Altimax or Vector?

Ted Weber

01/10/2003 at 12:10

I intend to by one of these Sunnto altimeter watches this Xmas - but which? Is the compass on the Vector worth the extra dosh? And does it use up the batteries more quickly (as a great mate of mine suggests)? Practical advice pls - and where's the cheapst place to get one?

Cath Sullivan

01/10/2003 at 12:41

I have a vector, which I've found very useful. I'm not completely sure that the extra money for the compass is worth it though. It's handy for setting the map, as you can identify north very quickly without fumbling in your rucksack for your compass, but not really that much use as a baseplate compass for taking bearings (although you can do this).

Ninja Marmot

01/10/2003 at 17:29

I got the Vector as due to economies of scale you can pick it up at a decent price more readily, it's also more easily obtainable for the same reason. I tend not to use the compass function as it DOES eat batteries up but if used only briefly it is OK.

Ninja Marmot

01/10/2003 at 17:31

PS the cheapest place I found 'in the world' to buy it was the Barn Door Shop at Wasdale Head - they do mail order - found out 2 weeks after I had mine bought for me :( but I DID get a much better price than normal anyway :)

Giles Thurston

01/10/2003 at 19:33

I got the Suunto Observer and would agree with both Cath & Jeannie that the compass is not really worth bothering about. I would treat it as a nice to have rather than essential. In the couple of years I've had mine I've probably only used it twice and like Cath that was for quickly setting a map.

Can't fault the rest of the features and use the Altimeter all the time and the stop watch for timing. The alarm does tend to be on the quiet side. So much so that you would struggle to hear it if the watch was dangling in front of your face. Minor point though.

Ted Weber

01/10/2003 at 20:05

Thanks very much, all of you. Looks like it's going to be the Altimax!

Guy...

01/10/2003 at 23:38

Ted

I had an vector and I thought it was greatm, the compass was usefull and well worth the extra just for setting maps , but if you intend to wear the watch most days then I would suggest you do as I did and change to an observor.

same fnctions but much slimmer and easy to wear, you can pick up good ones from ebay or new from the barn door shop

Guy

Mike M

02/10/2003 at 09:49

Cath, I am shocked to read you keep your compass in your rucksac. Surely they don't teach that on the ML course!!!

Cath Sullivan

02/10/2003 at 10:00

I'm just wild and reckless me.

Ninja Marmot

02/10/2003 at 16:44

I can vouch for that LOL

Alison Stockwell

02/10/2003 at 16:55

Retractable ski pass reels are great for keeping your compass out of the way, but handy. If you haven't seen these things, they cost about a pound and you can clip them to your rucksack, zip, pierced body part or wherever you like. Pull your compass and out it comes; let go and it whizzes back into place. Easy :-)

Ninja Marmot

02/10/2003 at 16:59

Pierced body part????

Cath Sullivan

02/10/2003 at 17:01

Ouch!

Ninja Marmot

02/10/2003 at 17:10

The "Pull your compass and out it comes; let go and it whizzes back into place" bit worries me too.

Cath Sullivan

02/10/2003 at 17:13

A black eye at best. I think I'll stick to fumbling in my rucksack!

DAVE G

02/10/2003 at 18:01

you can't beat a fumble in a rucsac

Cath Sullivan

02/10/2003 at 18:07

Dave - you must have led a very sheltered life! There's all kinds of ways to beat that!!

Marcus Crompton

02/10/2003 at 22:10

Dave must have a big sack.

Alison Stockwell

02/10/2003 at 22:20

I have it on good authority from a friend that fumbling in a plastic survival bag is deffo not a good idea. Noisy and sweaty she said.

Ted Weber

03/10/2003 at 12:48

One back to VR Jeannie. Avoiding all the smutty stuff this question has bizarrely generated - what are you people like! - I've been pondering. Your response, and thanks for it, implies that you can turn off the compass function and save battery power - can you?

And does the bubble get in the way of anything?

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