This is a terrible watch. The display sucks... I had to return the first one directly to Suunto (they sent me another one) because the display was so bad. If it's really hot, the characters dim to the point where you can't even read them. The compass sucks. It's never right. I compare it with real compasses whenever I get a chance and it's always off. Sometimes it's even 180 degrees off! Even though this watch looks cool... it isn't. Look around for another watch and NEVER BUY SUUNTO. My girlfriend also had a Suunto and display got all messed up and wouldn't render characters correctly. They sent her a new one, but after all the problem we've both had with Suunto, I would never buy another one.

Customer Service

Not too bad... the web site sucks and it's a little mysterious when you have to send you watch back. It goes to Finland or something like that, and the entire process is weird.

i bought a Vector a year ago and was the worst purchase I ever made. The altimiter and baromiter quit working and would adjust extremely. The bezel broke off during shooting and the face scratches very easily. Also, don't get sun block on it, it will remove the bezel numbers!!! I just bought an X-lander. From the reviews I am sure I will be pleased. I will post again with onfo. on the watch.

Customer Service

Buy from an Authorized retailer or someone with the warranty card for registration. If you don't you will be stuck with the repairs.

Similar Products Used:

Casio G-Shock and Suunto Vector.

I'll say this.

Anyone ANYONE who complains about a non-GPS altimeter varying with barometer would not be a climbing partner of mine. An altimiter/barometer IS ONLY USEFUL when used with a good topo map and a compass - there's redundancy there.

That said, they are invaluable. Just being able to see barometer change overnight (or the drift that occurs during the day when recalibrating)can help one predict the weather the next day. For short periods, they give you a good idea of your rate of ascent.

In closing, barometer altimiters are one insturment of many, the most important being the human brain to see the data and make a good call. This watch is only a tool - it won't save you in trouble on its own - it just provides raw data. But it's data you'll be happy to have when you need it!!

Rip it for aesthetics, lack of second hand, or whatever, but PLEASE stop ripping the concept of the barometer altimiter. It's sad to see!

Thankyou, and I hope the moderator will allow this post of mine!

I bought the X-Lander with the negative face. Its a fine watch but the readout is so dim that you must have the watch directly in front of your face about 16 inches away in a well lit area to see the numbers. If you want to find out the time at night forget about it.

Why are you reading this review? Because you're a gear freak. And this watch is the ultimate peice of gear to get any gear freak salivating. All those buttons, all those functions.And its big, shiny and silver. Its crap, but does that matter? Im with stinks, a few posts below. This watch is for poseurs and gear freaks only. It tells the time, but doesnt have a second hand. Its a personal thing, but at work I have to time things so I can work out what to do. Other people might not care.The alarms effectively dont work, which has to be a strike against it. The temperature gauge is against the skin, so it doesnt record ambient temperature, only skin temperature, which as stinks says will let you know if you're alive, but you probably already know that. Like all these things the altimeter is linked to barometer and they will vary together. The watch cant tell if the barometers dropping or if you're climbing, so if you're climbing up mountains and down valleys whilst the air pressure is changing, the watch gets completely lost. That means you cant predict dangerous weather, or know how high you are. If you know the altitude you're at (ie a waystation or map point) then you can reset it, but then why have the watch? In the Indian himalaya the road engineers put up frequent and accurate altitude markers, and I was often out by dozens of metres. And it is unreliable. My buttons also got stuck, and when I took it to a SUUNTO dealer they wouldnt repair it because I was in the UK but had bought it in Australia. So what? Buy a decent watch, and get a great GPS system. These things have all the gtreat features and more.

Customer Service

Poor, basically absent

This watch is great. Some things you should know about altimeters without GPS is that they all tell altitude by a barometer. There is simply no other way to do it. The altimeter is even within 60 feet or so after leaving Detroit and arriving a sea level in Florida - pressurization and everything. That said, in combination with a topo and map readign skills, you should never get lost. The temperature reading is actually useful if you calibrate it by knowing how many more degrees it adds (about 14 degrees for me). Yes, the alarm is too quiet, but I've never had a watch be able to wake me up consistently. The light is very good and after 10 months, I have had none of the bezel rub off. The compass is very usable and accurate. I have even used it to help me stargaze ahile on a plane. I have also used it in Glacier National Park on a weeklong trek and performed flawlessly. If you don't like big watches, this isn't for you. Even had one friend tell me that's the biggest f**** watch I've ever seen - but everyone agrees that is way cool. Better display than the X6, in my opinion.

Customer Service

None needed.

Great looking watch. people love the fact it is so large and always comment. Does have the handy features in it, but is not designed to replace and full on altiatimter or gps unit. Would I buy again? Yes. Has had that much use I am now in the matrket to buy a new band.

Customer Service

-

Similar Products Used:

Casio Gshock

This watch stinks. Absolutely. Note that the other reviews have not had the watch for very long. Firstly, the temperature guage doesnt work, it just records skin temperature. So you know if you're alive or not. The barometer and altimeter are linked, as in all these kinds of watches. In the Himalaya you go up and down all day, and as you are doing that the barometer changes, so you after a while they get completely out of whack and you dont know where you are. I would pop out of a trail onto an Indian road, for example, and find ,myself hundreds of metres off altitude. Its OK if you travel mainly on the flat, or without many changes in extremes, but then why buy this gear anyway. The compass is moderately useful, again only on the flat. In the mountains you dont have much choice as to where you go, you take that path because its the only one that goes there. The light doesnt work very well. The buttons are impossible to press with gloves on. You cant hear the alarms. It is completely unreliable. After about 6 months the button which switches function became stuck and never worked again. As Im overseas i couldnt get it fixed. Hopeless. If you need all these functions, get a durable watch that tells the time, which is what you need, and a GPS system in the pocket which does the rest. Otherwise you're just a poser on main street.

None

A fantastically useful piece of kit. Very accurate altimeter. Despite the mineral glass some scratching on the face is still evident. The raised markings on the bezel also came off after 6 months. Not possible to fit the elasticated strap to it which is a shame as it would be useful to be able to wear it on the outside of a jacket sleeve in poor conditions.

Similar Products Used:

None

I own the X-Lander and the Advizor. I love Suunto watches. They are very precise and easy to use. I mostly wear the Advisor as I use the heart rate monitor for Mountain Bike training. I also like the altimeter. Suunto are great watches, I strongly recommend them.

Similar Products Used:

None