G-Shock Finally Adds a Crucial Feature to Its Ocean Adventure Watch

After six years, the G-Lide GBX platform has turned into a legitimate fitness companion.

Transparent Casio digital watch with blue strap and heart rate display on screen.

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By Ethan Brehm

Published 3 hours ago

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Believe it or not, G-Shock’s G-Lide series predates the smartphone by around a decade.

Early versions of the surf-focused line were little more than glorified 6900 models with features like regatta timers and lap splitting. But now, the smart-ish watch can give you a slew of aquatic and fitness features like tide graphs, moon phases and step tracking.

In 2020, the watchmaker combined a highly-readable MIP display with Bluetooth connectivity as part of its GBX rollout. You can now connect the G-Lide to your phone to store info and improve the accuracy of some of its readouts.

Blue Casio G-Shock digital watch with a transparent bezel worn on a wrist. — G-Shock’s G-Lide GBX platform has been around for six years. However, its latest iteration is the first with heart rate monitoring.

However, with its latest rollout, G-Shock has evolved the GBX even further with a new feature it’s never had before. Now it’s a legitimate fitness companion.

Heart of the matter

Using the iconic 5600 as its design canvas, the new GBX-H5600 is the first G-Lide model with a heart rate monitor. It’s paired with one of four modes (running, walking, gym workout or interval timer) to give you readouts on your body’s condition while you’re in motion.

Transparent Casio G-Shock G-Lide watch with blue strap showing front digital display and back with heart rate sensor lights on. — The new sensor also opens up the ability for sleep tracking and analysis.

Three smartphones displaying a map of Honolulu, a fitness life log with steps and energy data, and a G-SHOCK GBX-H5600 watch app interface. — Polar’s training library uses the data to give you a host of personalized analysis and insight.

G-Shock retains the same 3-axis acceleration architecture of previous GBX models, which are useful for tracking your steps and total distance. The GPS connectivity via your smartphone only enhances precision. Backed by Polar’s training algorithms, the watch translates this heart rate and movement data into personalized insights and analysis.

With the new heart rate feature, the G-Lide can also now track your sleep. And using Polar’s Nightly Recharge, this info also measures how well your body recovers from training and daily stress while you sleep.

Digital Casio G-Shock watch with transparent case and blue G-Lide strap showing time and heart rate data. — Along with the new tech, the G-Lide now gets a retro-style see-through bezel.

Clear winner

The GBX-H5600 also goes retro while enhancing its usability. Debuting in two resin strap options — black and blue — the watch also sports a see-through bezel that showcases the black carbon fiber-reinforced resin case underneath.

Digital Casio G-Shock watch with a black strap and transparent protective case showing time, date, tide graph, and heart rate. — Two color resin bands are available, including blue and black (shown).

Transparent gray digital watch case with "Shock Resist" label and blue strap ends visible. — The mode button on the side is distinguished with black coating.

Measuring 44.5mm across, this timepiece still boasts the same shock resistance and 200m of water resistance as before. You also get signature features like world time, stopwatch, alarms and Super Illuminator backlight. Battery life sits at 35 hours when using the activity functions, but solar charging for basic watch functions will kick in when the battery is low.

Person with dreadlocks wearing a blue and white patterned shirt and a digital watch, standing by the sea. — The ocean adventure watch has never been closer to a fitness companion as it is now.

Availability and pricing

Priced at $330, the G-Lide GBX-H5600 is available right now from G-Shock’s website.

Blue G-Shock G-Lide digital watch with transparent case and black display showing time, date, and tide graph.

G-Shock G-Lide GBX-H5600

$330 at G-Shock

About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.

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