The Suunto Vector sports watch. This little guy has been all over the place, he is always up for an adventure and is packed full of courage...and essential features. With years of experience under his wrist belt, Vector is the choice companion for any serious high altitude professional.
These essential features are;
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Altimeter
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Barometer
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Compass
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Weather trend indicator
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Temperature
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Altitude difference measurement
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Altitude log
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Vertical speed
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Multiple watch
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Date and time functions
One thing to remember about the Suunto Vector is that it is an ABC* wrist-top computer, not GPS watch and it doesn't record navigational data (which saves a shed load of battery power). It is an instrument that gives a visual reference of your current elevation, orientation and metrological environment using an air pressure based altimeter. What is handy is that in the logbook section it will show you your total ascent and decent in meters or feet, and it can log the weather trends over the last 4 days.
*(altimeter/barometer/compass)
So this little air pressure based altimeter I mentioned earlier, to simplify this for you and to help you understand what it does... Inside the watch is a capsule that contains a blob of magnetised liquid metal. As you ascend the external air pressure drops causing the liquid metal blob to expand, and when external pressure increases as you descend it contracts (either by magic or because of simple physics, you decide. I like to think it's magic). Anyway the Suunto Core measures this expansion and contraction, and the little computer inside translates this into units we can all understand.
It also does the same kind of thing to get the temperature reading. As the blob warms up it expands and as it cools, it contracts, and as I said before; the liquid metal blob is maganetised which provides the watch with the information it needs to tell you which way is north. All very scientific stuff that you don't really need to know but I thought it was pretty cool.
Just a quick over view on materials and esthetics of the Suunto Vector. The housing is made from tough lightweight black plastic, it has a black elastomer strap with silver steel buckle and a positive black display. The bezel features white bearing markers with a white inner trim surrounding the watch face.
The Suunto Vector features user friendly Battery changing capabilities and runs off a standard CR2032 watch battery; in time mode this gives you a ridiculous 12 month battery life. It also has a electro-luminescent backlight, low battery indicator and is water resistant to 30m (water resistant does not mean water proof!). This is not a dive watch!
This watch is all about reaching the highest peaks on the planet.....off you go.