Battle testing the Khaki Field Expedition with Hamilton in Arizona
Zach BlassHamilton and its Khaki Field lineup are often touted as one of the best entry-level mechanical watches you can purchase – whether a first-time buyer or a seasoned collector looking to put a quality beater watch in their collection. But actions speak louder than words, so when Hamilton invited me to fly out to Arizona to battle test its Khaki Field Expedition I jumped at the chance.
There were three stages to this expedition, poetically taking the watch into land, air, and sea testing scenarios. For the land test, my colleagues and I took the watches out into the desert for some ATV riding, our watches pummeled with dust and sand as we raced through the landscape. Next, we took to the waters of Salt River, armed with the Khaki Field Expedition as we rafted down it. Last, and certainly not least, we all woke up at the crack of dawn for an air test expedition, journeying up into the sky at sunrise via hot air balloon.
The watch on my wrist: Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition Auto 41mm
The Khaki Field Expedition on my wrist is the larger 41mm model, which is sold alongside 37mm models, in the new configuration that features a black dial and khaki green NATO strap with brown leather accents. The entirely brushed stainless steel case is 41mm in diameter, 11.5mm thick, and 48mm – effectively the size of a modern Rolex Submariner, but a millimetre thinner for reference.
Framing the dial is a bi-directional compass bezel that, if I am being totally honest, I doubt I would ever actually use. It does at least look quite cool and rugged, giving it some utility if I ever decide to use it for actual navigation. With a screw-down crown, the watch is rated to be 100 metres water-resistant.
Although the NATO strap covers it, the ETA-based Hamilton H-10 automatic movement with 80 hours of power reserve does peek through the exhibition caseback. That is 10 more hours than what a Submariner would offer, and 25 hours more than a modern Seamaster. It’s worth noting that I observed the H-10 movement running within COSC parameters at +4 seconds per day.
All of this comes at a price of US$945 on the NATO, and just US$100 more on a steel bracelet – making it a ninth of the price of a Submariner and nearly a sixth of the price of a Seamaster. With this all in mind, it is easy to see why this watch offers a ton of value on paper.
To be clear, I am deliberately not writing about the experience because it is absolutely a must-watch video. This time around, we have uploaded it on our main YouTube channel, but to see more content like this you need to subscribe to our new Time+Tide Tribe YouTube channel where content like this and much more will live moving forward. So give it a watch, and find out if the experience proves the Khaki Field Expedition is a champion of the entry-level field watch segment.
Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition NATO pricing and availability
The Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition NATO is available now. Price: US$945. Browse Hamilton in the Time+Tide Shop
| Brand | Hamilton |
| Model | Khaki Field Expedition |
| Case Dimensions | 37mm (D) x 11.45mm (T) 41mm (D) x 11.5mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Matte blue, black, or white |
| Bracelet | NATO strap in khaki, grey, or blue |
| Movement | H-10, ETA C07 base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 80 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | US$945 |