Review: The happiness that marks the once-in-a-lifetime skating. Casio PRO TREK Smart WSD-F30 goes great with winter sports

It's been three months since I continued to use WSD-F30 from Casio Computer's outdoor smartwatch, PRO TREK Smart series As I have mentioned in my previous two reviews , I have seen steady progress from the previous model in a variety of ways, including miniaturization of the body and improved battery consumption. Despite the requests for small improvements, I felt that it was becoming increasingly established as a smart watch that is suitable for casual outdoor enthusiasts, from everyday life to sports and mountain climbing.

This time, I would like to review the last checkpoint I personally have been interested in, such as slope skiing and backcountry skiing, and how it feels to use in winter sports.

table of contents

• I've returned as a girl who can wear a cross band over her clothes.
• The cold-resistant design of -10℃ and highly visible screen display are effective only in snowy mountains.
• Ski Tracks is the perfect app for snow activities.
• summary

I've returned as a girl who can wear a cross band over her clothes.

The WSD-F30 (hereinafter referred to as F30) has a variety of features and functions that fit not only trekking, running and cycling, but also winter sports such as skiing.

One of them is a band that can be easily removed and replaced. By replacing it with the optional cross band "WSA-BX1", you can attach the watch over thick clothing such as ski wear.

I tried using it while actually skiing, but I didn't have to roll up my arms or take out my smartphone, and I could instantly access sensors such as time and altitude, which reduced the stress more than I imagined.

To replace it, you can hook the band's spring rod with the included spring rod and attach and remove it immediately. In reality, it is easy to operate with your nails, so replacing them is easier than you might think.

The spring bars on both ends of the band can be attached and removed immediately.

In fact, the same model, the F20X, which has the same band removable, was released in the previous model. I have also reviewed it on this site , the original replacement nylon band at this time was difficult to tighten and I got the impression that it was a bit of a comfortable fit, so I timidly tried it this time, hoping that it didn't look the same, but the results are...

New optional cross band is attached to the F30. The elastic band fits comfortably on your arms.

It's easy to install in a flash.

The convenience of this was just what it was like, but the reason is clear. Previously, it was difficult to just pass a soft band through the buckle, and since it didn't stretch or contract, it also took some getting used to adjusting the tightness to the perfect fit, which was stressful every time. However, in this model, the band is pre-built through the buckle so that it does not fall out. Furthermore, the band itself is stretchy, so how to wear it

1. Pass the looped band through your arm (left photo below)
2. Tighten the elastic band (right of the photo below)

only. Even for first time users, it was possible to install smoothly. The smaller body is stylish and less likely to get caught, and the stretch of the band reduces looseness, making it a great fit. In this case, there seems no need to go out of your way to search for another band.

To put it on, simply insert it through your arm (left) and tighten it (right). It's much easier than the previous model.

The cold-resistant design of -10℃ and highly visible screen display are effective only in snowy mountains.

One of the major features of this watch is that its operating temperature range is from -10°C. Some people may think that -10℃ is a bit unfortunate for winter mountain climbing during the harsh winter, but the previous model, the F20X, is actually cold-resistant, and it is actually as cold as other models in the Pro Trek series, and there are no particular problems in operation even in environments with temperatures lower than -10℃, and the battery does not drastically decrease, making it possible to use normally. In my own experience, I was able to use it safely even in the 2,000m-class winter mountains in February, when the snow was falling, so there's no need to worry unless you continue using it in a very harsh environment.

Furthermore, the high visibility of the new organic EL display, including image quality, color and contrast, can be said to have been truly impressive in the clear snowy mountains. The monochrome display of "white background and black text" on the slopes in particular on clear skies is extremely clear, and with this setting, the F30 can be used without any particular operation from the clock, allowing you to check the altitude, air pressure, or compass, making it comfortable to use. Incidentally, other than that, it was not particularly hard to see on the operation screen with a black background in color display (right of the photo below), and overall, the display area felt that the usability of the display has definitely been improved compared to the previous model.

Even on sunny snow, the monochrome display of "white background and black text" (left) looked clear.

Ski Tracks is the perfect app for snow activities.

Regarding apps used in winter sports with F30, the YAMAP app is convenient for snow hiking and snowy mountain climbing, just like in snowless seasons, but Ski Tracks is recommended for slope skiing and backcountry skiing. The reason for this is that it not only has GPS tracking, but also features detailed functions such as automatically detecting actions unique to snow sports and exporting recorded data out of GPX files, making it simple, but almost all the things you want to do. Incidentally, the usage environment is an Android 8.0 device, so it cannot be guaranteed to operate in other environments.

How to use Ski Tracks

It's very easy to use. Just install the app on your smartphone and F30, and when your smartphone and watch are paired (not possible in airplane mode), simply tap the "Start button (▶)" on the F30. This will start tracking. This will display "Recording" and turn the screen into a pause button (photo below), and the information recorded in almost real-time will be accumulated and displayed on the smartphone.

If it is paired with your smartphone, tap the play button on your watch and tracking will begin using the smartphone app.

When you set the activity type (pictured below), the measurement (display) items will be adjusted to suit each activity. Even if you change your activity halfway through, it will be immediately changed to the displayed content that matches it, so it's fine to forget to specify it first.

It is possible to track a variety of snow sports.

While tracking, it automatically detects when riding a lift and skiing. Each run is automatically allocated and recorded, allowing you to check individual performance. Just knowing how fast you are and how far you are skiing is quite refreshing, but it's very convenient to be able to check each slip with detailed data such as "speed, distance, vertical descent, and slope" (see below). When I continue to collect this data and compare it, it's interesting because it gives a surprising amount of images that I've seen in my previous intuitively, such as "I was able to skate well or not," which is interesting.

It automatically analyzes each action in great detail.

Logs can be obtained without any problems even if no signal is received. This means you can also use airplane mode to save battery. However, this time I used it in normal battery mode for over 6 hours, but the battery was still over 50%, so there's no need to be too nervous. Below is the total activity results after a day's slip. There are many ways to enjoy it, such as comparing yourself to your friends and knowing how well you are compared to your past self.

Comparing the recorded data will make it clear to you your performance that day.

Furthermore, it is also tracked by GPS, so you can also check the trajectory of your actions on the map (see below). You can select from several types of display, including contour lines and satellite photos, and you can check its performance by tapping each gliding mark displayed. There are not many clear places to slide in backcountry or side country, so it's very helpful to be able to record the slopes that you've slipped in the past, which sides you've dropped and which sides you slipped in, and personally I find it very useful. You'll be sure to have fun with your friends, looking back on the results of slipping until you're exhausted, or looking back on the memorable slopes later. Tracking data can be exported in a variety of formats. I exported it in GPX, uploaded it to STRAVA, and saved it centrally.

I'm more than anything else, I can record where I skate and how I skate.

Incidentally, you can easily check the data on the clock while recording. Although it is necessary to be paired with your smartphone, you can control the start, pause, and end of records at your fingertips, making it practically possible to track them without having to operate your smartphone. Once you experience this convenience, it's difficult to let go of. No, we are living in an incredible future.

Summary: The WSD-F30 accelerates winter sports fun

The Pro Trek Smart series will be used in the snowy mountains for the second generation, following the previous model F20X , but the F30 has been extremely satisfying overall, thanks to the fact that it has evolved in body and functionality, and the biggest point that was subtle in the previous model, the cross band, which is a subtle point, has been significantly improved, resulting in a very satisfying result.

The main app, Ski Tracks, is still as easy to use, and I am amazed that if you can get such detailed data even when skiing, it will expand the way you enjoy it and give you new motivation.

However, the hassle of operating the touchscreen in winter, which I have mentioned before, remains unresolved. On the contrary, the screen size has become smaller, so operating with gloves is almost hopeless. Operations that require touching, such as moving maps, still require you to take off your gloves, so it's quite a hassle to check the map frequently. New desires will never end, such as replacing touch screen operations and hopefully enabling button or voice operations.

For more information or inquiries, please click here (official product page) . In addition, useful information and latest information from manufacturers are available on PRO TREK's Facebook page