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The Best Watches for Men Who Love the Outdoors

Heavy-duty but handsome, these watches are ready for any scenario.

by Ian Centrone

Updated: November 13, 2020

Originally Published: November 2, 2018

There are those among us who believe smartphones have made even the best watches for men semi-obsolete — nice accessories, sure, but no longer essential gear for being out in the woods or on the water. While that’s true to an extent, there are some pretty solid reasons for strapping fitness-tracking and adventure-centric outdoor watches to your wrist. For starters, the best men’s watches for a life outside also look great — whether you go big and rugged or sleek and stylish. And while some guys may decide to install an app to fight phone addition, it’s even easier to leave the iPhone in the car and keep an eye on the time the (relatively) old-fashioned way.

Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all guide to picking the perfect timepiece, since the best watches for men come down to each man’s use. However, all strike a balance between price and design, while also standing the test of time. Whether you work outside or spend weekends hiking, fishing, paddling, climbing, you want one that’s durable, which a scratch- and shatter-resistant face, and water-resistant or waterproof case. Some outdoor watches come jam-packed with nifty features; others do a few functions well. All should handle the bumps and bruising that comes with weekends in the wilderness, just like you.

The Best Outdoor Watches for Men

G-Shock GBDH1000-1A7

Timex Expedition Gallatin Solar

$50.68

Autodromo Monoposto Chronograph

Hearkening back to the chronograph's racing roots, the Monoposto by Autodromo is a must for the man with a higher octane in his blood. Its distinctive red face mark is an homage to the upper end of early Grand Prix cars' RPMs, while the polished steel case and smooth leather band only accentuate its minimalist good looks when compared to other work watches. One of only 200 pieces, it may be a bit pricey, but it's a timepiece worthy of generations past and the one you're currently raising.

Momentum Watches Steelix Black-Ion

Taking its design cue from classic military wristwatches, the Steelix by Momentum Watches has all the durability and good looks of its patriarch. Water-resistant to 200 meters and powered by a razor-accurate Japanese quartz movement, its powder-coated stainless steel bracelet and casing give the whole package an understated beauty and durability for the dad on the go.

$235

Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar Edition

$718.95

Tissot T-Race Chronograph

The Swiss have earned their reputation as timekeepers over a few centuries of precision engineering. From Swiss watchmaker Tissot, this sports watch houses all that engineered precision in a handsome but tough scratch-resistant sapphire crystal face. Inspired by motorcycle racing, the face features three subdials that break downtime into 30 minutes, 60 seconds, and 1/10 second measurements — so you can easily clock splits and laps. With quartz movement and water-resistant to 100 meters.

$595

Garmin Instinct

Garmin's Instinct is a great rugged GPS watch for outdoor sports enthusiasts. The rugged watch (it's shock-resistant, and water-resistant up to 100 meters) has a built-in triple-axis compass and barometric altimeter. It also monitors your heart rate, activity, and stress. And thanks to its very cool trackback feature, which guides you back to your starting point, getting lost won’t be an issue.

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This article was originally published on November 2, 2018