The Pathfinder PAG-80 looks like something Angelina Jolie would wear along with some short-shorts, a tank-top, and a rocket launcher. Essentially it’s a watch that looks like you can use it to start a nuclear war but is surprisingly elegant and easy to use.
The PAG-80 has three major features – a compass, an altimeter, and a barometer. These are relatively standard features on wrist computers and while the technology behind these features haven’t improved much over the years, they’re extremely useful in a pinch and quite fun to show off. It is also solar powered, ensuring you’ll never have to swap out a battery.
The real draw to this $250 beefster is the styling. While it won’t win any beauty contests, the Casio’s sport line looks great with board shorts. It also includes a world time feature and a great backlight for night visibility.
Could you use this watch in the wilderness? Sure. The compass feature is excellent. When activated, a cross appears on the crystal, pointing you north. The readout also displays your heading and bearing and also displays the current time. The compass display freezes after a few seconds. The functions are controlled by three buttons on the right side and you return to the main time screen with the grey button at 108 o’clock.
The barometer is a relatively accurate way to measure the weather and it also includes a temperature sensor which, obviously, requires you to take off the watch to sense anything other than your body heat. Finally, you have an altimeter, a feature which is always fun to show off at parties and, if not correctly calibrated, completely useless.
There is also a data recording function for keeping track of changes in altitude and weather along with a chronometer and countdown timer with a repeat function.
Overall the PAG-80 is a cool, affordable wrist computer for the adventure traveller. While you won’t want to wear it with a tux and tails, strapping it on in Marrakech or on your way up Mount Hood will keep you on time and headed in the right direction.
Product Page [Casio]
Quality: 4/5
Style: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
List Price: $247
