I’ll be the primary to confess that the Casio Professional Trek line is greater than slightly bit outdoors my very own horological consolation zone. I’ve by no means been described as an “outdoorsy” kind, and I’m way more more likely to be noticed carrying a classic racing chronograph than something solar-powered. That mentioned, it’s exhausting to not be charmed by the mix of high quality, affordability, and sheer overwhelming performance of this explicit mannequin, the Casio Professional Trek PRG600YB-2.
For many who have by no means dealt with a Professional Trek earlier than, the overall idea of this watch is that it’s a G-Shock that isn’t a G-Shock. Whereas it could not have the impervious-to-small-arms-fire sturdiness of Casio’s legendary Shock Resist, these watches nonetheless pack the identical broad number of capabilities right into a extra inexpensive bundle that’s nonetheless powerful sufficient to deal with mountaineering, lengthy hikes, and the overall rigors of the outside.
There’s no getting round the truth that the Casio Professional Trek PRG600YB-2 is an enormous watch. At 51.6 mm throughout, the exhausting plastic case feels virtually like a hockey puck on the wrist at instances, however the impact is mitigated considerably by the practically flush lugs with their aggressive (and adjustable, for these with bigger wrists) downturn. Along with a good 100 meter water resistance and a feather mild weight, nonetheless, there’s a stunning quantity of intricate element within the case design that goes above and past the naked bones purposeful wants of this type of watch. Every of the 4 pushers is topped with crosshatch knurling for a lovely tactile really feel, whereas the distinguished grey crown at three o’clock is impressively detailed with a streamlined coin edge, a groove including character, and a clear divot on prime instead of a signature.
It’s a chunk that so simply may have been with none element in any respect in a function-focused finances ana-digi area watch, however its presence right here helps to indicate the extent of care Casio places into every ingredient of those items. The actual star of the case, in fact, is the blue PVD stainless-steel world-time bezel. Past including a pop of colour and a dynamic brushed texture to an in any other case matte black mass, the etching of the time zone places across the bezel is impressively sharp for this value bracket and provides some actual performance for the globe-trotting outside adventurer.
The ana-digi dial of the Professional Trek PRG600YB-2 manages the steadiness of offering an enormous quantity of data with out cluttering the general dial design solidly properly, with a fundamental area watch structure that includes lumed sword fingers alongside tall utilized indices and clear Arabic numerals at three, 9 and 12 o’clock. The lume fill is spectacular, with a powerful preliminary glow that lasts properly into the evening. If that isn’t sufficient, a further pusher at 6 o’clock prompts an LED shining mild throughout the dial face. No have to worry about legibility in the course of the late nights in a tent within the wilderness right here. In fact, the true strengths of this watch come courtesy of the sweeping indicator at 10 o’clock.
A fast rundown of the capabilities right here embody a perpetual calendar, a second time zone selector, a thermometer, a 24 hour 1/100 second chronograph with a recording operate, a countdown timer, and 5 each day alarms. Every of those show by way of the 6 o’clock digital dial, and in follow these vary from the on a regular basis purposeful to the borderline esoteric. When seen by way of the lens of a targeted timepiece for open air actions, every of those make excellent sense. Throughout my very own hikes with the watch by way of the hills and canyons of southern California, the thermometer and barometer had been each fixed reminders of our perpetual honest climate, but when I wanted to pitch a tent forward of an approaching storm that barometer may have been a lifesaver. The Professional Trek PRG600YB-2 gives a pair of further problems managed by separate pushers, as properly. The primary of those is a digital altimeter, which is one other glorious addition for mountaineers and lengthy distance hikers, however whereas the readout is a useful gizmo for plotting your manner throughout a topographical map throughout exams I seen discrepancies of as much as 30 meters between readings in the identical place. In fact, that gained’t cease anybody from discovering, say, the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro with this watch, but it surely bears mentioning. The compass complication, then again, makes use of the central seconds hand as a pointer with exact readings on the 6 o’clock digital dial. Not like the altimeter, this complication remained lifeless correct all through exams. What’s extra, it’s not a consideration that comes up usually when taking a look at timepieces however utilizing the compass was merely plain enjoyable. It brings out the inside six-year-old in me, out on a faculty science hike and eager to discover what was over each hill.
The broad blue nylon strap of the Professional Trek PRG600YB-2 additionally feels a bit like a faculty science hike, for barely totally different causes. It’s a light-weight, rugged and sensible match that solidly matches the ethos of the watch, however the stainless-steel buckle and two matching keepers are relatively uncommon for a watch strap. These items really feel extra like hardware on a backpack than a typical pin buckle, however work properly with the remainder of the powerful, sporty design.
The Professional Trek PRG600YB-2 is powered by Casio’s Module 5497 quartz motion, that includes its discreet Powerful Photo voltaic charging system with 7 months of energy reserve. As well as, this motion boasts radio managed time adjustment, and a +15/-15 second per 30 days accuracy price.
General, the Casio Professional Trek PRG600YB-2 is an impressively strong selection for the devoted outside sportsperson that packs a strong punch for its $350 MSRP. Whereas its hefty measurement, camping-gear design ethos, and typically barely inaccurate problems hold it from being a selection for each day put on, when positioned into its ingredient it actually shines. For extra data, please go to Casio’s web site.
Needed Knowledge
>Model: Casio
>Mannequin: Professional Trek PRG600YB-2
>Value: $350
>Dimension: 51.6 mm-wide, 13.4mm-thick.
>When reviewer would personally put on it: Off-roading, exploring nationwide parks, tenting.
>Buddy we’d advocate it to first: An avid rock climber, hiker, or area gear geek on a finances.
>Finest attribute of watch: Surprisingly intricate case design and broad number of capabilities.
>Worst attribute of watch: Large measurement and flimsy-looking strap hardware.
