- A good field watch has an easy-to-read, high-contrast face to ensure you can tell the time even when you're in the midst of a hike, swim, or hard day of physical labor.
- We chose the Bertucci A-2T Original Classics Field Watch as best overall for its light-weight durability and reasonable price point.
- If you're looking for a higher-end timepiece or something in a different style, check out our guide to the best men's watches under $500.
The field watch is a style of timepiece that originated on the battlefields of World War II, where accuracy and durability were paramount. Today's field watches may not be battle-tested, but they're built with the same performance and endurance in mind. A good field watch should be easy to read, simple, and sturdy, but it should still look good enough to take you from the outdoors to a night out. Simplicity is key.
The original field watches had chromium-plated brass or stainless steel casings, were automatic, waterproof, generally had either sturdy canvas or leather straps. High-contrast numerals - white numbers on a black background - were common, so they could be easily read in the chaos of battle.
Modern watch companies have built upon this platform, adding features like solar-powered batteries and day and date calendars, while retaining the elements that made this style so iconic. While you can spend hundreds, or even thousands, on a timepiece, we've kept our picks relatively affordable for more utility.
We chose the Bertucci A-2T Original Classics Field Watch as best overall. While Bertucci is a relative newcomer to the market, having launched in 2004, its focus has solely been on titanium field watches, and it's paid off. Bertucci watches are assembled in the US using Japanese quartz movements and tough but light titanium casings.
Here are the best field watches:
- Best overall: Bertucci A-2T Original Classics Field Watch
- Best on a budget: Timex Expedition Scout 36mm Watch
- Best eco-friendly field watch: One Eleven Solar-Powered Sustainable Field Watch
- Best automatic field watch: Seiko SNZG15 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch
- Best solar-powered field watch: Citizen Watches Men's BM8180-03E
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