FEATURE

How it Works: Casio Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10


Just about every smartwatch has functionalities that are useful in recording and tracking physical activity —  but only Casio has produced a watch specifically engineered for the rough-and-tumble of the great outdoors. Earlier this year, Casio released its WSD-F10 Smart Outdoor Watch, an Android Wear wrist device tested to U.S. military standard specifications and outfitted with a plethora of functions for outdoors enthusiasts. Here is what you need to know about this tough and versatile timekeeper, accompanied by photos taken during its “test run” on a hike through New York’s Adirondack region.

Casio Smart Outdoor Watch - branch

The WSD-F10 model has a hefty but lightweight case, measuring 61.7 mm x 56.4 mm x 15.7 mm and weighing in at 93 grams. It has been tested for 50 meters of water-resistance, meaning it can be worn during rainstorms and in situations that involve contact with water. The watch comes on a soft polyurethane strap engineered to conform to any wrist and to be worn in comfort for extended periods.

On the side of the case are two large operating buttons with a slip-free finish for ease of use even while wearing gloves. The “TOOL” button at the top right is used to engage the watch’s outdoor-friendly functions: compass direction, air pressure and altitude, sunrise and sunset times, tide graphs and activity graphs. The “APP” button in the lower left brings up the various apps, powered by Android Wear, which measure vital stats for such activities as trekking, cycling, and fishing. Users can also load their own apps to expand the watch’s feature set. A built-in sensor on the right side of the watch reads atmospheric data such as air pressure (which can be used to predict the likelihood of rain) and altitude.

Casio Smart Outdoor Watch - compass - wrist
Useful tools in the Casio Smart Outdoor Watch include a compass (above) and air pressure sensor (below).
Casio Smart Outdoor Watch - barometer - wrist

The watch’s face, equipped with a capacitative touchscreen, has a 1.32-inch dual-layer display, with both color and monochrome LCDs; color density is 320 x 300 pixels. Users can choose to display apps and data measurements in color or select the monochrome, power-conserving “Timepiece Mode,” which displays only the watch’s timekeeping data, to extend the watch’s battery life to more than a month. Otherwise, the watch’s lithium-ion battery requires a charge of approximately two hours (from the included magnetic charging terminal) roughly once a day. Various other watch-face options are available.

Casio Smart Outdoor Watch - weather

Among the outdoors-specific apps, powered by Android Wear (but not supported by iOS devices), are the following:

  • The ViewRanger GPS app, which provides route information, navigation guidance, altitude graphs, location data, and distance to the wearer’s next waypoint; this can be downloaded from www.viewranger.com.
  • The Runkeeper fitness app, for mobile running and cycling; used by more than 50 million people, it tracks and records routes for running, cycling, walking, and trekking. (www.runkeeper.com)
  • MyRadar, a popular weather app already downloaded by more than 17 million users; it offers real-time updates showing rain or snow near the wearer’s current location and allows them to check forecasts quickly and easily. (www.myradar.acmeaom.com)
Casio Smart Outdoor Watch - multiple
Several choices of watch faces are available, including this one that combines multiple outdoor functions on subdials with an analog-style time display.

The watch can also link to the Casio Moment Setter+ smartphone app, which can be configured to send info based on previously set conditions, including speeds, distances, time of sunrise, break timing, even when fish tend to be most active. The built-in audio mic — which can be used for Google voice searches — can be used even in harsh, rainy conditions. Other Google apps and services, including GMail, Google Maps, and Google Fit, are also supported.

Casio Smart Outdoor Watch w/ iPhone
Casio Smart Outdoor Watch w/ iPhone

Like all “smart” and “connected” watches, the Casio Smart Outdoor Watch requires a smartphone to connect with, in this case an Android device with Android 4.3 or later or an iPhone 5 or later model with iOS 8.2 or later. Available in red, green, black, and orange, this wrist device for tech-savvy outdoor enthusiasts and weekend adventurers retails for $500.

No Responses to “How it Works: Casio Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10”

Show all responses
  1. Billy Sheehan

    Lovely watches, just one question do you deliver to Ireland?thank you

    Reply
  2. Nick Houston

    I want one! Sadly can’t afford it right now because I’ve done the budget on a vintage Speedmaster…

    Reply
  3. Robert Perry - TOPOGRAPHIX

    Not sure what you mean “Watch requires a smartphone to connect with”. Sounds like you need to carry a smart phone with you for the features of the watch to work. I am interested in this watch for two reasons, I am a topographer and I also collect compass watches.

    Reply
    • Fernando

      Most smart watches require a companion phone. I mean, it needs to synchronize with a smartphone in order to give you all the functions. But some of them work without the phone. You need to find out if the functions you seek are available in “offline mode”, i.e. far from its synchronized phone. Heartbeat counter and GPS usually work that way.

      Reply
Leave a Reply to Heinz Imhof

Click here to cancel reply.