Why This $20 Casio Forester Is the Best Cheap Watch You Can Own

Every once in a while, a watch comes along that stands out—not because it’s exclusive or high-end, but because it offers great appeal at an unexpectedly low price. The Casio Forester is one of those watches.

US President Wore A Casio

While reading tributes to the late U.S. President Jimmy Carter a few weeks ago, I came across a photo of him wearing the Casio Forester FT600WB-5BV, though that specific version seems to be discontinued, that’s when I came across a modern version of the Casio Forester, available for just $20 from multiple retailers, including Amazon and Walmart.

Casio Forester

Weighing just 31 grams, it was so light that I almost forgot I was wearing it. The case measures 40mm in width, 12.6mm in thickness, and has a 43.9mm lug-to-lug, but it wears smaller due to the wide bezel that protects the resin crystal. It also boasts 100 meters of water resistance, a step up from the 50 meters offered by its closest competitor, the Timex Expedition.

The dial is clean and easy to read, featuring skeletonized hands that don’t obstruct the date window or 24-hour markers. There’s no lume, but the built-in Illuminator is much more useful when checking the time in the dark. A button at 3 o’clock activates a bright orange LED light from the 6 o’clock position for about five seconds. The watch has two separate batteries—one for timekeeping and another for the light—both of which should last around three years with moderate use.

Design-wise, it keeps things simple with large Arabic numerals and a date display at 3 o’clock. Some reviews mentioned that the second-hand doesn’t align perfectly with the markers, but after closely inspecting mine under a loupe, it seemed well-aligned.

The Timex Expedition is often a favorite among watch and EDC enthusiasts, and for good reason—it’s a practical, tough field watch priced between $40 and $50. However, that classic “Field Watch” style has become so widespread that it no longer feels particularly distinct. The Casio Forester, on the other hand, brings something different to the table at an unbeatable price. It’s widely available; you can find more details on the official Casio website.