I’m a watch geek. There, I said it. I’m also probably an addict, now that I think about it.
For many of us, watches aren’t just a time-telling instrument; they can be a fashion statement. They can also tell us a little bit about the person wearing them. People in dress clothing or business attire frequently wear dress watches. Others who have more rugged careers often wear much different timepieces.
I like dive watches. A lot. No, I’m not a Navy SEAL or even a diver. I just like the look of them and their rugged construction. G-Shocks add a touch of high-tech to the mix.
G-Shock
Casio introduced the G-Shock brand in 1983.
Kikuo Ibe, the genius behind G-Shock, set out to develop watches that would not break if dropped. His test criteria for being “dropped” was to fling the watches out a third-story window from a building. He analyzed which components broke, and adjusted the internal shock absorption until he finally found the right combination that would withstand this ridiculous abuse.
Success did not come right away, however. He was about to give up on the project when he took a walk in the park on a break. There, he saw children playing with a rubber ball, and this struck him with an idea to absorb the shock inside his watch. It was enough to give him the success that he was yearning for in the project!
Initially, the first G-Shock watches did not take off quickly. It wasn’t until a television network aired them that their customer base began to grow. Once the reputation for durability began to spread, they became an obsession with active people.
Today, when someone mentions G-Shock, the first thing that comes to most peoples’ minds is durability.
Battle Tested
A large number of our military personnel wear G-Shocks because of that durability. People don’t want to spend a ton of money and they want the watch to last. And G-Shock has watches that precisely fit that bill.
You’re not going to see Navy SEALs wearing a Rolex or other multi-thousand-dollar watch on training or combat missions. Why? Because they’d be worried about it being broken or lost. But a G-Shock? Absolutely! If it’s lost, they haven’t lost a huge investment. And the chances of it being broken are pretty slim.
Cops, firemen, soldiers, construction workers, divers, you name it….they wear a G-Shock. I wore them for years inside the prison where I worked, and they took the abuse. More than once, my wrist bounced off a steel cell door or concrete wall, or floor, during various altercations. And never once did my G-Shocks break.
These watches are the real deal.
Price Points
As with most other companies, Casio offers the G-Shock at both high and low-end price points. I can tell you this from experience: even if you choose a watch from their lower-end price point (and many are well under $100), you will not be compromising on quality. I’ve owned G-Shocks that cost a couple of hundred dollars, and have one that cost under $50, and they all compare about the same as far as durability is concerned.
So why pay more? Well, just like anything else, we might be after various features. And the coolness factor is undeniable; the higher-end watches have both more features and look cool.
But, whether you spend $50 or $400, a G-Shock watch is a very high-quality product.
The G-Shock Rangeman
For this article, we’ll take a look at the GW-9400Y, the Rangeman, which is part of the Master Of G series. Remember I just mentioned the coolness factor? Case in point: this one has added coolness, which we’ll examine as we go along.
Casio’s Rangeman lineup has several neat color options. A few that I know of are all black, dark grey, and yellow (the one I’m reviewing here) and OD Green.
Size
Casio’s Rangeman is a substantially sized watch. To put it mildly, it’s large. How large?
The case size is 55.2 mm long, 53.5 mm wide, and 18.2 mm high. It’s a chunky monkey, and I don’t have huge wrists. Nevertheless, it still fits me well, especially considering that I enjoy large watches.
Construction
The case and bezel are both constructed from resin, as is the band of the Rangeman.
Mineral Glass comprises the glass window of the watch, which seems to work well. So far, I’ve not had any issues with scratches or other damage. The bezel sits higher than the glass, which is sunken below the level of the bezel. Because the glass is recessed, the bezel protects it and takes hits that the glass otherwise would. It’s a thoughtful piece of design work.
Features
G-Shocks, depending on their level, are usually packed with various features. Most of the time, I don’t use half the features and functions that they offer, being the simpleton that I am.
The Rangeman models have the ABC feature (Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass, complete with thermometer). I have to say, the compass is very accurate, and I do use it from time to time. Not only does it give directions, but also compass bearings. This may just be the most useful field feature of the watch.
I’m not sure how accurate the altimeter and barometer are, but I don’t use those much anyway. Still, they’re nice items to have handy. In the durability department, the Rangeman is water resistant down to 200 meters (660 feet).
The watch is solar-powered, so we don’t need to concern ourselves about replacing batteries. Just give it some sunlight and it’s a happy watch. There’s also an indicator that tells if the charge is low, medium, or high.
Some other features include:
- 31 time zones, plus daylight saving time on/off.
- Stopwatch.
- Five daily alarms with one snooze alarm.
- LED backlight (automatic or manual).
- Accuracy to plus or minus 15 seconds per month.
- Sunrise/Sunset time display.
- Countdown timer ( from one second to 24 hours).
- Full auto-calendar until the year 2099.
- Power saving mode (when the watch is left in the dark).
- 12/24 hour format.
- Multi-Band 6 Time calibration signals. The Rangeman can be left by a window to receive atomic signals to recalibrate its time for better accuracy.
Buttons
All the buttons on the GW-9400Y are stainless steel with checkering for a better grip. On this model, they are set in yellow sealing rings. Between those yellow rings and the fact that the buttons are in stainless color, they’re easy to see. The light button is especially easy to see because it’s just below the date window in the middle of the watch. It’s easy to find and push even in low light.
The light is effective at night and lights up the display well.
Display
The Rangeman’s display is positive and easy to see. By positive, I mean that the background is a light grey color and the numbers and letters are dark. For me, this is the easiest and most efficient display to see in all conditions.
Some of their other models have a negative display in which the background is black and the letters/numbers are lighter colored. These types of displays can be difficult to see, depending on light conditions and the angle at which it’s being looked at.
Included in the display are the day of the week, month, date, time, and whether or not the watch is on Daylight Saving Time, as well as the battery level. There is also a circle that displays the seconds (upper left corner), which acts almost like a minute hand on a standard watch. All in all, it’s a simple, straightforward display window that works very well with numbers and letters that are large enough to easily see.
Band
As far as watch bands go, this one is stellar. It’s made of resin, but the sliding keeper is made from metal that has a black finish. The reason I like the metal keeper is that it’s far more durable than one made from resin, which can easily be snagged and broken.
Another great addition is the twin holes in the band for extra security.
I have to mention the comfort of this band. It’s extraordinary, especially for a resin band. On a few of my watches, I can’t adjust the band to a slot where it’s just right; it’s either a little too loose or a little too tight. I always have to go with a little too loose, and then the watch is clunking around loosely on my wrist.
Not so with the Rangeman! There are lots of those double slots, so I can make adjustments to where the watch fits just snugly enough to make it perfect. Huge kudos to Casio for the thought that went into the design of this band.
Back
Casio’s GW-9400Y features a stainless steel back with the design of a cat that looks as though it has been electrified. The model number and some other info are engraved on the back.
Colors
The color scheme is what attracted me initially to this G-Shock Rangeman. The case is a dark grey that is very nearly black in color. The yellow highlights set the watch off beautifully and truly make this watch stand out.
Be Warned
G-Shocks are addicting! Don’t blame me if you buy one and within the next few months, that one grows into three or four. As knife and gun enthusiasts, we tend to go overboard on things, so hard-use watches are right up our alley.
Final Verdict on the G-Shock Rangeman
Presumably, you’ll not be shocked to find that I highly endorse the Rangeman after reading this review. It’s a no-nonsense watch that exhibits incredible durability. That it also looks sharp while doing its job is a huge bonus. After all, why wear an ugly watch when we have so many options to wear cool-looking timepieces?
GunMag Warehouse has this G-Shock Rangeman available for the cheapest price that I’ve seen them going for yet: $299.99 at the time of this writing, with free shipping. For that, you’ll be getting a watch that not only looks good but will never need a battery and will last darn near forever. It’s big, bodacious, and badass, and you need one!
