Review: We looked at how easy it is to use the Casio PRO TREK Smart WSD-F30 for mountain climbing and hiking.
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
, the WSD-F30 has finally been released . We recently covered the differences between the previous model the F20 , but this time we'll take a closer look at how it feels to use while climbing mountains or hiking.
table of contents
table of contents
Review of WSD-F30 features
To put it simply, the basic features of CASIO's smart outdoor watch WSD- F30 are that it is a smartwatch that is durable enough for outdoor use and is equipped with various sensors and map functions.
fully usable outdoors , the WSD-F30 is durable, meeting MIL-STD-810G standards (a military procurement standard established by the U.S. Department of Defense) to withstand drops, vibrations, and other hard use, and is water resistant to 5 ATM and freeze-resistant to temperatures as low as -10°C. And of course, it's equipped with sensors essential for outdoor watches, such as a compass, barometer, and altimeter. Another of the WSD-F30 its ability to use outdoor maps, which can be viewed offline even in places without a signal .
Another aspect its convenience as a smartwatch . The dual-layer color/monochrome touchscreen display is a smart design that reduces the hassle of button operation while also reducing power consumption. Furthermore, the various functions provided by Wear OS by Google (Android Wear) and a wide variety of third-party apps make it convenient for everyday use, making it the perfect watch for outdoor enthusiasts, seamlessly connecting weekdays and weekends.
The biggest improvement in the latest model in the PRO TREK Smart series is that it's lighter and more compact . It's certainly more acceptable to those who previously shied away from it because of its intimidating, bulky design. Furthermore, the adoption of an OLED display with improved image quality, color reproduction , and contrast all make up for the disadvantage of a smaller screen. Additionally, the addition of three new battery-saving modes allows you to efficiently conserve battery power according to your needs.
If you're interested in other minor details, refer to the previous review article . This time, I've been using a sample unit on hikes for about a month, and have been thoroughly testing out the new features while hiking.
I immediately tried using the WSD-F30 on a mountain climb
Things to do before climbing: Reduce the hassle of downloading maps
To use maps on the WSD-F30 WSD-F30 lets you save up to five downloaded maps.
The ability to save maps has significantly reduced the hassle of downloading them
This evolution may not be meaningful for people who, for example, hike all 100 of Japan's famous mountains, but for me, who has a set number of areas I frequently visit, it was a quietly welcome evolution. I usually visit three or four areas at most, such as Okutama, Tanzawa, and Okuchichibu, to test gear, so once I download those, I rarely need to download again
By the way, you still need to download the map before climbing, even if you use another map app, YAMAP. However, since YAMAP has always allowed you to save maps, there is no change in how you use it for those who regularly use it, even with the latest model
Basic usage for mountain climbing
The most commonly used features while hiking are altitude and compass display, and of course, the ability to view downloaded offline maps and your current location. With a single up and down button, the sensor and map are displayed in a graphical format that remains highly visible
As always, access to and visibility of various sensors is excellent
Those using an outdoor smartwatch for the first time will likely find it convenient just to look at the map whenever necessary, but it might also be a good idea to try out some of the convenient sensor-based functions. Using the native "Activity" app, you can view the route you've taken and receive notifications about altitude, distance traveled, calories burned, and weather changes under certain conditions, making mountain climbing a little more convenient and enjoyable
In my case, I used to launch the YAMAP app while I was out and about, and use it to check my current location while recording my movements. The offline maps used in YAMAP, based on 1:25,000 topographical maps, are currently the easiest to understand, I can record my movements without a smartphone, and the app's performance has become more stable than before. Another great thing about YAMAP is that if I record my movements here, I can later export them as GPX data to various services
YAMAP's 1:25,000 scale map display has become much easier to read than when I first started using it, and I can't live without it now
The improved two-layer display proves its worth in the field
OLED display with improved visibility despite its smaller size
To test the performance of the new OLED display, we placed the monitor in direct sunlight and displayed a map. As you can see in the photo below, the map was clearly visible, and we realized that both the image quality and brightness had improved more than we expected
The display and map are still highly visible even in the sun
Easy-to-read, convenient monochrome display
Also, the monochrome display mode up until the F20 the F30 has become much more functional. You can now choose the color, and together with the previously available inverted display, it is now much easier to read (below is the monochrome display; you can choose the one that is easiest for you to see).
The photo on the left shows a monochrome display in dark mode (Extend mode is activated), and the photo on the right shows a monochrome display in bright mode (Extend mode is paused)
The number of items that can be displayed in monochrome has also increased dramatically. For example, you can now display altitude, barometric pressure, and direction all at once, or even the remaining battery level and pedometer. This eliminates the need to turn on the LCD screen every time, which is not only convenient but also contributes greatly to saving battery power. However, it is disappointing that the electronic compass cannot be viewed in monochrome (see photo below)
The "2 Layer" watch face, which I use regularly due to its low power consumption, is shown in monochrome (left) and color (right). It's a shame the compass isn't displayed in monochrome
Using Extend Mode
So, I tried out the Extended Mode on a hike to see how it actually works, its ease of use, and battery consumption
Simply put, Extended Mode is an "outdoor automatic battery optimization function" that minimizes functionality while you're on the move, and then displays only the monochrome clock when you arrive at your accommodation and are not active, thereby ensuring battery savings
The basic usage is to tap Extend Mode from the app list and start "Planning." Specifically, planning means specifying the times to "Start Logging," "Pause," and "Resume."
Settings screen when starting Extend Mode
Maybe it's just me, but I had a hard time understanding this setting at first glance. The concept of "pause" is different for people on a day hike and those on a long-term traverse. Does "pause" mean a short break? Or does it mean arriving at a tent site?
In short, these indicate the following:
- Only minimum map display function (and GPS log) is enabled during the "log start - pause" period
- During the time between "pause" and "resume," the OS is shut down so that the clock can only be viewed
- "Restart" starts again in map display mode only
The plan must specify these timings (scheduled times)
In other words, this flow is easy to understand for people who are planning a two-day, one-night hike, but this action plan doesn't work in other cases. This is probably why it took so long to understand, but if you understand that and are using it for a day hike like this one, there's no need to specify a pause time in the first place, so you can interpret the pause as the planned finish time. It doesn't matter when you set the log resume time as long as it's after the pause time
When using Extend Mode, all you can see is the monochrome display and the map that appears when you press the middle button. Communication is also forced into airplane mode, which disables all notifications, but because it stops all functions except those needed for mountain climbing, battery consumption is significantly reduced. When the "pause" time set in the plan arrives, a notification appears, allowing you to choose whether to shut down the OS as planned and display only the clock, or extend the time by one hour. This prevents you from accidentally forgetting to turn off the power
When the time to pause is reached in extended mode, a notification like the one on the screen will appear, prompting you to shut down, so you won't have to worry about forgetting to stop the watch
How much battery does Extended Mode save?
As for battery consumption, which is the most concerning issue, I have been measuring this mode under various conditions for the past month
As a result, with the previous model F20 (using YAMAP with communication), the battery would drop to at least 50% after a 6-7 hour day of travel, but with Extended Mode, the battery life improved to a minimum of 80% and an average of the upper 60s to 70s even with the most precise GPS acquisition interval of one minute. Even taking into account whether or not Airplane Mode is on, the power saving effect of this mode was definitely noticeable
However, I would like to log data in YAMAP as well, if possible. With that in mind, I tried a more ambitious approach: "Is it possible to save power by using Extend Mode while YAMAP is running?" I started logging in YAMAP first, then launched Extend Mode. While Extend Mode appeared to be running, I later checked and found that YAMAP was indeed recording logs. It appears that using both apps simultaneously is possible. However, after several attempts, I found that the battery consumption was almost the same as when YAMAP was normally used in airplane mode. Based on this, it seems that, based on my experience, if you want to achieve the power-saving benefits of Extend Mode, you should avoid using other apps at the same time. *Results may vary depending on individual circumstances; please use this information as a guide only
By the way, while the OS is "paused" and shut down, you obviously cannot obtain logs using YAMAP, but activity records continue, so once the power is turned back on you will be able to continue obtaining logs for the same trip
Summary: The hardware is easy to use. The extended mode is a convenient energy-saving mode depending on how you use it
The WSD-F30 now more compact, easier to see, and easier to use, and even in outdoor situations, I was able to see that it has evolved in the same way as my last first impression. In particular, the monochrome display's multi-function functionality reduces the number of button operations and also reduces battery consumption, making it the most critical improvement in many ways. I was able to see the steady evolution of the watch, based on the concept of a convenient smartwatch that outdoor enthusiasts can wear at all times, from outdoors to everyday life
However, not all of the additional features are perfect. I found the software aspects, such as Extend Mode, a little difficult to get started with and limited versatility. It's a small thing, but it calls for further refinement, as it requires planning every trip (even for a two-day trip). Aside from that, I don't think the concept of "efficient power management with one action" is flawed. In that sense, I think it's a useful feature if you incorporate it into your everyday use as a "convenient power-saving mode" that minimizes power consumption with one action, without having to fiddle around with various settings
This time we looked at hiking, but next time we'll take a closer look at how well it works at ski resorts and in the backcountry
For more details or inquiries, please the official product page . Furthermore, useful information and the latest information from the manufacturer can be found on the PRO TREK Facebook page
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