Just curious, anyone wear Casio Protrek watches here? These watches come with solar power, digital compasses, altimeter, thermometer, barometer, low temp resistant, etc. See below link from Casio:
[url]http://world.casio.com/asia/wat/collections/protrek/lineup/triple_sensor/prg50t_7v.html[/url]

Like to hear your experiences, if any.

Thanks,

Samtan

Don't buy a cheap spalding, mind froze to death at -5 C last week while on holiday.
Sorry, can't help with the Casio. :O)

We have a Techtrail watch on test at the moment, similar idea to the Casio ones wiht altimeter, barmometer, compass and a funny little symbol that controls the weather and makes it rain. Or that's how it seems to work at the moment - I'm looking for a way to change it from clouds with rain coming out to bright sunshine.

More in a few weeks time. They're all a bit on the large side mind, you wouldn't want to be wearing it when scrambling or climbing.

I have a £9 casio on a piece of cord in my pocket, it hasn't failed me in 4 years, including winter mountaineering & camping in -15'C, but then I guess I use a map to find out the height and the little thermometer on my rucksack tells me the temp, but that's just my choice.

I am waffling now.

I use my usual Timex with an Animal strap. Never let me down yet

Casio G-Shock for me
Cheap, rugged doesn't look too bad, but still way too many functions.

Always fancied a Traser as an outdoor watch.

Casio G Shock as well, so I beat the living daylights out of it.

I have no idea why anyone would want an altimeter on their watch. Or a thermometer. A mate of mine had an old G Shock with both of those on it - it was always wrong.

i allways try to use a watch that tells the time, fortunately i also have a new fangled invention called 'skin' which tells me when its cold and some understanding of a thing called a 'map' which apparrently can tell you where you are and at what altitude the lump of rock you're standing on is.

you may find them in some specialist shops....

g-shock here too. functions wise it, er, tells the time but you can drop it, kick it, stand on it, smash it off rocks, drop it in rivers, drop it out windows, hit it around with a tennis racquet... I must have had it six years or so with just one quick trip to casio for a battery change. It's about the size of the moon though.

i bought a silva altimeter watch thing in a sale after xmas. Afterwards I never thought it would be too useful as, like others here, looking at a map is usually enough to tell where you are. However, on our treking holiday in pyrenees most of the moutains were covered in trees making it difficult to find a bearing, the only way we knew where we were was from the altimeter. Even wifey (dont need that! how much? you've bought what?) thought it was useful. Steeper it is the more vertical location counts above horizontal. blah blah etc

I have suunto observer. Mainly because I love gadgets and this watch has them all.

The compass - I would never trust as it seems to fluctuate.

Thermometer - only gives you a true reading if its not on your warm wrist (and what's the point of that?)

BUT I have found the altimeter very useful in poor visability. And if your gonna have an altimeter then why not have it on your watch?

Of course the time isn't function too bad if only I could work out what its for!

Sam

I wear a protrek its a PRG-40.

Not had a problem with it yet. But lets get down to the nitty gritty

1. It tells me the time-accurately

2. The Altimeter works just have to remember to set it via a map or give it time to make an accurate reading after being in the car or leaving it stored

3. It tells you the temperature- of your wrist if you want an accurate reading you need to take it off

4. Barometer works very well

5. Compass- no replacement for a proper compass but for quick references no problems there its actually fairly accurate but needs taking off your wrist really

Solar power ? dont have it

I use a divers watch. Big face with luminous hands and numbers. It tells the time and that's all I require of a watch. Why does everyone have to have gizmos on their wrist to do all sorts? My iPaq does the altitude, compass, GPS and maps (real zoomable OS maps on screen)perfectly well without needing a computer on my wrist. As for temperature - who cares - it's either cold enough to put something extra on or hot enough to take something off. Having a barometer with you when walking in Britain ain't much use as weather patterns dont change that quickly for a barometer to warn you. Better to look at the weather maps before going.

ah, but if your watch did it all you could leave your ipaq at home.....

Suunto Vector, Mostly use the altimeter when abroad or on the odd claggy day in Scotland.

I'd like to see a watch capable of storing and showing me a real OS map big enough to be of use.

I'd like to see the batteries on my OS map go flat after two hours......

Having had a protech and now using a Suunto Observer I can't rate the Suunto to highly. It is tough and very reliable.

the protect cost a fortune to replace the battery, and broke after 2 years

Two hours? I've had a Suunto Vector for 18 months now and still on original batteries...

The altimeter is probably the most useful feature after the time; yes, I CAN use a map but in fog and whiteouts it's great for confirming one's own assessment of where we are. The rate of ascent/descent is also a laugh on ski-lifts...more useful on scrambly ascents I guess when the tiring nature of the activity is offset by the fact that we are climbing at 15m per minute or whatever.

Yes, you can get a full weather forecast when setting off for a day but on multi-day trips the barometer confirms my own meterological observations and I like gadgets anyway!

For normal use I wear a diver's watch (cos I dive, not for vanity) with a Quiksilver velcro strap - no need to worry about it getting wet and the numerals are large and clear and at night they are luminous - like when diving, shine the light on the watch then move it away and look at the luminosity. Shining the torch on a non-luminous watch buggers up your night vision.

On multi-day hikes, two ordinary (waterproof) watches, one on each wrist, in case the battery in one goes flat.