DivaSkyChick 0 #1 December 20, 2002 Does anyone here jump with a Suunto watch instead of an altimeter? I know some people who do at Eloy but I'm looking for one that also plugs into a computer... Thing is, to jump with it, you need the biggest possible watch face and numbers. I've looked at the website but they don't actually mention skydiving as a use for the watch... The pictures are not helping. Help? M --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wlie 0 #2 December 20, 2002 I know Mike Ortiz has one, but I doubt he relies on it for jumping. The thing with them Suunto's is the intervals between sample. I guess they'd be ok for the canopy ride, but I 'd like to know right now (not 2 sec later) when in freefall. For their price, I still think an altimeter is still affordable.My other ride is the relative wind. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DivaSkyChick 0 #3 December 20, 2002 Oh definitely an altimeter is better, but these little things are just low profile and I know for sure certain people are using them - along with audibles... Plus, if you do more than skydive (WHAT???) they're cool for other stuff too. --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #4 December 20, 2002 I jump with a Suunto Observer but not as my sole altimeter. Mine is one of the normal sized watches and no the mondo one . The altimeter is balls on accurate. I compared it to my wrist altimeter and a protrack on a guys helmet on the way to altitude one day. Personally i think you'd have to be insane to jump it by itself. Suunto actually states that it's not intended for skydiving but since when have skydivers listened? My only bitch about the watch is that the alarm is impossible to hear. If your shirt sleeve is covering it you will barely hear it if there is no other noise in the room...the alarm just plain sucks. Every other feature is excellent. I'm not sure which model plugs into a computer but I think it's the one that has a heart monitor on it and if memory serves me correctly ,it doesn't have an altimeter on it or is it a compass? Otherwise, it makes a good watch but not a great altimeter for skydiving due to size. (These are my opinions)"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DivaSkyChick 0 #5 December 20, 2002 Thank Lou. BTW, someone told me today that you're a cutie! LOL --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #6 December 20, 2002 Quote Thank Lou. BTW, someone told me today that you're a cutie! LOL who you been talking to? LOL"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DivaSkyChick 0 #7 December 20, 2002 Shhhhhhhh! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deaffreeflyer 0 #8 December 20, 2002 I have see some of them at my DZ. All of them are BASE jumpers. I reckon Suunto's more common in BASE jumping than skydiving cos they find it easy to measure the height of object and give them work out how long delay etc... Not sure if it's very accurate. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ernokaikkonen 0 #9 December 20, 2002 I friend of mine used to jump with one. It worked fine, until on one jump the watch switched to showing barometric pressure in the middle of the jump. After a few seconds of reading 900(was supposed to be meters, but was hPa) on the watch he decided that the ground looked too big for 900m, and pulled. I think he was open at around 400-500m. The manual states that the watch is not suitable for skydiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IronMike 0 #10 December 20, 2002 I just bought one yesterday at Square 1.....Brandon showed me how to zero the altimiter and I made 1 jump on it...The time is still wrong because I was on a load in 10 min and then I had to haul ass to get to the Xmas party. It seems like it is well worth 200 bucks.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #11 December 20, 2002 I bought one for BZ for Christmas...he didn't previously have an altimeter, or a watch, so killed two birds with one stone. He also has an audible, though, so it's not his sole reliance. I've seen quite a few swoopers with them, but don't know how popular, in general, they are. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #12 December 20, 2002 QuoteI've seen quite a few swoopers with them, but don't know how popular, in general, they are. I think it's a fad thing, all the cool people have them so "I gotta have one too" train of thought. It's just another toy and unless you use the other functions, it's an over priced watch at that. It is good for rate of ascent/decent while hiking and the compass is accurate. Barometric pressure reading is good in the Mtns too for weather that may be sneaking in. For skydiving, I don't think it's a wise idea. Each time I zeroed mine on the ground and went to altitude no problem. When I went to get on another load I looked down at it while waiting for the A/C thinking it should read zero and instead of being zeroed it was a couple hundred feet off."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #13 December 20, 2002 Quote Quote Thank Lou. BTW, someone told me today that you're a cutie! LOL who you been talking to? LOL Scott, my brother! You are becoming a straight-up PIMP! Big Daddy Chuckie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #14 December 20, 2002 Oh, I forgot to say that I know several people who use Sunto Vectors as their only visual altimeter (along with their three-tone dytter). They work perfectly in freefall, so long as they are set correctly. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #15 December 20, 2002 Quote Quote Quote Thank Lou. BTW, someone told me today that you're a cutie! LOL who you been talking to? LOL Scott, my brother! You are becoming a straight-up PIMP! Big Daddy Chuckie What can I say....It's ma PIMP style dat gits 'em. "It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #16 December 21, 2002 Diva, did you check out Suunto's web site? The model chuck mentioned ,while not as big as a Alti III, is pretty big for a watch. The one you mentioned is indeed a heart rate monitor. All the juicy details are on the site. http://www.suunto.com/pls/suunto/suunto2.pubmainpage.frameset"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #17 December 21, 2002 They're pretty common at my DZ, and I have one on my christmas list. I've borrowed a few for evaluation, and found they work well, as long as you're able to bring your arm in to to check. In freefly positions, I found them hard to read at full arms length. Some tips: Avoid the ones that have white print on the black dial. While they look cool, they're dificult to read in bright sunlight, and nearly impossible to read in freefall. This means: AVOID THE OBSERVER. Look for black numbers on the brightest background. Also, look for the ones with the biggest numbers. The ones most common at my DZ are the X6, Metron, and Advisor. The Metron is on my christmas list. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #18 December 21, 2002 QuoteSome tips: Avoid the ones that have white print on the black dial. While they look cool, they're dificult to read in bright sunlight, and nearly impossible to read in freefall. This means: AVOID THE OBSERVER. I've never had a hard time seeing it in the sunlight. The numbers take a little getting used to since it is a normal sized watch, no different from looking at the time really. The Vector is huge and has big numbers so it's obviously easier to read than the observer and other normal sized models. I guess it really boils down to, do you want a watch or something the size of an altimeter on your wrist for daily wear. It basically falls right in line with most dive watches, great for diving but not what you'd want to wear to a night out on the town IMO."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DivaSkyChick 0 #19 December 21, 2002 Thanks Andyman - this is useful because the X6 also interfaces with the computer and logs everything. Thanks everyone for your help! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maynard 0 #20 December 23, 2002 I have the X6hr and used it both for jumping and triathlon training. The X6 downloads to the pc and doesn't require a Computer Science degree to operate it. Also saving my jumps to the PC has helped me keep a very accurate jump log. That said, if all I was going to use the Suunto for is logging jumps then I would get a Pro Track and buy the cheaper Vector/Altimax. The Pro Track is designed to give a skydiver information related to a skydive. While you can retrieve fall rates and such out of the X6 it takes some work and a calculator/spreadsheet after downloading the information. While this information is readily available on the Pro Track at the completion of each skydive. Just with my training activity’s this was a great all around instrument that saved me from buying a ProTrack and a Heart Rate Monitor. I think I found the Vector for about $150 and the Altimax for about $130 if you shop around on the Internet. This is about the same price as a Alti III. Several of my friends jump the Vector and love them. Finally personal note, I am not comfortable jumping just the Suunto. I prefer to have an audible. There are a couple of reasons for this, one the Suunto is electronic and I want a backup if it craps out. Second Suunto manual flat out says not to use this for skydiving, so I want a backup. And finally I am paranoid and want a back up. My watch did crap out on me while at the Keys Boogie. I called Suunto and they shipped out a new watch that day. And I had it for the rest of the boogie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DivaSkyChick 0 #21 December 23, 2002 Thank you so much! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
