A new signature timepiece from Casio blends surf heritage with advanced fitness tracking, marking the fourth collaboration between the Japanese watchmaker and professional surfer Kanoa Igarashi. The GBX-H5600KI-5 is the latest model to carry the Olympic silver medalist’s name, and it introduces a more comprehensive set of health-monitoring tools than any of his previous G-Shock editions.
A Fusion of Two G-Shock Lineages
Igarashi’s earlier collaborations—the GLX-5600KI-7, GBX-100KI-1, and GLX-5600KB-1—were firmly rooted in the G-Lide series, designed specifically for surf conditions. The new release shifts direction by merging G-Lide DNA with the fitness-oriented G-Squad family. The result is a watch that retains essential surf features like tide graphs and moon phase data, while incorporating a heart rate monitor, blood oxygen level measurement, sleep tracking, and training analysis powered by Polar.
Portuguese Cliffs and Pre-Dawn Light
The design draws directly from Ericeira, the Portuguese surf town where Igarashi regularly trains. A dark brown marbled resin case evokes the texture of the area’s rocky cliffs, while purple accent text references the so-called “magic hour”—a fleeting period before sunrise when the sky casts a violet tint across the ocean. A carbon-reinforced case back reduces weight by 18 grams compared to the previous generation, a modest but meaningful difference during long paddling sessions.
Personal identifiers are subtly integrated throughout the watch. Igarashi’s signature appears below the display, and his World Surf League competition bib number, 50, is printed on the lower band. The figure echoes the Japanese meaning of his surname, which roughly translates to “a storm that strikes once in 50 years.” The watch ships in ocean-themed packaging designed specifically for this release.
Pricing and Market Availability
Outside Japan, the expected retail price is approximately $310, based on the Japanese listing of 50,600 JPY. An official release date has not yet been confirmed beyond a July launch window. This pricing positions the GBX-H5600KI-5 competitively within the growing segment of hybrid surf-fitness wearables, an area where rivals have only recently begun offering dedicated surf tracking alongside health sensors.
Source: www.casio.com