Hands-On: Casio Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 Outdoor Watch

Originally launched in 1995, the Casio Pro Trek collection is the Japanese manufacturer’s lineup of tool watches specifically created for outdoor environments. While Casio’s Pro Trek models have always offered practical features that make them well-suited for the outdoors, it has only been in recent years that the collection has started to gain its own aesthetic identity with design details that reflect its inspiration. Among Casio’s latest releases of 2024 is the Pro Trek PRJB001 series, which is arguably the most consumer-oriented Pro Trek model the brand has ever put forward, and rather than being a do-it-all tool for the person who lives off-grid in the wilderness, the new Casio Pro Trek PRJB001 watches aim to be practical and affordable timepieces specifically designed for hiking, camping, and outdoor weekend adventures.

From an aesthetic perspective, the new Casio Pro Trek PRJB001 series embraces a similar angular octagonal profile that can be observed on the various PRW6900 series watches from the Pro Trek collection, such as the Pro Trek PRW6900BF-1 Bonfire that I reviewed earlier this year. However, rather than being an elongated expression of an octagon like the PRW6900 series, the new Pro Trek PRJB001 watches have a much more symmetrical profile, which results in a significantly smaller overall package. While Casio offers more traditional versions of the Pro Trek PRJB001 that are fitted with two-piece straps made from bio-based resin, the specific model featured here is the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001B-2, which features a colorway consisting of blue, brown, gray, and orange, and it comes equipped with a unique fabric and bungee-cord band.

Crafted from bio-based resin, the case of the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 measures 46mm in diameter by 13.6mm thick, and the total weight of the watch comes in at just 37 grams (strap included), which makes it the lightest Pro Trek model that Casio has ever created. A compact pair of lugs extend from either end of the case to create an overall lug-to-lug profile of 50.3mm, and while the lugs offer a traditional design that will accept third-party straps, they are set 23mm apart, which means that the number of compatible options will be quite a bit more limited than if Casio had simply opted for an even-number lug width. On the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 featured here, its middle case and bezel are constructed from a dusty blue color of bio-based resin, while gray bio-based resin is used for its screw-on caseback, and the four buttons located along the sides of its case all appear in a dark brown shade of bio-based resin to match the color of its dial.

As the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 is intended to be an entry-level model, a flat mineral glass crystal protects the dial, while its gray bio-based resin caseback is secured by four small stainless steel screws, and water resistance for the various PRJB001 series models comes in at the same 100 meters offered throughout the rest of the modern Pro Trek collection. Additionally, the octagonal bezel features a rotating design to serve as a guard for the buttons that reside along the side of the case, and it rotates an eighth of a turn in either direction to expose or cover the top of the buttons, with a satisfying click locking it in place. Even when the bezel is in the guarded position, you can still access the buttons from the side; however, rotating the bezel also allows you to offset the orientation of the two octagon-shaped case components, which changes the watch’s overall profile and appearance.

The dial of the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 offers an analog/digital hybrid layout that is somewhat similar to what can be found on a number of G-Shock models, and it features a large pair of centrally-mounted hands, a small function indicator sub-dial at 9 o’clock, and an oblong LCD screen, which occupies the lower right-hand section of the display and shows different pieces of information depending on the mode of the watch. The small hand for the function indicator appears in a shape that is intended to be reminiscent of the carabiners used for rock climbing, and on the Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 model featured here, the dial is brown with small bright orange accents, and it is fitted with white luminous hour markers that sit partially recessed into the angled chapter ring surrounding the periphery of the display.

Just like most Casio watches that feature an analog/digital layout, the Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 has an LED backlight that illuminates the dial from the bottom right-hand corner of its display. However, the hands and hour markers on the Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 are also luminous to further increase their low-light visibility. The pair of centrally-mounted hands are finished white with matte black base sections, and both of the time-telling hands are filled with green-glowing Neobrite. Additionally, the white-colored hour markers that surround the periphery of the dial appear to be entirely constructed from some type of glow-in-the-dark Neobrite resin, and while the luminous material used throughout the watch doesn’t glow nearly as bright or long as what exists elsewhere within the industry, the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 still offers far more lume than what exists on most of the brand’s models.

Inside the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001 series watches is Module No. 5732, which is a solar-powered analog/digital hybrid movement that also offers Bluetooth connectivity. In addition to Casio’s Tough Solar technology that eliminates the need for routine battery replacements, Module No. 5732 also includes all of the other standard features that we have come to expect from the Japanese manufacturer, such as a stopwatch, countdown timer, alarm, world timer, and backlight. The added convenience of Bluetooth allows users to set and configure the Pro Trek PRJB001 models through the Casio Watches app on their smartphones, and while Module No. 5732 offers autonomous timekeeping of -/+ 15 seconds per month, its Bluetooth connectivity will automatically correct any deviations during synchronization.

Rather notably, the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001 models do not include any of the the altimeter, barometer, or compass sensors that have historically characterized the brand’s Pro Trek collection, although they still offer a unique adventure-oriented function that separates them from Casio’s other analog/digital models. While the solar and Bluetooth-equipped movements found inside the brand’s various G-Shock 2100 series watches offer a similar layout and suite of features, Module No. 5732 also includes a unique time/position function that enables users to record their current time and location by simply pressing a button on their watch. The data will then appear on a map within the Casio Watches app, and while this rather unique feature was created to allow owners to log the locations of campsites or important points during a hike, I could easily see this highly practical feature being used for a wide variety of different applications.

Arguably the most unusual feature of the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 is its strap, which is constructed from fabric and bungee cords in a unique design that is intended to be worn in a variety of different configurations. The 6 o’clock side of the strap is made from blue woven nylon, and it features a black resin buckle, which hooks onto an orange bungee cord section that loops through a bracket attached to the lugs on the 12 o’clock side of the case. The blue nylon segment loops through the resin buckle, and changing the positioning of the buckle allows users to either expand or contract the overall length of the strap. While the aesthetics of the strap place it firmly within the realm of outdoor equipment, the fact that only half your wrist is covered by fabric makes it surprisingly comfortable to wear, and its unique bungee cord design offers ample ventilation and flexibility.

If I am being completely honest, I initially had slight concerns that Casio’s bungee cord strap would be somewhat of a gimmick; however, after wearing the Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 for a little over a week, its bizarre strap design ultimately earned my respect. The simple hook-style fastening system is far more secure than I would have imagined, and since the bungee cord section loops around your wrist, the watch will not fall to the ground, even if it somehow does manage to become unhooked. Additionally, the elastic bungee cord section allows the Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 to comfortably fit on either a bare wrist or over the sleeve of a jacket, and it can also be looped around itself to enable owners to wear the watch on a backpack or harness. While aesthetics may be subjective, Casio’s bungee cord strap is hardly a pretty creation; however, it is also practical, fun, and comfortable, which is more than I can say about most of the straps found on watches at this price point.

As the new entry-level models from the Pro Trek collection, the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001 series watches do not offer the same advanced sensors that have historically characterized the brand’s outdoor-oriented lineup; however, their pared-back features also correspond with a significantly lower price. At the time of writing, the Casio Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 has an official retail price of $160 USD, which places it firmly on the affordable side of the spectrum, yet it still manages to feel like a tangibly different offering when compared to the numerous G-Shock models that also exist within this segment of the market. For the person who simply wants a capable outdoor watch to wear while hiking or camping, features like an altimeter or barometer can often be excessive, and the Pro Trek PRJB001B-2 is an incredibly fun and compelling outdoor-themed timekeeping companion that can be purchased for significantly less than the price of an Apple Watch SE or even a MoonSwatch.