In the event you’ve ever surfed and loved it, you then most likely perceive how waves are like a time machine. “I am simply going to catch some waves, be again in just a few,” mentioned each surfer ever – earlier than realizing these “few” weren’t minutes however hours. That is the purpose of the good surf escape. However the thought of getting that, whereas nonetheless having the ability to know the time, sounds best. That is the place the Casio G-Shock G-Lide GBX-100 comes into its personal.
I spent a number of months with this straightforward, stable, and unusually satisfying wrist adornment. That included a superb few surf periods in addition to day-to-day use. To be clear, I am used to reviewing complicated and good sports activities watches like the very best Garmin watch choices, and even the very best Apple Watches just like the Apple Watch Extremely 2 characteristic Surf exercise profiles, so that you by no means must take them off. These smartwatches cannot solely monitor your each heartbeat and breath, however watch you whilst you sleep too. Yeah, sounds creepy if you say it like that.
And taking a break from it was fantastic.
Casio offers you the fundamentals and it does them very effectively. Which means a high-contrast, clear MIP LCD show with the time and date, plus a chunky, easy-to-find, entrance button that lights all of it up at evening. From a surf perspective, that is best. You have got a water-resistant buddy that clearly exhibits you the time you’ve got been on the market, and the time of day, at a look in all situations – from vivid daylight to a darkish storm.
That is the place this watch actually appealed to me. I may come out, leaving everybody else on the seaside, realizing I may very well be again at a sure time. In any other case, I won’t exit in any respect, pondering I would find yourself not realizing how lengthy I used to be within the waves and lacking our go time or – even worse – lunch.
However the watch does extra than simply cease you from lacking your subsequent meal. This intelligent wristwatch options devoted tide and moon information throughout over 3,300 places worldwide. Which means you possibly can set the seaside you are browsing at and the watch will supply up dawn and sundown occasions in addition to excessive and low tides. Plus there is a graph that exhibits the tide so you possibly can see when it is best to go out.
All that sounds beautiful, and is enjoyable to have. But, in actuality, the cramped show measurement and lack of internet-connected accuracy will seemingly imply you employ this as a really tough information at finest or by no means, in favor of firing up the Surfline app in your cellphone as a substitute.
| Part | Casio G-Shock G-LIDE GBX-100 |
| Value: | $160 / £149 / AU$399 |
| Dimensions: | 50.9 x 46 x 14.7 mm |
| Weight: | 66g |
| Show: | Reminiscence In Pixel (MIPS) LCD |
| Case/bezel: | Plastic / Stainless Metal |
| Battery life: | Round two years |
| Water-resistant: | 200 metres water-proof |
The monitoring choice is comparable by way of use, letting you time your exercise or surf. However if you wish to embrace metrics like your pace or distance, you will want a related cellphone with you to have that GPS – which this straightforward watch does not characteristic. So, in actuality, I used this as a watch and that alone.
In distinction, Garmin’s surf app exhibits you ways a lot distance you coated, what number of waves you’ve got caught, and even the pace at which you traveled on every wave. The G-LIDE GBX-100 does not have any of those options, however that is not a foul factor.
This can be a actually snug and handsome watch that received various feedback due to its retro type and the engaging brushed stainless-steel bezel. The strap is tremendous simple to placed on, even over a wetsuit, and holds in place completely so if you’re browsing you do not even discover it is there.
Crucially although, this has a replaceable battery that means you by no means must cost it. So no lugging a few charger, no worries about this dying if you want it. This watch is stable and dependable, so you possibly can deal with browsing, or no matter else you are doing, with this wrist-buddy accompanying you.
It is price mentioning that this may join by way of Bluetooth, not solely to trace actions but in addition to give you notifications out of your cellphone. In actuality, the app has to at all times be on, taking over a slot on the prime of your cellphone’s display, and it is pretty restricted within the notifications you get. Helpfully you can see incoming calls – best in case your cellphone is on silent – or messages coming in.
Nonetheless, to really learn them is a button urgent and menu scrolling faff, to not point out eye-squinting awkward on the tremendous compact display. However to be notified, so you possibly can verify your cellphone, is useful. It will not supply all the very best smartwatches do, however that is form of the purpose.
I simply discovered myself making an attempt to not use the watch with Bluetooth in order to save lots of battery – though a alternative battery is simply low-cost – however previous habits die laborious I assume. This could go for 2 entire years earlier than you should substitute the tremendous low-cost CR2032 battery, however not realizing how a lot influence that Bluetooth connection is having did go away me feeling sick relaxed.
So do you have to make investments the £149 on this watch when you’re a surfer, or not? Essentially the most interesting options for surfers are the time, waterproofing, and luxury. So you could possibly go for a extra fundamental G-Shock watch, save a bit of cash and nonetheless get the identical outcomes. That mentioned it is price noting that many others haven’t got that high-visibility MIP LCD show – which was best when out on the water.
I need to say you could possibly save a bundle and go for the traditional Casio F-91W however because it’s solely splash-proof I would not suggest that. That mentioned there’s a extra fundamental plastic G-Lide at £69 that would serve you effectively, though the show is not half as spectacular.
All that brings me again to this watch which presents every part you want whereas out on the waves, in an easy-to-use kind with dependable construct high quality which helps you calm down out at sea. I imply I nonetheless waited for yet one more wave after the time I used to be imagined to go in, in fact – however you possibly can’t blame the look ahead to that.
