9 Best EDC Watches For Survival: A Buyers Guide

The 1V is shockproof. You won’t have to worry about it getting smashed to bits. 

It’s also waterproof. You can’t take it to the bottom of the ocean, but it’ll survive if you fall in a lake.

It uses Afterglow technology to illuminate its face. It’s not as bright as a flashlight, but it’s enough to make your life easier when things get rough.

An automatic calendar will keep you aware of what day it is. So, you won’t have to scratch a wall like Tom Hanks.

I’m really disappointed in the lack of navigation features. It can handle its purpose as a watch well, but it’s not going to help you get where you’re going. This is a major drawback. However, it’s one of the least expensive watches I’m reviewing.

The portion of Casio’s budget that went towards a calendar could have easily been spent on a good compass ring. Seriously, a calendar isn’t a necessity. If I’m lost in the woods, I’m not worrying about what day it is.

The Ezon has all of the navigation features that I require from an EDC watch, and it has some extra ones, too. An altimeter, barometer and compass are all included. It also has a thermometer, weather alarm, and sunset indicator. Considering it costs less than $100, that’s a lot of helpful features.

The synthetic construction of the Ezon may look a little too aggressive for the office, but it’s extremely durable. The strap is made from polyurethane, and the casing is a hard plastic shell.

On top of having the necessary survival features, the Ezon is also outfitted with basic luxuries like a calendar and light. Those aren’t absolutely necessary, but they’re great for everyday life.

The watch is built to make a standard watch battery last for an entire year. So, you won’t have to worry about it dying when you need it most.

All of the navigation features are digital. I’d prefer to have a physical compass ring, but the digital compass works just fine.

A solar charging feature would have made the Ezon perfect. It would have dramatically increased the price, though.

The navigation tools are top-notch. The Instinct has a 3-axis compass for increased navigation abilities, and it has a barometer and altimeter. However, it also uses several different GPS networks to enhance each of those features. So, each one is better than what you’ll find on the previous watches we reviewed.

This thing was built to satisfy military standards. I don’t even have to explain that in-depth. It isn’t going to break unless you run it over with a tractor, or throw it in the ocean.

The TracBack feature is a breadcrumb program. With it, you’ll have no problem returning to camp. However, it’ll drain the battery faster.

Garmin has made sure that the Instinct is compatible with your smartphone and their app. That’ll give you access to a lot of different fitness features. That’s not something I look for in an EDC watch, but this is something you’ll wear everyday. The added functionality is a nice bonus.

The battery can last 16 days. That’s enough battery life for it to work in a survival situation, but it’s still a little too low for my liking. That’s just a personal preference, though.

The price isn’t very appealing. It’s worth the price, but I feel that most people will benefit more from a cheaper watch that just has the necessities.

Navigation tools were a major focus with this watch. You get your three main tools, but you also get a thermometer and light. Those aren’t navigation tools, but they’ll help you a lot while you’re traveling.

You can set it to operate with several different time formats. That’s definitely not a necessity, but it’s nice to have. 

The Pathfinder is made entirely from resin. Resin is almost as durable as steel, and it won’t tarnish or rust.

I don’t like the price. The Ezon had all of the same main features, and it cost less. The extra features on the Pathfinder just aren’t worth an extra  bucks in my opinion.

Hydration alarms aren’t common. They’re especially not common in this price range. However, they can help you remember to stay hydrated during the rigorous activity that you’ll be doing during a survival situation. This is the one feature that makes me recommend this watch.

The shockproof and waterproof features are pretty robust. You can easily snorkel with this thing, and you can drop it off of your house safely. It’s impressively durable.

Timex likes to use Indiglo. The Indiglo lighting technology is bright enough to function as a low-light flashlight, and it’s more than enough for viewing the Expedition.

The lack of navigation features is a major drawback. You can use primitive navigation techniques, and you should carry a real compass when you expect to go into the outdoors, but it’s still a necessary feature that’s missing.

Paying this much for a watch without navigation features is almost a waste of money. It’s great for exercising or daily use, but it won’t do anything special in a survival situation.

The Japanese quartz movement ensures that it is actually what time the watch says it is.

A physical compass ring won’t stop working when the battery dies.

It may not be made from military-grade resin, but it is durable. The traditional materials will also look better when you’re just going about your day.

The compass is all that you really need, but an altimeter and barometer make life a lot easier. Sadly, this watch has neither of those.

In the name of fairness, I have to criticize its lack of features. It’s the most expensive watch on this list, and it lacks some functionality. However, it’s expensive be it’s a truly well-made watch.

The amount of fitness features is ridiculous. If you’re into staying fit, you won’t need any other tool to track your progress.

The navigation tools are there to help you in a pinch. That makes this a very versatile watch.

It’s also very durable. Besides being shockproof and waterproof, it’s made from a wear-resistant polymer.

I feel as if the fitness features inflate the price a bit. Since they’re not necessities, I have to consider that a drawback for most people.

It’s a high-quality Seiko watch. Every feature that it has was crafted by experts.

The physical compass ring is a surefire way to get where you want to go, and it doesn’t require batteries.

You won’t look like G.I. Joe wearing this to an office party. That might sound silly, but you don’t want to look like you’re going off to war everyday.

The last Seiko had a leather strap. The steel on this one is obviously more durable, but it’s harder to replace, too.

Besides a compass, it doesn’t have any navigation features.

At this price, you can find a more functional watch. It just won’t be as great as the Seiko.

The chronograph can be useful for timing things very precisely. That’s why it was used on the Apollo 15 shuttle.

The waterproof feature makes it just suitable enough to be on this list. You’re likely to encounter some harsh weather, and you wouldn’t want your watch getting destroyed by it.

Bulova makes accurate watches. A watches main feature is its ability to tell the time. So, at least this one can do that perfectly.

It’s hard to recommend this to people because it doesn’t have navigation features. However, it’s great as a watch. You’ll have to carry your own compass, though. 

With so many options being less expensive with more features, I can’t say that this is one I’d recommend for most people. I’m sure someone will appreciate its rich history, though.