Just a note to say that I used to own a Vector myself. The product is 99.9% accurate in all the functions. I also own thE X-Lander It also is 99.9% accurate with a better case and a mineral glass. The last reviewer has no Idea how to use the watch becouse he didn't understand the instructions, I don't really blame him & other reviewers that have given the watch a bad review, they just don't understand how altimeters work. Bob if you are reading this, just like to say that the profesional Altimeters used to measure heights also have to be set by the user at a known height. And the way you explain how you use the compass is wrong, you do that only once to calibrate the compass then it works fine. Oh Oh maybe I'm wrong in saying all this, maybe SUUNTO decided to stooge people into buying a watch that does't work ?. I DON'T THINK SO, If you are after a reliable watch that does everything the brochure says with ACCURACY buy the watch and enjoy it.

Customer Service

Not needed

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CASIO, Didn't like it

I bought this watch for the altimiter and the compass. my $40. timex has all the other funtions.
I was quite perplexed when I learned that the user must (quite often) calibrate the compass and the altimiter. There are a whole host of circumstances that can offset the calibrations, and my thought is, that if I'm depending on this piece of equiptment to tell me my elevation,then I'm not going to be very accurate in guessing what the elevation is to put into the calabration , so that the equiptment can give me the elevation that I don't know that I'm at!!!
Calibrating the compass. The instruction is so rediculous, it would actually be a humorous reading had you not just paid $200. for the opportunity to read such a commical piece.
It requires the user to remove the watch. Push 2 buttons at the same time untill something blinks. Then while keeping the watch level(via a small allmost invisible bubble level) rotate the watch a full 360 deg. then press another button or two in order to finish this operation. Oh and be quick you only have about 60 seconds or less to do this or it goes back to the previous mode. Ha! How can you expect me to hold the thing level when I am shaking cold when it takes me 2 or 3 times under pleasurable conditions.
the compass and altimiter are accurate when the are calibrated. The problem is that you have no way of knowing when they are out of whack, only if you have a known elevation or setting to campare it to. This could be a serious problem if you were actually relying on this product to guide you.
I learned how to use the product, found it was unreliable, and took it back to the store.
I use the altimiter in my garmin gps 12xl. It is pretty good.
For a compass I bought a military lenstatic $80. I love it, it is very accurate.
I hope suunto improves the watch. I would enjoy owning a reliable one.

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Worse feature: Viewing angle is critical, view it a little off axis and some of the segments of the display appear transparent. Regularly mistake "9" for "7" because of this. Suunto admits to this problem, "Yes, you have to look at the watch straight on"

Face is polycarbonate and scratches very easily.

In the dark, you need a match to see if the display light is on.

Ergonomically, buttons are hard to push.

Watch is waterproof but not if you push a button while underwater = look, don't touch.

Lots of problems for a $200 watch that is rarely if ever discounted.

Customer Service

First one lasted about 4 mos, then went bad electronically. Took Suunto 45 days to fix, under warranty, not charged.

Strap has fallen off twice during use. Had to order new strap retaining pins from Suunto (they were provided at no charge)

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I have had mine for six-months as of this writing. It is a large watch that is practically weightless. It will take time to learn and remember all it is capable of doing and you will not want to be far from the manual for a while. At some point it all begins to make sense. The functions of time, altitude, barometer and compass are passably accurate and precise when used as directed. The thermometer is accurate. It even has a six-hour weather forecast function. I've read some remarks against this product. I think it is a poor carpenter who blames his tools. I am increasingly delighted with this purchase. The construction and materials are first rate. The alarm functions are a joke as the alarm is nearly inaudible.

Customer Service

Advise on-line was immediate and courteous.

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Great watch with MANY features. It is a bit difficult to set, but the alt. works very well. I haven't used the compass much.

Customer Service

Hard to find more help and info aside from the user's manual.

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This watch has some useful features and some that I never use. The altimeter works well, as long as you remeber to calibrate it regularly. I have found the compass to be pretty much useless. It keeps time, has a stop watch, 3 alarms and a nive back-light. It has a barometer (go figure) and a thermometer which works well. There are a ton of other features that I have not taken the time to learn. It is a useful watch though, if I was in the market for another one I would buy the new altimax (fewer features and is cheaper). It is also very easy to change the batteries on this watch.

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I have owned this watch for about 2 years and it is one of my favorite pieces of equipment. I use it on every trip I take. It has performed flawlessly the entire time I have had it, even standing up to mountain biking. I have teken it to Moab and Fruita, as well as several trips to Vail and Winter Park for downhilling. I like the feature that calculates total vertical feet, which after a day of ski run bombing can be 10,000 feet or more. I have worn it swimming, in the hot tub, jet skiing, you name it.
As for other reviewer's negative comments, all I can say is huh? I have a cheap Timex and no, the light is not as bright. So what, I have never been unable to read it in the dark. The numbers distort at an angle? It's an LCD display and at enough of an angle any LCD will be difficult to read as it is hard to tell which bars are darkened, the lens on mine does not distort the display. It's hard to hold level? Find a compas that doesn't need to be level to read accurately, and if you are shivering, get moving or buy better outdoor clothing.
I had a Casio Pathfinder for about a week and returned it to get the Vector. The Casio was much more difficult to read thanks to a miniature display, and standing motionless in calm weather, the altimiter would vary up to 400 vertical feet. In my opinion, and from my experience, the Suunto is a better product hands down.
All the features work as advertised, and are very useful. Watch the barometric trend display and you'll see what I mean. It's also cool to wake up in your tent and check the temp, just take it off so it doesn't pick up your body heat. And my battery lasted just over a year and cost me $2.50 to replace.
All in all this thing rocks! What a kick ass toy!

Customer Service

No experience with the warranty, it hasen't given me a bit of trouble.

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Casio Pathfinder. Thought it sucked, returned it, bought the Vector, 'nuff said

I've leered at this watch for some time. After receiving a mailer from REI offering it for $139, I jumped and bought it.

So far I have been very happy with my purchase. I've read through the instruction booklet once and can't begin to remember all of the features.

My only complaint is with the construction of the watch. The case and lense are plastic. The lense is so large that you can bet you are going to scratch it up petty good. Would have been nice to have the Suunto electronics in a G-Shock like case.

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