The ProTrek series from Casio has always been the forebearer of the outdoorsman. Combining the trekking features with triple (and now quad) sensor functionality. When it comes to analog and analog digital ProTreks, they did not catch on when they were introduced with the PRT-505/PRT-50 which was a TwinCept model introduced in 1997. It wasn’t until the PRW/PAW-5000 and PRG-500 analog digital models that people would warm up to an idea of a ProTrek with analog hands. Casio even experimented with a full on analog ProTrek called the PRX-7000 along with a smaller model called the PRX-700 in 2010 which held the helm as the flagship of the ProTrek range for quite sometime until it was replaced by the PRX-8000.
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Past and current ProTrek flagships. (credits: kubr1ck and Time4Play now)
Now lets talk about the origins of the PRX-8000 for a second. The origins of this model lays with the PRW-6000 that was unveiled back in 2014 as an analog digital ProTrek with Casio’s tough movement technology which debuted with the PRW/PAW-5000 model in 2009. While this model with triple sensor functionality would go on to enjoy much success and would eventually take the crown as the higher end Manaslu model, there is another flagship ProTrek that we see rarely being discussed on the interwebs, the PRW-7000 and the PRW-70.
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My "battle tested" example. Plus that dial sheen is such a charmer.
Introduced in 2016 as the flagship of the ProTrek lineup, the PRW-7000 had all the bells and whistles the ProTrek moniker had to offer such as 200-meter water resistance for aquatic activities, a fishing timer, a tide graph and moonphase, sunrise and sunset data and the full triple sensor package (temperature sensor, pressure sensor, direction sensor). The direction sensor was even horizontally calibrated in order to allow for operations while on the wrist so the user didn’t have to lay the watch flat on the surface in order to take a direction reading. Before this model, there was a compromise on every model in the ProTrek range as people would be left choosing between one or another model to have a function suited to their needs while this model had it all. This model also saw development into a no function compromised model G-Shock, the Gulfmaster GWN-Q1000 which also ended the either, or arguments amongst users when it came to functions. Sadly the Gulfmaster would have a tainted reputation as the module suffered from hand alignment issues as well as missing segments in the STN display.
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The dial offers a good amount of depth. The legibility of the STN display is incredible.
The PRW-7000 has the distinguishing features of the flagship model which includes a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, carbon fibre insert bands or a combi bracelet (depending on the model) and robust build quality with the models assembled in Japan. While Casio introduced a “lite” variation in 2020 called the PRW-70 which had compromised on the glass used, the 7000 did not compromise on anything. It is also the least talked about ProTrek in the modern ProTrek range for reasons unknown. Perhaps it was due to the limited availability or the fact that it was the most expensive ProTrek available. But the video reviews are scarce (actually there are two channels who did a walkaround of the same watch and that’s about it in the sea of unboxing videos) and the written reviews are few and far in between, I decided to write one up after getting a used example for a good price.
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Carbon everywhere!
Out of my limited history of owning Casio watches, this is the first Casio I have owned with premium features (sapphire crystal, STN display and carbon insert bands) and I have to say that despite the criticism I have seen about the carbon fibre bands, I have found these to be extremely comfortable. They conform to the wrist well and do not stick out like some resin bands do. Sure they are stiffer than a regular run of the mill resin strap but gives off a sense of quality.
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That Caseback will certainly make a lot of "traditional" fanboys happy
The previous owner used this watch as intended and it has marks to show for it. I don’t mind these, as this reminds me of the aged GMW-B5000 square with some additional scratches added in and adds to the overall outdoorsy feel of the watch. This particular model is the PRW-7000-8 which is from the Earth watch ProTrek collection from 2017. The module in this watch has also stood the test of time, showing no signs of deteoration like the GWN-Q1000.
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Fish 'en Time!
This review will also serve as a sort of comparison between the PRW-6000, the PRW-7000 and the GWN-Q1000. The PRW-6000 has a digital display at the 6’oclock position and has a mode subdial at the 10’oclock which IMO is kind of useless since the watch flashes the name of the mode on the screen anyway. To me the tidegraph and pressure trend dial on the GWN-1000 was a useful addition. The PRW-6000 also relies on the analog hands to display the world time and as such has to have a busier dial than both the 7000 and the Q1000 in order to display the information. The PRW-6000 also does not have a horizontally calibrated compass and also does not have bearing memory which out of this bunch, only the 7000 has. Still Casio has pushed the 5365 module to the max despite its shortcomings and had made many variations including two Mudmasters (GWG-1000/2000) and the above mentioned flagship model.
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The horizontally calibrated compass is such a wonderful feature to have on a wrist watch. Its a bummer Casio did not develop and capitalize on it more..
Talking about the GWN-Q1000 and the PRW-7000. Many people think that they are basically the same watch in different clothing based on the fact that they have an STN display and a subdial at the 4’oclock. However, there are major functional differences. The Gulfmaster features a one access sensor button at the 4’oclock position while in the ProTrek, the sensor access remains the same as the PRW-6000 model, meaning there are separate buttons to access the altimeter and compass while the barometer and temperature readouts are part of the 11 modes that this watch has. The Gulfmaster’s subdial also indicates the sensor in which the user is in by pointing at the relevant marking, along with highlighting the trend of the pressure tendency when the tendency alarm is enabled for the barometer while the ProTrek’s subdial is used as a differential pointer for difference in the altimeter and barometer, indicating the tide position and a bearing memory pointer for the compass. The Gulfmaster indicates the differential for the altimeter and barometer with the second-hand which points at the markings on the anodized steel bezel surrounding the dial. Talking about the bearing memory, the Gulfmaster lacks that and only comes with a simple compass but it makes up for it with a depth sensor while the ProTrek remains a triple sensor. The ProTrek is also a 5-button watch, meaning that the light button is separate and the user does not have to compromise for reverse scrolling in different values while the Gulfmaster has 4 buttons as is the case for the rest of the watches in the lineup. The backlight is also different across the two models as the Gulfmaster uses two white LEDs (one for the analog and one for the digital display) while the ProTrek utilizes a black UV LED for the digital display, making only the radiant painted parts of the watch light up. To me, this is the better backlight solution out of the two watches. The homescreen modes are also different as the ProTrek displays the chances of fish at the current time indicated by a graph resembling a cellular network signal strength indicator while the Gulfmaster displays the moonage instead. The mode layout is also different amongst the two watches with the Gulfmaster keeping the world time mode as the first mode while the ProTrek has this mode as the second last mode and having the additional fishing time functionality added.
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The thinner case profile and the sharp angle of the lugs help with a better fit. The sensor cover is also unlike any other I have seen, made out of a milled stainless steel piece.
So you see, these two watches might look identical on the surface with one being bulkier than the other, but they are quite different internally. When I initially saw both of these watches, I like many others preferred the Gulfmaster. But over the years, I have warmed up to the idea of having a slimmer and more elegant looking watch and the ProTrek definitely checks that box. It has compact dimensions and the module is not notorious for failing at any point in time. An colleague of mine had gotten the GWN-Q1000 not too long ago, with the revered combi bracelet but within a month of use, the LCD display had missing segments. That combined with the problematic movement as well as the sheer bulk of that watch put me off so this particular ProTrek became the grail. Another reason I liked it, was due to the fact that it came with Carbon Fibre straps by default in the 7000 guise and it was only the combi bracelet model which was JDM exclusive. I had been very intrigued by the concept of this type of band but I never got the chance to own one due to the higher price and due to the fact that they did not come up for sale very often. Now that I own one, I can say with confidence that my experience with this band has been great. The overall fit and finish has been spot on and after years of hard use has stood the test of time with the watch having enough heft to convey the sense of quality. Although it dominates my skinny wrist, I don’t mind that as the fit is very good and the size is also a bit shorter than the GWN-Q1000.
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The crown in the screw-out position for making adjustments
There have been some negatives with this model as well with the first one being the screw down crown. It is good to have a screw down crown to maintain water resistance, but not so good to have it around if all settings of the watch are dependent on it. I honestly appreciated the screw in system of the GWN-1000 which was also present on the original PRW-6000 which provides less of a hassle while unlocking the crown as the settings of the watch can be adjusted when worn on the wrist. I also don’t like the 60-minute timer on here. ProTrek has a history of missing out on the countdown timer for years and only having a 60-minute timer on the top-end models so this is nothing new. I don’t know why it was so hard for Casio to implement a 24-hour timer when the stopwatch has a 24-hour duration. Equally disappointing is the fact that the timer can only be adjusted by the minutes and not the settings. While this issue was resolved in the later PRT-B50/70 models, those models are not as featured packed as this model. The lume is also not that great. While the UV backlight is a good idea, only the tip of the markings on the dial is lumed on all models of the range and the lume also does not last long. This is one area where the Gulfmaster trumps this ProTrek as it has fully lumed hands and indices.
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Love that backlight!
All in all, the PRW-7000 is a rightful flagship model in the ProTrek lineup which sadly has an underdog status amongst Casio fanatics. This is the apex model in the ProTrek lineup, just like the GWN-Q1000 was to the G-Shock lineup. The underdog status means that it can be had on the cheap if you keep a lookout and it is a great powerhouse of a watch which can also be worn with a suit without any problems unlike the more “in your face” and bulky Gulfmaster. It is a more mature looking offering in the ProTrek range amongst the text heavy and busy faced flagships we have seen in the past. It has its own set of shortcomings, but the functions more than make up for it. While it might not have the quad sensor featureset of its G-Shock sibling, it has the more practical suite of sensors. This is a once in a lifetime model in the ProTrek range and it is disappointing to see that Casio has not done any further development over a feature packed model like this, instead resorting to function based compromises once again.
Past and current ProTrek flagships. (credits: kubr1ck and Time4Play now)
Now lets talk about the origins of the PRX-8000 for a second. The origins of this model lays with the PRW-6000 that was unveiled back in 2014 as an analog digital ProTrek with Casio’s tough movement technology which debuted with the PRW/PAW-5000 model in 2009. While this model with triple sensor functionality would go on to enjoy much success and would eventually take the crown as the higher end Manaslu model, there is another flagship ProTrek that we see rarely being discussed on the interwebs, the PRW-7000 and the PRW-70.
My "battle tested" example. Plus that dial sheen is such a charmer.
Introduced in 2016 as the flagship of the ProTrek lineup, the PRW-7000 had all the bells and whistles the ProTrek moniker had to offer such as 200-meter water resistance for aquatic activities, a fishing timer, a tide graph and moonphase, sunrise and sunset data and the full triple sensor package (temperature sensor, pressure sensor, direction sensor). The direction sensor was even horizontally calibrated in order to allow for operations while on the wrist so the user didn’t have to lay the watch flat on the surface in order to take a direction reading. Before this model, there was a compromise on every model in the ProTrek range as people would be left choosing between one or another model to have a function suited to their needs while this model had it all. This model also saw development into a no function compromised model G-Shock, the Gulfmaster GWN-Q1000 which also ended the either, or arguments amongst users when it came to functions. Sadly the Gulfmaster would have a tainted reputation as the module suffered from hand alignment issues as well as missing segments in the STN display.
The dial offers a good amount of depth. The legibility of the STN display is incredible.
The PRW-7000 has the distinguishing features of the flagship model which includes a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, carbon fibre insert bands or a combi bracelet (depending on the model) and robust build quality with the models assembled in Japan. While Casio introduced a “lite” variation in 2020 called the PRW-70 which had compromised on the glass used, the 7000 did not compromise on anything. It is also the least talked about ProTrek in the modern ProTrek range for reasons unknown. Perhaps it was due to the limited availability or the fact that it was the most expensive ProTrek available. But the video reviews are scarce (actually there are two channels who did a walkaround of the same watch and that’s about it in the sea of unboxing videos) and the written reviews are few and far in between, I decided to write one up after getting a used example for a good price.
Carbon everywhere!
Out of my limited history of owning Casio watches, this is the first Casio I have owned with premium features (sapphire crystal, STN display and carbon insert bands) and I have to say that despite the criticism I have seen about the carbon fibre bands, I have found these to be extremely comfortable. They conform to the wrist well and do not stick out like some resin bands do. Sure they are stiffer than a regular run of the mill resin strap but gives off a sense of quality.
That Caseback will certainly make a lot of "traditional" fanboys happy
The previous owner used this watch as intended and it has marks to show for it. I don’t mind these, as this reminds me of the aged GMW-B5000 square with some additional scratches added in and adds to the overall outdoorsy feel of the watch. This particular model is the PRW-7000-8 which is from the Earth watch ProTrek collection from 2017. The module in this watch has also stood the test of time, showing no signs of deteoration like the GWN-Q1000.
Fish 'en Time!
This review will also serve as a sort of comparison between the PRW-6000, the PRW-7000 and the GWN-Q1000. The PRW-6000 has a digital display at the 6’oclock position and has a mode subdial at the 10’oclock which IMO is kind of useless since the watch flashes the name of the mode on the screen anyway. To me the tidegraph and pressure trend dial on the GWN-1000 was a useful addition. The PRW-6000 also relies on the analog hands to display the world time and as such has to have a busier dial than both the 7000 and the Q1000 in order to display the information. The PRW-6000 also does not have a horizontally calibrated compass and also does not have bearing memory which out of this bunch, only the 7000 has. Still Casio has pushed the 5365 module to the max despite its shortcomings and had made many variations including two Mudmasters (GWG-1000/2000) and the above mentioned flagship model.
The horizontally calibrated compass is such a wonderful feature to have on a wrist watch. Its a bummer Casio did not develop and capitalize on it more..
Talking about the GWN-Q1000 and the PRW-7000. Many people think that they are basically the same watch in different clothing based on the fact that they have an STN display and a subdial at the 4’oclock. However, there are major functional differences. The Gulfmaster features a one access sensor button at the 4’oclock position while in the ProTrek, the sensor access remains the same as the PRW-6000 model, meaning there are separate buttons to access the altimeter and compass while the barometer and temperature readouts are part of the 11 modes that this watch has. The Gulfmaster’s subdial also indicates the sensor in which the user is in by pointing at the relevant marking, along with highlighting the trend of the pressure tendency when the tendency alarm is enabled for the barometer while the ProTrek’s subdial is used as a differential pointer for difference in the altimeter and barometer, indicating the tide position and a bearing memory pointer for the compass. The Gulfmaster indicates the differential for the altimeter and barometer with the second-hand which points at the markings on the anodized steel bezel surrounding the dial. Talking about the bearing memory, the Gulfmaster lacks that and only comes with a simple compass but it makes up for it with a depth sensor while the ProTrek remains a triple sensor. The ProTrek is also a 5-button watch, meaning that the light button is separate and the user does not have to compromise for reverse scrolling in different values while the Gulfmaster has 4 buttons as is the case for the rest of the watches in the lineup. The backlight is also different across the two models as the Gulfmaster uses two white LEDs (one for the analog and one for the digital display) while the ProTrek utilizes a black UV LED for the digital display, making only the radiant painted parts of the watch light up. To me, this is the better backlight solution out of the two watches. The homescreen modes are also different as the ProTrek displays the chances of fish at the current time indicated by a graph resembling a cellular network signal strength indicator while the Gulfmaster displays the moonage instead. The mode layout is also different amongst the two watches with the Gulfmaster keeping the world time mode as the first mode while the ProTrek has this mode as the second last mode and having the additional fishing time functionality added.
The thinner case profile and the sharp angle of the lugs help with a better fit. The sensor cover is also unlike any other I have seen, made out of a milled stainless steel piece.
So you see, these two watches might look identical on the surface with one being bulkier than the other, but they are quite different internally. When I initially saw both of these watches, I like many others preferred the Gulfmaster. But over the years, I have warmed up to the idea of having a slimmer and more elegant looking watch and the ProTrek definitely checks that box. It has compact dimensions and the module is not notorious for failing at any point in time. An colleague of mine had gotten the GWN-Q1000 not too long ago, with the revered combi bracelet but within a month of use, the LCD display had missing segments. That combined with the problematic movement as well as the sheer bulk of that watch put me off so this particular ProTrek became the grail. Another reason I liked it, was due to the fact that it came with Carbon Fibre straps by default in the 7000 guise and it was only the combi bracelet model which was JDM exclusive. I had been very intrigued by the concept of this type of band but I never got the chance to own one due to the higher price and due to the fact that they did not come up for sale very often. Now that I own one, I can say with confidence that my experience with this band has been great. The overall fit and finish has been spot on and after years of hard use has stood the test of time with the watch having enough heft to convey the sense of quality. Although it dominates my skinny wrist, I don’t mind that as the fit is very good and the size is also a bit shorter than the GWN-Q1000.
The crown in the screw-out position for making adjustments
There have been some negatives with this model as well with the first one being the screw down crown. It is good to have a screw down crown to maintain water resistance, but not so good to have it around if all settings of the watch are dependent on it. I honestly appreciated the screw in system of the GWN-1000 which was also present on the original PRW-6000 which provides less of a hassle while unlocking the crown as the settings of the watch can be adjusted when worn on the wrist. I also don’t like the 60-minute timer on here. ProTrek has a history of missing out on the countdown timer for years and only having a 60-minute timer on the top-end models so this is nothing new. I don’t know why it was so hard for Casio to implement a 24-hour timer when the stopwatch has a 24-hour duration. Equally disappointing is the fact that the timer can only be adjusted by the minutes and not the settings. While this issue was resolved in the later PRT-B50/70 models, those models are not as featured packed as this model. The lume is also not that great. While the UV backlight is a good idea, only the tip of the markings on the dial is lumed on all models of the range and the lume also does not last long. This is one area where the Gulfmaster trumps this ProTrek as it has fully lumed hands and indices.
Love that backlight!
All in all, the PRW-7000 is a rightful flagship model in the ProTrek lineup which sadly has an underdog status amongst Casio fanatics. This is the apex model in the ProTrek lineup, just like the GWN-Q1000 was to the G-Shock lineup. The underdog status means that it can be had on the cheap if you keep a lookout and it is a great powerhouse of a watch which can also be worn with a suit without any problems unlike the more “in your face” and bulky Gulfmaster. It is a more mature looking offering in the ProTrek range amongst the text heavy and busy faced flagships we have seen in the past. It has its own set of shortcomings, but the functions more than make up for it. While it might not have the quad sensor featureset of its G-Shock sibling, it has the more practical suite of sensors. This is a once in a lifetime model in the ProTrek range and it is disappointing to see that Casio has not done any further development over a feature packed model like this, instead resorting to function based compromises once again.
