G-Shock Watches are ideal military accessories. For those in the military, you know a watch is firstly a tool, not a fashion accessory. For example, you’ll find big, chunky watches packed with features. Most commonly, you’ll find watches that are highly resistant to the outdoor environment, namely, water, dust, mud and shocks.
That’s not to say that these watches are exclusively for those in the military; they’re also great for those who love spending time outside, like triathletes, hikers and people who work outside a lot, like construction workers. Therefore, Casio has been a brand that consistently appeals to this niche and created the G-Shock collection.
These watches have been developed to withstand it all. They offer reliability and resist scratches, bumps and knocks of all kinds. Above all, the G-Shock watches brand from Casio has a solid reputation, so here is our list of recommendations for you.
Rangeman GW-9400
The Rangeman is one of the chunkiest in the G-Shock range. In fact, it’s one of the biggest watches on the market. However, this is for a reason. The face has many useful features, the best of all being the solar cell which means this watch keeps going without worrying about having to recharge at any point. There’s a battery life indicator light for reassurance, which is certainly hard to miss right in the middle of the face.
The resin case is 55.2mm by 18.2mm, so it’s chunky. It’s water-resistant to 200m and temperature resistant to minus ten degrees celsius.
What’s more, once you select your timezone, you no longer have to worry about setting the time yourself. The watch will talk to the nearest Atomic Time transmitter, which keeps the world’s most accurate time (and we wrote an article on atomic watches here). Specifically, this watch can communicate with 6 around the world.
The watch has eleven different modes, 12 and 24-hour time formats, world timekeeping, a stopwatch that will last up to 1,000 hours, a countdown timer up to 24 hours, up to 5 alarms and much more.
Inside, this watch also has a built-in compass, barometric pressure, temperature, altitude and direction readings. It has onboard memory to save your information so you can check it later during the day. The controls are very intuitive; there is a button on either side of the case with various functions.
Pros
- Communicates with 6 world atomic clocks
- Strong build
- Water-resistant to 200m
- Solar powered
Cons
- Bulky
- Multi-functional buttons take some time to learn
You can find this for around $300.
Quartz with Resin Strap Military Watch
Another large G-Shock (and, spoiler alert, this is the look they aim for) at 51mm by 14mm. If you’re here looking for something that will be a reliable timepiece with additional functions, this is a great option. A Quartz movement powers it with three hands. The face itself is large and easy to read. Furthermore, there’s an LED backlight to help this in poor lighting conditions.
The face has the appearance of an analogue mechanism but under those three hands and big Arabic numerals (at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 positions) are some complex systems. For example, there’s a date window in the top half of the screen. To the left, you can see what day of the week it is in digital format and under this, to the right, there is a complication with six functions to choose from.
This watch offers a thermometer, stopwatch, countdown timer, full auto calendar, up to 5 alarms, 12 and 24-hour formats and a digital compass. All accessible via the side buttons.
This watch is resistant to typical conditions military personnel may come across; mud and water up to 200m.
Pros
- Durable build
- Water-resistant to 200m as well as mud
- Analog and digital combination
- Long battery life (2 years)
Cons
- Same issue with learning the buttons as the above model
- Ditto the bulkiness
You can find this watch for under $100.
WR Shock Resistant Military Watch
This is one of the sexiest models on our list of the best G-Shock watches for the military. Indeed, the black camo design looks the part.
Under the black resin case and matching band, this watch has a two-handed Quartz movement. Further, under that, there are several segments, each in digital format. Here you’ll find 31 timezones, up to 5 alarms, a 60-minute countdown timer and other features.
The case measures 51mm by 16.9mm. As with other G-Shock watches, you get those two side buttons with multiple functions. The build is superior, yet somehow the watch itself is light and comfortable to have on your wrist all the time.
Pros
- Superior design to other models
- Durable but lightweight
- 200m water-resistance
Cons
- The face is quite cluttered
You can currently find this watch under $100.
Classic Analog-Digital Military Watch
This is a classic G-Shock in terms of durability and ruggedness but compared to others here, it lacks in features. Still, it has the analogue-digital combination, but you don’t get any time zones and the other, more sophisticated features other watches here share.
So why is this on our list of the best G-Shock watches for the military? Easy! Not everyone is looking for a swish timepiece. If all you want is something reliable, this is perfect.
It has an analogue display with two-hands Quartz movement. You’ll notice that the hour hand has a red accent, and the minute has grey. Also, it has Arabic numerals at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 positions, whereas there are simple markers for the others.
Underneath the analogue hands is a slightly smaller screen than others on this list, but you still get a day and date window. The more basic functions include a stopwatch, alarm and two time zones.
Pros
- Battery life up to three years
- Basic but reliable
- Lightweight
- Smaller than other models on the list
Cons
- Might be too basic for some
- Buttons can be stiff
Again, another model under $100.
GD120MB Black Military Watch
Now we come to a model without any analogue features. This fully-digital, all-back model with negative display is more subtle than the WR but offers excellent accuracy from the Japanese Quartz movement inside.
The case is 47mm by 30mm, which is quite thick. The dial is protected by a mineral crystal that also offers anti-glare, perfect for anyone who spends time outside a lot. When lighting conditions are poor, it also has a button to activate the illumination of the screen.
By now, you know G-Shock watches come with a host of advanced features, and this military watch doesn’t fail to meet that expectation. It comes with a countdown timer, stopwatch, auto date calendar, up to five alarms and a smart feature to deliver your notifications. What’s more, battery life is an incredible 7 years.
Pros
- All-black design
- Excellent battery life
- Accurate Japanese Quartz movement
Cons
- Quite thick
Not bad for under $80.
Quartz Black Military Watch
This is one of the best G-Shock watches for the military because of two standout features. Firstly, the Atomic Timekeeping tech (remember where it can get an accurate time from one of six global atomic clocks?). Secondly, Tough Solar; a battery-recharging function that guarantees stable operation of the more power-thirsty functions. Wearers don’t have to worry about recharging the battery (a full charge can last up to 10 months)
The watch supports 29 timezones, has up to five alarms, a countdown timer, an auto-calendar and the power-saving feature. Still, for peace of mind, there’s also a battery level indicator. Oh, and a backlight.
It has a resin case and band so it’s slimmer than the others on this list and, thankfully, this resolves any issues with the stiff buttons.
Pros
- Thinner than other models at 15mm
- Durable
- Reliable
- Accurate
- Cheap!
Cons
- Some users say the resin band takes some wearing in
You can find this watch for $65 and under
Casio G-Shock G9000 “Military Concept” Mudman
If you want a classic military watch that sits at a budget price range, the Casio G-Shock G9000 is worth a try. This is the original Mudman watch and is generally thought of as the most attractive one too.
This watch can be found for approximately $110 on Amazon.
Though the G9000 doesn’t come with complex features, it offers the basics and has an extremely durable design. This “extra-rugged” construction ensures that it will survive any training drill or drop. The design is a “military concept”, proving that this watch is optimized for all servicemen out there.
The features on this watch include a hands-free backlight, a dedicated front backlight button, and a button sound mute. Again, there aren’t any advanced options on this watch – but it’s still an army classic due to its hard-wearing design.
Pros
- The best budget G-Shock option
- Extra durable Mudman design
- Great construction and exterior
Cons
- Lacks advanced features
G9300 Mudman Military Watch
Surely a name like ‘Mudman’ is enough to tell you why this model has made the list of the best G-Shock watches for the military?
This is a mud-resistant watch with sealed buttons and a durable crystal lens and stainless steel bezel to protect the Japanese Quartz movement from any mud, dirt and dust. The case is 45mm by 15mm.
It’s also got the Tough Solar feature we just mentioned in the previous model, a digital compass, moon phases and will monitor the ambient temperature. What’s more, it offers 31 time zones, up to five alarms, stopwatch, auto calendar, 12 and 24-hour time formats and a stopwatch. It also comes with a backlight.
Again, as we’ve mentioned as a common issue, the buttons do need a bit of a shove, but the watch itself is user-friendly.
Pros
- One of the most durable on this list
- Unique features
- Solar-powered Japanese movement
Cons
- The buttons can be quite tough
This will cost you around $105.
Casio G-Shock Mudmaster GG1000-1A5
Looking for a Casio G-Shock watch? The Mudmaster might be the one for you. This is a top model from the watch retailer and sits in the high-quality “Master of G” range. Ideal for any military purposes.
With a rugged design and a tough exterior, this is one of the most durable G-Shock watches available. There’s no wonder this watch is popular with those in the military and law enforcement professionals too.
Other features on this watch include a hands-free backlight, a twin sensor, analog compass, extra mud resistance, dust resistance, vibration resistance, plus world time options.
The Casio G-Shock Mudmaster GG1000-1A5 sits at approximately $320 on Amazon.
Unfortunately, the G-Shock Mudmaster GG1000-1A5 lacks atomic time and solar battery. If you need a solar-power G-Shock option, opt for the Mudmaster GWG-1000, but note that this is twice the cost of a GG1000-1A5 model.
Pros
- Durable build
- Extra resistance to mud, dust, and vibrations
- Hands-free backlighting
- Features a twin sensor
Cons
- No atomic time
- No solar power
- More expensive than other Casio options
Conclusion
G-Shock is the perfect brand for watches for the military; they offer the durability, reliability, and resistance to all the elements one would need to survive!
If you’re looking for a rugged watch, we’ve got some more exciting options for you in this article
For a review of the most affordable tough watches -see here.
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Last Updated on January 16, 2023
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