The Best Watches for Men of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Watches are a travel must-have. From hopping time zones to navigating international cell phone plans, it pays to know the time (and look put together). And the ultimate watch travel hack can be bringing more than one.

I always travel with multiple watches for a few reasons. First, I'm a huge fan of Strava, who believes the best way to explore a new city is by going for a run and getting lost, necessitating a good GPS to track miles and return home. Second, I wouldn't wear a smartwatch of any variety to a nice dinner (though it can depend on the case or band of the watch). Even for packing minimalists, a second watch takes up little space and can breathe new life into the inevitable outfit repeating.

As a watch hobbyist and professional product tester with a penchant for travel, I've created a personal collection that is ready to hop on a flight at a moment's notice. All ten picks here are travel-tested and real-world-approved by myself personally.

Best Smartwatches The Garmin Fenix 7 Solar Pro is hands-down the best GPS smartwatch I've used. With its phone connectivity, programmable maps, step counter, customizable face, and stellar battery life (18 days on one charge) — it's also the best travel smartwatch on the market. On a recent trip to Southern China, I alternated between the Garmin and Tornek Rayville's dive-capable field watch for experience and more formal- dinners. The Garmin shined, mostly due to its extensive library of travel-ready features.

The Fenix has a jet lag calculator, which helps set your expectations on when to visit the cafe for an afternoon espresso and other recommendations for combating jet lag. I switched the standard rubber strap for the brand's canvas version, which gives it a more casual and less sporty feel. The canvas strap is also more durable, I've found those rubber straps easy to break and expensive to replace. The surprise hero of this watch is the integrated flashlight, which I've used for everything from navigating back to my seat on a red-eye and pacifier retrieval for sleeping babies.

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The G-Shock may have fewer bells and whistles than other smartwatches, but that's a benefit, not a flaw. Too much screen time can distract in a new city in my opinion. What you need is a watch like the GBM-2100, which provides the essentials without the distraction. It's a charming combination of analog and smart tech with Bluetooth compatibility and an accompanying phone app.

Despite its Terminator-esque name and full metal construction, it's a remarkably user-friendly watch. Setting a new time upon landing is as easy as syncing up with your phone. No connectivity? No problem. You can adjust on the fly without service or Wi-Fi. It has a full calendar programmed through 2099, access to 50 world time zones, can set up to five alarms simultaneously, and has six language options. While sporty leaning, it can easily pass at the dinner table with its steel case and minimal digital features. This model does lean lower feature-wise, so if you prefer heart rate and step-counting abilities, G-Shock has a range of watches with those capabilities.

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Best Casual Watches Field watches are the original wristwatch and Hamilton was one of the first American watchmakers to build them, outfitting soldiers in WWI for battle. I used this watch in its new NATO canvas strap configuration in Arizona's Sonoran desert this summer, using it on ATV rides, swims in the Salt River, and pre-dawn hot air balloon rides. The Expedition was a perfect companion for all environments. And at the hotel in Scottsdale , it also cleaned up nicely for dinner and drinks.

How many watches can go from trail to tasting menu in one day? The Expedition can. The working compass bezel is a fun party trick and, theoretically, could be useful in a survival situation (I'm always theorizing on potential desert island strategies, which the Expedition would be perfect for). The only downside is the lack of a date window, though this makes it easier to set the time via the screw-down crown. And, perhaps most importantly, it's designed to be ultradurable while looking great on the wrist. In addition to the NATO strap, I also have the leather strap version, which plays a little dressier.

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If you're going to buy an American-made dive watch (and you should), why not get it from a state surrounded by water? Shinola's Detroit-made Lake Michigan Monster is more than just pretty to look at, it's a ruggedly capable watch tailor-made for water adventures. The 30 ATM water rating makes it seriously waterproof and the blue dial with the subtle lightning bolt signature is a slick variation on the standard dive watches from other brands.

Normally sand and steel don't mix well, but I've worn this dive watch for dune climbing, freshwater surfing, and piloting a wooden speedboat on the Great Lakes. Dive watches are considered casual from the origins of their sport, but wearing the Lake Michigan Monster out to dinner and drinks while rocking double denim made me feel (slightly) like Robert Redford in his 80s Sundance Film Festival heyday. Whenever I'm planning to be out on the water, I'm packing the Monster.

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A GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) watch is perhaps the most classic travel style due to its ability to show two or more different time zones at once thanks to a fourth hand and a 24-hour bezel. I'm terrible with the mental math of timezones, so when I'm traveling, a GMT helps me stay in the normal rhythm of home, making sure I don't miss a bedtime goodnight call with my kids. Wearing the watch every day helps me navigate calls in time zone differences that, despite Google Calendar's helpful settings, I can never seem to remember.

I've tried a few GMTs before settling on Zodiac's newest model. The butterfly clasp is intuitive and the steel bracelet has just a hint of stretch, which is helpful on long fights where joint swelling inevitably occurs. The date window is easily adjusted — yet another crucial feature for a travel watch if you're crossing international date lines. The bracelet can take a trip or two to figure out sizing, but it's not a deal breaker.

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Sometimes, you just can't beat a solid digital watch. This one from Casio hits all the travel-ready features I look for in a digital watch, like alarms, timers, and an easy time adjustment. It's slim enough to look like a bracelet, which helps dress it up or down depending on context and gives it extra versatility when packing. Its affordable price lets you play in colorways or spaces you might usually avoid, too. For example, I'm normally strictly in the silver or steel world, but I gambled on a little gold with this watch to switch things up. The bracelet can be tricky to adjust when you first pick it up, but a little YouTube detective work and a flathead screwdriver solve the problem.

The Details: Resin, gold-tone with stainless steel band | Digital | Water resistant

Solar-powered watches use sun-powered quartz by allowing light through the face to the solar cell, which is then transferred to the solar battery to power the watch, meaning you'll never have to worry about batteries dying. Tag Heuer's Aquaracer Solargraph elevates that movement to an art form. I like the titanium version for traveling, which is lightweight and sporty. The titanium's gunmetal tone is a darker shade than a traditional steel watch, which is helpful when you want to wear a nice watch but not bring too much attention to it. Ideal for being on the go, the solar-powered quartz battery only needs 20 hours of charging to power the watch for a whopping six months. Unique details like a dual-color lume treatment that shows up both green and arctic blue in the dark help shake this up from a traditional Aquaracer and place it in its own category.

If the titanium here is polarizing, also check out the brand's solargraph offering in steel . If you're ready to try a watch with a green face, the pistachio dial number is especially fresh.

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Best Dressy Watches Hamilton's Khaki Field Murph watch may not be a traditional dress watch pick, but I'll make a case for it from a travel perspective. The 38-millimeter plays as a dress watch, though the 42-millimeter version I have is still workable. It's slim enough to peek out from a shirt sleeve or suit, but not be distracting. The hardy black leather strap carries a patina akin to selvage denim, which is a travel log in its own right, telling where I've taken the watch, what wine I've spilled on it, and other tales from the road. The stainless steel case and 80-hour power reserve make it less demanding and fragile than a traditional dress watch.

I like that the Murph can pull double duty without feeling showy, making it ideal for a date night at a new restaurant with weeks-long reservations and for taking my kids to the local library storytime. This versatile use yet polished look makes it easy to reach for when traveling.

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Todd Snyder made a name reinventing American classics in a way that retains the essence of the reference style while adapting to modern standards. The designer's collaboration with Timex is a signature example of that. The MK-1 Amalfi combines a clever combo of gold and silver details that punches far above its weight on appearance compared to the reasonable price. I've found it perfect for trips where I don't want to risk bringing a more expensive watch, but still want the airport staff to consider me for a trip upgrade . It has a mechanical wind, which requires you to wind by hand, usually at the same time each day to avoid any inaccuracies. I've found this to be a helpful ritual, grounding me in a new city and a new routine. Also, this MK-1 is water resistant, which is a rare feature in a dressier watch.

The Details: Stainless steel case, tan leather strap | Domed acrylic | Crown mechanical hand-wound | 50-meter water resistance

Sure, the Cartier tank watch is having a zeitgeisty moment. However, Breda's slim Virgil watch hits many of the same style notes at a tenth of the price of the designer option, which is helpful when you'd rather save your travel insurance for possible flight delays and not for what's on your wrist. I have it in the leather strap version, but the brand also sells one on a steel bracelet if that's your preferred look. Mine boasts a green dial from a collaboration the brand did with GQ, but there's a wide range of color options in the style range. It's excellent for travel and a good entry point to square or rectangular watches for the undecided.

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Tips for Buying Men's Watches Look for travel-ready features Versatility with travel products is key, so you should demand more of your watch: water resistance, versatile styling, and maybe even step-tracking if you're exploring a new city on foot. Think about the features that might be most useful for you. GMT watches allow you to track multiple time zones and know when to call home. Digital watches have alarms that don't depend on having the right outlet adapter for your phone. A smartwatch will also have a GPS feature to guide you through your new neighborhood.

Choose the right watch for your activity Think about the trip ahead of you and choose a watch that matches the activities you have planned. Snorkeling in the Bahamas ? That's going to require a dive watch or one with good waterproofness. Are you on a quest for the best negroni in Italy ? Opt for a dressier watch for fine-dining excursions. Of course, many of the watches on the list here can work in various situations, which is why I chose them. But tailor your wrist to your itinerary and you'll be in the clear.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure As a professional product tester with a background in the outdoor adventure space, Matthew Medendorp takes product journalism quite seriously. He has tried and tested all of the travel watches on this list over a series of trips from international flights and hot air balloon rides to 12-hour time changes, long runs, and seven-course dinners alike. Not every watch he tried ended up on this list, and the final picks have been vetted and rigorously tested to provide the most helpful information for your next getaway.