip – intentionally or not – it should keep on trucking. For night use, the display has a useful blue backlight. All in all, it’s a practical watch with reliable and accurate features. We’d pick this over the majority of smartwatches out there, not least because of its ability to function effectively off grid. And although it isn’t the outright toughest watch here, it’s still far more rugged than the vast majority of everyday watches, and one that seems well suited to active outdoor lifestyles.
TR-90 Thermoplastic case with stainless steel bezel | Screw in stainless steel case back | Custom digital movement | 100m/10 ATM water resistance | MLCD display with acrylic crystal | Silicon strap with locking keeper and double-prong buckle.
9. Polar Grit X2 Pro
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Polar Grit X2 Pro
Our tester’s verdict: “Overall, this is a top-notch smartwatch that easily holds its own with others at this price point. I think it’s a fantastic choice that will enhance your everyday life in more ways than one.”
Price: £507 (sale) Weight: 79g Best for: Multi-activity outdoor use, fitness tracking Key attributes: Long battery life, easy app integration, advanced fitness tracking, easy to use
Outdoor photographer and keen outdoorsman Dave MacFarlane has been using the Polar Grit X2 Pro over the past few years and says it really stands out for its usability. He reports, “I’ve been using this watch for mountain hikes, lake swimming, sea kayaking and gravel biking for the past few months and while many other smartwatches on the market struggle to last a full day on a single charge, the Polar Grit X2 Pro can easily go for several days (and I mean a week) without needing to be recharged.”
He continues: “One impressive new feature that I like is the sleep tracking capability that’s linked with the light-based heart rate sensor. Your sleep quality is tracked over the course of the night which I’ve found has started to build my awareness of how well I’m sleeping and what affects this. This then syncs to the Polar Flow app where you can start to build a record over time and integrate the data into your fitness regime.”
“Overall, this is a top-notch smartwatch that easily holds its own with others at this price point. With its impressive battery life, user-friendly interface, and advanced fitness tracking features, the Polar X2 Grit surpasses many other watches on the market in terms of usability and functionality. I think it’s a fantastic choice that will enhance your everyday life in more ways than one.”
1.39’’ AMOLED colour touchscreen / scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass / stainless steel front casing / dual GPS with multiple satellite frequency band / offline maps / up to 140 hours of training / Polar Elixir™: optical Heart Rate, wrist ECG, SpO2 and nightly skin temperature / barometric elevation profiles, VAM, vertical and 3D speed / 24/7 tracking: activity, sleep and recovery / +150 sport profiles / military grade MIL-STD 810H / integrated flashlight / smartwatch features / Strava and Komoot compatibility.
10. Hamilton Khaki Mechanical Bronze
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Hamilton Khaki Mechanical Bronze
Our tester’s verdict: “Bottom line: if you’re attracted to the idea of owning a mechanical watch and are willing to splurge a little on a daily wearer with oodles of charm and character – one that’ll dress up for the office or down for weekend adventures – you can’t go wrong with this little Hamilton.”
Price: £840 Weight: 65g Best for: Daily wear and weekend adventures Key attributes: Lightweight, elegant, slim and compact proportions
A faithful reinterpretation of a mechanical military field watch with a twist, this Swiss-made classic has a unique trait: it will develop a one-of-a-kind patina the more you wear it. The bronze case will darken and age as it oxidises, so that eventually the watch on your wrist will tell a story of all the epic trips, voyages and journeys it’s been on. How’s that for a proper adventure companion?
Photo: Hamilton
With vintage looks and a hand-wound mechanical movement, this watch will appeal to those who love the golden age of exploration. Basically, if you prefer a good old map and compass to modern GPS, this is the watch for you. But it’s practical too: the dial is highly legible, while the movement has an impressive 80-hour power reserve, meaning when fully wound, it’ll run for just over three days before you’ll need to wind it again. The sapphire crystal is highly scratch-resistant, and that bronze case is fairly tough yet very light. A titanium caseback cuts further weight.
In short, it’s a great-looking piece with plenty of heritage appeal. If you’re attracted to the idea of owning a mechanical watch and are willing to splurge a little on a daily wearer with oodles of charm and character – one that’ll dress up for the office or down for weekend adventures – you can’t go wrong with this little Hamilton.
CuSn8 bronze alloy case (92% bronze and 8% tin) | Screw down titanium case back with unique serial number | Hamilton H-50 hand-wound mechanical movement | 80 hour power reserve | 50m/5 ATM water resistance | Single dome sapphire crystal | Aged Super Lumi-Nova | Leather NATO strap.
11. Nezumi Baleine Diver
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Nezumi Baleine Diver
Our tester’s verdict: “While it isn’t a showy piece – indeed, it’s nicely understated – this looks and feels like a high-quality, well-built watch.”
Price: £520 Weight: 79g Best for: Daily wear and weekend adventures Key attributes: Vintage style, good spec, lightweight
This retro diver from Swedish design house Nezumi Studios has charm, character and classic styling – the perfect watch to take you from the office to the great outdoors. As well as its handsome and striking looks, it boasts 200m of water resistance and a Japanese automatic movement housed in a 316L marine-grade stainless steel case. The face has a highly scratch-resistant double domed sapphire crystal, creating a vintage aesthetic that is also pretty damn tough.
Photo: Matt Jones
Really, this is a watch for style-conscious types who love classic outdoor gear and the ‘old-school adventurer’ look. The legible dial and classic timing bezel add tool watch functionality. On the wrist it feels reasonably light and very comfortable. But what really sets it apart is its style. It’s a watch that we’d happily wear all week long and into the weekend too, whether we were hanging out at the beach or heading into the hills on a camping trip.
316L premium grade stainless steel case | Screw down case back | Seiko NH35A automatic movement | 200m/20 ATM water resistance | 120 click unidirectional ceramic bezel. Lume pip | Double dome sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating | C1 custom tint ‘aged’ luminova | Screw down, signed crown | Hand-made vegetable tanned leather strap.
12. TRIWA Ocean Plastic Sub
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TRIWA Ocean Plastic Sub
Our tester’s verdict: “This is a fun adventure watch with a serious message. It takes the classic looks of a Submariner dive watch and reinterprets the design in eco-friendly ocean plastic, making a statement about sustainability and the state of our seas.”
This is a fun adventure watch with a serious message. It takes the classic looks of a Submariner dive watch and reinterprets the design in eco-friendly ocean plastic, making a statement about sustainability, style and status.
On the wrist, it’s compact, comfortable and extremely lightweight. And while plastic won’t be as robust as stainless steel or titanium in terms of outright toughness, this is still a functional and practical outdoor watch. We like all the colourways, but were especially drawn to the ocean seaweed green version, which looks particularly ‘adventure-ready’, whether on land or sea.
It’s powered by a Japanese Miyota 2015 quartz movement, which is a cheap and reliable three-hand movement that pretty much allows you to set and forget the time. It also features a date window, placed at 3 o’clock on the dial.
TIDE Ocean Plastic 100% recycled case and strap | Stainless steel case back | Miyota 2015 quartz movement with date window | 100m/10 ATM water resistance | Mineral glass crystal | Signed ‘smiley face’ knurled crown | Nylon ‘Zulu’ two-piece webbing strap with metal keepers and buckle.
What makes a tough outdoor watch?
Most watches designed to be used outdoors share a few common features, all of which ensure the watch is rugged and robust enough to withstand shocks, impacts and water ingress. They’re often known as ‘tool watches’, since they prioritise functionality over aesthetics, unlike ‘dress watches’, which are typically made from precious metals and designed to look good with a suit or dinner jacket.
Many tool watches fall into two main categories: field watches or divers’ watches. Field watches originated in the military, and were intended to be readable, rugged and reliable. They are usually clean and simple in design, with highly legible dials. Divers’ watches were developed in the 1950s for use underwater by professional divers. As you’d expect, they are tough and highly resistant to water pressure – typically offering water-resistance of at least 20ATM, 20 bar or 200 metres depth (660 feet).
These watches can survive the harshest conditions | Pictured: The Briston Streamliner (left) and the G-Shock Mudmaster (right)
A quick glossary:
Case
The case or body of the watch protects the internal workings. It needs to be made from a strong and ideally scratch-resistant material. The most common choice is stainless steel, especially 316L marine-grade, which provides good resistance to corrosion, even in saltwater environments, as well as being anti-magnetic. Lightweight alternatives to steel include titanium, which has an incredibly high-strength to weight ratio, or even carbon fibre, though impact-resistant thermoplastics and even other metals such as bronze are sometimes used too.
Caseback
The caseback, on the rear of the watch, is a common failure point for water ingress. As such, outdoor watches usually have a screw-down or bolt-down caseback with an inner waterproof seal or gasket to ensure superior water resistance.
Bezel
The bezel is a metal ring surrounding the watch face. On sports or tool watches, it also has additional timekeeping functionality and may rotate accordingly. The bezel of a divers’ watch, for example, can calculate elapsed time. It features a scale from 0 to 60 and was originally designed to time a dive. True dive watch bezels only rotate counter clockwise (known as a unidirectional bezel). This is a safety feature, as it means that if you accidentally bump the bezel while diving, you can only have less time remaining, never more, ensuring the diver did not run out of air underwater.
Crown
The crown is used to wind a mechanical watch and controls functions such as the date display and time. Outdoor watches usually have a larger crown to ensure it is easy to grip, but this is often recessed or protected by crown guards to avoid damage. In addition, a screw-down crown is usually fitted, typically with internal gaskets to boost water-resistance.
Dial
The primary function of a watch is of course to tell the time. So, the dial needs to be clearly legible and readable even in low light conditions or in bright sunshine. As such, outdoor watches typically have a high-contrast dial with few decorative elements. Illuminated or backlit dials also ensure good night performance – so even if you’re awake in a pitch-black tent or bivvy at 3am, you can quickly check the time.
Crystal
The transparent face of a watch is called the crystal. Most are made of either acrylic, mineral glass or synthetic sapphire. All have different benefits – acrylic tends to bend under pressure rather than cracking or shattering, but scratches easily. Glass, especially hardened mineral glass, is more scratch-resistant and highly impact-resistant. Sapphire crystals are the most expensive, generally reserved for premium watches. It is an incredibly hard material, which makes it highly scratch-resistant. All crystals are usually finished with an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and reflection, enabling you to see the dial even when viewed from oblique angles.
Movement
A movement is the internal mechanism that operates the watch. Movements can be either quartz or mechanical. Quartz movements are very accurate and powered by a long-life battery, with few moving parts. This means they are usually more rugged than most mechanical movements, though maybe not quite as cool. Mechanical movements use energy from a mainspring to power the watch. This spring stores energy and transfers it through a series of gears and smaller springs. Mechanical movements can be manual (hand-wound) or automatic (self-winding). An easy way to tell a quartz from a mechanical movement is by looking at the seconds hand. Quartz watches have a regular ‘ticking’ seconds hand, while mechanical watches have a smooth, sweeping seconds hand. All modern movements, quartz or mechanical, are usually shock-resistant, designed to pass a minimum standard, which is to survive a drop of 1m onto a hard floor. But additional shock absorbing components can be added to further protect the movement from more extreme impacts.
