Suunto Comments?

[aerome]

Any comments about the Suunto watches from Finland? I've been offered a sweet deal on one that is HUGE on the wrist but I think wearing a digital grandfather clock may be a bunch of fun. Thanks ;D

[clifton]

I have a Suunto Mosquito. Of course I only wear it for diving, but it is a really amazing watch/dive computer. It is a little bulky to wear on a daily basis, but a cool watch none the less.

[Sam]

I used to have a Suunto Vector....



Now I have a Suunto Observer....



The Observer is a little more reasonably sized than the Vector....also a little better made. I like most of the Suunto watches though.

[copperjohn]

I have a Suunto Vector. Its big but I get lots of comments on it. Its great for running at night, lights up well. One problem. The plastic crystal is the problem. I was told about it before I bought mine, but didnt care. then, within a week, I scratched it on a door knob. I was quite angry at myself. The plastic scratches easy, so don't wear it while working on things like engines, or fences, or......I don't know...airplanes..

[aerome]

Airplanes? Sounds like you know me! Anyway the "deal" turned out to be a dud, but I'll make an offer on this Vector based on the good things said here.

[wasatch]

I don't know much about them, other than I went in to our local REI the other day to look at some, and the lady told me they stopped carrying the whole Suunto line because they kept getting too many returned for various problems.

[Sam]

wasatch said:

I don't know much about them, other than I went in to our local REI the other day to look at some, and the lady told me they stopped carrying the whole Suunto line because they kept getting too many returned for various problems.

Partially true.....REI quit carrying Suunto altimeter watches because company-wide about 50% of them were being returned "defective". Well, the only thing defective was the customer LOL! Problem is that the average consumer would buy it expecting it to measure the altitude....when it really measures barometric pressure and calculates altitude from that. If you don't calibrate the watch to a known altitude or known barometric pressure several times a day, it could be off by several hundred feet. The Observer offers a feature that the Vector does not. You can set it to barometric pressure mode or altitude mode. Basically it will fix the other setting....so if you are in barometric pressure mode, it will fix the altitude and treat all barometric pressure changes as barometric pressure changes. If you have it in altitude mode, it will fix the barometric pressure and treat all barometric pressure changes as altitude changes.

I've had 2 Suuntos, 1 High Gear, 1 Origo, 1 Casio Protrek, and 1 Timex Expedition and by far the Suunto is the best altimeter watch IMO.

Funny thing is that we (REI) quit carrying the Suunto altimeter watches, but we can still purchase them through the employee purchase program. I bought my Observer direct from Suunto for $125 bucks.

[Sam]

Oh....as far as the plastic crystal scratching on the Vector, just use some Polywatch. It works just as well on the Vector as the Speedy Pro.

[copperjohn]

Copy on the Polywatch... I had my Suunto and Hamilton Khaki Multi-touch going through the mountain pass. My niece was wearing the Suunto (she LOVES that watch. trying to talk my bro into buying her one). Anyway, the Suunto was right on according to the elevation signs. My Hamilton was off by about 200 feet.

[wasatch]

Interesting, Sam. Sounds like it was more user-error than manufacturer error.

[Sam]

wasatch said:

Interesting, Sam. Sounds like it was more user-error than manufacturer error.

Yep....as are most things LOL! ;D