G-Shock revamped its mid-tier Mudmaster with a metal bezel and some letters appended to its model number. It’s the GGB100XM, where the “M” stands for metal. What does the “X” stand for? Nobody knows!
If you want to do some G-Shock algebra and solve for X, buy the G-Shock GGB100XM by clicking here on this affiliate link.
Video Summary
I filmed the video above as we were packing the van to head to Caprock Canyons for camping and hiking. Stay tuned the field test video. In the meantime watch the unboxing video above, or read the summary below generated by Google’s Gemini AI:
G-Shock Mudmaster GGB100XM Unboxing: Is Metal Better Than Carbon Fiber for Hard-Use Gear?
The G-Shock Mudmaster line has long been a staple for blue-collar professionals, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who demands absolute durability from their wristwear. In this chaotic garage unboxing, Jim Kinkade gets his hands on the G-Shock Mudmaster GGB100XM—a unique iteration of the popular GGB100 series that trades the standard carbon fiber bezel for a rugged, steel-colored metal alternative.
With the family packing up the van for a hiking and camping trip to Caprock Canyons State Park, Jim delivers a raw, unfiltered first impression of this massive watch, comparing it to other heavy hitters in his collection like the Mudman GW9500, the “King” Gxw56b, and the premium Mudmaster GWGB1000.
Technical Specifications & Unboxing First Impressions
Jim kicks off the video with a classic, chaotic unboxing right from his garage. True to his signature style, the watch doesn’t arrive on a velvet cushion; it’s pulled straight out of a classic plastic baggie.
Watch Dimensions and The “Turtle Belly” Back Case
Right out of the gate, the sheer scale of the GGB100XM makes an impression. The watch features what Jim famously calls a “turtle belly” back case. This contoured resin outer caseback completely encapsulates the underlying steel plate, creating a smooth, contoured seal that is central to Casio’s legendary mud-resistant structure.
However, this exceptional protection comes with serious physical presence:
- Thickness: The watch is so thick that Jim demonstrates it can barely clear a standard 3/4-inch wrench.
- Wrist Size Warning: Because the turtle belly and the thick resin “wings” take up significant inner circumference, this watch is not overly friendly to large wrists. Jim notes that he has to wear the strap on the very last notch to get it to fit.
Oversized Knurled Metal Buttons
The GGB100XM features massive, metal buttons with a distinct diamond-knurled pattern for maximum grip when wearing heavy work gloves. Interestingly, Jim points out that despite the visually massive appearance of the button assemblies, they actually have a surprisingly low throw and short travel distance.
Material Breakdown: Metal Bezel vs. Carbon Fiber Bezel
One of Jim’s primary reasons for selecting the GGB100XM over standard GGB100 models is the bezel material. While standard models utilize a lightweight carbon fiber bezel, the “XM” variant features a steel-colored metal bezel.
Jim argues strongly in favor of metal for actual field use, citing a key engineering principle: stress and impact resistance.
- The Carbon Fiber Risk: Jim references teardown footage from fellow creators where the layered carbon fiber bezel on standard models actually cracked under handling stress. Carbon fiber derives its immense strength from its layered alignment, making it highly rigid but potentially vulnerable to localized, sharp impacts.
- The Metal Advantage: Metal is malleable. In heavy-duty environments—whether you’re working an oil field snubbing job or scrambling over boulders—metal will bend, dent, or scratch long before it catastrophically fractures. Jim prefers a watch that shows its battle scars over one that shatters under high stress.
Dial Design, Legibility, and Aesthetic Contrast
For an analog-digital watch, legibility is everything. Jim praises the dial layout of the GGB100XM for its clean execution and high visibility:
- 3D Depth and Triangulation: The watch features brilliant white, highly dimensional 3D indices that sit deep within the case. This dramatic depth allows the wearer to easily triangulate the time at a glance, even in poor lighting conditions.
- Simplified Geometry: Unlike the higher-end Mudmaster GWGB1000, which crowds the dial with sub-dials at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions, the GGB100XM retains clean Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9. This minimalist approach, paired with distinct alignment marks along the perimeter, makes reading exact minutes effortless.
- Negative LCD Sub-Dial: The digital display is a tinted, negative LCD that blends seamlessly into the dark aesthetic of the dial. While it looks incredibly slick indoors, Jim notes that its true sunlight visibility will be put to the test out on the trails.
The Feature Set: Sensors, Step Counter, and Navigation
The GGB100XM packs a ton of utility under the hood, operating as a Quad Sensor powerhouse, though it does feature some distinct design choices compared to its older siblings.
Sensor Overview
The watch includes Casio’s standard outdoor toolset:
- Digital Compass: Activated via the top-right button, causing the prominent red second hand to instantly lock onto North while displaying bearing degrees on the digital sub-dial.
- Altimeter / Barometer: Includes a built-in barometric pressure tendency graph on the main screen to track changing weather patterns.
- Thermometer
- Step Tracker: A built-in 3-axis acceleration sensor tracks daily step counts, easily accessible via the top-left button.
The No-Cell-Service Navigational Question
The GGB100 series relies heavily on a Bluetooth connection to a smartphone via the G-Shock app to unleash features like its Location Indicator and Trackback function. Because Jim is heading directly out to Caprock Canyons—where cellular service is non-existent—he raises a critical question for real-world survival gear: Will these navigational features actually function when completely disconnected from a cell network? This real-world limitation is exactly what Jim plans to field test during his hiking trip.
Strap Design and Jim’s Take on Bio-Resin
The watch band is thick, heavy-duty, and features a barbed end designed to lock securely into the keeper. The underside of the strap features a recessed center channel designed to usher sweat away from the skin during intense physical exertion.
Resin Keepers vs. Metal Keepers
While the premium GWGB1000 utilizes a flashy metal keeper, the GGB100XM uses a thick plastic keeper. Jim explicitly favors plastic here, prioritizing utility over vanity. Metal keepers look great out of the box, but they constantly ding up desks, scratch laptop top-cases, and can painfully pinch the skin when slammed against the metal buckle during high-activity movement.
The Bio-Resin Rant
Jim doesn’t pull any punches when addressing the industry shift toward bio-resin plastics. Pointing out the irony from his perspective as a West Texas professional, Jim argues that growing agricultural crops purely to manufacture plastic components consumes massive amounts of diesel, water, and real-estate—making the environmental pitch a “steaming pile of malarkey” compared to utilizing natural gas and petroleum byproducts that are already being produced.
The “Denise Mom-Test” and On-Wrist Comfort
To get a completely unbiased perspective on the watch’s wearability, Jim pulls his wife, Denise, into the garage to conduct a live “Mom Test.”
Swapping out her slim fitness tracker for the massive Mudmaster, Denise gives her honest, immediate reactions:
- The Verdict on Size: On her 6.25-inch wrist, the watch is comically oversized, with Denise noting it could practically pull double-duty as an ankle monitor or an armband.
- Weight vs. Density: While Jim finds the watch surprisingly lightweight for its massive visual footprint, Denise finds it quite heavy on a delicate wrist, noting that the pronounced case thickness and rigid structure would likely cause bruising against the wrist bone over long periods of wear.
- The Barb Barrier: Denise highlights a minor ergonomics issue with the strap: the safety barb at the end of the band is so aggressive that sliding the keeper over it requires significant hand strength.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Despite its outlandish proportions, the G-Shock Mudmaster GGB100XM makes an undeniable statement on the wrist. It manages to balance a massive, high-visibility analog presence with a light, density-defying feel that doesn’t “flop” around half as much as traditional, heavy steel dive watches.
But a garage unboxing is only step one. To truly earn its place in Jim’s rotation, this watch has to survive the brutal heat, sweat, dust, and rock scrambles of West Texas hiking. Stay tuned for the upcoming, full-scale field test from Caprock Canyons State Park to see if the GGB100XM can truly handle the pressure.
Conclusion
Stay tuned for the tough tests and the field tests. So far just unboxing it and wearing it around, it’s quite comfortable despite being so huge. Click here to buy a G-Shock Mudmaster GGB100XM.