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Our Review of the Suunto Observer
The shock-resistant Suunto Observer is a tool built for outdoor challenges, but its timeless design makes it wearable in any situation. The Observer is 1/3 smaller in both diameter and width than the first generation Suunto Watches (Vector, Altimax, etc). It also features a chronograph, which previously was only offered in the Navitech but is now discontinued.
Available in 5 different material combinations: stainless steel housing with elastomer strap, stainless steel housing with stainless steel strap, and titanium housing with titanium strap. Water Resistant to 100m / 330 ft. (3 times deeper than the other non-dive watches). Metal Strap versions consist of metal links over an Elastomer strap with a hinge type opening. Our biggest complaint about the Observer is the Alarm Volume; in order to get all of the electronics in the small casing, something had to give, and it was certainly the alarm speaker size. If you normally use a watch alarm, this one is at best about 1/2 the volume.
Click here to download instruction manual. (Adobe Reader required)
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Suunto Watch Face Specs(cm/mm)
- Thickness
- 1.38
- Casing Diameter
- 4.5
Time
- 12/24 hour clock
- Calendar pre-programmed to the year 2089
- 3 daily alarms (please read review above)
- Dual time display
- Stopwatch with lap and split time measurement; stores up to 99 laps and split times for 1 run
Altimeter
- Altitude range up to 9000 m / 29,500 ft.
- Resolution to 1 m / 3 ft
- Ascent/descent rate in m/min or ft/min
- One-button access to intermediate information about total vertical ascent/decent, and number of runs skied
- Logbook stores total ascent/descent, average ascent/descent rate, number of runs skied duration of log
- Altitude alarm
- Altimeter use: unique feature to keep sea level pressure from changing when unit is used as altimeter
Barometer
- Absolute pressure range 300 - 1 1-hPa/ 9.90 - 32.40 inHg
- Sea level pressure range 921 - 1080 hPa / 27.25 - 30.80 inHg
- Resolution 1hPa / 0.05 inHg
- Temperature compensation
- Automatic 4-day memory stores pressure information in one hour intervals for the last six hours, then in six hour intervals
- Temperature range -20 degrees - +60 degrees C / -5 degrees - +140 degrees F
- Barometer use: unique feature to keep altitude from changing when unit is used as a barometer
- Barometric trend indicator
Compass
- Shows bearing in degrees and cardinal or half-cardinal point
- North-South arrow
- Bearing tracking function displays locked bearing, actual bearing and difference between these
- Declination adjustment
- Resolution: bearing 1 degree, North-South arrow +/- 5 degrees
Chronograph
- Stopwatch with lap and split time measurement; stores up to 99 laps and split times for up to 99 runs
Other Features
- Different housing and strap options available
- Backlight, electroluminescent
- User-replaceable battery
- Low battery indicator
- Water Resistant to 100 m / 330 ft
- Stain/Elast 2.9 oz. - Stain/Stain 3.6 oz. - Tita/Tita 3.1 oz.
- Scratch-resistant mineral crystal glass face
Suunto Watch Face Specs(cm)
- Thickness: 1.38
- Casing Diameter: 4.5
Suunto Observer Reviews
Suunto Observer
Awesome
band band
I've had my Observer for probably six years now and have had little problem with it but have come to accept its drawbacks. Quickly reviewing other comments, I concur that the alarm is a joke (it's never succeeded in waking up this light sleeper) and I find it frustrating that the altimeter and barometer cannot be used at the same time. It seems to be a very sensitive instrument and you have to be certain to recalibrate the altimeter each day, otherwise changes in barometric pressure will throw it very far off in no time. Compass is the same thing. It works great but you have to recalibrate after walking too close to generators or anything else with a motor strong enough to make it go haywire (you'd be surprised how often this happens).
But my real complaint is the band. The simple elastomer band broke after the first year, so I replaced it with the much more handsome stainless band, thinking that if it's stainless, it must be stronger. Unfortunately the metal is only cosmetic (and more expensive) and does nothing to reinforce the band. Also, Suunto will not warranty the band, so you're stuck buying a new band every two years.
Don't waste your time on the expensive band!!
Leaves me wanting more
Comments from The Staff:
Thank you so much for your review. Thank you for sharing your suggestions and thoughts on the Observer watch. As a Suunto authorized retailer, we will gladly share your feedback with Suunto so they can take into consideration your suggestions!br>
Thanks,
Melissa T.
(SuuntoWatches.com)
Greta Observer
Great Watch, Lousy Band
Great Watch - band is another matter
Great Altimeter
Band Problem - Prepare for ongoing expense
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