Suunto Observer Stainless Steel Watch

Good watch but it is on the heavy side for ski touring and ski mountaineering!

I have had mine for two years, and with the exception of a few weeks with a broken band it has not left my wrist. It is pretty complicated at first, but once you get the functions down it is a necessary tool to keep track of bearing, vert, alti and time. The batteries go a bit fast (1x/yr), but that is to be expected with the watch in log mode at least a few hours each day. The altimeter is excellent, just remember to calibrate it each day if you need exact height (or dont worry about it if all you care about is relative elevation gain or loss). The band sucks, and expect to replace it every year or two (mine is the elastomer band), but well worth it. Compass is accurate as long as you are not near power lines or mag sources, and re-calibrating is not too difficult. The case is super durable, as is the face; I have no major scratches after two years.

I have had mine for four years and I am having problems with it. When the battery died because of all the sweat and dirt I had a terrible time to change the battery. It has been all over the world and first two years it was good but now I can not calibrate the compass and I can not go through the features. Like I said the first two years were good but now I am looking for something different. If this is not going to get hard use then go for it.

I have had my Observer for a couple of years now, and love it more than ever. I own numerous watches, but I find myself going for the Observer on a daily basis. For everyday use, I love the minimalistic look and feel. You also get the silent recognition nods from other outdoor enthusiasts in their daily routine as they walk past or stand near you.

For the outdoors, I have put this through every test: kayak, canoe, hiking, skiing, camping, cycling, snowshoeing, it doesn't matter what you do, the watch will take it. It's been smashed on rocks, streets, and even my car door (the door lost), and still looks great. All it needs is a fresh battery to keep it alive.

I've had mine for a year now with no problems. I went with the observer because it has the lowest profile of any of Suunto's altimeter watches and looks professional when I wear it to work. It's the first electronic product I have owned that I have actually read the manual for, and I recommend that anyone who buys a Suunto do the same. Also it is important to note that the altimeter needs to be recalibrated whenever the weather changes and the thermometer will not be accurate unless the watch is not on your wrist (the only bummer, but it makes sense). Other than that, it's way fun. I am all the time checking out my altitude at different places and checking the barometer to see if a storm is rolling in. I am very happy with the Observer and hope to get many years out of it.

This is an excellent watch for the outdoors enthusiast. Loaded with features that are relatively easy to use once you get familiar with the setting procedures (even has a little wallet card in case you forget how to set). The altimeter is so accurate it even works walking up and down a flight of stairs! The compass works flawlessly and the declination correction feature is a plus. The only issues I'd like to mention is the inaudible alarm and the altimeter and barometer do not work simultaneously. I would also suggest getting one with an elastomer band if you plan on getting face protectors for it...easier to put on. Other than that, this watch is everything I expected and more!

I have had 2 of Suunto watches, and both have performed well. I have had my second Observer long enough to change the battery twice (~5 years). The compass isn't the best for navigation, but it is usually accurate to +/- 2 degrees. You have to keep it calibrated often in order for it to work well. The calibration process is quick and easy. The compass also has an option to automatically adjust for declination. The air pressure measurement feature must be set to either barometer or altimeter mode. It isn't a big deal, but it is misleading in the description. The altimeter function is probably the least accurate because of changing weather and not the watch. In order for those to work well you need to enter the current sea level air pressure, but that isn't too difficult. The temperature reading bottoms out at around -20 Celsius. Mine is covered in scratches, but it still works well. The compass is starting to be difficult, but after 5 years I can't really complain. After this dies I will buy another Suunto.

I love this thing. I have worn it everyday for nearly 3 years. The construction (especially the glass) is bomb proof. It's greatest trick is being a highly technical wrist computer, while looking the part of a well designed time modern piece. It is a little bit James Bond, a little bit Q. Maxwell Smart would have loved this thing. If only Suunto made a shoe phone...