Is the Mudman G9300 worth Purchasing in the year 2016?

Nick22N · Aug 2, 2016

Hello everyone.

I am new to this forum. I saw many threads on the Gshock Mudman G9300. Please advice if its worth purchasing in the year 2016? Any new models are expected anytime soon? I thought of going for the rangeman G9400, but I read online that the watch lugs break even during normal use, seems like a serious flaw in the designing and quality control. :-s Also, mudman costs $180 and rangeman $240. So, I have decided to go for the Mudman. Also, mudman has a single tang buckle strap. Will this cause any issues? watch snagging and unbuckling? I presently own a GD100sc-1dr gshock which I got 5 years back and I am used to its sturdy comfortable double tang buckle strap. I am planning on upgrading now. How good is the mudman? please advice. thanks.

kmbijit · Aug 2, 2016

Hey Nick! Welcome to the forum. First up - if you like the Rangeman, go for it without fear. Don't let a few random posts lead you into the misconception that the lugs would "break even during normal use". The same lug design has been used in several other G Shocks, including the GX56 King and the lug breaking issue has been reported in only 4-5 of the 800+ rangemen on this forum. And we're not even 100% sure of the circumstances under which the lugs broke.

Second, the Mudman 9300 is definitely a good buy and is a well-loved watch. While it misses out on the Barometer/Altimeter, you still get a compass and thermometer to boot and it's just as tough. If I am not mistaken, this is the cheapest sensor - equipped G Shock currently in production.

I've owned single-prong and double-pronged watches and once on the wrist, there's no noticeable difference between the two.

Nick22N · Aug 2, 2016

Thanks. Yeah, I do love the Rangeman but the posts I read about the rangeman quality control issue kinda make me nervous about getting one.

And, If I do get the rangeman, is it just as mud resistant and well built as the mudman? I read that the mudman is really well built and is very comfortable. I will be wearing the watch all the time, playing football in a muddy field, in the steam room at my gym, while working out, etc. So, would u suggest the rangeman?

kmbijit · Aug 2, 2016

Nick22N said:
Thanks. Yeah, I do love the Rangeman but the posts I read about the rangeman quality control issue kinda make me nervous about getting one.

And, If I do get the rangeman, is it just as mud resistant and well built as the mudman? I read that the mudman is really well built and is very comfortable. I will be wearing the watch all the time, playing football in a muddy field, in the steam room at my gym, while working out, etc. So, would u suggest the rangeman?

While I haven't owned a mudman (yet) , I do have the Rangeman and can vouch for the build quality of the Rangeman and yes, it's just as mud-resistant. Don't worry, just about any G Shock will take lots more abuse than your intended usage :-!

Mike K · Aug 2, 2016

Nick22N said:
TAnd, If I do get the rangeman, is it just as mud resistant and well built as the mudman?

The older Mudman models actually have mud resistant COVERS over the buttons, which are part of the bezel, and keep mud from getting DIRECTLY on and around the buttons, although if someone's going to be crawling and falling around in a muddy environment, mud can (and will) eventually "squish" in from the front and back of the bezel.

People often complained that the button covers made the buttons harder to press, so the newer 9300 Mudman models appear to have done away with those integrated covers, and use the same "open holes" in the bezel as most every other G-Shock, including the Rangeman:

The Rangeman has the same open style bezel, so it's only going to be as mud- and water-resistant as every other G-Shock out there, which is to say "probably better than most other watches" and "rated to 200m" respectively. A great picture of the Rangeman with bezel removed (and all kinds of the usual grime and dirt underneath) here: http://i57.tinypic.com/28kptva.jpg

kmbijit · Aug 2, 2016

Mike K said:
The older Mudman models actually have mud resistant COVERS over the buttons, which are part of the bezel, and keep mud from getting DIRECTLY on and around the buttons, although if someone's going to be crawling and falling around in a muddy environment, mud can (and will) eventually "squish" in from the front and back of the bezel.

View attachment 8935114

People often complained that the button covers made the buttons harder to press, so the newer 9300 Mudman models appear to have done away with those integrated covers, and use the same "open holes" in the bezel as most every other G-Shock, including the Rangeman:

View attachment 8935122

The Rangeman has the same open style bezel, so it's only going to be as mud- and water-resistant as every other G-Shock out there, which is to say "probably better than most other watches" and "rated to 200m" respectively. A great picture of the Rangeman with bezel removed (and all kinds of the usual grime and dirt underneath) here: http://i57.tinypic.com/28kptva.jpg

Mike, I didn't know that! So does that mean the G9000 was better in terms of mud resistance?

Mike K · Aug 2, 2016

kmbijit said:
Mike, I didn't know that! So does that mean the G9000 was better in terms of mud resistance?

In theory, probably -- especially if the user was pushing the watch's buttons while the watch and/or their other hand was covered in mud.

In reality, I have no idea how the "mud resistant" mechanics of the 9300 series buttons work, or how they're any different than (for instance) the similarly-shaped plastic buttons on the G(W)-2300 models.

GaryK30 · Aug 2, 2016

Mike K said:
The Rangeman has the same open style bezel, so it's only going to be as mud- and water-resistant as every other G-Shock out there, which is to say "probably better than most other watches" and "rated to 200m" respectively. A great picture of the Rangeman with bezel removed (and all kinds of the usual grime and dirt underneath) here: http://i57.tinypic.com/28kptva.jpg

Although Casio does list "mud resistant" in the technical specs for the Rangeman, which is something they don't do for every other G-Shock.

Mud Resistant
Case & buttons are sealed to prevent mud, dirt and dust from getting into the watch

GW9400-1 - GW9400-1 - G-Shock, Rangeman, Master of G, Digital, Watches | CASIO America, Inc.

Mike K · Aug 2, 2016

GaryK30 said:
Although Casio does list "mud resistant" in the technical specs for the Rangeman, which is something they don't do for every other G-Shock.

It's probably something that they didn't think to do for every other G-Shock as they were released. ;-)

Until or unless someone replaces the buttons on a Rangeman and finds anything to suggest that they're any more mud-resistant -- besides the usual tiny o-rings and c-clips and springs -- I'm going to continue to believe that it's just marketing hype and not actually extra engineered "mud resistance."

GaryK30 · Aug 2, 2016

Mike K said:
It's probably something that they didn't think to do for every other G-Shock as they were released. ;-)

Until or unless someone replaces the buttons on a Rangeman and finds anything to suggest that they're any more mud-resistant -- besides the usual tiny o-rings and c-clips and springs -- I'm going to continue to believe that it's just marketing hype and not actually extra engineered "mud resistance."

I thought someone mentioned that it's the sleeves around the buttons that make it more mud resistant. The sleeves can be seen even with the bezel in place. I think this is the same external design used in the Mudmaster.

Edit: Here are more details.

The mud-resistant structure is explained and pictured at this link:

http://world.g-shock.com/asia-mea/en/special/mudmaster/

Maybe someone can verify if the Rangeman uses similar construction.

stockae92 · Aug 2, 2016

I got both GW9300 Mudman and GW9400 Rangeman and they are different enough that I like them both. 9300 have 3 lines of LCD so it can display current time in all modes and I think it still looks great. I have not test their mud resistant properties though

Knives and Lint · Aug 2, 2016

Mike K said:
In theory, probably -- especially if the user was pushing the watch's buttons while the watch and/or their other hand was covered in mud.

In reality, I have no idea how the "mud resistant" mechanics of the 9300 series buttons work, or how they're any different than (for instance) the similarly-shaped plastic buttons on the G(W)-2300 models.

The 9300 has button covers, they are just not integrated into the bezel, but rather two separate pieces. In the picture below there is a Mudman with one cover removed. While I do think this allows for plenty of extra mud resistance, it does seem like the one piece design of the 9000 would allow less gunk to get beneath the bezel.

Mike K · Aug 2, 2016

GaryK30 said:
Maybe someone can verify if the Rangeman uses similar construction.

That may well be the case with the Rangeman, and if so, good for Casio for including it! :-!

From a marketing standpoint, the GW-9400 just had to be somewhat "mud resistant" like the similarly numbered G(W)9300 and the G(W)9000 and 9010 -- otherwise even more consumers would have the same questions as the OP! "I like this watch, but THAT other one is 'mud resistant' -- what to do?"

I'm just getting tired of what I see as Casio's excessive marketing -- every model they release has to be exponentially better than the last one in some small way, so they can trumpet about it in their press releases. Nobody worried about whether or not the DW-5600 or DW-6600 was mud resistant, but plenty of soldiers and first responders around the world have subjected those models to PLENTY of mud and all sorts of other substances and those watches just kept going. G-Shocks were (and are) some of the toughest watches around, so nobody really went out of their way to worry if they were mud- or rust-resistant as well, at least until Casio saw another niche market.

I'm getting the feeling that I (re-)discovered Casio and G-Shock about ten years too late -- it seems like after "solar" and "atomic" they've already done all that they could to the "basic" models, so all they can do with those models now is make new colorways. All of their "latest and greatest innovations" seem to be reserved for their top-of-the-product-line models, and those innovations don't seem to be trickling down to the lesser models.

g-fob2 · Aug 3, 2016

... double post

g-fob2 · Aug 3, 2016

personally, after having owning everything but the rangegirl, I'd recommend you to go backward and get the riseman 9200, or the solar gulfman 9100/9110 - those master of Gs are classic and not bulky as the 9300 mudman

GaryK30 · Aug 3, 2016

g-fob2 said:
personally, after having owning everything but the rangegirl, I'd recommend you to go backward and get the riseman 9200, or the solar gulfman 9100/9110 - those master of Gs are classic and not bulky as the 9300 mudman

Yes, I really like my Gulfman GW-9110-1. It may not be mud resistant, but it is rust resistant due to its titanium parts. Plus I like that it's smaller, thinner and lighter than many of my other Gs. For me, this makes it more comfortable to wear than most of the others. Unfortunately, it's gotten a bit pricey in the U.S., where it's quite a bit more expensive than the Rangeman GW-9400-1.

GaryK30 · Aug 3, 2016

stockae92 said:
I got both GW9300 Mudman and GW9400 Rangeman and they are different enough that I like them both. 9300 have 3 lines of LCD so it can display current time in all modes and I think it still looks great. I have not test their mud resistant properties though

The Rangeman also has three lines of display and shows the current time in most modes (all except Sunrise/Sunset, Recall, Receive and Barometer).

yankeexpress · Aug 3, 2016

Mudman 9300 are excellent G-Shocks, as are all other Mudman

And the 12th

Mudman DW-8400

G-9000

GW-9010 Mudman has basically the same advanced module as the GW-M850 and hence is a different animal:

GW-M850

Prdrers · Aug 3, 2016

^^^Wow. I love the wad of watches pictures. Makes justifying another purchase sooo much easier, lol.

Nick22N · Aug 3, 2016

Thanks a lot everyone! after going through all the replies, both mudman and rangeman are equally mud resistant!

as are all the other g shocks. I really wanna get the Rangeman, but the BIGGEST fear I have is that many have complained about the lugs breaking during regular usage, and thats stopping me from getting the rangeman. Also Casio doesn't cover the broken lugs under its warranty and getting it repaired is very expensive, so plz advice. Should I trust my luck and get the rangeman? I rarely go hiking, maybe twice or thrice in a year, but its ABC functions seems soo awesome to have in a watch. But I dont want to pay a LOT and then always have the fear, will my gshock break? am I walking around with broken watch lugs? I dont want that to happen.

Is the Mudman G9300 worth Purchasing in the year 2016?

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