Suunto Vector Watch

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	Packed with Features
Disadvantages:	Big Bulky and Expensive

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This is more than a watch and needs a considerable amount of practice to be used effectively. To say that it is an on board computer is absolutely right.

The main features are :

Normal bog standard watch, This can also be used as a stop watch too.

Altimeter: This tells you how high you are- this is linked to the barometer.

Barometer: Factory set - for me the most useful part of this computer.

Compass: Needs to be calibrated to be sure it's accurate.

Each function is stepped to by a push of the mode button - there is a shortcut to the compass - this is handy Quite big buttons easy to use with bare fingers not to sure about gloves. There are four buttons around the edge of the rim.

The watch is accurate as all digital watches are, the stop watch is fairly easy to use there is no danger to me of accidently tripping it when out running or walking as you can with the timexes. On the watch function the date is shown on the secondary display.
The time is shown on the secondary display in all other functions

The altimeter is accurate if you have set it to a known good altitude first. It can be set to meters or feet. If the air pressure changes the height changes this can be confusing especially when camping. Waking up 220 ft higher than when you went to sleep - there are some mental gymnastics to do to track the change and retain its accuracy - try doing that on a pennine moor in February and you are lost. Coupled with the Altimeter is a device that is really useful and that is the rate of ascent/descent indicator. I know I can only climb/run at certain rate upwards. If I exceed this, I go into oxygen debt and collapse. It also gives me an indication of how long an ascent will take. Usefull for training on hills to challenge yourself to go harder or faster. Using the descent is a good indicator of arriving at the bottom of a slope too. The altitude can be adjusted on the rim buttons. It is possible to use it in a lift and actually inform your fellow travellers that you are ascending at a rate of 24 feet per minute!

The barometer is the most useful device for me especially when it comes to safety on the fells. This is factory set. The manual gives the indication that it can be set by the user but I have never found out how to, fortunately. Watching the barometer can give you an indication f how the weather will turn out. Below 900 mbs expect the weather to be poor - definately to be watched. The rate the pressure drops is a good indication of an impending storm. Very useful is a trend display. However I have fooled it by ascending quickly, when I know the pressure hasn't changed! More an interpretation. sometimes.

The compass is very good if you can trust it. I have had it reset itself on me on a long walk. Using it can be a bit difficult becase it is attached to your wrist and there are only so many ways you can bend your arm. The reset procedure is quite complex and you may have to do it more than once to get it absolutely right. The manual asks you to remove and replace the battery. However this cleares the logbook and defaults the settings. So don't unless you HAVE to reset the compass.

There are a host of other features one layer beneath this overview.

Plus points:
This much power for 150 pounds maybe less! WOW! you can play for hours!
It does everything well and accurately.
Build quality is exceptional
Light, in both senses
Fantastic conversation piece
Batteries cheap and can be changed by user.

Negative Points
Big.
Uninspiring design
So finely tuned you can confuse yourself
Expensive
Need a serious amount of practice to use even some of the more basic features
Display can be confusing.
If you use the compass - drains battery cuts of compass when you actually want it to continue - this is part of the design - this may be customisable I don't know there is so much.

Summary.
It does everything but. take a "proper" compass onto the hills, A stopwatch does a better job easier than this. If you are prepared to do some serious practice with this watch then buy it. It will reward you with serious good times.