My Dead Suunto CoreI really liked my Suunto Core. Really. And then it popped at 14,000 feet on Mt. Belford, filled with condensation, and stopped working. I almost did the same thing by the way but that’s beside the point. My watch was supposed to work up there.
In fairness, it might have been partly my fault. There’s a chance that I didn’t seat the delicate seal properly when changes the batteries before the trip. However, that also points to one of the Core’s biggest flaws – battery life. The thing eat batteries like nobody’s business. Given the battery life, and the possibility of this happening again, I decided to explore other options.
I looked at the Timex Expedition WS4. Timex got a lot right with this watch. It’s biggest asset is usability. It’s easier to use that most of the competitors and the wide screen is nice and readable. Downside, It doesn’t have the altitude logging that I loved in the Core and the size and old-school boxiness of it makes anyone who wears it look like a ginourmous retro geek. Some find that aspect of the design appealing but frankly I don’t want to look like a ginourmous retro geek. Sorry Timex. Keep tweaking, you’re close.
Next, I looked at the Casio Pathfinder PAW1500-1V. This is a bad-ass watch. It looks as good as a sport watch can. I’m still iffy on the whole black plastic watch thing but this is as good looking as that sort of watch can be. Solar power is a huge plus with this watch. It’s also rugged and, despite the incredible number of features, pretty usable. However, I can’t find a use for moon-phase, tide reports, and many other features. I wish the folks at Casio would strip some of these features out and build in better altitude reporting and tracking – build a watch just for climbers. That’s not likely to happen but if Casio builds it I’ll buy it.
I haven’t taken a serious look at Highgear’s lineup. They’re affordable but I don’t get the impression that they’d take much of a beating. At least one climber I know wears one though so maybe I’m being harsh.
Timex has introduced a surprisingly attractive alternative in the E-Instruments collection. The E-Altimeter might be worth a look but like the others it lacks Suunto’s logging features. I also doubt that I could make sense of the display while fatigued and oxygen-starved at altitude.
After looking around I find myself considering Suunto again. The battery life is a pain but I can live with it. Perhaps the failure at 14,000′ was a fluke? Or maybe altimeter watches, with all their inherent flaws and inaccuracies, just aren’t worth the expense. What do you think?
I have gone through a similar analysis and and am stumped. I used my Sunnto Vector for over 10 years. it died recently. Loved the features but hated the accuracy, which is why I wanted an altitude watch. Bought a Highgear at Steep & Cheap. Hate the UI. Makes the Sunnto look easy. Some features stopped completely, like the alarm. Glad I bought it on sale. Will probably buy another Sunnto – on sale.