82 The Great OutdoorsAugust 2021
Amazfit
T-Rex Pro£ 139 60 gexcellent value; good battery life; does the basics;
toughno GPS navigation; limited integration with other
services; magnetic charging cable easily
dislodgedCase size:47.7mm
Screen: 1.3“ AMOLED colour, tap to wake
Battery life (GPS on):20-30 hours, or 7-14 days in smartwatch mode
OS grid ref? nNo
Mapping: none, and no breadcrumb navigation
Operation: touchscreen and buttons
amazfit.com/en
If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive device for
tracking your walks and handling lightweight smartwatch
duties, the Amazfit T-Rex Pro will provide most of the
basics. It’s a compact, lightweight watch made from
plastic, with a rugged look and a simple, comfortable
rubber strap. The watch is highly durable: as well as being
waterproof and shockproof, Amazfit say it can withstand
temperatures as low as -40° C. The touchscreen is bright
and vivid in most lighting, but is not always-on. The screen
times out after a few seconds, which makes it more
cumbersome to use than most other watches tested.
One benefit is that it can be controlled either by the
touchscreen or via buttons. This is great for outdoor use.
It will display notifications and weather info, and can be
used as a comprehensive fitness tracker, although the Zepp
smartphone app won’t integrate with other services,
limiting its usefulness. The operating system feels more
fluid and phone-like than many of the other watches tested.
The watch tracks walking and running accurately, and you
can export a GPX file from the app afterwards, but no GPS
navigation is possible – you can’t load your own route onto
the watch. You can’t customise the data screens either
(except the main watch face).
The price is attractive and battery life is good. For basic
needs without navigation, this is worth a look.Casio
G-SHOCK GBD-H1000-1ER
£ 379 101 glong standby time; extremely durable; effective
solar chargingbulky and heavy; confusing menusCase size:63x55x20.4mm
Screen: 1“ transflectivemonochrome, always-on
Battery life (GPS on): 14-18 hours, or several
weeks in smartwatch mode
OS grid ref?no
Mapping: none
Operation: buttons
g-shock.co.ukThose who love the classic G-SHOCK line will find plenty
to likehere. It’s almost indestructible – but I found it
uncomfortable to wear due to its size. It’s mainly pitched at
runners, although it can also be used to track hikes thanks
to its integration with the G-SHOCK MOVE app, which is
functional but a bit ‘buggy’. You can’t export GPX files, but it
will sync with Strava.
I found it slow to get a satellite fix and slow to save a
recorded track. The heart-rate sensor seemed accurate,
but distance was consistently short. While walking, it will
provide distance, heart rate, ascent, and other stats. I found
the interface confusing – menus are unintuitive and I often
found myself pressing the wrong buttons.
The monochrome screen is clear in sunlight, and the
standby time with GPS deactivated, in smartwatch mode,
is excellent – I could barely make a dent in it. Battery life with
GPS on is less stellar but still good enough. Although it’s hard
to tell how well solar charging works, as this is not indicated
on the watch face, it does top up the battery quite rapidly
when left in direct sun.
Runners who like the Casio G-SHOCK look might
consider the GBD-H1000, but there are better watches for
mountain walking.Gear comparative review