Did you know that around 21% of Americans use smartwatches to track their fitness?
It’s obvious that, at this point, smartwatches are massively popular. However, today we will be talking about tactical smartwatches.
Wait, what’s a tactical smartwatch? How is it any different than regular smartwatches?
Which one should you get? Today we will be discussing all of these questions, the key features of a tactical smartwatch, and a few other things. I will also recommend to you a few of our top picks.
So without further ado, let’s get straight into it, shall we?
So, What is a Tactical Smartwatch?
Picture a wrist-bound companion that goes beyond mere timekeeping. Sounds confusing?
Well, a tactical smartwatch is a game-changer. It does everything that a smartwatch does with the demands of rugged environments.
It’s a wearable powerhouse designed to assist you in an unfriendly environment.
With its durable materials and rugged design, it can withstand harsh conditions, impacts, and even water.
So, in general, what can you expect from a tactical smartwatch?
- GPS navigation
- Long battery life
- Tactical modes
- Advanced sensors
- Health monitoring
- Connectivity with your smartphone and laptop
It will allow you to stay on top of your game.
Whether you are hiking through terrains or engaged in critical missions, the tactical smartwatch is the ultimate companion for you. They can empower and enhance your outdoor experiences.
The Increasing Popularity of Tactical Smart Watches
I have witnessed an extraordinary surge in the popularity and demand for tactical smartwatches. It’s no surprise, considering their remarkable evolution to meet our specific needs.
Tactical smartwatches, with their robust construction and durability, have become indispensable companions.
It offers features and functionalities that enhance our experiences and keep us connected.
From precise GPS navigation to specialized tactical modes and compatibility with other gears such as my laptop and headphones, these watches are vital tools for situational awareness and effective communication.
Not only are they functional, but they’ve also embraced the style, blending with our outdoor gear and everyday attire.
The integration of health and fitness tracking features allows us to monitor our physical performance during our adventures or training exercises.
Key Features of Tactical Smart Watches
Durability
Whenever you are outside in harsh weather conditions, tactical smartwatches can be in danger but because of their materials they survive and stainless steel, titanium, and even rugged polymers are pretty resistant.
Water Resistance
You can wear tactical smartwatches and go out and have a great swim or go surfing maybe? Tactical smartwatches are designed in such a way that they can still work properly even underwater.
Shock Resistance
Tactical smartwatches can survive any major drops or bumps, they are almost indestructible if they come in contact with any physical hazard.
Extended Battery Life
The battery life of tactical smartwatches is very good if they are juiced up before going out on an adventure. The battery can survive days without charging and it’s a plus point if you are out on a remote location and accessibility to charge is not an option.
GPS and Navigation
Tactical smartwatches often feature built-in GPS, which helps in tracking locations and recording the routes traveled.
Health and Fitness Tracking
You can track down your progress during workouts because tactical smartwatches have heart rate monitoring, step counting, and distance tracking features.
Wireless Connectivity
Tactical smartwatches can connect wirelessly to smartphones or other devices, and you can control your incoming and outgoing calls, see your messages and notifications, and even control your music.
Tactical Applications and Modes
Some tactical smartwatches have a few specialized tactical modes designed for military professionals.
These include night vision compatibility, compass, altimeter, barometer, and other tools that enhance situational awareness and aid in tactical operations. These are some
8 Best Tactical Smart Watch: Our Top Picks
1. Garmin 010-02173-11 Venu
My sister purchased it about a week ago and she loves the AMOLED display on the Garmin 010-02173-11 Venu. The battery life is outstanding, lasting up to five days in smartwatch mode.
The health monitoring features are comprehensive, it keeps track of her energy levels, respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, and estimated heart rate. Being able to download songs and playlists from Spotify is a game-changer, and she enjoys them with wireless headphones. With over 20 preloaded GPS and sports apps, including yoga and swimming, it caters to all her fitness needs.
Features
- Stunning AMOLED display, long battery life (up to 5 days) in smartwatch mode.
- Comprehensive health monitoring: energy levels, respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, and estimated heart rate.
- Easily download songs and playlists from Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer (a premium subscription may be required) and connect with headphones for phone-free listening.
- Over 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, including yoga, running, and swimming.
- Animated workouts for cardio, strength, yoga, and pilates are directly on the watch screen.
- Compatible with iPhone and Android smartphones for seamless integration.
Pros:
- Beautiful AMOLED display
- Stylish design
Cons:
- Not as durable as other smartwatches
2. Garmin Vivoactive 4
I’m amazed by the range of features the Garmin Vivoactive 4 has. It tracks everything from energy levels to sleep, stress, and hydration.
Downloading my favorite songs and playlists is a breeze, and I love going phone-free with wireless headphones.
The preloaded sports apps cover all my fitness activities, and the animated workouts make exercising a breeze.
The battery life is fantastic, lasting up to 8 days in smartwatch mode. I do enjoy personalizing my watch with free faces and apps.
Features
- Monitor energy levels, respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, heart rate, and hydration.
- Easily download songs and playlists from Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer, and enjoy them wirelessly with headphones.
- Access over 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, including yoga, running, and swimming.
- Follow easy-to-follow, animated workouts for cardio, strength, yoga, and Pilates.
- Impressive battery life: Up to 8 days in smartwatch mode, 6 hours in GPS and music mode.
- Customize your watch with thousands of free watch faces, apps, and widgets from the Connect IQ store.
- Receive smart notifications for calls, messages, and calendar reminders.
- The watch has a 5 ATM water rating, ensuring water resistance.
Pros:
- Garmin pay contactless payment
- Friendly UI
Cons:
- Music storage requires a premium subscription
3. Fitbit Versa 2
I love the convenience of having Amazon Alexa built into the Fitbit Versa 2. It allows me to check the news, weather, control my smart home devices, and more with just my voice.
The sleep score feature has been a game-changer for me, providing valuable insights into my sleep quality and stages. The 90-day free trial of Fitbit Premium has helped me stay active, improve my sleep, and manage stress effectively.
The larger display with the always-on option makes sure that I can easily access information at a glance.
Controlling Spotify and receiving notifications on my wrist make life so much easier. This smartwatch truly makes my daily routine easy.
Features
- Sleep score analyzes heart rate, sleep duration, and restlessness to provide insights into sleep quality and stages.
- Enjoy a 90-day free trial of Fitbit Premium for activity tracking, sleep management, and stress relief (new Premium users only).
- Amazon Alexa integration enables voice control for news, weather, timers, and smart home devices (availability may vary).
- Larger display with an always-on option for quick access to information (impact on battery life).
- Control Spotify and make secure purchases with Fitbit Pay, while receiving notifications on your wrist.
Pros:
- Long battery life
- Built-in GPS
Cons:
- Not as bright as other smartwatches
4. Garmin 010-01769-01 Vivoactive 3
The Garmin Pay in Garmin 010-01769-01 Vivoactive 3, is a great way to make contactless payments with ease.
The ability to customize my watch with various free watch faces, apps, and widgets from the Connect IQ store adds a personal touch to anyone’s taste.
The preloaded GPS and sports apps, including yoga and swimming, provide great support for fitness routines. You can monitor fitness levels with VO2 max. There is also a feature to track your stress levels.
With a battery life of up to 7 days in smartwatch mode, this watch is reliable and long-lasting.
Features
- Personalize your watch with thousands of free watch faces, apps, and widgets from the Connect IQ store.
- More than 15 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, including yoga, running, swimming, and more.
- Monitor fitness levels with VO2 max and stress tracking features.
- Stay connected with smart notifications, automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, and Live Track when paired with a compatible smartphone.
- Impressive battery life: Up to 7 days in smartwatch mode, 13 hours in GPS mode. Display size: 1.2 inches.
- Garmin Pay allows for contactless payments with supported cards from participating banks.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Longer battery life
Cons:
- No third-party app integration
5. Fossil Smart Watch
The WearOS by Google app is useful for managing the Fossil Smart Watch on both Android and iOS devices.
The battery life is quite impressive. The always-on display and the wide range of watch faces will curb anyone’s customization enthusiasm.
With automatic activity tracking, including steps, sleep, heart rate, and cardio level, you boost your fitness goals. It has access to Amazon Alexa. This smartwatch is an absolute deal breaker!
Features
- Battery life varies based on usage and updates but offers extended battery mode and fast charging with a magnetic charger.
- Enjoy an always-on display and personalize your watch with thousands of watch faces and hundreds of apps for various needs.
- Automatically track activity goals, steps, sleep, heart rate, and cardio level with advanced sensors and activity modes.
- Stay connected with notifications for calls, texts, apps, and seamless syncing of time, time zone, and calendar.
- Use the WearOS by Google app on your Android or iOS phone for compatibility and supported features.
- Android users can also access Amazon Alexa for added convenience and assistance with various tasks.
Pros:
- Fast charging
- Very durable
Cons:
- Can only charge with Fossil Smartwatch Rapid Charger
6. Amazfit T-Rex Pro
The Amazfit T-Rex Pro is an ultimate adventure companion. Its design can survive intense conditions, and the GPS, heart rate monitor, and sleep tracker keep you informed about your health.
With remarkable battery life, you can go on multi-day expeditions without worrying about charging. You can also go underwater with this watch.
Features
- The Amazfit T-Rex Pro smartwatch is built tough, passing 15 military-grade tests, and enduring extreme environments.
- It serves as a high-level exploration partner with GPS, blood-oxygen saturation measurement, heart rate and sleep monitoring, weather tracking, and more.
- Enjoy an impressive battery life of up to 18 days (typical usage) or 40 hours with GPS continuous working mode.
- With 10 ATM water resistance, it’s perfect for water activities up to 100 meters.
- Track over 100 sports modes in real-time for heart rate, distance, speed, and calories burned.
- Stay informed with notifications and control music playback.
- Sync data with your favorite health and fitness apps through the Zepp OS app.
- Control music playlist through Bluetooth.
- Never get lost with reliable 4-positional GPS tracking.
Pros:
- Very durable
- Long battery life
Cons:
- The display is not as bright as other smartwatches
7. Garmin Swim 2
The Garmin Swim 2 is a trusted companion for everyone. It tracks performance in both pool and open-water swims. The battery life is impressive, lasting up to 7 days in smartwatch mode.
The pool swim mode provides detailed insights into the distance, pace, stroke count, and efficiency. In open water, the built-in GPS accurately records distance, pace, stroke count, and more.
With smart notifications and automatic uploads, staying connected has never been easier.
Features
- This GPS swimming smartwatch is perfect for both pool and open water swims.
- Impressive battery life: up to 7 days in smartwatch mode, 13 hours in GPS and heart rate mode, and 72 hours in pool and heart rate mode.
- Pool swim mode tracks distance, pace, stroke count, stroke type, and SWOLF for efficient swimming.
- Open-water swim mode utilizes built-in GPS for accurate distance, pace, stroke count, SWOLF, stroke rate, and stroke distance measurements.
- Advanced features help you stay on pace, log drills, and more.
- Enjoy free online analysis, custom workout creation, and sharing on the Garmin Connect community.
- Connected features include smart notifications and automatic uploads to Garmin Connect.
- Monitors underwater estimated wrist-based heart rate during swim activities.
Pros:
- Specifically made for swimmers
- Durable design
Cons:
- No third-party app integration
8. Ticwatch Pro 3
The Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS is an outstanding feature of this watch. The battery life is remarkable, lasting up to 72 hours in Smart Mode. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 Platform, it gives a fast performance.
There are advanced health monitoring capabilities, including waterproofing, sports modes, GPS, and sensors. The new Fatigue Assessment feature helps me track my energy levels throughout the day.
It has a premium design with a stainless-steel bezel and an AMOLED screen.
Features
- Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 Platform for faster performance.
- Advanced health monitoring: IP68 waterproof, 100+ sports modes, built-in GPS, and various sensors.
- Up to 72 hours in Smart Mode and 45 days in Essential Mode.
- New Fatigue Assessment feature for tracking daily energy levels.
- Stainless-steel bezel, 1.4-inch AMOLED screen, customizable backlight, and US Military Standard 810G durability.
- Customize watch faces with the weather, heart rate, and steps, and choose from different styles.
Pros:
- Dual display
- Comprehensive health and fitness tracking
Cons:
- Battery life can be shorter if all features are used at once
Bottom Line
Tactical smartwatches have become essential companions for outdoor enthusiasts and military professionals, revolutionizing wearable technology.
These watches are designed to withstand tough conditions and impacts during outdoor adventures or military operations.
They offer features like extended battery life, GPS navigation, and health tracking to enhance their usefulness.
Tactical smartwatches also provide wireless connectivity, keeping users connected to their smartphones and other devices, even in remote areas.
With specialized modes and gear compatibility, they improve situational awareness and communication during critical missions.
As the demand for adventure and tactical capabilities grows, tactical smartwatches stand out with their rugged design, advanced features, and reliability, letting us conquer challenges in our outdoor pursuits.
