A Deep Dive Into the History and Allure of Casio's PRO TREK, Celebrating Its 30th Anniversary

Since its 1995 debut, Casio's Casio "PRO TREK" has been on a journey of unique evolution as premier outdoor gear. Fueled by relentless technological innovation, it has consistently expanded its horizons into diverse fields.

To find out how this product, now celebrating its 30th anniversary, came to be, the evolution it has undergone, and what incredible features are packed into the latest model, we sat down with Kazuyasu Kojima. Kojima is the Chief Planner in the First Planning Office of the Product Planning Department at Casio Computer Co., Ltd.'s Timepiece Business Unit, and he has been involved in the product's design since the brand’s inception.

Joining the Project to Forge a New Brand After "G-SHOCK"

"PRO TREK" was launched in 1995, born from a mission to create a new watch brand with built-in sensors, specifically designed for outdoor adventures. Kojima, who was part of the "NEXT ONE" project—a venture to launch a new brand following the success of "G-SHOCK"—recalls what it was like back then.

"Before that, our products were created with very specific, limited functions, like a watch that could measure temperature or a watch you could play games on. The 'NEXT ONE' project was kicked off with the goal of creating a watch that, like 'G-SHOCK,' would become a beloved brand for years to come."

"At the time, I was a rookie product designer, brand new to the company. But I was invited to join the brainstorming meetings for the launch of what would eventually become the 'PRO TREK' brand. Listening to everyone's passionate ideas, I started sketching the brand logo and product designs. And just like that, 'PRO TREK' was born."

When "PRO TREK" first launched, its compass function—the ability to measure direction on a digital watch—was groundbreaking. No other digital watch on the market had anything like it, making for a sensational debut.

But that was far from the final product, and the road to improvement was paved with challenges. Kojima continues.

"Back then, our biggest challenge was figuring out how to integrate the magnetic sensor. A watch is powered by a button battery, but the magnetic sensor is highly susceptible to interference from it. If the sensor and battery were too close, accurate measurements were impossible. That's precisely why the first model, the DPX-500, debuted with a unique design that positioned the bearing sensor on the 9 o'clock side."

While the "PRO TREK" boasted groundbreaking features, it left a major challenge on the table from a product design perspective.

The PRO TREK Journey: A History of the "Triple Sensor's" Evolution

If there's one feature synonymous with "PRO TREK," it's the "Triple Sensor." Kojima explained it to us.

"The 'Triple Sensor' has been a feature since the very first model, the DPX-500. It gets its name from its ability to measure the three main functions: 'altitude, direction, and barometric pressure.' The latest version is now the 'Triple Sensor Ver. 3,' but the evolutionary path to get here involved some major technological breakthroughs."

This is also closely tied to the technological development in Casio's watch business. Kojima continues.

"As I mentioned, the ‘Triple Sensor Ver. 1’ ran on a button battery, but its power consumption was too high to be solar-powered. That's why with ‘Triple Sensor Ver. 2,’ we achieved solar-powered sensor measurement by incorporating Casio's proprietary Tough Solar charging system. This made the watch even better suited for outdoor use in the sun.

Furthermore, the latest ‘Triple Sensor Ver. 3’ features a newly developed compact magnetic sensor and a pressure sensor with improved measurement accuracy, achieving a 95% reduction in size. By combining this new sensor with Casio's proprietary LSI technology, which has enhanced processing power, we've dramatically boosted the capabilities of the ‘Triple Sensor.’ While ‘Ver. 1’ and ‘Ver. 2’ measured altitude in 5-meter increments, ‘Ver. 3’ can now measure in 1-meter increments at one-second intervals."

Of course, the benefits of the “Triple Sensor Ver. 3” extend far beyond just improved sensing functions. They've also led to a thinner, lighter body, enhanced design, and greater multifunctionality.

This evolution wasn't achieved by Casio alone. Kojima explains that it was only possible thanks to feedback from professional mountaineers.

"We received tough but invaluable feedback from professional mountaineers like Hirotaka Takeuchi and Yasuhiro Hanatani. In extreme environments, a non-working feature can be a matter of life and death. I believe Protrek has evolved to this point thanks to that kind of candid feedback."

Looking to the Future to Cherish Nature

Protrek has always followed the concept of “Feel nature, enjoy nature, love nature.” In recent years, the brand has launched a new initiative to further this commitment: products made with biomass plastic resin. Kojima elaborates on this as well.

"At the brand's launch, all the members involved with Protrek, from developers to designers, gathered for a brainstorming session at a community center near the Hamura R&D Center. The ideas and words from that meeting over 30 years ago are now coming to fruition. Specifically, the idea of being ‘gentle to the Earth and mindful of the environment.’

Around 2015, environmental awareness in the watch industry began to shift. A new momentum grew around the need to move away from our dependence on petroleum-based plastics. We had been considering such a move, but the reality was that it was very difficult for a single brand within a single Japanese company to develop biomass materials on its own.

"However, as environmental awareness grew across the entire industry, we were approached by material manufacturers, and the development of biomass plastics moved forward. Our latest models use plant-derived biomass plastic resin for the case and band, allowing us to create lightweight models that are also gentle on the planet."

Of course, it wasn't as simple as pouring the new biomass plastic resin into the existing molds. The development process required redesigning the molds themselves, a challenge they met by making the decisive choice to steer the Protrek brand toward environmentally-friendly products.

Finally, when asked about future plans, Kojima replied:

"Naturally, we want to continue pursuing new technological developments. I believe there's a strong possibility we'll see products that incorporate the latest technologies of the era. But now, we've also added the concept of reducing our environmental impact. It would be fascinating if we could innovate along two parallel tracks: one with our biomass plastic models and another with new tech."

Having been involved with the brand since its inception, Kojima reflects on Protrek's past, examines its present, and contemplates its future. It is this spirit of inquiry that leads us to anticipate that Protrek will continue to evolve, showing us what new horizons are possible.