Matthew Miller/ZDNET
Having a great appreciation for watches and collecting data from my wrist, I often have a watch on each of my wrists. On the one hand, I wear a smartwatch like Google Pixel Watch, Apple Watch Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Watch. On the other hand, I have a Garmin, a Coros or another type of watch with long battery life.
But for the past few weeks, my “long battery life” wrist has been wearing a new watch, which doesn’t need to be recharged, and which has the classic appearance of a G-Shock. She can withstand anything I throw at her. And it reliably provides useful data and advice. The watch is powered by solar energy and should enjoy, in principle, unlimited autonomy.
The new G-Shock Mudman GW-9500 comes in three colors: orange/black, green/black, and black with red accents. Each model is available now for €380. We tested the black model with red highlights. The Mudman, which weighs 81 grams, has dimensions of 56.7 x 52.7 x 14.8 mm. And these 14.8 mm thickness allows for the integration of a double-layer LCD screen. It is also a very resistant watch, with a water resistance of 200 meters, a structure which is not afraid of mud and dirt, nor shocks.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
The digital compass superimposed on other information
The dual-layer LCD display allows the digital compass to be displayed above the text orientation guidance. This allows you to quickly and easily see which direction you are facing. The watch measures and displays your direction using a graphical directional pointer.
Six large buttons are mounted on the resin case. The two buttons on the left are used to adjust settings and change watch modes. The roles of the three buttons on the right are clearly identifiable: compass, barometer and altimeter.
It took me a little longer to realize that the sixth button is the one located at the bottom of the bezel, where the bracelet connects. This button activates the LED backlight which can be set for a duration of one or three seconds. The left side lights up nicely to illuminate the entire watch face.
Don’t forget to take a look at the stainless steel back of your new watch. The iconic character of the Mudman mole is engraved on it. The urethane strap is also made from renewable material and has enough openings to fit all wrist sizes.
The mode button allows the watch to switch between displays: time/day/date, sunrise/sunset, altitude reminder (min, max, ascent, descent), stopwatch (at 1/ 100th of a second), timer (one-second intervals up to 24 hours), alarm (five daily alarms available), world time (31 time zones) and remote control status. This latter feature allows the watch to receive daily time calibration signals to ensure it remains accurate.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
In short, the watch fits my wrist well. And it’s great to have a watch on your wrist that offers essential functions while providing useful data while running, hiking and exploring. If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance G-Shock, I highly recommend the Mudman GW-9500.
ZDNET’s purchasing advice for the GW-9500
The smartwatches I’ve tried so far need to be recharged every two days. So nice to have a watch that tells the time and essential basic features with a battery that charges in daylight, so you never have to worry about its battery life.
Casio continues to produce classic G-Shock watches and the Mudman GW-9500 has a classic look and feels very sturdy. It also delivers key data for your outdoor adventures. If you’ve ever considered ditching all the features of the latest smartwatches for a “normal” watch, then the Mudman GW-9500 is the choice for you.
Source: “ZDNet.com”