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 Suunto Vector Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and Thermometer By: Suunto Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 30 More Information Negative display is POOR  On: 2008-06-27As a previous reviewer has pointed out, the older Vectors utilized a positive display, with the numbers in black and the lcd background a grey color. The most recent Vector I purchased on Amazon came with the negative display, which is simply the opposite ... the numbers being grey on a black background. Since the brightness of the grey numbers cannot be increased to stand out better against the black, it makes it ridiculously difficult to read in many lighting conditions. Turning on the backlight helps, but to do that you have to hold the light button down for 2 seconds before it responds. What a pain. The functions of the watch are great, however. Just note there is a steep learning curve to understanding the buttons. A read of the manual is a must. After purchasing the Suunto Core (Light Green), I have to admit there is no comparison really. The Core is much easier to use, easier to read, more comfortable to wear. The only disadvantage of the Core may be its durability for such a thin and lightweight housing. But so far its held up to everything Ive put it through. Great Watch  On: 2008-06-07In my opinion, for the price this is the best hiking watch around. I have been hiking and use all of the watch functions, as far as I can tell they are accurate, except the temperature when it is on my wrist, so I take it off for 15 to 20 minutes as it has been suggested and it is more in line with the temperatures in my area. I hike in 100 degree temps, and a bit higher. SUUNTO VECTOR On: 2008-05-14This was an anniversary gift for my husband and he absolutely loved it, we are both deployed in Afghanistan so its something he will use every day! Suunto Vector will not calibrate  On: 2008-04-23I have owned two Vectors. They both wind up having the same problem. After awhile the compass will not calibrate and the compass portion of the watch is useless. I am the type that hardly ever removes the watch from my wrist. The first vector fogged after swimming and then the compass died. I bought another one and after a year the compass died again. I will not own another one. GS After 6 years of abuse, ......  On: 2008-03-24a couple of weeks ago I was glacading and when I got to the bottom I noticed that there was some condensation in the display. It still worked OK and after a few hours the condensation went away. But... After 6 years of mountaineering, backpacking, skiing, mountain biking and just general abuse I guess that it is time to retire the Vector. Overall, it has performed brilliantly. My only complaint is that some of the functions are buried in a system of menus that for me are not that intuitive. So, if I dont use them often, I forget how. I have decided to replace it with the more expensive Suunto Core. The main reason is that it has a dot matrix display, which supposedly gives more information and has a better menu system. Well see. In the end, the Vector has been a very good watch for me and I highly recommend it. Suunto Vector - Great Watch On: 2008-03-23I had a Casio Pathfinder for 10 years prior to getting the Suunto Vector Black. Loved the Casio until I had to replce the batteries. In order to keep it water resistant, I forked over another $50 each time to the repair guy. However, each time the batteries were replaced I lost a function/feature. Cant find a damn watch band either. The Suunto Vector Black on the other hand is not only a great looking watch but you can change the battery (did I say one battery?) yourself, thus keeping the water resistant integrity. How? The battery resides in its own sealed compartment. Use a quarter to unscrew the top and there sits the battery. tah-dah. Im an avid sailor, surfer and also fly planes. The Vector is very easy to use. The con is you cant set the declination point. I found this to be true with other brands I tried before settling on the Suunto. I also wish the count down timer would start to count up once it hit zero so I can use the stopwatch as a stopwatch not as a count up timer. But I can live without this feature. I like the negative display too. Nice touch. The watch has a large face; 1 5/16" and 2" edge to edge. The new Casio has this stupid moving three stripes on the face. If you raise your hand or tilt it to certain angle the damn light comes on. I rather have a button to push than have it come on by itself. A person lying down, the light comes on. It also has large face. Compare the Suunto and a Casio side by side and youll see the Suunto quality and workmanship over the Casio. Friends who bought a Casio regret doing it once they saw my Suunto. I think they did because I had a Casio before and they, some piece of crap. OK, its been a year since Ive owned my Suunto. I dont like writing reviews until Ive owned something for awhile to see if the product holds true. This one does. Ive lost 1 second in the past year, the band looks fresh and new, the face still shiny and unscratched even though it gets banged against stuff all the time. If youre thinking of getting Suunto Vector, stop thinking and buy one. Youll be happy you did. Very VERY solid purchase. Unless you have small hands. On: 2008-01-09Really like this product. I have had NO trouble getting all of the functions to work properly. Theres a trick to it though. READ THE BLOODY DIRECTIONS. Yeah, I know its a book, and sure its thick, but theres about fifteen pages of actual directions in about thirty languages, so just suck it up already, complainers. Sorry for the rant. I was worried that this watch would be tough to get functioning from other reviews. Not so. Its pretty big, but light weight and sturdy. Gtting used to the novel second hand takes a few days, but as Im in the vet-medical bizz, I use this watch in anesthesia to time recordings, and every day without worrying about some critter scratching the face or something. Good stuff. Id say for the price itd be tough to do better. Nice, but... On: 2008-01-08This is a really cool gadget, and it does all the stuff the previous reviewers have stated. Three annoyances: 1) plastic crystal. 2) temp. sensor is on the underside, so all it registers is your skin temp. HEY SUUNTO: PUT THE SENSOR ON THE TOP!! You may have to wait for 15 minutes for the sensor to read actual temp. once you have removed the watch 3) the barometer is consistently 15 mbar low. I check this against the airport weather readings, as well as a Kestrel weather instrument. Having to constantly re-adjust your reference altitude is also somewhat annoying, but its a necessary process until the wrist-mounted radar altimeter is introduced. The new model ("core") is supposed to have a motion sensor so that the barometer and altimeter readings are unrelated. Hope it works. Oh yeah: this watch isnt as godawful big as I expected. I have tiny little girly wrists and this thing doesnt look like a trash can lid on me or anything like that. Also: dont pay more than $150. Good Watch For Adventure On: 2008-01-06I bought my Suunto in NOV 2006. I liked it right away. I am in the military and also love exploring the mountians. I have abused this watch and its still going. This is the longest I have had a watch without destroying it and the only one I have ever liked to wear. I think that it looks awesome. Although I do have to say I was a little worried about the size (I have small wrists) but its very easy to wear and highly functional. Unlike most watches the buttons are easy to press, even with gloves on. The display is huge, and very easy to read night and day. Once you get the features calibrated, they are also very user friendly. The only reason I cant give it five stars is the face and the case are not as bulletproof as they could be. My face is scratched and the body has plently of dents and dings. Of course I have been very rough on it. Overall I would definitely recommend this watch to military, backpackers, hikers, or anybody that wants a rugged watch, that will make them stand out. Good Watch For Adventure On: 2008-01-05I bought my Suunto in NOV 2006. I liked it right away. I am in the military and also love exploring the mountians. I have abused this watch and its still going. This is the longest I have had a watch without destroying it and the only one I have ever liked to wear. I think that it looks awesome. Although I do have to say I was a little worried about the size (I have small wrists) but its very easy to wear and highly functional. Unlike most watches the buttons are easy to press, even with gloves on. The display is huge, and very easy to read night and day. Once you get the features calibrated, they are also very user friendly. The only reason I cant give it five stars is the face and the case are not as bulletproof as they could be. My face is scratched and the body has plently of dents and dings. Of course I have been very rough on it. Overall I would definitely recommend this watch to military, backpackers, hikers, or anybody that wants a rugged watch, that will make them stand out. Never got the product but they have my money On: 2007-12-15I have tried for over a month now to either get my money back or the product. This company has not responded to any of my e-mails. This is the only way to contact them. There is no phone number. I would NOT recommand this company for anythhing or any company who does not have a phone number! Suunto Vector On: 2007-10-29Have owned this watch for about 6 months. I think this watch is an excellent outdoor/hiking piece of equipment and there is not a lot I would change about it. I would have liked to have dual time incorporated into the watch for when I travel to other time zones, I would have liked a more scratch resistant crystal (It has a plastic "crystal") although the bezel is slightly above the crystal, stopping most damage, it is pretty easily scratched if one is not careful and finally a more robust/rugged strap would have been appreciated. On the whole it is a great watch for the money, I paid $199. I could have had all of the extra features by getting an Observer or X-Lander instead of the Vector. I would also have had to pay at least $100 more. I would recommend this watch to a freind Suunto Vector On: 2007-10-28Have owned this watch for about 6 months. I think this watch is an excellent outdoor/hiking piece of equipment and there is not a lot I would change about it. I would have liked to have dual time incorporated into the watch for when I travel to other time zones, I would have liked a more scratch resistant crystal (It has a plastic "crystal") although the bezel is slightly above the crystal, stopping most damage, it is pretty easily scratched if one is not careful and finally a more robust/rugged strap would have been appreciated. On the whole it is a great watch for the money, I paid $199. I could have had all of the extra features by getting an Observer or X-Lander instead of the Vector. I would also have had to pay at least $100 more. I would recommend this watch to a freind Great product On: 2007-09-17Provides adequate and comprehensive information; even though the watch is big, it is very light and the strap keeps it in place, making it very comfotable to wear. The barometer and altimeter are extremely easy to use and understand and it takes only a few moments to figure out how the compass works. Pay special attention to the plastic cover it is slightly sensitive and can be damaged easily; clean it with some water and a soft fabric. great Suunto On: 2007-07-31nice and useful watch. Better plan on doing some studying to figure out all the details. Second one I've purchased On: 2007-03-12This is the second Vector I have purchased. My first six year old one has gotten beat up and the compass no longer works. The watch has a large dial and is a little bulky, but you get used to it. You trade that for a large easy to read dial. The watch has more features than you can use and a large instruction manual to go with it. It has the compass, barometer, temperature, and altimeter. The 6 hour barametric pressure history box is nice to warn you of incoming bad weather. The watch is a nice instrument, but I would warn against abusing it. It is shock resistant, not shock proof! Second one I've purchased On: 2007-03-11This is the second Vector I have purchased. My first six year old one has gotten beat up and the compass no longer works. The watch has a large dial and is a little bulky, but you get used to it. You trade that for a large easy to read dial. The watch has more features than you can use and a large instruction manual to go with it. It has the compass, barometer, temperature, and altimeter. The 6 hour barametric pressure history box is nice to warn you of incoming bad weather. The watch is a nice instrument, but I would warn against abusing it. It is shock resistant, not shock proof! outstanding outdoor tool On: 2007-02-07I got my first Vector about three years ago, from REI. Yes, it is large. Not a problem for me as I am large. I am on my third Vector; the first two, for some strange reason, leaked water, the first during an incredible monsoon rainstorm in the mountains of Arizona, the second while taking a shower. No, I did not submerse the watch, nor push any buttons while the water was on. Fortunately, REI accepts returns with no questions. It is a testament to how nice this watch is that I continued to replace the watch. Perhaps I had models from a bad production run, as my present Vector has lasted for over two years with nary a leak. The good: I have found the digital compass to be very accurate and useful. Remember that it must be calibrated from time to time, and dont forget about declination. The barometer is VERY useful. The barometer function is constantly operating, and accounts for a nice little symbol in the upper left of the display showing pressure trends over the past few hours. This is very useful if you understand barometric pressure trends and their likely results. If you do not, look it up and learn, as you will find it to be very useful if you spend a lot of time in the brush. Remember that the barometric pressure must be calibrated against absolute sea-level readings from time to time, especially during rapidly changing weather conditions. Once you understand the relationship between altitude/changing weather, you will master the complexities of both the barometer and the altimeter, and understand just how simple they are, and how reliable this device really is. I have checked it against my high-end GPS and other barometers many times, and it is very accurate indeed. The temp is useful if you need to know the temperature; like all such devices, it will have to be taken off of your body for about ten minutes before you will get an accurate reading. The bad: the lens is plastic. If you have any experience with fine coated-glass, you will do fine with this: DO NOT, EVER, wipe any dust or dirt off of the face. Use a lens-pen, with a fine blower-brush. Or wait until youve stepped under water with it. Put simply, it has been my experience that if you keep your grubby paws off of it, and dont try to clean it with your cotton t-shirt/flannel shirt/etc, and instead use methods used for fine coated glass elements, it will look like new forever. Mine does, and it has been in desert dust and swamp mud. The battery does, in fact, eventually lose energy! In normal use, you can expect a year or more from the battery. If you are one of those fellas that shows everyone that he meets his "neat digital compass", or actually rely on this as your primary compass in the brush, it wont last nearly so long. The digital compass is the primary energy-sucker, likely as much as the backlight. Use the compass only when needed (you should have a base-plate compass anyway...Suunto also makes some of the best of these as well). As for the review stating the watchbands give out, I find that remarkable as I have never had a problem with mine, and I wear it constantly, day in and day out. All in all, and in spite of the fact that I had to return my first two, I heartily recommend the Vector. Tough and useful. outstanding outdoor tool On: 2007-02-06I got my first Vector about three years ago, from REI. Yes, it is large. Not a problem for me as I am large. I am on my third Vector; the first two, for some strange reason, leaked water, the first during an incredible monsoon rainstorm in the mountains of Arizona, the second while taking a shower. No, I did not submerse the watch, nor push any buttons while the water was on. Fortunately, REI accepts returns with no questions. It is a testament to how nice this watch is that I continued to replace the watch. Perhaps I had models from a bad production run, as my present Vector has lasted for over two years with nary a leak. The good: I have found the digital compass to be very accurate and useful. Remember that it must be calibrated from time to time, and dont forget about declination. The barometer is VERY useful. The barometer function is constantly operating, and accounts for a nice little symbol in the upper left of the display showing pressure trends over the past few hours. This is very useful if you understand barometric pressure trends and their likely results. If you do not, look it up and learn, as you will find it to be very useful if you spend a lot of time in the brush. Remember that the barometric pressure must be calibrated against absolute sea-level readings from time to time, especially during rapidly changing weather conditions. Once you understand the relationship between altitude/changing weather, you will master the complexities of both the barometer and the altimeter, and understand just how simple they are, and how reliable this device really is. I have checked it against my high-end GPS and other barometers many times, and it is very accurate indeed. The temp is useful if you need to know the temperature; like all such devices, it will have to be taken off of your body for about ten minutes before you will get an accurate reading. The bad: the lens is plastic. If you have any experience with fine coated-glass, you will do fine with this: DO NOT, EVER, wipe any dust or dirt off of the face. Use a lens-pen, with a fine blower-brush. Or wait until youve stepped under water with it. Put simply, it has been my experience that if you keep your grubby paws off of it, and dont try to clean it with your cotton t-shirt/flannel shirt/etc, and instead use methods used for fine coated glass elements, it will look like new forever. Mine does, and it has been in desert dust and swamp mud. The battery does, in fact, eventually lose energy! In normal use, you can expect a year or more from the battery. If you are one of those fellas that shows everyone that he meets his "neat digital compass", or actually rely on this as your primary compass in the brush, it wont last nearly so long. The digital compass is the primary energy-sucker, likely as much as the backlight. Use the compass only when needed (you should have a base-plate compass anyway...Suunto also makes some of the best of these as well). As for the review stating the watchbands give out, I find that remarkable as I have never had a problem with mine, and I wear it constantly, day in and day out. All in all, and in spite of the fact that I had to return my first two, I heartily recommend the Vector. Tough and useful. Fun Watch!! On: 2006-07-19I gave this watch to my fiance & he has really enjoyed tracking our altitude gain on bike rides. Ive appreciated knowing the temperature. Cant wait for ski season! Fun Watch!! On: 2006-07-18I gave this watch to my fiance & he has really enjoyed tracking our altitude gain on bike rides. Ive appreciated knowing the temperature. Cant wait for ski season! Get the old style ...  On: 2006-07-14Ive had a VECTOR for more than 5 years, GREAT TOOL, but it finally slipped away to lost-watch land. I bought a new one and was very sad to send it back. You see, I could see the old black letters on a white face just fine, even in bright sunshine. The new improved model has faint green letters on a black background -- much harder to see while hiking or sailing, especially when wearing polarized sunglasses. The graphics on the new model are also much harder to discern --for example, the indicator for degrees F or degrees C is tiny (granted that is probably an issue only during set-up). The good folk at Suunto have still not addressed the problem of accidentally uncalibrating the barometric sensor -- thats a problem if you hit the buttons while running -- and the manual still doesnt help you get out of the mess in the field. It was a great product for backcountry activity, now its mostly for show. Look for the old version and buy a new battery ... It's HUGE! But, pretty darn cool On: 2006-04-03This may be the outdoorsy ubergeek watch. Its big, its ugly, but has functions to make the fattest Swiss Army Knife sit in the corner sobbing in jealousy. Overall, I like it but there are a couple of things that sound better than they are. The timepiece: Outstanding. It has HH:MM:SS DD:MMM, of course, with a year setting to avoid leap year issues. This should go without saying in a modern digital watch. Stopwatch with lap function (not that I ever use the lap function, but Im sure someone is interested). Countdown timer that can run up to a 24 hour countdown (very easy to set). Three daily alarms. Special kudos for the alarms, this is one of the loudest watch alarms Ive heard, and Ive missed too many watch alarms to not appreciate this. The Altimeter: largely eye candy, but kind of neat. Over four days, my bedroom went from 100m above sea level to 25 m below sea level (by the maps, about 40m ASL). Not surprising because it is driven by the barometer, and I never recalibrated it, but a graphic demonstration of the importance of calibrating it when you want/need it. The Barometer: Yup, its a barometer. The part I like is the little display that shows the rising/falling trend, especially as this is always active (even in normal time mode). The Thermometer: Take the watch off to get an accurate reading as the sensor is too close to the wrist. The compass: Easily the best special feature. Accurate, precise (enough for orienteering, not for surveying), easy to use. It can be programmed for a declination, but knowing me, Id forget to reset it, so I do declination the hard way. The sighting notches are small but servicable. The spirit level bubble is unique among digital watch compasses to Suunto, and greatly enhances accuracy and confidence in the compass. An outstanding wrist compass. The package: Big. Really, really big. But the controls are very easy to use and seem fairly resistant to accidental button pressing (a problem for me with other watches). The battery has a shortish (12-18 month) life, but has a hatch, so you dont need to take it to a jeweller to get it replaced without ruining the water resistance. The display has large characters and high contrast to the back ground, and the display light is just right, readible, even, and glare free, but not an emergency flashlight. Personally, Im going to swap the resin band for a velcro strap, but the stock strap isnt bad, just not great. Overall, not a watch for the office or a suit but very good as a watch, compass and barometer, and about what you could expect as a thermometer and altimeter. Well designed, thought-out, and manufactured, but really big. It's HUGE! But, pretty darn cool On: 2006-04-02This may be the outdoorsy ubergeek watch. Its big, its ugly, but has functions to make the fattest Swiss Army Knife sit in the corner sobbing in jealousy. Overall, I like it but there are a couple of things that sound better than they are. The timepiece: Outstanding. It has HH:MM:SS DD:MMM, of course, with a year setting to avoid leap year issues. This should go without saying in a modern digital watch. Stopwatch with lap function (not that I ever use the lap function, but Im sure someone is interested). Countdown timer that can run up to a 24 hour countdown (very easy to set). Three daily alarms. Special kudos for the alarms, this is one of the loudest watch alarms Ive heard, and Ive missed too many watch alarms to not appreciate this. The Altimeter: largely eye candy, but kind of neat. Over four days, my bedroom went from 100m above sea level to 25 m below sea level (by the maps, about 40m ASL). Not surprising because it is driven by the barometer, and I never recalibrated it, but a graphic demonstration of the importance of calibrating it when you want/need it. The Barometer: Yup, its a barometer. The part I like is the little display that shows the rising/falling trend, especially as this is always active (even in normal time mode). The Thermometer: Take the watch off to get an accurate reading as the sensor is too close to the wrist. The compass: Easily the best special feature. Accurate, precise (enough for orienteering, not for surveying), easy to use. It can be programmed for a declination, but knowing me, Id forget to reset it, so I do declination the hard way. The sighting notches are small but servicable. The spirit level bubble is unique among digital watch compasses to Suunto, and greatly enhances accuracy and confidence in the compass. An outstanding wrist compass. The package: Big. Really, really big. But the controls are very easy to use and seem fairly resistant to accidental button pressing (a problem for me with other watches). The battery has a shortish (12-18 month) life, but has a hatch, so you dont need to take it to a jeweller to get it replaced without ruining the water resistance. The display has large characters and high contrast to the back ground, and the display light is just right, readible, even, and glare free, but not an emergency flashlight. Personally, Im going to swap the resin band for a velcro strap, but the stock strap isnt bad, just not great. Overall, not a watch for the office or a suit but very good as a watch, compass and barometer, and about what you could expect as a thermometer and altimeter. Well designed, thought-out, and manufactured, but really big. It's HUGE! But, pretty darn cool. On: 2006-03-24This may be the outdoorsy ubergeek watch. Its big, its ugly, but has functions to make the fattest Swiss Army Knife sit in the corner sobbing in jealousy. Overall, I like it but there are a couple of things that sound better than they are. The timepiece: Outstanding. It has HH:MM:SS DD:MMM, of course, with a year setting to avoid leap year issues. This should go without saying in a modern digital watch. Stopwatch with lap function (not that I ever use the lap function, but Im sure someone is interested). Countdown timer that can run up to a 24 hour countdown (very easy to set). Three daily alarms. Special kudos for the alarms, this is one of the loudest watch alarms Ive heard, and Ive missed too many watch alarms to not appreciate this. The Altimeter: largely eye candy, but kind of neat. Over four days, my bedroom went from 100m above sea level to 25 m below sea level (by the maps, about 40m ASL). Not surprising because it is driven by the barometer, and I never recalibrated it, but a graphic demonstration of the importance of calibrating it when you want/need it. The Barometer: Yup, its a barometer. The part I like is the little display that shows the rising/falling trend, especially as this is always active (even in normal time mode). The Thermometer: Take the watch off to get an accurate reading as the sensor is too close to the wrist. The compass: Easily the best special feature. Accurate, precise (enough for orienteering, not for surveying), easy to use. It can be programmed for a declination, but knowing me, Id forget to reset it, so I do declination the hard way. The sighting notches are small but servicable. The spirit level bubble is unique among digital watch compasses to Suunto, and greatly enhances accuracy and confidence in the compass. An outstanding wrist compass. The package: Big. Really, really big. But the controls are very easy to use and seem fairly resistant to accidental button pressing (a problem for me with other watches). The battery has a shortish (12-18 month) life, but has a hatch, so you dont need to take it to a jeweller to get it replaced without ruining the water resistance. The display has large characters and high contrast to the back ground, and the display light is just right, readible, even, and glare free, but not an emergency flashlight. Personally, Im going to swap the resin band for a velcro strap, but the stock strap isnt bad, just not great. Overall, not a watch for the office or a suit but very good as a watch, compass and barometer, and about what you could expect as a thermometer and altimeter. Well designed, thought-out, and manufactured, but really big. Suunto Vector On: 2006-02-26This is the second Suunto Vector watch i have owned. Only because the first one was lost. The only two draw backs of this watch is battery life and my band broke twice in two years. Seems to me they could offer a much longer life battery and a band that would hold up alot better. the battery lasts about 6 months only.For the price of this watch ($230) you think tehy could do alittle better. Other than that i love the watch Suunto Vector On: 2006-02-25This is the second Suunto Vector watch i have owned. Only because the first one was lost. The only two draw backs of this watch is battery life and my band broke twice in two years. Seems to me they could offer a much longer life battery and a band that would hold up alot better. the battery lasts about 6 months only.For the price of this watch ($230) you think tehy could do alittle better. Other than that i love the watch An amazingly tough watch and useful On: 2006-01-10Im very hard on my gear and this watch has withstood it all. It has all the features you could ask for in a watch plus a few you would never expect. Large easy to read numbers for when your in difficult situations or akward positions and even while scuba diving (note: it says not to press buttons underwater, but its still readable without the backlight...usually) are a great feature and although its a large watch, it has a certain style all its own. I think the compass is my favorite feature great while orienting yourself with a trail map. Also a great conversational piece while breaking the ice in the board room..."my watch helps me predict the weather":-D...ok maybe not the best thing to tell your boss, but still an amazing watch:-) Essential tool for serious hiker, climber, adventure racer On: 2005-02-22Ive owned the Suunto Vector for more than three years after purchasing it when I first became interested in adventure racing. While many top racers wear it, I would highly recommend it for the serious hiker, climber or backcountry skier for its solid construction, design and versatility. While I also wear this as my everyday watch, its extra large size should be taken into consideration if thats something you have in mind. There are a couple other brands available in this market segment, but the relatively low price and exceptional feature set are what continues to set this tool apart from the crowd. Heres what you should know: * Expect to replace the battery at least once a year. This is due to a number of reasons, one of which is the powerful backlight on the face that when activated can nearly illuminate the inside of a small tent at night. If you believe the manufacturers warnings and want to play it safe, you may want to have this procedure performed by a professional (watch, not outdoor) shop. Suunto sells a battery pack that comes with a replacement seal and screw-in back, and this is definitely something to consider every other replacement opportunity, but you can get by with a lower-cost Duracell type 2430 3V lithium if youre on a budget. * The altimeter is one of the strongest features, allowing you to quickly pinpoint your location on a topo map. However, plan to reset it regularly, especially after a plane ride or frequent and significant changes in altitude, or weather. This is rather easy as along as you have a confirmed location metric, but you have to remember to do it regularly to ensure the greatest accuracy. The 24-hour memory provides a total measurement of your ups and downs (ascents and descents) over that time period, a really cool record for runners, mountain bikers and skiers. * The compass is one of the strongest in this class of devices, which to be sure isnt the greatest to begin with ... but even the serious orienteerer would be impressed. The ability to adjust for local declination is really nice. * The barometer is good, but not great. However, if you want to be aware of potential weather changes, this will provide you with some peace of mind. Better to be safe than sorry (or worse) in this regard. * The thermometer isnt accurate at all unless you take the watch off for 15-20 minutes or so to eliminate the warming effect of your skin/body temperature. * Some of the controls and settings are not easy to comprehend or remember. Ive never been able to figure out how to use the stopwatch, timer and lap features. If youre a swimmer or triathlete and this is important to you, look to the Timex Ironman standby. * Waterproofing is rock solid. No worries. * The soft-rubber watchband is comfortable to wear, but will deteriorate over time, even more rapidly in chlorine. Suunto offers a much lighter nylon/velcro alternative that I personally prefer. Overall, I really like the Vector. But for a number of reasons already mentioned, would not feel comfortable giving it a perfect 5.0 score. But consider my 4.0 more like a 4.7 ... you cant go wrong here. Essential tool for serious hiker, climber, adventure racer On: 2005-02-21Ive owned the Suunto Vector for more than three years after purchasing it when I first became interested in adventure racing. While many top racers wear it, I would highly recommend it for the serious hiker, climber or backcountry skier for its solid construction, design and versatility. While I also wear this as my everyday watch, its extra large size should be taken into consideration if thats something you have in mind. There are a couple other brands available in this market segment, but the relatively low price and exceptional feature set are what continues to set this tool apart from the crowd. Heres what you should know: * Expect to replace the battery at least once a year. This is due to a number of reasons, one of which is the powerful backlight on the face that when activated can nearly illuminate the inside of a small tent at night. If you believe the manufacturers warnings and want to play it safe, you may want to have this procedure performed by a professional (watch, not outdoor) shop. Suunto sells a battery pack that comes with a replacement seal and screw-in back, and this is definitely something to consider every other replacement opportunity, but you can get by with a lower-cost Duracell type 2430 3V lithium if youre on a budget. * The altimeter is one of the strongest features, allowing you to quickly pinpoint your location on a topo map. However, plan to reset it regularly, especially after a plane ride or frequent and significant changes in altitude, or weather. This is rather easy as along as you have a confirmed location metric, but you have to remember to do it regularly to ensure the greatest accuracy. The 24-hour memory provides a total measurement of your ups and downs (ascents and descents) over that time period, a really cool record for runners, mountain bikers and skiers. * The compass is one of the strongest in this class of devices, which to be sure isnt the greatest to begin with ... but even the serious orienteerer would be impressed. The ability to adjust for local declination is really nice. * The barometer is good, but not great. However, if you want to be aware of potential weather changes, this will provide you with some peace of mind. Better to be safe than sorry (or worse) in this regard. * The thermometer isnt accurate at all unless you take the watch off for 15-20 minutes or so to eliminate the warming effect of your skin/body temperature. * Some of the controls and settings are not easy to comprehend or remember. Ive never been able to figure out how to use the stopwatch, timer and lap features. If youre a swimmer or triathlete and this is important to you, look to the Timex Ironman standby. * Waterproofing is rock solid. No worries. * The soft-rubber watchband is comfortable to wear, but will deteriorate over time, even more rapidly in chlorine. Suunto offers a much lighter nylon/velcro alternative that I personally prefer. Overall, I really like the Vector. But for a number of reasons already mentioned, would not feel comfortable giving it a perfect 5.0 score. But consider my 4.0 more like a 4.7 ... you cant go wrong here. Sharp -- technically advanced & VERY useful... by: jeffedwards On: 2005-01-05 I am a watch collector, and in many instances, the bigger the better, and it truly IS difficult to find a timepiece bigger than your average Suunto Wristop Computer (other than the Observer). But despite its size, the Vector is quite comfortable on my wrist. It doesnt seem too bulky, and I know that sounds impossible to believe -- especially once you see the beast for the first time, but its true. If you are an avid outdoor person, whether youre into hiking, mountain climbing or just a regular fisherman, you simply should NOT leave home without a device like this. First off it has a highly accurate digital altimeter, which admittedly needs regular calibration, but as long as you keep close track of what it says, you should have no trouble keeping up on exactly where you are above (or below) sea level. Next up is another widely under-used tool, a digital barometer. Sure it may SEEM intimidating -- at FIRST, but spend a few minutes closely reading the instruction manual, and you should have it down fairly quickly. I wouldnt say you could bet your life on the accuracy of this barometer, but it IS a LOT closer to predicting the real weather than any meteorologist Ive ever encountered. Id say it was around 80% correct -- and when was the last time you could say that about your local weatherman, huh? Also, the barometer features a built-in thermometer. Now again, for a totally correct temp reading you must take the watch off your wrist for about 15 minutes first, and as far as I am aware, all watches that feature this function must be done the same way, so keep that in mind before you look at your watch and declare its 90 degrees when it is more likely 75. Finally the last nifty gadget crammed into this watch is a highly accurate digital compass. Once calibrated (and once again you may need to re-calibrate once-a-week or so to be spot-on) this compass gives you great assistance, especially for the avid hikers out there who rely on map reading in unfamiliar territory. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, it also can tell the time...it has an alarm and even a stopwatch. What will they think of next? The ONLY reason why the Vector received 4 stars instead of 5 is because despite how GOOD this timepiece really is, it really SHOULD have come with crystal or glass rather than a plastic face. I have the Suunto X-Lander which is pretty much a clone of the Vector built inside an aluminum body rather than plastic and comes with a mineral crystal face. The one thing the X-Lander is missing that the Vector has is the tiny bubble in the upper right of the watch face which is invaluable in taking accurate readings by knowing how level you are. REALLY helpful. I dunno, maybe it isnt possible to put a bubble inside of the glass face, but if it IS possible, they ought to think about doing that sometime soon. One more thing: the various colors you can find the Vector help to make it as much an accessory to your hiking outfit as an invaluable tool needed for a safe trek. I personally like the yellow the best, but I was surprised at how cool the Khaki face looked, so I went ahead with that one. All in all, if you are looking for something that will combine the incredible usefulness that the Vector has in such a small package, I would definitely say Suunto has another winner on their hands...or on their wrists, so to speak. Outstanding product. Serious Tool On: 2004-07-14I bought this watch several years ago thinking that it would be just a fun gadget to try out. I was wrong. Its not just a fun gadget, its a tool that I will never trek without. My friends and I do long, often trailless hauls over high mountain terrain. We often navigate long distances relying heavily on topo maps and compass. (Im not talking Central Park; Im talking vast stretches of Cascade and Canadian wilderness.) This watch has become a tool that I constantly use: the barometer to keep a sense of changing weather, the altimeter to validate my assumptions about topography, the compass as a backup in case my main compass dies (this happened), the thermometer to see how cold the morning is, and of course the time. Some things you should know: Its big, so treat this watch only as something you wear while doing outdoor sports. The thermometer is only useful when youre not wearing it, so expect only to know the temperature first thing in the morning (or expect to take it off and let it sit for about 10 minutes). The battery lasts for about a year (backlight use minimal). In sum: This watch should be on your wrist if and when you do serious outdoor sports such as distance mountain trekking. This watch should NOT be on your wrist if you think that mountain trekking means walking along a lovely gravel-lined trail at a nearby national park. Final Note: Since I bought mine, Suunto has come out with several variations on the same watch. You might check the others out; they may be tailored to different sports. Suunto vector by: Anonymous On: 2004-03-20 I had previously owned a Nike Altimax watch, which I kept having problems with. The wristband would come off it, the altimeter would drift by hundreds of feet. The only function that was actually usefull (besides the altimeter sometimes) was the weather forecasting function. I eventually gave up with it and looked around for a better watch. I wanted a good watch, but didnt want to spend the money on the x3 series. I soon came across the Suunto Vector. The Vector is larger in size then the x3 or nike. I have read many reviews that say the watch is uncomfortable because of its large size. However, from my experiences you will quickly grow used to the size of it. I have had the watch for about a year now, and I am still finding out about it. many people complain about the accurateness of the altimeter. If you calibrate it regularly and keep it in the altimeter mode when you need it (if you leave it in when you dont it will drain your battery fast) your altimeter will rarely be off by more the 30-40 feet. The barometer is very useful, and have found it accurate when compared the barometer readings of weather.com. The box in the upper corner is useful because it is there now matter what mode your in. I tested the temperature against a digital thermometer and it is accurate to 2 degrees F. Pros Altimeter accurate Accurate barometer and thermometer telling what the air pressure has been doing Battery easy to replace Only 4 buttons for easy use Cons: Overall, if you are getting this for the altimeter, I highly recommend it. It has much better quality than the Nike Altimax. suunto vector On: 2004-01-20IF YOU ARE AN OUTDOOR PERSON THE VECTOR IS THE ITEMTO HAVE==THE ALTIMETER ANDBAROMETER WORK IN CONJUCTION=WHICH MIGHT INITIALLY CAUSECONFUSION==BUT BY SETTING THESEA LEVEL PRESSURE=THE SETTINGSWILL EQUAL OUT=THE COMPASS ISSPOT ON AND WHEN SET WITH DECLINATION ==WILL GET YOU WHEREYOU WANT TO BE==OVERALL THE VECTOR IS WORTH THE INVESTMENTIF YOU LOVE TO-HIKE-CAMP-CLIMB-OR ANY OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITYWHICH REQUIRES TO YOU TO HAVEA HEADSUP REGARDING WEATHERAND YOUR SAFETY IN THE FIELD=ONE NOTE ==YOUR LOCAL AIRPORTCONTROL TOWER-CAN GIVE YOU=ELEVATION==SEA LEVEL PRESSURE=DELINATION=WHICH MAKES SETUPEASIER=ALSO A FIRST CLASSPHONE HELP LINE=THE PEOPLETHERE ARE TOP NOTCH AND WILL TAKE TIME TO HELP YOUSET THE VECTOR UP PROPERLY= suunto vector On: 2004-01-18FOR ANYONE WHO HIKES CAMPSOR ENJOYS THE OUTDOORS-THEVECTOR IS THE ITEM TO HAVE=THE COMPASS IS SPOT ON ANDEASILY CALIBRATED=BAROMETER ISVERY USEFUL IF OUT AND ABOUTIN *IFY*WEATHER AS WILL GIVEYOU TIME TO GET SAFELY LOCATED=ALTIMETER IS A LITTLE DIFFICULTTO UNDERSTAND BUT ONCE YOUKNOW IT IS AFFECTED BY BAROMETERYOU CAN JUDGE ACCURACY ACCORDINGLY==OVERALL A GREATITEM FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES THEOUTDOORS== I wish I'd read these reviews before I bought this watch. On: 2003-04-25I bought the Suunto Vector primarily because of the altimeter. I appreciate that it works off barometric pressure and that there will be discrepancies. However, I did not expect to return home to find that I was living 10 metres below sea level! The remaining functions are OK but can be purchsed in a watch for 70% less than what I paid for the Vector. Very disappointing. John Sloan. Decent Base Watch - Unreliable Features On: 2002-05-07Overall, this is a good watch. The time, chronograph, alarm, compass, and pressure features work well. I purchased the item primarily for its altimeter function for use in conjunction with topo maps. The altimeter feature is wholly unreliable. Altitude is calculated via pressure and it appears that there is no allowance for a change in barometric pressure. Also, the thermometer function is affected by body temperature. Suunto recommends removing it from your wrist for 15 minutes to obtain reliable temperature data. Suggestion to Suunto - Do not include the feature if your accuracy is [not good]. My recommendation - If youre looking for an altimeter and/or thermometer, keep looking... Decent Base Watch - Unreliable Features On: 2002-05-06Overall, this is a good watch. The time, chronograph, alarm, compass, and pressure features work well. I purchased the item primarily for its altimeter function for use in conjunction with topo maps. The altimeter feature is wholly unreliable. Altitude is calculated via pressure and it appears that there is no allowance for a change in barometric pressure. Also, the thermometer function is affected by body temperature. Suunto recommends removing it from your wrist for 15 minutes to obtain reliable temperature data. Suggestion to Suunto - Do not include the feature if your accuracy is [not good]. My recommendation - If youre looking for an altimeter and/or thermometer, keep looking... It by: Anonymous On: 2002-02-18 Since I am into watches this is really cool. I have a collection and there is a spot for this one. Only, the thing wrong with this watch is it cant tell the weather. |