Summary: This watch has great features and is very accurate. Read any of the other reviews to learn about them, Im not going to repeat them again. The one thing you need to know from a review is that the lens on this watch is plastic, not mineral glass like most outdoor watches. So if you get in the rough stuff and tend to bump your watch around, plan on this one getting scratched up. I even added a permanent scratch with my fingernail trying to get a little dried mud off the lens. I was very disappointed when I noticed this. I have a casio with a mineral glass crystal and have hit it on things so hard I thought it would break and there were no scratches. I barely had the suunto a week before I had scratches on the crystal. Bummer because this watch is really a great tool.
Customer Service: Haven't used.
Similar Products Used: Casio Pathfinder triple sensor(great but the plastic band that comes on it is crap)
Casio Tough Solar Pro Trek (Nice watch SOLAR POWERED but doesn't have true stop watch function)
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Summary: I have had my Vector for about 3.5 years and have not had a problem with it. It had seen the top of 24 14ers( and hopefully two more next week) and if calibrated before the climb it remains very accurate. On most climbs it has been within 10 to 20 feet but as far off as 140'. Which is still pretty accurate considering weather changes effecting barometric pressure. I have had climbing partners who have returned their Casios(up to 1300' off the same time my vector was 140') because the inaccuracy compared to the Suunto and on more than one mountain top it has put other watches to shame with its sniper like correctitude. I like the watches serviceability. My first and second battery lasted a little over a year each with a lot of use. I am now on my third battery. I don't use the compass much because I know it eats up the the battery, so I turn it on, get my bearings, turn it off. When you purchase a battery from Sunnto it comes with a new O-ring, they also have other kits at reasonal prices that you can get to replace the bezel, springs and screws which is very easy to do. Last Spring I purchased the neck lanyard and love it.
All in all I love this watch and all of its functions. It seems some of the newer ones have had some problems, perhaps they have changed the manufacturing process, I don't know. My watch has work flawlessly for three and half years. It has been banged and scraped around on many-a-rock and has scatches and nicks in the casing, but it has never failed me. It has located me on the map many-a-time and headed me in the right direction or let me know I was on the right trail. It is one of my most important pieces of gear and although I always bring a back up compass my Vector is my first line of defence to get me where I'm going.
I have noticed if I use the compass in the city it has to be recalibrated more often. Which is probably due to the electrical lines, motors,electronics, ect within the city limits.
Customer Service: Have not needed it
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Reviewed by: navigator(Unregistered User)
,
Backpacker
, from Lexington
Price Paid:
$199.00
at REI
Summary: I have had this watch for about a year now and I love it. All the electronic instruments that I need at my fingertips. Granted they are not 100% accurate, but ball park, which is good enough for me while backpacking. I especially love the thermometer feature. I can look to see how cold it is around five o clock in the morning to check my sleeping bag ratings.
Customer Service: not needed
Similar Products Used: Timex it takes a licking and keeps on ticking
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Summary: It is a big watch but is suprisingly comfortable to wear and the big screen is nice. I had lots of problems with the unit and its two replacements.
Customer Service: Out of the box the Suunto worked great but within a week it stopped scrolling through the data fields (it stuck on the alarm). I returned it under warantee and was given a watch marked "refurbished".
Similar Products Used: Casio
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Reviewed by: Brad(Unregistered User)
,
Backpacker
, from Colorado
Price Paid:
$150.00
at survivalequipment.net
Summary: I have owned this watch for about 2 years and it is one of my favorite pieces of equipment. I use it on every trip I take. It has performed flawlessly the entire time I have had it, even standing up to mountain biking. I have teken it to Moab and Fruita, as well as several trips to Vail and Winter Park for downhilling. I like the feature that calculates total vertical feet, which after a day of ski run bombing can be 10,000 feet or more. I have worn it swimming, in the hot tub, jet skiing, you name it. As for other reviewer's negative comments, all I can say is huh? I have a cheap Timex and no, the light is not as bright. So what, I have never been unable to read it in the dark. The numbers distort at an angle? It's an LCD display and at enough of an angle any LCD will be difficult to read as it is hard to tell which bars are darkened, the lens on mine does not distort the display. It's hard to hold level? Find a compas that doesn't need to be level to read accurately, and if you are shivering, get moving or buy better outdoor clothing. I had a Casio Pathfinder for about a week and returned it to get the Vector. The Casio was much more difficult to read thanks to a miniature display, and standing motionless in calm weather, the altimiter would vary up to 400 vertical feet. In my opinion, and from my experience, the Suunto is a better product hands down. All the features work as advertised, and are very useful. Watch the barometric trend display and you'll see what I mean. It's also cool to wake up in your tent and check the temp, just take it off so it doesn't pick up your body heat. And my battery lasted just over a year and cost me $2.50 to replace. All in all this thing rocks! What a kick ass toy!
Customer Service: No experience with the warranty, it hasen't given me a bit of trouble.
Similar Products Used: Casio Pathfinder. Thought it sucked, returned it, bought the Vector, 'nuff said
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