Adam Scepaniak 10.07.24
When it comes to hand-selecting the gear we want to deploy in the field for all of our adventurous exploits from hunting to trapping, and spending time with our family, something that often gets overlooked and is not considered a “gear item” is our timepiece. This is unfortunate because a quality watch can do so much more than just tell time. It can give us moon phases, sunset/sunrise, barometric pressure readouts, and a bevy of stats that can be valuable while hunting or in the great outdoors. I have fallen into the aforementioned category of not taking my timepiece serious, but now I realize how foolhardy that is. So, I reached out to G-Shock – one of my personally favorite companies for affordable, quality watches – and requested to test out the G-Shock Mudman watch (GW9500-1). So, today we will see if the G-Shock Mudman watch can stand up to the rigors of my odd, adventurous daily life. Let’s dive in!
Watch Coverage on AllOutdoor
Specifications: G-Shock Mudman GW9500-1 Watch
The G-Shock Mudman watch (GW9500-1) is dubbed a “Black & Red Masterpiece for Extreme Adventures” in G-Shock’s own words and has an MSRP of $380. It looks like an adventurer’s watch from the exterior, but what is distilled inside the G-Shock Mudman? All of the basic specs you can come to expect from the Mudman can be read below as presented by G-Shock:
- Case Size (L× W× H): 56.7mm × 52.7mm × 14.8mm
- Weight: 81 g
- Case and Bezel Material: Bio-Based Resin
- Band: Bio-Based Resin Band
- Construction: Shock Resistant, Mud Resistant, Carbon Core Guard Structure
- Water Resistance: 200-Meter Water Resistance
- Time Adjustment: Radio-Controlled Watch; Multi Band 6
- Power Supply and Battery Life: Tough Solar (Solar powered)
Features: G-Shock Mudman GW9500-1 Watch
Now, let’s deep-dive into the features of this watch that make it so desirable – and depending on what you might be looking for in a rugged, new timepiece – this could be right up your alley. Gone are the days of your watch simply telling you the time. We now have at our disposal veritable micro-computers that can do so much more for us.
- World Time
- 31 Time Zones (48 Cities + Coordinated Universal Time)
- Daylight Saving On/Off
- Sunrise/Sunset Display
- Sunrise, Sunset Time Display
- Sunrise Time and Sunset Time for Specific Date
- Stopwatch
- 1/10-Second Stopwatch
- Measuring Capacity: 999:59’59.9”
- Measuring Modes: Elapsed Time, Split Time, 1st-2nd Place Times
- Timer
- Countdown Timer
- Measuring Unit: 1 Second
- Countdown Start Time Setting Range: 24 Hours
- Countdown Start Time Setting Range: 1 Minute to 24 Hours (1-Minute Increments and 1-Hour Increments)
The world time function can be useful if you are traveling for a hunt and don’t want to re-program your whole watch for a short period of time. I have found the sunrise/sunset feature to be wildly helpful when hunting so you are always legally hunting during shooting hours according to your local game and fish department. Other properties like the stopwatch and timer are also useful if you happen to be working out, or waiting for you morning coffee to percolate.
- Alarm/Hourly Time Signal
- 5 Daily Alarms (with 1 Snooze Alarm)
- Hourly Time Signal
- Light
- LED Backlight (Super Illuminator)
- Full Auto LED Light
- Selectable Illumination Duration (1.5 Seconds or 3 Seconds)
- Afterglow
- Light Color
- Calendar
- Full Auto-Calendar (to Year 2099)
- Mute Feature
- Button Operation Tone On/Off
Additional simple features like an LED backlight and afterglow to see the bezel and its readouts in the dark or low light situations is incredibly valuable as well because having this lil’ micro-computer is all for not if you can’t read it when you need it.
- Energy Saving Feature
- Power Saving (Turns Off the Display when the Watch is Left in the Dark)
- Battery Display/Alert
- Run Time
- Approximate Battery Operating Time:
- 6 Months on Rechargeable Battery (Operation Period with Normal Use without Exposure to Light after Full Charge)
- 26 Months on Rechargeable Battery (Operation Period when stored in Total Darkness with the Power Save Function on after Full Charge)
- Approximate Battery Operating Time:
- Accuracy
- Accuracy: ±15 Seconds per Month (with No Signal Calibration)
A Word from G-Shock on the Mudman GW9500-1 Watch
I keep referring to the G-Shock Mudman as a micro-computer which it truly is. Maybe you will only utilize half a dozen features in this watch, but it touts dozens if you should ever need them. G-Shock expands on what makes the Mudman such an extraordinary timepiece via their press release statement below:
Delve into a realm of precision and durability with the G-SHOCK GW9500-1, a striking black watch accented with bold red details. It’s not just a watch; it’s a statement for those who dare to venture into the uncharted.
Master of G: Designed for the Challenge
Belonging to the revered G-SHOCK Master of G series, the GW9500-1 is crafted for professionals braving the harshest environments. Its distinguishing feature? A triple-sensor capability paired with a robust mud-resist construction.
What’s the Upsell to the G-Shock Mudman GW9500-1 Watch?
So, in a world where there are endless options for watches, what is the upsell for the G-Shock Mudman? What is the 30-second elevator pitch as to why you may want to bag one of these for yourself?… In short, it is hella durable and has more technology than you may even use, and that is the beauty of it.
- Shock Resistant
- 20 Bar Water Resistant
- Solar Powered
- Mud Resistant
- Easy-to-See in the Dark
Field Use: G-Shock Mudman GW9500-1 Watch
I have been using the G-Sh0ck Mudman watch for several months now, and it has served me well in all of my outdoor and hunting activities. One outing that it was extremely helpful for was hunting for black bear in Minnesota. Where I hunt is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota that is incredibly remote and out of cell phone reception. So, being able to know when sunrise/sunset is for legal hunting hours, the temperature outside, barometric pressure, and even a compass so I could keep my bearings straight.
Most of the time while hunting I had no cell phone reception. So, it was incredibly helpful to know the time, and even be able to set an alarm while I was sleeping in my truck.
I also deployed the Mudman watch while doing nuisance beaver trapping for a family in central Minnesota. This entailed a lot of work in chest waders, standing in knee or waist deep water that was brackish, and getting my hands dirty. I needed the watch to make sure I wasn’t late for other engagements on a given day, knowing the temperature, and once again, sunrise/sunset times.
I often plunged my hands into stagnant, dirty water that was 40 degrees Fahrenheit. My hands would be numb to my bones, but the watch still kept on ticking. Additionally, it was easy to clean the bezel and band off simply by running more water over the watch and shaking it off. It was truly a watch that could go with me anywhere while doing anything.
Over the course of these last 4 months of reviewing this watch, I fail to find a negative about it. This watch is durable, feature-rich, and reliable. These are all of the tenants that I want in an everyday use, hard-use watch. If I had to force myself to find negatives about it, the only thing that comes to mind is that this “micro-computer” can be a bit confusing because it offers so much. So, reading manual may be a necessity from time-to-time. Other than that, this watch flatly performs as advertised.
Departing Thoughts: G-Shock Mudman GW9500-1 Watch
So, what are my final thoughts on the G-Shock Mudman GW9500-1 watch after several months of use?… I believe this watch is worth the $380 asking price if you are someone who will use it in the mud and the muck and all of the other peculiar adventures you might have in your life like I do. It served me well from the sunrise/sunset settings to the temperature readout and lots more.
In closing, I want to say thank you to G-Shock for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their G-Shock Mudman GW9500-1 watch in a Black/Red colorway. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the G-Shock Mudman GW9500-1 watch in a Black/Red colorway is something worth spending your money on? Would you take one with you hunting? Carry it for work? Potentially deploy it for EDC (everyday carry)? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about G-Shock and the Mudman GW9500-1 watch in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
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