Best 11 Smartwatches For Firefighters – Tough & Reliable Ones

Firefighters are some of the bravest people on earth who fight fire eruptions to save humans, animals, and public properties.

When it comes to smartwatches for firefighters, they need to be very reliable and tough ones because firefighters will use them while fighting fire and during their regular life, which is why I have done some research and have handpicked some of the most reliable and tough smartwatches for firefighters.

Also, make sure to check out my post on the Best Smartwatches For AFIB (Officially Approved In 2024) That Can Save Your Life.

If you are interested, keep reading because I’ll share the best 11 smartwatches for firefighters in 2024. Let’s get started.

Why Do You Need A Smartwatch As A Firefighter?

Firefighting is one of the toughest jobs on earth, and when you are dealing with fire, time is very important. According to one estimate, a human can survive around 60 to 90 seconds in a fire which is why firefighters wear protective gear, which allows them to spend more time in a fire to rescue people.

However, time is still very important because if they spend more time in the fire, it can be life-threatening. So, having a reliable and tough smartwatch allows them to keep track of time, and they can get out of the fire on time without hurting themselves.

Another benefit of having a smartwatch for a firefighter is that they can use it for their regular drills and note down the response time, which can help them improve their response time. Also, many modern smartwatches these days come with health features such as ECG, heart-rate monitoring, Blood oxygen sensor, and Fall Detection, which can help you know on time if something is wrong with your body.

Apart from your job, a smartwatch will also help you keep track of your fitness. Being a firefighter, you will need to go into a challenging and harsh environment, and if you want to survive, you need to be on top of your fitness game. A smartwatch can help you track your workouts and can provide useful insights into your workout sessions.

What Makes A Smartwatch Good For Firefighters?

Finding a great smartwatch for a firefighter is no easy task as it involves so many variables such as the smartwatch’s operational temperature range, the material of the watch, and many more.

So, I’ve done some research and found the factors which make a smartwatch good for firefighters. These are the factors that make a smartwatch good for firefighters.

Temperature Range

One of the factors which you should consider when choosing a smartwatch is its operational temperature range. In most cases, you will be wearing your smartwatch under your protective gear, which means that your watch will be protected from direct heat, but still, it needs to be able to work under some high temperatures.

As standard, most smartwatches these days are designed to be operated under mild temperature ranges, and any watch which can operate up to 40 to 45 degrees Celsius is a good one. However, if a smartwatch has a higher operating temperature range, it’d be better.

Choice Of Material

It’s another very important factor that you should consider when choosing a smartwatch for firefighters. As you will be dealing with fire, it’s very important that you choose materials that are not flammable. If your watch’s body is made up of plastic, it can catch fire. So, I will not recommend it. Similarly, I won’t recommend nylon watch straps for firefighters.

So, if you are a firefighter, make sure that you get a smartwatch with steel or silicon materials. Both materials are not flammable, and they can handle high temperatures without any problem.

Water-Resistance

Water-resistance is another very important attribute of a good firefighter smartwatch. Being a firefighter, you will be using water, and it’s important that you get a smartwatch that is water-resistant. So, any smartwatch that can handle splash is a good firefighter smartwatch.

Best 11 Smartwatches For Firefighters – Tough & Reliable Ones

Now that you know why you need a smartwatch and what makes a smartwatch good for firefighters. Let’s get to my top picks for the best 11 smartwatches for firefighters.

1. Apple Watch Series 8

Apple Watch Series 8 is a series of watches by the Apple company. It is a smartwatch with GPS 41mm. It can track the fitness of the user. Apple watch is water-proof with WR50 water resistance watch that eventually makes it a perfect choice for firefighters. 

Apple Watch Series 8 watches are made with advanced sensors which can provide insights to help users better understand their health. Those who have no iPhone can also use this watch by connecting with their phone.

Users can send texts, and make a call without connecting to their phones. Apple Watch Series 8 watches are easily customizable. These watches are made with safety features.

It can sense temperature, keep eye on blood oxygen, and take ECG at any time, irregular rhythm shows a notification. This watch can use Apple Pay to pay and send money. And most importantly, Apple Watch Series 8 is IP6X-certified dust resistant. 

2. Fossil Touchscreen Smart Watch

It is one of the most demanding smartwatches for firefighters. Hence, to run this watch, the watch should be connected to the phone. However, the 

battery mode of this Fossil watch varies based on usage. This smartwatch can be personalized.

This watch can track activity goals, steps, sleep, and heart rate automatically.

It has a GPS tracker. In fact, this watch helps to stay connected with notifications for texts, calls, apps, and calendar syncing automatic time, and time zone.

Amazon Alexa can be controlled by Fossil Touchscreen Smart Watch.

3. Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch

The Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch is built for better fitness tracking all-day activity and 24/7 heart rate, 40+ exercise modes, and automatic exercise tracking.

This watch contains tools for measuring sleep scores. It contains do not disturb mode. However, this watch manages daily stress scores, and reflection logging as well as guides breathing sessions.

This is designed for fitness & beyond. And it shows phone texts, calls, notifications, etc.

Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch is thin, lightweight, and water resistant to 50 meters, with a 6-day battery & fast charge.

4. Amazfit T-Rex Pro

Let’s start with the Amazfit T-Rex Pro, which is arguably one of the best smartwatches for firefighters in 2024. The great thing about T-Rex Pro is that it’s designed for military personnel, which means that it’s tested on military standards and it’s a very durable smartwatch.

The reason why I have included the T-Rex pro in this list is that it’s a very tough smartwatch, and the company has tested it in extreme temperatures to check its reliability. According to the company, T-Rex pro can operate in extreme temperatures, and it can withstand -40°C to 70°C. The company also claims that it can easily work under ultra-dry and humidity without any problem.

Also, T-Rex Pro comes with 10ATM water resistance, which means that it can handle water pressure up to 100 meters underwater. So, water splashes won’t hurt the watch.

If we look at the features of the T-Rex pro, it comes with 18 days of battery life, blood oxygen saturation, workout tracking, over 100 sports mode, and other useful features.

Also, the price tag of the T-Rex pro is very attractive, and you can easily get it for under $150. So, if you want a reliable smartwatch for firefighters for under $150, Amazfit T-Rex Pro is a solid option for you.

5. Garmin Tactix Delta Solar

Garmin Tactix Delta is a premium smartwatch that is designed to withstand harsh environments. It comes with a rugged design, which has been tested on military standards to make sure that it’s a reliable watch. According to the company, Garmin Tactix Delta can withstand extreme temperatures of -20°C to 45°C without any problem.

If we look at the features of Garmin Tactix Delta, it comes with the solar recharging ability, which allows you to recharge the watch using sunlight, and it offers up to 21 days of battery life on a single charge. Also, Tactix Delta Solar is waterproof, which means that you can use it around water without any worry.

The watch is equipped with advanced features such as Animated workouts, sports apps, performance metrics, a wrist-based heart-rate sensor, advanced navigation sensors, and many other great features.

The only downside of Garmin Tactix Delta is its price tag which is pretty high, but if you are looking for a high-end, feature-rich rugged smartwatch for firefighters, Garmin Tactix Delta is a great option for you.

6. Garmin Instinct Tactical

Garmin Instinct Tactical is another very solid smartwatch that is designed for people who work in harsh environments. It’s an ideal smartwatch for soldiers, construction workers, and firefighters.

The company has designed and tested instinct Tactical based on US Military standards. The watch is rugged, and it can withstand the temperature of -20°C to 60°C without breaking a sweat. Also, it comes with a 10 ATM water-resistant rating which means that it can be used underwater up to 100 meters, and water won’t get into the watch. Garmin Instinct Tactical is also shock and thermal proof, which is a big plus.

If we look at the battery life, the watch offers up to 14 days of a better life on a single charge. However, if you use GPS with it, you will get around 16 hours of battery life with it.

In terms of features, Garmin Instinct Tactical is really good. It comes with features such as workout tracking, sports mode, night vision compatibility, stealth mode, and stress tracking. Also, the price of Garmin Instinct Tactical is very reasonable, and it offers great value for money. Overall, if you want a rugged tactical smartwatch for firefighters, Garmin Instinct Tactical is a great option for you.

7. Suunto Traverse Alpha

Suunto Traverse Alpha is one of the best smartwatches for firefighters in 2024. It’s another rugged smartwatch that is designed to survive harsh conditions. The company claims that Suunto Traverse Alpha can operate at extremely high temperatures without any problem. According to the company, Traverse Alpha comes with an operating temperature range of -20°C to +60°C, which is pretty remarkable.

If we look at the battery life of Traverse Alpha, the company claims that it offers 14 days of battery life, but it’s without GPS, and if you use GPS with it, you can get solid 12 hours of battery life with it.

If we look at the features, Suunto Traverse Alpha comes with features such as built-in GPS, activity tracking, compass, weather, heart-rate monitoring, sports modes, and dedicated modes for hunting & Fishing.

Suunto Traverse Alpha was launched with a price tag of over $800, but recently its price has dropped to half, which is great for consumers. So, if you are looking for a high-end tough, and reliable smartwatch for firefighters, Suunto Traverse Alpha is a solid option for you.

8. Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Tactical

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar is the 2^nd generation of the Garmin Instinct Series, and it comes with some improved specs and features. Like its predecessor, Instinct 2 Solar Tactical also comes with an operating temperature range of -20°C to 60°C, which is pretty good. Also, it’s 100-meter water-resistant and it’s also thermal and shock-resistant.

If we look at the features, Instinct 2 Solar tactical comes with VO2 Max, Training Status, Multi-GNSS Support, Kill Switch, ABC Sensors, Trackback routing, Garmin Pay, and other useful features.

Similarly, if we look at the battery life, Instinct 2 tactical offers around 28 to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge. Also, its solar option allows you to charge your smartwatch using sunlight. Garmin Instinct 2 Solar tactical offers a great combination of features and ruggedness, which makes it an ideal option for firefighters.

9. Suunto Core

Suunto Core is one of the most popular smartwatches for firefighters in 2024. It’s a popular and affordable tactical smartwatch that is pretty popular among the army and firefighters. The watch comes with a rugged design, and the company has tested it based on military standards. According to Suunto, this smartwatch comes with an operating temperature range of -20°C to +60°C.

If we look at the features of Suunto Core, you won’t find tons of them because this smartwatch is mainly designed for outdoor usage, and it comes with basic features such as weather, sleep monitoring, and alarm.

Suunto Core is a pretty basic smartwatch, and it even lacks many modern smartwatch features, but still, many firefighters prefer it because it’s reliable and it works well under extreme temperatures. So, if you want a reliable and tough smartwatch for fighters under $120, Suunto Core is a great option for you. However, if you want a solid smartwatch under the same budget, my first recommendation will be Amazfit T-Rex Pro.

10. Garmin Fenix 7

Garmin Fenix 7 is a high-end smartwatch that is another great option for firefighters. This smartwatch is not a rugged smartwatch which means that it’s not designed to be used in harsh conditions, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t use it. The watch is well-built, and it comes with reliable materials, which makes it a great contender for a firefighter smartwatch.

According to the company, it comes with an operating temperature range of -20°C to -45°C, which is the same temperature range for Garmin Tactics Delta. It surely doesn’t have a rugged build, but as you will be wearing it under the coat most of the time when dealing with fire, the ruggedness won’t matter. So, if you like this smartwatch, you can surely get it.

If we look at the features, Garmin Tactix Delta comes with features such as heart-rate monitoring, body battery energy monitoring, respiration tracking, pulse ox sensor, and other advanced features. Also, it offers pretty solid battery life, and it can last up to 37 hours with GPS and up to 11 days without GPS.

So, if you are looking for a high-end and feature-rich smartwatch for firefighters, Garmin Fenix 7 is a great option for you.

11. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is surprisingly one of the best smartwatches for firefighters in 2024. The way may seem like a modern and delicate smartwatch, but on the inside, it’s pretty well built. The company has tested Galaxy Watch 4 under extreme temperatures, and it comes with an operating temperature range of -40°C to 63°C, which is one of the highest in the industry. Also, being a Samsung smartwatch user, I can also confirm that Samsung smartwatches are very well-built, and they can withstand bumps and drops pretty well.

Now, if we talk about the features, Galaxy Watch 4 is equipped with every feature which you can expect from a modern smartwatch. In GW4, you get advanced health features such as Blood Oxygen sensor, Fall Detection, ECG, Heart-rate monitoring, activity tracking, workout tracking, dedicated workout modes, stress monitoring, and even body composition. Also, it comes with the goodness of WearOS 3, which is a big plus.

If we look at the battery life, Galaxy Watch 4 offers 40 hours of solid battery life which is one of the best in this category of smartwatches. You can also get an even better battery life if you turn on the battery-saving mode.

Galaxy Watch 4 comes in two versions: Classic and regular. The regular version doesn’t come with bezels, and the classic version comes with bezels. I would recommend that you go with the classic version because the bezels will provide additional protection to the glass.

Overall, if you want a modern and reliable smartwatch for fighters, Galaxy Watch 4 is a solid option for you.

Smartwatch Vs. Mechanical Watch: Which Is Better For Firefighters?

When it comes to an ideal watch for firefighters, it mainly depends on your choice. I’ve seen many firefighters who used to wear mechanical watches but later on, they switched to modern smartwatches due to their benefits. I also personally believe that a smartwatch offers better value for money and features as compared to mechanical watches.

Mechanical watches come with basic features, but on the other hand, smartwatches are equipped with advanced health features which can help you track your workout and activities. Also, you won’t get bored with your smartwatch because you can easily change the watch face to get a fresh look which is a feature you won’t get in mechanical watches.

So, if you are a firefighter and not sure about which type of watch you want to get, I would recommend you go with a smartwatch, and I assure you that you won’t regret it.

Frequently Asked Questions [ FAQs ]

For your further inquiry, you may check out this section of the article. Here, we will answer the most common questions regarding ”Smartwatches For Firefighters”.

Do Firefighters Wear Watches While Working?

Yes, many firefighters prefer to wear smartwatches while working because they can keep track of time and track their overall activities throughout the day.

What Is The Most Affordable Smartwatch For Firefighters?

If you want a rugged and reliable smartwatch at an affordable price, I recommend the Amazfit T-Rex Pro. My Second recommendation will be Suunto Core.

Is Apple Watch 7 A Great Option For Firefighters?

No, I won’t recommend Apple Watch 7 for firefighters because it’s a pretty delicate smartwatch. However, if you still want to use it, I will recommend that you get a rugged Apple Watch case which will make the watch more durable.

Is Galaxy Watch 4 A Good Smartwatch For Firefighters?

Yes, Galaxy Watch 4 is a very reliable and durable smartwatch for firefighters. It comes with an operating temperature range of -40°C to 63°C, which means that you can use the watch in harsh temperatures, and it will break a sweat.

Is Fitbit Versa 3 A Good Smartwatch For Firefighters?

Fitbit Versa 3 is a good smartwatch, and it comes with an operating temperature range of -10°C to 45°C, which means that you can use it in extreme temperatures. However, its design is pretty modern, and the screen has no protection at all. So, if you decide to use it, make sure that you get a rugged case to protect its display.

What Are The Top 3 Smartwatches For Firefighters?

There are many great smartwatches for firefighters available in the market, but if I have to choose 3, these will be my top picks.

• Amazfit T-Rex Pro
• Suunto Core
• Garmin Instinct Tactical

Is Garmin Instinct 2 Better Than Garmin Instinct?

Yes, Garmin Instinct 2 is better than Garmin Instinct as it comes with a slightly smaller body but many new and improved features. However, Garmin Instinct is more affordable than its successor.

Is Garmin Fenix 7 A Great Option For Firefighters?

Garmin Fenix 7 is not designed for rugged use, but it’s a reliable smartwatch, and you can surely use it as a firefighter. It has the same operating temperature range as the Garmin Tactix Delta. So, as long as you keep it under your coat, you won’t experience any problem with it.

Garmin Tactix Delta Vs. Garmin Fenix 7: Which One Is The Best For Firefighters?

Garmin Tactix Delta and Garmin Fenix 7 are two great smartwatches, and both of them can be used by firefighters. However, if you want to know which one is the best for firefighters, I would recommend Garmin Tactix Delta due to the fact that it’s a rugged smartwatch and it’s designed to withstand harsh conditions.

Conclusion

If you are a firefighter, using a good smartwatch can help you keep track of your workout and other activities. However, when you go into the fire, make sure that you wear protective gear and wear a watch on the inside to protect it from extreme temperatures.

In this guide, we have shared the top 8 best smartwatches for firefighters, and you can pick the one which suits you. If you have any questions or recommendations, please let me know in the comments, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Also, if you are interested in learning about Garmin Sapphire Edition, check this guide where I’ve explained everything about it in detail.