With the Apple Watch on the horizon, interest in wearables has never been higher. But what if you don’t need all of the new-fangled diet-tracking, calorie-counting, app-enabled, Bluetooth-wireless? What if you want an outdoors-ready, backlit, solar-powered model that is perfect for a once and future Boy Scout? If camping and hiking, fishing and hunting are more important to you than running and jogging, then you’re in luck with today’s gear.
The Casio ProTrek PRW-3000-1A is a technological marvel that’s just as impressive as anything else you’ll see on a wrist. Under most conditions, you can use the power of the sun to eliminate the nuisance of replacing batteries and enjoy atomic timekeeping so you’ll never have to reset the time. This is a top-of-the-line model, featuring Casio’s “Triple Sensor Version 3 engine”, which basically means that the sensors are smaller and lighter than ever. Most Casio wristwatches are water-resistant, and this one is no different, certified for depths up to 100 meters.
We liked the built-in altimeter, and multi-function buttons are easy to navigate if you’ve ever used a similar watch before, though these have a nice texture. Timers and stopwatches, alarms and lap timers are all as usual, but there are some advanced features that set the ProTrek line apart, like the compass, thermometer, barometer and data logging that are perfect for mountaineering and trekking (pro or otherwise). This one is smaller than most other competitors- significantly so, and noticeably less hefty on your arm. There are a couple of catches though, since the atomic time synchronization works only in US, UK, Germany, Japan, China. And the thermometer can be a little wonky, since it picks up your background body heat (but that’s only natural, and it was quite accurate when we took off the watch and let it calibrate properly). The biggest issue of all is the screen- it’s an unusual reverse contrast, with white text on a black background. It feels tactical and military-esque, but is definitely harder to read in many situations.
While others are charging their silly watches every single day, you can sleep soundly knowing your alarms will go off at the right time and that you won’t need to find a cord or plug. The backlight is great, and it’s compact and versatile. Available in a few colored bands (red and blue), this version is sleek, durable, and exactly the right timekeeper for an active life. Pick one up online or in stores, for around $300 MSRP.