As such, Casio claims 29 months of power without the communication features on. There are two forms of GPS mode and those are “Normal” and “High-Rate.” Normal means intermittent GPS updates, which are good for some purposes but not careful navigation. High-Rate offers (for the first time in a Casio watch, I believe) continuous GPS tracking of the watch – which is going to be really useful on a lot of adventures. The watch doesn’t have mapping software in it, but it does connect with a phone via Bluetooth that does have such software. More important is that the watch can track and organize waypoints. One excellent use for this is the ability to have the watch travel your path, so that you can backtrack later and keep yourself from getting lost. Otherwise GPS can also be used to update the watch’s time and location manually.
The GPRB1000-1 Rangeman has all the other sensors Casio ABC watches are known for. The original Rangeman was the first G-Shock to include the altimeter, barometer, and compass (ABC) functionality (it also has a thermometer). Previously such functionality was only used for Casio’s ProTrek (formerly Pathfinder) watches. This Rangeman GPS model ups the ante but doesn’t offer any less functionality than before – only more.
What is new is how you access all this information. Rather than cycling through mode screens, you need to first activate the right menu, and then use the scroll-wheel crown in order to select the mode you are interested in. This style of operation is very straightforward, but as I said before, it represents a totally new way of using a G-Shock timepiece. No doubt Casio will continue to refine this new operating system, but I welcome it and appreciate all the new options it gives G-Shock watches that fans will enjoy.
Casio does the best job of listing all the features of the G-Shock Rangeman GPRB1000 collection – and they are vast. Pretty much everything you’d expect from multiple alarms, to tide and moon phase data, as well as sunrise and sunset data is very easily available within a few operations. Casio even offers some customization for the default home screen in terms of what information is displayed to the wearer. Of course I always want a few more creative and artistic options, but when it comes to utility, Casio really made the new Rangeman shine.
When wearing a timepiece like this it is easy to forget that very few wristwatches these days are intended for actual adventure and outdoor survival. Most are luxury status items which are worn more as toys than tools. Casio produces some of the last remaining technology-equipped and constantly-updated adventure watches out there. People who wear Casio G-Shock products range from hip urban dwellers to soldiers who require their timepieces to help them survive. That latter group of people is who Casio considers when designing these new products (even if the former pool of fans is larger).
The G-Shock Rangeman GPRB1000 (GPRB1000-1 as reviewed here in black) is easily one of the most interesting and clearly advanced timepieces Casio has ever produced. A few years ago I was concerned about Casio not being able to keep up with smartwatch makers. Since then we’ve seen Casio not only produce standard smartwatches, but also hybrid products like the new Rangeman. With this latter category I feel that Casio has been mostly successful because they use things like Bluetooth and GPS to enhance traditional functionality instead of trying to use existing technology to perform new smartwatch tricks. Thus, the G-Shock Rangeman GPRB1000-1 is a timepiece whose purpose is enhanced by a smartphone companion, but can still easily live on its own. This is in contrast to many other smartwatches which are still very much a mere mobile phone accessory product. I can’t wait to take the GPRB1000-1 on more adventures and see how I can use all the features in a real-world context. Retail price for the Casio G-Shock Rangeman GPRB1000-1 is $800 USD. gshock.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Casio
>Model: G-Shock Rangeman GPRB1000-1
>Price: $800 USD
>Size: 57.7mm wide, 60.3mm long, 20.2mm thick
>When reviewer would personally wear it: When needing a timepiece that will survive almost anything and help me survive anywhere when I need to both be on time and not be lost.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Anyone keen to wear the most advanced G-Shock ever as well as any outdoor enthusiasts looking to track their journey or who just want the added safety of this high-tech wrist-worn navigational tool.
>Best characteristic of watch: Good looking design with tons of technology packed into it as well as a refreshing screen and operating system upgrade for G-Shock watch fans.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Despite Casio’s efforts, the case is still very large and might be too large for some wrists. Strap is also very long and (once again) Casio might be wise to include a shorter one.
