Casio’s adventure-focused PRO TREK line is usually overshadowed by its flashier sibling, the nigh-indestructible G-SHOCK. But when your adventures take you additional into the tough otherwise you’re available in the market for a bit extra performance than what the G-Shock can present, the PRO TREK line is definitely value a glance. PRO TREK watches are constructed particularly for these heading out into the wild, with many that includes attributes designed for particular out of doors pursuits. Working example: the Casio PRT-B70, which was designed as a fishing watch. So, do you want a related fishing watch, particularly when all the identical data is available in your telephone? In fact not, however then once more, the identical argument could be made relating to any watch. So, when you’re into fishing, why not have a watch that tells you when to seize your gear and head to the lake?
Full disclosure: I don’t fish. I may most likely depend the occasions I’ve accomplished so in my life on one hand. Residing in inside British Columbia, I (apparently) stay in an incredible a part of the world for fishing, however I’ve my palms full with different hobbies, so it’s simply not one I’ve picked up. That mentioned, despite the fact that that is marketed as a fishing watch, the PRT-B70 is greater than a one-trick pony. I’d argue that the PRT-B70 is an out of doors watch that simply occurs to have a cool fishing function. Casio appears to agree and hasn’t gone overboard with advertising this function, providing solely a small quantity of textual content on an inside ring between 9 o’clock and 12 o’clock and a line of textual content on the strap that give away its supposed goal. Since Casio isn’t precisely identified for restraint, this was a welcome design alternative.
One of many promoting options of the PRT-B70 is the flexibility to attach with Casio’s Bluetooth app. And truthfully, to get essentially the most out of this watch, it’s value your whereas. In case anybody with sharp eyes observed, I not too long ago reviewed a Casio G-STEEL through which I argued that the Bluetooth connectivity was largely superfluous. I stand by that evaluation, nevertheless it’s a unique story for the PRT-B70.
First off, when you’re into fishing, the very first thing you’ll need to do is connect with the app and specify which of the roughly 3,3000 ports and fishing spots worldwide you propose to go to. As soon as accomplished, your watch (and the app), provides you with data on one of the best occasions for fishing, a tide graph, dawn and sundown occasions, and moon information. Should you do handle to catch one thing, push the report button in your watch and the app will report your present fishing location, time and date, and environmental circumstances. Managed to snap a very good pic of your catch? Load it proper into the app. Lastly, all of your data can simply be exported and shared.
These fishing-specific capabilities are largely irrelevant for me; nonetheless, I do spend ample time within the outside tromping round BC’s forests and grasslands. And that is the place the PRT-B70’s versatility shines. The PRT-B70 options Casio’s Quad Sensor, so that you get a compass (full with a rotating compass bezel), barometric strain, altitude, temperature, and even a step counter. And, in fact, a super-durable case and 200m of water resistance. The place it turns into fascinating is while you pair these sensors with the app. By pushing a button on the watch, you’ll be able to log your present location and, as you head off, the second hand will point out your bearing again to your beginning location whereas the digital show will present the space again to the beginning. Positively a pleasant redundancy, although I definitely wouldn’t suggest setting off into the backcountry with this as your sole lifeline — a correct GPS, compass, and maps (and the data of methods to use them) ought to definitely be your main navigation instruments. Alternatively, when you’re not mountain climbing far off the crushed monitor, with the ability to toss your telephone in your pack, however preserve monitor of distance and elevation in your hike is a pleasant function.
Even when you don’t plan to do way more backcountry adventuring than heading out to your native park, pairing to the PRO TREK app continues to be helpful for enabling/disabling show modes on the watch, mechanically adjusting your own home time and world time, or configuring your world time settings to any of the 300 cities on the app. And, when you’re so inclined, you should utilize the step counter and altimeter to get a tough estimate of energy burned. So, despite the fact that I’m not sometimes a fan of getting too many related units, this one definitely justifies the Bluetooth connectivity.
As soon as in your wrist, navigating by means of the totally different capabilities on the watch is intuitive and straightforward to do. Possibly I’m simply simply entertained, however I like the truth that a push of the button transforms the watch right into a compass… that’s simply such a cool little trick, and I’ve performed with the compass greater than I’d prefer to admit. The friction bezel is easy to show and has simply the correct quantity of resistance in order to not be budged misplaced. Functionally, it’s a Casio PRO TREK, so it’s simply as strong, easy to make use of, and sensible as you’d anticipate.
Perform is all nicely and good, however the watch has to look good in your wrist. Personally, I actually like what Casio has accomplished with the colour scheme. It’s delicate and never overbearing and feels extra purpose-built than different watches in Casio’s extra well-known G-Shock line. Once I tried to suppose what the colour scheme jogged my memory of, the 2 watches that popped into thoughts had been each orders of magnitude dearer: the Sinn EZM 7, designed for German firefighters and search and rescue, and the Richard Mille RM 25-01 (sure, that Richard Mille watch — the >$1million tourbillon and water-purification tablet-equipped watch designed with Sylvester Stallone). I’m undecided if these comparisons say extra about me or concerning the watch… Regardless, that is simply essentially the most sensible of the three and the one that you simply’d most likely really feel most snug getting bashed up on a fishing boat or backcountry tenting journey.
Like most watches in Casio’s PRO TREK line, the PRT-B70 is a big watch at 50mm in diameter and 57mm lug-to-lug. No query it’s a cumbersome watch, nevertheless it’s mild sufficient to neglect about when sporting out on adventures. The pliable rubber strap is sort of snug and a very good match for the watch. One factor I used to be very pleased to see, nonetheless, was the non-integrated strap and even using quick-release spring bars. So, when you don’t need to put on the watch on rubber, it’s straightforward to swap it over to a NATO-style strap or no matter works greatest for you.
The PRT-B70 is available in three colorways — black, blue, and khaki/inexperienced. I may definitely see the blue interesting to these spending time on the water, however I’m personally most a fan of the black and khaki/inexperienced. No matter colorway, legibility is superb. The analog show with massive markers and palms is straightforward to learn and the luminous palms are legible in any mild. Plus, there a high-brightness LED mild if you must see the digital show at night time. With the large recognition of the Seiko Arnie (SNJ025), the Seiko reissue initially made well-known by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando and Predator, the super-functional (and visually fascinating) ani-digi show is making one thing of a comeback. For individuals who are desirous about including an ani-digi watch to their assortment, the Casio PRO TREK PRT-B70 affords an fascinating choice that’s particularly practical as soon as paired with the Bluetooth app.
The Casio PRT-B70 is obtainable for $240 USD; for extra data, you’ll want to go to the model’s web site.
Crucial Knowledge
>Model: Casio
>Mannequin: Professional Trek PRT-B70
>Value: $240 USD
>Dimension: 50mm-wide, 16.4mm-tall, 57mm lug-to-lug
>When reviewer would personally put on it: Throughout longer out of doors pursuits as a helpful backup for navigation.
>Pal we’d suggest it to first: Outdoorsy sort who’s into fishing, tenting, and heading out into the backcountry.
>Finest attribute of watch: Considerate related performance.
>Worst attribute of watch: It’s light-weight — however nonetheless fairly a big watch.
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