Suunto Observer ST Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass (Stainless Steel)
List Price: $449.99 Our Price: $399.00 You Save: $50.99 (11.3%) Availability: | Usually ships in 24 hours (as of 1:01 PM CT - detail) |
Altimeter, barometer, and electronic compass in oneOne-third smaller than earlier Suunto modelsStylish stainless-steel housing with durable stainless steel elastomer wristbandAltimeter with improved logbook displays and records simultaneously; 3 alarms, stopwatch, and countdown timerShock resistant, waterproof; Electroluminescent backlight
Product Description
The extremely shock-resistant Observer is a perfect tool for the toughest athletic challenges, but its timeless design makes it wearable in any casual situation. Thanks to its moderate size, Observer fits well also tofemale wrist. The most important features of Observer include the following: altimeter, barometer, digital compass, and watch with chronometer and dual time functions. Features: * Keep up withchanging conditions This wrist-top information center tracks direction, altitude and weather as well as the time. * Altimeter function, displayedin either meters or feet, ranges up to 9,000m (29,500 ft.) in 1 meter (3 ft.) increments * Altimeter tracks ascent/descent rate of climbs or ski runs; constant sea level feature omits barometric changes to reported altitude * Barometer with automatic four-day memory helps you see weather trends * Barometer provides data in one-hour intervals for the first six hours, then in six-hour intervals for up to four days * Compass displays cardinal and half-cardinal points and direction of travel; great companion instrument for your GPS unit * Compass can be set to track a bearing, indicating the difference between the given bearing and actual bearing, redirecting you to your course * Declination adjustment function corrects the difference between magnetic north and true north * Accurate timing functions include: 12/24 hour display, stop watch with lap or split option, dual time, 24-hour timer, alarms, month, date, day display * Flawless operations in wet conditions, water-resistant to 330 feet * Water resistance ensures normal operation in wet conditions, not a diving device. User should avoid pressing buttons while the unit is underwater Specifications: Date window; Illumination Backlighting Water-resistance 330 feet Face diameter 1.75 inch Construction Stainless steel Watch band material Stainless steel * Altimeter History memory; Logbook functio
Spotlight Customer Reviews:
Summary:
Good Product
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Comment:
I was impressed with the display. It is very easy to read in all light conditions.
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Summary:
Great Watch
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Comment:
This is a great watch, especially for small to medium build guys. It's a good size watch but it's not nearly the dinner plate replacement that some of it's ABC brethren are.
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Summary:
Nice case, inacceptable band
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Comment:
I've used this watch for 4 years now and I like the case very much. But the band, either Titanium or SS ( practically the same ) is definitely unacceptable. I've changed it 3 times and lost a watch to it.
Other annoyances :
+ Watch is not full SS or Titanium.
+ Alarm is inaudible
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Summary:
great watch - horrible band
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Comment:
I'm on my second Observer. The first one had the wrist band fail after about two years and REI was pleasant enough to replace the watch for me. The second one had the leather band instead of the polymer band. I was hoping the leather would be more durable. No such luck. The leather band failed after one year of normal wear.
However, the watch itself rocks. I wear it as a daily watch but I also use the altimeter function extensively (primarily for tracking vertical feet skied). It is perfect for my needs. I just wish they could make a band that lasted. Why don't they do a simple all metal band? The stainless band on my Tag has lasted 10 years.....
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Summary:
Looks tough but it isn't...
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Comment:
SUUNTO Observer
I have owned my Observer for four years now and wear it daily, whether at work or outdoors (hiking, climbing, etc). Basic features include time, date, stopwatch (with split time), altitude/barometer, and compass. There is also a logbook function, that records your ups and downs while hiking. As the star rating indicates, I do not recommend buying this, or any other SUUNTO product, and I explain why.
I bought the Observer because I wanted a tough built watch that could take some roughing up without sweating. The case is indeed impressive (mine is steel, there is also a considerably more expensive titanium one). But rarely do watches fail because their cases crush in, rather, it is the mechanism inside that is usually the first to go. A few months ago I dropped the watch from about one meter (three feet) to a hard tile floor - the screen went black, and there was no response whatsoever. I took it to SUUNTO and after a couple of weeks they informed me that the entire module had to be changed. You might think that a company that tries to pass for the Mercedes Benz of sports watches, would be somewhat embarrassed that their toughest model died on a one meter fall. Perhaps they would fix it for free? No. Perhaps they would sell you the module at a minimal cost? No. They charged a full 200 USD for it and, for a watch that now sells for about 320, this cannot possibly correspond to the actual cost. So SUUNTO tried its best to make a profit out of an unacceptable malfunction of its product.
Some more observations: the crystal in front is superbly hard, just a minor little scratch after four years of use. Mine has the plastic straps with the metal incrustations. Expected lifetime for these is two to three years, and SUUNTO will charge you anywhere from 50 to 100 USD to replace them! To make things worse, it is practically impossible to change the straps yourself - after trying it for half an hour without success, I watched a very skilled technician spend another twenty minutes, with all sorts of weirdly shaped tools, until he managed it - no rational explanation occurs to me for such maliciousness in design. The locking mechanism, on the other hand, is nicely thought out, and very secure. The alarm function is practically useless (hence not mentioned above) as the volume is ridiculously low (and you cannot adjust it). Even if you put the alarm at home to go off in one minute, chances are you will not be able to hear it when it does. The barometric capsule is very accurate, even after four years you can see your altitude increase meter after meter as you go up the stairs. Battery is supposed to be changed by the owner but again, a silly design makes that much harder than necessary: there is a sort of a coin slot in the back to rotate the battery cover, but after you do that, there is no way to pull the cover out (it does not come out easily because of the rubber seal). So you have to try with all sorts of sharp metal objects to pull it out, and this will scratch the rather soft back cover.
Overall, this is a deceptively tough looking watch - it is silly to come up with such a case when the internal mechanism cannot take a G or two. SUUNTO, as a company, has no sense of class whatsoever - their service is slow, overpriced, and irritating. If you need a tough sports watch try a lightweight model that will not reach ridiculous terminal speeds in a fall (while climbing, say). Make it also a non-SUUNTO product, until these geniouses learn how to deal decently with their customers.
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