We believe that having a tough and reliable wrist watch is a must for any traveller and adventurer.
Whether you’re on a scuba vacation and need to time a dive, or having an adventurous outing in the wild and need coordinate with your group, or perhaps you’re simply on your way to catch a plane, being able to tell the time on the fly is essential. It’s also nice to be able to check what time it is without having to constantly rely on your phone, and a cool watch can really complete your travel outfit!
Analog watches are our go-to when it comes to travelling. We just love the old-school feel and the charm of the ticking hands. To help you narrow down your list, we’ve picked 5 awesome analog tool watches that would be right at home even in the wildest adventures.
Let’s get started!
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Seiko Prospex SNJ025 “Arnie”
- Size and weight: 50.5 x 47.8 x 13.8 mm ∙ 114 g
- Case materials: Stainless steel case and back ∙ plastic bezel shroud
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Movement: Quartz
- Features: 200 meter water resistance, solar-powered battery, dual time-zones, stopwatch, alarm, luminescent dial and hands, date, analog-digital
Sometimes you want a watch for its functionalities, sometimes simply because it looks cool. The Seiko Prospex SNJ025 fits both categories.
This impressive watch was first released in 1982, and was made famous by appearing on the muscle-bound wrist of Arnold Schwarzenegger in several of his breakthrough films, such as Predator and Commando.
In 2019 Seiko released a modern reinterpretation of this classic diver, switching out the old quartz movement out for a solar-powered one with a six month battery reserve, as well as adding a dual time function and a stopwatch. The Arnie, as it has been nicknamed by fans, has a 200 meter water resistance (with screw-down buttons) and a steel case with a unidirectional rotating bezel to help time your dive. The shroud that surrounds the bezel is plastic, but it can be easily swapped out for a steel after-market replacement.
The watch does not have sapphire, a bit of a bummer considering the price point, but is equipped with Hardlex. This proprietary technology from Seiko is somewhat in between mineral crystal and sapphire, more scratch resistant than the former but not quite as much as the latter.
This is a large, bold watch, and will definitely stand out. The stock watch band is also very long, and might have to be swapped out if you have smaller wrists. Still, we absolutely loved the military retro-look and the big pushers, as well as the minimalist face and the integration of the digital window. If you’re looking for that 80’s feel, there is no other watch out there that does it like the Arnie!
Casio Duro
- Size and weight: 48.5 × 44.2 × 12.1 mm ∙ 92 g
- Case materials: Stainless steel case and back
- Crystal: Mineral glass
- Movement: Quartz
- Features: 200 meter water resistance, luminescent dial and hands, date window
If you’re looking for a solid tool watch with a sober and classy look, then you might want to check out the Casio Duro.
This diver is made out of durable stainless steel and has a water resistance rating of 200 meter. The Duro also has a unidirectional rotating bezel that can be used to time your dive.
The Casio Duro is the most affordable watch on our list, and only costs $85. The only minor downside is that we found the stock band to be a little flimsy, so we recommend swapping it out for a better one. It also comes with mineral glass instead of sapphire, but that’s to be expected for such an affordable watch.
Finally, the Duro is a battery-powered quartz watch without solar charging, and the stock batteries should last around three years before needing to be switched out. Fortunately that can be done fairly easy, and you can even do that yourself at home with a watch back remover tool. Just remember to add some silicone grease to the rubber gasket before closing the watch back up to maintain the 200 meter water resistance.
This is an extremely versatile watch that will be right at home both in the jungle or at a party. It’s very barebones, but it’s one of the best watches we can recommend in this price range.
G-Shock GWG-B1000 Mudmaster
- Size and weight: 58.7 × 52.1 × 16.2 mm ∙ 114 g
- Case materials: Bio-resin and stainless steel case ∙ stainless steel case back
- Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire glass
- Movement: Quartz
- Features: Bluetooth connectivity, barometer, altimeter, compass, thermometer, alarm, stopwatch, timer, extreme mud and dirt resistance, 200 meter water resistance, atomic time, solar-powered battery, luminescent dial and hands, backlight, date, dual time-zones, analog-digital
With a new, slimmer design and an array of outdoor-oriented features, the GWG-B1000 Mudmaster is Casio’s most complete watch yet.
While it still doesn’t compare to a smartwatch in terms of functionality, this behemoth is equipped with everything you would want for your wilderness adventures, starting with a rugged but surprisingly comfortable rubber strap. It is also equipped with scratch-proof sapphire glass, a barometer, an altimeter, solar charging for a virtually unlimited battery life time, radio controlled time-keeping and a series of gaskets that give it an unparalleled resistance to mud and dirt, as well as a 200 meter water resistance rating.
The GWG-B1000 Mudmaster can be paired to your phone to (among many other functions) adjust settings and time, easily set alarms and massively increase the number of world-time cities. In addition, this Mudmaster is the first G-Shock to have navigation capabilities other than a compass. A new feature called “mission log” allows you to record your time, altitude and coordinates on the phone app. You can also save locations on the app and use the Mudmaster’s built-in compass to navigate back to points of interest.
It’s an overall interesting and useful feature, although we found that needing your phone to make the most out of the watch’s capabilities sort of defeats the whole self-reliant, survival aspect. If you’re interest in a watch with the same specs but without bluetooth connectivity, we instead recommend checking out the GWG-2000.
While there is no arguing that this model comes close to being the most overbuilt and durable outdoor watch on the market, it is also incredibly overbuilt in terms of size. It’s really not a dress watch, and might not suit you if you have small wrists. Then again, I’ve been rocking the similarly sized GG-1000 Mudmaster (albeit with a custom velcro strap) on my 6.2 inch wrist since 2018 with absolutely no problem, so we still recommend checking this watch out even if you’re worried about it being too large.
Timex North Expedition Titanium Automatic
- Size and weight: 46.7 × 43.2 × 12.7 mm ∙ 52 g
- Case materials: Titanium casing ∙ Sapphire glass case back
- Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire glass
- Movement: Mechanical
- Features: 200 meter water resistance, luminescent dial and hands, date window
Echoing old WW2 field watches, the Timex North Expedition Titanium Automatic is a more refined take on the classic design.
As the name implies, this is titanium cased mechanical watch with a shock-absorbing design, making it super lightweight, extremely durable and entirely self-reliant without the need for solar power or battery replacements. Both the hands and dials are luminescent, giving it a decent amount of nighttime visibility although, as with most luminescent dials, it tends to not last the entire night. The watch also sports a screw-down crown and 200 meter water resistance, making it suitable for swimming and diving.
On top of everything, the Timex North Expedition Titanium Automatic has a sapphire glass both on the crystal and on the case back, where a transparent panel shows the intricate Miyota 8215 movement. This is a particularly fancy touch that really elevates the overall design of the Timex North Expedition, and it’s something we’ve barely ever seen in watches designed for outdoor use.
What’s even more baffling is that, despite the impressive spec sheet, the Timex North Expedition Titanium Automatic only costs $400 dollars, about half the price of other high-end watches with the same characteristics. Having said that, there are of course some minor drawbacks. The Miyota 8215 is a fairly basic mechanical movement, and not among the most accurate. We lost anywhere between 30 and 40 seconds per day, which meant daily adjustments since I’m a bit of sticker for accuracy. It’s also kind of a loud watch, and it does take a moment to get used to the minor vibrations coming from the movement.
In the end, however, the drawbacks are minimal compared to what this watch has to offer. If you’re in the market for a ridiculously affordable mechanical field watch, this would definitely be at the top of our recommendations.
G-Shock GAB2100
- Size and weight: 48.5 × 45.4 × 11.8 mm ∙ 51 g
- Case materials: Carbon fibre resin case ∙ stainless steel case back
- Crystal: Mineral glass
- Movement: Quartz
- Features: 200 meter water resistance, dual time-zones, alarm, stopwatch, timer, luminescent dial and hands, date, analog-digital
The G-Shock GA-2100 “Casioak” is one of Casio’s all time best selling watches, but this model takes it a step further.
The first improvement over the original is the addition of solar charging, meaning you won’t have to worry about having to replace the battery in the middle of your trip. What’s more, GAB2100 comes with bluetooth connectivity, and can be paired with your phone for a variety of added functions. Aside from extending the dual-time cities, adjusting the time and easily setting alarms and timers, the bluetooth connectivity also allows you to register your time and location, set reminders and locate your phone.
Aside from the added features, the GAB2100 keeps the exact same design and build as the original. It’s an analog and digital hybrid watch, with a luminescent dial and hands alongside a small digital screen that can display the date and the seconds, as well as a variety of functions like dual-time, timers and alarms. Keeping in line with the brand’s signature, off-the-charts durability and shock resistance, the Casioak is equipped with a carbon fibre-reinforced resin case and a 200 meter water resistance.
The GA-2100 is one of our favourites to carry around on our trips, especially given how slim, lightweight and discreet it is. Something else that we love about this model is the huge amount of after market customisation that is available. Since it’s such a popular watch, there are a number of strap adaptors, cases in different materials and colours, and even alternate dials. We had some fun modding ours, throwing in a black steel case and brown leather straps. The choice is near endless, so have some fun really making it your own!
And there you have it!
These are 5 awesome analog tool watches that we feel confident will make it through any adventure we bring them on around the world, no matter if we’re relaxing by the pool on getting lost in the jungle.
Also, don’t forget to check out our list of digital and smart tool watches.
So, what’s your go-to time ticker?
