Product Features :
- Altimeter barometer and electronic compass in one
- One third smaller than earlier Suunto models
- Premium titanium housing with a titanium wristband
- Altimeter with improved logbook displays and records simultaneously 3 alarms stopwatch and countdown timer
- Shock resistant waterproof Electroluminescent backlight
>> great watch for sitting in my desk drawer
I ve had my Observer since 2002 It s been with me from the depths of La Jolla Cove to the heights of Pike s Peak The functions are all very cool and it s a great looking watch
HOWEVER There are many times that the watch has sat in my desk drawer waiting for parts while my G Shock and Timex IronMan carry the load Today is one of those times The Observer s wrist strap breaks every 18 24 months and that occurs even with preventative maintenance on the band on a weekly basis The replacement straps cost 40 My straps have broken for the 4th time So if you think that a 20/year cost of ownership on top of the price of the watch is a good bargain then get this watch If not then get something that is a one time investment only and doesn t require a hotline to the Suunto replacement parts store
>> Solid and reliable
I love this watch I purchased it sometime back in 2002 and I ve worn it almost every day since It has been a fantastic watch It looks great in casual wear and it looks great dressed up However being an avid hiker and outdoorsman I need reliability in the functions advertised with the watch Overall my expectations have been met
The biggest complaint I have with the watch is the compass It needs to be calibrated often Further any tilt of the watch can change the reading on the compass by as much as 10 degrees Because there is no bubble on the display to make sure the watch is level it s not reliable for accurate readings I wouldn t use the compass for more than just a general sense of direction Also the compass is highly affected by metal nearby including the buckle on your belt or a metal frame pack you might be wearing For me the digital compass in this watch is nothing more than a toy not an instrument
The barometer and as a result the altimeter have been a bit flaky at times as well However this has generally been the exception rather than the rule I ll notice that my altitude will read substantially higher or lower than what it should be and when changing profiles to the barometer I ll see it s quite off from a standard mercury reading Again though this hasn t happened much With the amount of hiking I do I m more interested in my rate of ascent and descent anyway rather than the actual altitude and it s been spot on in that regard
The thermometer has been dead on accurate within a degree or two every time I ve relied on it For me it s been the most outstanding feature of the watch I ve also used the logging capabilities reading back past climbs and descents including rates of change This has been valuable as well I haven t used the stopwatch much and find it a bit awkward to use when I do
I love the weight and size of the watch I have a friend who owns a Suunto Vector and the watch is HUGE Also it feels light and cheap although I know better For me this watch isn t too big it fits very well on the wrist and it has a nice solid weight to it Some might claim it s too heavy but I like the feel Also it s gotten some great comments from various people and always sparks a great conversation
After almost 8 years of owning this watch I finally sent it in for cleaning and light repairs I m confident that I will be wearing this watch for another 8 years It s easily surpassed all my expectations and for the 380 I spent on the watch I ve definitely gotten my money s worth out of it When/if it keels over I ll likely replace it with another Observer ST
Other than the compass and the occasional inaccurate barometer readings I would recommend this watch to anyone who is looking for a good time piece with similar instrumentation Now if only Suunto would put out an atomic Observer watch
>> Gary
I returned this Suunto Observer ST Digital Sport Watch 2009 Stainless Steelroduct because the ease of use was an 11 on a 1 to 10
I will never purchase a Suunto again
Thanks / Gary
