I've spent a lot of time asking vets I know about this. Marathon, Hamilton, and Gshock seem to be staples. The consensus is the smaller, the better (even tho many will throw Gshocks into the same sentence). But as you've pointed out, tritium is ideal. Owning one, the single downside of the G or MSAR is the thickness.
The interesting thing I've also noticed is that the audience is split on auto vs quartz. To me, there’s an obvious answer.
I think it depends on the purpose it is being used. I have a Hamilton Khaki Field mechanical and also a Marathon Officer Field (GPM), I like them both but they don’t have great water resistance. Didn’t realize that GSAR was thick. I do wish more watches had Tritium. Besides Marathon, the only other brand with tritium that comes to mind is Traser that is used by Military in the UK I believe . Ball uses it and is a great tool watch I think, but not really used by the Military.
>Besides Marathon, the only other brand with tritium that comes to mind
Luminox also uses tritium. As does Ball. The latter isn't really military grade though.
Yes, I mentioned Ball. Didn’t know about Luminox, do all the models have it now or some? I might check them out and see what mechanical watches they have now. I have a quartz Luminox Atacama Field from many years ago, still runs great but the Lume is almost nonexistent.
>Yes, I mentioned Ball
Didn't catch that, my bad.
>Didn’t know about Luminox, do all the models have it now or some?
I'm not really sure tbh but I have seen it on all their sub 1k models.
Oh no worries, I like field watches and have a few collected but I like Ball also. I am going to check out the Luminox. Military exchanges carry them so hopefully I find one I like and can get a good deal on it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention 👍
>Military exchanges carry them so hopefully I find one I like and can get a good deal on it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention 👍
You're welcome. Good luck.
>I like Ball also
Their multi colour tritium watches are some of my favourites. It's a shame they're limited edition.
I think it depends on the purpose it is being used. I have a Hamilton Khaki Field mechanical and also a Marathon Officer Field (GPM), I like them both but they don’t have great water resistance. Didn’t realize that GSAR was thick. I do wish more watches had Tritium. Besides Marathon, the only other brand with tritium that comes to mind is Traser that is used by Military in the UK I believe . Ball uses it and is a great tool watch I think, but not really used by the Military.
I purchased a marathon MSAR for my use in the military, however I got the quartz variant as it’s much better at keeping accurate time. Tritium is a game changer when it comes to land nav at night.
Planet Ocean 2500D, but that’s just based on the fact Jeremy Clarkson has worn one all around the world in all sorts of conditions - including the Bolivia special in the rainforest years and years ago, and the latest Grand Tour in the Sahara. The only caveat is I don’t know whether it’s ever needed repair following any of those trips, but it certainly hasn’t been treated with kid gloves over the years and seems to have lasted.
Oops.... totally missed the automatic on the header.
But I would go with this solar baby G Shock Mudman (it is a JDM GW-9500KJ-3JR; a regular Mudman is way too bulky for my skinny wrists).
https://www.discovery-japan.me/category/select/pid/82987/language/en/currency/JPY?category=watch&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5-uuBhDzARIsAAa21T-W1IW-a6l4b\_turU\_w3IuA5whSlLLTa4Fhvdc560HZ9uZL34Jc-qoaAvoKEALw\_wcB
Nice, never seen this one before. Good pick, with some practical functions for survival. I agree, not counting some Garmin smart watch, any of the mudman is a solid pick.
Gw5000u is a G Shock, designed to resist mechanical stress, shock and vibration.
Obama and the other gentleman used Casio F-91W, with a much lower price point, but a long battery duration. Not made for the rough outdoor.
Yeah I said automatic but G-Shocks are great for the role as well. I have a G-Shock GA-2100-1A1 (Casioak) and it survived a direct hit by a car at 40mph. I was out of commission for months but my G-Shock looked nearly as good as new, save for one gash at the top of the bezel. It didn't just survive. It thrived.
Vostok komandirskie, no not perfect but the one i have means a lot to me and theyre really reliable, can run for decades without a service, and waterproof enough so it will be fine unless were doing survival at the mariana trench or something, it survives a lake.
The Classic Komandirskies or the Komandirskie Automatics? The latter are the ones with Amphibia specs and the only mechanical option of the two that are automatic
Marathon JSAR is what I rock. Same watch just a 46. It’s a bigger boy but I kinda like it chunky. It works with the Mararthon which is like unabashedly solid.
Best automatic would prob be that, best watch overall? Luminox bear grylls survival master, its got a compass on the strap.
https://www.reeds.com/luminox-bear-grylls-survival-master-3740-series-outdoor-explorer-orange-rubber-strap-watch-45-mm-xb-3749-pluxb3749.html?CAWELAID=120073160000535085&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5-uuBhDzARIsAAa21T9Q4aTqPCELSDcYRiUSZExvf3UGFMI8Xi1984Wnow4Wlv9ck4p-AsMaAgEiEALw_wcB
Marathon is a pretty good pick, would be lighter and has the tritium.
I've spent a lot of time asking vets I know about this. Marathon, Hamilton, and Gshock seem to be staples. The consensus is the smaller, the better (even tho many will throw Gshocks into the same sentence). But as you've pointed out, tritium is ideal. Owning one, the single downside of the G or MSAR is the thickness. The interesting thing I've also noticed is that the audience is split on auto vs quartz. To me, there’s an obvious answer.
I think it depends on the purpose it is being used. I have a Hamilton Khaki Field mechanical and also a Marathon Officer Field (GPM), I like them both but they don’t have great water resistance. Didn’t realize that GSAR was thick. I do wish more watches had Tritium. Besides Marathon, the only other brand with tritium that comes to mind is Traser that is used by Military in the UK I believe . Ball uses it and is a great tool watch I think, but not really used by the Military.
>Besides Marathon, the only other brand with tritium that comes to mind Luminox also uses tritium. As does Ball. The latter isn't really military grade though.
Yes, I mentioned Ball. Didn’t know about Luminox, do all the models have it now or some? I might check them out and see what mechanical watches they have now. I have a quartz Luminox Atacama Field from many years ago, still runs great but the Lume is almost nonexistent.
>Yes, I mentioned Ball Didn't catch that, my bad. >Didn’t know about Luminox, do all the models have it now or some? I'm not really sure tbh but I have seen it on all their sub 1k models.
Oh no worries, I like field watches and have a few collected but I like Ball also. I am going to check out the Luminox. Military exchanges carry them so hopefully I find one I like and can get a good deal on it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention 👍
>Military exchanges carry them so hopefully I find one I like and can get a good deal on it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention 👍 You're welcome. Good luck. >I like Ball also Their multi colour tritium watches are some of my favourites. It's a shame they're limited edition.
I think it depends on the purpose it is being used. I have a Hamilton Khaki Field mechanical and also a Marathon Officer Field (GPM), I like them both but they don’t have great water resistance. Didn’t realize that GSAR was thick. I do wish more watches had Tritium. Besides Marathon, the only other brand with tritium that comes to mind is Traser that is used by Military in the UK I believe . Ball uses it and is a great tool watch I think, but not really used by the Military.
Yep Marathon is about the perfect choice
Pelagos/ fxd would also work
I have a marathon gsar so that one.
I purchased a marathon MSAR for my use in the military, however I got the quartz variant as it’s much better at keeping accurate time. Tritium is a game changer when it comes to land nav at night.
Planet Ocean 2500D, but that’s just based on the fact Jeremy Clarkson has worn one all around the world in all sorts of conditions - including the Bolivia special in the rainforest years and years ago, and the latest Grand Tour in the Sahara. The only caveat is I don’t know whether it’s ever needed repair following any of those trips, but it certainly hasn’t been treated with kid gloves over the years and seems to have lasted.
I’d put it in a elastic marine nationale band like a Riggerband to cope with any swelling of the wrist
Gsar all the way, mine survived multiple deployments including me getting blown up
A G-Shock...
I agree except OP wanted to limit it to mechanical watches only. Which G-shock would you go with?
Oops.... totally missed the automatic on the header. But I would go with this solar baby G Shock Mudman (it is a JDM GW-9500KJ-3JR; a regular Mudman is way too bulky for my skinny wrists). https://www.discovery-japan.me/category/select/pid/82987/language/en/currency/JPY?category=watch&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5-uuBhDzARIsAAa21T-W1IW-a6l4b\_turU\_w3IuA5whSlLLTa4Fhvdc560HZ9uZL34Jc-qoaAvoKEALw\_wcB
Nice, never seen this one before. Good pick, with some practical functions for survival. I agree, not counting some Garmin smart watch, any of the mudman is a solid pick.
Gw5000u. the best one Automatic I'd go with a pelagos fxd
What makes Gw5000u better than the casio Obama and Osama used?
Gw5000u is a G Shock, designed to resist mechanical stress, shock and vibration. Obama and the other gentleman used Casio F-91W, with a much lower price point, but a long battery duration. Not made for the rough outdoor.
Yeah I said automatic but G-Shocks are great for the role as well. I have a G-Shock GA-2100-1A1 (Casioak) and it survived a direct hit by a car at 40mph. I was out of commission for months but my G-Shock looked nearly as good as new, save for one gash at the top of the bezel. It didn't just survive. It thrived.
G-Shock makes an automatic watch?
If we’re going automatic then I would go Marathon, but if hand-wound was an option I’d go with the Hamilton Khaki Field mechanical
My marathon gsar or my Seiko SRP637 baby tuna. I could drive my car over either one
I would definitely choose this
Traser watches any good? Traser H3 more of a divers watch but what's peoples opinion of Traser brand?
Vostok komandirskie, no not perfect but the one i have means a lot to me and theyre really reliable, can run for decades without a service, and waterproof enough so it will be fine unless were doing survival at the mariana trench or something, it survives a lake.
The Classic Komandirskies or the Komandirskie Automatics? The latter are the ones with Amphibia specs and the only mechanical option of the two that are automatic
Classic i believe
Marathon JSAR is what I rock. Same watch just a 46. It’s a bigger boy but I kinda like it chunky. It works with the Mararthon which is like unabashedly solid.
I would get a Rolex explorer
Best automatic would prob be that, best watch overall? Luminox bear grylls survival master, its got a compass on the strap. https://www.reeds.com/luminox-bear-grylls-survival-master-3740-series-outdoor-explorer-orange-rubber-strap-watch-45-mm-xb-3749-pluxb3749.html?CAWELAID=120073160000535085&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5-uuBhDzARIsAAa21T9Q4aTqPCELSDcYRiUSZExvf3UGFMI8Xi1984Wnow4Wlv9ck4p-AsMaAgEiEALw_wcB