If you’re interested in buying a tactical watch but don’t know what to look for, you’ve come to the right place.
A tactical watch is a simple wrist watch that is designed to withstand harsher than normal environments. They are an excellent choice for outdoor adventurers, law enforcement officers, and military or security forces.
Since some tactical watches are better made than others, it’s important that you have a criteria of qualities to look for so you can make the best purchase possible.
Here are the top five qualities to look for in tactical watches:
1. Luminescent Hands
The first quality to look for is luminescent hands. This is so you will be able to check the time on your watch even when it’s pitch black outside. You shouldn’t have to reach over and press a button to tell the time either. All you should be able to do is to quickly glance at your watch instead. This is especially critical if you need to check the time while skiing down a hillside, climbing up a cliff, or hiking while holding a walking stick.
2. Go Analog Over Digital
Next, look for an analog tactical watch rather than a digital one. Digital watches are certainly accurate and more modern, but the more traditional analog watch gives you the ability to actually feel the time of day rather than just looking at it.
Furthermore, you can use an analog watch for a variety of different survival uses (such as positioning the hour hand towards the sun to tell your sense of direction) that a digital watch can’t do. For the outdoor enthusiast, an analog watch is the superior option.
3. Sapphire Lens
Since your tactical watch must be able to withstand hard environments, its durability cannot be called into question. Your watch should still be functioning perfectly and scratch free even after many years of rain, wind, snow, impacts, and so on. This is why spending less money on lesser quality materials is not a wise decision.
By way and large, the most durable material you can get for your watch will be sapphire. Sapphire is the most scratch resistant and hardest mineral in the entire world, second only to diamonds. What’s more, is that it’s not insanely expensive either. It’s a far superior and longer lasting choice than ceramic or polymer.
4. PVD Coating
All metal components of your tactical watch should be coated in a PVD coating that will help reduce glare. This is important because the last thing you want is for your watch to shine when held under the sun. Not only is it annoying, but it can give away your position as well.
PVD won’t just help to reduce glare. It’s also very scratch resistant and durable (like sapphire) and will ensure that all metal components of the watch such as the buckle will last you for a long time.
5. Water Resistant
Finally, your tactical watch must be water resistant. A golden rule to follow is for it to have a rating of 10 ATM, which means that it can resist water and pressure a hundred meters below water. You may think that this is excessive or unnecessary, but the truth is that a watch with a rating of 5 ATM will not survive most snorkeling or diving endeavors, so a 10 ATM rating is not too much to ask at all.
You’re going to be exposed to rain, humidity, and moisture sooner or later when you venture into the outdoors, and your tactical watch must be able to withstand all of that. If it can’t, then it’s not a true tactical watch, plain and simple.
Buying The Best Tactical Watch For You
A high quality tactical wrist watch will serve you well and must be able to withstand the elements in harsh outdoor environments. It’s a watch that you can take with you anywhere while sustaining abuse over many years.
Now that you know what you need to look for in a tactical watch, the next thing for you to do is to go out and take a look at the many different models that are available on the marketplace.
