Highgear Axis Watch

You really can't beat this watch for the price. Sure it's basic & burly (big), but it does everything it's supposed too! As with other reviews, ensure you calibrate altimeter (and compass)often prior to relying on it for anything useful. I've had mine for probably 3 years now and on second battery. Note to review below on alarm going out...it's probably your battery life...the alarm is one of the first things to go! 2-3 years and mine is now only a use as needed watch. Too rough a shape to let out in general public...only for mountain duty only now...skiing, hiking, hunting, biking, etc. bezel ring has worn down to base color and letters gone, freely spins, chunk out of base, face scratched pretty good. Been thru three watch bands, before reinstalling original (w/super glue). Some would say time for new watch, but...the dang thing still works great! Sure you can get more expensive watches that last, but for the price, this thing as stood it's ground.

How can Í adjust the barometer?

I've owned this watch for about two years. It still performs as well as day one, despite being banged around and well-used. It is very comfortable & light. The barometer and altimeter are my favorite features. I've calibrated the altimeter at the base of the ski lift so I know I'm not below it when skiing out of bounds in an unknown area. The thermometer is very accurate only when the watch is off your wrist, but so what. Just because you can tell the temperature to the exact degree won't make or break your day. The barometer is fun & potentially useful if you're in the backcountry and the pressure drops like crazy. Like I said, the watch has taken some abuse (scratches are evident), but it's my go-to everyday watch due to its comfort, abundant features and reliability.

Despite the bad reviews on the thermometer feature I consider it pretty accurate considering its pressed up against ~98.6* F flesh. It consistently reads ~10*F higher then ambient temperature. It even says it will read higher when worn in the manual. If you briefly read through the instructions its not difficult to calibrate any one of the features. The altimeter is surprisingly accurate verified against my GPS assuming you calibrated the barometer correctly. My only minor gripe is the alarm does not stay on long enough, its a mild chime that only stays on for about 30 seconds? I have smaller wrists and considering all the features it's pretty moderately sized. Otherwise, excellent bang for your buck!

This watch has some really great features, such as air temp, compass, altimeter, etc... It shows you clouds when air pressure is dropping and a sunshine when air pressure is rising. It can even show you a profile of your elevation gain and decent (which was my favorite feature). Maybe it was just a string of bad luck or maybe I was too hard on it, but my first Axis' backlight quit working and my second Axis' alarm quit working (two very important features for what I was doing at the time). I finally made the switch to a different brand (which feature-wise I like less but has been tickin' away for the last couple of years). Anyway, if you're considering this watch you might read other reviews of Highgear's watches. If you purchase the Axis, calibrate before every adventure and remember to take it off for a few minutes to get an accurate temp reading.

This watch was a solid purchase. It has several functions. I found the temperature and altimeter to be most useful. Be careful and calibrate often. The temperature is affected by body heat. I would sometimes hang it on a backpack strap to get an accurate reading.

For the most part I would have liked this watch but I am very particular about how sensitive the temp. is. Since it's a wrist watch, you wouldn't think the temp. would vary much. Running with it and have that going on, not accurate enough for me. The compass was a bear to calibrate and frankly, I couldn't trust the reading. After thinking about it, I decided to get an altimeter that can hang off my backpack. Much less expensive decision than a wrist watch altimeter.

I bought the Axis because it came highly recommended. At first it performed like I expected. It was easy to use and very accurate. But not two months had gone by when the ring on the face of the watch came loose. The watch was not made to last.

This is the second Axis watch I’ve owned. I would highly recommend them. They are not stupidly big like many other watches of this type, the displays are easy to read and use. My only criticism is that the alarm is not nearly loud enough. My $5 Walmart watch just about projects me out of the tent in the morning, so I don't understand why they can't make a loud alarm.

The HighGear AXIS watch is a true winner. It is cheaply priced compared to watches with equal features but its low price does not reflect its quality. I work for the Forest Service and my watch takes a beating every day “very hot conditions and very fine dust, not to mention impacts”. With daily calibration the altimeter is within a 100 feet of actual altitude. The watch is a fair amount smaller then its brother the SUMMIT model, but it still has a large, easy to read face. Its thermometer is relatively accurate on the wrist, more so then I thought or heard. HighGear claims that it is the smallest watch with its features and from what I have seen from the other brands…it is. The barometer is a nice feature that seems to predict weather change fairly reliably. The digital compass can be a life saver. If you always wanted a watch with Altimeter, barometer, and thermometer, at a reasonable price…then the Axis cannot be beaten. Those who want the smallest multi sensor watch should take a peek at this one. I don’t believe you will be disappointed with this watch. NOTE** The Summit model Is truly BIG!