The Best Field Watches of 2024

Timex coined the phrase “takes a licking and keeps on ticking” as an advertising slogan in the 1960s. And nowhere is it more apt than when applied to the Expedition series of Timex field watches. The Timex Expedition was the first watch that I bought myself, right after high school. I took it while studying in Central America in the mid-90s, and wore it every day.

These simple, quartz-fueled watches fit the field watch definition perfectly. They are simple, reliable, affordable, and durable. They tell accurate time and, thanks to the common Indiglo lighting, easily legible day and night.

The Timex Expedition Scout is the best field watch under $100. For the price (some Expedition models begin in the $30 range), you can’t beat these ubiquitous little watches. The Expedition Scout model pictured here costs about $60 and has a few nice strap options. Grab one for whatever craziness you may get into. You’ll know the time and you won’t worry about your watch, even though it’ll be right there ticking along with the correct time.

The Bertucci A-2T Super Classic titanium field watch is genuinely a wonder of affordable watches. I have never used a watch as hard as this one. But after several years of genuine abuse, it shows no sign of slowing down, and had very few scratches. The strap has developed a great patina of dirt, blood, and muck. This thing is a tank of a watch and, for those who actually plan to use a field watch as a tool, about as good as they get.

The A-2T follows the tried and true formula for a great field watch. It’s light and small with a 40mm case that wears smaller than its size. But the high-contrast face is easily readable at a glance. And even after more than five years of use, the lume is still easily readable in the blackness of night.

In one case, I woke up camping at 4 a.m. and could easily discern the hands and hour markers.

It’s also water resistant to 100 meters, and the nylon strap is burly but sits flat and comfortably. The only negative is some users feel the face is too small. That’s a matter of taste, but remember that historically, field watches were quite small and light. This follows the lineage, and I like it.

Worth noting is that this is a very comfortable watch for me. That’s in part due to the screw-down crown location at the 4 o’clock point. This keeps it from interfering with wrist movement and I find it particularly nice during activity.

Read Review: The Best Field Watch $200 Can Buy: Bertucci A-2T Review

Looking for a different style from this brand? Check out our Bertucci DX3 review here.

In the world of watches, Vaer is basically a newborn. Launched in 2016, Vaer aims to build watches with five pillars: extreme water resistance, 2x interchangeable straps, extensive USA sourcing, refined aesthetics, and a responsible business model. But do those pillars add up to a good wristwatch for use in the field?

The short answer is yes. The best reflection of these attributes is the C5 Tactical Solar. This understated field watch does everything a genuine field watch needs to. It’s easy to read, even in low light. It has a clean, simple display. The small (40mm) watch wears easily and slips under a sleeve well. Impressively, the solar-powered, Japan-made Epson VS-42 movement keeps time within 20 seconds per month and will run for 6 months on just 6 hours of light.

In testing, I used the Vaer C5 Tactical over a month of hunting, skiing, and daily wear. The durable case, sapphire domed crystal, and strap show zero wear so far. I love the comfortable fit of the Vaer C5 Tactical Solar. In many ways, it’s an ideal field watch. And at $339, it’s affordable enough that you can actually wear it in the field.

I also am impressed with the value the Vaer brings to the table. It ships with two wonderful straps, something uncommon among quality watches. And in the case of my testing, the quick-release Tropic strap is among my favorite watch straps, even among much more expensive models.

The Citizen Garrison stands out thanks to its Eco-Drive technology. Powered by the sun or other light sources, the Eco-Drive provides infinite runtime, a major plus in the outdoors. Additionally, it has luminous hands, 100m water resistance, a stainless steel case, and a mineral crystal.

The Garrison is a rather small watch, measuring in with a 37mm screw-back case. This is a big plus for those with smaller wrists. The black face with distinct white numerals provides a very legible format. The red second-hand brings a nice splash of color to the otherwise neutral timepiece.

The day/date format is a bit of a departure from the classic field watch design. But thanks to the otherwise spartan layout, brings nice functionality to this watch. It has 100 m of water resistance, so should stand up to any precipitation or swims the user will encounter.

The strap on the Garrison is burly. And while the rugged nature is great, some wearers complain that it’s a little too stiff. It should break in nicely as do most nylon straps. But it’s worth being aware that this one will come out of the box rather stiff on the wrist.

The Hamilton Khaki Field Watch is, to many aficionados, the field watch. Hamilton began in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, making timepieces for railroad workers. In 1914, it became an official supplier to the U.S. armed forces. In 1942, it ceased civilian production to focus on military service during World War II.

Between 1942 and 1945, Hamilton produced over 1 million timepieces, including wristwatches and marine chronometers for the military effort. If any single watch defines the “field watch” category, it’s the Hamilton Khaki.

Hamilton offers a wide array of Khaki field watches. There are day/date models, and there’s the King model, which features the date and day, spelled out completely. There are titanium models and mechanical versions that the user must wind. These are the truest renditions of historical field watches and are worthy of consideration for any collector or casual wearer.

But if there’s a best Hamilton field watch, it’s the Khaki Field Expedition Auto. This watch, which still runs just under $1,000, is in many ways the perfect field watch. It has a simple, easy-to-read face, excellent low-light visibility with Super-LumiNova hands and markers, and a screw-down crown with 100 m of water resistance.

The heart of the Khaki Field Expedition Auto is Hamilton’s accurate and reliable H-10 movement. This three-hand movement packs a phenomenal 80 hours of power reserve. Slim and sleek, this watch is a perfect companion for outdoor adventures or daily trips to the office.

Watch enthusiasts love the Seiko brand for its exceptional value. Few, if any, other brands offer such fine timepieces at such a reasonable price. And while the Seiko Alpinist is by no means a budget watch, at $725, it’s an attainable watch for many people.

But yes, that’s a significant chunk of cash for a watch you’ll wear traipsing through the woods. So why would you step up in price beyond some of the budget models listed here?

Well, we’re starting to get into the horological world now, and in this world, it’s all about the details. First off, the SPB121 is a spinoff of the extremely popular, yet discontinued, SARB017. That watch put the Seiko Prospex line on the field watch map. Now, the SPB121 picks up the baton and carries the Alpinist into modern times along with a few other models.

The Alpinist runs on a Caliber 6R35 automatic movement. This 24-jewel movement has a long 70-hour power reserve, meaning you can take it off on a Friday and the time will still be correct on Monday morning. That’s a big deal in the world of automatic watches, especially at the under-$1,000 price range.

Next come fit and finish details. The Alpinist is water resistant to 200 m, has very bright LumiBrite hands and markers for easy low-light visibility, and an inner rotating compass bezel. All this packs utility into a watch that also looks fantastic poking out under a sport coat in dressier situations. The brushed stainless steel case and polished accents really pop. And the green bezel is classic and classy.

The Seiko Alpinist may be at the very bottom of the luxury watch price range, but it is a star among wristwatch fanatics. It says a lot about the wearer, primarily that they value a rugged, functional watch that goes past simple timekeeping. For those dabbling in watch collecting but who want a genuine field watch that can still stand up to the rigors of outdoor use, the Seiko Alpinist is certainly worth a test run.

The Atacama Field Automatic is a big, rugged, somewhat flashy field watch that edges toward the luxury market while maintaining all the functionality of a true outdoors watch. Powered by a Sellita SW220-1 automatic movement, this Swiss watch is significantly larger than most field watches at 44 mm.

But while it does buck the trend of smaller field watches, the Atacama Field Auto has exceptional 200-meter water resistance and remarkable lume. We put it through some rigorous testing and found this watch to be an amazing timepiece for outdoor use with one caveat. It will be too big for those with smaller wrists. And even for bigger individuals, you’ll notice it when sliding it under shirt sleeves.

But outside those downsides, the Atacama Field Automatic is a gorgeous, tough-as-nails watch that dresses up or down and can handle the roughest of conditions with ease.

When it comes to dive watches, two brands hold the crown as the first to market: Rolex and Zodiac. Both launched the first dive watches in 1953. While Rolex went on to become one of the most renowned brands in the world, Zodiac took a more circuitous route through acquisitions, temporary closure, and rebirth.

Today, the brand, now under Fossil ownership, is again booming. At the core of its offerings are iterations of its classics, the Sea Wolf dive watch and the Olympos field watch.

The Olympos fits the iconic definition of a field watch perfectly. It is light, understated, and very easy to read. In testing, the Olympos proved to be an absolute dream to wear with thick clothing like hunting or fishing apparel because it is remarkably thin — just 10mm! That thin profile lets it slide under sleeves and even gloves easily.

With a case size of 40mm and a unique Manta-Ray shape, the Olympos also hits a middle-of-the-road fit that works well on most wrists. Smaller wearers will love the reasonable case and strap, which I’d contend wears smaller than it is. Those with larger wrists will like the thin nature of the watch but may find it underwhelming compared with larger offerings, including some others on this list.

Zodiac bases the Olympos on the field watches it made for the Royal British Navy in the 1960s. And as such, it packs them with 200 m of water resistance, the ability to stop the second hand from “hacking” when synchronizing watches, and an STP1-11 movement.

The Olympos is a beautiful watch that handles the rigors of field use. It’s probably not the toughest model on this list, but it so far has proven itself in testing to handle real-world abuse just fine.

Bronze watches are a little uncommon, but with a rugged beauty and ever-changing patina, they should definitely be on your radar. And my personal favorite is the Christopher Ward C65 Sandhurst ($1,275).

The C65 Sandhurst has a very simple, easy-to-read face and good lume. It runs on a COSC-certified Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, meaning that it’ll maintain exceptional accuracy and keep running as long as you wear it. It’s relatively light and has a versatile 38mm case size. In testing, I found it fits very easily under cuffs and has no problem facing the tasks of real outdoor use.

At over $1,000, the C65 Sandhurst starts to push into luxury watch pricing. But with 150 meters of water resistance and a durable sapphire crown, it can definitely handle adventurous outings. And the handsome yet understated bronze appearance makes it a shoo-in as a dress watch for the office or more formal settings.

The NORQUAIN Neverest Glacier is a true luxury watch built on a field watch chassis. I had the chance to spend a couple of weeks with this functional yet classy watch and absolutely loved it.

Why? Well, while quite new to the world of watchmaking, NORQUAIN packs both big-name talent and ambassadors from the worlds of watchmaking and adventure. Its faces to the world are none other than speed skiers, downhill racers, mountaineers, and big-wave surfers.

In my testing, the Neverest Glacier was extremely comfortable to wear and easily legible. I do wish it had numerals instead of simply hour markers, as it takes a little more time to process the hand position without numerals. But really, this watch is a stunner. It’s certainly capable of fieldwork, but more likely will be a consistent desk jockey thanks to its high price.

I don’t really want to include a Rolex on this list, but without the Explorer, it feels incomplete. And that’s because it’s the single field watch that more people aspire to own than any other.

I’ll be straight up, I haven’t worn the Rolex Explorer. But this happens to be among the most “entry-level” Rolex watches. And it happens to be the storied brand’s only true field watch.

A Rolex Explorer 40mm clocks in at $7,700 retail. And it’s a fine specimen of a field watch, one absolutely tested in harsh climates in polar and mountaineering expeditions. It’s a fantastic design that (reportedly) is legible in all conditions. One of Rolex’s first tool watches, it was inspired by (and launched shortly after) the first summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

It has outstanding legibility, with a black dial and 3, 6, and 9 numerals popping out in crisp, white lettering and backlit with a Chromalite luminous material. It’s chronometer certified to ±2 seconds per day. Rolex guarantees the Oyster case waterproof to 100 m.

So yes, it has all the chops of the most serious field watches. But would I wear a Rolex as a true field watch, one that gets hand-jammed into rock cracks while scrambling through a scree field? Heck no. Would I wear it while wading into a partially frozen river to place duck decoys in the dark? Absolutely not. Let’s not be ridiculous. Like some of the other pricy models here, it would be cringe-inducing to put such an expensive piece of jewelry through such a beating.

But would I love to look down on my wrist and see one there? Well, I am human, and the Rolex Explorer is a thing of beauty and maybe a bit more attainable than other Rolex models.