| Although the name Wristop Computer may suggest otherwise, Suunto's line of über-watches aren't just for those with a fetish for the latest in techno-toys. These rugged time tellers offer a variety of features for outdoor enthusiasts, with the Vector watch sporting a barometer, an altimeter, and a compass. The barometric mode of the Vector displays the current barometric pressure and temperature as well as recent barometric trends. The trend display can be used for rough weather forecasts if you won't be changing altitude. After making the initial setting, the Vector was able to provide us with rather accurate barometric readings compared to the readouts to Internet weather reports for our region. We did run into a problem with the temperature display of the barometer mode, as it can be impacted by body heat. Suunto recommends removing the watch from your wrist for 15 minutes for a more reliable temperature reading--not exactly the handiest of options. The altimeter, which uses barometric readings to measure altitude, isn't exact either. And depending on the weather, we needed to reset the altimeter at least once a day. But it proved useful on local hikes, noting altitude to an accuracy of 10 feet after being reset, and also letting us note how quickly we increased or decreased in altitude in the Vector's logbook (which holds up to 3,800 sets of data). One of the most useful tools on the Vector is its digital compass--after an initial calibration (we found out that using a watch this powerful requires a lot of tweaks), it kept us headed in the right direction with readouts in both direction and degree. We just had to remember to keep the watch level--holding it at the normal angle for chronometer reading skewed the compass results. And, oh yeah, the Vector keeps time as well. Its time mode displays day and date with 12- or 24-hour time. It also features three daily alarms, a stopwatch, and a countdown timer. Even while using the other modes, the Vector displays the current time at the bottom of the display. The Vector has a nice, bright backlit display and is also waterproof to 100 feet--as long as you don't press any buttons. We didn't take it down that far, but it surfaced without a problem from the bottom of our 12-foot deep pool. You'll definitely know this large watch is on your wrist, but if you're an avid adventurer who loves techno-gadgets hardy enough for the outdoors, the Vector's your watch. It's the timepiece Grizzly Adams would have worn. --J. Curtis Pros: - Ruggedly designed--great for the outdoor adventurer
- Compass and altimeter are handy on hikes
- Easy to switch between modes
Cons: - Large size can be unwieldy on wrist
- Takes a lot of resets
|
|
 outstanding outdoor tool |
| Review Date: February 6, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Mule, USA |
I got my first Vector about three years ago, from REI. Yes, it is large. Not a problem for me as I am large.
I am on my third Vector; the first two, for some strange reason, leaked water, the first during an incredible monsoon rainstorm in the mountains of Arizona, the second while taking a shower. No, I did not submerse the watch, nor push any buttons while the water was 'on'. Fortunately, REI accepts returns with no questions. It is a testament to how nice this watch is that I continued to replace the watch. Perhaps I had models from a bad production run, as my present Vector has lasted for over two years with nary a leak.
The good: I have found the digital compass to be very accurate and useful. Remember that it must be calibrated from time to time, and don't forget about declination.
The barometer is VERY useful. The barometer function is constantly operating, and accounts for a nice little symbol in the upper left of the display showing pressure trends over the past few hours. This is very useful if you understand barometric pressure trends and their likely results. If you do not, look it up and learn, as you will find it to be very useful if you spend a lot of time in the brush. Remember that the barometric pressure must be calibrated against absolute sea-level readings from time to time, especially during rapidly changing weather conditions. Once you understand the relationship between altitude/changing weather, you will master the complexities of both the barometer and the altimeter, and understand just how simple they are, and how reliable this device really is. I have checked it against my high-end GPS and other barometers many times, and it is very accurate indeed.
The temp is useful if you need to know the temperature; like all such devices, it will have to be taken off of your body for about ten minutes before you will get an accurate reading.
The bad: the lens is plastic. If you have any experience with fine coated-glass, you will do fine with this: DO NOT, EVER, wipe any dust or dirt off of the face. Use a lens-pen, with a fine blower-brush. Or wait until you've stepped under water with it. Put simply, it has been my experience that if you keep your grubby paws off of it, and don't try to 'clean' it with your cotton t-shirt/flannel shirt/etc, and instead use methods used for fine coated glass elements, it will look like new forever. Mine does, and it has been in desert dust and swamp mud.
The battery does, in fact, eventually lose energy! In normal use, you can expect a year or more from the battery. If you are one of those fellas that shows everyone that he meets his "neat digital compass", or actually rely on this as your primary compass in the brush, it won't last nearly so long. The digital compass is the primary energy-sucker, likely as much as the backlight. Use the compass only when needed (you should have a base-plate compass anyway...Suunto also makes some of the best of these as well).
As for the review stating the watchbands give out, I find that remarkable as I have never had a problem with mine, and I wear it constantly, day in and day out.
All in all, and in spite of the fact that I had to return my first two, I heartily recommend the Vector. Tough and useful. |
Suunto Vector
|
| Review Date: February 25, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Roland Andersen, Fairwood, Wa. |
This is the second Suunto Vector watch i have owned. Only because the first one was lost. The only two draw backs of this watch is battery life and my band broke twice in two years. Seems to me they could offer a much longer life battery and a band that would hold up alot better. the battery lasts about 6 months only.For the price of this watch ($230) you think tehy could do alittle better.
Other than that i love the watch |
Suunto vector
|
| Review Date: March 20, 2004 |
| Reviewer: , |
I had previously owned a Nike Altimax watch, which I kept having problems with. The wristband would come off it, the altimeter would drift by hundreds of feet. The only function that was actually usefull (besides the altimeter sometimes) was the weather forecasting function. I eventually gave up with it and looked around for a better watch. I wanted a good watch, but didn't want to spend the money on the x3 series. I soon came across the Suunto Vector.
The Vector is larger in size then the x3 or nike. I have read many reviews that say the watch is uncomfortable because of its large size. However, from my experiences you will quickly grow used to the size of it.
I have had the watch for about a year now, and I am still finding out about it. many people complain about the accurateness of the altimeter. If you calibrate it regularly and keep it in the altimeter mode when you need it (if you leave it in when you don't it will drain your battery fast) your altimeter will rarely be off by more the 30-40 feet.
The barometer is very useful, and have found it accurate when compared the barometer readings of weather.com. The box in the upper corner is useful because it is there now matter what mode your in. I tested the temperature against a digital thermometer and it is accurate to 2 degrees F.
Pros
Altimeter accurate
Accurate barometer and thermometer telling what the air pressure has been doing
Battery easy to replace
Only 4 buttons for easy useCons:
No computer telling you the forecast
You have to push the buttons harder than most watches
Plastic Screen Overall, if you are getting this for the altimeter, I highly recommend it. It has much better quality than the Nike Altimax. |
Suunto Vector - Great Watch
|
| Review Date: March 23, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Steve, Santa Cruz, California |
I had a Casio Pathfinder for 10 years prior to getting the Suunto Vector Black. Loved the Casio until I had to replce the batteries. In order to keep it water resistant, I forked over another $50 each time to the repair guy. However, each time the batteries were replaced I lost a function/feature. Can't find a damn watch band either.
The Suunto Vector Black on the other hand is not only a great looking watch but you can change the battery (did I say one battery?) yourself, thus keeping the water resistant integrity. How? The battery resides in its own sealed compartment. Use a quarter to unscrew the top and there sits the battery. tah-dah.
I'm an avid sailor, surfer and also fly planes. The Vector is very easy to use. The con is you can't set the declination point. I found this to be true with other brands I tried before settling on the Suunto. I also wish the count down timer would start to count up once it hit zero so I can use the stopwatch as a stopwatch not as a count up timer. But I can live without this feature. I like the negative display too. Nice touch. The watch has a large face; 1 5/16" and 2" edge to edge.
The new Casio has this stupid moving three stripes on the face. If you raise your hand or tilt it to certain angle the damn light comes on. I rather have a button to push than have it come on by itself. A person lying down, the light comes on. It also has large face. Compare the Suunto and a Casio side by side and you'll see the Suunto quality and workmanship over the Casio. Friends who bought a Casio regret doing it once they saw my Suunto. I think they did because I had a Casio before and they, some piece of crap.
OK, its been a year since I've owned my Suunto. I don't like writing reviews until I've owned something for awhile to see if the product holds true. This one does. I've lost 1 second in the past year, the band looks fresh and new, the face still shiny and unscratched even though it gets banged against stuff all the time. If you're thinking of getting Suunto Vector, stop thinking and buy one. You'll be happy you did. |
great watch
|
| Review Date: June 24, 2004 |
| Reviewer: andrew, Seattle, WA USA |
| this watch is one of the coolest watches i have ever seen. i have read reviews and technical data about similer products like the casio pathfinder. the pathfinder primaraly has the same fetures as the vector. the difference is that the pathfinders altimeter can be off by 1400' or more in stable weather! the vectors altimeter never really gets off more then 200 feet. if you want one of the best watches avalable get the suunto vector |
Just what I wanted
|
| Review Date: January 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: MATT, Washington |
I haven't had this watch for too long yet but so far I am loving it. I have Citizen Titanium watch that I love but I needed something a little more functional for Iraq. I definitely wanted the black face, alarms(s) and really wanted a thermometer and compass if I could afford it. I had seen Suunto watches before and knew that they had GPS features but quickly fouond out that those were a little more than I wanted to spend for the use I would get out of it.
After doing a good amount of homework I decied that the Vector would be the bset choice for me. And here are a few things I love about it:
1. Price was much better than other watches and particularly good through Amazon.
2. FEATURES-Has all the features you could want. 12/24 hr time keeping, 3 alarms, compass, barometer/thermometer, altimeter, stopwatch, logs, split stopwatch, countdown timer, date, rotating bezel and seconds elapse around the edge of the face.
3. AESTHETICS-The watch itself is a little large but it looks really good. I prefer the black background/white numbers and it looks very good on this X-Black version I got. At first I wasn't sure about the orange inner ring but I love it now. The backlight makes the watch very legible at night but isn't so bright that it bothers you.
4. FUNCTION-All of the buttons are easy to use and the manual, although intimidating, is actually not hard to understand. Once you actually use the watch a few times you won't have to worry about getting confused. The Suunto website even has a little video going over the functions and how to use them at http://suuntowatches.com/Suunto-Vector.pro?sNav=3.
There is only one small thing that I didn't really care for on this watch and it's just my personal preference. The excees strap keeper, I guess you can call it, doesn't move easily at all once you have the watch on but it's actually good for doing it's job. I just like to move it spometimes.
I love this watch so far and hope this helps others. I looked at quite a few other watches but this seemed like the best choice for what I was looking for in a watch. |
An amazingly tough watch and useful
|
| Review Date: January 10, 2006 |
| Reviewer: S. Kollmar, New Jersey |
| I'm very hard on my gear and this watch has withstood it all. It has all the features you could ask for in a watch plus a few you would never expect. Large easy to read numbers for when your in difficult situations or akward positions and even while scuba diving (note: it says not to press buttons underwater, but its still readable without the backlight...usually) are a great feature and although it's a large watch, it has a certain style all its own. I think the compass is my favorite feature great while orienting yourself with a trail map. Also a great conversational piece while breaking the ice in the board room..."my watch helps me predict the weather":-D...ok maybe not the best thing to tell your boss, but still an amazing watch:-) |
SUUNTO VECTOR
|
| Review Date: May 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: VANESSA, Deployed |
| This was an anniversary gift for my husband and he absolutely loved it, we are both deployed in Afghanistan so it's something he will use every day! |
Great Watch
|
| Review Date: June 7, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Enriquez G. Sanchez, Coachella Valley California |
| In my opinion, for the price this is the best hiking watch around. I have been hiking and use all of the watch functions, as far as I can tell they are accurate, except the temperature when it is on my wrist, so I take it off for 15 to 20 minutes as it has been suggested and it is more in line with the temperatures in my area. I hike in 100 degree temps, and a bit higher. |
Perfect for the rain forest
|
| Review Date: September 16, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Michael P. Morton, Wilmington, DE USA |
| I just returned from spending two plus weeks in the rain forest in coastal British Columbia. This watch worked perfectly. It was critical to have the thermometer altimeter and the barometer. I was able to use topographical maps and the watch to know where I was on the mountain. I was also able to leave the rock face when the barometer predicted incoming rain. This piece of equipment (far more than a watch) was critical to the success of the expedition.Suunto Vector Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and Thermometer |
|
No video reviews found for this product.
No customer reviews were found for this product.
