I found my Avocet to be a very satisfactory watch, despite the fact that it is not water proof, this can be coped with by simply keeping the watch on the wrist and diving into the clothing when required. The strap gave more than adequate leeway even if it was worn over some clothing.

What was really annoying is the assumption that in the middle of an expedition or a ski run the battery was easy to replace by post! The alternative is to time how long one lasts and have a new battery fitted before getting too far from a postbox.

Avocet told me a couple of years ago that an easily replaced battery was on the cards in the 'near' future.

Consequently I purchased a Suunto X-lander on the strength of its instructions which made it clear that it was possible for the user to replace the battery.

This is not entirely untrue, but somehow Suunto have managed to fit a 'O' ring seal on the battery compartment that, with time, expands in diameter and has to be replaced instead of re-used whenever the unit is opened.

When the battery runs out, an event that is pre-warned by an indication that battery level has reached 15%, this gives about another six to seven months life but not enough to take a chance on.

It appears to be impossible to replace the old 'O' ring without cutting out a small segment of it and accepting that the water tight integrity has been compromised.

What is the solution? To purchase the Suunto Battery Replacement Kit
(wouldn't you just know?)

This kit consists of an 'O'ring of the correct diameter and a battery in a bubble pack all at greatly increased cost.

Is this a 'Rip Off' or is this a Rip Off'?

I've replaced the battery in an Avocet. I wouldn't want to do it in the middle of a blizzard, but I don't recall it being a problem. In any case, it's hardly life-threatening if the battery on an altimeter fails.

I pay around a fiver for a kit for my Vector. At a replacement around 18-24 months I don't consider it a rip off to maintain the waterproof integrity of the watch. Perhaps the x-lander kit is dearer and the extra few pounds may well be seen as a rip off in your eyes.
Everything is relative. It's like buying a Merc and then complaining about the service costs?!!!

I had an Avocet Vertech, which I liked very much but I considered it more of a rip-off to pay over £20 a time to send it off for a battery change, so a couple of years ago I switched to a Suunto Altimax. I've just given it it's first battery change and the 'O' ring was fine so I've got away with just £2 or £3 for a battery, but I also have a kit with the 'O' ring and a battery for a fiver and I'll use it next time if I need to - £2 extra to keep the thing waterproof seems pretty small on the scale of rip-offs out there...

I seem to have been unfortunate in that my experience was also tied up with wishing to replace the rotating bezel which had lost the figures in the North segment and since there were no scratches I assumed that it had worn.

I had Tiso's contact SUUNTO to purchase a replacement bezel at my expense and was told that I would have to return the watch since it was a factory job to replace.

Since there was no alternative I returned the watch and mentioned the trouble that I had with the 'O' ring. Suunto replaced the bezel, the 'O'ring and the new battery that I had inserted myself and the bill was not inconsiderable.

I have replaced my battery again (how time flies) in the past week with the same 'O' ring problem but I must bow to the replies that my comments have generated and apologise unreservedly to SUUNTO and the other users. It must be my infernal bad luck.

Just read the first bleating from Ian aitchison.The suunto xlander is a quality piece of kit !! Get a life and pay £7.99 for a replacement battery kit !!

I used my suunto vector for years without replacing the o ring when replacing the battery.  I didn't actually realise you were supposed to.  Ooops.  So, I just bought the battery from Halfords or wherever and shoved the old o ring back in.  I didn't have any trouble in the 3 or so years I owned it. Perhaps I would have eventually.

I have a solar powered watch

Just splashed out on a really butch looking Nite watch.  Battery lasts ten years.

Like Cath I kept changing the battery but not the o-ring for probably 6 years on my Suunto Metron. It gave up the ghost recently (bezel broke, badly scratched, 2 buttons not working properly), but this was more due to abuse than a design problem, & was too expensive to repair. I've replaced it with an Observer, & intend to get the O-ring kit probably every other time the battery runs out.

Where do I get a new battery for the Avoset Vertech Alpine?

genuine suunto batteries with backplate, seals etc  £5.50 inc postage here