Casio G-Shock DW-5600 vs. Timex Expedition Scout: which $30–$100 watch survives daily abuse

One is a resin-cased shock magnet rated to 200 meters, sold since 1983. The other is a lighter analog watch with Timex's backlight at less than half the price. We compared specs and water-resistance ratings to pick the winner.

By the BYB Editorial Team

Published September 14, 2026

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The short version

Buy the Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1V for one watch that survives a job site or a hike. Its resin case and shock-resistant module are built for that, and its 200-meter water-resistance rating gives more margin for a swim or downpour. Buy the Timex Expedition Scout 40mm instead if price matters more: it costs less than half as much and adds Timex’s Indiglo backlight.

The deciding factor is that 200-meter rating, backed by a public standard, which is why the G-Shock survives a swim or downpour the Timex can’t. Buy the Timex instead when price matters most: it costs about half as much and still adds a real upgrade in the Indiglo backlight. The G-Shock runs $50 to $100 against the Timex’s $30 to $45. The honest tradeoff: the G-Shock’s resin case and small display read cheaper than its price.

Best for shock resistance

G-Shock DW-5600

200m water resistant with a shock-resistant resin case and mineral crystal.

Get it if you want one watch that survives a job site, hiking trips, or repeated bumps without babying it.

Water resistance200m (ISO 22810 static test)
Price range~$50–100

Check price

Best value

Expedition Scout 40mm

50m water resistant with an Indiglo backlight and a mineral-crystal face, at less than half the price.

Get it if price matters more than impact resistance and you want an analog watch with a backlight for under $50.

Water resistance50m (light swimming only)
Price range~$30–45

Check price

How we chose: We compared published manufacturer specifications, water-resistance ratings against the ISO 22810 standard for everyday water-resistant watches, case and crystal materials, battery type, and included features like backlighting. We haven’t used either watch ourselves. Where a spec came from a manufacturer’s own product page rather than an independent standard, we say so. Updated July 2026. Prices are always moving, so every button and link pulls the live listing.

How we rankPublished specifications, verified owner reviews, and independent safety or standards data where it applies — weighted the same for every pick, never sponsored placement.

how we verify corrections logged publicly

Casio G-Shock DW-5600 vs Timex Expedition Scout at a glance

Swipe the table sideways for the rest of the columns →

Comparison of the picks in this guide
Product	Best for	Standout spec	Price range
G-Shock DW-5600Jump to G-Shock DW-5600 in this guide Check price	Daily abuse and job sites	200m water resistance, shock-resistant case	~$50–100
Expedition Scout 40mmJump to Expedition Scout 40mm in this guide Check price	Everyday wear on a budget	Indiglo backlight, mineral crystal	~$30–45

Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1V

Best for shock resistance

The square that started G-Shock and still takes the same abuse

~$50–100

Check price

The Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1V is the same square case Casio built for the original G-Shock in 1983: a shock-resistant module suspended inside a resin case so an impact doesn’t reach the movement directly. The case and band are resin, the crystal is mineral glass, and Casio rates it to 200 meters under the ISO 22810 standard, a static test that doesn’t simulate a dive, which is why it isn’t marketed as a dive watch.

Digital features are basic but complete: a 1/100-second stopwatch, a 24-hour countdown timer, an alarm, and an auto-calendar accurate to about 15 seconds a month. The backlight lights the whole face at once, and it runs on one CR2016 battery rated at roughly two years. At about 42.8mm and built almost entirely from resin, it stays light on the wrist for something built to take an impact.

Where it loses ground is polish: the resin band and case look like a $50 watch, the display is small, and there’s no analog hand option. It’s also the pricier of these two once markups are counted. What you get for that gap is a shock-resistant design refined since 1983 and a 200-meter rating backed by a public standard. At $50–100, it’s the pick for forgetting you’re wearing it at work.

Strengths

200m water resistance backed by a public ISO 22810 test standard, not just a marketing number
Resin case and shock-resistant module built around surviving drops and impacts
Battery rated for roughly two years, in a size any jeweler can swap
Electro-luminescent backlight lights the whole face at once, not just one point

Tradeoffs

Resin case and small digital display look and cost more like a tool watch than a dress watch
No analog hand option if you want a traditional look on one watch
Higher price than the Expedition Scout for the added durability
Digital-only display is smaller and busier to read at a glance than an analog face

Verdict

Get it if: you want one watch that survives a job site, hiking trips, or repeated bumps without babying it.Skip it if: you want an analog face, a dressier look, or don’t need the extra water resistance and shock protection.

Price position in this guide~$50–100Mid-range

$30 · least expensive$100 · most expensive

Timex Expedition Scout 40mm

Best value

The budget analog pick with Timex’s signature backlight

~$30–45

Check price

The Timex Expedition Scout 40mm is a simple three-hand analog quartz watch built around Timex’s Indiglo backlight, the same electroluminescent panel Timex has used since the late 1980s: press a button and the whole dial lights an even blue-green. The 40mm case is brass with a light-alloy base, the crystal is mineral glass rather than the acrylic lens older Timex watches used, and Timex rates it to 50 meters of water resistance.

Timex’s own guidance is specific: fine for handwashing, light rain and light swimming, but not for snorkeling or poolside diving, and buttons shouldn’t be pressed while wet. The quartz movement runs on a single CR2016 battery, the dial adds a quick-set date window and a 12/24-hour display, and it ships on a fabric-and-leather or all-leather strap at a 20mm lug width fitting most replacement straps.

Where it gives ground to the G-Shock: mineral crystal scratches more easily than sapphire, and the lower water-resistance number means it should stay off the wrist past a splash or shallow swim. For daily wear that doesn’t involve a job site or hard knocks, the tradeoffs land in the Scout’s favor. At $30–45, it’s the pick for someone who wants a normal analog watch at a normal price, with Indiglo thrown in.

Strengths

Costs less than half of the G-Shock at the high end of its price range
Indiglo backlight lights the whole dial evenly at the push of a button
Mineral-crystal face resists scratches better than the acrylic often assumed for this style of watch
Standard 20mm lug width fits most replacement straps if the stock one wears out

Tradeoffs

50m water resistance covers light swimming only, not snorkeling, diving, or repeated water exposure per Timex’s own guidance
Not built around shock or impact resistance the way the G-Shock’s resin case is
Mineral crystal still scratches more easily than the sapphire crystal on pricier watches

Verdict

Get it if: price matters more than impact resistance and you want an analog watch with a backlight for under $50.Skip it if: you need real shock resistance, plan to swim laps or dive, or want the highest water-resistance rating available at this price.

Price position in this guide~$30–45Budget

$30 · least expensive$100 · most expensive

Casio G-Shock vs. Timex Expedition FAQs

What does a 200-meter or 50-meter water-resistance rating mean on a watch?

Both numbers come from a static-pressure test under ISO 22810, the standard for everyday water-resistant watches: the watch sits still in a pressure tank holding the equivalent pressure of that depth for a set period. It doesn’t reproduce a dive, a wave, or a fast swimming stroke, all of which spike the real pressure past the rated number. A 200m rating gives more of a safety margin above ordinary use than a 50m rating does, but neither turns the watch into a dive watch.

Can I swim or shower with either of these watches?

The G-Shock DW-5600E-1V’s 200-meter rating comfortably covers showers, handwashing, and swimming. The Expedition Scout’s 50-meter rating is lower: Timex’s own guidance says it’s fine for handwashing and light swimming, but not for snorkeling or diving at the pool, and buttons shouldn’t be pressed while the watch is wet. If you shower or swim daily and want the bigger margin, the G-Shock is the safer pick of the two.

Which watch holds up better to physical work or sports?

The G-Shock DW-5600E-1V is built around exactly that: a shock-resistant module suspended inside a resin case, a design Casio has refined since the original 1983 G-Shock. The Expedition Scout wasn’t built around impact resistance in the same way — its mineral crystal and brass case handle everyday knocks fine, but it isn’t marketed or built as an impact-resistant tool watch.

How long do the batteries last, and can I replace them myself?

Both watches run on a single CR2016 battery. Casio rates the G-Shock’s battery at roughly two years per charge; the Expedition Scout’s quartz movement runs on a similar cycle. Either battery is a standard size any jeweler, watch-parts shop, or comfortable DIYer with a case-back tool can swap, so neither locks you into a brand-specific replacement or a mail-in service.

Is the Timex Expedition Scout’s crystal acrylic or mineral glass?

Current Expedition Scout models use mineral crystal, not the acrylic lens older Timex field watches were known for. Mineral crystal resists scratches better than acrylic, though it isn’t as scratch-resistant as the sapphire crystal found on pricier watches, and unlike acrylic it can’t be buffed to remove light scratches. For a watch in this price range, reviewers generally have no complaint with the tradeoff.

Which one should I buy if price is the deciding factor?

The Timex Expedition Scout 40mm costs less than half of what the G-Shock DW-5600E-1V runs at the top of its price range, and it still adds Timex’s Indiglo backlight and a mineral-crystal face most watches this cheap skip. Buy it if price is the deciding factor. Buy the G-Shock instead if the extra water resistance and shock protection are worth the higher price to you.