Casio’s new fully analog Pro Trek with a rotary bezel finally goes on sale in the US

Casio’s new Pro Trek PRJ-01AE-8 finally arrived in the US last week. At the time, the watch was listed as “coming soon,” on Casio US, and there was no word on when it would actually go on sale. That changes today, as the outdoor-focused watch is now available for purchase.

The Pro Trek PRJ-01AE-8 is now up for grabs directly from Casio’s US website for $230. The PRJ-01AE-8 is one of the more interesting additions to the Pro Trek lineup in recent times. Unlike other Pro Trek models, it’s fully analog, ditching the digital or analog-digital display setups that have long been a defining feature of Pro Trek. It also skips the Triple Sensor technology (consisting of altimeter, barometer, and compass sensors) found on other Pro Trek offerings.

Instead, the PRJ-01AE-8 keeps things deliberately simple with a three-hand layout, date display, and solar power. Its 39.1mm-wide, 11.6mm-thick case weighs just 32 grams, while the bio-based resin case, caseback, and band keep things light. It’s also rated for 100-meter water resistance.

There's no Triple Sensor tech or a dot-matrix inset display here, but the watch does have a few clever touches aimed at outdoor use. For one, you get a rotary bezel, which can lock the crown inside the case to prevent accidental adjustments. When you actually want to adjust the time and date, simply rotate the bezel 45 degrees—so that the blue accent on the bezel lines up with the 12 o'clock position—to expose the crown.

The watch also comes equipped with a fully phosphorescent dial that glows in low-light conditions and should come in quite handy on nighttime hikes.

Casio is also throwing in a carabiner attachment inside the box. When wearing the watch on your wrist isn’t practical, you can use the included attachment to clip the PRJ-01AE-8 to a backpack or other gear. It’s a small touch that fits the watch’s more casual, gear-focused approach to the Pro Trek formula.

The PRJ-01 series originally debuted in Japan with three models: the PRJ-01-1JF, PRJ-01AE-7JR, and PRJ-01AE-8JR. For now, though, the PRJ-01AE-8 is the only version making its way to US shoppers.

View Casio Pro Trek PRJ-B001B-2 Hiker Line on Amazon

Specifications

• Case size: 44.4 × 39.1 × 11.6mm
• Weight: 32g
• Case/bezel: Bio-based resin
• Band: Bio-based resin
• Crystal: Mineral glass
• Water resistance: 100 meters
• Movement: Solar-powered quartz
• Display: Analog, three hands
• Additional display: Date
• Dial: Fully phosphorescent
• Power reserve: Approximately 5 months on a full charge
• Accuracy: ±20 seconds per month
• Band size: 145–190mm
• Included accessory: Carabiner attachment
• Price: $230