|
|
Post by lostwalker on Sept 23, 2016 6:53:42 GMT -8
Looking into getting an Altimeter Watch. I have read some reviews ( I feel that most are bias) and still want to know what works best, what is frills and what is a must.
Thank you in advance.
Lostwalker.
|
|
|
|
Post by lostwalker on Sept 23, 2016 6:57:54 GMT -8
BTW I should have stated does not have to be too fancy.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2016 7:25:51 GMT -8
Casio ProTrek PRW2500-1 Multifunction Watch is the watch my wife uses. Works great lasts a long time. BUT WAIT: We were able to get, for the 2016 summer, a GPS unit. I got it from a thrift store for 8 bucks and had to buy a power cord for 11 bucks. The GPS came with the complete US 1:24000 topo maps. I added in a 2GB SD card, I had laying around. I ended up loading in all the topo maps west of the Mississippi. The GPS is a way more useful unit for navigation then the Alti watch. BTW, we still bring and use a map and compass with the GPS. We get a more accurate altitude measurement with the GPS then with the watch. We use our watch for timers, alarsm, and barometer readings. New GPS units have baramoters. My point, if you can, put your money into getting a GPS unit, my opinion, over an Alti-watch.
|
|
|
|
Post by lostwalker on Sept 23, 2016 9:24:05 GMT -8
How much does your GPS unit weigh? Also what is the size of it? I use maps and compass right now. I was just thinking about using the Alt meter to see elevation gain during sections.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2016 9:59:12 GMT -8
The GPS unit I got, an eXplorist 400, the case and the 2gb SD card, weighs 157g or 5.55 ounces.
|
|
talus
Trail Wise!
Posts: 560 
|
Post by talus on Sept 23, 2016 10:01:00 GMT -8
I have a $40.00 Casio that works better than the $100.00 alt watch I had before it. Like any of these units, it needs to be calibrated frequently to be accurate.
|
|
texasbb
Trail Wise!
Hates chicken
Posts: 1,223
|
Post by texasbb on Sept 23, 2016 10:14:10 GMT -8
Not sure it's right to say GPS units are more accurate...those things are better at horizontal position than vertical. That's why many of them nowadays include a separate barometric sensor. Plus they have the usual issues of needing clear view to sky, eating batteries, weighing almost a half-pound, etc.
As for watches, I have both a $300 Suunto Core and a $45 Casio. Both do a great job. The Casio requires more frequent calibration but is smaller/lighter and much more frugal with batteries (it's gone 2.25 years so far on the initial battery). The Suunto has a nice "auto" mode that intuits when you're moving or stopped so it can intelligently account pressure changes as either elevation or weather...so it requires calibration less often. I have to replace the Suunto battery annually.
I like the auto mode enough that I always take the Suunto, and will likely spring another $300 for it when this one gives up the ghost.
Lots of these watches have built-in compass functions that are useless...don't spend $$ on them if you can help it (and you can't always help it if you also want niceties like auto-mode).
|
|
|
|
Post by lostwalker on Sept 23, 2016 10:35:32 GMT -8
I was looking at the suunto core. I would like the auto mode for sure. It also has an alarm mode correct?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2016 11:36:45 GMT -8
The CoreWAAS enabled GPS, a position accuracy of 7.6 metres (25 ft) or better (for both lateral and vertical measurements), at least 95% of the time. |
|
GaliWalker
Trail Wise!
Have camera, will use.
Posts: 3,703
|
Post by GaliWalker on Sept 23, 2016 13:02:52 GMT -8
I have the Suunto Core Ultimate Black. It looks great and works well, but... - I hate the black dial and too-dim/low-contrast display. It's a battery saving feature. I think they've done extensive user studies to get this right, and I can generally see the main units well enough, but the smaller units get really hard to see in poor lighting conditions. - The interface (to set various features and switch between them) takes a bit of getting used to. e.g. I had a slightly cheaper HighGear Altimeter watch before my Suunto, which had a much easier interface, but I think that company may be kaput. |
|
talus
Trail Wise!
Posts: 560
|
Post by talus on Sept 23, 2016 14:21:37 GMT -8
|
|
texasbb
Trail Wise!
Hates chicken
Posts: 1,223
|
Post by texasbb on Sept 23, 2016 15:40:47 GMT -8
I was looking at the suunto core. I would like the auto mode for sure. It also has an alarm mode correct? Yes, it has an alarm, though it's fairly low-volume. I hang mine on a little mitten hook at the top of my tent; if it's on my arm, and hence inside my bag, I never hear it. Edit: I also meant to comment that it has a "storm alarm" feature that is marginally interesting. If while you're stationary the watch detects a certain pattern of pressure drop--too slow to be you climbing but too much to be "normal" weather--it sounds an alarm warning you of the sudden pressure drop. Presumably that can alert you in the middle of the night if a gnarly front is moving in. In practice I don't think it's ever told anything I wasn't already expecting, but who knows. |
|
