There are arguably no watches tougher than those belonging to Casio’s G-Shock line, but the prolific reputation of these watches means there’s a huge range of different models to choose from. Any G-Shock watch is going to be good, we’re here to find out which are truly the best. We’ve studiously examined the line to find the 10 best G-Shock watches available in 2022.
Below you’ll find some short and concise reviews that can help you pick out the best G-Shock watch for your needs, along with a short rundown of the most important specs to consider when shopping. We’ve also provided a thorough guide that breaks down what those specs mean and answers some of the most commonly asked questions from readers.
- The 10 Best G-Shock Watches in 2022
- Casio Men’s G-Shock Classic Analog-Digital Watch
- Casio GGB100BA-1A Special Edition British Army Watch
- Casio G-Shock Digital Watch
- G-Shock Men’s GG-1000 MUDMASTER
- Casio G-Shock GA100-1A1 THE GA 100 MILITARY SERIES WATCH
- Casio Men’s G-Shock GW6900
- Casio Men’s G9300-1 Mudman G-Shock
- Casio Men’s GD100-1BCR G-Shock X-Large
- Casio Men’s G7900-1 G-Shock Rescue Digital Sport
- Casio G-Shock Men’s GW9400 Rangeman
- Best G-Shock Watch Buyer’s Guide
- The Unique Advantages of a G-Shock Watch
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a G-Shock Watch Worth Buying?
- What Kind of Watch Do Navy SEALs Wear?
- What is the Speciality of G-Shock Watches?
- What is the Toughest G-Shock Watch?
The 10 Best G-Shock Watches in 2022
| Award | Design | Retailer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic analog style with reliable digital functionality |  | Check Price | |
| One of the sturdiest watches around in a nice special edition body |  | Check Price | |
| The G-Shock line’s base mix of sturdiness, functionality and affordability |  | Check Price | |
| An ultra-tough model capable of weathering even the worst conditions |  | Check Price | |
| A highly professional military-grade watch at a very civilian-friendly price |  | Check Price | |
| A more consumer-ready alternative to one of the military’s favorite watch models |  | Check Price | |
| A cheaper entry to the Mudmaster series with a slew of unique features |  | Check Price | |
| Highly-functional all-digital display at an affordable price point |  | Check Price | |
| One of the best-looking G-Shock watches, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and military personnel alike |  | Check Price | |
| A serious design meets extensive features and remarkable ease of use |  | Check Price |
Casio Men’s G-Shock Classic Analog-Digital Watch
Classic analog style with reliable digital functionality
The Classic G-Shock watch is one of the few models that prioritize the analog design over digital functionality, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t come with the sort of modern features fans have come to love from this brand. The luminosity here is incredibly bright, and the G-Shock Classic includes a long-lasting 1/100 of a second stopwatch as well as an automatic calendar.
It’s also anti-magnetic and shows a dual time displayed on the smaller digital face. It may be one of the more basic G-Shock watches, but it covers all the fundamentals at a great price.
| Case Diameter | 47.8 mm |
| Battery | 3 years |
| Movement | Japanese quartz |
| Water Resistance | Up to 200 meters |
Pros
- Analog face features prominently
- Dual time tracking capabilities
- Auto calendar pre-programmed to 2039
- Highly affordable price tag
Cons
Casio GGB100BA-1A Special Edition British Army Watch
One of the sturdiest watches around in a nice special edition body
The British Army G-Shock Mudmaster Watch is comparable to the G-Shock Men’s GG-1000 MUDMASTER, but being a special edition it does come with more features, and that gives you multiple options if you want one of the toughest watches available today. The design here is functionally identical, with the same bold numbers, the digital display, and the altimeter and barometer positioned exactly the same.
It even includes a Digital compass. The only big distinction here is the color scheme, but it’s a nice alternative if you want something that looks a little different while still offering a wealth of survival-focused functions.
| Case Diameter | 55 mm |
| Battery | 2 years |
| Movement | Quartz/digital |
| Water Resistance | Up to 200 meters |
Pros
- Digital compass
- Protected by tough mineral glass
- Sturdy pipes protect buttons from impact
- One of the sturdiest G-Shock watches around
- Includes barometer and altimeter
Cons
Casio G-Shock Digital Watch
The G-Shock line’s base mix of sturdiness, functionality and affordability
Casio is known for the great value of their watches, and their best value watch is arguably the base model G-Shock. The Amazon price for the Casio G-Shock comes in at less than $50, but this watch still packs in all the fundamental features that customers demand from the G-Shock line. This sturdy digital G-Shock watch may be more utilitarian in design than its siblings, but the bright backlighting makes it incredibly easy to read in the dark, and all of the important information conveyed is available at a single glance.
In a thoughtful move, Casio has made their buttons tougher to press in to minimize the risk of pushing them accidentally. It also offers a phenomenal decade-long battery life.
| Case Diameter | 45 mm |
| Battery | 10+ years |
| Movement | Digital |
| Water Resistance | Up to 200 meters |
Pros
- The best price for a G-Shock watch
- Very bright backlighting
- Auto-calendar pre-programmed to 2039
- Multi-function alarm and 1/100 second stopwatch
Cons
G-Shock Men’s GG-1000 MUDMASTER
An ultra-tough model capable of weathering even the worst conditions
The GG-1000 Mudmaster is a member of the ultra-tough Mudmaster line, and that’s a name that this G-Shock model bears proudly. This is a military watch through and through, and the big and bold Arabic numerals that adorn the important time markers are easy to read even in extreme environmental conditions. That’s only enhanced by Casio’s decision to include incredibly bright LED backlighting.
The rotating bezel is numerically marked to help with the process of interpreting the built-in compass. In a unique turn, this G-Shock model includes both digital and analog displays for your timekeeping. It also packs in a digital day and date window.
| Case Diameter | 56.2 mm |
| Battery | 2 years |
| Movement | Quartz/digital |
| Water Resistance | Up to 200 meters |
Pros
- Offers both digital and analog timekeeping
- Supports five daily alarms
- Alarms and stopwatch are easy to operate
- Highly resistant to muddy conditions
Cons
Casio G-Shock GA100-1A1 THE GA 100 MILITARY SERIES WATCH
A highly professional military-grade watch at a very civilian-friendly price
The GA100-1A1 is one of the most serious military watches on the market, but that doesn’t mean that this G-Shock watch isn’t appropriate for civilians, too. The black-on-black design of the case is seriously cool looking, and the bright white dials and digital display mean that reading the time is never difficult.
The three subdials are smartly displayed and give you access to your alarms, speed, and lap numbers for fitness tracking. It’s all laid out in a rather efficient manner, resulting in a G-Shock watch that’s highly professional and comes in at a tantalizing price tag of less than $100.
| Case Diameter | 37 mm |
| Battery | 10 years |
| Movement | Digital/Japanese quartz |
| Water Resistance | Up to 200 meters |
Pros
- Very cool all-black design
- Clean subdials great for athletes
- World time tracks 29 time zones
- Incorporates electroluminescent backlighting
Cons
Casio Men’s G-Shock GW6900
A more consumer-ready alternative to one of the military’s favorite watch models
The GW6900-1 is a simple but effective watch and some of the best value for the price you’ll find in the G-Shock series. It takes the fundamental design of the DW6900 (one of the most popular models among military personnel) and shrinks it down into something more modestly priced. The result is accurate timekeeping synced to the atomic clock as well as a build that’s durable even by G-Shock’s high standards.
The design itself is simple but effective, contrasting a simple black case and band with an easy-to-read digital face and two chronographs for more accurate timekeeping.
| Case Diameter | 50 mm |
| Battery | Solar powered |
| Movement | Digital |
| Water Resistance | Up to 200 meters |
Pros
- Solar-powered battery can last in perpetuity
- Syncs up to the atomic clock
- Accidental button pressing is reduced
- One of the most lightweight models available
Cons
Casio Men’s G9300-1 Mudman G-Shock
A cheaper entry to the Mudmaster series with a slew of unique features
If you’re interested in the functions of the Mudmaster but are looking for something a little more thrifty, the Mudman G-Shock watch fills that niche nicely. The G9300-1 fills in most of the important features of the venerable Mudmaster for less than $150. While it sacrifices the presence of an altimeter and barometer, leaving just the compass and thermometer behind, it has some very cool features all of its own.
Most prominent is the moon graph feature that can really assist you if you find yourself out in the wild regularly. It’s also a smaller G-Shock watch than most of the G-Shock Mudmaster models.
| Case Diameter | 53 mm |
| Battery | Solar powered |
| Movement | Digital |
| Water Resistance | Up to 200 meters |
Pros
- Solar-powered for perpetual timekeeping
- Includes a compass and thermometer
- Tracks lunar cycles with a moon graph
- Offers world time tracking for travelers
Cons
Casio Men’s GD100-1BCR G-Shock X-Large
Highly-functional all-digital display at an affordable price point
The G-Shock watch line has a tendency to produce some chunky models, but the X-Large is potentially the best choice if you like your watches to be big and bold and you’re not looking to spend too much. The black-on-black design is similar to the military watches from our earlier review, and it comes in at roughly the same price.
It makes use of an all-digital face that really helps this model get the best use of the display space available. That same display is brightly luminous for use underwater and in the dark, and there’s support for five different alarms at a single time.
| Case Diameter | 55 mm |
| Battery | 7 years |
| Movement | Digital |
| Water Resistance | Up to 200 meters |
Pros
- Auto calendar programmed to 2099
- Clean, stylish, and easy to read black design
- Multi-time function for four different cities
- Incredibly bright face display
Cons
Casio Men’s G7900-1 G-Shock Rescue Digital Sport
One of the best-looking G-Shock watches, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and military personnel alike
The G7900-1 is part of the Rescue line designed to meet the needs of first responders, but it’s notably tactical in design and suitable for everyone from military members to outdoor enthusiasts. You get not just one daily alarm but five as well as flash alerts, and you can activate the illuminated face with a simple twist of the wrist.
Those who like venturing into the great outdoors will appreciate the presence of the moon and tide phase displays. All of these features are tied together in a slick package that makes this easily one of the best-looking watches in the G-Shock line due to the nice contrast of black and red.
| Case Diameter | 50 mm |
| Battery | 3 years |
| Movement | Digital |
| Water Resistance | Up to 200 meters |
Pros
- Includes moon and tide phases
- Illumination activated by wrist
- Synced to atomic timekeeping
- World time supports 29 different time zones
Cons
Casio G-Shock Men’s GW9400 Rangeman
A serious design meets extensive features and remarkable ease of use
If you’re searching for G-Shock watches for men that can help you survive out in the wild, your best bet may be the GW9400 Rangeman. It combines the superb build of the G-Shock line with an altimeter, barometer, and compass, essentially turning this wristwatch into an all-in-one tool for hiking and mountain climbing.
The addition of a thermometer means that you’ll be prepared to contend with seasonal extremes far more capably. This black G-shock is a serious-looking watch, but it manages to pack in all that information without requiring you to navigate too many complex screens, and that’s a feat in its own right.
| Case Diameter | 55 mm |
| Battery | Solar powered |
| Movement | Digital |
| Water Resistance | to 200 meters |
Pros
- Comes with an altimeter, barometer, and compass
- Solar-powered battery ensures reliable performance
- Supports five concurrent daily alarms
- Utilizes Mb6 atomic timekeeping
Cons
Best G-Shock Watch Buyer’s Guide
The G-Shock range is one of the best and most revered lines in the world of watches. In this guide, we’ll help you identify why they’re so highly prized among both collectors and adventurers and how you can identify the best model of G-Shock watch for you. We’ll also address some of the best and most frequently asked questions people bring to us about the G-Shock watch.
The Unique Advantages of a G-Shock Watch
The G-Shock has been in production for over 35 years and has rapidly become regarded as one of the best watch lines in the world, worn by celebrities all across the globe as well as by military personnel. When it was first conceived, the idea behind that G-Shock was to create a watch that could last for 10 years or more.
In pursuing that goal, Casio set a few design principles in place. The first was the ten layers of protection that include a mineral glass cover for the face, a urethane rubber bumper, and a stainless steel case. The G-Shock watch was designed to survive a drop from over 10 meters and to be capable of being submerged in water at depths of at least 660 feet. Every G-Shock watch comes with its own unique design quirks, but all of them stick to these core principles.
Case Diameter
The 10 layers of protection that go into each G-Shock watch allows them to offer the best durability around, but it also results in one unique quirk: a universally chunky design. The original G-Shock watch had a case diameter of 55 millimeters, and bigger models like those in the Mudmaster series are even larger.
Due to the size, the G-Shock watch is often marketed as a men’s watch, but that doesn’t mean that these watches can’t be worn by women. More compact watch models like the GA100-1A1 shrink down the standard size considerably. You’ll probably want to pay more attention to the case size here than you would with a more traditional watch.
Movement
Almost every watch in the G-Shock series is either digital in design or includes both digital and traditional quartz components. This is an intentional philosophical decision. These are designed as outdoor watches first and foremost, and the digital functions make it easier to include a stopwatch and at least one daily alarm on every watch.
An auto-calendar is also common in G-Shock watch models. That focus on digital may be something that wristwatch purists will scoff at, but it’s hard to deny that lets the G-Shock do what it does best.
Battery Life
When it was first conceived, the intention of the G-Shock watch was to create the best survival watch on the market. That’s why they introduced the triple resistance principle: a water resistance of 10 bar, the ability to survive a fall from 10 meters, and a battery that would last up to 10 years. The latter is the only instance where Casio’s best intentions haven’t necessarily been fulfilled.
The battery life in most G-Shock watches can vary from about two years to over 10, a natural result of packing more and more battery-sapping features into the watches. If you want a watch that can conceivably last forever, you’ll want to look at a solar-powered G-Shock like the Rangeman or Mudman. Since they’re powered by the sun, there’s no shelf life on their usage.
Water Resistance
Every G-Shock watch in existence offers water resistance at depths of at least 660 feet. This makes them an appropriate choice for swimming and surfing, but they aren’t intended for scuba diving. The jury is out on what exact water resistance is needed for scuba diving. The International Standards Organization states a watch just needs to have a water resistance of 100 meters for diving, but many stipulate a rating of at least 300 meters is a necessity.
If you want the best G-Shock watch for scuba diving, you should look for a watch from the Frogman series, which unfortunately didn’t make it onto our review list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a G-Shock Watch Worth Buying?
We wouldn’t be offering a top-10 review guide if it wasn’t! Every G-Shock watch offers some of the sturdiest construction of any models around, and Casio does that while managing to keep their prices remarkably low. G-Shock offers some of the best value you’ll find for a watch anywhere.
What Kind of Watch Do Navy SEALs Wear?
Due to their best-in-class durability, the G-Shock range is the most popular watch line among Navy SEALs and other military bodies. While the watch most commonly distributed to Navy SEALs (and which appears most frequently in military recruiting) is the DW-6600, we’ve provided a review for a largely comparable model: the GW-6900.
What is the Speciality of G-Shock Watches?
Durability is both the trademark and the best quality of the G-Shock line. These watches tend to be the best in class if you’re looking for something that can take some serious hits and still stay with you for years. They’re resistant to gravitation shock, universally water-resistant to a depth of at least 660 feet, and protected by tough mineral crystal glass.
Most models also take measures to make sure that the characters and other information displayed are easy to read in any situation, and some even come with anti-magnetic properties that enforce their reputation as one of the best watch brands around.
What is the Toughest G-Shock Watch?
Every G-Shock watch is built to be incredibly tough, and they’re the best all-around brand in that regard. If you really want the best of the best, some of the watches on this list offer more significant protection than others. We particularly recommend the Mudman series, because it does the best job of protecting the watch buttons in extreme conditions.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the best G-Shock watch, none of the models on our list will disappoint. It’s just a matter of examining the specs and designs and figuring out which one you like best. If you’re looking for a Casio watch that doesn’t fall among the G-Shock line, we suggest checking out our general guide to the best Casio watches.
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