Casio has taken a sharp turn with the Pro Trek PRJ-01: three new outdoor watches that ditch the usual sensor-packed, chunky digital look in favor of a slim analog setup, solar charging, and a carabiner-friendly design for people who actually clip gear to things. The Casio Pro Trek PRJ-01 series goes on sale in Japan this July, and the message is pretty clear – Pro Trek can be practical without looking like a wrist-mounted survival bunker.
The headline feature is the removable carabiner attachment on the two higher-end models, which replaces the standard urethane band without tools. That gives the watch a second life off the wrist, whether it is hanging from a backpack strap or a belt loop. It is the kind of utilitarian idea that makes sense for a brand built around outdoor use, and it also nudges Pro Trek into territory Casio has tested elsewhere, where portability matters as much as wearability.
Casio Pro Trek PRJ-01 size, build, and dial design
For an outdoor watch, the PRJ-01 is unusually restrained. The case measures 39.1mm wide and 11.6mm thick, and the watch weighs just 32 grams. Casio is using bio-based resin for the case, case back and standard strap, while the strap uses a tuck-under layout meant to keep loose material from snagging on sleeves or equipment. Tiny watch, big jacket-friendly energy.
Instead of a screw-down crown, Casio uses a rotating guard bezel. In its normal position, the bezel hides the crown completely; turn it 45 degrees and the crown is exposed for time and date adjustment. The dial itself is fully phosphorescent, so the white background glows in the dark, and it is also light-transmissive to support the solar charging system.
Battery life, water resistance, and pricing
Casio says the PRJ-01 can run for about five months on a full charge, even without more light exposure. It also comes with 100 meters of water resistance and a mineral glass crystal, which is exactly the sort of spec sheet that helps a lightweight watch avoid feeling like a compromise.
- PRJ-01AE-8JR, grey, with carabiner: ¥31,350 ($192)
- PRJ-01AE-7JR, white, with carabiner: ¥31,350 ($192)
- PRJ-01-1JF, black, base model: ¥25,300 ($156)
All three versions are currently available for pre-order in Japan. The more interesting question is whether this stripped-back Pro Trek formula stays a niche experiment or becomes a template for future outdoor watches that want less bulk and fewer buttons without giving up the solar-and-waterproof practicality buyers expect.