Fratello’s Top 5 Watches Designed For The Outdoors — Featuring G-Shock, Alpina, Seiko, And More

Another Friday, another list! This week, we will explore the world of adventurer’s watches. It’s time to look at timepieces that are best suited to help you out in the great outdoors. “Best suited” can mean a variety of things. Some of the things that come to mind are functionality, comfort, and, of course, sturdiness. But you also want a watch to look good on the wrist, right? We selected five options that impressed us for different reasons. As always, this is just a small selection of the endless stream of possible options. Let’s find out what five watches we picked to wear on our adventures.

But before we jump into our list, I’ll quickly note that we understand that smartwatches play a big part in today’s outdoor adventures. We’ll conveniently ignore them for this list, even if they are often the preferred pick for many adventurers. That is not what today’s list is all about. On top of that, we picked watches that stand out for different reasons. We didn’t try to find the all-encompassing outdoor watch, although some would qualify for that perfectly. With that out of the way, let’s get into it.

Casio G-Shock Frogman MRG-BF1000 series

An easy first pick that everyone in the Fratello office almost immediately mentioned is the G-Shock Frogman. The brand has a plethora of options available in its extreme Master of G series, including the Mudman, Mudmaster, Rangeman, and Gravitymaster. While all of them are great, capable options, the Frogman is a collective favorite due to its design, functions, and significance in G-Shock history.

I reviewed three of the current Frogman models, and all of these watches impressed me. The first was the MRG-BF1000R-1A, which commemorated the Frogman’s 30th anniversary. The second was the MRG-BF1000E-1A9, a similar watch that celebrated G-Shock’s 40th anniversary in colorful style. Finally, I reviewed the MRG-BF1000B-1A, the first regular Frogman production model with a titanium bracelet.

Casio truly upped its game with the latest Frogman series (and the price along with it) by rethinking the entire concept. A new construction, materials, and design make for an impressive current series of Frogman watches. For those who don’t know, the Frogman is the ultimate G-Shock dive tool, and it boasts an impressive set of specs. The case consists of more than 70 individual parts, aiming to offer the best shock protection, diving practicality, and general functionality. At 49.7mm wide, 56mm long, and 18.6mm thick, the titanium case is huge, but that should not be your main concern while conquering the wild. As you will expect from titanium, the watch is fairly lightweight, and G-Shock designers always make sure to create a comfortable watch.

Functionality is key, but the execution takes it to the next level

As always with Frogman models, the latest generation also complies with the ISO 6425 standard and carries a 200m Diver’s rating. Additionally, these watches can measure a dive time of up to two hours and a surface interval time of up to 24 hours. The module can also record up to 30 log data records, including a tide graph. You can access all the different functions underwater as the buttons are fully usable when diving.

Module 5702, which powers the Frogman, offers the standard G-Shock functions — a stopwatch, countdown timer, alarm, automatic calendar, dual-time display, world timer, and LED backlight. Additionally, the watch comes equipped with Tough Solar charging, Multi Band 6 automatic radio time adjustment, and Bluetooth connectivity.

And that’s not where it ends, but I simply can’t put all the different details and functions in a short list like this. I suggest you read any of the reviews to get a full overview of the different characteristics and functions that make this an exceptional watch for the outdoors.

What I will add is that G-Shock made sure that the €5,800 price is not just based on functionality. The brand made sure to use premium materials and finish the Frogman meticulously. The result is a watch firmly rooted in its functional capabilities but that backs those up with a high-end execution that’s far superior to many luxury brands. This makes the Frogman MRG-BF1000 series the ultimate G-Shock pick for us at Fratello.

Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Night Mission

Our next pick could have been Breitling’s Emergency if only it weren’t out of production. But don’t worry; Breitling has another series of rugged chronographs that make great, stylish outdoor watches. The Avenger series is offered in different sizes and various executions. The ones that stand out to us are the 42mm black ceramic Night Mission versions.

The Avenger Night Mission models debuted late last year. Breitling introduced five versions — a 42mm chronograph in turquoise and sand colorways, plus a 46mm chronograph, a 42mm Automatic model, and a 44mm GMT version, all with black carbon dials. Our favorite of those five is, without a doubt, the 42mm chronograph in sand.

The watch combines a lightweight black ceramic case with a black carbon dial for a stealthy look. Gracing the dial is a full set of Arabic numerals filled with sand-colored lume, and the 30-minute counter also features sand-colored accents. They match the 22mm military leather strap with a titanium folding clasp to complete the look nicely. At 42mm wide, 15.15mm thick, and 51.21mm from lug to lug, the case is substantial, but those are humble dimensions by Breitling’s standards. Thanks to the lightweight ceramic case, the watch is a joy to wear. Some nice details are the satin-finished titanium crown and pushers. They are not just a practical choice, but they also give the watch a brilliant look.

The in-house B01 chronograph movement

Inside the case, you will find Breitling’s in-house B01 caliber. This COSC-certified chronograph movement operates at 28,800vph, has 45 jewels, and offers 70 hours of power reserve. It’s the perfect power train for this rugged Avenger.

This caliber offers the time and a 12-hour chronograph, which also displays and neatly integrates the date into the sub-dial at 6 o’clock. This Breitling Avenger Night Mission is a rugged chronograph that makes for a versatile outdoor watch. Thanks to its 300m depth rating and 60-minute scale on the bezel, you can also strap it on the wrist for a proper dive adventure.

The sturdy construction combined with the chronograph functionality also makes it great for any challenging situations on land. But let’s not forget that the Avenger series was conceived as a series of pilot’s watches, and it has the chops to pull that off as well. To top it off, the 42mm Night Mission chronograph looks great. At €9,400, it’s the most expensive pick on this list. But what you get in return is an impressive timepiece that is ready for any challenge you throw at it.

Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker

Next up is a more affordable option offering different functions for any adventures that involve conquering the skies. The Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker series is part of the brand Promaster Sky models. This specific range of models within the Promaster collection offers aviation-based functions that can also be useful with your feet firmly planted on the ground. Gerard reviewed the three latest Promaster Geo Trekker models not too long ago and was impressed by their combination of functionality and presence, especially considering that the watches are 46mm in diameter. I’ve worn the three models, which are imposing at first, but they make more sense once on the wrist.

The watches feature a 46mm case that is 11.52mm thick and measures 49.5mm from lug to lug. That last number makes the watches very wearable. The lugs are short and also graciously curve downwards to follow the shape of the wrist. Citizen currently offers three versions of the Promaster Geo Trekker — gray with white accents, black with yellow accents, and blue/green with white and red accents. Each comes on a stainless steel bracelet that nicely balances out the big watch on your wrist. Once it’s there, the busy dial and bezel can be slightly overwhelming. But look again, and you will see that the watch is fairly easy to navigate.

The Promaster Geo Trekker offers a lot of functions

The watch offers a host of functions. They include central ticking seconds, minutes, and hours, an AM/PM indicator, the day and date, a power reserve indicator, a UTC display, and a slide-rule bezel. Inside the case, Citizen equips these watches with its H864 Eco-Drive movement. The big advantage is that any light source can power them. Once you get the watch, set the time to your current time zone, and the watch will take care of the rest in terms of accuracy with its global radio-controlled timekeeping.

If you need to adjust the different timekeeping functions for some reason, the crown and pushers easily give you access to them. The one downside to the watch is that its multi-time functions only cover the Northern Hemisphere. While that is a practical disadvantage if you’re traveling all over the globe, the reality is that it offers a lot of great functionality in the Northern Hemisphere, covering the majority of the land mass on our planet.

At €595, you get a lot of watch for the money. We are used to that from Citizen, but it never stops being impressive. It makes the Promaster Geo Trekker a great third pick for this list of watches for the outdoors.

Alpina Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic GMT

Our next pick is a sports watch that’s built like a tank to withstand everything you throw at it. Alpina impresses us every time with its Seastrong and Alpiner series. If you have never tried one of Alpina’s tool watches, I highly suggest you do so. They are impressively sturdy and very well made. One of the models that stood out to us is the Alpina Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic GMT.

It’s part dive watch, part GMT. To be fair, it’s more of a GMT than a dive watch because the brand decided to swap the dive bezel for a 24-hour GMT bezel. Since the Seastrong series is the brand’s line of dive watches, swapping the GMT bezel for a 60-minute dive bezel and adding a 24-hour scale to the dial would make this a proper diving GMT.

A modern sports GMT with diving roots

Having said that, this is a versatile modern sports GMT derived from a dive watch. What is great about it is that it features a 300m-water-resistant cushion-shaped case with a 39mm diameter, 46mm lug-to-lug, and 12mm thickness. This makes the watch very wearable despite its square-ish shape. It also comes with an integrated rubber bracelet that tapers down to a nice 15.75mm at the clasp and is super comfortable while still balancing out the watch nicely on the wrist. Inside the case, you will find the brand’s caliber AL-560, which is based on the Sellita SW330-2 GMT movement and offers 50 hours of power reserve.

In addition to its functionality and comfortable dimensions, the Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic GMT simply looks cool with its black ceramic bezel insert with raised numerals. You can choose between a black or a champagne-colored dial, but we love the latter as it looks the most stylish. For €2,495, the Alpina Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic GMT is a sturdy and great-looking companion that you won’t have to worry about, regardless of the outdoor adventures you use it for.

Seiko Alpinist GMT SPB377 and SPB379

Our last pick is a duo of watches. The Alpinist series is popular among Seiko fans. We also love the Alpinist for multiple reasons. It’s a series with a history that dates back to the 1950s and represents exploring, traveling, and adventure. The brand has introduced several Alpinist models over time, with the most recent being two Alpinist GMT models unveiled in 2023.

I had a chance to take the two watches for a spin and loved them. They combine the classic Alpinist looks and internal compass bezel with a GMT function. Compared to the regular Alpinist, the designers had to integrate the GMT function and ensure that the compass scale was still easy to read.

They did a great job of maintaining the vintage charm while adding to the watch’s capabilities. The Alpinist GMT models have a 200m-water-resistant stainless steel case with a 39.5mm diameter, 13.6mm thickness, and 46.4mm lug-to-lug.

The case is combined with either a blue dial and a blue leather strap (SPB377) or a black dial and black leather strap (SPB379). The 24-hour GMT scale is integrated into the fixed stainless steel bezel, and the compass scale is located on the rehaut, which can be rotated by operating the crown at 4 o’clock. The neat integration of the two functions makes the watch easy to navigate.

The perfect combination of vintage charm and functionality

Inside the case, Seiko uses its caliber 6R54. This in-house automatic GMT movement operates at 21,600vph and delivers 72 hours of power reserve. The 6R54 allows you to set the 24-hour GMT hand independently, making it an office GMT rather than the more in-demand traveler’s GMT. But don’t let that spoil the fun if you are looking for an adventurer’s watch with plenty of charm and a fairly uncommon compass function.

Essentially, those two distinct characteristics make the Alpinist the much-appreciated series that it is today. The addition of a GMT function makes sense, and the way the Seiko designers have integrated it is respectful of the original design. At €1,200, the Alpinist GMT is a tempting offer if you are looking for a great adventurer’s watch, making it the perfect last entry for our list.

Final thoughts on our top five watches designed for the outdoors

There you have it — a list of five watches that are perfect, capable timepieces for various adventures. However, as I already mentioned, plenty of great options could be on this list. That’s why I want to turn the question over to you. What are your favorite currently available watches that you would take on your adventures in the great outdoors? Let us know in the comments section, and we will see you next week for another list!