Outdoor Endurance Test: Which G-Shock Truly Survives in the Wild?
Test Conditions
Over the years, G-Shock has released a wide range of watches that not only look rugged but are specifically designed to thrive in the great outdoors. Whether you're in the mountains, trekking, on a survival mission, or simply out on an adventure – these models make big promises. But which one truly lives up to them?
I took five of the most interesting current outdoor G-Shock models and put them through an intense real-world test over three full days. No lab values, no marketing fluff – just mud, water, real navigation challenges, elevation gain, and even a few unintended falls included. Of course, when conducting a test like this, various factors need to be taken into account. Design – as appealing as it may be – plays a secondary role. If you're trying to get from point A to point B and rely on a tool like an outdoor watch, you need different features and capabilities than someone looking for a stylish accessory for sports or casual wear. And in the end, design is always a matter of personal taste.
It's also important to note: this is not a professional watch review in the traditional sense. It came about spontaneously – and honestly, more for fun – as a way for me to explore the strengths and weaknesses of the watches in real-life use. So don’t expect every little detail to have been examined thoroughly. Some of the impressions are subjective and based on specific situations. And because reviewing five watches in depth would have made the article far too long (and probably unreadable), I chose not to cover every single function. However, I’m always happy to receive specific questions or feedback – feel free to email me!
The goal was to find out which G-Shock performs best in real outdoor conditions – and whether there’s one that truly deserves the title of “Best Outdoor G-Shock.”
An Overview of the Test Candidates:
Reference Devices – For the Fact Check:
Apple Watch Ultra (2nd Gen) – While not part of the G-Shock universe, its advanced sensors, GPS, and health features make it a modern smartwatch benchmark. Or is it just a high-tech toy?
Garmin Alpha 300 K – A professional outdoor GPS device with highly accurate altitude and position tracking as well as mapping functionality. It was used to verify the compass and altimeter readings of the watches.
Test Conditions: Tough Terrain Instead of Desk Work
The watches were tested over three days under real outdoor conditions:
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No recharging, no external power – all watches had to rely solely on what they had onboard (solar or battery).
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Manual sensor use every 30 minutes – compass, barometer, and altimeter were activated manually at regular intervals. The backlight was also triggered every 30 minutes.
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Navigation was done the classic way – with map, compass, and altimeter; the barometer regularly provided important data
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Muddy ponds, water crossings, and falls – all part of the route, though not always intentionally.
The ease of display readability was assessed while running and climbing – both in the dark and under direct sunlight.
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All watches were worn on the wrist – no lab conditions, just real-world use.
Starting in the Black Forest – First Challenges & Display Performance
GPS Weaknesses Under Dense Canopy
Even my iPhone 15 Pro lost its cellular signal after just under two kilometers. Google Maps became useless. So, it was back to the basics: map and compass – exactly what these G-Shocks were built for.
Calibration & Interval Activation
Every 30 minutes, my smartphone alarm reminded me to:
A realistic scenario – because in the field, it’s not just about whether a sensor works, but how quickly and reliably you can access the data, and how accurate that information really is.
Readability: Clear Winners – and One Laggard
First Battery Check After 10 Hours
After around 10 hours of use without any external power source, it was time to take a first look at energy consumption:🔋 RANGEMAN GPR-H1000 & RANGEMAN GPR-B1000
Both use built-in rechargeable batteries with solar support. The GPR-H1000 showed no drop in battery level, while the GPR-B1000 was already missing one bar.
🟢 MUDMAN GW-9500, MUDMASTER GWG-B1000 & RANGEMAN GW-9400
These models run entirely without external power – thanks to Tough Solar. A real advantage for long tours without access to power banks or outlets.
⚡ Apple Watch Ultra (non-competing)
After just a few hours, it showed significant battery loss – mainly due to frequent display activation, GPS use, and sensor readings.
📱 iPhone 15 Pro
Constant screen activity, combined with Komoot, Google Maps, and photo-taking, drained the battery rapidly. Clearly unsuitable for multi-day outdoor trips without a power bank – and that became obvious very quickly.
Compass & Altimeter – Precision in the Field
Compass Performance Comparison
The standout performer here was the MUDMAN GW-9500MRY-1A9:
🧭 Easy to read, well-calibrated, and quick to respond to changes in direction. Even when tilting the watch slightly, the compass display remained stable and accurate.
The RANGEMAN GW-9400Y-1ER also delivered solid compass performance, though the display response was just a touch slower.
📉 The GPS-equipped GPR models (RANGEMAN GPR-H1000 & GPR-B1000) naturally showed their strengths when GPS signal was available, delivering precise directional data and, in the case of the GPR-H1000, even a digital map display.
However, when satellite contact was lost, you had to rely on their standard compass sensors – which were decent, but not class-leading.
Altimeter – Between Pressure and Satellite
Most G-Shocks use pressure-based systems for altitude measurement, relying on changes in air pressure. This generally works well but is—understandably—affected by weather and temperature. That became clear during my test as well.After 10 hours of real-world outdoor use, the following deviations from the reference altitude (measured with the Garmin Alpha 300K) were recorded:
| Model | Altitude Deviation |
|---|---|
| RANGEMAN GW-9400Y-1ER | +9 meters |
| MUDMAN GW-9500MRY-1A9 | +7 meters |
| MUDMASTER GWG-B1000-1A4ER | +9 meters |
| RANGEMAN GPR-H1000 (GPS) | ±0 meters |
| RANGEMAN GPR-B1000 (GPS) | ±0 meters |
When no GPS signal was available, even the GPS models showed an average deviation of around ±8 meters — which is entirely acceptable in this category.
Mud, Dirt & Hardship – Real G-Shocks Live for This
Some things you don’t plan – they just happen. And so, during the test, more than one watch ended up taking an unexpected mud bath. Whether from slipping in a slick stream bed, sliding down a slope, or digging into wet soil – things got dirty.
But this is exactly where the G-Shocks proved what they were made for.
Durability – Where Others Quit, G-Shocks Get Started
None of the tested watches showed any malfunction after exposure to mud, sand, or standing water. No stuck buttons. No glitchy displays. No sensors that failed.
Just rugged performance, exactly as you'd expect from a true G-Shock.
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What may sound extreme is, in fact, a core strength of G-Shocks. Over the decades, Casio has developed a case design and protection system that is virtually unrivaled when it comes to everyday and outdoor durability.
Battery Life & Power Supply – Day Two Separates the Wheat from the Chaff
On the second day, after roughly 25 hours of continuous use, things got serious for one of the reference devices:❌ The Apple Watch Ultra gave out. The battery was empty.
And once again, it became clear:
As powerful as smartwatches may be, they’re only partially suited for real outdoor adventures. Sure, for short trips or days with guaranteed access to power, they can be a viable option. But on multi-day excursions without outlets or power banks, even the Apple Watch Ultra quickly reaches its limits.
And to make matters worse: without a mobile connection, many of the watch’s features either don’t work at all or are only available in a limited capacity.
The G-Shocks Stay Cool – Even After Two Days in the Wild
The G-Shock models told a completely different story during the test:RANGEMAN GPR-H1000: After two full days, only one battery bar was lost – despite active GPS, continuous heart rate monitoring, and regular use of the compass, altimeter, and barometer.
➡️ An outstanding result, especially considering its wide range of functions.
RANGEMAN GPR-B1000: Also performed solidly – still showed a full bar after two days of use.
All other models – MUDMAN GW-9500, MUDMASTER GWG-B1000, RANGEMAN GW-9400 – ran exactly as expected: fully power-independent thanks to Tough Solar.
They showed no signs of battery loss or functionality issues – power cords, power banks, or wall outlets? These watches couldn’t care less.
Nighttime Helpers – When Light Matters
One often overlooked feature that proves incredibly useful in real-life situations: the display backlight.Especially at night — in the tent, cooking in low light, or searching for something you dropped — I was consistently impressed by the RANGEMAN GW-9400Y-1ER. Its backlight isn't just bright — it's extremely bright. So bright, in fact, that I used it several times as an emergency flashlight. No other watch in the test came close in this regard. The backlight of the Rangeman 9400 is so powerful that in certain situations, it genuinely serves as a small backup light — an underrated advantage for nighttime adventures.
Calibration: A Must for Non-GPS Models
00, and Mudmaster GWG-B1000 — manual calibration of the barometer and altimeter became absolutely necessary by the second day.
After climbing roughly 700 vertical meters and using the sensors continuously, all three watches showed noticeable deviations.
This isn’t a failure — it’s a technical reality and completely normal:
Pressure-based sensors are sensitive to weather changes, temperature fluctuations, and prolonged use — and therefore need to be recalibrated regularly to stay accurate.
Thanks to the reference device (Garmin Alpha 300K), calibration was done quickly. In everyday use, however, a known altitude point or a topographic map is usually all you need.
The Verdict – Which G-Shock Is the Best Outdoor Watch?
And while some still looked fresh and ready for more, two models had tapped out for good:
❌ The Apple Watch Ultra had shut down after just over 24 hours — as already mentioned, it’s simply not suitable for multi-day adventures without access to power.
❌ The RANGEMAN GPR-B1000 gave up after exactly 61 hours. A decent result, but considering its intended purpose, not enough for longer, self-sufficient adventures — especially given the GPS issues it showed during the test.
My Conclusion – Which Watch Came Out on Top?
But after this hands-on test, a clear ranking emerged for me:
The display is excellent – crisp and high-contrast. However, the compass is only partially suited for quickly locking onto a direction. Due to the segmented display, the directional value isn’t always immediately clear or easy to read. Still, it was my personal favorite in the test. I just associate too many memories and emotions with this watch, and of all of them, I like its design the most – though of course, that can't be an objective criterion.
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Frequent GPS issues, sometimes taking over 5 minutes to acquire a signal
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Battery empty after around 60 hours
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Bulky, heavy, and no longer user-friendly by today’s standards
In the end, I stashed it in my backpack – not just because the battery gave out, but because better options now exist.
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