The Best Field Watches of 2024

Field watches are, for good reason, among the most popular styles of watches, especially for outdoor enthusiasts. They trace their roots back to military necessity. That mother of invention led to a style of watches that can be both understated and luxurious, refined and utilitarian.

I love field watches. Among my collection, field watches are the timepieces that often accompany my most treasured adventures. They’re affordable, functional, and can stand up to the abuse that wilderness, mountains, and weather can throw at a tool that remains strapped to my wrist.

In this roundup, I focus on field watches that can handle real-world abuse. The majority of my selections are well below $1,000 because the reality is that those who actually use their field watch in the field really don’t have space to worry about a needlessly expensive object. Field watches are meant to be used, scratched, with dirt, water, blood, and all. I’ll also include a few more expensive offerings for the horological enthusiasts because there’s certainly space for beautiful, refined watches at the table.

So check out my selections here. Our team has used and enjoyed them. They’ve survived rough use, from climbing to travel to hunting. Every watch on this list is meant to take a beating, and some will look very good doing it.

Editor’s note: I gave this guide an update on December 17th, 2024, adding the Christopher Ward C65 Sandhurst to the lineup.

The Best Field Watches of 2024

Field Watch Comparison Chart

Why You Should Trust Us

There are a lot of watch experts, and there are a lot of outdoor writers, but there aren’t a lot of outdoor experts who also know much about wristwatches. I happen to fit both these categories. So when it comes to watches meant to be used and abused in the wilderness, I am one watch aficionado who also puts the watches through some real-world use.

I love field watches and use them for their real intended purposes. I wear them hunting, fishing, hiking, mountaineering, skiing, and more. My watches have been worn inside wild game animals during meat processing. They’ve been dunked in freezing rivers while I place duck decoys. And they’ve been whacked against granite while I scramble up scree fields on Colorado’s 14ers.

But I also care about the horology and details involved in wristwatches. I appreciate the beauty and precision of a fine watch, and consider factors such as fit, finish, and complications when looking at field watches.

Finally, I’ve been doing this a long time. As the former editor-in-chief of GearJunkie and one of its first employees, I’ve written about outdoor gear for more than a decade. My goal is to give you the best advice I can and help you make smart decisions with your hard-earned money. I hope this article helps you choose the best field watch for your needs.

If you don’t see what you’re looking for here, check out some of GearJunkie’s other watch guides, including guides to the best dive watches, the best GPS watches, the best smartwatches, and the best fitness watches.

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The History of Field Watches

Field watches have a rich history rooted in military use. The origins of field watches can be traced back to World War I when soldiers needed reliable timepieces for coordinating maneuvers on the battlefield. Here are key points in the history of field watches:

During the First World War, pocket watches were the norm. But these watches, buried inside clothing, were impractical for soldiers. Thus, wristwatches became more popular for their convenience. This transition marked a significant development in the history of timekeeping.

During World War II (1939-1945), field watches boomed in popularity thanks to their design to be rugged, legible, and practical for soldiers in the field. Brands like Hamilton, Waltham, and Elgin emerged as leaders in the space with features such as luminous dials for low-light visibility, durable cases, and reliable movements.

At this time, military organizations began to standardize the specifications for field watches to ensure consistency and reliability. These standards included size, dial design, water resistance, and shock resistance.

After World War II, soldiers brought the habit of wearing a wristwatch home. Civilians picked up the practical useful tool and applied it to the largely agrarian society of the time. The simple, easy-to-read dials and robust construction made field watches a logical choice for anyone who worked outdoors or with their hands.

Today, field watches continue to be among the most popular styles of wristwatches. Many brands offer modern interpretations, with updated elements like solar charging, quartz movements, and backlit faces. But they all harken back to watchmaking history that goes back nearly a century rooted in the practical needs of soldiers in combat.

How much should I spend on a field watch?

Field watches, much like any other category of wristwatch, span a vast price range that is both puzzling and sometimes counter-intuitive. But I’m going to do my best to break it down.

First, just because a watch costs more does not mean that it will do a better job as a time-telling tool. This is because affordable watches, such as the Timex Expedition line, run on quartz movements that are, by nature, much more accurate than automatic watches. With a timing base of 32,768 Hz — vastly faster than any mechanical watch — quartz watches are often accurate to within a dozen or so seconds per month.

On the other hand, mechanical watches beat on a heart of a tightly-wound balance wheel. These mechanical devices store energy from the movement of the wearer’s wrist. Thus, the watch can run nonstop, as long as the wearer moves it enough every day. While mechanical watches are almost always less accurate than quartz watches, they carry a higher price tag because the mechanical movements require more complex machining. Some in-house movements take many hours of labor to create.

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So why do people still buy mechanical movements? For one, mechanical watches do not require a battery and can operate for years on simple motion alone. But this question goes beyond pure function. Mechanical watches rely on skill and artistry in their manufacture and showcase the passage of time in a very appealing fashion for many watch lovers. The complex inner machinery is highly appealing to many wearers, and some watches even have a clear case-back so the owner can watch the movement in action.

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So the automatic watch movement brings some higher cost than quartz watches, but that isn’t the only differentiator.

More expensive watches will have more water resistance, durable sapphire crystals, and high-quality stainless, bronze, or other case material. As costs rise, you’ll see better lume, which illuminates important elements for low-light viewing. And high-end watches will have beautiful, refined machining and polishing.

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To get to brass tacks, you can get an entirely functional, good tool watch for around $100 or even less. Timex makes great watches in this price range that will serve any adventurer well.

Budget

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In the $200 to $500 range, expect higher-quality quartz watches with better crystals and straps. The lume should be pretty good in this price range. Watches like the Vaer C5 Tactical Field Solar give excellent utility and nice looks for under $350, and even have solar quartz, which runs on sunlight and never needs a battery change!

Mid-Tier

From $500 to $1,000, you’re getting into the realm of mechanical watches. Yes, you can get mechanical watches for less. But if you want a functional automatic field watch, you should expect to pay in this range to ensure durability and legibility. The Seiko Alpinist is a great example of a watch in this price range. Some Hamilton Khaki models also fall below $1,000, although they’re starting to creep above that price point.

Premium

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Beyond $1,000, you should see very nice finishing, reliable, COSC-certified movements, and even some name recognition. Because while we are talking about a tool here, we’re also talking about a timepiece that carries similar connotations as jewelry, at least at higher ends of the market. Beyond $1,500, you shouldn’t see much difference in performance when it comes to field watches. But what you pay for at $2,000 and beyond are things like in-house movements, fine detailing, and let’s be honest, brand names.

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So expect to pay a solid $9,000 for that Rolex Explorer. Yes, it’s a fantastic watch. But it will, in fact, not tell time any better than that $100 Timex. Realistically, that quartz Timex will probably be more accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions

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