altimeter watches??

[Chaps 0]

Hello everybody. I was just wondering if anyone has flown with one of these wrist watch altimeters before and if you have... what do you think? Reliable? Worth the mega bucks? Are they only accurate top a certain altitude? Just curious.

Thanks
Chaps

[betzilla 56]

If you're talking about the mountaineer-type wristwatch, they don't work for jumping, because they don't register the altitdue change quickly enough.

[SkySlut 0]

I know quite a few people that jump with them, but they admit that they really dont work. Most of them use them for BASE.

[slotperfect 7]

Do a search for "Suunto." There are three threads that have discussed them here before.

Suunto is not the only make of altimeter waatch, just what seems to be the most common.

Square One sells them as well.

Hope this helps!

Arrive Safely

John

[rigging65 0]

There are a couple of guys out here that jump the Suunto wrist alti. They say that it's pretty accurate, and low profile. They range from $200+ ...I guess it's all about style....

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

[Canuck 0]

I know a few guys that jump them - freeflyers for the most part who don't look at them at all in freefall, and use them more for checking altitude on the climb and under canopy. Also, lots of competative swoopers have pre-determined altitudes at which they begin their turn to final, and they are great for that type of application - waterproof and acurate to about 10 feet. I want one.

Canuck

[Chaps 0]

Thanks for the reply guys... I think I will pick one up eventually... wear both the alti and the suunto to check it... seems pretty convenient!

chaps

[chutingstar 1]

I recently wrote an article about the Suunto watch on the Rigger "Rant and Rave." I started wearing one about a month ago and that is the only altimeter I use now...very accurate in freefall.

24-Mar-03 — Last year several instructors from Skydive Illinois took up residence in Atlanta and made Atlanta Skydiving Center their new home. An influx of new staff of course brings new ideas, skills, attitudes, and even gadgets. And the one gadget that is starting to catch on is the Suunto watch with altimeter. Suunto does not advertise in the skydiving industry, but the altimeter function of its watch is easy to read and operate. It also keeps up with the change of altitude in real time as fast as any other digital altimeter I have ever used. After tiring of taking my altimeter on and off after every work jump, I decided to give the Vector model by Suunto a try. For the last month I have used this altimeter on every tandem and AFF jump. It has worked flawlessly. The watch comes standard with a plastic wrist band, but I soon upgraded to the elastic wristband that slips over my jumpsuit with ease. Suunto has several different versions of its sport watches, but the least expensive version that contains the altimeter is the Vector. The watch retails online for approximately $200 with shipping and the elastic wristband is about $15. The watch has four modes: Time; Altimeter; Barometer; and Compass. There is also a stopwatch and log book feature. For skydiving, the altimeter screen shows the altitude, climb rate (up to 1,000 feet a minute) and time. The button that changes the mode is on the upper right side of the watch and my glove has changed the mode while under canopy. With the elastic wristband the problem was solved by moving the watch a few inches further up my arm. As far as battery life, the jumpers from Chicago say they haven’t had to replace their battery yet and they’ve had their watches for more than a year. The watch seems durable and is lightweight. Sunnto’s web site is at www.suunto.com. The watch retails online at www.sunntowatches.com. The direct link to the Vector watch can be found at http://www.suuntowatches.com/vector.htm

ChutingStar.com