Suunto Observer Watch with Steel Body and Stainless Steel Band

The Suunto Observer Watch with Stainless Steel Body and Stainless Steel Band has the tools you need to survive the toughest athletic challenges. Its slim, timeless design and a stainless steel band make it wearable in casual situations. The Suunto Observer's main features include an altimeter, barometer, digital compass, and chronometer. All of these powerful tools are packed into a lightweight stainless steel frame that is small enough to pass for a normal, boring watch.

$399.00

Suunto Observer with stainless band
I've had the watch for two weeks, wearing it constantly. I've used it for about 10 hikes and bike rides and find the altimeter very accurate. The log book feature remembers all the parameters of each trip, and stores it in memory (total of 99 trips). The unit is complicated, but a fairly intelligent person should be able to read the manual and figure it out. It has so many functions, it's not surprising that it takes time to learn. It looks great and is very comfortable-appropriate for any activity or use during the business day. The band is adjustable using a scissor and a sharp object to release the pins in the band-not rocket science.

Suunto new takes a licking and keeps on ticking
This is the first Suunto watch I have owned. I have already tried to beat it up and it is still running and still looks pretty. I know a lot of people that own a variety of Suunto watches in the wildland fire world and they all swear by them and I am already to the same point. It is so handy.

Imperial Standard
It's very easy to change from metric to the US Imperial measurements on Vectors, Observers, Altimax and Advizors. You hold the top right and top left buttons for two seconds until "uni" for units shows on the display. You then hold the top left button for two seconds and it flashes the unit of measurement you want to change. After making the unit change you desire, press the top left button to switch to the next unit you want to change. You lock in the changes by pressing the top right or Mode button. What I like about Suunto altimeters is that you can switch between Metric and Imperial if you travel. Most altimeter/baromter watches do not allow such flexible changes. I've seen competitor's products who only allow barometric pressure to be displayed in Hpa or Millibars. They want you to manually divide by 33.9 to get InHg(Inches of Mercury)which is the standard used in the US. As I live in the US, Millibars means nothing to me. However, it's great to make the change when I travel to Canada or Europe!

TWO THUMBS UP!!
This is the first Suunto watch that I had purchased and I just have to say that this is a great watch to use all around. Wonderful watch for biking, hiking or even just for work. I really haven't had the chance to use all of its features but the compass, barometer, and altimeter works great.

Best multipurpose watch
I have owned this watch for 2 years literally wearing it constantly except in the shower and when I climb. It’s held up very well, with only a few scratches (the one time I didn’t take it off while climbing). I primarily use the barometer, however when I ski I like to switch over to the altimeter. Although it has a lot of features, it’s easy to use and doesn’t take long to learn. The battery life is great, in barometer mode and not using the compass in excess the battery lasted about a year and a half for me. When calibrated the barometer and altimeter are very accurate and the compass rocks. It’s nice to be able to recalibrate on the spot when it gets demagnetized.

Training Tips

After each interval, take your pulse rate by counting the number of beats at your wrist or neck for 15 seconds. Multiply that result by four to get your beats per minute. Your next interval should start before your heart rate is less than 60% of your maximum.

The four components of good fitness include flexibility, muscular endurance, muscular strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance. For optimum health, include at least two of these groups in three workouts per week.

Your fitness level will improve by overloading, working your body hard enough to stimulate the body, progression, increasing the frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise over time, and regularity, working out frequently, at least three times a week.

As your fitness improves over time by following a carefully planned fitness program, your ability to exercise closer to your maximum heart rate will improve.